Heritage Temples of India – 14 October 2009

Shimla November 2009 Issue # 23

Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin Edited by Jeevan Jyoti for free circulation among philatelists

Readers are requested to send reports of philatelic activities in their area for publication. Short write ups by the readers about their journals, societies, publications and philatelic requirements can be sent for inclusion in this bulletin to j.jyoti9@gmail.com or rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com and by post to –

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 Readers,

It is the time, when philatelists all over the country are busy as this is the peak hour for all philatelists in India to prepare their exhibits for the first One frame exhibition STAMPMANIA 2009, going to be held in Vadodara in December. ‘One Frame Exhibits’ class is the most suitable class in India for philatelists . It gives chance to many participants to foster their philatelic talents and skills in presenting a sizeable collection.. This exhibition has given a big opportunity to every class & age group of philatelists to participate in the exhibition. Besides promoting philately in our country, the exhibition will also give a platform to the whole philatelic community to meet at Vadodara . It will give a new direction to Indian Philately. In future Other philatelic Societies would come forward to organize such shows in association with India Post. My best wishes to organizers and all participants. The whole team of Stampmania 2009 needs a big appreciation for its excellent and organized work which is giving necessary information time to time by releasing updates & giving complete information about the exhibition at their website. It is the first time that the participants are receiving necessary information regarding the exhibition very promptly. Let’s all make this show memorable and successful. This is all for this month !...Till next month !....Happy Collecting !!

….Jeevan Jyoti

Contents

Recent Indian Issues

In The News

Interview

Beginners’ Section

Specialized Section

New Issues from Other Countries

The Lighter Side

Blogs & Websites on Philately

Promotional Section

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters

Editor’s Mail Box

Recent Indian Issues

9 Sep Sacred Heart Matriculation Senior Higher Secondary School, Chennai

1 3 Sep Uttam Kumar – Rs 5

14 Sep Sep Holy Cross Church – Rs 5

27 Sep Dushyant Kumar – Rs 5

01 Oct.Rare Fauna of the North East - Red Panda, Marbled Cat, Phayre’s Leaf Monkey - - 3 Stamps of Rs 5 each + MS

06 Oct 2009 Bishop Cotton School, Shimla – Rs 5

10 Oct R.K. Narayan – Rs 5

11 Oct Dr Dinesh Nandini Dalmia

12 Oct India Post Freighter Air Craft - Rs 5

14 Oct Heritage Temples of India – 2 x Rs 5

21 Oct Maharaja Gulab Singh, Stamp – Rs 5

22 Oct Major General Diwan Misri Chand – Rs 5

1 Nov Dr Raj Kumar – Rs 5

New Definitive stamp

2 October 2009 Mahatma Gandhi

Special Cover – Postmark

11 Sep 75 Years of Magen Abraham Synagogue, Ahmedabad

13 Sep Rotary Foundation Seminar, Mumbai

Oct 2: Vadodara, Int'l Day of Non Violence -- Mahatma Gandhi 140th Birth Anniv
Oct 2: Chennai, Int'l Day of Non Violence -- Mahatma Gandhi 140th Birth Anniv

Oct 8: Bangalore World Sight Day

9 Oct: 100 years of Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya, Sakhigopal, Puri.

Oct 11: Mumbai, Kamla High School Centenary

Oct 12 : Lucknow, 2^nd Ahinsapex 2009

Oct 13: Dehradun, Philately Day

Oct 15: Mumbai, National Postal Week

Oct 15 : Bangalore Int. White Cane Safety Day
Oct 20: Calicut, Thikkodi Kadalur Light House

New Stamp Booklet
Stamp Booklet on Gandhi issued on 2 Oct by Baroda Philatelic Society. For details contact : Prashant Pandya email - edesk@prashantpandya.com

In The News

New stamp on Braille

Magyar Posta, the Hungarian postal operator, launched a commemorative stamp last week to mark the 200 years since the birth of Louis Braille. Braille, a blind French man, devised a system using six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two columns of three dots each. Depending on which dots are raised, each rectangle could denote a letter, revolutionizing written communications for the blind. Braille died in Paris of tuberculosis in 1852 at the age of 43. The stamp, in a partnership between the Hungarian Post Co. and the Hungarian National Association for the Blind and visually impaired, was releases on the 15th October.

