This Day in History… June 5, 1883

Orient Express

US #2576 pictures the Orient Express.

On June 5, 1883, the Orient Express made its first trip from Paris to Vienna.

The world’s most luxurious train was the brainchild of Belgian Georges Nagelmackers. Nagelmackers first became interested in trains on a visit to the United States in 1867. Impressed by the railroad sleeping cars on Pullman night trains, he decided to establish a network of similar trains in Europe.

In 1874, Nagelmackers founded the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (International Sleeping-Car Company). To promote his idea, Nagelmackers staged a test run, inviting special guests to take a 1,243-mile railway trip on his Train Éclair de luxe (lightning luxury train). On October 10, 1882, they departed Paris, arriving in Vienna a little over 24 hours later. The train then returned to Paris on October 14.

Korea #2401 honors the first run of the Orient Express.

With that trip a success, Nagelmackers then prepared for regular service. The first run came on June 5, 1883. From then until October 4 of that year, the train ran regular trips between Paris and Vienna. That October, the route was extended to Istanbul by way of Munich, Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest. Until 1889 (when the rail line was completed) the last leg of the trip (from Varna, Bulgaria, to Istanbul) was completed by ship. The journey took 67 hours and passengers slept on the train for three nights. In 1891, the train’s official name was changed to the “Orient Express.”

Item #MDS494B – Disney souvenir sheet shows the Orient Express running from Paris to Constantinople.

Orient Express service was halted during World War I, then resumed in 1918. The 1930s marked the height of the railroad’s popularity, during which time it ran three parallel services: the Orient Express, the Simplon Orient Express (which took a southern route through Milan, Venice, and Trieste), and the Arlberg Orient Express, which ran through Zurich and Innsbruck to Budapest.

The legendary train became synonymous with luxury travel during the 1930s with its comfortable sleeping cars and restaurant cars that were known for their excellent cuisine. Royalty, diplomats, and wealthy patrons frequently made use of the Orient Express.

Item #MDS494C – Disney souvenir sheet showing the back of the train and a map of the route.

Service was again interrupted during World War II. And by 1962, only the Simplon line was running. Over the years, the line was shortened as passengers chose speed over luxury. France’s TGV or Train à Grande Vitesse (high-speed train) could make the trip from Paris to Vienna overnight. By 2009 all Orient Express routes had disappeared, ending an era of train travel in Europe.

The legendary train has been the setting for mysteries and comedies for decades. In Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, inspector Hercule Poirot traveled from Istanbul, then called Constantinople, and solved the mystery of a murder that took place on the train. In addition to using the legendary train as the setting for her story, Christie also used actual events that took place around the time of her writing the book. In 1929, an Orient Express train became trapped in a blizzard similar to the circumstances in her book. Christie, herself, was stuck on an Orient Express train after returning from visiting her husband, an archaeologist on a dig. Some of the characters in her mystery were based on passengers the author became acquainted with while the tracks were cleared and repaired after severe flooding.

Item #MP1939 – Get 300 worldwide train stamps for less than $35!

The Orient Express has also been featured in Bram Stoker’s 1897 book Dracula, Ian Fleming’s From Russia, with Love, and in the 2004 film version of Around the World in 80 Days, among many other books and films.

Source  - Mystic Stamp Company 

                      

50th anniversary of Shinkansen - high-speed railway line of Japan

 

 

Date of Issue – 1 October 2014

50^th anniversary of Shinkansen – High Speed Railway Line of Japan

Japan Post has prepared for issuing a new commemorative stamp to mark the 50^th anniversary of Shinkansen. The stamp has been already designed and will be released on the 1^stof October. The stamp will be presented at special celebration on this occasion.

The Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line is set to mark its 50th anniversary in October, having carried more than 5.5 billion passengers since its 1964 debut.

The project to build the shinkansen line started in April 1959, amid Japan’s postwar high-growth period, and was completed in just over five years. It went smoothly thanks to a “Dangan Ressha (bullet train)” project before the start of the Pacific War to connect Tokyo and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, over a distance of 970 kilometers within nine hours.

Although the Dangan project was suspended during the war, land lots acquired for it and completed tunnels helped facilitate the shinkansen project.

The shinkansen began operating between Tokyo and Osaka on Oct. 1, 1964, nine days before the start of the Summer Olympic Games in the nation’s capital. It drastically improved the transportation capacity of the Tokaido line, which was nearing its limit, and carried more than 100 million people within the first three years of service.

