Free Vinland’s first stamp issue of 2013, on 13th March, 2013, celebrates the 102nd birthday of the renowned science-fiction author and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard.

Born on 13th March 1911, he developed a self-help system called dianetics, which was first published in 1950. He subsequently developed his ideas into a wide-ranging set of doctrines and rituals called scientology. His writings became the guiding texts for the Church of Scientology, addressing such subjects as business administration, literacy, and drug rehabilitation.

He was an officer in the US Navy during World War II, where he commanded two ships. As a lieutenant, he served aboard the USS Algol from 2 December 1943 to 28 September 1944. He was part of her commissioning crew and served as the ship’s navigation and training officer as well as the Chief Ship’s Censor.

Apart from writing numerous acclaimed science-fiction books (including the classic "Battlefield Earth", an epic set in the year 3000 AD, shown on the $1.65 stamp, which was later made into a movie starring John Travolta), he was a pioneering explorer, world traveller, and nuclear physicist, with expertise in a wide range of disciplines including photography, art, poetry, and philosophy.

In 1967, he established the Sea Org, with three ships, the Diana, the Athena, and the Apollo, and he lived at sea for much of the next few years. The Sea Org moved to land bases in 1975.

Hubbard is the Guinness World Record holder for the most published author, with 1,084 works, most translated book (70 languages for "The Way to Happiness") and most audiobooks (185 as of April 2009). According to Galaxy Press, Hubbard's "Battlefield Earth" has sold over 6 million copies and Mission Earth a further 7 million, with each of its ten volumes becoming New York Times bestsellers on their release.

Here is the complete set of two stamps, mint, with the 30c showing Hubbard with the cover of his book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health".

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