Seismic Philately
adapted from the 2008 CUREE Calendar
introduction by David J. Leeds
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved.
Stamps shown on front cover (left to right): • Label created by Chicago businessmen to help raise relief for the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake • Stamp
commemorating the 1944 San Juan, Argentina Earthquake • Stamp commemorating the 1954 Orleansville, Algeria Earthquake • Stamp commemorating
the 1953 Zante, Greece Earthquake • Stamp from 75th Anniversary stamp set commemorating the 1931 Hawkes Bay, New Zealand Earthquake • Stamp
depicting a lake formed by a landslide triggered by the 1923 Kanto, Japan Earthquake
Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering
CUREE
1301 South 46th Street, Richmond, CA 94804-4600 tel: 510-665-3529
http://www.curee.org
fax: 510-665-3622
Seismic Philately
by David J. Leeds
Introduction
Philately is simply the collection and the study of postage stamps. Some
stamp collectors (philatelists) collect only from their native country, others
collect from the stamp-issuing countries around the world. Other philately
collections are defined by topic, such as waterfalls, bridges, men with beards,
nudes, maps, flowers, presidents, Americans on foreign stamps, etc. Many
of the world’s stamps that are related to the topic of earthquakes have been
compiled in this publication.
of the Secretary of the Treasury, and as a last resort, bisected stamps could
be used for half their face value. (see March)
Earthquakes impact philately in two major ways. First is the transient effect
of shaking, which disturbs or damages the physical postal system and
interferes with its operation. During this initial period, while repairs and
reconstruction are underway, we may find free stampless mail, covers and
cards flown on emergency flights, and other makeshift arrangements that
mark the event. The other more lasting impact is on the production of
commemorative stamps, fund- raising semi-postal stamps, and postal tax
stamps. Examples of all of the above are shown on pages of this calendar.
Free Franking is where no stamps are required to indicate postage paid.
This is done by order of the post office department, or other agency, usually
following a disaster, when access to post offices is limited. An example of
this is shown for the San Francisco 1906 Earthquake (April). Due to the
damage to post offices, and their limited access by the public, free mail was
accepted for about three weeks after the earthquake. Congress and other
Federal agencies use this term, but their free franked envelopes are actually
prepaid.
FDC, first day cover, or Covers, are sometimes created to commerate the
first day a new stamp is issued. As part of the presentation, an envelope
with the new postage stamp is cancelled on the first day of issue. Additional
information and/or artwork, called a cachet, may be included.
Postal Tax Stamps are small denomination stamps that indicate a tax above
the regular postal rate was paid; usually required on all mail issued on a
Cachet refers to the printed or hand-stamped information on a cover. It particular day or for a few days only. In some Arab countries, the tax is
may be official, confirming mail service, or a decoration supplying restricted to the issuing country and other Arab countries. Examples are
shown, mostly from Lebanon.
information (see February airmail envelope from Antarctica ).
Philatelists have their own vocabulary that may need explanation.
Control Overprints: Many Latin American countries issue commemorative
stamps with published periods of validity. These may run for days, weeks,
or even a year. At the end of the period of validity the stamps will no longer
be accepted for use. Authorities may extend the period by overprinting the
stamps with the word “HABILITADA” which means re-habilitated, or
acceptable for use. In 1931 in Managua, Nicaragua after the earthquake,
the post office vaults were broken open and huge quantities of stamps were
stolen. To avert a shortage of stock, everything on hand not stolen (including
demonetized stamps) were overprinted, either with “1931” or the signature
Labels are non-denominated adhesives (stamps) issued by nongovernmental agencies. They look like stamps but have no real franking
value. Examples would be the several labels issued by the Japanese
Women’s Club of Los Angeles for the 1923 Tokyo Earthquake (September),
the Chicago Business Association stamp issued for the 1906 San Francisco
Earthquake (April), or the 1907 triangle label issued by the Massachusetts
Red Cross for the Messina, Italy Earthquake (December).
Perforations are the tiny holes that make individual separation easy. There
are other means of separation such as roulette, a process by which paper is
slit between stamps to make their separation easier, and die cut, where
machines are used to cut out each stamp, such as in self-adhesive stamps
that have a backing. Imperforate indicates the absence of these little
helpers. The most important example is the issue of Japan’s 1923 Dragonfly
(September). The roof of the factory building collapsed on the gumming
and perforating machinery in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. For the
first time since Japan’s first stamp issue in 1871, the stamp was printed
without perforations or gum.
