My recent Covers…

 

Germany

National Park Jasmund

National park Jasmund (costal forest, northeast Germany) is listed in World Heritage List of UNESCO . Yearday UNESCO Worlheritagetitle 'Old Beech forest' National Park Jasmund . The forest is featured on the stamp too.

This pictorial cancellation is for one-year-celebration of UNESCO declaration for this forest.

Details – Courtesy : Shrikant Parikh

Thanks to Wolfgang Beyer, Germany

Covers from Jan Dzuirka of Germany

 

ESPERANTO Covers

 

 

Thanks Jan for the nice covers !!

Europa 2012 – Visit Gibraltar

 

     

Date of Issue – 15 June 2012

Hi !

Here is a beautiful set for EUROPA 2012,  being  issued today by Gibraltar Post . The set completely conveys the message of  this year’s Europa Theme, “ Visit ”….It’s a magnificent set and sure to liked by those who love Travel & Tourism and of course a wonderful set for my collection ….

This is all for Today..Till Next Post…Have A Great Time !!

     

The Europa 2012 stamp issue ‘Visit Gibraltar’ showcases the iconic, world famous Rock of Gibraltar. Situated at the meeting place of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea the majestic limestone Rock of Gibraltar was known in ancient times as one of the ‘Pillars of Hercules’ standing majestically across the Strait of Gibraltar alongside the southern pillar that rises in the continent of Africa.

The 10p and 44p stamps depict magnificent aerial views of the rock, city area and harbour where the most famous cruise liners dock throughout the year. The 42p stamp features the Moorish Castle’s Tower of Homage medieval fortification located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve believed to have been built in AD 711.

 

    

The 54p stamp features the Trinity lighthouse at Europa Point, the most southern location of Gibraltar, looking out towards the continent of Africa. The 51p stamp features the impressive St. Michael’s Cave also located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Its numerous stalactites and stalagmites continue to be formed by an accumulation of traces of dissolved rock deposited by water dripping from the ground above. The 66p stamp features Eliott’s Column located at the beautiful Alameda Botanical Gardens.

 

FDC

George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield has his place sealed in Gibraltar history for his successful defence of the Gibraltar garrison and fortress during the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasted between 1779 and 1783 during the American War of Independence.

From our Readers….

Sanjiv Jain from Dehradun shares here two private covers prepared by him on “Save Sparrow…”

 

‘Save sparrows for nature’s balance’

TNN Mar 21, 2012, 07.19AM IST

At a time when the population of sparrows is fast declining due to loss of their habitats, city-based bird lovers are striving hard to save them from extinction. On the occasion of World Sparrow Day on March 20, the bird watchers in the city urged people to contribute their bit in saving the little bird from getting extinct.

Gita Randhawa, a bird lover, was excited to see a full flock of sparrows at Ganga Barrage on the eve of World Sparrows Day. "Lot of people feed sparrows at Ganga Barrage which is very amazing because this shows that the awareness has increased among them towards the little bird. I am hopeful that the number of sparrows would increase if this trend continues," said Gita while talking to TOI. Captain Praveen Chopra, another bird lover, was of the view that in old houses, sparrows used to find some space to build their nests, but in the new pattern of architecture, it is not possible. This has reduced their numbers drastically.

Chopra also said that people can contribute their bit in saving this tiny, beautiful creature so that its chirpy voice could be heard in the verandas and at perches. Gita said, "People should keep bowls of water on the terrace and windows to save sparrows from dying due to thirst during peak summer season. Also people should sprinkle bajra in an open veranda to attract sparrows. These efforts can save this bird from getting extinct." It is worth mentioning here that increased use of pesticides in the fields, change in the pattern of buildings being made and gardens missing from the houses have become the main factors why the number of sparrows has declined sharply in the past few years.
Also, the release of radiation from the mobile and the TV towers has also been a cause of death of sparrows. Meanwhile, on the occasion of World Sparrow Day, the authorities of Kanpur zoo had put up a photo exhibition on sparrows and other birds.
The purpose of the exhibition was to inform visitors about sparrows and their ecological importance. Talking to TOI, K Praveen Rao, director, Kanpur zoo, expressed concern over the declining number of the little bird. Rao said there is a dire need to save sparrows from getting extinct. He said that if sparrows are not saved, the ecological balance would get disturbed as these birds feed on seeds and small insects and maintain the nature's balance. Rao also highlighted that the release of carbon monoxide from automobiles has also become a reason for the death of birds in large numbers. This needs to be curbed to save them, said Rao further.

