New Christmas stamps from Poland..

 

Date of Issue : 25 November 2011

Hi ! This is festive time in India with a week long Diwali celebration. Greetings to all on this festive season. Soon the great celebration for Christmas will start all over the world. Many postal administrations have started issuing special stamps for Christmas. Polish Post will issue a set of two beautiful stamps on 25 November 2011 for Christmas . The stamps and FDC designs are magnificent giving a great feeling of  Christmas celebration in  snow - white winter  !! This is all for  this Post….More in Next……Have a great festive time !!

 

 

From our Readers….

Indian themes on foreign stamps

- Kenneth Sequeira

Indian Cuisine - Goan food on Portuguese stamps

Portugal Post issued a set of six stamps featuring Bebinca - Sabores da Lusophony (Flavours of Portuguese) on 5 June 2009. On one stamp Bebinca, also known as bibik or bebinka, is a type of pudding and a traditional Goan dessert is depicted.

Date of Issue : 5 June 2009

Bebinca, also known as bibik or bebinka, is a type of pudding and a traditional Goan dessert. The ingredients include plain flour, sugar, ghee (clarified butter) and coconut milk.

 

The dessert has to be baked in layers and traditionally has 16 layers. The dessert is very common in Goan cuisine. In Portugal, it is also a common dessert in Goan restaurants.

In Goa, Portuguese is spoken by an increasingly small minority, it is seen as the 'language of grandparents' because it is no longer taught in schools, nor is it an official language.

Goa's national language Konkani, however, has picked up some Portuguese vocabulary, especially Konkani spoken by Catholics.

In addition, Indian Catholics,  often bear Portuguese surnames, despite having no Portuguese background themselves; a relic of the influence that Portugal had in India.

Over the centuries, traditions linked to taste have also contributed to this cultural matrix.  Portugal brought new flavours to Europe, viz. spices, but also exported ancestral flavours to Brazil, Africa and Orient, such as deep-fried flavours, stews and desserts. These stamps bring forth interesting examples of the mutual influence of the Portuguese gastronomy on the gastronomy of people from other continents of Asia & Africa

It is common place today to state that gastronomy is an expression of the culture and heritage of the people. This  set of stamps dedicated to the gastronomy of various Portuguese speaking countries, a forgotten but relevant feature of the deep relations that have marked the meeting between Portugal and the peoples from other latitudes.

 

