Rose scented stamps from Isle of Man

 

Date of Issue : 25 April 2015

Rose scented stamps to mark 100 years of camaraderie and campaigning work in Isle of Man

Isle of Man Post in collaboration with the WI (Women’s Institute) Federation mark its centenary anniversary celebration with a rose scented set of six stamps, depicting a range of images of both the current Isle of Man chapter as well as some of the WIs most famous campaigns over the past 100 years, and a selection of Island members.

Each stamp is set on special rose scented paper with the pink rose embled which represents 100 years of contribution. The issue is scheduled to be released on the 25^th of April

The WI was established in 1915 in Llanfairpwll on Anglesey with the aim of revitalizing rural life and educating and inspiring women where ever their life leads them. Nowadays, the aims have widened but many WI members still join primarily to make new friends, learn and develop skills and make positive changes to their local – and in many cases national – community and the activities, members engage with have changed.

WI is the largest women’s voluntary membership organization in the UK and currently has over 212,000 members in 6,600 WIs across England, Wales and the Islands.

Every WI belongs to a Federation, of which there are 69 in total. The Isle of Man Federation was formed in 1950 and currently has 750 members in 30 WIs. Its members have always taken an active interest in island life and getting involved in a huge range of activities.

 

Stamps on Indian theme

Thailand Post issued  for Thai Heritage Conservation Day, a set of 8 stamps and a Souvenir sheet on 2nd April 2015 featuring Khon Masks related to Ramayana  .

- Leeza Padhi - Cuttack

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175th Anniversary of the Penny Black and birth of Edward Stanley Gibbons

 

Date of Issue : 17 February 2015

Isle of Man Post Office’s tribute to the 175th Anniversary of the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive posting stamp used in the public postal system, and the birth of Edward Stanley Gibbons, show the Penny Black, the Penny Red which replaced the Black and the Two Penny Blue alongside William Mulready, Roland Hill and Edward Stanley Gibbons whose portraits are featured on the stamps next to their associated contribution.

Isle of Man Post Office will issue a stamp set  produced in collaboration with Stanley Gibbons marking the 175th Anniversary of the Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive posting stamp used in the public postal system, and the birth of Edward Stanley Gibbons. The issue is due for release on February 17, 2015.

 
Postage rates on the Isle of Man and the rest of the British Isles had risen to a very high level by 1830 and as a result a campaign to reform these was led by Roland Hill with the main aim of lowering the rate to one penny per half ounce. This in addition to introducing a method to signify if a letter had been pre-paid was developed by William Mulready. The first step towards a change in the postal system then occurred on December 5, 1839 when the rate was reduced to four pence. This was a success and the penny rate was introduced January 10, 1840. At first the postage paid or due was written in ink on the letter by the postmaster and then on May 6, 1840 a new method of paying postage was introduced and the famous Penny Black was born, followed by the TwoPenny Blue on May 8, 1840.

A number of devices were incorporated in the designs to prevent forgery including stamps being printed by the recess method, paper specifically made with a small watermark on each stamp, a machine used to make intricate background patterns, and the use of unique corner letters with each stamp on the printing plate of 240 stamps having a different combination of corner letters.

The Penny Black and Two Penny Blue were resounding successes. The 1840 stamps were found to be easily cleaned of the red cancellation and reused and this prompted a colour change to Red for the Penny Black stamp with new stamps issued in 1841.
Six stamps have been produced and include depiction of the Penny Black, the Penny Red which replaced the Black and the Two Penny Blue. In addition, there are three stamps each with a key individual - William Mulready, Roland Hill and Edward Stanley Gibbons whose portraits are featured on the stamps next to their associated contribution.

Edward Stanley Gibbons was born on June 21, 1840, interestingly in the same year that Britain issued the Penny Black. Gibbons interest in stamps began whilst at school and he started the business Stanley Gibbons Ltd when employed as an assistant in his father’s pharmacy shop in Plymouth where he set up a counter selling stamps in 1856.Stanley Gibbons is the world's oldest rare stamp merchant with world-leading experts at the heart of everything it does. It is this adherence to quality that gained Stanley Gibbons the Royal Warrant in 1914. The company continues to serve collectors, philatelists and numismatists all over the world, host auctions and publish highly respected journals.

Dean Shepherd, Editor of Gibbons Stamp Monthly said: “It was fitting that Stanley Gibbons had the opportunity to work with Isle of Man Post Office on this very special issue, which not only marks the 175th Anniversary of the world’s first stamps—and thus the birth of stamp collecting—but also the birth Anniversary of Stanley Gibbons, whose name has been synonymous with the hobby for almost 160 years.”

