Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin Edited by Jeevan Jyoti for free circulation among philatelists
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Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Distt. Kullu. PIN 175126. (H.P.) India
Note- This bulletin is only for circulation among a limited group of philatelists without any commercial purpose. The bulletin will be sent to the readers only on request. Those who wish to receive it regularly please reply giving the name of your city/country with the subject SUBSCRIBE RAINBOW
Dear Philatelist,
I present here April issue of Rainbow Stamp News with new articles and information from the world of stamps. It is going to be exhibition season again with small exhibitions in different states with the closing of March . On international front the recent exhibition is going to be held in Hong Kong with participation of Indian collectors and a new National One Frame Exhibition is going to be held in Vadodara in December. All the philatelists seem to be enthusiast about this exhibition as it is going to be very exclusive exhibition of One Frame exhibits only. The nice effort which has been done by Baroda Philatelic Society is highly appreciated. My best wishes to all the participants and Organizers. Its going to be election time so all the forthcoming issues have been postponed for some time. So we are going to have a break from viewing latest issues of India for quite sometime. Hope during this period long awaited items will be available that are searched by the philatelists for a long time. . I have given a new and interesting finding on Postal History in this issue. Please read it in “The Lighter Side” Column. This is all for this Month! …..Till Next Month ……..Happy Collecting!...
….Jeevan Jyoti
Contents
§ Recent Indian Issues
§ In The News
§ What one expects from India Post and its Philatelic Bureau – Dr. Avinash B. Jagtap
§ Beginners’ Section
§ Specialized Section
§ New Issues from Other Countries
§ The Lighter Side
§ Blogs & Websites on Philately
§ Promotional Section
§ Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters
4 Jan 2009 Louis Braille –Rs. 5
21 Jan 2009 Vaikom Muhammad Basheer- Rs 5
25 Jan 2009 St. Paul’s Chruch - Rs 5
28 Jan 2009 Heritage Monuments Preservation by INTACH - 4 x Rs. 5 + M/s
31 Jan 2009 Bishnu Prasad Rabha - Rs. 5
3 Feb 2009 50 Years of SAIL (Ltd. ) - Rs. 5
5 Feb 2009 National Girl Child Day - Rs. 5
9 Feb 2009 Maha Kavi Magh Rs. 5
9 Feb 2009 Sant Santaji Jagnade Rs 5
11 Feb 2009 125 Years of PLI (Postal Life Insurance ) Scheme Rs 5
21 Feb 2009 Jainacharya Vallabh Suri - Rs 5
28 Feb 2009 Harakh Chand Nahata - Rs 5
1 March 2009 Medical council of India - Rs 5
6 March 2009 Pterospermum acerifolium – Rs 5
12 March 2009 Krantiveer Shahid Baburao Puleshwar Shedmake – Rs 5
13 March 2009 Dr Krishna Kumar Birla – Rs. 5
New Postal Stationery
Meghdoot Post Cards
Consumer Awareness, Hindi, Gujarati, Sindhi -7 designs
Industrial Safety & Health, Bengali
M H Jewelers, Tamil
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Hindi
Campaign against Female Feticide, Hindi & EnglishAIDS, Marathi
Special Cover – Postmark
Feb 2-7: Ahmedabad, Mini National Bharat Scout & Guide Centenary Jamboree, Special Cover onlyFeb 28: Dehradun, State Flower ShowFeb 28-Mar 1: Dehradun, District Philatelic Exhibition, 2 covers
Feb 28: Jaipur, National Science DayMar 8: Bidasar, Save Girl ChildMar 19-20: Jaipur District Philatelic Exhibition, 2 CoversMar 24: Mumbai, Rotary Club of Bombay 80 Years
Aerogramme
- March 2009 1500p printed at ISP Nashik - Mother Teresa
Special Covers from Army Postal Services
Feb 11: 10th Battalion The Madras Regiment Silver Jubilee
Inverted Jenny fetches $260,000 at UK auction
A rare U.S. stamp from 1918, showing an aircraft printed upside down in error, fetched 184,000 pounds ($260,000) at a British auction on 4 March 2009. Warwick and Warwick auctioneers had expected the stamp, one of a sheet of one hundred discovered 90 years ago, to fetch 150,000 pounds when it went under the hammer. The final price includes buyer's premium. Although it exceeded pre-sale estimates, two other "inverted Jennys" were sold in 2007 for $825,000 and $850,000 before the buyer's premium was added, . The 1918 inverted Jenny stamp is one of stamp collecting's most famous prizes. The 24-cent air mail stamp features a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplane, but was mistakenly printed upside down. Only 100 of the red, white and blue stamps were printed.
Hong Kong 2009
The 23rd FIAP Asian International Stamp Exhibition is under the patronage of Federation of Inter Asia Philately (FIAP) and organized by the Hong Kong Philatelic Society. Hongkong Post is the main sponsor for this event. The Exhibition will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai. Approximately 600 frames will be on display. The Exhibition will open on Thursday, May 14, 2009 and close on Sunday, May 17, 2009. Mr. Dhanjay Desai of Ahmedabad is the National Commissioner from India and Mr. Sunder Bahirwani is the member of Jury from India. The list of exhibits from India and abroad can be viewed at http://www.hkpsoc.com/hk2009/exhibits.html
Stamp Mania 2009
The First National One Frame Philatelic Exhibition ”Stampmania 2009" is going to be organized by Baroda Philatelic Society from 18th to 20th December 2009 at Vadodara. The venue of the exhibition has been selected. It will be held at Shree Saurashtra Leuva Patel Seva Samaj, Alembic Road, Vadodara. Approximately 400 frames (200 x 2 ) will be displayed in the exhibition. The official website of the exhibition www.stampmania2009.com has already been launched. Details of the Exhibition Prospectus & Entry Forms in pdf format are now available at website. Collectors can get detailed information at the website or may write to Mr. Prashant Pandya or Mr. Timir R. Shah . E-Mail Prashant Pandya: info@vadophil.org Timir R. Shah: admin@vadophil.org
The options to download Entry Form in pdf format is provided on website, which you can fill and print electronically. Printed Entry Form duly signed may be sent to STAMPMANIA 2009 Secretariat with particulars of Entry Fees.