Braille lost his sight at the age of three in an accident. Despite the difficulties he became an accomplished church organist, and was elected professor of school for the blind. As a student and teacher, he developed the system which found worldwide acceptance and is still in use today although the advent of the talking book also improved access to reading material for the visually impaired.
The first Braille stamp was issued by Brazil in 1974 to commemorate the 5th World Council for the Welfare of the Blind in Sao Paulo. Earlier this year many postal administrations had issued postage stamp on Braille to commemorate 200^th Birth anniversary of Louis Braille.

BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX

The frames are filling up fast for BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX, the international airmail show in Beijing, China. Show dates are November 12-16, 2009.
If you want to exhibit at BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX, we need your application this Saturday. You can enter your exhibit online – this link http://www.ezep.de/aeropex2009/apply.html brings you to the exhibitors page where you can enter your aerophilatelic exhibit or aerophilatelic literature online!

In the meantime, the international jury for BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX has been appointed: Jury president is Stephen Reinhard (USA), the other jury members are Brian L. Asquith (England), Fiorenzo Longhi (Italy), Aranaz Fernando (Spain) and David Lu (China). Lim Sa Bee from Singapore and Giangiacomo Orlandini from England serve on the Expert Team.

It would be a pleasure if you could attend BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX in person, but this is no requirement for exhibitors: Various international commissioners have been appointed and they can take your collection to and from China in case you can not make it to BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX. Get in touch with Dieter Leder at zpj@arcor.de in case you need any help with entering your exhibit or if you have any other questions. But keep in mind, deadline for entering exhibits for BEIJING 2009 AEROPEX is this Saturday, October 10, 2009.
Any updates on the show will be posted here: http://www.ezep.de/aeropex2009/aeropex2009.html

JOBURG 2010 INTERNATIONAL STAMP SHOW

The 26th Asian International Stamp Exhibition, 'JOBURG 2010 International Stamp Show' will be held on October 27 to 31, 2010 at Johannesburg, South Africa.Mr. Madhukar Jhingan mj@stampsofindia.com is the National Commissioner for India. The regulations for JOBURG 2010 and the Exhibit Application form are available online at http://www.stampsofindia.com/other/Joburg%202010%20Individual%20Regulations%20March%202010%20Close.doc and http://www.stampsofindia.com/other/Joburg%202010%20Exhibit%20Application%20Form%20March%202010%20close.xls respectively.

JOBURG 2010 will have all exhibit classes -- Traditional, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Aerophilately, Astrophilately, Maximaphily, Revenue, and Thematic Philately subdivided as: A) Nature, B) Culture, C) Technology, and Youth Philately class subdivided by age as of January 01, 2010:

1) Collectors aged 13 to 15 years,
2) Collectors aged 16 -- 18 years,
3) Collectors aged 19 -- 21 years, and

Literature class subdivided into:

1) Philatelic books, pamphlets and studies (issued after January 01, 2005), 2) Philatelic journals, periodicals (issued after January 01, 2008), 3) Stamp catalogues (issued after January 01, 2008), and

One-Frame Exhibit Class subdivided into: A) Traditional, B) Postal History, C) Postal Stationery, D) Aerophilately, E) Astrophilately, F) Thematic, G) Maximaphily, H) Revenue.
JOBURG 2010 will also have 'Open Class' as an Experimental Class. Exhibits in this Class can include material from any other competition class plus non-philatelic material. The exhibit must contain at least 50% philatelic material. The non-philatelic material should not overwhelm the philatelic material. Awards will be made as per One-Frame Exhibits.
There is no participation fee for Youth Philately Class. The participation fee for other Competitive Classes (except Literature, and One-Frame Exhibit Classes) will be US$35 per frame. The fee for participation in Literature is US$35 per exhibit. The fee for participation in One-Frame Exhibit is US$70 per exhibit.
Those desirous of participating in JOBURG 2010 please go through the Regulations for JOBURG 2010 and send the duly filled Exhibit Application Form along with a copy of the introductory page describing the exhibit to the National Commissioner for India, Mr. Madhukar Jhingan, 49-D, BG-5, Paschim Vihar, New Delhi 110063 by 28 February , 2010. For any assistance in this regard please email or call 0 9350537037.