“As well as what would have been Stanley Gibbons’ 175th birthday, 2015 also marks the 125th Anniversary of Gibbons Stamp Monthly magazine—which I am delighted to see depicted on the £1.20 value.”
“The fact that the stamps have also been designed by Leanne Sherliker of Benham, part of the Stanley Gibbons’ family of companies, makes this issue all the more special in this very important year for Stanley Gibbons and serves as a very attractive tribute to the 175th Anniversary of the Penny Black.”

Maxine Cannon, Stamps and Coins General Manager said: "The stamp issue is important to the Post Office in a number of ways; the launch of the Penny Black marks the birth of the modern British postal system which is now used around the world. The Penny Black, Two Penny Blue and Penny Red are icons of this achievement and even 175 years later are still popularly recognised both for their historical significance and collectors’ value.”

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Stamp Design Competition by India Post

 

Theme : Women Empowerment

“Independence Day 2015” - Stamp Design Competition by India Post

Department of Posts is holding a “Independence Day 2015 – Stamp Design Competition”. The theme of the competition is Women Empowerment.The Terms and Conditions to participate in the competition are as follows:

i. Entries are invited for ‘Independence Day 2015 – Stamp Design Competition’ . The participants are to make an original design on this subject (should not be copy of picture painted by someone else).

ii. Any citizen of India can participate in this contest. The design could be in ink, water colour, oil colour or any other medium (computer printed/printout will not be allowed). The design submitted should be such that can be depicted on the stamps in a visually appealing manner so as to be of interest to philatelic collectors.

iii. Participants are free to use drawing paper, art paper or any other type of white paper of A4 Size.

iv. The following particulars should be written legibly on the reverse of the design:

1. Name of the participant*
2. Age*
3. Gender*
4. Nationality*
5. Full and complete residential address with Pin code
6. Phone/Mobile Number*
7. E-Mail ID (if available)
* It is compulsory to provide the information.

v. An undertaking stating that ‘The artwork submitted is original and no copyright issues are involved’ should be sent along with the entry. In case of any legal dispute related to copyright issue, Department of Posts will not be liable for the same.

vi. The design should be sent without being folded, through “Speed Post” only, in A4 size envelope. The participants should mention “Independence Day 2015 – Stamp Design Contest” on the envelope in which the drawing is sent.

vii. The prize winning designs will be considered for use on stamps and other philatelic material. The prize money will be as follows:

First prize: Rs. 10,000/-
Second prize: Rs. 6,000/-
Third prize: Rs. 4,000/-

viii. The entries should reach on the following address by 31.03.2015.The entries received after the last date of receipt will not be entertained.

ADG (Philately)

Room No. 108(B),

Dak Bhawan, Parliament Street,

New Delhi - 110001.

2015 - Chinese Year of the Sheep

Isle of Man

 

 

The new stamps from Isle of Man celebrate the Chinese Year of the Sheep and in recognition of Isle of Man presence at the 2015 China International Collection Expo (CICE) in Beijing.The Post Office is proud to have worked in cooperation with the Isle of Man Chinese Association to present the first miniature sheet of 2015, a celebration of the Chinese Year of the Sheep.

The year 2015 is going to be an exciting time. The sheep is the eighth sign in the Chinese astrological calendar, and “eight” is traditionally believed to be a lucky number. The number is also considered to attribute peace and prosperity.

Those under the sheep in the Chinese zodiac could be born in 1955, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 and 2027. It is believed that people, who fall under this sign experience happiness in other people’s happiness, are pure in nature, fashionable, well-mannered and sophisticated. The Year of the Sheep dates are between February 19, 2015 and February 7, 2016.

This unique collectible miniature sheet has been designed by artists Ms Du Xiaoxiao and Mr Guo Zhenshan. The design strikes a balance between traditional and modern art and includes bold, vibrant coloured images of sheep with floral patterns, in addition to Chinese lanterns and calligraphy. The sheet also incorporates the lucky colours of this horoscope red, green and purple.

Stamps from Philippines

Date of Issue : 24 November 2014

MANILA - The Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) has launched its 2015 Year of the Goat special stamp to welcome the New Year.

Although the official start of the Year of the Goat coincides with the Chinese New Year, Philpost In a news release said it released the stamps as early as November 24, 2014.The two-design stamp features the colorful image of the goat’s head sold at P10 per piece and the whole image of the goat worth P30 each.

Philpost circulated 55,000 copies of the stamp and are now available in post offices and shops across the country.The New Year Stamps comes with a greeting “Manigong Bagong Taon” while the P30 stamp bears the English translation “Happy New Year.” At the bottom of the stamps are Chinese characters and the words “2015 Year of the Goat.”

The special stamps measures 40mm x 30 mm, and will be sold until supply runs out.  Jose Antonio Jayme is the layout artist and the stamp was printed in imported unwatermarked paper by security printer Amstar Co. Inc.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2015 is the year of the green wooden goat. The goat or sheep is the eighth animal to heed Buddha’s call. It is believed that those born in a goat year are creative, intelligent, dependable, and calm.

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