Postage Due Stamps are special stamps affixed by the Post Office to letters
to collect sums upon delivery for deficient (not prepaid) or insufficient
postage. In certain cases there is a fine fixed at twice the deficiency. Portugal
issued double face value postage due stamps to be used for the improper
use of the 1755 Lisbon Earthquake Commemorative (November). The
postage stamps were mandatory on certain days on the continent and in the
many colonies.
About the author
Following his graduation from the
University of Texas in 1939, the first
experience in engineering and seismology
of David Leeds was in gravity and seismic
exploration on the U. S. Gulf Coast. He
entered the U.S. Air Corp in 1942, and is
currently a retired Lt. Colonel devoting most
of his time to his hobby, philately (stamp
collecting.)
David J. Leeds
Mr. Leeds coined the title “Engineering
Seismologist,” a profession he has practiced since joining the USC&GC
(United States Coast and Geodetic Survey) Seismological Field Survey,
Strong Motion Program in 1948 as a geophysicist. Following were
assignments as a Research Engineer at UCLA, a geophysicist with Dames
& Moore, independent practice, and finally, virtual retirement.
The admiration in which he is held by both the earthquake and philately
fields is indicated by the fact that he is an Honorary Member of the
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and a National Judge
Semi-Postals are stamps that are valid for postage at the standard designate of the American Philatelic Society. He has a desk full of gold awards for
rate at the time of issue, plus a small additional charge. The difference exhibits of his Canal Zone stamps. He edited the journal The Canal Zone
between the sales price of the stamp and the underlying postage, consists of Philatelist for about seven years, as well as EERI’s Newsletter for about
a contribution to support some sort of charity, such as child welfare, postal the same period.
employee pensions, Olympic stadiums, and other worthwhile causes. SemiPostals are much more common abroad. Quite a few are shown here raising
funds for disaster relief.
Stamps implies postage stamps, usually perforated and gummed, but
almost always with a designated value.
All of the stamps shown here are from the collection of David J. Leeds and are reproduced with his permission.
A.
C.
D.
B.
A surcharge was added to pre-printed stamps to
raise relief funds by adding an overprint;
sometimes the overprint was inverted.
January Stamps
CUREE
A. January 10, 1977 – First Day cover commemorating the Sixth World Conference on Earthquake
Engineering; stamp depicts the Earth’s crust with fault and seismograph. B. Letter airmailed after the
January 15, 1934 Bihar-Nepal, India Earthquake and delivered by an earthquake relief plane. C. One of
the earliest semi-postal stamps issued (some were printed with an inverted overprint), benefiting the
January 19, 1907 Kingston, Jamaica earthquake relief fund. D. First day covers, cache, and stamp
commemorating the January 15, 1944 San Juan, Argentina Earthquake.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
January
2008
JANUARY: Janus, Roman god of doors, beginnings, sunset and sunrise, had one face looking forward and one backward
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
1
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
2
3
4
5
9
10
11
12
18
19
25
26
New Year's Day
6
7
8
1857 Fort Tejon, CA Earthquake
1693 Sicily, Italy Earthquake
13
14
15
16
Islamic New Year (1429)
17
1995 Hanshin (Kobe), Japan EQ.
1915 Avezzano, Italy Earthquake
20
1994 Northridge, CA Earthquake
1944 San Juan, Argentina EQ
21
22
23
24
2001 Bhuj, India Earthquake
Martin Luther King, Jr's
Birthday (observed)
27
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
28
29
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
1857 Andrija Mohorovicic born
1980 Livermore, CA Earthquake
30
31
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
1999 Quindio, Columbia
Earthquake
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
1700 Cascadia Subduction Zone,
WA Earthquake
1531 Lisbon, Portugal Earthquake
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
B.
The Leap Year Earthquake
The red "X" indicates the destruction of the city.
E.
The cancellation stamp “U.S. Navy Operation
Deepfreeze” refers to the codename for a series
of US missions to Antarctica.
C.
In seismic refraction exploration, refracted seismic
energy is detected by seismic receivers to produce a
visual image of the subsurface structure of the earth.
The S.S. City of New Orleans was sailing
upstream when the Mississippi River
temporarily changed course.