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. It will be held at Shree Saurashtra Leuva Patel Seva Samaj, Alembic Road, Vadodara. Approximately 450 frames will be displayed in the exhibition. The official website of the exhibition is www.stampmania2009.com . 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

Allotment letters along with Exhibit envelopes and inventory sheet have been sent to all exhibitors by Registered Post. You must have received it or may receive shortly.

American Topical Association, USA has sponsored awards for Stampmania 2009. It can be viewed ‘Awards’ link of website www.stampmania2009.com

Mobile Philately, Jalna, Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur and Exponet Virtual Philatelic Exhibition, Czech Republic has also sponsored awards for Stampmania 2009.

Philatelic Societies and individuals are welcome to donate/sponsor special prizes which will be placed at the disposal of the jury be awarded at their discretion.

During the exhibition a Souvenir containing information and unpublished articles, will be a released. Advertisements in souvenir are welcome. For details contact Mr Prashant Pandya E Mail - info@vadophil.org Ph. 9879571179

Special Postcard on Sardar Patel Jayanti

As a part of ‘STAMPMANIA 2009’ the First National One Frame Philatelic Exhibition being organized by Baroda Philatelic Society, Vadodara from 17th to 20th December 2009 and to celebrate 135th Birth Day of Sardar Patel, Baroda Philatelic Society has released a Special Printed Postcard on 31.10.2009. The postcard has been mailed from Nadiad (Birth Place of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) on 31.10.2009 and delivered at Karamsad (Home Town of Sardar Patel). Self adhesive labels on Sardar Patel & Mahatma Gandhi with motif of Swarnim Gujarat (Glorious 50 Years of Gujarat) were also released on 31.10.2009. The Postcards with extra set of one each label will be available at the cost of Rs. 25 each (plus postage) from Baroda Philatelic Society. Please contact : Prashant Pandya Email info@vadophil.org (M): +919879571179

Recent Stamp Fairs & Exhibitions

Stampex 2009

Pune, Stampex - National Stamps Fair is being hed in Pune from Oct 30 to Nov 1. It has been Organized by International Collectors Society of Rare Items at Sonal Hall, Karve Road, Pune. A large number of philatelists from all over India have gathered to attend this grand show. A multicolor edition of Price Catalogue of Postal Stationery of British India compiled by Pratisad Neurgaonkar was brought out during the Fair. Mr Dhirubhai Mehta, renowned veteran philatelist was honoured with Lifetime Achievement award.

Nov 20-22: Palakkad, Annual Stamp & Coin Exhibition
Venue: Town Hall Annex
Contact: 9847660217, 9446791629

Special Cover released in Puri

A special cover was released on 09.10.2009 to mark the 100 years of Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya, Sakhigopal, Puri. The school(Gurukul) was founded in 1909 at Satyabadi near Sakhigopal, 15 Kilometer from Puri, by five well known social reformers of Orissa, Pandit Gopabandhu Das, Pandit Acharya Harihar, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Pandit Godabarish Mishra and Pandit Krupasindhu Mishra, which were known as Panchasakha. The School was visited by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 and appreciated the pious environment and the dedicated teachers of this Gurukul of Orissa which was later termed as “Man making factory”. The cover depicts the open air classroom of Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya and the Panchasakha. The cancellation depicts the flame. Mr Pradip Mohanty may be contacted for the cover : Ph 09861032965 email oripil@gmail.com

News from Philatelic Societies / Clubs

OPA Cuttack

The Annual General Body Meeting of Orissa Philatelic Association was held on 24/10/2009 at Cuttack. Many Philatelists from all over Orissa gathered and expressed their views regarding promotion of philately in the state as well as in the country. Shri Pradip Mohanty, secretary OPA read out the report and the income expenditure statement was tabled by him in absence of the treasurer. Amendment of constitution was made and executive body members were elected in the meeting. Shri S.C.Dhall was elected as President of OPA. Other office bearers elected are Shri Pradip Mohanty as Secretary, Shri Anup Rout as Vice-President, Shri Shakil Ahmed as Joint Secretary and Shri Himanshu Sekhar Das as Treasurer. Shri Sahadeva Sahoo, Advisor of OPA was present in the meeting.