- The Time  Of   India -   21st march  2012

My Recent Covers…

 

From Latvia

Moricsala Reserve - The oldest nature reserve in Latvia

"The oldest nature reserve in Latvia – the Moricsala Reserve – is almost closed to visitors and can be visited only with a special permit issued by Slītere National Park administration. The reserve is located in Kurzeme, on the lake of Usma, and occupies a small part of the lake gulfs and two islands – Moricsala (the island gained its name from the son of the Sachsen Prince-elector August, later French Marshal Moriz, who was hiding on the island with a small military unit of Russian troops in 1727) and the Big Alder Isle (Lielā Alkšņu sala). The area of the reserve is 802 ha and has been recognised as a Natura 2000 territory. There is exceedingly rich flora and fauna on Moricsala:  409 species of vascular plants, 157 species of moss, 338 species of mushrooms, 82 species of lichens, more than 40 species of birds and 320 species of butterflies. More than 100 species are considered rare and endangered, not only in Latvia, but also in many other European countries. Moricsala is notable for the fact that, for the last couple 100 years, there have been no human economic activities, thus giving the island a unique and rarely seen wild woodland landscape. "

 

"100 years Moricsala Reserve (the island Moritz),"   On the envelope the words: on a little sheet - 100 years of conservation, and under it - to observe, learn, take care! On the stamp: Reserve Moricsala - 100.

Read More…

Card issued by   Ministry of Conservation &  Environment, Latvia

Thanks to E.N. Limanski – Riga , Latvia 

Cover from Germany

Wolfgang Beyer - Germany

Scenic Beauty : Cocos (Keeling) Islands …

 

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

The remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands are located 2,770 kilometres north-west of Perth in the Indian Ocean and comprise two tropical coral atolls. The southern atoll consists of 26 islands and the uninhabited northern atoll, North Keeling Island, lies 24 kilometres away.

Of approximately 570 people living on the southern atoll, 86 per cent are Cocos Malays, descended from Javanese labourers originally brought to the islands in the 19th century to farm coconuts. The remaining population is European, mainly employed by the Australian government.

The romance and the beauty of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are captured in its dramatic sunrises and sunsets, although ironically, colour in the sky is influenced primarily by impurities like dust or smoke in the air.

Each of the stamps in this issue captures the colour and vibrancy of nature's work as it presents the beginning and the end of the day.

Club News

Glimpses :  Stamp of the Past exhibition at Red Fort

 

 

 

 

 

Venue : Red Fort ( 18 May – 17 July 2012)

:  : Timir Shah – Ajay Mittal from New Delhi

New Europa 2011 stamp from Ukraine..

 

 

Date of Issue : 20 December 2011

Ukraine Post issued a set of two stamps for EUROPA 2011 yesterday. This seems to be this year’s last Europa 2011 issue as most of the countries have already issued stamps for 2011 Europa Theme ‘ Forests ‘. The complete list with stamps issues of all Europa stamps can be viewed at specialized blog  http://europa-stamps.blogspot.com/

 

Club News

A specialized website on Indian Postal History

Mr Rajesh Pamnani of Hydrabad has created a new website on Indian Postal History. It is a very informative website for the collectors of Postal History. It has different sections on Indian Postal History, Indian Postal Markings, Postage Stamps,India (Used Abroad) and gallery of Indian Registration Labels, Bazar Card of India, Speed Post and other  items.  A separate section has been given for research articles. It is a complete website for collectors of Indian Postal History. It can be viewed at  : http://pamnani.info/rp_index.html 

 Rajesh Pamnani is a serious collector of Indian Postal History. He has started a website:  www.pamnani.info detailing a few of his collecting interests. It is kept as an open source for collaborative research.

