The vessel depict on this stamp, entering the Volga – Don Canal lock No 1 in 1952, is the river- passenger ship JOSEPH STALIN.
Built at the Red Sormovo plant at Gorki in 1937 for the ERM, Soviet Union. She was the lead vessel of her class, and her hull was welded
Launched as JOSEPH STALIN, four sisters
Tonnage and dimensions?
Powered by two 6-BK-43 four-stroke 6-cyl diesel engines of 350 hp. each, speed 20 km/h
The two propellers were housed particular in tunnels to protect the propeller blades.
Bunker capacity 35 ton.
Flat bottomed, did have eight bulkheads, a round stern.
She was fitted out with a steering wheel fore and aft to pass easily through the many locks in the 128 km long canal.
For heating she was fitted out with a steam boiler.
Fitted out with berths for 18 passengers and eight four person cabins used by passengers without a berth.
One cargo hold of 108 m³.
Behind the engine room there were cabins for crew, a dinning room, hairdressing saloon and an other small cargo hold of 11 m³.
Also had a cinema and concert hall and a restaurant with seats for 100 persons.
1937 The Moscow Canal was opened and for this canal this five vessels were special built to pass through this canal from Moscow to the great rivers of Russia.
In 1938 she was featured in the Russian film Volga-Volga. Some scenes of the film are showed on a envelop of Russia issued in 2003, which shows also the director of the movie Mr. G. Alexandrov.
She got the honour to open op 27 July 1952 the Volga Don canal, as seen on the stamps.
During World War II attacked by enemy bombers.
After the war in 1947 again in-service in the Moscow River.
After Stalin died, was she in 1958 renamed in MIKHAIL FRUNZE.
1971 Out of service?
A model of the ship today you can find in a hall of the Red Sormovo plant at Gorky, were you can see also the movie Volga-Volga.
Russia 1947 50k sg1273, scott. (she is one of the JOSHEP STALIN class)
Russia 1952 8k sg?, scott? (cargo vessel leaving the Volga-Don Canal)
Russia 1952 40k sg 1783, scott?
Russia1r sg1806, scott? (also a photo after which this stamp was designed)
Russia 1956 envelope for the Volga-Volga film.
Rumania 1955 1.55 lei sg?, scott? (looks a Joshep Stalin class vessel?)
Source: info and images supplied by Mr. Gennadiy Sitnikov.
This stamp depicts five French ships on the road of St Helena, dressed overall with flags and the crews manned the yards as the coffin with the remains of Napoleon was brought on board the La BELLE POULE.
The ships depict on the stamp are from the left to the right the La FAVORITE, La BONNE-AIMEE, the frigate La BELLE POULE, L'INDIEN and the brig L’ORESTE.
Built as a wooden hulled corvette at Toulon for the French Navy.
November 1827 keel laid down.
11 June 1829 launched as the La FAVORITE, one of the CREOLE class.
Tonnage 757 ton, dim. 39 x 9.92 x 3.91m.
Sail area 1,573 square feet.
Armament; 20 – 30 pdr. carronades and 4 – 18pdr., when built.
16 June 1829 commissioned.
30 December 1829 she sailed from Toulon under command of Captain Cyrille Pierre Théodore Laplace (1793-1875) and a crew of 177 for a voyage to the Pacific to gather detailed information from the countries there were French traders and settlers could settle.
Via Senegal she sailed to the Island Bourbon where she arrives 01 April 1830, from there she sailed to Pondicherry, India and then via Madras and Yanason to Singapore where she arrived on 17 August.
Via Indo- Chinese ports where cholera and dysentery broke out on board on which many crew dies she set sail to Hobart, Tasmania where she arrived on 11 July 1830.
Via Sydney she sailed to the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Laplace surveyed the Kawakawa River and a piece of land near the mouth he named Banc de la Favorite.
11 October the La FAVORITE sailed from New Zealand and she returned in Toulon on 21 April 1832.
07 July 1840 together with the frigate La BELLE POULE she sailed from Toulon under command of M. Guyet to St Helena to bring back the body from Napoleon to France.
08 October both ships arrived at St Helena, and after the exhumation of the body of Napoleon the remains were brought on board the BELLE POULE.
18 October both ships sailed from St Helena bound for France where she arrived 30 November 1840 at Cherbourg.
02 September 1844 the FAVORITE was stricken from the French Navy List and broken up.
St Helena 1990 20p sg 583, scott546.
Source: Watercraft Philately. French Explores in the Pacific by John Dunmore.
http://www.shipscribe.com/marvap/index.html