EIPS, Bhubaneshwar

The Annual General Body Meeting of EIPA will be held on 08.11.2009 at Bhubaneswar. Make it convenient to attend the meeting to discuss regarding holding philatelic Exhibition in January 2010 and other matters. For more details please contact Secretary Ph. 9437162474

Stamp fair in Ludhiana

Ludhiana Philatelic Club is going to organize annual function of BAL MELA and STAMP BAZAAR on 14th November 2009 at Lions Bhawan, Udham Singh Nagar, Ludhinana. The timings of the show will be 9 am to 4 pm. A stamp designing painting competition will be organised during this mela. For further information please contact at +91 90230 84608 [Mukesh Malhotra], +91 98728 51244

A cover drive for Strauss

What do you get when you combine a cricket artist, a top-secret wartime location and a postage stamp? Answer; a rather special piece of cricket memorabilia. To commemorate England Captain Andrew Strauss's benefit year,artist Christina Pierce and Bletchley Park Post Office have created a specially designed envelope and postage stamp. Only 500 of these collector's items will be issued on 30th November, which just happens to be St Andrew's Day.

The commemorative cover and its companion stamp sheet can be previewed on the web site at www.bletchleycovers.com. The cover and stamps can be ordered from the website at www.bletchleycovers.com calling 01908 272690 or by post from Strauss Benefit Cover, Bletchley Park Post Office, The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB.
Terry Mitchell. 01604 781440. Email: terry@ltmp.co.uk

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Interview

From the last issue I started a new series of Interviews with the personalities from the world of Philately.In this series I plan to publish interviews with experts, professionals, renowned philatelists, Beginners, Editors of the philatelic journals and stamp lovers who are associated with each other in one or other way. In fact the philatelic Community cannot survive without co-operation of all so it is very necessary to make all of them closer and know each other. In this issue I present Interview with noted professional philatelist of India Mr Pradip Jain whose name is known to every philatelist in India and also a prominent name abroad in the field of Aero and Gandhi philately. Mr Jain is known for his excellent collection on Indian Airmails and Mahatma Gandhi and is well recognized as an expert in Indian Airmails. I hope the Readers would enjoy reading his interview and send their feedback about this new series. - Editor

Pradip Jain

Mr Pradip Jain hails from Patna and is recognized as an Aerophilatelist in the field of philately and Gandhi Philately specialist world over. Born on 4 March,1953, he nurtured this hobby from the early life and is acknowledged to have the best collection of Indian Airmails. His collection of Indian Airmails was first exhibited at Ameripex -86 , Chicago (USA) where he received his first Large Silver Medal and thereafter, he received several International recognitions from Vermeil to Gold and to five times Large Gold in various World Philatelic Exhibitions, such as , Capex - 96 ( Canada ) , Istanbul - 97 (Turkey ) , Pacific - 97 (USA) , Indepex - 97 ( India ) and Italia - 98 ( Italy). His collection was also nominated for Grand Prix National at Indepex - 97 , Felicitation of Jury at Pacific - 97 and was adjudged for the World's Best Aerophilately Award at Italia - 98 World Stamp Exhibition. Mr. Pradip Jain has represented India as a National Commissioner at Singapore - 95 World Stamp Exhibition and was a member of Philatelic Advisory Committee , Department of Post , Govt. of India for several years .

