Club News

 

Rainbow Stamp News : August 2011 Issue No. 44

 

Hi ! I have just published August Issue of Rainbow Stamp News on Blog.  It can be viewed at following link :

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/

Festivals of India…

 

 

Greetings on Eid & Ganesh Chaturthi !

 

 

Hi ! Festive season starts in India now. Two important festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi & Eid  are being celebrated in different parts of the country. Greetings to all on this festive occasion. Here are three different types of FDCs issued by US Postal Service for the commemorative issue of Mother Teresa stamp. Two distinguished Philatelists from India Mr Praful Thakkar & Mr Sundar Bansal  have sent  info about these beautiful covers. Special Ornamental cancellation could be seen on FDC. My sincere thanks to Mr Thakkar & Mr Bansal for Today’s Post This is all for Today….More in Next Post !!…..Have a Wonderful Festive Time !!….

Special Folder provided with FDC

Normal FDC

Special Ceremony FDC

FDC with ornamental cancellation

Image source : Praful Thakkar - USA

There are 3 FDcs and one folder type informative card given only with Special Ceremony First Day Cover which is biggere in size too

Image Source : Sundar Bansal – USA

New Issue by UNPA….

One Planet One Ocean

On 6 May 2010, the United Nations Postal Administration will issue six se-tenant mini-sheets of four stamps each (for a total of 24 commemorative stamps) on the theme "One Planet, One Ocean", on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the International Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Three prestige booklets will also be issued on the same day.

Date of Issue 6 May 2010

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Full Set-Prestige Booklets

http://unstamps.un.org/unpa/index.html?index=0

Club News

Raising a flag

COLLECTOR’S CORNER

The history of flags comes alive in philatelist Sekhar Chakrabarti’s rare collection of stamps, says Suktara Ghosh

PROFILE

He made it to the 2009 Limca Book of Records as the owner of the largest collection of stamps featuring the Indian national flag. Yet he feels that his work in the field is “almost rudimentary”. For 64-year-old eminent philatelist-turned-vexillogist (a person who studies flags) Sekhar Chakrabarti, flags have been an enduring passion.

“The flag is a symbol of belongingness. It stands for one’s heritage, aspiration and hope and is therefore very significant,” says Chakrabarti. His knowledge on vexillogy is encyclopedic — he reels off names, dates and incidents effortlessly — and his collection consists of more than 10,000 stamps, along with a formidable collection of paper cuttings. The principal driving force behind his work is an urge to preserve flag history.

“Government bodies and even some scholars furnish the public with incorrect information, and that is what I seek to put right,” he says. For instance, few are aware that the Indian national flag was hoisted on August 16, 1947 from the Red Fort and not on the 15th as believed. Or that it was Sister Nivedita — as Margaret Noble, Swami Vivekananda’s disciple was known in India — who first conceptualised and designed a flag for India. Her flag, depicting the vajra or the thunderbolt with Vande Mataram inscribed on either side, was made by the students of her Calcutta school and displayed at a Congress exhibition in the city in 1906.

Chakrabarti has taken it upon himself to rescue from oblivion such forgotten nuggets of history. “I’ve just started my own blog on http://flagstamps. blogspot. com/ and also have a book in the pipeline,” he says.

Encouraged by Lady Ranu Mukherjee and Dr Triguna Sen, Chakrabarti began collecting stamps at the age of 14. He soon discovered his interest in flags and took it up as his philatelic theme. His first solo exhibition was held in the American Society in 1962 and he followed it up with many more around the world under the patronage of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie.

Chakrabarti was the first Indian member of the Flag Research Centre, US, and he has won various national and international awards and even acted as a jury member at exhibitions organised by India Post and other philatelic societies. He has also actively promoted philately in conferences organised by the Indian postal department and the Dhaka University.

“Authenticity is of prime importance in philately. A philatelic journal should be like one’s personal diary, where one cannot lie or distort facts,” Chakrabarti insists. It is this love for authenticity that drove him to write to and thereby correct misinterpretations in William Crampton’s The Observer’s Book of Flags. On another occasion he wrote to the postal administration of the UN — and received an explanation from them — pointing out the wrong depiction of the Ashok Chakra with 12 spokes instead of 24 in a 1985 Flag Series stamp.