Alternately you can fill online Entry Form at the website and for confirmation and for your record purpose print it and send one copy duly signed with particulars of fees to STAMPMANIA 2009 Secretariat. Hit Submit button to submit the Entry Form online.Three options for making payment of Entry Fees has been provided. You can send the fees by Demand Draft or AT PAR Cheque in favour of Baroda Philatelic Society, Can send fees by Money Order or you can deposit the amount in any branch of BANK OF BARODA in Account No. 01900100006809 of Baroda Philatelic Society.
Please visit http://www.stampmania2009.com/ to read articles on “what is One Frame Exhibit” and Social Philately ?
Recent Philatelic Exhibitions
Philatelic Exhibition in Shimla
A philatelic exhibition SIMPEX 2009 was organized by Postal Division, Shimla on 18 March 2009 at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Shimla.
GOPEX -2009, Gorakhpur
A Regional Philatelic Exhibition "GOPEX 2009 was held in Gorakhpur on 29 March 2009. On the occasion two special covers were released.For details about these covers contact Mr. Ashwini Dubey, Gorakhpur E-Mail -mailto:-dubey_ashwani77@yahoo.co.in
Philatelic Exhibitions in Jharkhand
Following 6 district level exhibitions were held recently in Jharkhand .
22 March-Giridih
28 March-Gumla, Daltengunj, Chaibasa
29 March- Dhanbad, Ramgarh.
One cover released at each place. For more details about the covers contact Mr. Ashok Tiwary, Jamshedpur E-Mail - ashoktiwary695@gmail.com
Definitive Series Stamps
India post has issued the Six more stamps of new definitive series- the 10th Definitive series,These stamps are on Gandhi - 100P, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, 200P ,Satyajit Ray, 300P, Homi Jahangir Bhabha, 400P , J.R.D.Tata , 1500P and Mother Teresa, 2000P. These are available in sheet of 100 stamps & 70 Stamps. Twelve stamps are likely to be released in this series called “Builders of Modern India” series.
Forthcoming Indian Stamps
Election Commission of India has asked India Post to refrain from issuing new postage stamps in view of Code of Conduct that came in to force with the announcement of General Elections 2009. Thus the next issues are expected only after the results are announced on May 16, 2009.
Some amazing stamps of 2008
Stamps feature jellyfish with glow-in-the-dark effect
A set of special stamps featuring jellyfish was issued on 12 June, 2008 by Hong Kong, printed with a glow-in-the-dark effect. The six stamps are Flower Hat Jelly ($1.40); Octopus Jelly ($1.80); Brown Sea Nettle ($2.40); Moon Jelly ($2.50); Lion's Mane Jelly ($3); and Pacific Sea Nettle ($5).
Living images on Alpine Skiing stamps
On January 2008 Finland issued a miniature sheet bearing a total of 11 different 1st class non-value indicator stamps. The miniature sheet dedicated to Alpine skiing has an illusion of movement which is made possible by the imaging and printing technology used. When you turn the sheet in your hands, the picture comes to life. This makes Tanja Poutiainen speed downhill on the slalom stamp. The stamp is in the lower right corner of the miniature sheet. The picture is from the Finnish round of the slalom World Cup in Levi. The 27-year-old skier from Rovaniemi is also shown at speed next to the stamp, on the edge of the stamp sheet. Tanja Poutiainen's achievements also include a silver medal at the Turin Olympics in 2006 and numerous other victories and high placements in world cup championships over a period of years. The stamp dedicated to snowboarding features a stunning performance by Antti Autti. The upper left of the sheet shows Matti Raty, a 19-year-old exponent of newschool skiing and a student at the University of Kuopio, strutting his stuff. The stamp shows a 'drop'. The stamp on the lower left shows Tapio 'Arska' Saarimaki on powder. Saarimaki now lives year-round in the village of Verbier in the Swiss Alps, where he practises cross-country and downhill biking in addition to Alpine skiing. In freestyle, helicopters are sometimes used to take skiers to virgin slopes, and this explains the chopper on the upper edge of the stamp sheet.
Virtual International Philatelic Exhibition EXPONET
Mr. Prashant Pandya has been appointed as Indian Representative to Exponet (japhila online exhibition). http://www.japhila.cz/exponet/pictures/CV_PANP.jpgSee his one Frame Thematic collection - THE STORY OF MILK http://www.japhila.cz/hof/0508/index0508a.htm
Four more on line exhibits on EXPONET: http://www.exponet.info/
http://www.japhila.cz/ On line philatelic magazine Japhila
Philatelic blog "Exponet Forum" http://expo-net.blogspot.com/
Recent Stamps on Indian theme
Recently three beautiful stamps were issued by Ethopia on 7 January 2009 depicting Indian theme. Thev set was issued by Ethopia on 60th anniversary of Diplomatic relations of India and Ethopia. This set depicts Taj Mahal, Ashok Chakra and Indian National flower, Lotus. One more recent set issued by Malaysia on 23 March 2009 depicts an Indian Wedding Couple. The other 3 stamps show wedding couples of different communities of Malaysia showing a great varity of culture in Malaysia
WHAT ONE EXPECTS FROM INDIA POST AND ITS PHILATELIC BUREAU ”
Dr. Avinash B. Jagtap, Binningen (Switzerland)
II. Commemoratives
The definitives are those which are printed in large numbers and are available over the counter at all post offices all the year round. Recently a new definitive series has been announced and some of the stamps belonging to this series have already been issued and are sold over the counter. This series bears portraits of personalities, who have contributed to the elevation of the image of India on the world map. A person like me, who stays abroad, does not understand why India Post is so much devoted to the personalities, whose portraits have appeared on stamps a couple of times since 1947. Also it is not understandable, why India Post does not ask the opinion of the stamp collectors in India on the issue of the theme which will appeal to the stamp collectors at home and also abroad? In fact in Europe the respective philatelic bureaus do carry out an opinion poll to fix their strategy as regards the theme for their definitives. One has to take into account that a definitive series lasts for a minimum period of 4-5 years and the people are obliged to affix the same stamps for several years to their envelopes! With due respect to great souls, we are not weary of our great leaders, who have already appeared on our stamps. What about our other national personalities, who deserve to be philatelically commemorated? It is true that the new definitive series will have other personalities like Dr.Ambedkar, Satyajit Ray, Homi Bhabha, J.R.D.Tata, Mother Teresa, but that does not belittle our wish that new definitives should depict some other interesting themes like Indian flowers, Indian Birds, or Indian sites of heritage, like those we had in the very first archaeological definitve series of 1949, with old monuments belonging to all faiths and religions, and not those personalities.