At present Mr. Pradip Jain is the only sitting member of ‘Expert group from India at AIEP, Association International De Experts Philately ( Europe) on " Indian Airmails ".He has also been awarded the highest State Honour “Bihar Ratan” by his native state Bihar, India on 28^th March. 1991 for his contribution in the field of Philately. His book ‘INDIAN AIRMAILS DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION 1911-1942’ book was released on 30th May 2003 by then President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He was awarded AAMS Gatchell Award for best article in The Airpost Journal Published in 2002. Mr Pradip Jain may be contacted at : Email : philapradip@gmail.com Ph. 9334132162.

Q1 What difference do you find in the trend of stamp collecting of the yesteryears and today?

Ans. There is a vast difference in the trend of stamp collecting of yesteryears and today.Today is the age of computers and internet and the entire globe is connected in seconds through internet. The young generation of today has better communication means like internet and mobiles. They get required information as quickly as they want. So the stamp collecting has become more organized among the collectors. Today the collectors have easy access to post offices/ bureau and stamp dealers abroad and the desired items are within reach of every collector. Another change is in this competitive age every body wants return for their money. So collectors collect not only for pleasure or knowledge but also for investment. They do not want to throw their money in waste basket.

Q2 What themes are most demanded by your customers?

Ans. The most popular theme among my customers in India as well abroad is Mahatma Gandhi whose ideology is now influencing people all over world. UNO has declared his birthday to be observed as International non violence day and also they now issued stamp. Every aspect of his life is being featured through stamps, postal stationeries etc. There is a considerable increase in Gandhi’s collectors. All over, I do recollect my early days when the first International Gandhi exhibition was held at Calcutta from 2nd March 1970 to mark the Gandhi Centenary celebration. This exhibition was well organized and grand success which evoked the interest in Gandhi philately. The Courvoisier Security Printers, Switzerland also sent some of their archival items on Gandhi for display in this exhibition.

Several Nations also issued the stamp on Mahatma Gandhi during the centenary year. Since then the Gandhi Philately started gaining popularity amongst the collector . This year was the beginning of my stamp trade journey. I started dealing with Gandhi on stamp and then bringing out my Gandhi on stamp price list from the year 1972 which still come out on regular basis since over 36 years, which gains the confidence amongst the collector as they find standardization on the pricing and availability of all products under one roof. Thus everyone in India and overseas started branding me Gandhi Philately Brand Ambassador . It gives me now immense pleasure to see the popularity of the same in the top height of the world. The other quite popular subject in demand are Modern India and Thematic Philately which still remain in demand. The thematic philately on various subjects of collectors liking are in much demand now. The other are British India and Indian Airmails also remain in demand world wide.

Q3 What is the role of internet in the business of Stamps ? Do you find the number of Indian collectors have increased after the Internet became popular in India...?

Ans. As said above surely the internet is playing big role in the stamp trade today. Now philatelists have easy access to foreign post offices from where they can get new issues by paying through internet. They are easily connected to foreign stamp dealers & Auction houses and various sites on Philately. There are lot of philatelic items are offered through internet on eBay and like websites and lot of business is being done. Internet has taken place of postal mail writing but has given thrust to organized stamp collecting and I am sure the no. of collectors must have increased in India, but yet I strongly feel more number of Philatelists should grow.

Q4 Being a professional philatelist for the last more than 30 years how do you see the development of philately ...? Whether it has developed in the past years or declining gradually ?

Ans : Since the emergence of computers and internet as main source of information’s and pleasure, definitely the philately has been affected in some or other way. The art of letter writing is diminishing day by day an so physical letter communication. This has also reduced the importance of postage stamps. Still this tiny piece of paper has its own charm in the hearts of stamp collectors and it is developing at constant rate. Countries like Great Britain, Sweden are earning good revenue through sale of stamps. In India we need to work more to popularize among youngsters. The India Post -Philatelic Division and philatelic societies are not doing the required ground work to boost this hobby among the collector, as a result it has not developed as expected.

Q5 You have visited many International Shows . What difference do you find in the shows organized in other countries as compared to the shows held in our country ?