Labour of love

An engineer by profession, Chakrabarti devoted long hours after work to build up his priceless collection, acquiring stamps from dealers or by exchanging them with fellow collectors. More lately, he has taken to purchasing stamps on eBay.

“I worked whenever I had time. Flags are more like an obsession to me and I never tire of them. The work of a philatelist is like a detective. One must have a lot of patience to pursue this hobby fruitfully,” he says. And since retirement he has devoted much time on his book.

Chakrabarti has also built up an enviable library of flag-related books —possibly one of its kind. It’s a collection of “a few hundred” books — a veritable treasure trove for enthusiastic vexillogists.

Rare raves

One of the rarest in Chakrabarti’s collection is the Azad Hind Fauj stamp in which the charkha is replaced by a springing tiger. It was never used but was approved by Subhash Chandra Bose and printed for future use in 1943 at Reichsdruckerei (a printing house) in Berlin. “It is priceless,” Chakrabarti says.

Another is the 1942 cover depicting the Congress flag — then banned in India— circulated by Indian patriots in Malaysia under Japanese occupation during the Quit India Movement. Or take the cover showing the Swadeshi flag — never officially adopted — which was popular in 1921, after Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha. It had the colours white on top, green in the middle and red below. However, saffron replaced red in the Purna Swaraj flag adopted officially in 1931. This flag was similar to the final version of the Indian flag except that it had a charkha in the middle instead of the chakra.

Another eye-catcher is the first day cover issued from Moscow to commemorate Mission Soyuz-T11, which carried Rakesh Sharma into space, with original autographs by the astronauts. Or the very rare stamp issued by Pakistan during the first SAARC summit in Dhaka on December 8, 1985. It showed Kashmir as a separate state between Indian and Pakistan. Rajiv Gandhi, the then prime minister protested and compelled Pakistan to withdraw it the next day.

Another 1969 English stamp depicts Mahatma Gandhi, against the Indian flag. The Mahatma made history by being the first non-British person to be depicted on a UK stamp — it was issued on his birth centenary.

Photographs by Rashbehari Das

Published in The Telegraph 8 May 2010

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100508/jsp/personaltt/story_12420826.jsp

Club News

 

 

Special Event Cover on  Scouting – 9 Jan 2010

 

Golden Gathering of Indian Scout & Guide Fellowship

ISGF (Indian Scout and Guide Fellowship) an organization of people who believe in Scouting principals completed 50 years. An All India Conference was held at Pali Marwar on 8/9/10th Jan which was attended by 300 delegates and 50 foreign delegates. Mr Ajay Agarwal, a noted philatelist   of Akola who has specialized on Scouting theme took a chance to record the event in his own way and designed one envelop which was released there.The cover bears Scout Stamp of Danmal Mathur, issued on 17 Nov 2009. His exhibit "Scouting in India" which was displayed  in STAMPMANIA2009 and won Topaz, was also exhibited during the conference. Here are some pics of the events.For more details about this cover Mr Ajay Agarwal may be contacted at maharashtramedicals@yahoo.com 

 

Release of the Cover

Exhibit on Scouting displayed

Stamp Forgery

Here is a news  cliping of the Dainik Jagran, Hindi of date 28th Sept.2009, sent by our member Mr Atul Agarwal, Aligarh about  the news on a  stamp forgery.

Taj – The Pride of India

Hi ! In today’s Post the recent gold replica of Taj Stamp from Pride of India Collection jointly launched by India Post and Hallmark Group. Taj Mahal the Pride of India is not only my favorite, but millions of people in the in the world wish to have a glimpse of this marvelous monument. I am so pleased to post the Gold replica of the beautiful Rs 15 Taj Stamp issued on 16 December 2004. In Club News, read news from readers... This is all for today….Till Next Post…..Have a Great Time !…..

The most beautiful monument of Love. The international symbol of India. The finest example of Mughal architecture at its peak, and recently voted one of the seven new wonders of the world. Built as a white-marble mausoleum for Mumtaz Mahal, the favourite wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, Taj Mahal has grown to be the universal symbol of true love. Millions of tourists visit every year from all over the world, and most of them leave a little of their heart behind.

