Just a motorcycle but very small

In MFN Newsletter 131 from the beginning of 2020 we already showed a few "just motorcycle" images. It will be clear that there are still a few such "Just like" or "Just not" stamps.

Here first one of Thailand of April 1, 2020, out of a series of four stamps showing buildings of the Thai Government Savings Bank. The third 3 Baht stamp features a building on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok, where the Savings Bank's headquarters were located from 1950 to 1966.

To the trained eye, at least one scooter-like vehicle would be visible on the right and another Tuk-Tuk vehicle on the left. Small, though.

details with the supposed tuk-tuk (left) and scooter (right)

Almost the same picture as the one used for the stamp, which shows the vehicles better

Block with the complete series

Then a Russian case of doubt.
In 1961, the Russian postal service released a set of stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of Ukrainian Taras Shevchenko. He was and all-round man and was a writer, poet, artist and politician, among other things. He also wrote in the Ukrainian language, which was officially prohibited under the Tsarist rule.
The man died in 1861 and thus could never have seen a motorcycle himself. But isn't the image a drawing of his birthplace? He was born in Moryntsi in 1814 and that is also said to be the place depicted on the stamp, with an image of his former parental home in front of it. It could be that a motorcycle is driving around the corner, because we also see a drilling derrick in the background and they didn't exist either when Shevchenko was there. In 1964 the stamp was overprinted in red, on the occasion of Shevchenko's 150th birthday. See for yourself what you think of it.

The stamp with the later overprint

The complete issue

Another image about which I sometimes get a question is the Chinese Lottery postcard shown below, with a Tiger on a (motor)cycle-like two-wheeler. The card was released as a Christmas card in 1998, in a series with Tigers in sports situations.

It seems that the animal is not really drawn as a motorcyclist: no helmet, no motorcycle suit or boots. But looking at the vehicle, the tires are very thick for a bicycle and there is a thick bump between the front and rear wheel that can indicate a tank with an engine. The "poetic freedom" of the artist is therefore very debatable here.

I think this one fits well in the chapter "unsafe motorcycling".

Hans de Kloet

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