He is  a member of the following stamp collecting societies :
1. India Study Circle for Philately (UK)
2. Philatelic Congress of India (Life Member)
3. Hyderabad Philatelic & Hobby Society (Life Member)
4. Postal Study Label Group (USA)

His current topic which needs collaborative research is Indian Registration Labels (1909-Date) Mr Rajesh Pamnani may be contacted at following address :

Rajesh Pamnani  E-mail : rajesh_pamnani@hotmail.com

Postal address:

Rajesh Pamnani, 239/240 Vaman Naik Lane
6-3-1199 Kundanbagh) Umanagar Begumpet
Hyderabad 500 016
Ph 040-23402682 mobile :098490-13175

Waterfalls of of Papua New Guinea

 

 

Date of Issue : 22 September 2011

 

PNG Post will issue a beautiful set of stamps and souvenir sheet featuring  waterfalls of Papua New Guinea on 22 September 2011.

WATER FALLS

Like the humpy ridges of a hatched back turtle shell, the mainland Papua New Guinea is densely populated with ruggedly studded mountains from the west, to the border with Indonesia, and all the way down to the Eastern Cape, along the Owen Stanley Range.

The many fast flowing rivers and creeks known today are evident to the steep falls and slopes rapidly dropping to the coastlines.

Waterfalls, both high and low are common sights nearly in every province in Papua New Guinea. In fact, the beauty of the cascades and the tranquility of the cool pools of water at the foot of the falls, have a mesmerizing effect that can easily sweep one off to a dream world. To the religious, Psalms 23:2 would vividly come into mind where King David describes the harbor of God being equal to quiet pools of fresh water.

Among other attributing qualities to the natural beauty of this land, waterfalls are a must content of Papua New Guinea’s cosmetic bag. They too are the reasons as to why tourists keep coming. As more and more people come to appreciate their beauty, the Post PNG Philatelic Bureau has decided to feature them on postage stamps to attest to the outside world.

Stamp Set:
K1.05 - Kesesoru waterfall is located in Eastern Highlands Province.
K1.05 - Aerial view of the Mageni waterfall. Located in Pomio, East New Britain Province.
K5.00 - Outlet of the Mageni waterfall. Located in Pomio, East New Britain Province.

K7.00 - Waghi waterfall is located in Western Highlands Province.

 

Souvenir Sheet:
Background information - Various waterfalls are located in different parts of Papua New Guinea.
The famous one is the Beaver Falls located in Southern Highlands.
The other waterfall also found there is the Ambua waterfall and it is featured on the Souvenir sheet.
K10.00 - Ambua falls - Southern Highlands Province

Sheetlet:
Sheetlet on full view of the Mageni waterfall from an underground river in the background.

K1.05 - Sogeri waterfall is located in Central Province up towards Sogeri Plateau.

K1.05 - Beaver or Wasi (in the local dialect) waterfall is located in the Southern Highlands Province.

K5.00 - Wawoi waterfall is located in Western Province.

K7.00 - Remote Island waterfall is located in Pomio, East New Britain Province.

New Stamps on Int.Year of Forests..

 

Tijuca National Park

Date of Issue : 6 July 2011

Here are new stamps on International Year of Forests.The main theme for the International Year of Forests 2011 is “Forests for People”. It highlights the dynamic relationship between forests and the people who depend on them. Brasil Post issued a souvenir sheet commemorating International Year of Forests and World Philatelic Exhibition Brasiliana 2013 . UNPA will also issue new stamps on 13 October in celebration of International Year of Forests.

On Souvenir Sheet…

In the souvenir sheet’s background, a forest symbolizing the Park can be seen. Green in different tones was used to create a harmonious effect by overlapping the elements portrayed in the stamps, which represent typical fauna and flora species: the violet-capped woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis), the green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon), the hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou insidiosus) and the orchid Hadrolaelia lobata, which is the symbol of the Tijuca National Park, an endemic species threatened by extinction. On the upper left corner, one can see the logo of the International Year of Forests and the logo of the World Philatelic Exhibition Brasiliana 2013 can be seen on the right.

Rio de Janeiro 's Tijuca National Park surrounds one of the 7 Wonders of the World :100-feet high statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms.Corcovado.(Christ the Redeemer seen from   the city of Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado Located in the Tijuca National Park, at more than 2000 feet high). 