Perhaps India Post selects at the most ten personalities and issue stamps in the honour of these persons only for one year. I wonder if there is any other country in the world which has ever issued so many stamps to commemorate their great souls! Or could it be, because we Indians are idolaters?
About commemorative issues there are the following categories in which these can be further classified:
Stamps issued in a set devoted to Indian Flora or Fauna
Stamps issued to mark some anniversary of an institution or movement
Thematic stamps on museum, folkdances, cultural events
So far as personalities are concerned, many of the readers will agree with me that these personalities chosen depend upon the political party which is in power at the centre. In no other country there could be such biased attitude on the selection of a particular personality! I would suggest that our readers classify the personalities who have hitherto appeared on Indian stamps with reference to their states and their political colour! Secondly, most of the personality stamps bear the names of the person depicted on the stamp. But on most of these stamps there is no mention when these great persons were born and died.
I have many times complained about this important data, which should appear on the stamp printed in the honour of a reputed person, but I failed to get an answer to it! Another thing to mention is that some times the name of the person and the date of his birth and death are given, which are false! In 1978 a stamp was issued in the honour of a revolutionary Surya Sen (SG 881). The name of this leader has been wrongly written in Devanagari as “Suryy Sen”.
Regarding the stamp sheets issued it should be pointed out that some times sheets with defective printing and perforations, termed as “printer’s waste”, are expected to be destroyed immediately. On the contrary in India they make their appearance by “back door” in the market and are sold as varieties at exuberant prices. The culprits are never brought to justice. One is bound to think that behind this dirty affair a long chain of culprits is on work!
About stamps which represent Indian Flora and Fauna, one must say that these in many cases bear only Hindi and English names, very seldom their correct Latin nomenclature. The stamp issuing body at India Post must make it a rule to print the genuine Latin names of Flora and Fauna on their stamps, so that philatelists living abroad will understand to which order these plants, flowers, animals or birds belong! It should be marked that most of the foreign countries, even those from Africa, print the appropriate Latin names.
As most of Indian stamps bear wording in Hindi and English, there is relatively less space left for the description of what appears on the stamp; but a trained graphic designer will not have any difficulty in writing Latin name of the plant, flower, fruit or animal, bird, fish etc. on the stamp. Normally a commemorative stamp is enough large to offer enough space for words on its either sides.
India Post has been issuing remarkably large number of stamps one by one! This certainly causes a strain on the valet of the ordinary stamp collector in India. In other countries new stamps are issued after an interval of three months and each time at the most 8 stamps are newly issued. These are announced well advance and the required stationeries like blank First Day Covers are made available to the philatelists. These blank FDCs can be addressed and kept ready for franking when the stamps are made available one week before the actual date of their release. In Europe, one can hand over these franked FDCs for First Day Cancellation to the local philatelic bureau. I feel India will not be able to see these facilities made available to her stamp collectors in near future.
Premature release of stamps and miniature sheets has become more or less a routine than an “accident” in the realm of our India Post Authority! It is not understandable why the present Communication Minister and other responsible personnel turn their deaf ear to the outcry of Indian stamp collectors! In recent years we hear a great hue and cry of the account holders at the respective philatelic bureaus. Their complaint is, despite their pre-paid accounts at the regional philatelic bureaus, they are not supplied with adequate philatelic materials as per their standing order. To me this is a grave injustice the philatelic bureaus are doing to their clients. This atrocity demands a full inquiry into the matter. There should be a moral binding on the respective regional philatelic bureaus to supply their account holders their quota as per their standing orders.
I believe that in no other country such arrogance on the part of philatelic bureau could be met with. If the regional philatelic bureaus are unable to supply philatelic items in compliance with the demanded order of their clients, they should better shut up their bureaus. Another possibility I see is the adoption of an old Gandhian way of non-cooperation, which I myself practise these days and that is, so long as the philatelic bureaus are remaining adamant in their arrogant behaviour towards their stamp collectors and are not willing to improve their dealings with their registered clients, the stamp collectors should do away with collecting any new issues brought out by India Post. Sorry, but I can not see any other effective alternative which I believe, in the end, should succeed.
Beginners’ section
Things to Avoid With Your Stamps
Handling Stamps with Your Hands
The cleanest hands still have a lot of oil on them; it's just a fact of nature. This oil, as well as the dust and dirt from normal daily activity, can seriously damage your stamps. Avoid using your hands to pick up stamps, instead use stamp tongs instead. They will protect your stamps while making it easier to get to specific items.
Not Checking Your Envelopes
When an interesting stamp catches your eye everything else can get lost in the excitement. But before you cut that stamp out to soak or mount in your album, take a close look at the envelope so you don't get rid of a treasure. That envelope could be a First Day Cover or Event Day Cover. It might have a cancellation or postmark that identifies it as having come from somewhere special. Or it might be an example of postal history, such as balloon mail or wartime mail with censorship markings. Just remember when looking at envelopes that the stamp is only the beginning of the story.