D.
February Stamps
CUREE
A. Feb. 18, 1968 first day cover honoring the establishment of a seismic station in Antarctica. The cachet “Byrd
Land” is a humorous reference to the explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd. B. Stamps commemorating the “leap
year earthquake” Feb. 29, 1960 – Agadir, Morocco Earthquake. C. Feb. 7, 1812 the New Madrid Earthquake
caused a portion of the Mississippi River to reverse its direction of flow. D. Miniature sheet showing
reconstruction efforts commemorating the Feb. 4, 1976 Guatemala earthquake. E. Stamp issued in Russia
showing Seismic Refraction Exploration.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
February
SUNDAY
3
2008
FEBRUARY: On February 15 the Romans celebrated the festival of forgiveness for sins; (februare, Latin, to purify)
MONDAY
4
TUESDAY
5
WEDNESDAY
6
THURSDAY
7
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
8
9
1812 New Madrid, MO
Earthquake (#3 of 3 largest
1811-1812)
1931 Hawkes Bay,
New Zealand Earthquake
1976 Guatemala Earthquake
1663 St. Lawrence, Canada
Earthquake
10
11
12
1971 San Fernando, CA
Earthquake
Chinese New Year
13
14
15
16
23
Valentine's Day
17
18
19
20
21
22
26
27
28
29
2001 Seattle, WA Earthquake
1990 Upland, CA Earthquake
1960 Agadir, Morocco Earthquake
Presidents' Day
24
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
25
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
B.
A.
(Left) The 1931 overprint distinguishes valid stamps from those that were looted from the
damaged post office after the earthquake, (Center) Image depicts the post office building before and
after it was damaged by the earthquake, (Right) American performer, Will Rogers, raised money
to aid relief efforts.
C.
Stamp commemorates the efforts of ham or amateur radio
operators to keep communication lines open after natural
disasters have taken out the usual means of communication
such as phones, television, and even radio.
D.
E.
F.
This is a half stamp, used
to increase supply of
stamps after disasters.
The historic frigate Constitution was in Long Beach at the time of the
earthquake, and later had to be dry docked to repair damage to a mast.
March Stamps
CUREE
A. Stamp series printed to raise relief funds for the March 31, 1931 Managua, Nicaragua earthquake. B.
Postmark commemorates 25th anniversary of the establishment of a seismological station in Anchorage Alaska
and a stamp recognizing role of ham radio. C. First day cover – March 10, 1933 Long Beach Earthquake. D.
Relief stamp issued for the March 1956 Lebanon earthquake. E. Stamp honoring UNDRO (United Nations
Disaster Relief Organization) shows an artistic rendering of a seismogram. F. Bisected stamps sold to increase
the supply of smaller denominations after the 1931 Managua, Nicaragua earthquake.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
March
2008
MARCH: Mars, the Roman god of war
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
Founding of CUREE, 1988
1987 Edgecombe, New Zealand
Earthquake
3
4
5
1985 Chile Earthquake
1977 Romanian Earthquake
1987 Ecuador Earthquake
9
10
11
Daylight Savings
Begins
1933 Long Beach, CA Earthquake
2
16
17
18
6
7
8
1927 Tango, Japan Earthquake
12
13
1737 Calcutta, India Earthquake
1992 Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake
19
20
14
15
21
22
Good Friday
(Western Christianity)
1956 Lebanon Earthquake
St. Patrick's Day
23
24
25
26
Muhammad's Birthday
Vernal Equinox
1957 San Francisco, CA
Earthquake
27
28
29
Easter
1872 Owens Valley, CA
Earthquake
30
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
1931 Managua,
Nicaragua Earthquake
1812 Caracas, Venezuela
Earthquake
31
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
1964 Alaska Earthquake
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
April Stamps
CUREE
A. Stamp depicting the eruption and earthquakes of the Hekla Volcano in Iceland, which lasted from
March 29 1947 to April of 1948. B and C. Label and stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the
April 18,1906 San Francisco Earthquake. D. Postcard with a San Francisco Earthquake relief label
sponsored by the business merchants of Chicago, IL. E. Stamp from China promoting civil defense by
demonstrating the “duck and cover” exercise. F. Letter mailed from San Francisco after the April 18, 1906
earthquake when the post office allowed mail to be sent without postage.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
APRIL: Roman month Aprilis, perhaps derived from aperire, (L., to open, as in opening buds and blossoms) or
perhaps from Aphrodite, original Greek name of Venus
April
SUNDAY
6
MONDAY
7
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
1
2
1946 Aleutian, AK Earthquake
1868 Island of Hawaii Earthquake
8
9
THURSDAY
2008
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
3
4
5
10
11
12
18
19
1972 Ghir Karzin, Iran Earthquake
13
14
15
16
17
1906 San Francisco, California
Earthquake
1949 Olympia, WA Earthquake
20
21
22
Passover Begins
1918 Riverside County, CA
Earthquake
27
28
23
24
26
1992 Cape Mendocino, CA
Earthquake
1992 Joshua Tree, CA Earthquake
29
25
1899 Vacaville, CA Earthquake
30
1965 Seattle, WA Earthquake
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
D.
