New Special Cover from Bangalore

 

Special Cover on birth centenary of eminent philatelist Late Col. L. G. Shenoy

11th August 2015

Col. Lakshman Giri Shenoy (b. August 11, 1915, - d. June 19, 1997) was born as the second son of Giri Shenoy and Saraswathi Bai. He passed B.A (English) from the Maharajah's College, Ernakulam. His early career was as editor of English newspapers 'Hyderabad Herald' and 'Modern Times'. The powerful editorials which he wrote those days on the Freedom struggle and many other subjects prove his journalistic abilities. He joined British Indian Army during the Second World War as a second lieutenant in 1943. As a military officer, he travelled all over India. He served the army, which later became the Indian Army, for 24 years, retiring in 1968 as Colonel. After retirement, he worked in Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bangalore in higher management cadre. He selected Bangalore as his retirement abode in 1968 and settled there and spent his remaining life for the cause of philately.

Col. Shenoy was founder member of Karnataka Philatelic Society which was founded in 1976 and remained President of the society for four years. He was also a President of Philatelic Congress of India during 1993-95 and member of jury at State, National and International Philatelic Exhibitions. Col. L. G. Shenoy was specialized in the history of Travancore, Cochin, Puddukottai and Mysore Princely States of India. His knowledge of District Dak, Travelling Post Offices, (TPO) of India, Early India Cancellations and Sea Post Offices were outstanding. He also collected stamps and postal stationery on the subject ‘Coconut Tree’. Being a Postal Historian, he maintained a superb library which housed Postal History of C.E.F., I.E.F., WWI, WWII, Censorship Postmarks etc. Realising the need of Indian Philatelic Magazine with an emphasis on the Postal History, he embarked upon publishing ‘IND DAK’ on 1st January 1977. ‘IND DAK’ monthly was published without a break for 21 years till his death in June 1997. He promoted youth philately movement in India and published ‘MAYUR’ once in three months. He conducted awareness classes in Bangalore schools. His scholarly articles on Postal History of India and the Promotion of Youth Philately are the testimony of his great stature in the world of Philately. He passed away on 19th June 1997.

 

To mark the birth centenary of eminent philatelist Col. L. G. Shenoy a special cover was released by Karnataka Postal Circle at Bangalore with the support of Karnataka Philatelic Society and local philatelists Shri M.S. Ramu (Inddak), Shri Sushil Mehra, Shri Jagannath Mani and Shri Naveein who sponsored the special cover. (Special Cover approval no. KTK/49/2015)

Courtesy - Suresh Rao – ​Bengalore email : suresh.hobbies@gmail.com

 

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175 years of Penny Black..

 

6 May 1840 :  The Penny Black stamp was officially launched

Happy Birthday Penny Black !!

 

The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was issued in Britain on 1 May 1840, for official use from 6 May of that year and features a profile of Queen Victoria.

All London post offices received official issues of the new stamps but other offices throughout the United Kingdom did not, continuing to accept postage payments in cash only for a period. Post offices such as those in Bath began offering the stamp unofficially after 2 May 1840.

The idea of an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage was part of Sir Rowland Hill's 1837 proposals to reform the British postal system; it was normal then for the recipient to pay postage on delivery. A companion idea, which Hill disclosed on 13 February 1837 at a government enquiry, was that of a separate sheet that folded to form an enclosure or envelope for carrying letters. At that time postage was charged by the sheet and on the distance travelled.

On 1 May 1840, post offices were issued with stocks of black one-penny stamps bearing a profile of a young Queen Victoria. And on 6 May, their use became official.

The franking mark – to prevent re-use of the stamps – was a red Maltese cross. Unfortunately, that could be rubbed off. So the colour of the ink was changed to black – which spelled the end of the Penny Black, and the birth of the Penny Red, which was introduced in 1841 and would last until 1879.

The original die of penny black was engraved by the Heath brothers from a medal design showing the head of Queen Victoria by William Wyon. The stamps were printed by Perkins Bacon security printers in sheets of 240 examples without perforations with letters in each corner the deter forgery and each sheet had to be cut up by scissors at the post office. Due to the long life of the design 11 separate plates were used, each with its own distinguishing characteristics and in all over 68 Million Penny Blacks were printed.

Penny Blacks - what makes them valuable?

So what makes Penny Blacks valuable? The major factor is condition. Those postal clerks and their scissors didn’t often cut carefully along the narrow margins and the majority had the design cut into. Also because they became an overnight collecting sensation households and businesses would save them by passing a needle and thread through the middle making1d Black Strings which were then sold by the foot to budding stamp dealers!

