Nick Prendergast's Stamps with an Odonate Theme Arranged by Country
(augmented with more recent issues but not complete)


Before his death in 1988, odonatist Nick Prendergast of Britain made this list
available to interested stamp collectors and fellow odonatists in the hopes
that it would have a wider distribution. The list was kindly provided to me by
Dr. Dan Johnson, to whom Nick gave the task of distributing it. 

The original list is organized into 4 parts by theme:

   -  stamps designed with odonates as the main theme with species identified
   -  as above but with unidentifiable species
   -  stamps with stylized odonates or odonates included in the design
   -  stamps featuring odonatists

The references used in compiling this list, and any notes follow at the end.

I was able to verify most of these stamps using the 1991 Scott's Catalogue,
however some were not listed. I have added issues printed after 1988 that I
have come upon. If you know of any stamps not on this list, or printed after 
1988, please mail me  with the 
details, hopefully including the country and year of issue. Similarly, any comments 
or corrections would be appreciated.

 selected stamp images 

History:
2001 May 10 - addition of Buriata issue
2001 Jan 30 - additions and changes 
            - I became aware that my use of the catalogue numbers is not entirely consistent.
              Sometimes the numbers refer to souvenir sheets on which the dragonfly is present
              on one or two stamps. Sometimes the stamps on the sheets were issued separately as well.
              I am separating these out but this process is as yet incomplete. 
            - special thanks to J. Lucas for many additions
            - additions again suspended
1999 Nov 30 - additions temporarily suspended
1999 Jan 19 - added Scotland and United Arab Republic plus some more Queen Mother issues
1998 Dec 14 - several additions, uncertain ones noted, one removal (see Syria) 
              thanks to Federico Landi for telling me of several newer issues 
     Oct 18 - several additions, inc. older one from U.S. thanks to Vern Nelson
     Feb 3  - added Zaire and Uganda issues
1997 Dec 24 - added some Scott's numbers and a couple of new finds
     Dec 11 - thanks to British Dragonfly Society member Peter Allen for additions
               up to 1991
     Jun 24 - Scott's Catalogue Numbers (other numbers are Stanley-Gibbons)
     Jun 02 - some post-1988 issues (as I find them) updates and corrections
     May 12 - added recent Bhutan, Georgia and St.Vincent issues

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note: New stamps on list have an '*' in front of them. 
Note: If the Scott's number ends with a small letter of the alphabet then the stamp
         indicated is often on a souvenir sheet - a is the first one, b the second and so on.
         So the listing /123b would be the second stamp on the sheet catalogued as number 123.
         Sometimes the a number is the souvenir sheet though. 

 Country             cat no  year value     subject
                  S.G/Scott

 Albania           1009/922  1966   20q     Calopteryx virgo
                   1011/925  1966   35q     Calopteryx splendens
                   1012/926  1966   40q     Calopteryx splendens

*Angola               /1103  1999           unidentified dragonfly on border of fungi sheet
                                            dragonfly is not on any of the stamps on the sheet
*                            2000           dragonfly, as above, on border of souvenir sheet
                                            stamp depicts fungus Mycena lilacifolia, chipmunk is also on border

*Austria              /1792  1999   $7      with frog, heron and ducks on National Park stamp

*Australia            /1785  1999   45c     dragonfly (Celithemis?)
*                    /1790d  1999           stamp on souvenir sheet of small pond animals
                                            (includes dragonfly above, also on border)
 
 Barbados              /784  1990   50c     Orthemis ferruginea

 Belgium              /1255  1986   13f     Baron Michel-Edmond de Selys-Longchamps
                      /1604  1996   16f     Sympetrum sanguineum

 Botswana           479/268  1981    6t     Anax imperator
                    550/337  1983    6t     Pantala flavescens
                    551/338  1983   15t     Anax imperator
                    552/339  1983   25t     Trithemis arteriosa
                    553/340  1983   45t     Chlorolestes elegans

 Bhutan               /101G  1969   6nu     Anotogaster sieboldii (air mail 3D)
                             1969           souvenir sheet with above and 3 other insect stamps
                     /1143q  1997   70ch    stamp on souvenir sheet
                                            says Agrion splendens but Anax imperator

 Bulgaria             /3710  1993   1.0	    Libellula depressa

*Buriatia               /*1  1999  4200     Meganeura (sheet mainly of fossil fish)
*Buriatia               /*1                 souvenir sheet red-faced dragonfly almost head on 
                                            sheet os a scene with various beetles, flies, wasps, slug

*Burkina Faso          /949  1992   85f     Orthetrum microstigma
 
 Cameroon(oun)     1074/808  1986   70f     Fossil sp. Aeschna cyanea?
                                            and Calopteryx virgo? or Sapho sp?

