Stamps of Spain: 400th Anniversary of Relations between Spain and Japan (2013)

400th Anniversary of the Relations between Japan and Spain – Spanish release within Japan-Spain joint issue
21.11.2013
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In recognition of floriculture and the plant species that are cultivated in such disparate places as Spain and Japan, the postal services of the two countries have released a joint set of stamps dedicated to the Geranium and Lespedeza Thunbergii. The two stamps are joined along the serration.

If Japan released the joint stamps on October 1, 2013 in souvenir sheet with 10 different stamps(StampNews.com covered the event at http://www.stampnews.com/stamps/stamps_2013/stamp_400th-anniversary-of-diplomatic-relations-between-japan-and-spain-stamps.html, only two of them have been used in therespective Spanish issue.

The cultivation of plants and flowers in particular is considered an art in most cultures. In Spain, one of the most common plants is the Geranium, of the Geraniaceae family. It is grown in gardens, on terraces and balconies, and it produces bright flowers of different colours. There are different varieties, the most popular being the common geranium, the cascading or ivy-leaf geranium, the pelargonium and geraniums with aromatic leaves.

They need a great deal of light and sun in order to flower. They can withstand high temperatures but not cold or frost. When touched, the plant gives off a characteristic scent and it is easy to grow. Generally, it reproduces by means of vegetative reproduction.

The Lespedeza is a flowering plant of the Fabaceae family. It is commonly known as the Japanese or Bush Clover and it comes from temperate and subtropical regions in the east of North America, the east and south of Asia and Australia. It is one of the over 30 existing species of legumes, like peas and beans. Some varieties are cultivated in gardens as ornamental plants and others are used as forage.