On 17th February 2015,Isle of Man Post Office issued 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.

Press Clipping

 

Ludhiana philatelists wish for million-dollar stamp

Aditi Gyanesh,TNN | May 6, 2015, 06.52 AM IST

LUDHIANA: World's first adhesive postage stamp, 'Penny Black', completes 175 years, and so does the culture of stamps. City philatelists on Tuesday shared their experiences of collecting stamps and still craving for the prized 'Penny Black'. Some of them are even keeping dummy, stickers, or photocopies of this stamp, to memorize and tell people about how and when stamps around the world took birth.
The reason behind collectors pursuing this rare stamp is not just philately. "It is extremely high in crores," Yashpal Bangia, president of Philatelic Congress of Punjab, said. "None of the philatelist in North India have the Penny Black. One has to shell out in crores for the stamp. The pricing, however, depends on the stamp's condition," Bangia added.
"Every philatelist the Penny Black," Bangia said. However, to articulate his love for the world's first stamp on its 175th anniversary, Bangia proudly mentioned about his collection of stamps on "Rowland Hill", inventor of "Penny Black" and first Indian stamp.
Bangia has worked for India Post and has written more than 40 books on philately till date. Another philatelist, IP Mehta (67), "This stamp gave birth to our work and hobbies. With the 175 years of this stamp, it is also 175 years of culture of sending letters by using stamps. We have many Victorian stamps with us but not the most important one, sadly."
However, philatelist also discussed the loosing importance stamps in next generation. Emails have replaced stamps now, they said, people do not need snail mail it anymore.

- Times of India

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Stamp on organized philately

 

 

125th anniversary of organized philately in Luxembourg

Date of Issue : 3 March 2015

Luxembourg Post has released a special stamp on occasion of the 125th anniversary of organized philately. The stamp was issued on the 3rd of March.

On Palm Sunday, 30 March 1890, five young collectors, Joseph Schock, J. Faber, Jean-Charles Kohn, Jean Hellinckx and Michel Goebel, met at the Kiffer Café in the train station district of Luxembourg-City to found a philately society, the “Union des Timbrophiles de Luxembourg”, the first philately society in Luxembourg.

In 1934, the “Union des Timbrophiles de Luxembourg” was one of the four founding societies of the “Fédération des Sociétés Philatéliques” of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (FSPL) which celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2014.

Club News

Bletchley Park Post Office to close

Britain’s secret little post office is to close at the end of March. The undercover mailroom of the Enigma code breakers during the Second World War became a post office in 1947. Then Bletchley Park’s first gift shop when it opened to the public in 1994. In 2012 it was refurbished and officially opened by the keeper of the Royal Philatelic Collection. But new management at Bletchley Park have decided it is no longer “core to the code breaking story”. It is the last of the private collections to leave Bletchley Park.

The limited edition first day covers for new stamp issues it produced helped in keeping Bletchley Park open in those early days. Many have become worth several hundred pounds GBP and sought after by collectors around the world. They became known as “little pieces of art and history” due to the beautiful artwork that combined with new stamp issues to tell the story of Bletchley Park.

Now that no more issues will bear the “Bletchley Park Post Office” postmark those collections could increase significantly in value. The few remaining cover and stamp issues are already being snapped by collectors and visitors whilst still available. The entire collection can be viewed at the bletchleycovers.com website.

- Terry Mitchell

Stamp donation : to save a child’s life

 

Here is  interesting information concerning stamps and stamp collecting. Who could only imagine that a pile of stamps helped to support a child with a serious illness? Thousands of stamps have poured in after a couple put out an appeal to help collect as many as possible to raise money to find a cure for their daughter’s rare genetic disease.

Carly and Paul Hadman set up stamp collection boxes in banks and shops across the Fens as part of an appeal to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for Late Infantile Batten Disease which their daughter Effie was diagnosed with last year.

Her mum Carly, of Whittlesey, thanked everybody for the response which she said had been amazing.Effie was a bright, bubbly girl until for no apparent reason she suddenly forgot all of her numbers, colours and people’s names. She then started suffering seizures.

Mrs Hadman said: “We thought she had epilepsy but in January 2014, when Effie was three and a half, we received the devastating news that she has Late Infantile Batten Disease which has a life expectancy of five to 12 years old”.