B.
E.
C.
D.
May Stamps
CUREE
A. Labels commemorating the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) and the
associated World Conference. B. IDNDR stamps issued by the United Nations (UN). C. Label to raise
earthquake relief funds for India, coincided with the British monarchy’s Silver Jubilee. D. Mail in India
was shot across a river in a rocket to raise money for the May 31, 1935 Quetta Earthquake relief fund.
E. Stamp honoring the 400th anniversary of Guadalajara depicting the towers of the Cathedral of
Guadalajara that were rebuilt after the earthquake of May 31, 1817.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
May
2008
MAY: Maia, Roman goddess, mother of Mercury by Jupiter and daughter of Atlas
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
FRIDAY
2
SATURDAY
3
1983 Coalinga, CA Earthquake
4
6
5
Cinco de Mayo
11
Mother's Day
18
12
8
9
10
1976 Friuli, Italy Earthquake
13
14
15
16
17
20
21
22
23
24
526 Antioch, Syria Earthquake
1960 Chilean Earthquake
1960 Chile Earthquake
27
28
29
30
31
1990 Peru Earthquake
1970 Ancash, Peru Earthquake
Buddha's Birthday
19
1875 Cucuta, Columbia EQ
25
7
26
1983 Sea of Japan,
Japan Earthquake
Memorial Day
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
1293 Kamakura, Japan
Earthquake
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
B.
A.
A.
C.
D.
E.
Stamp honors the 100th anniversary of the Italian
Institute for Water Sonar shown in use by the
marine military, 1873 – 1973.
June Stamps
CUREE
A. Stamps issued to commemorate 300th anniversary of the June 7, 1692, Port Royal, Jamaica Earthquake. B.
Miniature souvenir sheet showing 1692 Port Royal Earthquake damage. C. Cancellation mark and engraving
refers to the 5th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering held in Rome, Italy, June 1973. D. Semipostal
issued to raise funds for disaster relief in Indonesia. E. Cancellation mark refers to the 11th World Conference
on Earthquake Engineering held in June 1996, Acapulco, Mexico. The stamp depicts the logo for the Mexico
National Civil Protection System.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
June
SUNDAY
1
MONDAY
2
8
TUESDAY
3
9
10
WEDNESDAY
4
11
1836 Northern California
Earthquake
1773 Antigua, Guatemala
Earthquake
15
2008
JUNE: Juno, chief Roman goddess
16
17
1896 Sanriku, Japan Earthquake
1964 Niigata, Japan Earthquake
Father's Day
1819 Calcutta, India Earthquake
22
23
24
THURSDAY
5
12
FRIDAY
6
7
1954 Fallon-Stillwater, NV
Earthquake
1692 Kingston Port Royal,
Jamaica Earthquake
13
14
20
21
1990 Caspian, Iran Earthquake
Summer Solstice
1978 Miyagi-Ken-Oki, Japan
Earthquake
1897 Assam, India Earthquake
18
25
19
26
27
28
1992 Landers, CA Earthquake
1992 Big Bear, CA Earthquake
1991 Sierra Madre, CA Earthquake
1948 Fukui, Japan Earthquake
2001 Arequipa, Peru
1946 Vancouver Island, Canada
29
SATURDAY
30
1925 Santa Barbara, CA
Earthquake
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
COMMEMORATING THE EFFORTS OF SEARCH AND RESCUE AROUND THE WORLD
B.
C.
