The Concow Maidu Story of Creation on a Faux Postage Stamp
A SHORT HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL STAMPS
Quite a few Native American tribal stamps have been created by
Indian Nations. Some of them are reservation hunting permit stamps.
Such items are attractive to stamp collectors. Duck Stamps, issued by
the US government have a huge following among collectors. And as
for cinderella faux postage stamps, there are societies and clubs dedicated to their study.
The first Native American tribal stamps were issued by the Rosebud Sioux in the 1950's. These were hunting permit stamps.
The Crow Creek Sioux have issued a number of Duck Hunting stamps. A link at the bottom of my post takes you to the history of these stamps. There is an amusing story of the Crow Creek people having had a lack of interest in helping stamp collectors purchase their stamps, which were issued for a practical purpose. Stamp collectors have been made to wait until after hunting season is over to get copies of the stamps, which were made for hunters, not collectors. [See the Arago link below, where you can
read an informative article by Jeanette Cantrell Rudy.]
Tribal stamps were first issued in the 1950's, but the first stamps with images instead of mere text appered in 1989--with the Crow Creek People. These stamps show flying birds.
In my links below you can find examples of fantasy Native American tribal stamps, such as those from the Republic of Timucua. These are called 'micronation stamps' by collectors. There are quite a few micronations online. It is creative genre, not always geared just to stamps.
Developers of a micronation go to various lengths to invent a history and culture for their imaginary land. This genre of creativity is found in organizations like the Society For Creative Anachronism, whose members try to recreate the Middle Ages.
Also you can find a link to authentic tribal stamps from a dealer who specializes in them for collectors. (This is Jaffe Stamps, who acquired the Brookman Stamp Company, & has a complete online catalog of known Indian Reservation Stamps).
These authentic tribal stamps and the fantasy issues mentioned above are all classified as 'cinderella stamps' by stamp collectors. A cinderella is any sort of non-postage stamp, including Christmas seals, revenue stamps, and Duck Hunting Permit Stamps, as well as faux postage stamps or micronation stamps. The stamps from Timucua are 'faux postage stamps,' as they are purely artistic creations.
Asskosskoss
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
My own issues from Maidem Kodom and the Mooretown Provisional Post Office are all micronational stamps--faux postage stamps that are educational and informative . . . ana a way of sharing with the world my art that relates to Concow Maidu culture.
Voice of the Turtle
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
NOTES ON MY MAIDEM KODOM STAMPS
My art for many of these designs was in part made from natural earth pigments--and sometimes in conjuction with opaque watercolors.
The brief synopsis of the story of Ultrama, the Turtle is found in the
margins of this Turtle stamp I created for an idealized Maidu postal service,
which I have dubbed 'The Mooretown Provisional Post Office.'
As you see here I have included Spirit of the Deer Man and, Asskosskoss the Jay among the images on my artist stamps.
Sumi Maidem Kakini
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Actually I began creating faux postage stamps up in Feather Falls back
in 1999. Subsequently I have created quite a few imaginary stamp issuing
countries--from Amphitritonia to Undinia. My Maidem Kodom stamps
are special because they reflect the language and customs of a real
culture, at least as interpreted by myself. I apologize for any grammatical
or informational errors which may appear in my work and writings.
Netdim Kakinim
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
A PARALLEL OF CONCOW MAIDU LEGEND WITH HINDU SCRIPTURE
Tom Epperson, a Maidu storyteller, has given us the most comprehensive
account of the original Concow Maidu cultural legends. A link at the bottom
of this post takes you to an original recording of Mr. Epperson singing a
version of the Maidu Creation Story.
The Maidu account of Creation is similar to that found in India, where the
first incarnation of Vishnu was Kurma, the Tortoise.
There is another Hindu Myth that recalls the Maidu Creation Story--the legend
of Bhu. In this story Bhu, the Earth Goddess, is held captive at the bottom of
the sea. Narasimha, the Manlion, (the third incarnation of Vishnu) rescues her
from the clutches of Makara, the Sea King. This story is found in the Puranas.
'Bhu' means earth in the sense of dense matter. In this her story parallels
the Maidu legend where mud is brought up from the bottom of the sea by
Ultrama the Turtle.
CONCOW MAIDU CULTURE VIDEO BY WHOLLEM
ANOTHER ANCIENT STORY OF CREATON SET AT THE OCEAN FLOOR
Interestingly enough, in the Gnostic Gospels found at Nat Hammadi in Egypt
there is an account of Genesis wherein the Garden of Eden is at the bottom
of the sea. The story relates that Adam was created as a reflection on the
water. Here we have the oceanic element, but Adam is a mental creation,
rather than a physical creation from clay or mud.
Thus the Maidu Creation Story has various parallels in different parts of the
world. Some story elements are similar. But the Maidu story is unique. . . and
quite different from other legends found among tribal groups in early California.