Army Postal Service Covers – Part- 7

- P. Ramakrishnan

501	ENGINEER 16 BRIGADE REGIMENT	16/11/2007
502	ARMY AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	23/11/2007
503	THE GARHWAL RIFLES 17	24/11/2007
504	HORSE 4	30/11/2007
505	ARMOURED REGIMENT 47	10/12/2007
506	THE CENTRAL INDIA HORSE	15/12/2007
507	22 FIELD REGIMENT	15/12/2007
508	ENGINEER BRIDGE REGIMENT 67	24/12/2007
509	ASSAM RIFLES TRAINING CENTRE AND SCHOOL	01/01/2008
510	HQ 15 CORPS	12/01/2008
511	THE GORKHA RIFLES 11	01/02/2008
512	THE DOGRA REGIMENT 8	01/02/2008
513	THE 8 GORKHA RIFLES 6	04/02/2008
514	THE 5 GORKHA RIFLES 6	04/02/2008
515	AIR FORCE STATION 406	23/02/2008
516	SQUADRN AIR FORCE 1ST	01/04/2008
517	THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY 2	04/04/2008
518	THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY	04/04/2008
519	THE DOGRA REGIMENT 14	06/04/2008
520	THE ARTILLERY CENTRE	07/04/2008
521	THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY 1	14/04/2008
522	THE GARHWAL RIFLES	26/04/2008
523	ARMY WELFARE EDUCATION SOCIETY	29/04/2008
524	INDIAN NAVY DIRECTORATE OF ADVENTURE & SPORTS	05/05/2008
525	THE MAHAR REGIMENT (BORDERS) 4	08/05/2008
526	19 INFANTRY DIVISION SIGNAL REGIMENT	09/05/2008
527	THE SIKH REGIMENT 16	15/05/2008
528	JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY 11	17/05/2008
529	5 GORKHA RIFLES 1	22/05/2008
530	HQ 10 CORPS	01/07/2008
531	41 FIELD REGIMENT (KARGIL)	15/07/2008
532	INFANTRY BRIGADE 19	19/08/2008
533	MADRAS REGIMENT 8	20/08//2008
534	GARHWAL RIFLES 8	16/09//2008
535	45 AIF DEFENCE REGIMENT	04/10/2008
536	46 ARMORED REGIMENT	17/10/2008
537	325 LIGHT AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	01/11/2008
538	THE SIKH REGIMENT	06/11/2008
539	BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS	07/11/2008
540	146 LIGHT AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	07/11/2008
541	59 SQUADRON	12/11/2008
542	AIR FORCE TECHNICAL COLLEGE	12/11/2008
543	13 BN KUMAON	18/11/2008
544	THE RAJPUTANA RIFLES	25/11/2008
545	3RD AND 9TH GORKHA RIFLES	30/11/2008
546	145 LIGHT AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	01/12/2008
547	NATIONAL DEFENCE ACADEMY	07/12/2008
548	15TH BN DOGRA REGIMENT	11/12/2008
549	5TH BN 11 GORKHA RIFLES	13/12/2008
550	8TH BN JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY	19/12/2008
551	5 AIR FORCE HOSPITAL	20/12/2008
552	14TH BN THE ASSAM RIFLES	04/01/2009
553	ARMY POSTAL SERVICE	07/01/2009
554	NAVAL ACADEMY	08/01/2009
555	CONTROLLERATE OF QUALITY ASSURANCE	09/01/2009
556	10TH BATTALION THE MADRAS REGIMENT	11/02/2009
557	7TH LIGHT CAVALRY	14/02/2009
558	THE DOGRA REGIMENT	20/02/2009
559	108 SQUADRON AIR FORCE	25/03/2009
560	105 HELICOPTER UNIT AIR FORCE	25/03/2009
561	102 INFANTRY BRIGADE	13/04/2009
562	21ST BN MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENT	24/04/2009
563	2ND BATTALION RAJPUTANA RIFLES	29/06/2009
564	SOUTHERN AIR COMMAND	19/07/2009
565	8 MOUNTAIN DIVISION	26/07/2009
566	105 INFANTRY BATTALION	21/08/2009
567	104 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	21/08/2009
568	140 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	22/08/2009
569	105 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	22/08/2009
570	25 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	01/09/2009
571	21 SIGNAL GROUP	01/09/2009
572	HQ 191 INFANTRY BRIGADE	05/09/2009
573	CONTROLLER OF QUALITY ASSURANCE	11/09/2009
574	10TH BN MECHANIZED INFANTRY	11/09/2009
575	19TH BATTALION MECHANISED	15/09/2009
576	62 INFANTRY BRIGADE	21/09/2009
577	19TH BN MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY	23/09/2009
578	10TH BN JAMMU AND KASHMIR LIGHT INFANTRY	28/09/2009
579	107 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	30/09/2009
580	44 FIELD REGIMENT	01/10/2009
581	12 ARMOURED REGIMENT	01/10/2009
582	144 AIR DEFENCE REGIMENT	03/10/2009
583	16 BN DOGRA REGIMENT	09/10/2009
584	TERRITORIAL ARMY	09/10/2009
585	10 ARMORED REGIMENT	13/10/2009
586	15 BN ASSAM RIFLES	15/10/2009
587	PARACHUTE REGIMENT	29/10/2009
588	2ND BN THE DOGRA REIGMENT	02/11/2009
589	47 SQUADRON INDIAN AIR FORCE	10/11/2009
590	TRACTICS AND AIR COMBAT DEVELOPMENT	10/11/2009
591	ARMY MEDICAL CORPS	10/11/2009
592	PIONEER CORPS	26/11/2009
593	EASTER AIR COMMAND	01/12/2009
594	4TH BN GARHWAL RIFLES	07/12/2009
595	7TH BN MAHAR REIGMENT	10/12/2009
596	25TH BN ASSAM RIFLES	15/12/2009
597	3RD BATTALION GORKHA RIFLES	21/12/2009
598	116 ENGINEER REGIMENT	21/12/2009
599	2ND BN NAGA REGIMENT	26/12/2009
600	153 MEDIUM REGIMENT	07/01/2010

P. Ramkrishnan may be contacted at email : pramakrishnan1@royalenfield.com

Festivals of Israel - Rosh Hashanah

 

Date of Issue : 13 September 2011

Israel Post will issue a set of 3 stamps on  Rosh Hashanah Feast on 13 September.  Rosh Hashanah  is  the most important festival of Israel . The stamps feature special dishes eaten on this festival. I just want to share here that the place where I live is a very popular tourist destination of Israelis. There are many Israeli restaurants at  Kasol and Manali  areas of  of Kullu  valley.Many tourists from Israel visit Kullu throughout the year. Once I also visited an Israeli restaurant and had nice Israeli dishes there. So this special festive meal depicted on stamps reminds me of beautifully decorated  Israeli restaurants of Kullu.I am going to have the taste of Honey dipped Apple…. Greetings to  all Israeli friends on Rosh Hashanah !!  Have a  Wonderful Sweet New Year !!