Carly and her husband Paul are carriers for the rare disorder. The one ray of light is that their one year old son George does not have the disease ‒ he was six weeks old when they discovered Effie was terminally ill.

Batten disease is a fatal, inherited disorder of the nervous system, in which previously normal children develop vision problems or seizures. At the moment, there is no treatment and no cure for Batten disease.

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Slovak Philatelist honored on stamp

 

Date of Issue : 5 December 2014

I am pleased to share the information about a postage stamp to be issued in honour of a philatelist. Slovak Post will  release a special commemorative stamp to honor one of its greatest philatelists on the 5^th of December.

Severín Zrubec lived, worked and received his degree of Doctor in Laws at the Faculty of Law of the Slovak University (1948) in Bratislava. Severín Zrubec worked as a lawyer in various organisations. He held his final post at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1968 – 1981) until 1982 when he retired. He is buried in his home place.

However, the philatelic public knows Severín Zrubec as a successful exhibitor, journalist, association member, and a member of home and foreign juries assessing exhibits. He took part in organised philately for more than fifty years. He engaged in modern view of philately as a hobby with a significant cultural and social mission. Since 1952, Severín Zrubec was a member of the Association of Slovak Philatelic Societies.

Attempts for re-establishment of the Association of Slovak Philatelists (1969) are also closely connected with his name. He held an office of the association chairman during two terms (1969 − 1979) and then continued as its vice-chairman for another two periods. His activities earned him various awards, for instance, Gold Honorary Medal of the Association of Slovak Philatelists and Laureate of the Prize of the Association of Slovak Philatelists 2000.

Severín Zrubec worked as a member of the Thematic Philately Commission of FIP (1974 - 1984) and International Jury of the Association of Slovak Philatelists (1973 − 2011), as well.  His name has been written in golden letters in the Slovak and European philatelic history. The exhibit “Today Rotary Press Machines Revolve” was displayed at several tens of domestic and foreign exhibitions for twenty eight years. It was awarded four gold, seventeen gilded and seven silver medals at five world’s fairs under the patronage of FIP and twenty two international exhibitions. When finishing his exhibition activity in 1998, Severín Zrubec gifted his extensive thematic collection “Printing and Book” to the Museum of Book Culture in Trnava. However, the good man and excellent philatelist was also a poet engaged in writing for a long time. During 2003 - 2005, he published fourteen short collections of subjective lyric poetry written especially for his friends and acquaintances.

The traditional postage stamp with a coupon annually issued at the occasion of the Postage and Philately Stamp Day is impressively shaped as a trapezium with triangle coupons. It is dominated by his portrait and autograph. Zrubec’s first gold medal awarded at the World Postage Stamp Exhibition PRAGA 1962 extends over the right coupon, while a section of the emblem of the Society of St. Gabriel, he co-founded (1962), is depicted on the left one. FDC includes a postal stationery (J. Fándly, 1991 from Museum of Book Culture) issued by the Union of Slovak Philatelists and sent to his address.

Club News

Hyderabad Stamp, coin & Note Fair – 2015 potponed

The Hyderabad Stamps, Coins & Notes Fair-2015 is postponed which was  proposed be held in February 2015 It was to be held at FAPCCI Federation House, Hyderabad. Executive Committee of FAPCCI has decided to renovate the Hall where this Fair was to be held, all bookings for the hall are cancelled.The Fair will be held under same terms and conditions and everything else remaining same, at the same place at a future date, details will be intimated soon.

- BK Nagpal  : email :  HydPhilSociety@yahoo.co.in Phone :+91 - 9885031013

 

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One Crore Question on world’s first Airmail in KBC..

 

 

A stamp recognizing the feat of Henri Piquet

The recent episode of KBC in which Narula brothers of New Delhi won seven Crore Rupees, the One Crore Question was from Philately i.e name the pilot who flew the plane of world's first official airmail. To see the question I remembered my Blog Post and Henri Piquet's face flashed in my mind and unconsciously chose the right answer....Hope my philatelist friends watched this episode and felt the thrilling moment !! We always learn from philately....

India Post issued a souvenir sheet during World Stamp Exhibition INDIPEX 2011 on 100 years of Air Mail

On 18 February, 1911 the first commercial civil aviation flight took place in India between Allahabad and Naini, a distance of 6 miles when Henri Piquet carried 6500 mails on a Humber biplane. This is considered to be the world’s first airmail service and the beginning of civil aviation in India.