 Chad               362/256  1972    5f     Hemistigma albipunctata

 China                /2394  1992   30y     Sympetrum croceolum

*Comoro Islands       /890a  1999  150f     Meganeura on Animaux Prehistoriques sheet
  (Rep. Fed. Islamique Des Comores)

 Czeck Republic       /2953  1995    6k     Calopteryx splendens
        
 El Salvador      1902/1072  1985   25c     Cordulegaster godmani
                  1903/1073  1985   55c     Libellula herculea
                  1904/1074  1985   70c     Cora marina
                  1905/1075  1985   90c     Aeshna cornigera
                  1906/1076  1985 C1.00     Mecistogaster ornata
                  1907/1077  1985 C1.50     Hetaerina smaragdalis?
                  2027/C544  1988 C5 on 90c Aeshna cornigera

 Finland           536/B128  1954 25+5m     Aeshna juncea
*                     /863a  1991  2.10     fish, fisherman and stylized dragonfly
                                            sport fishing issue - stamp in booklet pane of 5 different stamps

 France               /B588  1987 2.2+0.5f  Jean Rostand

 Gabon                /800i  1995           Meganeura on dinosaur souvenir sheet
*                     /892b  1997  260f     Calopteryx maculata on Fleurs du Monde sheet
*                      /894  1997           Anax junius miniature sheet
                                             
 Georgia               /144  1995   10      sheet of pond scene - unidentified damselfly

 Germany              /1670  1991   50      Libellula depressa
                      /1671  1991   60      Libellula depressa
                      /1672  1991   60      Sympetrum sanguineum
                      /1673  1991   60      Cordulegaster boltonii
                      /1674  1991   60      Aeschna viridis
                      /1675  1991   70      Sympetrum sanguineum
                      /1676  1991   80      Cordulegaster boltonii
                      /1677  1991  100      Aeschna viridis
*                     /1689  1991   60      Sorbian legends - violinist, waterman and odonate


 Ghana                /1224                 African Tropical Rain Forest sheet
                                            camelion appears to have dragonfly on tongue
                      /1353  1991  100      Coenagrion sp.

 Great Britain    1281/1102  1985   34p     Anax imperator
                      /1357  1991   1st     cartoon dragonfly under rainbow
                     /1359a  1991           symbols of good luck booklet
                                            includes cartoon dragonfly under rainbow
 
*Grenada              /2091  1991   $6      50th anniv. of USO picturing Anna May Wong sheet
                                            red dragonfly is on border art work not stamps    

 Grenada            530/522  1982    3c     cartoon dragonfly (Walt Disney's Rescuers)
 (Grenadines)       531/523  1982    4c     cartoon dragonfly
                      /1138  1990   $1      Red Skimmer

 Guernsey           256/243  1982   24p     Pyrrhosoma nymphula or Aeshna grandis

 Guernsey (Alderney)    /70  1994    1p     Ischnura elegans

*Rep de Guinea       /1569d  1999  450f     Sympetrum on Champignons du Monde sheet

*Guyana               /3051  1996  $300     Lagosuchus with odonate
                                            (part of major dinosaur issue)
 
 Hong Kong            /830   1998  $1.30    dragonfly kite
                      /833a  1998           souvenir sheet with 4 kites including above
*                            2000  $2.50    Macromidia ellenae
*                            2000           souvenir sheet with above

 Indonesia        1278/B224  1970 14+1.50s  Orthetrum testaceum

 Japan      215-221/179-185  1923 1/2 - 8s  first design
            222-223/186,187  1923 10, 20s   second design
                  1475/1296  1977   50y     Boninthemis insularis
                  1540/1374  1979   50y     boy catching insects (toy dragonfly)
                  1553/1378  1979   50y     song ``The Birthplace''
                  1580/1396  1980   50y     song ``Red Dragonfly''
                  1850/1683  1986   60y     Epiophlebia superstes
                  1854/1686  1986   60y     Sympetrum pedemontanum
                  1863/1689  1986   60y     Rhyothemis variegata
                  1871/1695  1987   60y     Anotogaster sieboldii
                  1881/1699  1987   60y     Calopteryx  cornelia
	              /2154  1991    9y     dragonfly

