Definitive Stamps & Ships

I've recently began acquiring older definitive series that depict the Caravel sailing ship. I began my collection after noticing this series in a folder full of Portuguese stamps (posted several posts below) ...

I then found and purchased a used collection of these Caravel stamps. It turns out that, like many (most) definitive series, there are more than one issue/printing of the stamps.  Here is the set of stamps I purchased (minus a couple of duplicates), along with a closeup of the stamp ...

printed and issued in 1942-44

Contrast this set of stamps with an 'accidental' discovery of a similar set from Denmark ... the first image is not mine, I borrowed from this excellent website http://worldstampalbum.com/main.aspx?MenuId=1

printed and issued in 1933-36

however the images after ARE mine discovered in a set of pages that came from, frankly a rather disgusting set of purchased stamps. These only somewhat remediated the purchase ... (the stamps appeared to have been rescued/purchased from a fire damaged home or something, they had a very bad odor and several were singed). Anyway here are those pictures ...

two things we can notice ... 1) a black background sets off the stamps far better than does a white or cream colored background; and 2) these are very attractive stamps!

The set from Denmark are actually pretty expensive when purchased mint, so I'll be on the lookout for nice used copies to complete the series (which again was printed and issued over multiple years).