My Rainbow Cover..

Cover from Finland

Hi ! Today I received a beautiful card from Finland sent by Kristina. The card bears most beautiful stamps from Finland stamp set ‘Signs of Sky’. One of these stamps    features rainbow.Other two stamps depict sun and cloud These stamps are self adhesive and cut into shape . Thank you very much Kristina for this lovely card with these magnificent stamps. But you have not given your address on the card. Please mail me your address So that I can send you a nice cover from India and convey my  thanks to you for this wonderful card. It is a gem for my rainbow collection !!

Signs of the sky

Read More

25th Anniv. of the fall of the Berlin Wall

 

Date of Issue: August 28, 2014​

Here is beautiful miniature sheet featuring Rainbow issued by Post of Vatican City to commemorate  25th Anniv. of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

 

25th Anniv. of the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall during the night of the 9th and 10th of November 1989 marked a very joyous and unimaginable surprise for the inhabitants of East and West Berlin. For 28 years this border strip was strictly patrolled by technical and military means, dividing the city and conditioning the lives of its inhabitants. The Wall suddenly became passable even for the people of East Berlin as a result of the “Peaceful Revolution”. Beginning in 1975, the white wall of reinforced concrete visible from the west and the complex system of border fortifications became the defining image of the divided city, a symbol of the Cold War. The irreversible process of the city’s reunification began in the days following November 9th when the border troops of the German Democratic Republic, accompanied by jubilant Berliners, started to remove individual segments of the Wall to create more crossing points. Beginning in March 1990, before the German Democratic Republic began to remove the 45 thousand wall segments, Berliners themselves started the demolition process. Even the night the Wall was opened, they brought out their own hammers and chisels to start removing the first small fragments. In the autumn of 1990, the last sections of the Wall were saved to be kept as a monument. Today it is difficult to notice the past division of the city. Only a small section of the border strip and segments of the wall are kept as a historical monument inside the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer street.

Manfred Wichmann, Berlin Wall Foundation

The Philatelic Office  commemorated the event with a postage stamp showing a beautiful photo of those historic days taken by photographer Michael-Reiner Ernst in memory of all those who helped bring down the wall. A miniature sheet was also issued featuring the names of the 138 persons who died attempting to cross the border, according to research conducted by the Berlin Wall Foundation.

News Courtesy – Kasinath R. - Tanjore

Club News

 

Inauguration of Philately Training Hall at Postal Training Centre, Vadodara - 4th September 2014.

The Postal Training Centre, Vadodara is a premier Training Centre of Department of Posts that runs high quality training programmes for postal personnel. The Centre was established in 1962 to impart training to Postal Employees in order to enhance the efficiency of the department by training the officials in various fields. The training centre is imparting training to the employees of various postal circles like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh etc. As a part of various training programs, Postal Training Center is also conducting lectures on various aspects of philately and philatelic workshops, mock philatelic exhibitions for postal employees with the help of members of Baroda Philatelic Society.

Brig. Sanjeev Thapar, Chief Postmaster General, Gujarat Circle inaugurated new Philately Training Hall at Postal Training Centre, Vadodara on 4th September 2014 in presence of Shri B. B. Dave, Postmaster General, Vadodara Region, Shri Ganesh Savaleshwarkar, Director, Postal Training Centre, Vadodara, Smt. Sucheta Joshi, Director, Postal Services, Vadodara, Shri Prashant Pandya, President, Baroda Philatelic Society, Shri Timir R. Shah, Hon. Secretary, Baroda Philatelic Society and other dignitaries and staff members of India Post, Postal Training Centre and members of Baroda Philatelic Society.

New Philately Training Hall has been decorated with blowups of commemorative stamps and equipped with Audio Visual equipments. 10 Specially designed attractive philatelic frames have been permanently installed on the walls of the hall. Each frame can house 8 exhibit sheets (1/2 frame). In total 5 Frame exhibits can be exhibited in these frames. Permanent display of exhibits will be arranged in these frames for the benefits of postal trainees. Permanent display of exhibits in regular philatelic frame is also planned in near future.

Courtesy –  Prashant Pandya

 

Flags - Short Hand of History - An exhibition on the Indian National Flag

 

Rabindranath Tagore Centre - Kolkata, the cultural flagship of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs presented (from August 14 to August 24, 2014) in its Horizon Series a unique exhibition on the Indian National Flag in commemoration of the 68th anniversary of its adoption, curated by Sekhar Chakrabarti. The exhibition was inaugurated by Sri Jayanta Sengupta, Curator, Victoria Memorial Hall, Prof. Bharati Roy, Member of the Governing Council, ICCR was the Guest of Honour. There were many visitors thronged the gallery almost all day long. On popular demand the closing date of the exhibition was extended up to 24th August. Local news papers and TV channels also covered the events. Many visitors mentioned that this type of exhibition should be taken to all other cities of India so that general people may get the opportunity to know the history of the National Flag more intimately. It was a grand success.