Trimming Stamps on Envelopes Too Closely
When soaking stamps or preparing to mount them with the paper they came on, you will want to cut off the excess envelope in most cases. However you need to be careful that you are not accidentally cutting off the stamp. The first risk of course is the perforation. Also stamps are increasingly being produced that are irregular in size and shape and an important part of the stamp can easily get cut off. Some stamps have labels attached to them or writing on the sheet around the stamp. Be sure to make sure that what is attached to the stamp isn't actually part of it.
Mitul Kansal, Haryana
E-mail - philately07@rediffmail.com
I am collecting postage stamps for the last 8 years. In these years I collected all those stamps which I found. But now I want to make my collection THEMATIC. So I need your help. Please tell me some good themes for collecting. At present I want to collect postage stamps on these themes:1) Astronomy 2) Gandhi 3) India 4) Aviation 5) Heritage 6) Olympics 7) Flora & Fauna 8) Paintings 9) Kings & Queens 10) Marine life BUT THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME. If I make INDIA my collecting theme then how can I arrange its postage stamps on sheets because India has also issued postage stamps on Astronomy, Gandhi, Aviation, Heritage, Kings & Queens, Flora & Fauna, etc? So I request you to please solve my problem and help me.
You will have to choose one or two subjects only. As it is difficult to prepare large number of themes at one time. Simgle theme can be well prepared by collecting stamps and other philatelic items like Postal stationery, postmarks ,booklets, special covers etc. from different countries. If you want to collect Indian stamps only, then go for Personality, Educational Institutions, Art and Architecture, Tourism or Flora & Fauna. You can also add special covers, Max Cards, Cancellations etc. to enrich your collection on these themes. You can get many stmps on these themes.
Specialized Section
Little known facts about Stamps:WHO IS FIRST (part I)
- © Dr.Satyendra Kumar Agrawal
Though the Penny Black of Great Britain, which went on sale on 1 May 1840 and became valid for postage on 6 May 1840 earned the reputation of being the “World’s First Adhesive Postage Stamp”,
On 8 April 1653, in Paris, the Petite Poste organized by Renouard de Villayer, counselor of state, put out for sale small slips of paper affixed with a solution of isinglass. They are known as “billets de port paye” and were inscribed “Port payee…….le….jour de l’an 1653” meaning in English “Postage paid…….day of ….of the year 1653.” The sender himself filled in the date in manuscript, affixed the stamp to the letter and posted it in one of the street corner posting boxes provided for this purpose.
The idea of such Adhesive stamp was originated as a result of the suggestions then given by Mistress Fouquet, of the Surintendant des Finances. This service survived for a very little period due to downfall of the Fouquet and damage caused by mice and other insects to the letter posted in the box making meal of them. Anti social individuals also deposited their night soil in these boxes.
Renourd de Villayer also published business circulars and according to the article published in 1883 issue of Granite State Philatelist, one of these notes is still preserved in Paris, and is one of the oldest Penny post letters extant, and a curious example of a pre-payment envelope. No example of the Petite Poste exists. This can happen as per belief of Mr. David Lidman; first the billets were removed and carefully destroyed, in order to restrict their reuse, before letters were sent on their way.
In 1944, the family coat of arms of Renouard de Villayer was depicted on a commemorative stamp by the French post on the occasion of the “ Day of the Postage Stamp”, Scott….with inscriptions(original in French) “Journée du timbre 1944Stamp Day 1944, Création de la Petite PosteCreation of the Small Poste, par Renouard de Villayer en 1653by Renouard of Villayer in 1653”
Also on an early Post Card, curious is the printed words(original in French): “ It can be argued that the stamp as a means of empowerment is to French invention. En 1653, un avis dut affiché à Paris disant aux habitants que : Les personnes qui voudraient écrire d'un quartier à l'autre auraient l'assurance que leurs lettres seraient fidèlement remises si elles avaient soin d'y joindre ou d'y attacher visiblement un billet de port payé. In 1653, a notice had shown in Paris telling people that: People who want to write a district to another would have the assurance that their letters would be delivered accurately if they care to join or to attach obviously a prepaid ticket. This ticket cost a sub. Today it is called postage stamp.”
This experiment was again followed by Piarron Chamousset for Local post in Paris on 5 March 1758. It was took over by French Government but so few and poor were the arrangements made by the government that the prepaid stamps similar to those now in use, were seldom used and were soon entirely forgotten. Although well documented in contemporary literature no example of these stamps has ever been discovered.
In “The Romance of the Postage Stamp”, 1962, Gustav Schenk, the writer also claims that a Scottish shipping company was using Adhesive Stamps for its private postal service in 1811.
Scotland also claims to have been the birth place of Adhesive Postage Stamps before 1840.
1 Kreuzer Stamp of Laurenz Koschier
In 1938, a letter was discovered in an Austrian family Bible at Millstattin, Carinthia which dates 20 February 1839 with a 21 February 1839 arrival mark from Spittal to Klagenfurt on which a 1 Kreuzer stamp printed in brown was affixed. On stamp letters “O.P.” were inscribed may have mean Austria Post (Local Post). The stamp creator was Ferdinand Egarter, postmaster of Spittal. Laurenz Koschier was Chief Postmaster of the district that included Spittal and has the credit of submitting his proposals for postage stamps to the Austro-Hungarian General Imperial Chamber and the Ministry of Finance, being responsible for the postal system in 1836 but the proposal was turned out by the government for the time being.
This cover was brought to London by a British dealer and offered for sale at 65,000 Pounds but according to September 1991 issue of Cronica Filatelica, it was purchased by Austrian government for 3 million Schillings. Also Austrian Post issued a stamp featuring Koschier on 4 May 1979 (Scott 1121) as its annual Europa stamp.
