Briefkaart aan Jan Veth Possibly 1886

This is a 2 1/2 cent briefkaart or postcard to Jan Veth, dating back to 1886. The coat of arms in the upper left, featuring a crowned lion rampant, immediately evokes the heraldic traditions of European nobility and statehood. The lion, a symbol of courage and strength since antiquity, appears throughout history—from the Lion Gate of Mycenae to countless royal standards. Here, it is a clear emblem of Dutch national identity. Think of the Ishtar Gate of Babylon where lions were symbols of royal power. The symbolic power is clear. One might ponder the collective memory that imbues this image with such resonance. The stamp itself, a humble object, becomes a vessel carrying the weight of history, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. Consider how such symbols echo through time, resurfacing and evolving, bearing new meanings, yet rooted in ancient soil.