Prompting the movement of people, goods and capital, the shinkansen served as the locomotive of Japan’s economic growth from the 1960s. When the World Exposition was held in Osaka in 1970, some 10 million of 60 million visitors reportedly used the shinkansen.

The shinkansen not only became the foundation of Japan’s economic growth by linking Tokyo and Osaka but also gave hope to Japanese people as a symbol of the nation’s postwar recovery from “burnt-out ruins”, said professor Satoshi Fujii at Kyoto University’s Department of Urban Development.

Club News

The Indian Thematic Society has released September 2014 issue of its quarterly magazine "ITS Stamp News" , editor Suraj Jaitly http://itsstampnews.blogspot.in/

New stamps from Israel

 

 

 

Red Gerbera on stamp

Israel Post issued a definitive stamp featuring Red Gerbera. The stamp was issued as part of the Gerberas definitive stamp series.

The Gerbera, or Transvaal Daisy, is an ornamental plant belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It was named in honor of German botanist Traugott Gerber and originates from the Transvaal region of South Africa.

Some 30 species of Gerbera grow in the wild and they are prevalent in South America, Africa and tropical Asia. The Gerbera is also known as the African Daisy.

The Gerbera has a large head with striking two-lipped ray florets in various colors. The flower heads can be as small as 2 cm in diameter (mini) or up to 12 cm (Gerbera “Golden Serena”). The Gerbera has a long stem and no leaves.

The Gerbera is extremely popular and is widely used as a decorative garden plant or as cut flowers, which last for a relatively long period of time. In recent years new Gerbera species have been cultivated which are designed to grow in flowerpots.

The stamp tab also features 3 gerbera flowers of different colors.

Israel’s National Heritage Landmarks

In 2010 the Israeli government initiated the Empowerment of National Heritage Infrastructure Project, whose goal is to rehabilitate and empower this infrastructure by investing in the preservation, restoration, development, study, publicity, advertising and marketing of historical assets and cultural treasures in order to strengthen Israel’s identity, cultural wealth and unifying strength. The Heritage Project includes hundreds of cultural assets, five of which are featured on the stamps in this series.

City of David, Jerusalem

The City of David, the first capital of the united Jewish nation, was captured from the Jebusites by King David 3,000 years ago. Located just below Mount Moriah, the City of David was the center of Ancient Jerusalem and served as the setting in which many of the events described in the Bible occurred.

The Heritage Project will present a nighttime display for the general public that will relate the incredible story of the City of David.

The stamp bears a bulla featuring the seal of Gemaryahu ben Shaphan (who is mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah) against the background of an aerial photo of the City of David.

The stamp tab features the Shiloach Inscription which describes the architectural feat of the digging of Hezekiah’s Tunnel inside of which the inscription was discovered.

Ein Keshatot, Golan

In the late 19th century, the remains of a Jewish village dating back to the time of the Mishnah and the Talmud were discovered in the southern Golan. A 5th century synagogue was uncovered in the center of the village, one of the most beautiful ever unearthed in Eretz Israel.

The site, known today as Ein Keshatot, was destroyed in the 8^th century by an earthquake. As part of the Heritage Project, the synagogue is being restored and the overall site is being developed.

The stamp features the restored synagogue and the dais for the Holy Ark.

The stamp tab depicts the menorah engraved on the capital of one of the columns in the synagogue.

Synagogue, Peki’in

In the early 20th century, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi came to the Galilean village of Peki’in, where he met members of the Musta’arabi community, Jews who according to tradition never left Eretz Israel and continued to work the land. The Jews of Peki’in epitomized the preservation of the connection to the land of Eretz Israel. The synagogue located at the center of the village was renovated in the 19th century and two ancient stone tablets were incorporated into its walls. A menorah is engraved on one of the tablets, and a Holy Ark on the other. The Heritage Project is focused on documenting the history of the Peki’in community and on preserving the ancient synagogue.

The stamp features the Peki’in synagogue as well as the engraved menorah.

The stamp tab depicts a relief of the Holy Ark.

Detention Camp, Atlit

The restrictions imposed by British Mandate authorities on the entry of Jews into Eretz Israel forced Yishuv leaders and various immigration movements to act illegally and bring the Jewish immigrants in on dilapidated ships and under harsh conditions. The British did everything they could to capture the immigrant ships and transfer their passengers to detention camps which were constructed first in Atlit and later in Cyprus. The Society for Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites, which maintains the camp, purchased and renovated a ship similar to those that served to bring the Jewish immigrants and built an exhibit inside, reflecting the immigrants’ living conditions. The site is being developed within the framework of the Heritage Project, including the renovation of the main buildings and the design of exhibits inside them.