Laurenz Koschier was immortalized by Yugoslavia on several stamps issued during 1948 to commemorate his 80th death anniversary .The country very much supported him as the one and only inventor of the Postage Stamp. On 21 August 1948 a set of 4 stamps was issued (Scott 246-249) featuring his portrait. In the same year on 27 August an Airmail stamp was again issued by Yugoslavian post depicting his portrait and his birth house in Spodnja Lusa with an aero plane (ScottC29).
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The se-tenant label attached to this 15 Diner stamps has inscriptions both in Yugoslavian and French proclaiming him the true inventor of the postage stamp. The name imprinted on these stamps is Kosir and on label as Laurent Kochir and Lovenca Kosira are all same only the difference lies of language, Koschier is German, Kochir is French and Kosir is Croatian. Laurent and Lorence are linguistic equivalents of Lawrence. Slovenia also released a stamp featuring Koschier in 2004, Scott 561.
Greece Stamp of 1831
Greece also seems to be in this line of World’s First Postage Stamp with its 40 Lepta typeset black label used in 1831in connection with the poll tax, raising money for refugees from the Cretan insurrection of that year. The artwork for the stamp is simple. The denomination "Lepta 40" is in the center, and a double border composed of straight lines and shaded pearls completes the design. The outside dimensions of the stamp are 26.5 x 36.0 mm. The printing method is typography.
It is rarely found on cover. Only four instances are recorded. The Greece Museum now has one. It is a fragile folded letter with a Piraeus, June 17, 1848, cancel and a handwritten rate of "40" to be collected from the recipient at Chalkis. The stamp is on the back flap. Recent research led to speculation that it is really either postage due stamp or a local issue.
During 1913 Paris Philatelic Exhibition, an exhibit of Count de Fayalle’ of Greece also shown a cover dated 17 June 1848 with this stamp.
But the most important evidence of its existence before the Penny Black put out by a British Stamp dealer, P.L. Pemberton displaying a large unused irregular block of nine in 1933 with the manuscript ink notation on the gum side of the stamps which the translation is “…..Apalirar…..2May1831…The Governor” and signed by G.Glarakis, the governor of Paros.
To day, the Vlastas Catalogue of Greece stamps also lists this stamp as of 1831 but as Charity stamp.
1834 Stamp of James Chalmers
For a time, both the Encyclopedia Britannica and the Dictionary of National Biography Recognized James Chalmers as the true inventor of Adhesive stamps. He was a Scottish bookseller and printer and in 1834 he made experimentally Adhesive Stamp in his print shop.
He lost the credit of being inventor of First Adhesive Stamp due to late publication of his letter on April 5, 1838 in Post Circular dealing with the idea of a stamped slip “rubbed over the back with a strong solution of gum and put the post office town stamp across the slip”. Rowland Hill’s proposal was already published a year before.
He also submitted the cancelled essays during 1839 Treasury Competition.
In 1982, Great Britain issued a booklet (Scott BK572) honouring James Chalmers. Booklet’s cover features his portrait while inside front cover shows his prototype “Stamps of 1837”.
1680 London Penny Post
The so-called Petite Poste was also an economic failure, but was later successfully imitated in other European cities e.g. by the London Penny Post as of 1680.It was developed by William Dockwra and Robert Murray Starting from 1680 the system of a uniform price for restaurant post office with freeing by Triangular stamps put on the post as Triangular Postmark.
London Penny Post 'Original Dockwra' entire dated 13 January 1680/81 with the first triangular "L/PENNY POST PAID" fleur-de-lis prepayment stamp for delivery within the Bills of Mortality, for which £10 compensation was paid if lost or for late delivery without an additional fee.
LABELING MAILS (POSTAL LABELS)By Naresh Agarwal (contd. from the last issue….)
Though there can be different ways to classify postal labels but according to me these may be broadly classify in to following categories:
1. NATURE OF PRODUCTION: The labels may be classified in accordance with their nature of production and printing such as Electronic labels, Thermal labels, Self Adhesive labels, Frama Labels etc.
ELECTRONIC LABELS:
In a computerized method for labeling data records, data records are received in an index server. The records are parsed into words, and the words are stored in a full-text index. Labels are added to the data records and the full-text index. The data records are accessed by searching the full-text index using queries including the words and the labels of the data records. Labels can be removed from the full-text index.
THIS COMPLETE SET OF 4 "ELECTRONIC LABELS" IN 10c, 50c, $1.30 & $1.70 x 2 FOR REGULAR POSTAGE USE, WHICH IS THE 1st "POSTAGE LABELS" FOR "CHINESE NEW YEAR ISSUED" BY THE HONG KONG (BRITISH) POST OFFICE, WITH CODE 01 & 02 ATLEFT UPPER CORNER
FARMA LABELS : (Vending machine postage stamp)
These labels are generated by farma vending machines and are printed on pieces which are then affixed on the mail. These are printed either on plane sheet or may get printed on previously printed label rolls or may be printed with some picture on it. These are basically replacement of postal stamp and are genuine. In other words these are postal stamps known as FRAMA labels.
Flag Paper Frama Label Affixed on Cover Frama ATM Postage Label
ATM Vended Postage labels
During new mail operations some labels highlighting the nature of mail or the mail carriage are affixed on the mail. Even some times the labels designed by deptt. Are tested by affixing on the mail. These may be named as test mail labels.
TEST MAIL LABEL
A letter from Citibank credit card monthly billing letter affixed with the post office "UjiMel" (Test Mail) label. Probably issued during implementation of a new mailing system at that time by post office and test selective letters from different locations to test the mailing service, perhaps in terms of sorting accuracy and delivery speed.
The label printed with Pos Malaysia logo, serial number and barcode. Since this is the prepaid letter from the sender, it did not carry any stamps and postmark. Otherwise one can trace back the posting date.
