Toys of yesteryears

Date of Issue : 19 May 2015

Philatelic and Numismatic Office of Vatican City has produced for Europa 2015 a series of two postage stamps with designs by artist Stefano Morri featuring toys, which, although “old”, also represent a universal symbol of a child playing. The issue is to be released on the 19^th of May.

The 80 cent euro value shows three toy soldiers representing in scale three papal Gendarmes in formal uniforms worn by the Corps during the Napoleonic era up until 1965. In the background the walls of a room can be seen with other traditional handcrafted toys.

The 95 cent euro value also shows more toy soldiers with two Pontifical Swiss Guards who are wearing what is probably the most famous uniform in the world. One of the guards is playing the drums, while the other is carrying the classic halberd, which is still in use today in official ceremonies and in some services of standing guard.

The dice with the first initials of the Corps and a glass marble complete the foreground of the design. The profile of St. Peter’s Basilica can be seen in the background, a panoramic view from the terrace of a building in Rome.

Toys recall an important time during a child’s growth and development, and are characterized today by a rapid evolution often resulting in trends of a brief or very short duration. At the same time, some toys have become part of the cultural heritage of society and continue to draw the interest of the young. Examples include toy soldiers and dolls, which have been part of human history since ancient times.

Europa 2015 Stamps from Luxembourg

Luxembourg Post has released a special set of stamps designed for Europa 2015. The series of postage stamps featuring the toys of yesteryear was produced together with the ‘A Possen’ Museum in Bech-Kleinmacher where the doll’s house furniture and the building box are now on display.

Manufacture of the doll’s house dates back to 1936. At the age of 7, Madame Reuter from Pétange received the ‘house’ as a St Nicolas gift. The furniture had been made and painted by her father and her mother had sewn all the household linen and the doll’s clothes by hand. When war broke out in 1940, the family was forced to leave their home and the toys had to be left behind.

The building box, comprising model components in stone, was one of the magical gifts that a nursery school child in Hamm could choose at the end of a school year.

Club News

INDIA TRIUMPHS IN INTERNATIONAL PHILATELIC COMPETITION

PILLAGE TROPHY 2015

FIFTH PILLAGE TROPHY COMPETITION hosted by the British Air Mail Society on 12th May 2015 at the Royal Philatelic Society, London and sponsored by Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions , LLC and The Associations of British Philatelic Societies . This is a bi-annual competition. Results of the earlier Pillage Trophy:

 

The next competition is going to be held in February 2017 in Sarasota, Florida.Two teams of five member countries in each team participated. The teams were : American Air Mail Society consisting of Stephen Reinhard from USA - Captain , Allen Klein from USA, Pradip Jain from India, Derrick Pillage from UK, and Dominique Petit from France as its members whereas British Air Mail Society consisting of Peter Lister- Captain (non competitive), Jacques Bot from Netherlands, Jeffrey Booth from UK, Gerard Collot from France, Martyn Cusworth from UK and Dan Gribbin from USA as its members respectively.

 
Mr. Pradip Jain with a fellow aerophilatelist

Team American Air Mail Society won the competition by scoring 421 points out of which Pradip Jain from India scored the highest points (91 out of 100) which led to the victory of the team.

The exhibits were judged and the results were declared by the honoured judges : Mr. Ray Todd & Mr.Ross Wood. The medals to the runners up were presented by Mr. David Coogle and the medals to the winners were presented by Mr. Larry Gibson as well as the New trophy was presented to the winning captain by Chris King, President , RPSL. The awards dinner was at the ‘Kings Head’ hosted by President , Bill Trower and the toast “Aerophilately” hosted by Vice President, Eddie Spicer .

                                                                                         
The medal presented to team AAMS  & The medal presented to Mr.Pradip Jain.

Release of Golden Jubilee stamp of EIC

Golden Jubilee My stamp was released on 50 Years of Export Inspection Council on 22nd April 2015.

- Udit Kumar Saxena

My Rainbow Cover..