One of the greatest architectural wonders of the world, and a universal symbol of undying love, this shining ingot is a fitting tribute to Taj Mahal.

For more details log on to http://www.prideofindiacollection.com/

Club News

New Members

Name – Behram Kabraji

Postal address - Mr.BEHRAM KABRAJI,SAYEED BUILDING ,1ST. FLOOR, GRANT ROAD,MUMBAI.

E-mail : behramkabraji@yahoo.com

I am 67 years old, retired and pass my time perusing my hobby of collecting stamps. At present I am interested in collecting a few countries like G.B.AUSTRALIA, CANADA,HONG KONG, NEW ZEALAND,MAURITIUS and SINGAPORE. My G.B. AUSTRALIA AND CANADA is fairly upto date with a few gaps.What I am really interested is NEW ZEALAND,HONG KONG, MAURITIUS and SINGAPORE. if any one interested in stamp collection of these countries may contact me for exchange .. I will be thankful.

From L to R Mr Vinod Sabharwal,Mr Ranjit Singh, Mr AS Banga & Mr ARC Shah addressing

West Delhi Philatelic Club – Inaugural Meeting

The Proceedings of the West Delhi Philatelic Club got underway on Sep 6, 2009 with the Inaugural Meeting at Delhi. The meeting was attended by 13 Members. Shri Ranjit Singh was requested to start the Proceedings as Chairperson. The Following persons were elected as Office Bearers of the Club unanimously.

President - Mr Vinod Kumar Sabharwal Vice President - Mr Vijay Seth Secretary - Mr A S Banga Treasurer - Mr A R C Shah

Mr Vinod Kumar Sabharwal gave inaugural address and a broad outline plan of the club to the gathering. He welcomed the members present and thanked them for their support. Sh Ranjit Singh was unanimously elected by the members as Patron – In – Chief of the Club.The next meeting will be held on 04 Oct 2009 at same Venue at 11.30 a.m.

A request from a Reader….

I happen to have this stamp, an unused SG334, the 1951 Geological Survey of India 2 As Stegdon Ganesa with one corner misprinted. I guess there must be 3 more stamps in existence with this missing color feature as a piece of paper or debris must have accidently got in the way of the print during the printing process.It would be nice if any one could try to locate the other 3 stamps for me . This may be interesting for those collecting flaws and errors on Indian stamps… Please contact me in this regard.

-John Michael Cardosa, 28, Lorong Burhanuddin Helmi 6, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur 60000, Malaysia. E-mail : chinaman11@mac.com

Club News

Singapore 2007 - Cultural Dances

Hi ! In today's Club News here is some contribution by our readers. I have received this nice FDC scan of Singapore from Ms Leeza Padhi of Cuttack, depicting Indian Cultural dances on the cover design and the stamps. Indian dances, Kathakali and Bharat Natyam can be prominently seen on the cover. I have already shown these stamps in one of my earlier Posts. Here are some nice stamps on costumes of Laotian Ethnics sent by Mr. Elli Moallem of Israel. Both of these contribution depict culture on stamps. Meet our new member Mr. Vijay Modi from Himmat Nagar, Gujarat and go through an Auction news.. This is all for Today !....Till next Post ...Have a Great Time !

Men Costumes of Laotian Ethnics

Women Costumes of Laotian Ethnics

Courtesy - Elli Moallem, Israel

Mr.Elli Moallem of Israel also wrote an album to the stamps of Kingdom of Laos (1951-1975). This can be viewed at http://www.sicp-online.org/exhibits/index.htm

New Members

Name - Mr. Vijay Modi
City - Himatnagar, Gujarat
Collecting Interests - Se-tenant , MS and private maxim card with cancellation.
E-mail - vijay_idom@rediffmail.com

Auction

ITS Postal Auction No.45 - Last Date: 25.7.2009See scans of some lots at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/its_offers

INDIAN THEMATIC SOCIETYMIG # 3464, PHASE TWO, DUGRI ROAD, LUDHIANA - 141 013. INDIATelfax: + 91 - 161 - 2521244 Mobile: +91 98728 51244

Email: indianthematicsociety@gmail.com