Testing Labels
LABELS TAGGED WITH STAMPS:
Labels are some times tagged with the postal stamps. These are used for advertising, to convey the subject matter of the stamp or to give some commercial or social message to the public. These may be on the lower or on either left or right side of the mail.
Tagged Label Advertising Use of Postal Money Order
To be contd….
Australia
11 March 2009 Earth Hour – 2 x 55c, $ 2.05
25 March 2009 200 years of Australia Post -10 val.
Australian Antarctic Territory
4 March 2009 Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers -55c, $ 2.05
Azerbaijan
3 March 2009 Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers – Souvenir sheet
Belarus
1 March 2009 Folk Festival of Belarus – Souvenir sheet
Canada
20 March 2009 masterpieces by Jack Bush – 2 val + M/s
Cyprus
12 march 2009 200 years of birth of Louis Braille - .68 €
Finland
18 March 2009 Easter
France
2 March 2009 – Menton- The town of lemons – 0,56 €
Gibraltar
15 March 2009 Naval Aviation – 6 x 42 p
Hungary
24 February 2009 Easter – 75
Ireland
6 March 2009 Greetings Stamps – 2 x 55c
20 March 2009 Charles Darwin – 82c
Lativia
18 March 2009 - Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers – M/s
Malta
27 March 2009 Mushrooms – 5 val
Monaco
7 February 2009 50th anniversary of Barbie Doll - .88 €
New Zealand
4 February 2009 Motor sport – 5 val. + 1 M/s
4 March 2009 - Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers – M/s
– Giants of New Zealand – 50c, $1, $ 1.50, $ 2, $2.50
Poland
6 March 2009 Polish contemporary sculpture - Władysław Hasior - 2 x PLN 1.45, PLN 2.10, PLN 2.40
Portugal
4 March 2009 Science in Portugal € .32
San Marino
1 April 2009 – Europa 2009 Astronomy – 2 Val.
Singapore
20 March 2009 - Cinema Theatres of Yesteryear -2 0 march 2009 – 5 V
Taiwan
26 Feb 2009 Sea Shells of Taiwan – 2 x 5NT $ , 2 x 12 NT$
UK
10 March 2009 Pioneers of Industrial Revolution – 8 val.
Ukraine
9 March 2009 - 200th Birth Anniversary of Taras Shevchenko 3 x 1.50
18 March 2009- Se-tenant Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers – 2 X 3.30
Reader’s Right
Editor’s note- The aim of this stamp newsletter is to provide instant information and facts on philately to the readers and not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Readers may express their views, anguish and resentment through this column on philately. The platform is not used for any vested interest to cause derogatory to philately. When writing your views be sure that it should be related to philately only. It should not be used to express personal feelings between persons or groups in any manner. Please send your postal address and Ph. No. and if possible a photo too when writing on any controversial issue.
In the beginning of the issue you have written a few lines about the collection of silver replicas marketed by London based company Hallmark Group Ltd. India Post has authorized Hallmark Ltd. to issue this collection in form of silver impressions, based on the archives of National Philatelic Museum New Delhi. We philatelists in India should concentrate our eyes and mind on postage stamps, cancellations, postal stationery etc, which have directly to do with Philately. The above pieces of silver and gold may look alluring, but hey have nothing to do with our hobby. They are neither coins nor stamps! They can not be exchanged or kept as such exposed to the unprotected climatic conditions (air, humidity, temperature and now pollution! in India) play a great role in preservation of silver or gold coins and replicas. Also the prices of such pieces are certainly higher than the same weight of silver and gold. I must warn our readers not to take for granted that purchasing of such pieces is a good investment and none of us should ever think to make money in purchasing these "white elephants" today and thinking of selling them tomorrow. I am rather surprised that India Post, a responsible governmental Department should enter in this field and misguide philatelists. Even with the new issues India Posts does not show any signs that it is responsible for all the misery in the philatelic world in India and now the same department is indulging in selling gold coins over the counter at the post offices!
"Unhealthy Prevailing over Healthy"
Dear Philatelist friends,
Once again, We, Ajay & Sudha Agrawal, are before you with an Appeal.
This approach is making our hobby unreachable for new comers as well as majority of the existing collectors. This type of material is not only too costly but is very difficult to get. But giving more marks to such material by the judges has made them essential in every exhibit. Many errors like color proofs, color trials, artist drawings with signature, have been announced as illegal by many a countries, but their absenteeism in an exhibit make it a poor one. No doubt these materials are good for study & research purpose, but for exhibition purpose……?.
According to us this practice should be stopped. There can be a separate section for error exhibits in an exhibition, if so needed, but in no way it can be compared with a Healthy exhibit.
Much can be written on this issue, but we think we have made the point clear.
If majority can agree, rules for evaluation can be changed.
Your views most welcome.
Ajay & Sudha Agrawal
E-Mail - maharashtramedicals@yahoo.com
The Lighter Side
Do you know?
A Breakthrough in Postal History.......
The Cover is Registered Cover sent from Thimpu with registration no. RL 29855 and has been registered on 16th March 2009.
On the basis of Postal arrangement between the Government of India and the Royal Government of Bhutan relating to the letter post dated 21 April 1967,Bhutan Post may have sent the article for further forwarding to Singapore. (Probably Bhutan is not having direct flight to Singapore. They do have one stop flights for Bangkok) and thus the Registered Letter must have arrived at Delhi from Thimpu and from Delhi again the article was booked with registration no. RR278519553IN. (Prefix of label RR is for registration from India Post). One can notice the registration label of Singapore on the cover which has number RR963757538SG. This article was tracked on Singapore Post website and was found that the article was booked on 20.3.2009 and it was delivered to customer on 24.03.2009.Thorough findings reveal that the origin of article is New Delhi. That means the cover arrived at New Delhi from Thimpu on either 19th or 20th March and booked from New Delhi on 20th March. The cover reached at Singapore on 23rd March and delivered to addressee on 24th March. It is the observation and presumption about the Indian Registration label. It is fact that the article has been routed through New Delhi and registration label has been affixed in India and not in Bhutan.