 

Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year is called the Feast of Trumpets in the Bible because it begins the Jewish High Holy Days and Ten Days of Repentance with the blowing of the ram's horn, the shofar, calling God's people together to repent from their sins. During Rosh Hashanah synagogue services, the trumpet traditionally sounds 100 notes. Rosh Hashanah is also the start of the civil year in Israel. It is a solemn day of soul-searching, forgiveness, repentance and remembering God's judgment, as well as a joyful day of celebration, looking forward to God's goodness and mercy in the New Year.

Time of Observance:

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri (September or October).

 

 

Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year and like most Jewish holidays there are food customs associated with it. One of the most popular and well-known food customs on Rosh HaShanah has to do with dipping apple slices into honey. This sweet combination stems from an age-old Jewish tradition of eating sweet foods to express our hope for a sweet new year.

The Rosh Hashanah Feast

Fish Head
One eats a piece of a fish head, saying: “May it be Your will… that we should be the head and not the tail”. It is customary to recite additional blessings based on the characteristics of fish,such as “we should multiply as fish” or “that You should watch over us with the open eye of a fish”(fish do not have eyelids so their eyes are always open).Among some ethnic groups it is customary to eat a piece of a sheep or ram head, rather than that of a fish, reciting the blessing “and remember the ram of Isaac” alluding to the ram that was sacrificed in lieu of Isaac.
Pomegranate
When eating pomegranate seeds one recites the blessing: “May it be Your will… that our merits should increase like (the seeds of) a pomegranate”. The Talmudic legend notes that
each pomegranate fruit has 613 seeds, as the number of mitzvoth (commandments), equating the People of Israel, who are full of mitzvoth, to the pomegranate fruit.

Apple and Honey

Though apple and honey can be eaten throughout the holidays, they are almost always eaten together on the first night of Rosh HaShanah. Jews dip apple slices into honey and say a prayer asking God for a sweet New Year.

Snack food – Chips on stamp..

Date of Issue : 7 June 2011

Aland Post issued a stamp featuring world’s most favourite snack food – Potato chips on 7 June 2011. Potato chips are popular all over the world and available in different flavours. This might be the first stamp on chips though many stamps have been issued on a variety of food items, eaten around the world but potato chips is the universal snack food and popular among all age groups of people in every corner of the world. Originally potato chips were invented in America in the year 1853 .

Story of chips

According to a traditional story, the original potato chip recipe was created in Saratoga Springs, New York on August 24, 1853. Agitated by a patron repeatedly sending his fried potatoes back because they were too thick, soggy and bland, resort hotel chef, George Crum, decided to slice the potatoes as thin as possible, frying them until crisp and seasoning them with extra salt. Contrary to Crum's expectation, the patron (sometimes identified as Cornelius Vanderbilt) loved the new chips and they soon became a regular item on the lodge's menu under the name "Saratoga Chips".

In the 20th century, potato chips spread beyond chef-cooked restaurant fare and began to be mass produced for home consumption. The Dayton, Ohio-based Mike-sell's Potato Chip Company, founded in 1910, calls itself the "oldest potato chip company in the United States".New England-based Tri-Sum Potato Chips, originally founded in 1908 as the Leominster Potato Chip Company, in Leominster, Massachusetts claim to be America's first potato chip manufacturer.

Today, chips are packaged in plastic bags, with nitrogen gas blown in prior to sealing to lengthen shelf life, and provide protection against crushing.

Club News

News from Ludhiana Philatelic Club

School Of Philately And library

Ludhiana Philatelic Club has opened a School of Philately and Library to support education in our schools via stamps on June 12, 2011. The School was inaugurated by S. Hira Singh Gabria, Minister of Jails, Tourism, and Cultural Affairs & Printing & Stationery. Mr. Prem Mittal, Political Advisor to S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, presided over the inaugural function. The school is located near Naurian Mal Jain School in Bagh Naurian Mal, Ludhiana. S. Hira Singh Gabria, appreciated the efforts of Ludhiana Philatelic Club in promotion of educative hobby of stamp collecting. He announced a grant of Rs.One lakh to the club for strengthening of School of Philately and its Library.

