David Kirby
@homophoni.bsky.social
I like tapes, pianos, and stamps.
All put back together.
September 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
All put back together.
This 1995 brochure from Myanmar (formerly Burma) describes the relationship:
"The Tatmadaw [Royal Armed Forces] befriended the Japanese not because it liked fascism but because it desired to drive the imperialists out."
So not exactly welcoming...
"The Tatmadaw [Royal Armed Forces] befriended the Japanese not because it liked fascism but because it desired to drive the imperialists out."
So not exactly welcoming...
September 2, 2025 at 8:33 PM
This 1995 brochure from Myanmar (formerly Burma) describes the relationship:
"The Tatmadaw [Royal Armed Forces] befriended the Japanese not because it liked fascism but because it desired to drive the imperialists out."
So not exactly welcoming...
"The Tatmadaw [Royal Armed Forces] befriended the Japanese not because it liked fascism but because it desired to drive the imperialists out."
So not exactly welcoming...
Here's another Japanese occupation stamp, this time from Burma, issued in 1943. I was surprised to learn that unlike Manchukuo's puppet state, many Burmese welcomed Japan as liberators from Britain—hopes soon dashed by the realities of war.
#stampcollecting #philately #stamps #japan #burma
#stampcollecting #philately #stamps #japan #burma
September 2, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Here's another Japanese occupation stamp, this time from Burma, issued in 1943. I was surprised to learn that unlike Manchukuo's puppet state, many Burmese welcomed Japan as liberators from Britain—hopes soon dashed by the realities of war.
#stampcollecting #philately #stamps #japan #burma
#stampcollecting #philately #stamps #japan #burma
Anyone else notice that Scott now lists Carpatho-Ukraine as its own country, rather than as a semi-autonomous region of Czechoslovakia?
#philately #stampcollecting #ukraine #czechoslovakia
#philately #stampcollecting #ukraine #czechoslovakia
August 26, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Anyone else notice that Scott now lists Carpatho-Ukraine as its own country, rather than as a semi-autonomous region of Czechoslovakia?
#philately #stampcollecting #ukraine #czechoslovakia
#philately #stampcollecting #ukraine #czechoslovakia
Those Contrasello issues are quite a rabbit hole! I didn’t realize the 1867 stamps were later overprinted for telegraph use. Imagine sending a telegram in the 1870s? I’ll have to comb through my El Salvador stamps to see if I’ve missed any.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El...
August 6, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Those Contrasello issues are quite a rabbit hole! I didn’t realize the 1867 stamps were later overprinted for telegraph use. Imagine sending a telegram in the 1870s? I’ll have to comb through my El Salvador stamps to see if I’ve missed any.
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El...
El Salvador has been making headlines recently, but before it was famous for giga-prisons, it was known as the "Land of Volcanoes." Here is El Salvador’s first postage stamp, printed in 1867 by the American Bank Note Company, featuring the Izalco volcano.
#philately #stampcollecting #elsalvador
#philately #stampcollecting #elsalvador
August 5, 2025 at 2:44 PM
El Salvador has been making headlines recently, but before it was famous for giga-prisons, it was known as the "Land of Volcanoes." Here is El Salvador’s first postage stamp, printed in 1867 by the American Bank Note Company, featuring the Izalco volcano.
#philately #stampcollecting #elsalvador
#philately #stampcollecting #elsalvador
I use a wine press, teeheehee.
June 24, 2025 at 2:10 PM
I use a wine press, teeheehee.
@stamplab.bsky.social mentioned Manchukuo recently, which is an interesting chapter in history and philately. So, here's a stamp issued in 1935 during the brutal Japanese occupation of Chinese Manchuria, featuring the puppet emperor Puyi.
#stampcollecting #stamps #philately #china #japan #manchukuo
#stampcollecting #stamps #philately #china #japan #manchukuo
June 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM
@stamplab.bsky.social mentioned Manchukuo recently, which is an interesting chapter in history and philately. So, here's a stamp issued in 1935 during the brutal Japanese occupation of Chinese Manchuria, featuring the puppet emperor Puyi.
#stampcollecting #stamps #philately #china #japan #manchukuo
#stampcollecting #stamps #philately #china #japan #manchukuo
I posted this photo before, but deleted it because I felt like it was too personal. I really should stop deleting posts. So, let's try again: here is a piano that my partner Christine gave me. It's basically the most incredible gift I've ever received from the most incredible person I've ever known.
May 28, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I posted this photo before, but deleted it because I felt like it was too personal. I really should stop deleting posts. So, let's try again: here is a piano that my partner Christine gave me. It's basically the most incredible gift I've ever received from the most incredible person I've ever known.
I managed to get this working again. Another 4-track brought back from the brink. I've almost fixed as many as I've broken now--not quite though.
May 22, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I managed to get this working again. Another 4-track brought back from the brink. I've almost fixed as many as I've broken now--not quite though.
Here’s something unique — an Express Post stamp from the Republic of China, issued between 1912 and 1916 (I think). Does anyone know more about these? It’s the only one I’ve ever come across.
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #china
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #china
May 19, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Here’s something unique — an Express Post stamp from the Republic of China, issued between 1912 and 1916 (I think). Does anyone know more about these? It’s the only one I’ve ever come across.