The exhibition, which was the first of its kind by the ICCR, featured a rich collection of the Indian National Flag symbol on myriad objects sourced from a plethora of articles, such as postage stamps, coins, currency notes, medals, old news paper articles and advertisements, book covers and various other artifacts like, matchbox labels, 78 RPM gramophone records, propaganda leaflets, etc. that were pieced together to reconstruct the history and evolution of the Indian National Flag. The exhibits explored and celebrated the rich history of our Flag and the process by which it was born on 22nd July 1946.

 

Read More

Club News

 

Rainbow Stamp News September 2014

Hi !

I have just published September 2014 issue of Rainbow Stamp News on Blog. It is available on following link :

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.in/2014/08/rainbow-september-2014.html

If you find any problem in opening the link please try following links :

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.in/  ( Indian Readers )

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/ ( Overseas Readers )

Read More

Signs of the Sky on new Finnish stamps …

 

Finnish Post will issue a set of eight 1st class  stamps featuring signs of sky on 8 September 2014. These beautiful stamps are in different shapes depicting star, rainbow, cloud, earth, moon, sun, lightning, celestial body (Saturn). In fact the designer has  tried to give the shape of the particular sky sign to the stamp. The stamps are unique and could be used in several themes. Thanks to Mr Kasinath of Tanjore who  sent info about these beautiful stamps.

 

Sweet Summer Stamps

Here is an other beautiful set, issued by Finnish Post on 5th May featuring sweet summer. The themes include sunsets, lakes and the sea, fields, and forests. With beautiful pics oh stamps the  photographer, Janne Gröning wants to relay relaxing and therapeutic nature experiences to all who cannot or do not have the time to visit nature themselves.

Date of Issue : 5 May 2014

Read More

Club News

 

 Rainbow Stamp News August 2014

Hi !

I have just published August 2014 issue of Rainbow Stamp News on Blog. It is available at following link :

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.in/2014/07/rainbow-august-2014.html

If you find any problem in opening the link please try following links :

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.in/  ( Indian Readers )

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com  ( Overseas Readers )

Read More

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.

Read More

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

 

 

26 June : International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was observed all over the world y’day !!

By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. This resolution recommended further action with regard to the report and conclusions of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

 

    

Malaysia Post issued a set of 3 stamps on 26 June 1996 for this special day observed all over the world. Here are some more philatelic items issued on this theme .

Say No to Drugs  ! !

2014 Theme : A message of hope: Drug use disorders are preventable and treatable

Club News

TAIPEI 2015

Asian International stamp Exhibition TAIPEI 2015  will be held under FIAP Patronage  from 24-28 April at Taipei, Chinese Taipei.

Mr Umesh Kakkeri of Mumbai has been appointed as National Commissioner from India. He may be contacted at Email : umesh_kakkeri@hotmail.com Ph. No. 9969571767

HIMPEX 2014 : First H. P. State level stamp exhibition

For the first time the State Postal Department organized a three day, State Level Philatelic Exhibition from 9th June to 11th June, 2014 in Gaiety Theatre, Shimla. Passionate enthusiast and stamp collectors from all around the city and state participated and on 11th June the event culminated with the prize distribution. The Chief Guest for the occasion was the Chief Post Master General, AN Nanda and among others present were the R S Mishra, DSP, (HQ) HP, Dr S P Gupta, Accredited Jury, Dinesh Chandra Sharma, Apprentice Jury and M R Chaudhary, SSPO, Hamirpur.

The event began with the welcome address by Mr Chaudhary followed by the jury report by Dr Gupta. He informed that the exhibits were judged as per Rules India Post Handbook on Philately, which were appropriately modified for zonal and regional competitions. He said, “There was one seven frame exhibit, three five frame exhibits, 3 four frame exhibits, 18 two frame exhibits, and 35 one frame exhibits. Minimum 2 to 8 size frames were allotted to classes 5 to 10 after relaxation of the rules for the participants. There were quite a number of exhibits in each category”.

 

 

 

The award ceremony began first with the Youth Activity prizes followed by the Exhibition prizes. Most number of prizes in the former category were bagged by Major Dr Ritu Kalra, Anil Kapoor, Bhumika Sharma, Rajiv Khera, who all received Gold Medals. Jintendra Arora, NK Khera, Dhiraj Gupta, Neha Arora, Neru Arora, Snehlata, Guninder Singh Narang, Rakesh Walia, Kritika Kheda received the silver medal.

School students who were winners in the Letter Writing Competition held on 1st June were as follows:
Postman of My Street (Classes I to V)
1st Smriti Kaith, Class V, Auckland House School, Shimla
2nd Gopal Kumar, Class V, SD Sr Sec School, Shimla
3rd Prajjawal Sharma, Class V, DAV Public School, New Shimla

Environment (Class VI to VIII)
1st Akrit Sharma, Class VIII, DAV Public School, New Shimla
2nd Jayendra sing, Class VIII, DAV Public School, New Shimla
3rd Prachi, Class VIII, Government Girls SSS Portmore Shimla

Modernization of Post Offices (Classes IX to XIII)
1st Vaibhav Sharma, Class XII, DAV Public School, New Shimla
2nd Taniya Bhardwaj, Class XII, DAV Public School, New Shimla
3rd Chavi Sharma, Class X, DAV Public School, New Shimla

Bhumika Sharma of Solan receiving award from CPMG

Read More ….

Read More