Lebanon 2002 "Sightseeings: Lebanese Fossil"
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| Issue Date | 20.11.2002 |
| ID | Michel: 1434; Scott: 571; Stanley Gibbons: 1405; Yvert et Tellier: 384; Category: pF |
| Design | |
| Stamps in set | 1 |
| Value | 10 000 - Fish fossil (Nematonotus longispinus) |
| Emission/Type | definitive |
| Issue place | Beirut |
| Size (width x height) | 30mm x 30mm |
| Layout | Sheet of 25 stamps |
| Products | FDC x1 |
| Paper | |
| Perforation | 13,25 x 13,5 |
| Print Technique | Offset, multicolor |
| Printed by | |
| Quantity | |
| Issuing Authority | LibanPost |
Between 11.10.2002 and 08.01.2003, the Post Authority of Lebanon issued 10 definitive stamps shows various sightseeing locations of the country. The first 8 stamps with face values from 100 to 3.000 Lebanese pounds were issued on 11.11.2002 and 20.11.2002, they look like "traditional" sightseeing stamps showing some famous buildings and landscapes.
The last two stamps, with very high face values (5.000 and 10.0000 Lebanese pounds) of the series depict Fish fossil (Nematonotus longispinus), issued on 22.11.2002 and Amber with included insect (Libanobythus milkii), issued on 08.01.2003.
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| Fossil of Nematonotus. Image credit: "The Virtual Fossil Museum" |
The sub-lithographic limestone deposits of Lebanon are dated to the Cenomanian Stage of the Middle Cretaceous, some 93 to 97 million years ago, and are most famous for exquisitely fossil fish preservation, but also produces a diversity of other well preserved invertebrate fossils such as shrimp and lobsters.
The stamp shows Nematonotus longispinus fish found there. Nematonotus developed a dramatic flag-like dorsal fin extension, hence the generic name longispinus. The dorsal here certainly lives up to that name, demonstrating this is an adult example. The genus became extinct during the Cretaceous. The detail in the caudal fin is remarkable; notice to the fine detail to the vertebral column. There are several partial shrimps of the genus Carpopenaeus present as well, with another on the reverse.
Products and associated philatelic items
| FDC | Stamps-Sheet | |
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References:
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- Nematonotus:
The Virtual Fossil Museum
Acknowledgements:
- Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice, PhD Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, USA, for review of a draft of this article.
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