 Kampuchea          927/896  1988    2r     unidentified dragonfly
 (Cambodia)

 Kiribati              /450  1984   35c     dragonfly legend (Naareau and Tiku-Tiku-Tamoamoa)

 Korea (South)        /1633  1991   100     dragonfly
*                     /1923  1997   170     red dragonfly and flowers (philatelic week)
*                    /1923a  1997           souvenir sheet - 2 of previous stamp
 
 Lebanon            872/439  1965   32.5p   Bee-eater and dragonfly

 Lesotho            363/262  1978    4c     Nesciothemis farinosa
                    444/328  1981   25s     Malachite Kingfisher and Nesciothemis
                      /1119  1998          "Prehistoric Creatures in Flight" souvenir sheet
                                            what might loosely be called a dragonfly appears
                                            on the border catching edge of one stamp
                                            NOT ODONATE - this looks less and less like a
                                            dragonfly to me, perhaps it is a reproductive ant but lacks antennae

*Liberia              /1414  1999   $2      Tarbosaurus souvenir sheet
                                            Maganeura is on border art work

 Luxembourg        1198/764  1987   10f     Agrion splendens

 Macau                 /844  1996   3.5     green dragonfly kite

*Malaysia              /681  1998           Insects of Malaysia Stamp Week '98
                                            gold coin crest on souvenir sheet has libellulid
                                            no odonates are pictured on the stamps

 Mali               591/280  1977    5f     ``Libella''

 Monaco               /1568  1987  2.20f    Aeshna grandis

*Mongolia             /2169  1994   60      Wild Animals of Mongolia sheet with dragonfly stamp
   
 Montserrat         551/493  1983   50c     Erythemis vesiculosa
                    552/494  1983   65c     Orthemis ferruginea
                    553/495  1983 $1.50     Triacanthagyna trifida
                    554/496  1983 $2.50     Erythrodiplax umbrata
                       /805  1992   15c     Lepthemis vesiculosa
                       /806  1992   20c     Orthemis ferruginea

*Nevis                /953d  1996   $1      painting - odonate with rat
                                            part of a block of 4 rat paintings for Lunar New Year 

 New Zealand       871a/391  1967  7.5c     Brown Trout and damselfly
                      /1462  1997   40c     "Giant Dragonfly"
                     /1468a  1997           Creepy Crawlers booklet has "Giant Dragonfly"

 North Korea      N1630/*1   1977   15ch    Anax parthenope
                  N1631/*1   1977   25ch    Sympetrum pedemontanum
*                            1992           frog issue miniature sheets
                                            damselfly in border design
*                            1993           mushrooms miniature sheets
                                            dragonfly on border design of one sheet
*                            1999   30      dragonfly on fruit

 (North) Vietnam   127/856   1977   12x     Sinictinogomphus clavatus
                   128/857   1977   12x     Crocothemis servilia
                   129/858   1977   20x     Aristocypha fenestrella
                   130/859   1977   30x     Nuerothemis tullia
                   131/860   1977   40x     Neurobasis chinensis
                   132/861   1977   50x     Neurothemis fulvia
                   133/862   1977   60x     Rhyothemis variegata
                   134/863   1977    1d     Rhyothemis fuliginosa
*                    /2849   1998  400d     paintings of Te Bach Thach - dragonfly and lotus

*Norway              /1180   1998  3.80     unidentified probably an Aeshnid
*                   /1181a   1998           booklet pane of above and another stamp

*Palau                /506   1999   33c     Earth Day 1999 - Pacific Insects sheet has Megalagrion leptodemus stamp

 Paraguay            /ftr?   1974

 Phillipines     1993/1822   1986    3p     unidentified dragonflies

 Pitcairn          165/154   1975   15c     Pantala flavescens

 Poland          2253/1990   1973   1.5z    pond life
                 3147/2841   1988   10z     Anax imperator
                 3148/2842   1988   15z     Libellula quadrimaculata
                 3149/2843   1988   15z     Calopteryx splendens
                 3150/2844   1988   20z     Cordulegaster annulatus
                 3151/2845   1988   30z     Sympetrum pedemontanum
                 3152/2846   1988   50z     Aeschna viridis
*                    /3474   1999  1.40     Anax imperator