July Stamps
CUREE
A. A selection of stamps commemorating Search and Rescue efforts. B. Cachet recognizing 25th
anniversary of the 1909 Mexico City Earthquake. C. Stamps depict reconstruction efforts after the July 26,
1963 Skopje, Yugoslavia Earthquake. The United Nations flag is depicted on stamp on left in gratitude for
its support. Image on postcard shows earthquake damage and acknowledges the establishment of a
seismological station.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
JULY: Renamed for Julius Caesar in 44 BC, who was born this month; Quintilis, L. for fifth month, was the former name (the
Roman year began in March rather than January)
July
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
1
6
13
7
8
14
15
WEDNESDAY
2
THURSDAY
3
2008
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
4
5
Independence Day
1201 Upper Egypt Earthquake
9
10
11
12
1986 Palm Springs, CA
Earthquake
1958 Lituya Bay, AK Earthquake
16
17
18
19
24
25
26
1993 Hokkaido-Nansei-Oki
Earthquake, Japan
1990 Luzon, Philippines
Earthquake
20
21
22
23
1952 Kern County (Tehachapi),
CA Earthquake
365 BC Knossos, Crete
Earthquake
27
28
1963 Skopje, Yugoslavia EQ
29
30
31
1976 Tangshan, China
Earthquake
1957 Mexico City, Mexico
Earthquake
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
1967 Caracas,Venezuela
Earthquake
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
B.
The volcanic eruptions of the volcanoes on Krakatora that occurred on
August 26-27 1883 were preceded by increased seismicity.
E.
D.
STAMPS COMMEMORATING THE GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
C.
(Left to right) Canadian Geological Stamp showing ground faulting; China
Geological Society – 60th anniversary stamp; and India stamp depicting the
Earth’s crust with surface fault and seismograph.
Few buildings were left standing on Zakynthos after the 1953
quake. The first relief efforts came from Israel. The swift
response was in gratitude to the island’s mayor and to Bishop
Chrysostomos for refusing to provide to the Nazi's occupying
the island in World War II a list of Zakynthos Jews.
August Stamps
CUREE
A. Labels raising disaster relief funds for victims of the 1976 Guatemala Earthquake. B. Increased seismic
activity was the first indication that the volcanoes on the island of Krakatoa in Indonesia were preparing
to erupt. C. U.S.S. Charleston postmark commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Aug. 31, 1886,
Charleston, South Carolina Earthquake. D. Stamps commemorating the geological sciences. E. Stamps
commemorating Aug. 12, 1953, Zakynthos (Zante), Greece Earthquake.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
August
SUNDAY
MONDAY
3
TUESDAY
5
4
WEDNESDAY
6
THURSDAY
7
1949 Ambato, Ecuador EQ
10
11
17
2008
AUGUST: Formerly Sextilis (sixth month in the Roman calendar); re-named in 8 BC for Augustus Caesar
18
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
8
9
1993 Guam Earthquake
12
13
1953 Zante, Greece Earthquake
1978 Santa Barbara, CA
Earthquake
19
20
14
21
15
16
1950 Assam, India Earthquake
1906 Valparaiso, Chile
Earthquake
22
23
1999 Izmit, Turkey Earthquake
1976 Mindanao, Philippines
Earthquake
1952 Kern County (Bakersfield),
CA Earthquake
1959 Hebgen Lake, MT Earthquake
24
26
25
27
28
29
30
1886 Charleston, SC
Earthquake
31
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
B.
C.
A. Restored buildings, five years after Tulbagh earthquake.
D.
F.
E.
G.
This lake was formed by a landslide generated
by the 1923 Kanto Earthquake.
The Great Kanto Earthquake damaged the postal service’s perforating and
gumming machines, resulting in history's first imperforate and ungummed
stamp issued because of earthquake damage.
