Stamp and Coins released on International Day of Yoga

 

 

 

21 June – International Day of Yoga

 

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released a commemorative stamp and a miniature sheet in denomination of Rs. 5 each on International Day of Yoga during inaugural function of the International Conference on Yoga for Holistic Health held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21st June, 2015. The Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Health & Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Jayant Sinha, Baba Ramdev and other dignitaries were present at the release function.

Commemorative Coins on International Day of Yoga

Photo Courtesy - United News of India

 

Club News

Postal Museum inaugurated at Postal Training Centre, Vadodara on 20th June 2015

The Postal Museum was inaugurated by Shri Ganesh Sawaleshwarkar, Director, Postal Training Centre, Vadodara in the premises of Postal Training Center, Vadodara on 20th June 2015. Inauguration function was well attended by local philatelists, staff members of Department of Posts and Postal Training Centre.

The postal museum displays an array of paraphernalia of the bygone era’s postal system. Leather cash bags, red cloth cash bag, old scale and weights, scale box, various badges worn by postal employees made of brass, aluminium and plastic, old Morse (telegraph) instrument , old order books of different post offices, code names and index letters book, old postal guides, post office manuals, binder, different sizes of letter boxes, wooden letter box, mobile (cycle) post office box, postman uniform and bag, leather portfolio bag, mail overseer bag, lantern, stamp cancellation machine etc. have been displayed in the museum. Philatelic covers and a statue of Halkara (postal runner) are also on display in the museum.

 

Courtesy – Prashant Pandya – Vadodara

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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

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Help Earthquake victims !!

 

Help Earthquake Victims !!

Deepest condolences to all those who lost their dear ones in the recent earthquake in Nepal and Northern India. May all get best possible assistance, relief and help in this hard time. Rainbow Stamp Club expresses heartfelt sympathies with all the victims of this disastrous earthquake.

World’s disastrous earthquakes on stamps

Assistance to Earthquake Victims

 

Pakistan Post issued stamp sheets of Rs 100 and Rs 25 on October 27, 2005 in order to help promote the cause of relief and rehabilitation activities in the earthquake affected areas. (This sheet issued without FDC's and Leaflet)

 

Earthquake Mail

San Francisco Earthquake Mail

San Francisco Earthquake cover postmarked on April 24, 1906. This emergency mail was sent without stamps affixed. The recipient paid the postage due fee.

At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, an earthquake devastated San Francisco, California, and shook nearly the entire west coast of the United States. Ruptured gas lines ignited fires that burned for four days afterwards, destroying much of the city, including many post office sites. Since the quake and aftermath damaged wire communications connecting San Francisco with cities worldwide, news of the devastation did not spread until 10:05 a.m. U.S. Post Office telegraph operators transmitted messages until 2:20 p.m., when, with fires fast approaching, authorities ordered them to leave their posts. They transmitted their last message at 2:20 p.m. The earthquake and fires caused hundreds of deaths and millions of dollars in losses. Fortunately, the gorgeous United States post office at 7th and Mission, opened in 1905, survived. The natural catastrophe ranks among the worst in United States history.

Courtesy – Smithsonian Postal Museum

 

Iran earthquake   December 26, 2003

A powerful earthquake struck southeastern Iran on December 26, 2003, killing over 43,000 people, injured 20,000, left 60,000 homeless and destroyed much of the city of Bam. The USGS National Earthquake information center is reported a magnitude of 6.6 for the quake, which was located just southwest of the city. About 60 percent of the buildings in Bam were destroyed. The old quarter and a 2,000-year-old citadel (severely damaged by the earthquake) were built primarily of mud brick.

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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.

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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

 

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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

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PHILAKOREA 2014

 

 

PHILAKOREA 2014  - August 7 to 12, 2014

Special stamps on Philakorea 2014

PHILAKOREA 2014 celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Postal Service of Korea is the fourth exhibition of its kind held in the country. Commencing in 1984 the exhibition marked the centenary of the Korean Postal Service, and followed again in 1994 and 2002.

PHILAKOREA 2014 will display 545 stamp exhibits and more than 200,000 stamps submitted from 68 countries. There will be various programs such as a musical, a display of world postboxes and a journey to the world with stamps, all of which will provide an opportunity for visitors to understand the history and culture of the world.

PHILAKOEA 2014 commemorative stamps feature “Arirang,” a lyrical folk song of Korea designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012. As the representative folk song enjoyed by the Korean race, Arirang is a song in various forms which always consists of the refrain ‘Arirang, arariyo.’ For the first time, this PHILAKOREA 2014 commemorative stamp is printed on the traditional Korean paper, Hanji.

The unique texture of Hanji adds a flavor of Korea. Image Recognition Technology was applied to the PHILAKOREA 2014 commemorative stamps. When each stamp is viewed via a smart phone or tablet PC, a short film about Arirang can be appreciated. PHILAKOREA 2014 World Stamp Exhibition will be held in Hall A, COEX from August 7 to 12, 2014.

Philatelic Tributes to Kishore Kumar

4th August – Birth Anniversay of Kishore Kumar

 

Kishore Kumar was commemorated on postage stamp issued by India Post on 15th May 2003 3 other legends Mohd. Rafi Mukesh and Hemant Kumar.

Today is 85th Birth anniversary of Kishore Kumar, great Indian film playback singer, actor, lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenplay writer and scriptwriter. He is regarded as the most versatile personality of Indian Cinema.

 

New Indian Commissioner and Juror

SINGAPORE 2015 is the 3rd World Stamp Exhibition to be held in Singapore. It is to be held in conjunction with Singapore's 50th Year of Independence, with the full support and patronage of the Federation International de Philatelie (FIP) and under the auspices of the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP).

Date :
14 - 19 August 2015

Venue :
Sands Expo & Convention Center

Host :
Association of Singapore Philatelists

Event Organiser :
Singpex Pte Ltd

Key Sponsor :
Singapore Post Ltd

PCI has appointed Mrs. Dayamanti M. Pittie, Commissioner for SINGAPORE-2015 (FIP) which is going to held in Singapore Aug.2015.

MALAYSIA 2014 World Youth/ FIAP Exhibition

Mr. Ajeet R. Singhee is invited by MALASIA-2014 (FIAP) as Juror from India.

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