In 1947 the British General Post Office (GPO) opened a sub post office in a tiny building attached to Bletchley Park’s famous mansion. It provided an on-site shop for the GPO engineers attending training courses in order to rebuild the country’s devastated communications network following World War 2. It later became a national training centre.
During the war years the building served as a mailroom for the 12,000 people involved in top-secret code breaking operations. To maintain secrecy an undercover postal address was used: PO Box 111 Bletchley. The secret was so well kept that the majority of those that worked there said nothing about their work until a 1998 TV documentary revealed all.
Bletchley Park Post Office - Once a secret mailroom, now a publisher of very collectable first day covers !
In 1994 Bletchley Park was saved from demolition and opened as a heritage site. The little post office became the gift shop but visitor facilities and exhibits have improved significantly since then. So now it is a re-creation of a 1940’s sub post office and a respected publisher of limited edition first day covers. These covers are very collectable and some fetch £00’s at auction. The income helps support the preservation of Bletchley Park.
Using postage stamps and talented artists the humble envelope is turned into a little piece of art and history. The stamps are hand positioned to fit the artist’s design and postmarked with their first day of issue or a special date. Each cover is then individually numbered and packed with its background into a protective sleeve ready for you to add to your collection or frame as a display piece. The First Day Covers and special covers specially designed at this Post Office are very popular all over the world for their quality and design.
Visit the gallery of Special Covers & FDCs created by Bletchley Park Post Office http://www.bletchleycovers.com/
http://www.stampsofindia.com/ – This is the website of India with complete information on Indian stamps.
http://www.rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com/ – This is the e – Stamp Club Blog to bring philatelists together on blogosphere and share views with each other.
http://www.prideofindiacollection.com/ - Website of Famous Pride of India Collection being brought out by Hallmark Group.
http://olympicgamesphilately.blogspot.com/ - A new Blog by our member Mr. Jagannah Mani of Bangalore on Olympic Philately.
http://www.sipa.org.in/ - It is a new website launched by South India Philatelists’ Association, Chennai.
http://wwwmyfavouritestamps.blogspot.com/ - A blog on my favourite stamps.
Global Warming
A presentation with stamps talking about global warming athttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/networks/cbn-e/doc/resources/climate_change_on_stamps.pdf
Braille Stamps
Complete list on Braille related stamps can be found on http://www.blindianastamps.com/ It's a wonderful website and it will help those who want to preapre a sole collection on Louis Braille or any other theme related with problem of the blindness. There are many other stamps given in the list which can be included to make a comprehensive collection on Braille or visually impaired.
Famous Women
http://www.geocities.com/ZOMIRP/st-galer-a-desna.htm
Famous Canadian Women
http://famouscanadianwomen.com/stamps/hopkins.htm
On-line Exhibit on International Virtual Philatelic Exhibition EXPONET - http://www.exponet.info/
RELAPSE, AILMENTS OF VENUS REVISITED, ANOTHER VISIT TO THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE from Phillip J. Stager, USA (Open Class)
http://www.japhila.cz/hof/0499/index0499a.htm
Promotional section
New Maxim Cards / Private FDCs
Maxim Cards on Louis Braille, St. Alphonsa. Universal Declaration of human rights St. Paul’s Church , Chennai & Delhi commonwealth Games & Private Covers For New Definitive series designed by Mr. Arvind Mullick of Jabalpur.
Ajay Agarwal, Akola E-Mail - maharashtramedicals@yahoo.com
A special request from Readers - Can you help me to provide cancellation of 1909 on any philatelic item of: 1) Banglore 2) Kirkee 3) Jabalpur, and of 1911 of 1) Shimla 2) Banglore 3) Calcutta 4) Poona 5) Jabalpur 6) Kirkee 7) Allahbad 8) Saidpur 9) Madras. I need these cancellations for my scout exhibit or suggest where I should search.
Dear philatelist,
I am Gandhi collector, collecting anything used postally or issued by &T on Gandhi. The North Maharashtra University Jalgon, Mhrashtra is developing a permanent exhibition on Gandhi philately in university campus. I am holding the responsibility of it. I request you to send Photocopy of any of rare items on Gandhi you are having as to include in this exhibition. Awaiting an early affirmative reply.
Dr. Pramod Shivagunde
Dr.Ulahs Patil Medical College
Jalgaon kh, Nashirabad, Jalgaon 425309 Maharashtra
e-mail : spr_drnanda@sancharnet.in & pss576@sancharnet.in
ITS Postal Auction No. 44
Last Date 30 April 2009 Scans of some lots are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/its_offers
For more details Contact: surajjaitly@gmail.com or indianthematicsociety@gmail.com
INDIAN THEMATIC SOCIETYMIG # 3464, PHASE TWO, DUGRI ROAD, LUDHIANA - 141 013. INDIATelfax: + 91 - 161 - 2521244 Mobile: +91 98728 51244
All about Cricket
-Australia Cricket Prestige Booklet – It features Cricket stamps issued by Australia and stories behind them.
-MCC Cricket Cover jointly issued by the MCC and Cricket Association of Bengal on 5th Feb 2009.
Embroidery stamp by Austria
The unique stamps are very popular these days among collectors. One of such stamps is an Embroidered stamp issued by Austria on 19September 2008. A new “embroidered” creation: the Gentian stamp is, like the first embroidered commemorative “Edelweiss”, a product of the Austrian embroiderers Hämmerle & Vogel. The commemorative is being sent around the world, telling the stories of embroidery and Alpine plants. The threads and the colour follow the natural shape of the Clusius gentian (gentiana clusii), discovered around 100 BC by King Gentius of Illyr.