 Qatar               /905m   1998    2r     Orthetrum chrysostigma (Girdled Skimmer)
                                            (major insect issue - sheet with  20 insect species)

 Rumania         3231/1705   1964   40b     raspberries with dragonfly

 Sahara Occ. Rasd            1995   28p     Plactiynemis
                             1995   29p     Ischnura elegans
                             1995   40p     Calopteryx virgo
                             1995   68p     Sympetrum striolatum
                             1995  105p     Calopteryx virgo
	                     1995  180p     Cordulegaster annulatus

 St. Helena        389/364   1982    7p     Sympetrum dilatatum
 
 St. Pierre - Miquelon
                      /555   1992  3.6f     Aeschna eremita over Nuphar variegatum

 St. Vincent      1220/1152  1989   40c     Noah's ark issue - two cartoon like dragonflies
                                            but long antennae
 
 St. Vincent       490/546   1986   45c     Brachymesia furcata
 (Grenadines)      491/547   1986   60c     Erythemis vesiculosa
                   492/548   1986   75c     Perithemis domitia
                   493/549   1986 $2.50     Tramea abdominalis

 San Marino          /1323   1995   600     pond scene (strip of 5)

 Scotland - Easdale Is./*2   1988   52p     scene with Aeschnid  
                     
*Sierra Leone        /2104   1998  4.50     Animal World of China sheet has
                                            Orthetrum albistylum stamp
  
 Singapore           67/56   1962    6c     Archer Fish and dragonfly
                   491/453   1985    5c     Ceriagrion cerinorubellum
                   501/463   1985   $5      Trithemis aurora

 South Africa      533/607   1982   15c     Lystrosaurus and dragonfly on small dinosaur sheet

 Sweden          1008/1295   1979   60o     Aeschna cyanea

 Switzerland     J138/B208   1951  10+10c   Calopteryx splendens

 Syria           1541/970a   1982    5p     unidentified dragonfly
                                            NOT ODONATE - some sort of Neuroptera

 Taiwan          1009/1896   1974  $2,50    fan painting
 (Republic of China) /2843          $5      3 children and red dragonfly
                                            (souvenir sheets with various overprints)
                     /2893   1993   $5      children twisting bamboo dragonflys 
*                            2000    5      Lamelligomphus formosanus
*                                    5      Anotogaster
*                                   12      Neurothemis ramburri
*                                   12      Trithemis festiva  
*                            2000           stream scene with the 4 stamps above

*Tanzania           /1685g   1998  250/-    azure damselfly on flowers and insects sheet
+                    /1743   1998  450/-    mushrooms and insects sheet with darter dragonfly
*                   /1747f   1999  250/-    broad-bellied libellula on mushrooms and insects sheet                                          

 Thailand        1426/1323   1989    2b     Neurothemis tullia
                 1427/1324   1989    5b     Orthetrum sabina
                 1428/1325   1989    6b     Urothemis signata
                 1429/1326   1989   10b     Vestalis amoena
                             1989           numbered sheet with all 4 stamps above

 Tonga - Niuafo'ou 127/118   1989   $1      carboniferous scene with dragonfly
*                    /163d   1993   60      unidentified dragonfly 
                                            one of a strip of 5 including parrots, birds with fish
 
 Turkish Cyprus              1998   40L     Agrion splendens

 Tuvalu            217/200   1983   10c     Pantala flavescens
                   218/201   1983   35c     Anax guttatus
                   219/202   1983   40c     Tholymis tillarga
                   220/203   1983   50c     Diplacodes bipunctata

 Uganda               /857   1991           Animals of Uganda's Wetlands sheet with following 2 odonate stamps
                                    70/-    Ennalagma glaucum 
                                    70/-    Brachythemis lacustris 
*                    /1307   1995 1000/-    stylized dragonfly (50th anniversary of U.N.)
*                    /1325   1995  300/-    prehistoric
     
 Umm Al Quain          /*2   1971?   1r     ``Aeshna verde'' - Somatochlora metallica? (air mail, 2 sizes)

 United Arab Emirates /597   1998  250f     Crocothemis arythraea

 United States       /2086   1984   20c     wetland scene - fish is jumping at dragonfly
                                            (Louisiana World Exposition)
                     /3136   1997           dinosaur issue souvenir sheet
                                            damselfly abdomen sticks out from border onto one stamp
                                            odonates being chased and caught by frogs on one border
*                    /3351   1999   32c     Calopteryx maculata (major insect issue)

