Cover - Ukraine

Another nice cover from Ukraine. Vlademer sent me some lovely stamps of the Soviet Union and Ukraine in this cover. Thanks Vlademer.

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Cover - Great Britain

An FDC from Great Britain with the Helen Glover & Heather Stanning Gold Medal Stamp.
Issue Date: Thursday 2nd August 2012 - Team GB'S first gold medal of the London 2012 games. Thanks Peter Boardman.

The front of the filler card

The back

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Isle of Man

My stamps of the Isle of Man. Isle of Man also known simply as Mann is an island located in the Irish Sea, off Northwest coast of England. I have only a few stamps but intend to have a complete collection of this island country as well as all of the Channel Islands to go alongside my GB collection.

1973, Sept. 4: Manx Grand Prix Motorcycle Race, 50th Anniversary

1973 Nov. 14: Wedding of Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips.

1974, May 29: Tourist Trophy Motorcycle Races on the Isle of Man
3p, Stanley Woods on Moto Guzzi Motorcycle
31/2p, Freddie Frith on Norton.
8p, Max Deubel on BMW with sidecar.
10p, Mike Hailwood on Honda.

1974, Sept. 18: 1,000th death anniv. of Magnus Haraldson, King of Many Islands (Nos. 45-46), and 600th
death anniv. of William Russell, Bishop of Sodor and Mann

1974, Nov. 22: Sir Winston Churchill

1975, Sept. 9: Sir George Dashwood Goldie-Taubman (1846-1925), founder of Royal Niger Company.

1979, May 16: Millennium of Tynwald, Legislative Council.

1980, Feb. 5: Royal Geographical Society, 150th anniv.

1980, May 6: Isle of Man Steam Packet Co. sesqui.;London 80 Intl. Stamp Exhib., May 6-14.

1998-99: Flowers, Only 2 stamps missing from this set.
1p, Bearded iris.
2p, Daisy.
4p Shamrocks
5p, Silver jubilee rose.
10p, Oriental poppy.
20p, Heath spotted orchid.
21p Cushag
22p, Gorse.
25p Princess of Wales Rose
26p, Dog rose.
30p, Fuchsia-lady thumb.
50p Daffodil
£1 Spear thistle












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Twin Motored Transport Plane - US Airmail Stamps

Here is the complete set of used US airmail stamps featuring the Twin-motored transport airplane. Earlier I had only 3 of these. This is a significant achievement as I boast of the complete set in my collection.

The stamps with the Twin-motored transport airplane design made their appearance beginning in 1941 and were intended to cover the various rates in effect for both domestic and overseas airmail service.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 6¢ Carmine. This covered domestic airmail service.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 8¢ Olive green. This was required when postage rates were increased to help finance WW II. It was first issued on March 12, 1944, at Washington, D.C.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 10¢ Violet. This covered airmail service to areas in the West Indies, as well as Central and South America. Its first issue date was on August 15, 1941, in Atlantic City, NJ.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 15¢ Brown carmine. This covered airmail service to areas in the West Indies as well as Central and South America. On August 19,1941, this stamp was first issued in Baltimore, MD.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 20¢ Bright green. This was intended for use on trans-oceanic airmail. First issued in Philadelphia, PA, this stamp was available on August 27, 1941.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 30¢ Blue. This was used on trans-oceanic airmail. Kansas City, MO was the place of first issue on September 25, 2941.

Twin-Motored Transport Plane: 50¢ Orange. Like the 20¢ issue, this stamp replaced the Trans-Pacific airmail issue of the same denomination. On October 29, 1941, this stamp was issued at St. Louis, MO.

Though I do not have the trans-pacific airmail stamps in my collection today, I will put them up as soon as Im able to find them. 

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Cover - Sweden

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Cover - Japan

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Complete Canada Titanic Centenary Issues on Covers

Just yesterday I received this cover from Canada with the two setenant stamps showing both the bow and stern of the Titanic from the centenary issue and that makes it, the complete set on covers. Thanks a million Maryam.

And these are the earlier ones once again. One with the SS.

And this one with the stamp

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Sierra Leone - Odd shaped

Sierra Leone was a British colony and protectorate. In 1961 it became fully independent, remaining within the Commonwealth. It became a republic April 19, 1971.