In terms of any International shows organized in our country are not less than overseas countries. The only difference is in the foreign exhibition they work more to attract new and young people to come and join this wonderful world. Their work are well planned well thought and well organized, mainly because of strong tie of understanding and working with the postal services and National Federations / societies which is lacking very much in our country. We need our National Federation more strengthen. The philatelic societies should more actively function on regular basis.

Q6 You have been the member of Philatelic Advisory Committee for a long time, do you think stamps on personalities should be issued in limited number without any political consideration??

Ans : Yes, definitely the no. of stamps on personalities should be restricted per year and those which are issued should be designed with a thematic approach to attract people. On this issue I always raised my strong voice in the PAC.

Q 7 What is the future of philately ?? Today Thematic Class has emerged as the most popular class among participants in the exhibitions whereas Traditional Philately is not taken up by upcoming philatelists, Why ??

Ans : If we work properly to attract young people to collect stamps the future of philately is safe. As day by day the old philatelic items are getting rare and hard to find. Also it is very difficult to preserve the older items. The items related to traditional philately are getting costlier day by day and also they are well researched from philatelic point of view. It is why the upcoming generation is attracting to thematic philately. It is comparatively affordable and more scope for expression of ideology of young generation.

Q8 What is your opinion about One frame Class ? Will it dominate other classes of Philately in the future exhibitions ??

Ans : The one frame class is very much welcome and very well designed by the FIP. As small subjects can also be covered under this class. It is very good step to attract the new collectors to become organized philatelist. It will not affect the other classes of philately because the other classes has their own attractions.

Beginners’ Section

Do You Know ?

- Naresh Agarwal, Bilaspur

HOVERCRAFT MAIL

Hovercrafts are used throughout the world as specialized means of transport. Due to support and cushion of air, hovercraft are unique among forms of ground transportation in their ability to travel equally well over land, ice, and water.

Canada 1967 Hovercraft Mail Cover

GB 1971 Strike Mail Hovercraft Mail 1st souvenir

Hovercraft mail is a wonderful mail carrying system which uses hovercraft for carrying mail. World’s first passenger and Mail Hovercraft started operating on 20th July 1962 between Moreton Wirral and Rhyl,North Wales . It was known as the VA3 ( Saunders-Roe Hovercraft).Pictorial postmarks were applied to mail carried in both directions. The movement of the hovercraft mainly depends upon the weather conditions. Thereafter several experiments have been done and the mail has been transported successfully.

News paper advertisement for the Ist Hovercraft mail. Cover sent by First Hovercraft mail

Specialized Section

Banteay Srei: The Jewel of Khmer Art

© Dr.Satyendra Kumar Agrawal

On my third day in Cambodia, after witnessing the Bayon temples, and temples with huge stone faces in a stranglehold of trees (Rainbow Stamps News October 2009) where stone and wood claps each other in grim hostility, yet all is silent and still, without any visible movement to indicate their struggle – as if they were wrestlers suddenly petrified, struck motionless in the middle of a fight and rounds in this battle were not measured by minutes, but by centuries, I entered the Angkorean “Petra-the Rose City” – Banteay Srei .

The Banteay Srei temple, in particular, has been hailed as the prettiest of all temples on earth, due to its magnificent and deep detailed carvings on pinkish sandstones, which enabled the “technique of sandalwood carving with even an Indian scent to it”. A tapestry like background of foliage covers the walls of the structures in the central group as if a deliberate attempt had been made to leave no space available undecorated. The work relates more closely to the art of the goldsmith than to sculpture in stone. The forms and iconography of the decoration sought to maintain the temple in a permanent state of festival.

It wasn't built by a King as all other temples at Angkor were, but by Yajnavaraha, the Raj Guru (spiritual teacher) of King Jayavarman V, for installation of Linga “Tribhuvanaa Maheshwara” in 967 when Jayavarman V was only a child and was ascended the throne. At that time it was called Tribhuvana Mahesvara and stood in a town called Isvarapura.