Cover from Finland

Hi ! Today I received a beautiful card from Finland sent by Kristina. The card bears most beautiful stamps from Finland stamp set ‘Signs of Sky’. One of these stamps    features rainbow.Other two stamps depict sun and cloud These stamps are self adhesive and cut into shape . Thank you very much Kristina for this lovely card with these magnificent stamps. But you have not given your address on the card. Please mail me your address So that I can send you a nice cover from India and convey my  thanks to you for this wonderful card. It is a gem for my rainbow collection !!

Signs of the sky

Swiss Post Distributes Free Stamps !

 

On Thursday, 18^th September 2014, Swiss Post distributed four free stamps each worth one Swiss Franc to every household across the country! This campaign is a part of an agreement drawn up with the price regulator. So it was a pleasant surprise to the letter-box owners of four million households when they received this gift of four stamps in the form of online WebStamp. The Stamp distribution is combined with a competition, offering prizes worth total of 90,000 Swiss Francs.

The campaign is a part of a compromise which Swiss Post reached with the price regulator at the beginning of 2014. The agreement guarantees that the prices of A (=fast mail) and B (=“Snail Mail”) Mail which have not changed since 2004, and domestic parcel will remain the same until 2016. The compromise meant that a lengthy procedure could be avoided and ensured planning reliability for Swiss Post.

Could this be a lesson for India Post?

-- Dr. Avinash B. Jagtap (Binningen, Switzerland)

New Special Covers

Centenary Celebration of Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK)

A special Cover was released in Mangalore on 21st September to commemorate  Centenary celebration of Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK).

: Mansoor B. – Mangalore

 

Private Special Cover

Centenary of Bombardment of Madras by "SMS Emden"

 

South India Philatelist's Association   brought out a Private Special Cover on Centenary of Bombardment of Madras by "SMS Emden" on 22 September 2014.To mark this event SIPA has brought out this cover with Postmark of High Court of Chennai, which happens to be nearest Post Office of the bombardment.

In the WWI Madras is the only place in India which was attacked by Germans in 1914.

: Mahesh Parekh – Chennai : email : maheshparekhb@gmail.com

The Bombardment of Madras

The Bombardment of Madras was an engagement of World War I, at Madras (Chennai), British India. The bombardment was initiated by the German light cruiser Emden at the start of the war in 1914.

With Captain Karl von Müller in command, on the night of 22 September 1914, SMS Emden quietly approached the city of Madras on the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula. After entering the Madras harbor area and observing for a moment, Müller gave the order to engage at 9:30 pm, Emden opened fire at 3,000 yards on several large oil tanks within the harbor, which belonged to the Burmah Oil Company.

Within the first 30 rounds, the oil tanks were in flames. After bombing the fuel tanks, Emden moved onto a small merchant ship in harbor. The craft was quickly sunk by Emden's deck guns. The worst casualties experienced that night were from the merchant vessel, 26 of whose crew were injured. At least 5 of the sailors were killed on scene or died later of injuries.The action lasted half an hour, until 10:00 pm, by which time the British shore batteries had begun to respond. However, Emden slipped away unscathed. In all, 125 shells were fired by the Germans.  The raid did little damage but thousands of people fled the city. Madras was the only Indian city to come under attack by forces of the Central Powers during World War I.

Read More…

My Stamps 3rd Series Commercially used Private First Day Covers

As per the Office Memorandum F. No. 17-5/2013-Phil, dated 22nd July 2014 issued by Philately Division, Department of Posts, 10 new themes of My Stamps have been launched, viz. Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Mysore Palace, Fairy Queen, Port Blair Island, Ajanta Caves, St. Francis Church and Greetings. Though the notification was issued on 22nd July 2014, the Fairy Queen design was made available at many philatelic bureaux much earlier. Date of issue has not been announced for all 10 designs.

Mr. Parvesh Gupta has prepared private first day covers which are commercially used. Few of them are given below.

View all covers at : http://www.indianphilately.net/news.html

 

New Special Cover from Bangalore…

 

 

A Special cover - Women in Sanskrit Literature was released in Bangalore on 15th September by Karnataka Postal Circle with joint cooperation from Karnataka Sanskrit University .  The Cover    Approval No: KTK/19/2014, its function was organized at "Aksharam", 8th Cross, II Phase, Girinagar, Bangalore - 560 085 on 15.09.2014 at 10.00 A.M on the occasion of National Conference on "Role of Women as reflected in Sanskrit Literature". The total 6 frames were exhibited  on subject on Indian women and her role in various field scientific,literary,cultural tradition and Heritage. Dr Sumitra Arya was instrumental in the issuance of this cover and she also  designed the cover .