The stamp features a ship similar to those used to bring immigrants against the background of barracks at the Atlit detention camp.

The stamp tab shows passengers disembarking from the “Umot Me’uchadot” (united nations) immigrant ship onto the shore in Nahariya.

Independence Hall, Tel-Aviv

The “two-thousand-year-old hope to be a free people in our land” was realized on May 14, 1948 with the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel. The declaration ceremony was conducted in the home of Meir Dizengoff, one of the first homes built in Ahuzat Bayit, Tel-Aviv’s first neighborhood. The building was later turned into an art museum. David Ben Gurion read the Declaration of Independence, which was signed at the bottom by members of the Provisional State Council. As part of the Heritage Project, the declaration hall was renovated and an Independence Museum is to be established there.

The stamp features the Declaration of Independence against the background of Independence Hall.

The stamp tab shows David Ben Gurion reading the Declaration of Independence as he announces the establishment of the State of Israel.

Club News

From our Readers…

The Morris Fire Engine with 100 years of glorious service

Sandeep Chaurasia from Gorakhpur shares here a special cover issued during Chitrali, stamp exhibition at Delhi on 7 Feb 2014.

100 Years of Ausserfernbahn Train

Date of Issue : 6 July 2013

Austrian Post issued a stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of Ausserfernbahn train. The stamp features a historic train coach with an E62 electric locomotive. It was the first electric locomotive in Germany with electric train heating.

 

 

New stamps on Sea Port

Date of Issue : 17 July 2013

On July 17,  An Post issued a set of three stamps featuring the Port of Cork.

The history of the port dates back to 1813, when the Cork Harbour Commissioners were established. They remained in existence until 1997, when responsibility transferred to the Port of Cork Company, a commercial semi state company.

Today, the Port of Cork is the key seaport on the south of Ireland and is one of only two Irish ports which service the requirements of all six shipping modes i.e. lift-on lift-off, roll-on roll-off, liquid bulk, dry bulk, break bulk and cruise. Highlighted as a Tier 1 Port of National Significance in the 2013 National Ports Policy, the Port of Cork acts as a major facilitator of both imports and exports. The port is also a regular port of call for cruise ships, which in turn contributes significantly to the local economy.

The stamps were designed by Steve Simpson and feature three activities of the port. The 60c stamps feature the Clipper Round the World Race 2010 (leisure) and a container ship preparing to berth (freight). The 90c stamp features the Cunard liner “Queen Elizabeth” (cruise).

New stamps from Malaysia

 

 

To be issued on  22 June 1010

Hi ! Here are some new stamps to be issued by Malaysia on Malaysian Trains  on June 22, 2010. The stamps are very colorful with a nice Miniature sheet. Our thanks to Mr.  Pradip Jain of Patna  and  Mr Thevarayn Srinivasan of Klang Malaysia. This is all in this Post…Till Next Post ….Have a Nice Time !

 

To be issued on 22 June 2010

Club News

Great Australian Railway Journey….

Hi ! I am very busy these days with the inflow of visiting guests in this tourist season here. It is the peak time for tourists in Kullu & Manali. People come here to get a relief from scorching heat of the Plains. Now temperature is also increasing here as today when I went out had a feeling of heat that was uncomfortable. It is the weather that I feel here these days….Now coming to the philatelic world…… Here are some awesome stamps issued by Australia Post featuring Great Australian Journey.The stamps are very fascinating and are one of the most beautiful stamps issued on Train…Just fantastic !. A journey in train is always very pleasant….This can be experienced from these stamps too….giving a picturesque view of the surrounding. I just love these stamps and wish to get them in my collection ! This is all for this Post……Till Next Post…Have a Nice Time !

Date of Issue – 7 May 2010

Four of Australia's most scenic railway trips are being celebrated by Australia Post with the launch of a new stamp issue titled Great Australian Railway Journeys.

This issue features three 55c stamps - The Ghan, the Indian Pacific, the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Tasmania and one $2.10 international stamp - Kuranda Scenic Railway in Queensland.

The issue includes a limited edition (10,000) prestige first day cover featuring the Indian Pacific stamp and a reproduction version of the 1917 invitation to the official opening of the Trans-Australian Railway. A prestige booklet comprising mixed blocks of four stamps, minisheet and postcards will also be available.

Max Cards

Courtesy – Australia Post