September Stamps
CUREE
A. First day cover and stamps commemorating the September 29, 1969 Tulbaugh, South Africa Earthquake.
B. Cover commemorating the relief aid provided the day after the Sept. 1, 1923, Kanto, Japan earthquake by
the U.S. Navy. C. Stamp commemorating a Day of Gratitude, Sept. 17, to honor the United States for their
aid in the August 1949 Ecuador earthquake. D. Stamp commemorating the Sept. 9, 1954, Orleansville, Algeria
Earthquake. E and F. Stamps printed after the Sept. 1, 1923 Kanto, Japan earthquake. G. Stamps commemorating
the Seventh World Conference on Earthquake Engineering held Sept. 8-13, 1980, Istanbul, Turkey.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
September
2008
September, (septem, L. for 7) the seventh month in the Julian or Roman calendar, established in the reign of Julius Caesar
SUNDAY
MONDAY
1
TUESDAY
2
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
3
4
5
6
10
11
12
13
1962 Kazvin, Iran Earthquake
7
Labor Day
Ramadan Begins
8
9
1999 Athens, Greece Earthquake
14
15
1954 Orleansville, Algeria EQ
1899 Yakutat Bay, AK Earthquake
16
17
1986 Kalamata, Greece
Earthquake
18
19
20
1985 Mexico City, Mexico
Earthquake
21
23
22
24
25
26
2003 Hokkaido, Japan Earthquake
1997 Assisi, Italy Earthquake
27
1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan Earthquake
Autumnal Equinox
28
29
30
1993 Maharashtra,
India Earthquake
1999 Tulbagh, South Africa EQ
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
C.
B.
E.
October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, occurred during
Game #3 of the World Series held in San Francisco, California
F.
D.
The hands in this engraving
depict the Peru ancient
Symbol of Friendship
October Stamps
CUREE
A. Cover and stamps issued by German Red Cross to raise funds for Turkey earthquake disaster relief.
B. Stamp issued by German Red Cross to raise funds for Yugoslavia earthquake disaster relief. C. Postmark
commemorating the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. D. Overprint earthquake relief stamp to help
victims of the October 8, 1974 Antigua Earthquake E. Turkey issued stamps and a cancellation mark
depicting reconstruction after earthquakes. F. The use of hands clasped in friendship or extended in the offer
of aid are frequent images used in postal art world-wide to express support for disaster relief aid.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
October
OCTOBER: eighth month (octo, L. for 8) in the Julian (Roman) calendar. The Gregorian calendar instituted by Pope Gregory
XIII established January as the first month of the year
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
1
THURSDAY
2
2008
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
3
4
10
11
1986 San Salvador, El Salvador
Earthquake
1918 Mona Passage, Puerto Rico
Earthquake
1980 El Asnam, Algeria Earthquake
1737 Calcutta, India Earthquake
17
18
1987 Whittier, CA Earthquake
5
6
7
1969 Santa Rosa, CA Earthquake
Ramadan Ends
8
9
1974 Antigua Earthquake
12
13
1992 Cairo, Egypt Earthquake
Columbus Day
(observed)
19
20
14
15
Yom Kippur
16
1979 Imperial County, CA
Earthquake
21
1989 Loma Prieta, CA Earthquake
1935 Helena, MT Earthquake
25
22
23
24
29
30
31
1868 Hayward, CA Earthquake
26
27
28
1983 Borah Peak, ID Earthquake
1891 Mino-Owari, Japan
Earthquake
Diwali
(Festival of Lights)
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Halloween
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
COMMEMORATING BOTH ANCIENT AND MODERN SEISMOGRAPHS
B.
The earliest known device used to detect earthquakes was created
around A.D.132 by Zhang Heng, a chinese astronomer,
mathematician, and seismologist.
C.
The apparatus consisted of a richly decorated copper vase with
eight dragon heads positioned around its upper circumference,
facing outwards. Fixed around the lower circumference, directly
beneath the dragon heads, were eight copper frogs. In its mouth,
each dragon held a small ball that dropped into the mouth of the
frog below it when a rod inside, flexible and weighted at its
upper end, was triggered by an earthquake.
E.
D.
Marquês de Pombal, Prime Minister
at the time of the November 1, 1755
earthquake in Lisbon who oversaw
the reconstruction of the city.
November Stamps
CUREE
A. Stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Hong Kong Observatory show both ancient and
modern seismographs. B. Stamps with overprint issued by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta commemorate the Nov. 23, 1980, Campania-Basilicata Earthquake. C. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge - believed to be the source
of sea-floor spreading, earthquakes, and continental drift in the Atlantic Ocean. D. Stamp commemorating
Alfred Wegener who first proposed the theory of continental drift. E. Stamp issued to raise funds to build a
statue of Marquês de Pombal, Prime Minister at the time of the November 1, 1755 earthquake in Lisbon.