For more details about these covers contact Mr. Pradip Jain, Post Box 128 Mithapur, Patna – 800001. Ph 9334132162 E-Mail philapradip@gmail.com
LITERATURE
Guide to collecting cricket memorabiliaIn association with Stamp and Coin Mart, Chapman and Mitchell Covers have released a guide to collecting cricket stamps and covers. Contributors include Tom Graveney, John Jameson and Cricket Philatelic Society President Arthur Melville-Brown. India's leading cricket historian, Dr Boria Majumdar also contributed a piece on the India's rise to cricket prominence. The content and layout makes it a good read for collector and cricket fan alike.The guide was launched at Stampex, the national stamp show, on February 25th. A special display of cricket memorabilia was mounted at the show with the MCC. This ranged from the bat W G Grace used to score his 1000th Test run to Indian Premier League kit donated and signed by Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. The bat will be auctioned at Sotheby's in May and the IPL kit will form part of the "Going to the Cricket" exhibition at the MCC museum. The 32 page guide, also titled "Going to the Cricket", is available from the MCC section of the web site at http://www.bletchleycovers.com/.It will also be on sale from the MCC Museum. For more details contact: Terry Mitchell 00 44 (0) 1604 781440 E-Mail : terry@ltmp.co.uk
Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters
Stamp of India Collectors’ Companion - India’s first and most updated weekly e-newsletter edited by Madhukar and Savita Jhingan from Stamps of India, New Delhi. E-mail: mjhingan@yahoo.com Website: http://www.stampsofindia.com/
ITS Stamp News – Jan – March 2009, Quarterly Newsletter - Editor -Suraj Jaitly , Published by Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana E –Mail – indianthematicsociety@gmail.com
Fila Capsule – Nov. – Dec 2008 Bi- monthly Newsletter – Editor – Ajit Dash, published by Eastern India Philatelists’ Association, Bhubaneshwar E-mail – akdash2000@gmail.com
Phila Post – Jan - Mar 2009, Quarterly Philately Journal, Executive Editor: Manju Kumar, Director, Philately Division, India PostPublished by L.B. Associates (Pvt.) Ltd., H-108 Sector 63, Noida- 201301. Subscription Rs. 40 by M.O. for 4 issues.
ZEPPELIN POST JOURNAL - Spring09
A sneak preview of the Spring09 issue of the ZEPPELIN POST JOURNAL is online at http://www.ezep.de/zpj/2009sp.html Information about the ZEPPELIN POST JOURNAL and the subscriptions are available online at http://www.ezep.de/zpj/zpj.html
Editor’s Mail Box
Dr Avinash Jagtap, Switzerland
I congratulate my friend Dr. Satyendra K. Agrawal of Varanasi on his interesting article on "Ghost Stamps". Actually the artists or the designers of these stamps do not think of creating some thing absurd or "ghostlike"; but the creativity in man can find such ghost-like elements in stamps. Perhaps one can make a One Frame Exhibit if he/she gets enough of such stamps and shows visitors of an exhibition some hidden treasures and pleasures in the field of philately, without being a victim of a desire to get a medal for it.Prashant Pandya, Vadodara
I congratulate you for your efforts put in for promotion of philately through your newsletter. It is good that you are covering all aspects of philately in Rainbow Stamp News. Indeed its a Rainbow of Philatelic Colours!
RAINBOW STAMP CLUB
This is a blog of e-stamp Club http://www.rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com/ . The idea of this blog is to extend philatelic fraternity in all corners of the world. Readers may write about themselves with their collecting interests and share new ideas with other philatelists. Those who are interested may send following details for publication on blog. If they wish they may also send their photo for publication. New Post on recent issues , news on stamp activities and Contribution by members are published everyday on this blog.
Name…………………………………………
City/Country………………………………..
E-Mail………………………………………..
Postal Address…………………………….
Collecting Interests……………………….
Brief write up about yourself……………
Readers may also express their views on any philatelic matter which will be published under Club News at Rainbow Stamp Cub Blog. Philatelic Clubs and Societies may also send brief write ups. News about new issues of India and abroad and other information related with Philately are regularly posted on this blog. Readers may send reports on new issues, special covers, cancellations & philatelic activities of their area for inclusion in this Blog. - Editor
Courtesy- News and Image Resource to this issue - Stamps of India, Shrikant Parikh- Ahmadabad,Terry Mitchelle-UK , Prashat H. Pandya-Vadodara , Edmund Ong - Singapore, Pradip Jain- Patna; Ajay Agarwal – Akola, Arvind Mullick – Jabalpur;Ashok Tiwari- Jamshedpur; Ashwini Dubey- Gorakhpur;The beginners’ Guide to Stamp Collecting; Hand Book of Philatelic exhibitions
· For PDF Version of Rainbow Stamp News reply with the subject Subscribe Rainbow PDF
Address for communication: Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Kullu (H.P.) PIN 175126
E-mail – j.jyoti9@gmail.com & rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com
· Last date for receiving write ups – 25th of every month. Kindly send images in jpg compressed format & text in MS Word only.
· If you liked this issue please forward it to your friends and help in promoting philately.
A Request to Readers & Contributors-
-Please do not send the text in scan form. Send your write ups in MS Word only.
-Please do not send forwarded messages for promotional section if you want to give any information for promotion please write personally with brief write up. As this newsletter is not used for any commercial purpose in any manner.
-Please send limited number of images in compressed jpg format only with your article.Please send text and images separately.
"Among other things good and bad that modern civilization had produced, surely the postal system which covers the whole world, is one of its most beneficial activities. It affects every individual wherever he may be in the wide world connecting him with millions of others. That connecting link is the postal system which has grown from age to age, till it is what we see today" - Jawaharlal Nehru as a foreword to Mulk Raj Anand's book Story of the Post Office.
Till Next Month Happy Collecting……………………………………………………………………..
Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti, from Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) India.