1911: THE WORLD GETS ITS AIRMAIL @ KUMBH

The Kumbh is known to have been a place where the first Air Mail started.

Historically,  Allahabad and the Mahakumbh are of great relevance. If the world  at any point got an Air Mail it was due to this very Kumbh in 1911.On February 8, 1911, French pilot Henri Piquet loaded a sack of 6500 cards and letters and flew away in a two seater bi plane. The flight was made to Naini and it reportedly lasted barely 13 minutes. Though it flew a mere five miles but it did create history.

This was the world’s first official airmail. Among the many letters sent ere the one written by Motilal Nehru to his son Jawaharlal Nehru and some addressed to England's King George V.

The flight happened when a grand exhibition was happening. The idea of the Airmail was the brainchild of British commander Walter G Windham. The British commander was reportedly approached by the chaplain of Allahabad’s Holy Trinity Church to help raise funds.

The idea which was then conceived for the money, was the AirMail. Many might ask how was this going to help, the idea was simple. This was to not only generate money, but it was also to help publicize the exhibition and also set an example of rapid and safe transportation of mails.

Hence, the idea of the world's first official airplane mail was born. Those interested in availing the service were asked to send their mail addressed and stamped to the chaplain of the Holy Trinity Church. The payment for the service was a basic six annas as donation. The funds collected were to go for the new hostel building of the Church. A condition however was set that cards or letters weighing less than one ounce was to be accepted.

Since the occasion was ceremonial, these letters were addressed to people all over the globe. It is believed when the flight was made thousands were present to witness the site. They viewed the take off from the polo ground and the landing at Naini junction.

It is said, when Piquet descended, there was no crowd to greet him. He merely handed over the mail bag to the only post office official present there and returned to Allahabad.Piquet himself is believed to have noted that he flew on a Sommer bi-plane with a rotary Gnome engine of 50 horsepower at the speed of 60 miles per hour at a height of 120-150 feet.

In an interview given to a magazine he had said, he flew over the Ganga and was sure he would make it. The interview was given before he died in 1974 at the age of 86.

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Gorgeous carpets on new joint issue of Algeria And Serbia

 

   

Date of Issue : 7 October 2014

A joint stamp issue between two countries dedicated to the deepening and enriching relationships has been prepared for issuing. Algeria and Serbia, have found a common point of their cultural heritage in the field of ethnography, which involves weaving crafts. The issue consists of two stamps that depict two types of carpets produced by these countries.

The Serbian  stamps on the miniature sheet show year 2013 on stamps seems they were printed in 2013 .

The Serbian Post depicts Pirot carpet (kilim). It refers to a variety of flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs traditionally produced in Pirot, a town in southeastern Serbia. Pirot kilims with some 122 ornaments and 96 different types have been protected by geographical indication in 2002. They are one of the most important traditional handicrafts in Serbia.

 

Algerian region has its own style of carpets. They differ in their patterns and colours but their compositions are quite similar. Generally, carpets are made with sheep wool, sometimes mixed with goat hair to get more robust thread. The stamp depicts the carpet produced in Kalâa Beni-Rached.

The main difference between a carpet and kilim is in their sizes, all larger than two meters weaving carpets are known and are used as ground cover, while the kilims are shorter and their uses are many.

Club News

 

Special Cancellation on Philately Day at Ahmedabad – 13th October 2014

India Post is celebrating National Postal Week from 9th to 15th October 2014 and 13th October is celebrated as Philately Day as a part of National Postal Week.

A Special Cancellation has been provided at Ahmedabad Philatelic Bureau on the occasion of Philately Day on 13th October 2014.

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest

 

Golepex-2014, District Level Philatelic Exhibition at New Delhi – 17th - 18th October 2014

District Level Philatelic Exhibition ‘GolePex-2014’ will be held at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Near Gole Market, New Delhi – 110 001. During the exhibition My Stamp facility, Painting Contest and Philatelic Quiz will also be organised.
For more information Contact: Director, New Delhi GPO
Email: golepex2014@gmail.com
Phone: 011-23364001, 23365690

- Ankit Agarwal - Pune

Schoolpex – 2014 , Jaipur

18th Interschool Stamp Exhibition , Schoolpex 2014 is being organised on 17th-18th Oct 2014 at St Xavier's School , Jaipur. It is only Stamp Exhibition in the world which is conducted annually exclusively for school students uninterrupted since last 17 years.