 

Dr Sumitra  Arya  and Mr M.R Prabhakar  who exhibited their collection on Indian women and her role in various fields.

 

: Reported by Philatelist from Bangalore

My Stamp Series from Ahmedabad

New My Stamp series launched by India Post is now available at Ahmedbad GPO with 3 designs Taj Mahal , Greetings and Fairy Queen.

 

 

Courtesy -  Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad  http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.in/

New Special Covers

 

Odipex-2014 :  9th Odisha State Level Philatelic Exhibition

22nd to 24th August 2014

 

The 9th Odisha State Level Philatelic Exhibition ‘Odipex-2014’ was organised by Odisha Postal Circle at Marawari Society, Unit-6, Bhubaneswar.During the exhibition 6 special covers were released.

 

Special Cover on Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves : 22.08.2014

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance near the city of Bhubaneswar. The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvat in the Hathigumpha inscription. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela. Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill" and has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves.

Special Cover on NALCO : 23.08.2014

National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) is Asia's largest integrated aluminium complex, encompassing bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting and casting, power generation, rail and port operations. Commissioned during 1985-87, Nalco has emerged to be a star performer in production, export of alumina and aluminium, and more significantly, in propelling a self-sustained growth. NALCO has units in Odisha at places like Angul and Damanjodi. The company's headquarters are located in Bhubaneswar.

Special Cover on INTACH : 23.08.2014

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is India’s largest non-profit membership organization dedicated to conservation and preservation of India’s natural, cultural, living, tangible and intangible heritage. Its mission is to Sensitize the public about the pluralistic cultural legacy of India; Instill a sense of social responsibility towards preserving our common heritage; Protect and conserve our living, built, and natural heritage by undertaking necessary actions and measures; Provide expertise in the field of conservation, restoration and preservation of specific works of art; and encourage capacity building by developing skills through training programs etc.

Special Cover on East Coast Railway HQrs, Bhubaneswar : 24.08.2014

The East Coast Railway one of the blue chip zones of Indian Railways came into existence in its present form with effect from 1st April 2003. East Coast Railway has been acknowledged to have played an important role in building infrastructure and providing connectivity in Eastern, Southern and Central India.The geographical jurisdiction of East Coast Railway zone extends over three states encompassing almost all of Odisha along with parts of Srikakulam, Vizainagaram and Visakhapatnam districts of northeastern Andhra Pradesh and Bastar and Dantewada districts of Chhatisgarh state. The zonal headquarters is at Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

Special Cover on Pale-capped Pigeon : 24.08.2014

The pale-capped pigeon (Columba punicea) also known as the purple wood pigeon is a species of large pigeon that is found patchily distributed in parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. This large 36–40.5 cm-long pigeon is all-dark chestnut brown with a contrasting pale crown. The male has whitish-grey crown, purplish-maroon upperparts with faint green gloss on the neck; more strongly iridescent mantle and back; dark slate-coloured rump and uppertail-coverts; vinous-brown ear-coverts, throat and underparts, slaty-grey undertail-coverts; and blackish tail and flight feathers. Females have a more brownish-grey crown. Juveniles initially have the crown colour matching the mantle, duller wing-coverts and scapulars with rufous fringes, a much reduced gloss on the upperparts and greyer underparts. The legs are crimson and iris is creamy-yellow in adults. The skin around the eyes and the ceres are magenta.

Special Cover on Maha Bodhi Society : 24.08.2014

The Maha Bodhi Society of India was founded by Anagarika Dhammapala in May, 1891 for the purpose of resuscitation Buddhism in India and of restoring the ancient Buddhist shrines at Buddha Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinara. Having its Headquarters in Calcutta its main attention has been paid in the restoration and revival of the glory and sanctity of Buddha Gaya. For this he founded the Society’s first Centre at Buddha Gaya. Then centers were established in Sarnath, Sanchi, Lucknow, Orissa, New Delhi, Chennai Ajmer, Bangalore etc. MBS (Maha Bodhi Society) Public School is also managed under the aegis of Maha Bodhi Society of India, Odisha Centre.