 Wallis and Futuna 236/185   1974   45f     Pantala flavescens
                             1998   36f     "Libellule de Wallis"

 Yugoslavia      1686/1294   1976  1.20d    Anax imperator

 Zaire               /1449   1996  15000    Calopteryx

 Zimbabwe            /737    1995  $1.15    Anax imperator


A number of countries in the British Commonwealth issued stamps to commemorate the 85th birthday of the Queen Mother. Different images of the Queen Mother are depicted on stamps of the different countries. A number of countries issued souvenir sheets which incorporate their stamps of the Queen Mother. A number of different countries used the same set of border designs in their souvenir sheets (3 per country). A dragonfly, which looks like Anax imperator appears in one of these border designs. I am not sure how many countries are involved, but if you want them try the royalty section of topical dealers and be sure you have money in your wallet. British Virgin Is. /518 $1 + $1 souvenir sheet - dragonfly on border Montserrat /567 $3.50 + $3.50 " Nevis /437 $6 + $6 " *St. Lucia /790c $3.00 + $3.00 " St Vincent /869c $3.50 + $3.50 " St Vincent - Grenadines /500 $4 + $4 " St. Vincent - Bequia /211 $3.50 + $3.50 " St. Vincent - Union /211 $2.25 + $2.25 " Tuvalu /319c $2 + $2 " * Tuvalu - Funafuti /50 $3 + $3 " * Tuvalu - Nanumaga /50 $2.10 + $2.10 " Tuvalu - Nanumea /46 $1 + $1 " Tuvalu - Niutao /42 $1.50 + $1.50 " Tuvalu - Nui /54 $1.50 + $1.50 " Tuvalu - Nukufetau /49 $1.75 + $1.75 " Tuvalu - Nukulaelae /52 $1.20 + $1.20 " Tuvalu - Vaitupu /56 $2.00 + $2.00 "
Notes 1) Prior to 1988, the names listed are in accordance with Davies and Tobin (1985) and may differ from those indicated on the stamps. 2) The catalogue numbers are from the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue for 1985 (first) and the Scott's Postage Stamp Catalogues borrowed from various dealers. *1 - These countries are not listed in Scott's for various reasons. *2 - Umm Al Quain No stamps are listed by Scott's for 1971 or later ftr- Scott's describes some stamps in a section called ``for the record''. The indicated stamps may fall in this section. 3) Lists of Odonata on stamps can be found in Smit (1978) and Stanley (1979). Eda and Machet also write articles about Odonata stamps. 4) Any errors are solely my fault. References Davies, D.A.L. and Tobin, P. 1984-1985 The dragonflies of the world: a systematic list of the extant species of Odonata Societas Internationalis Odonatologica Rapid Communications (supplements) Nos 3 and 5 Eda, S. 1977-1987 in Nature and Insects, Japan - various articles on dragonfly stamps Machet, P. 1985-1987 in Martinia, Bulletin de liason des Odonatologues de France. Bois d'Arcy Scott's Catalogue of Postage Stamps, 1991 (4 vols), 1992 (only had 3 of 4 vols available) Smit, F.G.A.M. 1978 Insects on Stamps, Tring Stanley, V.F. 1979 American Topical Association, Handbook No. 98, Milwaukee Insects and other invertebrates of the world on stamps Bibliography Odonatologica - Journal of the Societas Internationalis Odonatologica (SIO) Odonatological Abstracts (OA) 1978 - OA 1874, OA 1980 1979 - OA 2316 1980 - OA 2572 1982 - OA 3420 1983 - OA 4139 1986 - OA 5335,OA 5386 1987 - OA 5606, OA 5700, OA 5775 Martinia, Bulletin de liason des Odonatologues de France. Bois d'Arcy Sep 1985 (no 1/2) pages 30-31 Oct 1986 (no 4) pages 27-28 Mar 1987 (no 5) pages 30-32 Selysia, Newsletter of the SIO and the US national office Mar 1984 vol 13 no 1 page 12 Mar 1985 vol 14 no 1 page 3 Mar 1986 vol 15 no 1 page 11



Ron Lyons (volunteer 1990-1999)
Chula Vista Nature Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910-1201