Stamps on Green Energy..

 

Date of Issue : 22 March 2012

Green energy stamps by Iceland

Iceland has a unique position when it comes to energy. Icelanders use more energy per capita than any other country. The proportion of renewable energy sources is also unusually high.

In 2008 approximately 80% of the total national energy consumption came from domestic and renewable energy sources. Geothermal heat has been used for heating by 90% of households in the country. Rivers are a great source of energy and Iceland has around 37 hydroelectric power plants and approximately 200 smaller power plants. Landsvirkjun was established for the purpose of constructing power plants providing electricity to heavy industries. Aluminium and related exports account for over 40% of the country's total exports.

Powerful geothermal areas in the South are used both for heating and for vegetable cultivation. These areas account for half of harnessed hydro-energy in the country and about 70% of harnessed geothermal power. With the use of electricity in horticulture farmers have been able to meet domestic demand for tomatoes and cucumbers. Major advances have taken place in horticulture in recent years which means that in ten years tomato-production has increased by 200% and the production of cucumbers doubled.

This stamp issue was designed by Hlynur Olafsson.

: Iceland Post

 

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Joint Issue by Malta and Iceland

Date of Issue : 15 September 2011

Iceland and Malta Posts have issued a joint stamp on 15 September 2011.Iceland and Malta are the northernmost and southernmost islands in Europe. Fishing has been the main source of revenue for centuries on these two islands. Iceland Post and Malta Post have collaborated on a joint stamp issue occasioned by this relationship with fishing towns as the motif. The town of Húsavík is the motif of the Icelandic minisheet while the Maltese one depicts the town of Mgarr, Gozo.

Date of Issue : 15 September 2011

The Republic of Malta is a small and densely populated country on an island by the same name and some smaller islands in the Mediterranean. The islands are located between Italy in the north and the northcoast of Africa. The official languages are English and Maltese. Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and is now the smallest EU country both as regards size and population. Only three of the biggest islands are populated: Malta, Gozo and Comino.

This philatelic issue has ‘Fishing Villages’ as its theme which captures an important economic and cultural activity that is common to both countries. The village of Húsavík has been chosen for the Icelandic miniature sheet while the village of Mgarr, Gozo, is depicted on the Maltese sheet. Cedric Galea Pirotta was commissioned by both Iceland Post and Malta Post to paint both fishing villages.

New Stamps from Iceland..

 

The Melavöllur Stadium 100th Anniversary

On 4th May  2011 Iceland Post issued 5 different stamps on famous stadium parks,Concert hall and University of Iceland.

The Melavöllur Stadium was a sports stadium constructed in 1911 by the The Reykjavík Sports Federation in an area called Melar in the western part of Reykjavík. The first tournament which was held there was sponsored by the Iceland Youth Organization (UMFÍ) on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of President Jón Sigurðsson. Originally the stadium had a 400m race track, a gravel soccer field and facilities for track and field.

 

Austurvöllur is a park in the center of Reykjavík. A statue of Jón Sigurðsson, hero of Icelandic independence is in the center of the park. Around Austurvöllur there are many of the more remarkable buildings of the city, among them the Parliament building, Hotel Borg, the building of the National Telegraph and the Reykjavik Cathedral. Austurvöllur is a popular destination among city people on sunny days.

The Parliament park is the oldest and best preserved park adjoining an official building in Iceland. The preparation for the park started with discussions in Parliament in August 1893. In just one day this venerable institution changed into something akin to a speech club on garden organisation. A committee of parliamentarians suggested that a small amusement park be constructed south of the parliament building where “parliamentarians can sit and walk for their own enjoyment.

Harpa Reykjavík Concert Hall and Concert Centre
A striking addition to the Icelandic and European cultural scene, Harpa Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre opened its doors to the public on May 4th 2011. Harpa will offer a diverse range of performances, from classical to contemporary, and it will be home to the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera. A stamp sheet has been issued by Iceland Post to commemorate the opening of Harpa.

 

The University of Iceland – 100th Anniversary

The University of Iceland was founded in 1911, uniting three former Icelandic schools of Theology, Medicine and Law. In addition there was a faculty of humanities. During its first year of operation 45 students were enrolled. The first Rector of the university was Björn M. Ólsen, a professor in the faculty of humanities. The current Rector of the University of Iceland is Dr. Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, the first woman to hold this position. The University was originally housed in the Icelandic Parliament building but in 1940 it moved into the University’s main building.

