Saturday, June 29, 2013

Cover - Australia


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Cover - Costa Rica, Country #76

Another first. This time, the cover is from Costa Rica. I would have liked it better if the sender had pasted the stamps properly to fit inside the cover. Im not sure if I really like the cover overall, but a first nonetheless.


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Friday, June 28, 2013

Cover - Aland, Country #75

My first ever cover from Aland. Big thank you to Kimmo for sending this one across.

Aland is not a country by itself. Its a part of Finland, an archipelago of 6500 islands and islets located right between Finland and Sweden. Ă…land is an autonomous and unilingually Swedish region in Finland with its own flag, its own stamps and its own top domain. Hence it automatically becomes a new country number added to the list of countries I've received covers from.


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Sunday, June 23, 2013

Cover - Great Britain

A cover from  GB. As usual I get one with no cancellations. I wonder if its common place with Royal Mail. I do not have a single cover from GB with a good cancellation. They will either have no cancellations like this one or pen marks across stamps. Royal Mail, you surely can do better than this.


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Cover - Japan

A cover from Japan. Everything great about the cover, except the fact that the large stamp on the right is damaged. There is a tear on the stamp. Surely the torn stamp was stuck on cover. Sender should've used another stamp. There are two good stamps on the cover thankfully and all the cancellations are very clear.


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Cover - Vietnam

Wee Leong sent me this lovely cover from Vietnam. It was sent from Saigon on the 9th of June 2013 as seen on the clear cancellation on the cover. Love it. Thanks Wee.


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Cover - China

A beautiful cover from my friend Deng. The complete set of stamps on the cover is from the year 2012. On August 28 2012, China National Philatelic Corporation issued a set of four special stamps titled "Hetian Jade" with a total face value of 4.80 yuan.


The four stamps on the cover are
Jade Elephant with Two Cleaning Kids on its Back 
Jade with Characters "Chang Le" and Grain Patterns
Jade Bixie Warding off Evil           
Jade Wine Cup with Two Ears on a Golden Silver      

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Saturday, June 15, 2013

850th Anniversary of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris

By far one of the best covers Ive received in recent times. Thanks a lot Pauline. What a beauty this is with the sheet of odd shaped stamps!! And Pauline was kind enough to also send me the souvenir sheet inside the cover.


The souvenir sheet commemorates the 850th anniversary of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. France Post issued this sheet on the 19th of January this year.


The background of the sheet shows a general view of the cathedral from the Seine side. The two stamps highlight the details of the stained glass window located in the west.

Below is a closer look at both the stamps. The quatrefoil (flower-shaped) stamp  illustrates the threshing of cereals and the round stamp features the Blessed Virgin and Child.



850 years have gone by since the first stone was laid in the foundation of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, under the direction of the bishop of Paris, Maurice de Sully, and in the presence of Pope Alexander III. The Notre-Dame Cathedral is built in the Gothic style, facing the rising sun in the East, in the form of a cross. Notre-Dame measures 130 meters long, 48 wide, 35 high and can accommodate over 6000 people. It was renovated after the horrors of the Revolution by the architect Viollet le Duc in 1844. Notre-Dame has one of the finest organs in the world and a collection of bells, some of which were renovated at the 850th anniversary of the cathedral.

Truly a beautiful addition to my collection of odd shaped stamps.

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Cover - Thailand

Terdsak sent me this cover with lovely stamps from Thailand. Absolutely thoroughly loved it. Everything is so neat on the cover including the handwriting.


Thanks Terdsak. Hope to receive more such offerings from you.

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Cover - Japan



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Sunday, June 9, 2013

The Legacy of the Loom - Empress's Robe Shaped Sheets - Malaysia

The first stamps of 2012 in Malaysia saw the release of a strip of 5 stamps displaying the art of weaving traditional textiles in Malaysia. Malaysia Post also released a set of limited edition miniature sheets shaped in the form of a Ming Empress's robe. The robe's got an embroidered mighty dragon print on it (available in gold hot stamping print or normal print).

 
Two miniature sheets with denominations of RM3 and RM5 were issued. I've got the ones with the Jakarta overprint. The sheets were sold out on the first day of issue itself and are very difficult to obtain. I am still looking for the sheets without the overprint and also the RM5 sheet with the normal print. Beautiful sheets though.

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Cover - Italy

Here's another cover from Italy with two stamps of the current Pope, Pope Francis and the very popular former, Pope John Paul II. I am so happy to have this cover in my collection.


Italy issued the new postage stamp honoring the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Francis. The stamp is part of a joint issue with the Vatican City.

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Saturday, June 8, 2013

Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Just today, I was lucky to get myself a whole sheet of the 2008 Aldabra Giant Tortoises issue of Indian stamps. I got it at the local post office at face value. These sheets are selling on ebay for atleast three times the price.

