Saturday, February 28, 2015

Cover - Australia - 100 yrs of Airmail in Australia

The parcel label on this one is damaged. Also on the cover however is the smaller one for letters. Please click here, for my earlier post on another cover with this label, undamaged, on cover.


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

Cover - Malta



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

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Christmas Mail 2014 19 - USA



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

India MS: 2014

Only four miniature sheets were issued in 2014.

02.02.14: Indian Museum, Kolkata


12.06.14: 2014 FIFA World Cup


03.09.14: Indian Musicians


28.11.14: India-Slovenia Joint Issue


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

Cover - French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Country #113

This one is a treat, my first cover from French Southern and Antarctic Territories or T.A.A.F. Thank you Holger for the lovely cover.

Formerly dependencies of Madagascar, these areas, comprising the Kerguelen Archipelago; St. Paul, Amsterdam and Crozet Islands and Adelle Land in Antarctica achieved territorial status on August 6, 1955.


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

Friday, February 6, 2015

World's First Christmas Stamp

The stamps you see in the images below are the worlds first Christmas stamps. Although the stamps do not have any resemblance to a traditional Christmas stamp, the Canadian Mercator Map stamps of 1898 are considered by most as the world's first Christmas stamps.

In 1898, a number of countries across the British Empire agreed on a uniform penny postage rate across the British Empire, effective from 25th December 1898. To mark the occasion the Canada Post Office planned to issue a 2 cent commemorative stamp on the same day, however due to public pressure it was brought forward to 7th December.

The stamp features Mercator’s map with the British Empire highlighted in red, the inscription ‘Xmas 1898’ and the line “WE HOLD A VASTER EMPIRE THAN HAS BEEN” extracted from “A Song of Empire” composed by Sir Lewis Morris.

There are two main colour varieties - Scott #85 is black, lavender and carmine whereas Scott #86 is black, blue and carmine.

Scott 85
Scott 86
It is fair to say that the issue of the Canadian Christmas stamp did not really have much to do with Christmas. In fact it was a result of then Canadian Postmaster General William Mulock lobbying to standardise postage rates across the Empire at one penny.

There is a very interesting article that was written by Michael O. Nowlan on "How The First Christmas Stamp Came To Be". You can go through it here.

Well, whatever the arguments, disagreements or controversy that may surround these stamps, I am convinced these are the world's first Christmas stamps and now that I have them in my collection I am one happy collector.

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

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

India 2014

All stamps issued by India Post in 2014. 36 stamps were issued through the year and you can see them all in my stock book, arranged in the order of date of issue in the images below.

14th January 2014: Food Corporation of India
30th January 2014: International Year of Crystallography
02nd February 2014: Indian Museum, Kolkata, 4v
08th February 2014: Jagjit Singh, 2v
11th February 2014: Central Vigilance Commission
25th February 2014: Hasrat Mohani
25th April 2014: National Council of Churches In India
30th April 2014: Chattampiswamikal
30th April 2014: GB Pant Hospital, Delhi
14th May 2014: Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism


12th June 2014: 2014 FIFA World Cup, 4v
20th August 2014: Gaiety Theatre Complex, Simla
3rd September 2014: Indian Musicians, 8v
25th October 2014: Anagarika Dharmapala
04th November 2014: Liver Transplantation
12th November 2014: UTI
28th November 2014: India Slovenia Joint Issue, 2v
29th November 2014: Sagol Kangjei
04th December, 2014: Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati
15th December,2014: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
24th December, 2014: Kuka Movement
30th December, 2014: Baba Amte

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

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

India MS: 2013

I have been late putting up this post. I must have forgotten or missed it after I put up stamps of 2013 from my collection in March last year. Anyway better late than never and here are the miniature sheets issued by India Post in 2013.

Apr 11, 2013: Architectural Heritage of India


Apr 12, 2013: Heritage Buildings


May 3, 2013: 100 years of Indian Cinema



 

May 10, 2013: Wild Asses



Sep 3, 2013: Wildflowers





Oct 12, 2013: Philately Day



Nov 14, 2013: Sachin Tendulkar



Nov 26, 2013: Railway Workshops



Dec 5, 2013: Emperor & Empress of Japan's Visit


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

Monday, February 2, 2015

Cover - Cape Verde, Country #112



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

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Christmas Mail 2014 18 - Slovenia

Cover from Slovenia with Christmas and New year stamps. Slovenia Post released a set of four stamps dedicated to the holidays. Two stamps to celebrate Christmas 2014 and two stamps for the New Year. What you see on the cover, the two stamps on the right, are the new year designs issued in 2014 and the stamp on the far left is one from the 2012 holiday season issue.


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

Nigeria

A former British Colony on the west coast of Africa, comprising the territories of Northern and Southern Nigeria and Lagos. Attained full independence within the British commonwealth in 1960 and became a federal republic in 1963.
The Eastern region (known as Bafra) seceded in 1967, remaining independent until overrun by Federal Nigerian troops during January 1970.

The 1953-1960 Elizabeth II Definitive Issue. Features industry scenes from contemporary Nigeria, but in the form of stylized artists drawings.


The 1973-1986 Definitive Issue. These are one of my favourite definitive stamps of any country.
1k hides and skins, 2k Natural Gas Industry, 3k Cement Factory, 5k Cattle Ranching, 7k Timber Industry, 8k Oil Industry, 10k Yankari Game Reserve, 12k Civic Development showing city hall in Lagos, 15k Sugar Cane Farming, 18k Palm Oil, 20k Vaccine Production, 25k Docks, 30k Argungu Fishing Festival, 50k Pottery.
Two stamps, 1n Eko Bridge and 2n Lagos Teaching Hospital are missing from this set in my collection. This set of stamps come in many variations. Differences in printing and color shades, perforations, paper and gum are only a few I can think of. 


1984 Nigerian Wildlife. Complete set of 4. 10k Waterbuck, 25k Hartebeest, 30k African Buffalo, 45k Diademed monkey.

1986 African Reptiles. Complete set of 4. 10k Rock Python, 20k Long snouted crocodile, 25k Gopher Tortoise, 30k Chameleon.


1986 Nigerian Life Definitives.
2k, Volkswagen Aoutomobile assembly factory, 5k, Modern housing development. 10k, Modern method of harvesting coconuts, 15k, Port activities. 20k, Tecoma stans, flower, 25k, Medical care. 30k, Birom folk dancers. 40k, Nkpokiti dancers, 50k, Modern p.o. 10N Lekki Beach
Missing in the set
1k, Social worker with children,  35k, Telephone operators.  45k, Hibiscus. 1n, Stone quarry. 2n, Technical education. 20n Ancient wall, Kano. 50n Rock Bridge, 100n Ekpe masquerader, 500n National Theater.


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