The University offers diverse fields of study along with continuing education. In recent years there has been some major restructuring. In 2008 the university was divided into five different schools with 25 faculties. Simultaneously, Iceland University of Education was merged with the University of Iceland to become its School of Education.

: Iceland Post – Nordic Stamps

Club News

National Numismatic Exhibition

May 6-8: Bangalore, Timings: 10am to 7 pm

Organizers: Marudhar Arts

Venue: The Bell Hotel, Adjacent to City Railway Station & Opposite Majestic Bus Station

Website: www.marudhararts.com/exhi.php

Mudhar Arts is organising its first National Numismatic Exhibition from May 6 to May 8. The exhibition will give Bangaloreans a sneak peek into the rich heritage of our country and other countries and the opportunity to discover interesting stories behind the various coins, stamps and notes.

The exhibition will showcase coins, stamps and bank notes from all over the world. The first postage stamp to be printed will also be put on display apart from coins and notes from the various kingdoms like the Mughals, Persians, British and others. Visitors can get to see different coins and bank notes from India and other parts of the world. One can also see the different materials used to mint coins and make notes. Coins were minted and stamps are printed for various occasions and festivals. One can also observe the occasions that were celebrated by the various kings and rulers of the past at the exhibition.

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Endangered Birds from Iceland…

World Wide Fund for Nature will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. On this occasion Iceland Post issued 4 stamps with endangered birds as motifs on 27 January 2011.

Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) migrates mainly from northern regions. These birds stop over in Iceland for some weeks every year. The breeding population has increased somewhat in the last few decades.

White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) is a migratory bird in Iceland. The population numbers around 25.000 birds and has been decreasing during the last decade.

Common scoter (Melanitta nigra) is one of the rarer species of ducks breeding in Iceland. It is a migratory bird and is wholly protected in Iceland.

Gadwall (Anas strepera) was probably first seen in Iceland in the 19th century. It is estimated that the breeding population numbers 200–300 pairs, mainly around Mývatn. It is a migratory bird with its main winter quarters in Ireland. It is wholly protected in Iceland.

New Stamps on Bird and Lighthouses..

 

Date of  Issue – 17 March 2011

Iceland post  is releasing a beautiful lighthouse set of two stamps  today on “Langanes lighthouse”.

A lighthouse was established for the first time at Fontur in Langanes in 1910. This lighthouse was of the same type as those established the year before in Reykjanes and Öndverðarnes. In 1914 a 3m high iron-frame was erected and equipped with the lantern of the earlier lighthouse. A new lightouse was built in Langanes in 1950. The lantern and gallery are of Swedish make, 3,5m high with a concrete foundation and a copper roof.

The Langanes lighthouse is a concrete 6m high conical tower on a low foundation. Stokksnes lighthouse. At Stokksnes by Vestrahorn a 15m high iron-frame was erected in 1922 with a 3,5m high lantern. In 1946 a new lighthouse was built of concrete at Stokksnes. In 1958 a new lantern was installed along with concrete walls and a copper roof. A year later the lighthouse was powered by electricity for the first time, gas being used as an extra. The Stokksnes lighthouse is a triangular, conical 16m high tower. It was coated with light quartz and got a grey caulker finish in 1988. All lighthouses in Iceland are owned and operated by the Icelandic Maritime Administration.

Bird of the Year - Eurasian Curlew

 

On March 14, 2011 Belarus issued a new stamp in its "Bird of the year" series featuring Eurasian Curlew.

There are logos of the International organization of birds protection "BirdLife International" and Belarus public organization "Ahova ptushak Batskaushchyny" (APB) on the stamps.

The Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is the one of the most widespread of the curlews, breeding across temperate Europe and Asia. The largest wader in its range, at 50-57 cm length, and a 1 m wingspan. It is mainly grayish brown, with a white back, and a very long curved bill. Males and females look identical, but the bill is longest in the adult female. The familiar call, from which this bird gets its name, is a loud curloo-oo.

New EUROPA stamps..

 

Iceland Post has issued set of two stamps commemorating this year’s EUROPA theme “ Forests” as well as  International Year of Forests declared by the United Nations.

The first stamp shows tree-rings in a log (Siberian larch from Hallormsstadur forest) and symbolises the forest as a resource, as a producer of wood.

The second stamp shows a close-up of a leaf, symbolising ecosystem services of forests, specifically the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere.

Spain and San Marino will also issue stamps on this year’s EUROPA theme “ Forests” in the month of April.

Spain

To be issued on – 4 April 2011

San Marino

To be issued on – 5th April 2011