Dermal philately : stamps highlighting skin, fur, feather, and scales

Indraneil, Das and Genevieve, Gee (2022) Dermal philately : stamps highlighting skin, fur, feather, and scales. Biophilately, 71 (2). pp. 72-78. ISSN 1488-5255

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Abstract

The skin is the largest and heaviest organ, weighing 12-15% of body mass in humans. Its multiple functions include protecting tissues and organs, storing water, vitamin D, fat and glucose, regulating body temperature, shielding the body from harmful ultra-violet rays and acting as the first line of defence against infectious diseases. Many sensory receptors are located along the skin surface­ from heat and cold to touch and pressure. Derived from the epidermis, the outermost skin layer, a variety of structures can be found in the animal kingdom, from hair and fur to scales and feathers. In this article, we describe stamps that are based on the integumentary system, comprising the skin, and its main derived product, leather. Also dealt with are material, such as flocked paper or metallic foil, or processes, such as embossing, used to produce stamps to mimic the surface structures of animals, such as fur, feathers and scales that are modifications of the skin. Entries are listed in taxonomic order.

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