My Postage Stamps Collection

This is a blog of my personal stamps and covers collection. I am an avid collector of postage stamps, miniature sheets, FDCs and covers addressed to me from across the world, an accumulator and hoarder of stamps. It is my attempt here to show you all of my collection in the posts that I'll add and update regularly. I hope to add more to the collection in the process, interact with you other collectors out there and share thoughts and information about anything and everything related.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Heart Shaped Souvenir Sheet

This year's Valentine’s Day saw Taiwan Post issue another set of two stamps and a souvenir sheet (including one NT$12 stamp, and one NT$25 stamp) commemorating the celebration of love. I also have in my collection the sheet issued by Taiwan Post last year commemorating valentine's day. That sheet had a heart shaped stamp within a regular shaped sheet. Click here for my post, Id done sometime last year on it.

Two interlocking hearts in bright pink and white form the shape and design of this year's sheet. The stamps each have a heart-shaped pattern that consists of three roses in full bloom. Every rose constitutes six numbers: 201314, probably indicating forever love or the sort. Yes, take a close look. Beautiful stuff, Isn't it?!!

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions

NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Toy Story Souvenir Sheets

Another beautiful addition to my collection of odd shaped stamps. These sheets contain regular shaped and round shaped stamps on self adhesive paper.

In October of 2012, Chunghwa Post featured “Toy Story” a popular animated movie series, as the subject of two self-adhesive souvenir sheets. Each souvenir sheet includes three NT$5 stamps, and two NT$12 stamps. “Toy Story 3” won Best Animated Feature Film of the Year in the Academy Award. The films follow the amazing adventures of young boy Andy’s toys to highlight the value of friendship, faith and trust.

The souvenir sheets feature the animated characters of the films: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Hamm, Rex, Bullseye, Aliens, Mr. Pricklepants, Peas-in-a-Pod, Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear, Trixie and Buttercup. Illustrations of the colorful indoors and outdoors of the animated films serve as the backgrounds of the souvenir sheets; the magical cinematic moments are immortalized in tiny squares of the stamp.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Odd Shaped Stamps and Sheets - Brazil Pt4

This issue of postage stamps highlights the bats found in Brazil, and consists of a set of 4 self-adhesive stamps shaped in the form of bats.

There are over 1,100 species of bats worldwide, and Brazil itself has about 167 species of these. The stamps show four bat species: Artibeus gnomus, Platyrrhinus helleri, Lonchophylla dekeyseri, and Lonchorhina aurita

Only three species of bats feed on blood, and about 70% are insectivorous. The others eat fruit, nectar, pollen, leaves, and there is also the carnivores that eat small vertebrates such as amphibians, rodents, and even other species of bats.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions

NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Odd Shaped Stamps and Sheets - Brazil Pt3

A dove/bird shaped sheet commemorating the 16th National Eucharistic Congress in Brazil was issued on 13th May 2010.

This block of stamps depicts famous architectural monuments in Brazil: the stamp on the right shows the Catetinho (the first official residence of the President of the Republic in the new capital) and the statue of Juscelino Kubitschek (located in the JK Memorial). The stamp on the left shows the Metropolitan Cathedral and the logo of the XVI National Eucharistic Congress.

The sheet portrays on the left, the logo of the 50th anniversary of Brazil; in the center, the Candangos Statue and on the borders one can see the country’s newest and most beautiful architectural works – the National Museum (next to the National Library/Cultural Complex of the Republic) and the JK Bridge.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Odd Shaped Stamps and Sheets - Brazil Pt2

This Christmas souvenir sheet was issued by Brazil Post on the 16th of October 2009. Beautiful design depicting angels on an irregular shaped sheet. Both stamps have a face value of 2.7 Brazilian Reals.

Along with the sheet were also issued on the same day a set of six traditional Christmas stamps and a wreath shaped self adhesive stamp.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Odd Shaped Stamps and Sheets - Brazil Pt1

Just a few days back, I received some beautiful odd shaped sheets/stamps from Brazil.

This first miniature sheet is shaped in the form of a cashew tree. The cashew tree is the largest tree of its kind in the world and is native to north eastern Brasil. The sheet consists of one self adhesive stamp shaped irregularly to outline a bunch of fruits and a few leaves on the tree.

This lovely sheet was issued on the 11th of September 2006 and the stamp is denominated 2.90 Brazilian Reals. "O Maior cajueiro do mundo" printed at the bottom of the sheet when translated reads, "the worlds largest cashew tree".

A little about the cashew tree....Well, its a tree found at the district of Pirangi do Norte, city of Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte. The tree covers an area of about 7500 m2, with a perimeter of about 500m. It was supposedly planted in 1888, by Luiz Inácio de Oliveira. However, based on its growth nature, it is also believed that the tree is more than a thousand years old. A wonderful addition to my collection of odd shaped stamps.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Cover - USA

Received this lovely FDC with the Global Forever First-Class Mail International stamp a couple of days back. Thank you Dennis J. Evers once again for the cover and the lovely stamps you sent along too.

The U.S. Postal Service introduced the Global Forever First-Class Mail International stamp on January 28th 2013. Priced at $1.10 each and offered in a pane of 20, the Global stamp offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world. TheGlobal stamp also may be used to mail a 2-ounce letter to Canada.

The stamp showcases the beauty of planet Earth with an artistic rendering — a composite of images created from satellite and 3D computer technology data. In this image, the Atlantic Ocean is flanked by North and South America, Africa and parts of Europe. Art director William J. Gicker selected this depiction of Earth by Italian artist Leonello Calvetti. Greg Breeding designed the stamp.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions

NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Cover - Netherlands

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.

Cover - Malaysia

Raz sent me this cover from Malaysia last week. Nice cover with the two fish stamps from the set of 4 of 2006 on it.
Sad part of the story was, though the cover got intact to me, a miniature sheet from inside was taken out and I received the cover only with the letter inside mentioning that the sheet was sent along. I believe Raz for sure put the miniature sheet inside but when I received the cover I could not find any signs of damage. The cover was surely opened, the miniature sheet was removed and then the cover was sealed back. Wonder who could have done this? Or was this only a one off instance. I at least hope so, cause I send and receive scores of stuff across all over. And I do not want to be sending all of 'em by registered post.

Please share similar experiences if any.

Do feel free to add your thoughts, comments or suggestions
NOTE: Please click on the images for a larger view / closer look.