Stamps are a great way to learn about our history, geography, culture, animals; you name it; about almost anything. The School will strive to promote the educational use of philately by organizing spectrum of interesting educational programmes / workshops of short duration on various topics with the support of India Post. School teachers will be imparted training in using stamps as a teaching tool. Stamps can be used to motivate students who may otherwise have little interest in particular subject. Teachers can make topics interesting to their kids by introducing the topic via stamps.

The School will launch number of innovative programmes, reaching out to different target groups. These will be helpful in developing youngsters and others who choose to join such programmes, in to better citizen and a strong nation.

Upon demand, the members of Ludhiana Philatelic club will visit local schools and help them start youth philatelic club and give talks about special topics with the help of stamps.

For more details, Dr SK Sondhi may be contacted at email : sksondhi1@gmail.com

New Club Member

Name : B D Surana

City / Country : Kolkata, India

E-mail : bdsurana@gmail.com

Collecting Interests : Stamps, Currencies and coins ( regular, Commemorative , UNC, Proof)

Postal Address : 20 J, Ballygunge Terrace Ground Floor Golpark Kolkata 700 029 India

Say Cheese….

 

 

Date of Issue : 25 March 2011 

Poste Italiane   issued a set of four regular stamps in the "Made in Italy" series on 25 March 2011, dedicated to the PDO cheeses: Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana and Ragusano.

Each stamp shows the dairy product and the stamps are dedicated to: Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, in its characteristic round shape and in the plaited and knotted versions; Gorgonzola, Parmigiano Reggiano and Ragusano, both in whole wheels and in wedges and slices. In each of the illustrations, at the bottom on the right is the PDO trademark (Protected Denomination of Origin, DOP in Italian).

Ragusano is a cheese from whole cows' milk, with medium to long ageing, having a block shape and a square cross-section, with rounded corners. It is possible to find slight grooves on the surface from the cords used to hang the cheese during the ageing process. The external color is a straw to golden yellow, tending towards brown with further ageing.

 

Buffalo mozzarella (Italian: mozzarella di bufala) is a mozzarella made from the milk of the domestic water buffalo rather than from cow milk.

 

Parmigiano-Reggiano is a hard granular cheese, cooked but not pressed, named after the producing areas near Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, and Mantova, Italy.

 

   

Gorgonzola is a veined Italian blue cheese, made from unskimmed cow's and/or goat's milk. It can be buttery or firm, crumbly and quite salty, with a 'bite' from its blue veining.

: Poste Italiane 

Club News

INDIPEX –2011 Marklists

Indian exhibitors of INDIPEX 2011 who wish to get detailed marksheet of their exhibit  may write to Mr Rajesh Kumar Bagri, Commissioner General (Hony.) Indipex 2011 at email : rkbagri.indipex2011@gmail.com  

 

Year Book 2011

Mr Madan Middha the publisher of Year Book of Indian Philately needs suggestions from the Readers for Year Book 2011..for which he has started working Readers are requested to send their suggestions about contents of the new edition. Articles are also invited from the readers. Please contact Mr Middia email madan_middha@yahoo.co.in

Year Book 2010

Year Book of Indian Philately 2010 edited and published by Mr Madan Middha is a very informative reference book for all collectors as it contains all necessary data of Indian philately and activities during the year 2010. The previous edition of the Year book has recently won Bronze medal award at INDIPEX 2011 and was awarded a Silver medal at SINE, National Philatelic Exhibition. Besides different data, covering different aspects of Indian Philately .The book contains comprehensive articles by noted philatelists of India which cover various important topics of Philately.

The book contains more than 264 pages with 30 Chapters and it covers stamps, sheetlets, Postmarks/ Cancellations, Events, Baton Relay Covers, Society News, International Exhibitions, Philatelic Periodicals, Current Postal Rates & Philatelic Museums of the world and a variety of informative articles by well known philatelists of India. The book will prove to be useful for all Stamp Lovers. It is an essential reference book which is recommended to all the lovers of Indian philately and philatelists in general.

Price Rs 200 US $ 15 Contact Address : Madan Middha, Saket Vihar, Phalka Bazar, Gwalior 474001.

e mail : madan_middha@yahoo.co.in   Ph. 0 930 110 1244

Spices from Malaysia…

 

 

Date of Issue : 28 March 2011

Hi ! Here are some nice stamps full of aroma of spices used in Malaysian food. This wonderful set of five stamps was issued by Pos Malaysia on 28 march 2011. The well known spices  Cinnamon, Turmeric, Cardamom, Clove and red chili are part of spices used in Malaysia cuisine. I also share here MS on Spices of India issued by India Post on 29 April 2009. Spices of India are  known all over the world for their specific aroma and taste. This is all for today….Till next Post ….Have a Nice Time !!