The 100 Frame exhibition will have Stamp Collection Display as well as many activities including Letter writing Competition , Stamp Quiz Competition , Philately Seminar , Dealer's Stall , PSR meeting and release of Special 'MY Stamp' specially made for the occasion in special MY Stamp Holders. India Posts , Rajasthan Circle will also have its counter and facility of Mobile MY Stamp Van at venue. 

- Rajesh Paharia , Jaipur

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New Special Cover

 

Special Cover on Golden Jubilee of Mail Motor Service in Pune - 2nd October 2014

Mail Motor Service, Pune is most vital part of Department of Posts. This is lifeline to procure mail to all post offices. This lifeline is working day and night since 1964 and completing 50 years of service. To mark the occasion a Special Cover was released on 2nd October 2014 at Pune. (Special Cover approval no. MH/25/2014)

Courtesy : Indian Philately Digest

Vadodara

Philatelists’ meet organized by Philatelic Bureau, Vadodara on 13^th October 2014.

On the occasion of Philately Day, a Philatelists’ meet was organized by Vadodara Philatelic Bureau and Vadodara Head Post Office at Vadodara H. O. Members of Baroda Philatelic Society, local philatelists, Philatelic Bureau in-charge Mr. Sameer and staff members of Department of Posts were present in the meet.

On the occasion Ms. Meeta Shah, Sr. Superintendent of Post Offices, Vadodara (East Division) briefed about philatelic activities organized by Department of Posts and Vadodara Philatelic Bureau. She also launched two gift items, a ceramic mug depicting Vadodara Head Post office and a wooden ball point pen with the name of Vadodara Philatelic Bureau on the occasion. Shri Prashant Pandya, President Baroda Philatelic Society addressed the philatelists and discussed about promotion of philately. Shri Timir Shah, Secretary, Baroda Philatelic Society and members also shared their thoughts about promotional activities to be carried out to promote the hobby in school children.

As a gesture of thanks all philatelists were presented with a memento by Vadodara Philatelic Bureau. Shri A. Marimutthu, Sr. Postmaster, Vadodara H. O. conveyed vote of thanks. The meet was followed by light refreshment.

Bangalore

Philately Day was celebrated in Bangalore with a small philatelic exhibition which included the collection of renowned philatelist  Dr Sita Bhateja

 

Dr Sita Bhateja : Pride owner of famous Inverted head and The Owner of the Best British India Collection in the world......

- Jagannath Mani - Bangalore

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Philately Day ..

 

13th October is observed  as Philately Day by India Post at different Philatelic Bureaus  all over India. During the celebration small stamp exhibition and  stamp design competitions were organized. At some places special covers were also issued.

Chennai

SIPA has brought our 2 Special covers on 13th October 2014 for the occasion of Philately Day.There was a function held in Anna Road Philately Hall. The CPMG presided over the event.

1.1000th Year of crowning of the Chola Emperor of Rajendra Chola-1

The release of the above Special Cover was handed over to Shri G.Balakrishnadas, President SIPA

2.. India's First stamp issued in 1952.

The release of above Special Cover was handed over to Shri Ronald Nelson, Secretary SIPA.

 

P Sreedharan , Mahesh Parekh conducting a workshop

Before the release of Special Covers The Dept of Post, TN Circle, organized  workshop on Philately at Philatelic Exhibition Hall. Around 150 students from various schools participated. All participants were given a zest of philately and  Stater Kit sponsered by the Department of Post.

CPMG Distributing My Stamps to Special Children.

The workshop was conducted by Shri P Shreedharan and assisted by Shri Mahesh Parekh. Both are SIPA Life Members.Also there was a noble gesture by Dept of Post by CPMG handing over personalized stamps to each of 30 Special Children at free of cost.

- Mahesh Parekh - Chennai

Dehradun

On philately day, a small exhibition and stamp design contest was organized at Dehradun GPO for the school children. Specially able children from "Nanhi Duniya" also participated in the design contest along with others.

- Abhai Mishra - Dehradun

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Postal week in India

 

 

Postal Week is being celebrated in India from 9th to 15th October. Today is Philately Day and it is celebrated in Philatelic Bureau of different cities all over India.

The Philately Day celebration has been organized at Meghdoot Auditorium, Bangalore GPO at 16.00 hrs on 13.10.2014. A special cover on "160 years of Postal Stamps in India " is being released on this occasion.The second level of talks on zonal level philately exhibition has also been organized.

Here are the glimpses from Gorakhpur …

 

Stamp Exhibition in Gorakhpur during Philately Day

 

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