Tijuca National Park

The Tijuca Forest is a mountainous hand-planted rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the world's largest urban forest, covering some 32 km² (12.4 mi²). The forest shares its name with the Tijuca bairro or neighborhood that contains it.The Tijuca Forest is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife, many threatened by extinction, found only in the Atlantic Rainforest After all the original forest had been destroyed to make way for coffee farms, Tijuca was replanted by Major Manuel Gomes Archer in the second half of the 19th century in a successful effort to protect Rio's water supply.In 1961, Tijuca Forest was declared a National Park. The Forest contains a number of attractions, most notably the colossal sculpture of Christ the Redeemeratop Corcovado mountain.

Read More…

Stamps from UN Postal administration

 

On 13 October 2011, the United Nations Postal Administration will issue three mini-sheets of eight stamps to commemorate the International Year of Forests.

Every one of us is connected to forests. Forests contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in the air. Over 40 per cent of the world’s oxygen is produced from rainforests. A tree releases 8 to 10 times more moisture into the atmosphere than the equivalent area of the ocean. Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers – a critical source of the water we drink and use in our daily lives.

Healthy forests sustain healthy people. Tropical forests provide a vast array of medicinal plants used in healing and health care. More than a quarter of modern medicines originate from tropical forest plants. Forests curb transmission of infectious diseases. Undisturbed tropical forests can have a moderating effect on the spread of insect- and animal-borne diseases.

The International Year of Forests 2011 offers a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the challenges facing many of the world’s forests and the people who depend on them.

 

K2 (Godwin Austen) stamp…

 

Date of issue : 19 May 1988

On stamp : Godwin Austin, the correct name of peak is Godwin Austen

Wrong spelling of peak on stamp

India Post issued a set of 4 postage stamps on 19 May 1988 on Himalayan Peaks.Many collectors might not be aware of the fact that the stamp with Rs 4 denomination issued on K2 (Godwin Austen) bears the wrong spelling of the peak. On stamp the designer has inserted Godwin Austin which should have been Godwin Austen.K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. With a peak elevation of 8,611 m (28,251 feet) and India’s highest mountain peak. The name Mount Godwin-Austen was suggested, in honour of Henry Godwin-Austen, an early explorer of the area.

Discussion

What is an approppriate maxim Card ?

Here  is a scan of Maxim card sent by Mr Sanjiv Jain of Dehradun. I publihed two cards prepared by him with cancellation from Bilaspur (CG)  in my last post. After the publication I received mails from some philatelists of Bilaspur as they were anxious to know how a collector from Dehradun could get max cards cancelled at Bilaspur. For all  those who are keen to know is just to inform them  that  a person has  liberty to get cancellation from any place of his choice if he can approach that  place ….

However in case of these Maxim Cards the choice for  place of cancellation is not appropriate. It should have been  New Delhi where Rashtrapati bhawan is located and easier to obtain for a collector from Dehra Dun.

Here is another card from Mr Jain with four stamps on it. As per FIP rules and regulations there should be ONE stamp on the view-side of the card. The card with more than one stamp cannot be considered as Maximum Card.

Icebergs on Stamps…

Date of Issue : 7 June 2011

Here is a set of 4 new stamps and a MS issued by Australian Antarctic Territory depicting picturesque view of icebergs. In addition to stamps and MS, Stamp booklet and Max cards have also been issued.

Icebergs

Literally meaning ice mountain, an iceberg is a large piece of ice formed from freshwater that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice-shelf and is floating in open water.

The largest recorded icebergs have been carved, or broken off, from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Iceberg B-15, when photographed in 2000, measured 295 km long by 37 km wide, with a surface area of 11,000 kilometres. Icebergs are generally described by shape and include tabular, dome, pinnacle, wedge and dry-dockan eroded iceberg resulting in a "hole".

Including all its islands and ice shelves, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia, covering 13,661,000 square kilometres. The Australian Antarctic Territory is 5,896,500 square kilometres, or 42 per cent of the region.

The stamps in this issue capture the beauty of icebergs, revealing their different shapes, colours, effects and textures.

: Australia Post

Australian Antarctic Territory

The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is a part of Antarctica. It was claimed by the United Kingdom and placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation. Since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article 1 of which states "The treaty does not recognize, dispute, nor establish territorial sovereignty claims; no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force", most countries do not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica.

The territory is inhabited by the staff of research stations. The Australian Antarctic Division administers the area primarily by maintaining three year-round stations (Mawson, Davis and Casey), which support various research projects.

Special Covers

North East

Palbheu – 2005 Sikkim Philately Exhibition

: Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhapur