Christmas 2021

 

New Christmas 2021 stamps

Date of Issue : 12 November 2021

Slovakia

Christmas Mail to Baby Jesus is a unique project organised by the Slovak Post in collaboration with its partners and a major part of the most wonderful festivities of the year.

Austria

Date of issue : 12 November 2021

The rocking horse - the nostalgic toy as a motif for a commemorative Christmas stamp

This vintage stamp shows a drawing of a rocking horse, a Christmas ball and a gift. In red letters it wishes „Merry Christmas“.

The rocking horse stands as a symbol of toys that have lasted for generations. Already in ancient times, small horses on wheels were used for trailing or mounting. The current runners have been known since about the 17th century. It is believed that they were invented in the USA and came to Europe in the 19th century. Even then, the rocking horse was on many a wish list, but not all children could get one - that's why the rocking horse is also symbolic of unfulfilled dreams.

Traditionally, they are made of wood, but they are also available with plush fur - or not as a horse at all, but as a completely different animal. Even today, they are the ideal toy for children. Not only does a rocking horse stimulate the imagination, it also promotes motor development and trains the sense of balance. And even if it is not a present under the tree this year, the rocking horse will certainly find its way into Christmas rooms as a decorative tree ornament or as a gingerbread motif.

Netherlands

Date of Issue : 15 November 2021

The following winter scenes are depicted on the December stamps 2021 in the form of papercuts: A mole with candy cane and rucksack, 2 love-struck blue tits under a mistletoe, a fox with a fluttering scarf and envelope, a mouse in a red postal car, a badger decorating the Christmas tree with his scarf, 2 mice decorating a peacock, a squirrel pushing a sleigh with gifts and treats, a squirrel, hare, dog and owl by the skating pond, a hare with a bunch of Christmas roses, and a fallow deer decorated as a Christmas tree.

All the animals are depicted in a friendly winter landscape, a cosy animal forest with brightly coloured picture elements. Sometimes a larger scene can be seen, other times all the attention goes to one animal. There are three types of sky: light blue, bright blue and dark blue for the morning, afternoon and night respectively. Each December stamp tells its own story. Together, the ten December stamps form a whole because the animals are all, in one way or another, engaged in the theme of Christmas, winter or December.

Liechtenstein

Date of Issue : 15 November 2021

The traditional and popular Christmas stamps are presented in oriental style this year, which is reflected in the choice of colours and detailing in gold.

On the stamp "The Guiding Star" (face value: CHF 0.85), the star that pointed the way to Bethlehem for the Three Wise Men takes centre stage. "The Shepherd" (face value: CHF 1.00), symbolically represented by a sheep, refers to the shepherds who, after an angel proclaimed the birth of Jesus, also set out to see the Son of God lying in a manger.

The "Holy Spirit" (face value: CHF 1.50), who had come upon Mary as the Spirit of God and made her conceive her son nine months earlier, appears in the form of a dove like in the Bible. A candle flanked by a plant represents "The Gifts" (face value: CHF 2.00), which the Wise Men from the East offered to the Saviour.

New Zealand

Christmas 2021

Date of Issue : 3 November 2021

USA

 The visit of St. Nicholas on Christmas Eve 

Date of Issue : 10 October 2021

Europa 2019 Theme - National Birds

National Birds

Isle of Man - Stonechat

Date of Issue : 12 February 2019

Europa stamps, bearing the official logo, are issued every year by the members of PostEurop, the trade association which represents the interests of European public postal operators. Aiming to build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals, EUROPA stamps are eagerly sought after by collectors around the world. Each year a theme is set for members to interpret and illustrate on a set of stamp.

The theme of this year's Europa stamps is " National Birds".Here are images of new stamps to be issued by Postal Administrations of Isle of Man, Liechtenstein and Jersey.

Liechtenstein : Golden Eagle

Date of Issue : 4 March 2019

 As Liechtenstein does not have a national bird of its own, Philately has decided to depict the impressive golden eagle and is presenting it with the two motifs “Golden Eagle Approaching” and “Golden Eagle on the Lookout” (face value: CHF 1.50 each) as a combined print on a small sheet of 10 stamps.

Owing to Liechtenstein’s small size and the home range of around 50 square kilometres that a golden eagle maintains, the country only has a few pairs of these birds of prey. The king of the air as the bird is also often called has dark brown feathers with a lighter golden brown head and neck. It has a wingspan of more than two metres and its prey includes mammals, birds and carrion. Golden eagles usually live in the open space of mountains above the tree line but in the winter it will also forage for prey in lower regions. A pair of golden eagles has different eyries that they alternate in using for their broods. In contrast to other birds, the voice of the golden eagle is rarely heard.

Jersey : Swan and Kingfisher

Date of Issue : 5 March 2019

As birds by their very nature are migratory and representative of countries all around the world, six species which can be sighted in Jersey feature on the stamps, together with the traditional symbolic meaning with which they are associated. Two stamps featuring Swan and Kingfisher have EUROPA logo.

50p - Kestrel - Vision and patience

65p - Swallow - Hope and renewal

76P - Swan - Purity and love

82p - Peacock - Glory and dignity

94p - Kingfisher - Peace and calm

£1.12 - Stork - New beginnings and commitment

**Special Feature**

Scan the swan and kingfisher stamps with your mobile phone, using the free CEE-App, and you will be able to hear the bird sounds.

Stamp Images : Courtesy : Europa Stamps, Jersey Post

Stamps on Christmas cards

 Date of Issue : 18 November 2016

These beautiful stamps issued by Liechtenstein Post show nostalgic Christmas cards. A selection of postcards on Christmas themes, the originals of which can be viewed in the Principality of Liechtenstein’s postal museum. The four motifs on stamps are  Lamplight (value CHF 0.85), Exchanging Christmas Presents (value CHF 1.00), City Scene (value CHF 1.50) and Winter Walk (value CHF 2.00) The typography of the Christmas cards, most of which date from the early years of the 20th century, was finished using hot foil stamping in gold. The Christmas card tradition can be traced back to 1843 when print shop owner Henry Cole in London hired an illustrator to create a Christmas card bearing the words “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You”.

Special stamp on International Year of Light

 

Date of Issue : 2 March 2015

Here is a unique stamp with special effects to be released by Liechtenstein Post today. This special  stamp, being  released on the 2nd of March is to celebrate the International Year of the Light.

Sunlight is the foundation of life for humans, animals and plants. Light in general is also a key subject of science and culture. The United Nations proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light: 1000 years ago it was proven for the first time that light sources emit light rays, exactly 200 years ago the wave character of light was discovered and the quantum theory of light is 110 years old.

Experimenting with light arouses scientific curiosity. The special stamp “Play of Light” (value: CHF 1.90) permits the observer to conduct three experiments relating to the anniversaries mentioned. The background of the stamp glows in the dark owing to its fluorescent colour. It turns into a source of light if it was exposed to sunlight beforehand.

The wave theory can be observed if the stamp is held up to a source of light. The micro-perforations in the paper become easily visible as the light waves are diffracted through the small openings. For the experiment on quantum theory, the light pink colour behind the ball was printed with a special colour. When irradiated with UV light, the colour turns from pink to violet.

Europa 2015 stamps from Liechtenstein

 

Date of Issue : 2 March 2015

Another set of stamps to be released on 2nd March features Europa 2015 . Toys are the theme of this year’s Europe stamps issued by the member states of the trade association representing European public postal operators, PostEurop. The Liechtenstein issue comprises two special stamps showing figurines produced in Liechtenstein in the 1940s, a “Polar Bear” (value: CHF 1.40) and a “Goat” (value: CHF 1.40).

The artistic realisation focuses on the actual purpose of the figurines – playing – so the pictures look like snapshots of childlike playing scenes: The polar bear is enjoying the climate in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator and the goat is proudly climbing a lemon. The toy factory in Schaan at that time made nativity figurines and other animal figures for several years. A kind of modelling material was developed in advance on the basis of kieselguhr in protracted tests. This was pressed into metal moulds and painted by hand after hardening. The figurines found a ready market worldwide. In 1949, one of the company’s founders left the company. Under the name Spiwa, his partner merged with another company in the business and continued to make toys for some years afterwards.

Stamps on Lindau messengers

 

Joint issue with Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Stamp honoring the Fussach ( Lindau )messengers from Austria

 

Date of Issue : 27 September 2014

That Austria Post has joined to other countries in issuing a special commemorative stamp honoring the Fussach messengers. This stamp is to be issued on the 27^th of September. The other countries will introduce their stamps from this series also on this day.

“Fussach messengers” is joint issue with Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Fussach messengers conveyed over centuries people, goods and mail from Lindau to Milan and formed the first postal link on this important trade route.

On the 27^th of September the four postal companies from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are present along the historic route. In the four places Fußach (east), Lindau (D), Balzers (FL) and Chur (CH) special stamp exhibitions and shows will take place.

Switzerland : Lindau Messenger

Date of Issue : 4 September 2014

The first recorded delivery by the Lindau Messenger took place in the early 16th century, although the messenger had been running since the 14th century. The era of the Lindau Messenger came to an end when a completely new generation of roads were built over the main Alpine passes, allowing stagecoaches to cross them, which made travelling easier and safer and the messenger service superfluous.

Germany : Lindau Messenger

Series "Stamp Day" 2014: Lindau Messenger

Date of Issue : 1 September 2014

 

Once Italy and back ...

which was in the Middle Ages, the arduous task of "Lindauer messenger". Between Lake Constance and Milan in northern Italy this urban postal route frequented regularly for about the first half of the 14th century. A stamp now recognizes this extraordinary pioneering achievement.

The task of the "messenger" was enormous: With wind and weather over Lake Constance, the Via Mala, the Alpine ridge and Lake Como.Given the precarious mountain passes and the climatic conditions, this was often a dangerous undertaking. Reloading onto the packhorse, the ship and the horse and cart. Then everything back again towards Lake Constance - as "Corriere di Lindo". The logistic performance and physical exertion were tough enough. Added to this was the pressure of competition. The imperial Thurn und Taxis Post - equipped with monopoly and claim a certain "market power" - saw the urban competition did not like.

All attempts to make the Lindauern the clientele alienate failed. The "Lindau Messenger" held by almost 500 years. In a time full of conflicts and great upheavals he was a reliable link between northern Italy and the Lake Constance region. His clients included the Augsburg Fugger just like the great poet Goethe. Only in 1826 was the end. Economic reasons forced him to. The "Lindau Messenger" but still lives on. Since the 1980s, tourist carriage rides are offered on the old route through Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Italy occasionally.Also on our letters of "Lindau Messenger" will now go on trips - and tell of a pioneer of the early postal system.

Liechtenstein - Lindau Messenger

 

 Date of Issue : 1 September 2014

The Lindau Messenger was a courier service operated between Lindau at Lake Constance and the Italian city of Milan up to the beginning of the 19th century. The Lindau Messenger transported goods, money and letters, crossing through areas of Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Italy on his way. Each of the first four countries named is currently issuing its own stamp on this topic. The Liechtenstein stamp “Lindauer Bote” (value: CHF 1.40) shows suitable pictorial elements and gives the names of each stop. In addition, the altitude profile of the route, which reached its peak on Splügen Pass at 2113 metres above sea level, is depicted on the small 8-stamp sheet. The exact date when the Lindau Messenger started to operate is not documented. However, it is assumed that he was already travelling along the arduous route on a fairly regular basis towards the end of the 15th century. In good weather, he completed the journey in five-and-a-half days but in snow and ice the trip took quite a bit longer.

At that time, Lindau and Milan were trading centres and re-loading points at crossroads of traffic routes. They thus became the points of departure for transports across the Alps. The messenger brought home luxury goods such as silk, gold thread, textiles of all kinds, exotic fruit and weapons. In return, simpler materials such as linen and fustian as well as wool, leather, fur, saddles along with copper, tin and silver were sent to Italy. There is much to suggest that there was actually nothing that was not transported on the pack animals as long as it was possible to do so in smaller quantities.

Towards the end of the 17th and at the beginning of the 18th century, individual travellers were also allowed to accompany the messenger, the most famous of whom was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He used the guidance of the Lindau Messenger across the Alps in May 1788 when returning to Germany from his travels in Italy and paid 122 guilders for it. In 1826 the transport services of the Lindau Messenger were stopped for political and economic reasons.

New pictorial cancellation from Italy

On September 27th 2014 will be available a pictorial cancellation at 12037 SALUZZO (Italy). The cancellation is featuring a Large Alpine Salamander (Salamandra lanzai) and it is the first image of this animal in Philately which is recorded.