A lovely set of odd shaped air mail stamps from Sierra Leone. Its a complete set from 1964 in the shape of the map of Sierra Leone. A whole lot of odd shapes in various shapes were issued between the years 1964 to 1971.

1964, May 11: John F Kennedy and map of Sierra Leone
Denominations of 7p, 9p, 1sh3p, 2sh6p, 3sh6p,  6sh and 11sh

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South African Stamps

Until 1961, South Africa was an union. The union was formed on May 31, 1910, comprising the former British colonies of Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State, which became provinces. The union became a republic in 1961.

1926
1/2p, Springbok
1p, Jan van Riebeek’s Ship, Drommedaris
6p, Orange Tree.
These stamps and many others in this series were all issued in English-Afikaans setenenants. Stamps with English inscriptions and with Afrikaans inscriptions were printed alternately in the same sheets. I have these ones only with either the English or the Afikaans inscriptions. This series with all the setenant issues or even singles for that matter is among the top in my most wanted list of stamps.

1954, Oct. 14: Wildlife Definitives
1961, May 31: The first definitive series of the Republic.

 1969, New Design, First series Definitives
1974, Nov. 11: Second definitive series

1977, May 27: The third series. Set of 17. I have only 5 as you can see.

 1982-87: Buildings Definitives. Set of 25. Ive got 14 from this set
1c, Old Provost, Grahamstown.
3c, Appelhof, Bloemfontein.
4c, Raadsaal, Pretoria.
6c, Goewermentsgebou, Bloemfontein.
8c, Leeuwenhof, Cape Town.
10c, City Hall, Pietermaritzburg.
11c, City Hall, Kimberley.
12c, City Hall, Port Elizabeth.
15c, Hotel Milner, Matjesfontein.
16c, Durban City Hall.
20c, Post Office, Durban.
25c, Melrose House, Pretoria.
30c, Old Legislative Assembly Building, Pietermaritzburg.
50c, Raadsaal, Bloemfontein.

1988-93: Succulents
18c Faucaria tigrina
20c Conophytum mundum
50c Lapidaria margaretae

1993-95: Endangered Fauna. Inscriptions in Latin.
1c, Heleophryne rosei.
5c, Cordylus giganteus.
10c, Psammobates geometricus.
20c, Atelerix frontalis.
40c, Bunolagus monticularis.
“Standardised Mail”, “Black Rhinocerous.”
Standard postage stamps inscribed thus were sold for then current domestic rate on date of issue.
50c, Cercopithecus mitis.
55c, Proteles cristatus.

Wildlife Type with English inscriptions
70c, Roan antelope

1998-2000
70c, Roan antelope.
90c, Jackass penguin.
Standard postage, Impala
Standard postage, African Elephant

2000: Fish, Flowers, Butterflies and Birds definitive series

On a personal front, I've always been fascinated by South Africa and it's a dream of mine to visit some of the beautiful beaches there. Also, being a big soccer fan, would love to visit the Cape Town Stadium where the FIFA World Cup 2010 was held. If I can get hold of a good deal on flights to Cape Town from here, I'll probably jump at the offer. Let's hope!

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Cover - Malaysia

Another lovely cover from Melaka, Malaysia. Courtesy, my good friend Bree. Thanks a lot Bree.

The stamps are from the Malaysia Unity Series 2 issued by Pos Malaysia in conjunction with the 55th Merdeka celebration.

The collection features unity through language, sports, dances and gotong-royong. Four stamps out of which two are on the cover here.

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Covers - Singapore

A friend sent me these two lovely covers from Singapore. Thanks Santosh.

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Tanzania - Odd Shaped

Its been a while since I posted any odd shaped stamps. Just last weekend I was able to get this complete set of used stamps of Tanzania. A wonderful set of eight trapezoidal stamps.


First a little history as usual.. Tanganyika joined Zanzibar on April 26, 1964, to form the United Republic of
Tanganyika and Zanzibar. In October 1965 the name was changed to United Republic of Tanzania.

And here are the stamps now. Absolutely gorgeous set of stamps I would say. A mix of prehistoric animals and native wildlife are featured on these stamps

1988, Apr. 22
2sh Plateosaurus

3sh Pteranodon

5sh Brontosaurus

7sh Lions 

8sh Tiger
12sh Orangutans
20sh Elephants 

100sh Stegosaurus

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