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #china
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #china
This set from the Lao People's Democratic Republic is beautiful. We often think of Laos as a single, unified culture, but the reality is that it’s home to dozens of distinct and diverse cultural traditions.
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #laos
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #laos
May 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
This set from the Lao People's Democratic Republic is beautiful. We often think of Laos as a single, unified culture, but the reality is that it’s home to dozens of distinct and diverse cultural traditions.
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #laos
#philately #stampcollecting #stamps #laos
General Grant and party after leaving the Bonanza Mines, Virginia City, Nevada, Oct. 26, 1879. The mine operated from 1865-1960 and at one time was reported to be the second largest producer of quicksilver (mercury) in the United States.
#postcards #mining
#postcards #mining
May 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
General Grant and party after leaving the Bonanza Mines, Virginia City, Nevada, Oct. 26, 1879. The mine operated from 1865-1960 and at one time was reported to be the second largest producer of quicksilver (mercury) in the United States.
#postcards #mining
#postcards #mining
Taking apart a destroyed Fostex 260 4-track. I don't like the digital transport buttons on these models, but they make gnarly feedback which I love. And this board is kinda beautiful by itself.
May 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Taking apart a destroyed Fostex 260 4-track. I don't like the digital transport buttons on these models, but they make gnarly feedback which I love. And this board is kinda beautiful by itself.
Here is one of my favorite cat stamps from Japan, featuring a painting by Takehisa Yumeji.
#philately #stampcollecting #cats #japan #黒船屋
#philately #stampcollecting #cats #japan #黒船屋
May 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Here is one of my favorite cat stamps from Japan, featuring a painting by Takehisa Yumeji.
#philately #stampcollecting #cats #japan #黒船屋
#philately #stampcollecting #cats #japan #黒船屋
These are bonkers. Issued by the Taliban after the American withdrawal to commemorate the defeat of the Soviets. February 15th is now a national holiday in Afghanistan.
#stampcollecting #philately #afghanistan #illegalstamps
#stampcollecting #philately #afghanistan #illegalstamps
May 8, 2025 at 9:54 PM
These are bonkers. Issued by the Taliban after the American withdrawal to commemorate the defeat of the Soviets. February 15th is now a national holiday in Afghanistan.
#stampcollecting #philately #afghanistan #illegalstamps
#stampcollecting #philately #afghanistan #illegalstamps
These Yemeni space stamps from 1970 are steeped in Cold War-era anxiety and reflect the country's longstanding interest in aerospace and rocketry. Likely intended for collectors rather than actual postal use, they remain intriguing artifacts of their time.
#stampcollecting #philately #yemen #space
#stampcollecting #philately #yemen #space
May 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM
These Yemeni space stamps from 1970 are steeped in Cold War-era anxiety and reflect the country's longstanding interest in aerospace and rocketry. Likely intended for collectors rather than actual postal use, they remain intriguing artifacts of their time.
#stampcollecting #philately #yemen #space
#stampcollecting #philately #yemen #space
Found at a thrift store: a letter addressed to Miss Sallie Hall of Wallingford, Connecticut, containing an 1852 albumen print by Montgomery P. Simons (1816–1877), one of Philadelphia’s earliest practicing photographers.
#philately #stampcollecting #albumen
#philately #stampcollecting #albumen
May 3, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Found at a thrift store: a letter addressed to Miss Sallie Hall of Wallingford, Connecticut, containing an 1852 albumen print by Montgomery P. Simons (1816–1877), one of Philadelphia’s earliest practicing photographers.
#philately #stampcollecting #albumen
#philately #stampcollecting #albumen
Another ruined piano.
April 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Another ruined piano.
Overprinted stamps from 1898, issued during the first U.S. occupation of Cuba—the same year we acquired Guantanamo Bay. Feels timely, as we stumble into a fresh chapter of American expansionism.
#stampcollecting #philately #cuba
#stampcollecting #philately #cuba
April 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Overprinted stamps from 1898, issued during the first U.S. occupation of Cuba—the same year we acquired Guantanamo Bay. Feels timely, as we stumble into a fresh chapter of American expansionism.
#stampcollecting #philately #cuba
#stampcollecting #philately #cuba
On the way to the dog park. Mr. Dill Pickles freaking loves the dog park.
April 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
On the way to the dog park. Mr. Dill Pickles freaking loves the dog park.
I wish I had kept this one.
April 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I wish I had kept this one.
Cable pianos are generally considered to be the worst, but I think this ruined piano is beautiful. How could you not want to drag your fingernails across those exposed strings? And the way the keys are all crammed together at the end reminds me of something out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
April 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Cable pianos are generally considered to be the worst, but I think this ruined piano is beautiful. How could you not want to drag your fingernails across those exposed strings? And the way the keys are all crammed together at the end reminds me of something out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
A player piano that my friend Pascal is restoring. It would be fun to experiment with preparations or perhaps make some Strumming Music style rolls.
April 25, 2025 at 4:17 PM
A player piano that my friend Pascal is restoring. It would be fun to experiment with preparations or perhaps make some Strumming Music style rolls.
Revox and a can of compressed air.
March 17, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Revox and a can of compressed air.