Courtesy : Wolfgang Beyer, Vice Chairman of the German Collector Group ARGE ZOOLOGIE.
E-Mail: Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de   & Wolfgang Hoelzl

Club News

Philatelic Display on Archeology theme at National Seminar on Biodeterioration of Cultural Property & Conservation of Heritage Buildings at Vadodara – 21st September 2014.

National Seminar on Biodeterioration of Cultural Property & Conservation of Heritage Buildings held at Vadodara on 21st and 22nd September, 2014 on the occasion of Silver Jubilee celebrations of ICBCP (The International Council for Biodeterioration of Cultural Property), organised by Department of Environmental Studies and Botany, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara.

On this occasion, 5 frames Exhibit on Archeology was displayed at the venue of Seminar by Shri Timir Shah, a philatelist of Vadodara.

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest

The Lindau Messenger – an ancient courier service

 

Date of Issue : 1 September 2014

The Liechtenstein Post will issue a special stamp on 1st September 2014 to commemorate an ancient courier service “The Lindau Messenger”. The Lindau Messenger was a courier service operated between Lindau at Lake Constance and the Italian city of Milan up to the beginning of the 19th century. The Lindau Messenger transported goods, money and letters, crossing through areas of Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Italy on his way.

Each of the first four countries named is currently issuing its own stamp on this topic. The Liechtenstein stamp “Lindauer Bote” (value: CHF 1.40) shows suitable pictorial elements and gives the names of each stop. In addition, the altitude profile of the route, which reached its peak on Splügen Pass at 2113 metres above sea level, is depicted on the small 8-stamp sheet.

The exact date when the Lindau Messenger started to operate is not documented. However, it is assumed that he was already travelling along the arduous route on a fairly regular basis towards the end of the 15th century. In good weather, he completed the journey in five-and-a-half days but in snow and ice the trip took quite a bit longer.

At that time, Lindau and Milan were trading centres and re-loading points at crossroads of traffic routes. They thus became the points of departure for transports across the Alps. The messenger brought home luxury goods such as silk, gold thread, textiles of all kinds, exotic fruit and weapons.

Towards the end of the 17th and at the beginning of the 18th century, individual travellers were also allowed to accompany the messenger, the most famous of whom was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He used the guidance of the Lindau Messenger across the Alps in May 1788 when returning to Germany from his travels in Italy and paid 122 guilders for it. In 1826 the transport services of the Lindau Messenger were stopped for political and economic reasons.

Club News

Release of NAARM Special Cover and NAARM My Stamp by India Post - 1 July 2014, Hyderabad

 

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, renowned agricultural scientist, inaugurated the Centenary Batch of the Foundation Course for Agricultural Research Service (FOCARS-100) on 1 July 2014. The Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle issued a Special Cover affixed with the NAARM My Stamp to mark the occasion at the campus of the National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad on 1st July 2014. Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, released the Special Cover on FOCARS-100 and NAARM My Stamp with Smt. Mariamma Thomas, Director Postal Services, Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle and Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Director-General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Ravi Viswanathan, Editor, NAARM who conceptualized the Special Cover facilitated the release. (Special Cover approval no. AP/04/2014)

Watch Video of the Special Cover release ceremony :   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V29T6p1iz78

The National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Indian Council of Agricultural Research was established in 1976 in Hyderabad with the Mission “To enhance Leadership, Governance and Innovation Capacities of NARS through Capacity Strengthening, Education, Research, Consultancy and Policy Support.

The Foundation Course for Agricultural Research Service (FOCARS) is induction training for newly recruited scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The objectives are to train the participants in various aspects of agricultural research and project management including developing skills for managing interdisciplinary research. The first batch of FOCARS started on 1st Sept. 1976 and till the 99th batch 5,561 scientists were trained.

 

Courtesy - Ravi Viswanathan, Editor, NAARM , Indian Philately Digest

Lighter Side

I wish to share here  some non philatelic pics because it is just related with the Rainbow….. These are   photos of very special rainbow called Fire rainbow taken by a pilot after take off from Bombay airport. I thank Mr Prashant Pandya for sharing these beautiful rainbow pics with me !!

Fire Rainbows are a rare phenomenon that only occurs when the sun is higher than 58 deg above the horizon and it's light passes through cirrus clouds mode of ice crystals.