I think these are truly the only odd shaped stamps issued by India post so far. Ofcourse, I also consider any shape other than the regular rectangular shape as odd, like the diamond shaped, triangular shaped and round shaped. Though there are quite a few diamond and triangle shaped indian stamps issued over the years, these are the first and only hexagonal ones.

The two stamps were issued to commemorate the Alipore zoo's Aldabra giant tortoise called Adwaita. We all know about the folk tales of the tortoise who defeated the hare and won the race. Well, Adwaita was also a winner. Before it died in the year 2006 in Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata, Adwaita was perhaps the
longest living animal in the world having lived for more than 250 years.



This is a beautiful sheet with both the stamps placed alternately, almost every time against each other, in a symmetrical design. There are 5 of the Rs 15 stamps and 8 of the Rs 5 stamps making a total of 13 stamps in the sheetlet. The background is again a blow up of the tortoise.

There are three other formats of sheetlets that were issued, one with thirteen Rs 5 stamps, another with thirteen Rs 15 stamps and the third with five Rs 5 and eight Rs 15 stamps. I will in time get these other three too I'm sure.

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Cover - Guatemala, Country #74

Got my first ever cover from Guatemala a few days back. Was shocked to receive it in the state I did. The registered post label was pasted right over the mini sheet. Wonder why they had to put it there. They could have always put it at the back. Insensitive workers at the post offices. Anyway, luckily I could carefully get it off without damaging the sheet or the cover. A sigh of relief!!!!

The cover with the label pasted right on top of the sheet.

After I was able to take the label off the sheet.

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Cover - China

Received this beautfiul cover with the odd shaped stamp sheet from Deng Yong Chun. What a nice cover this is!!. I just couldn't stop admiring it.


The sheet was issued on October 21, 2011. Three other stamps were issued entitled "Tianjin Binhai New Area" with a total face value of 2.6 yuan. The souvenir sheet is entitled "The Port" with a face value of 6 yuan.

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Marina Bay Skyline - Singapore

This is the latest offering in stamps from Singapore Post and my friend Santosh there was kind enough to send me these beautiful stamps in a presentation pack and the miniature sheet in a folder. Thanks Santosh.

THE PRESENTATION PACK

THE FRONT AND BACK 

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE STAMPS

The issue consists of 4 stamps in a se-tenant block. Each depicts an iconic landmark, The Fullerton Hotel, The Singapore Flyer, Esplanade – Theaters on the Bay and Marina Bay Sands which form part of the Marina Bay Skyline.

The Fullerton Hotel officially opened its doors on January 1, 2001. Built in 1928, it was the center of Singapore’s commercial, social and official life.

The Singapore Flyer, by contrast, is a masterpiece of urban architecture and engineering. With a total height of 165 meters it is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, The Singapore Flyer is also a part of Formula One Grand Prix race circuit, offering a bird’s eye view on the pulsating F1 night race in Singapore.

Esplanade – Theaters on the Bay is one of the busiest arts centers in the world. It is an architectural icon with its distinctive twin shells and houses the 1,600-seats Concert Hall and the 2,000-seats Theater.

Marina Bay Sands has transformed Singapore’s skyline and the country’s tourism landscape, making it Asia’s leading destination for business, leisure and entertainment.

THE FOLDER CONTAINING THE MINIATURE SHEET

THE FOLDER OPENED


A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MINIATURE SHEET

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Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Cover - Singapore



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Cover - Czech Republic



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Saturday, June 1, 2013

2012 Children's Health: New Zealand Sea Lion shaped Miniature sheet

I, also now, have this 2012 odd shaped sheet in my collection. This Children’s Health stamp issue features the New Zealand sea lion.


Three individual stamps were also issued but the highlight is the miniature sheet, which takes the shape of a mother and pup. The mother is shown sniffing her pup for recognition before taking her for feeding. Just like children, pups are dependent on their mothers for protection, and this unique product portrays the close relationship they share.

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2010 Children's Health: New Zealand Butterfly shaped Miniature Sheet

NZ post issues stamps every year to support Te Puna Whaiora - the New Zealand Foundation for Child and Family Health and Development which specialises in helping at-risk children aged five to 12 to overcome barriers to healthy lifestyles.

In 2010, New Zealand Post issued three beautifully illustrated 'butterfly' stamps - each with a 10-cent surcharge that goes to support Te Puna Whaiora's seven Children's Health Camps. The collection also included a butterfly shaped miniature sheet that truly brings the butterfly theme to life. 


Please also have a look at the 2011 issue here.

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Cover - Germany



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Cover - Italy

Received this lovely cover from Italy yesterday. Two striking things about the cover - A complete set of stamps and the Pope Francis cancellation.


The stamps were issued on the 5th of April 2013 and commemorate the Gardens of Castel Trauttmansdorff in Merano, the Cinque Terre National Park and the Botanic Garden Museum in Bari. Each of the stamps is denominated 0.7 Euro. The stamps feature a vertical strip on the left composed of flowers and plants representative of the flora of the relevant botanic garden. Beautiful stamps.

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