The award list of Odipex-2014 is available at following link :

http://www.indianphilately.net/odipex2014awardlist.html

Gulpex-2014, Philatelic Exhibition at Gulbarga : 23rd - 24th August 2014

North Karnataka Postal Region organised Gulpex-2014, philatelic exhibition on 23rd and 24th August 2014 at Gulbarga. Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur and Raichur postal divisions were covered under this exhibition. A Special Cover was issued on 23rd August 2014 during the exhibition. Special Cover depicts Gulbarga Fort and the cancellation depicts a Canon.

 

My Stamps to mark 75 years of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) – 8th August 2014.

Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), founded in 1939 is the premier professional association of pharmacists in India, with a member base of over 10,000, spread across the length & breadth of the nation. IPA operates in India through 17 state branches and more than 33 local branches. The members represent various facets of pharmaceutical profession viz. Industry, regulatory, community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy & education. IPA is also actively associated in managing several academic programmes.

Prof. Mahadeva the Association. Dr. B. Suresh, Vice Chancellor, JSS University, Guest of Honour & Dr. B.R. Jagashetty, Former Drugs Controller for the state of Karnataka, Chief Patron IPA Convention, 2014 released Platinum Jubilee My Stamps.

On 8th August 2014, IPA Convention, 2014 was organised on at NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bangalore. The convention was hosted by IPA Karnataka State Branch. During the Convention My Stamps with logo of Platinum Jubilee year were released to commemorate the 75 years of the Association. Dr. B. Suresh, Vice Chancellor, JSS University, Guest of Honour & Dr. B.R. Jagashetty, Former Drugs Controller for the state of Karnataka, Chief Patron IPA Convention, 2014 released Platinum Jubilee My Stamps.

Courtesy :   Indian Philately Digest

Club News

New Blog on stamps

Here is a new beautiful blog created by young philatelist, Deepthi Suidharsan. The blog gives nice information  about  special days and related philatelic items with lot of other interesting news on stamps.    

Plz Click : Philately to view the blog.

http://philateli.blogspot.in/

New My Stamps by India Post

‘ My Stamps ’ new designs launched..

Taj Mahal

India Post has launched 'My Stamp' at Indipex-2011, World Philatelic Exhibition on 12th February 2011. 17 different sheets were made available during the launch of 'My Stamps' having designs/themes of 12 diff. Sun signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Pisces, Cancer and Capricorn) Taj Mahal, Jungle lore (Wildlife: Indian lion, Indian elephant, Tiger, Rhino), Tales of Panchatantra (The lion and the rabbit, The monkey and the crocodile, The crow and the snake and The tortoise and the geese, Full steam ahead (Locomotives: WP/1, 1963, WDM2, 1963, GIP No. 1, 1853 and F/1, 1895) and Flying high (Aeroplanes: LCA - Tejas, Dhruv and HT-2).

In the second phase four new designs on Flower theme (Lily, Dahlia, Cineraria and Pansy) were launched on 19th October, 2012.

As per the Office Memorandum F. No. 17-5/2013-Phil, dated 22nd July 2014 issued by Philately Division, Department of Posts, 10 new themes of My Stamps have been launched, viz. Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Hawa Mahal, Mysore Palace, Fairy Queen, Port Blair Island, Ajanta Caves, St. Francis Church and Greetings. The cost of each sheet is Rs 300.

These new themes are based on local tourist attraction places. Therefore the distribution of the same has been prepared in view of the location of the above places, except Taj Mahal, Fairy Queen and Greetings which are distributed to all postal circles, rest of the themes are circulated only to the concerned circle headquarters. However My Stamp Counters and philatelic bureaux of the circles other than the philatelic bureau situated at circle headquarter can place their demand of My Stamp sheetlets to the philatelic bureau situated at circle headquarters.

Hawa Mahal

Mysore Palace

Port Blair Island

Ajanta Caves

St. Francis Church

Red Fort

Qutub Minar

Fairy Queen

Greetings

Courtesy : Prashant Pandya : http://www.indianphilately.net/news0814.html