 

Stamp Booklet

Miniature Sheet

: Pos Malaysia

Spices of India

Date of Issue : 29 April 2009

Spices Of India : Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Cardamom, Clove

Christmas stamps from Malta

 

       

Date of Issue – 9 November 2010

 

The Philatelic Bureau of MaltaPost  issued a commemorative set of three stamps titled ‘Christmas 2010′ on the 9th November 2010. This year’s Christmas set reproduces Old Master paintings depicting the Madonna and Child.The stamps which values €0.19, €0.37 and €0.63 reproduce the paintings ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ from Lombard Bank Head Office Valletta, ‘The Flight into Egypt’ from Gozo Cathedral Museum and ‘Madonna di Maggio’ from St. George’s Basilica, Gozo respectively.

Stamp on Biscuits

The Italian Post has issued a stamp on an unusual theme which is  dedicated to the popular Italian product - Gentilini biscuits produced since 1890. "Biscotti Gentilini" continues to be the star of many Italian breakfasts. It is the most popular band of Biscuits in Italy.

Mouthwatering Stamps from Malaysia…

 

Traditional Festive Food of Malaysia

To be issued on 10 August 2010

Hi ! Here is a wonderful set of stamps to be issued by Malaysia Post on 10 August. The stamps feature traditional festive food of Malaysia. Malaysia is a country, comprising of various ethnic communities.These communities have their own traditional food prepared during festive season. The stamps are nicely designed featuring  mouthwatering Malaysian taste. My thanks to Mr. Thevaraysn Srinivasan, of Malaysia for this post. This is all for this evening…..Till Next Post….Have a Nice Time !

 

Festive food stamps on the cards

KUALA LUMPUR: It can be licked but cannot be eaten. It is a stamp for collectors featuring traditional festive food of the various ethnic communities in Malaysia to be issued by Pos Malaysia next Tuesday on 10th August.

 

For stamp collectors and gastronomes alike, the stamp collection and first-day cover feature culinary treasures served during festivities such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and festivals celebrated by the Sabah and Sarawak ethnic groups.

 

 

The collection will be available in the five-stamp 80-sen set, 60-sen set in a stamp booklet and a miniature sheet of RM3.The folder for the stamps, limited to 1,100 copies, will be sold at RM5.50 each at selected post offices.The first-day cover priced at 30 sen also comes with a pamphlet highlighting the festive foods on the stamps.The complete set is sold at RM35.10.

“With these stamps, we want to create awareness for the younger generation who eat these foods yet do not know how they are prepared,” said Pos Malaysia Stamp and Philately Division manager Diyana Lean Abdullah. She said there would be another series in the future because there were just too many types of food to cover in just one collection.
.

Not Just Desserts ...

Here are some more nice items issued by Australia Post on popular favourite Australian treats . These are probably one of the most beautiful philatelic items issued by a nation on the theme of gastronomy and are the best suitable items for the theme, tourism . Just Fantastic ! What to say about the stamps of Australia, I just can say the Australian stamps are wonderful and rank high amongst the most beautifully designed stamps in the world. Now It seems Australia too has entered in the list of my favourite postal administrations which issues most magnificent stamps in the world. This is all for today !.......Till Next Post ....Have a Great Time !

Gutter strip

Stamp Booklet

Max Cards

Courtesy - Australia Post

It's Party Time ......

Date of Issue - 15 May 2009

Hi ! I have just come across the wonderful mothwatering stamps issued by Australia and found them most suitable for today's post as a part of philatelic celebration by the participants of Hong Kong 2009 which concluded today.. Its a great pleasure to write that our newsletter Rainbow Stamp News was awarded a Silver Bronze medal in literature class category. I congratulte all the participants and thank to all those who have sent Hearty Congratulations to Rainbow Stamp News. The credit of the award goes to all Readers and Contributors who welcomed the newsletter and made it popular. These nice mothwatering Australian Stamps are special treat for all the participants from India and Australia as the grand award winners are from Australia.This is all for today.....Till Next Post .....Have a Nice Time !

This issue celebrates four delicious Australian treats . These classic dishes remain as popular today as they were when first placed on Australian tables.

The desserts featured on the stamps are:



Pavlova

Peach Melba

Lamingtons

Anzac Biscuits

Special Booklet

Courtesy - Australia Post