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
November
NOVEMBER: 9th Roman month (L. novem, 9). Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1582, skipping 10 days
that October, correcting for too many leap years
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
2008
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
1755 Lisbon, Portugal Earthquake
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10
11
12
13
14
15
1946 Quiches, Peru Earthquake
Veterans' Day
Daylight
Savings Ends
9
1999 Duzce, Turkey Earthquake
16
1994 Manila, Philippines
Earthquake
1996 Nazca, Peru Earthquake
1980 Eureka, CA Earthquake
19
20
21
22
26
27
28
29
1987 Imperial County, CA
Earthquake
1800 San Diego, CA Earthquake
1976 Eastern Turkey Earthquake
1930 Idu, Japan Earthquake
Thanksgiving
18
17
1755 Cape Ann, MA Earthquake
23
24
25
1977 San Juan,
Argentina EQ
30
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
CUREE
A.
B.
Terrestrial spectroscopy is the study of
the interaction between energy waves
and the surrounding earth surface
through which the waves pass.
C.
Roberto Clemente was a hall of fame right-fielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. He spent
much of his time involved in charity work. When
the city of Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, was
reduced to rubble by a massive earthquake on
December 23, 1972, Clemente immediately
arranged emergency relief flights. While delivering a relief shipment he was killed when the
airplane he was in crashed into the ocean off the
coast of Puerto Rico on December 31, 1972.
Clemente's body was never recovered.
D.
December Stamps
CUREE
A. Memorial postcard of the Dec. 28, 1908, Reggio-Messina Earthquake. B. Stamp commemorating
terrestrial spectroscopy – Israel issue C. Stamp honoring baseball star, Roberto Clemente, who provided
relief aid to the victims of the December 23, 1972 Managua, Nicaragua Earthquake. D. Many European
countries issued labels to raise disaster relief funds for victims of the 1908 Reggio-Messina Earthquake;
the example shown was issued by Germany. E. In Memoriam of Italy’s Dead – a lithograph, and a German
label, that commemorate the Reggio-Messina Earthquake’s dead and the “homeless in Southern Italy.”
CONSORTIUM of UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
2008
December
2008
DECEMBER: Julian (Roman) year's 10th month (L. decem, 10).
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1988 Spitak, Armenia Earthquake
1812 San Juan Capistrano, CA
Earthquake
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
24
25
26
27
2003 Bam, Iran Earthquake
1939 Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake
1932 Gansu, China Earthquake
1939 Erzincan, Turkey Earthquake
Friday: Frigedaeg (Anglo
Saxon; Frige, Frigga, chief
Norse goddess,Woden's wife;
daeg, day); Frigga's day
Saturday: Saeterdaeg
(Anglo Saxon; Saeter,
Saturn, Roman god of time;
daeg, day); Saturn's day
1954 Dixie Valley-Fairview, NV
Earthquake
1920 Gansu, China Earthquake
1811 New Madrid, MO Earthquake
(#1 of 3 largest 1811-1812)
21
22
23
1972 Managua, Nicaragua
Earthquake
1954 Eureka, CA Earthquake
Winter Solstice
First Day of Hanukkah
1854 Shikoku, Japan
Earthquake
28
29
30
Christmas Eve
31
Christmas Day
1703 Kanto, Japan Earthquake
1908 Reggio-Messina, Italy EQ
Sunday: Sunnenday
(Middle English translation of Greek Hemera
heliou): the sun's day
CUREE
1730 Hokkaido, Japan Earthquake
Monday: Monan daeg
(Anglo Saxon, monan,
moon; daeg, day): the
moon's day
Tuesday: Tiwes daeg
(Anglo Saxon Tiw, war
god, related to Greek god
Zeus; daeg, day): Tiw's day
New Year's Eve
Wednesday: Woensdag
(Danish, Woen, Woden, chief
Norse god, Frigga's husband;
dag, day): Woden's day
Thursday: Thursdaeg (Old
English; Thorr, Icelandic,
thundergod; daeg, Anglo
Saxon, day): Thor's day
CONSORTIUM OF UNIVERSITIES for RESEARCH in EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
CUREE
2
1
6
3
4
8
7
5
12
9
11
10
14
13
15
17
16
22
19
18
21
20
23
26
24
CUREE
27
28
25
Earthquake stamps from the collection of David J. Leeds
Consortium of Universities for Research in Earthquake Engineering
www.curee.org
29