1 Block with 8 Stamps (bicycles) - Brazil - 2017 (photo)

ABOUT THE SOUVENIR SHEET
The mini sheet, with eight stamps, presents six models of bicycles existing in Brazil from 1890 until 1960. They were rev - olutionary models in their respec - tive times, and became icons in this vehicle history in the coun - try. While changing representa - tion paradigm, the drawings ad - vance along the paper, exceeding the stamps’ limits, simulating a bicycle ride. The background col - or of the paper, in sepia, refers to the past, providing unity to the images. All stamps present the “Exposição Colecionar 2017” (Exhibition Collect 2017) logo as well as the vignette in the end of the sheet. Computer graphics technique was used on aquarelle and Indian ink illustrations.

 

Stamp issue N. 11 Art: Cristiano Seixas/Ghost Jack Print system: offset Paper: gummed chalky paper Mini sheet with 8 stamps Mini sheet dimension: 105 x 148mm Facial value: R$1.25 Issue: 50,000 mini sheets Design area: 44mm x 26mm Stamp dimensions: 44mm x 26mm Perforation: 11 x 11.5 Date of issue: October 22nd , 2017 Places of issue: Brasília/DF Printing: Brazilian Mint Philatelic item: FDC

Antique Bicycles By the end of the 19th century, bicycle arrived in Brazil brought by immigrants from Europe. The first reports of its existence in Brazilian territory are from Paraná, more precisely, Curitiba, city that received many immigrants since the second half of the 19th century. From the end of the 19th century until the first decades of the 20th century, the bicycle was a very strange product to the Brazilian reality. The cost to import was very high and there were no manufacturers in the Brazilian territory. Anyway, after 1895, bicycles could be seen in south states and in São Paulo. At that time, a large number of people who owned this vehicle used it for transportation. In the beginning of the 20th century, bicycle brands that controlled the market were: Bianchi, Lanhagno, Peugeot, Dupkopp, Phillips, Hercules, Raleigh, Prosdócimo, Singer, Caloi and Monark; all of them imported from Europe or the United States. Prosdócimo, Monark and Caloi brands were assembled in Brazil, with parts acquired from their original countries. In the mid 1940s, due to the difficulties to import parts, caused by the Second World War (1939-1945), companies like Caloi, Monark and Irca (Irmão Caloi, a split of Caloi family) started to produce most parts and, starting from the 1950s, bicycles of these brands started to be fully produced in Brazil, with incentive by the Getúlio Vargas government, which aimed at strengthening the national industry and the creation of jobs. So, the bases of an industry were settled that would kick into gear during the 1950s. In April 1948, Monark and Caloi, which formerly also imported good quality European brands, started their commercial and industrial activities. The manufacturing and sales of bicycles in Brazil experienced huge expansion. In addition to the mentioned brands, other brands appeared. The entrepreneurs developed conditions to produce models of frames and mudguards used in their own assemblies, reaching excellent quality. At the time, national bicycles counted on quality level enough to face the competition of those imported from Europe, and could be bought in the most popular stores of the time. During the 1960s, without incentive by the military government, the smaller brands were absorbed by other industries, and in the end, only two brands remained in Brazil, creating a monopoly that lasted until the opening of the national market to bicycles manufactured in Taiwan, China and Japan, in the beginning of the 1990s. From this moment on, the market suffered a harsh transformation caused by the entry of extremely high quality products and the definition of the cyclist consumer profile, which became more demanding. In this moment, the ‘mountain bike’ concept also started to disturb the existing bicycle market. The Brazilian mountain bike appeared in Rio de Janeiro. It was the ‘cariocas’ (from the city of Rio de Janeiro) who imported bicycles and formed groups of friends to ride in routes that covered tracks, surface roads and old farms. Those who did not have access to an imported bicycle could improvise with adaptations in national bicycles. The sports diffusion made of the mountain bike modality a success across Brazil. Another promotion at the end of the 1980s was the night rides along the streets of São Paulo city. In 1989, these informal tours originated the Night Biker and, soon after, the Night Biker’s Club of Brasil was created, intended to promote night rides, foment the mountain bike and diffuse concepts associated to the cyclist’s education and safety. The movement is considered an important factor in the consolidation of ‘bicycle activism’ in the country, known in English as bicycle advocacy, consisting of activities involving the defense of cyclists’ rights in the use of public venues, aiming at improving the conditions to ride and make popular the use of bicycle as vehicle. In 1982 the Federal District Metropolitan Federation of Biking was founded with the main goal of developing biking and encouraging the use of bicycle as competitive practice, way of transportation, physical activity, leisure, entertainment and tourism. In order to deploy these actions and promote bicycling in the Federal District region, the Federation invests in the organization of events and competitions to the population in general, in addition to contributing to build appropriate spaces for bicycles across the Federal District. With this issue, Correios Brasil depict a brief history of bicycles in Brazil, and also divulges the biking practice, a healthy and cheap sport, and ecologically correct transportation, whose practice creates a friendly and integrating environment among its followers.
WANDERSON TOSTA
President of the Federal District Metropolitan Federation of Biking