“Banteay Srei “(pronounced “Bahn-tay Shree) is the modern name meaning 'Citadel of Women', primarily due to its size which seems miniature as compared to the rest of Angkorian temples and due to intricacy of the bas-relief carvings found on the walls , lintels and pediments. It was one of the first temples to be restored by the French earlier this century, using a process known as anastylosis which was first developed by architect Henri Marchal in 1930s. It marked a particular turning point in restoration of the monuments. The technique employs deconstruction and re-assembling a monument stone by stone.

The temple of “Banteay Srei “was disputed because it was located in the territory granted to Thailand. In 1941 the Japanese served as mediators in negotiations between Thailand and France and it was decided the temple should belong to Cambodia (Indo-China).

One more interesting fact related to this temple is also perhaps the most notorious case of a well planed expedition of looting in the early 20^th C involved Andre Malraux, who was later to become France’s Minister of Culture in the cabinet of Charles de Gaulle. Malraux and his accomplices located “Banteay Srei”, deep in the jungle, and removed large sections from the temple and shipped them to Phnom Penh where his misdeeds were discovered and he was arrested and tried.

The central area of Banteay Srei contains half a dozen buildings, crammed into a small space and on a raised platform. The three central towers, side by side, have intricate male and female figures .It is one of the major characteristics of the shrines at Banteay Srei where the female figures represent female deities, unlike the dancing apsaras common at Angkor Wat and the Bayon. The male figures are temple guards. Each of the male and female figures has its own niche on the three shrines of the temple.

The male figures stand elegantly in a slightly "hipped" stance with their hair set in a cylindrical chignon. They gracefully hold a lotus bud in one hand and their lance in the other. The female devatas, standing similarly, have their torsos naked and play with flowers. Their hair is set in plaits and they are richly adorned. Female figures playing cymbals give rhythm to a female dancer with a large bell dress.

The temple is known for the beauty of its lintels and superimposed pediments (the roughly triangular space above a rectangular doorway or openings below, and take a sweeping gabled shape).

Laksmi is the consort of Vishnu and the goddess of good fortune and abundance from early times. She is also known as Sri and symbolizes prosperity. Laksmi was born of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. She is often depicted on a lotus (her symbol) pedestal and attended by two elephants sprinkling lustral water on her with their trunks. The number of her arms and attributes vary, but they usually include a lotus and a conch.

For the first time in the history of Angkorean structures whole scenes of mythological subject-matter were depicted on the pediments.

The narrative carvings at Banteay Srei illustrate scenes from Indian legend and mythology, including scenes from the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The scenes are divided between those featuring the god Siva and those featuring the god Vishnu under the aspect of one of his avatars (manifestations).

Few important scenes carved on these pediments are “ Fight of Asur (demon) brothers Sund and Upasund for the Apsara Tilottama” , “ Sita -haran (abduction of Sita by Ravan), “Dual of the monkey princes Vali and Sugreeva as well as Rama’s intervention on Sugreeva’s behalf”, “Mahisasur vadh by goddess Durga”, “The lion-man Narsimha clawing the demon Hiranyakasypu”, “Ravan with multiple heads and arms shaking mount Kailash above which Shiva is enthroned” , “Kama the god of love, shooting an arrow at Shiva - close to whom is Parvati, giving him a rosary and trying to disrupt his meditations”, “ Murder of king Kamsa by Krishna- Kamsa-vadh”etc.

Few are also depicted on Cambodian stamps.

The dual of Bhim and Duryodhan

As the epic Battle of Kurukshetra drew to a close and the Pandavas prepared to celebrate their victory, one duel remained to be fought. Duryodhana, a chieftain on the side of the losing Kauravas, was renowned for his skill in fighting with weapons. Years before, he had done the five Pandava brothers a great insult by laughing maliciously as another man attempted to disrobe their wife Draupadi. Now, at the end of the lost battle, alone, wounded and exhausted, he sought temporary shelter at the bottom of a lake. The Pandavas, however, were able to discern his form beneath the surface of the water and from the shore taunted him with allegations of cowardice, so that he had no alternative but to emerge and to defend his honor. Quickly it was arranged that he would fight a duel with Bhima, the most brutish of the Pandava brothers. The pediments depicts beautifully this wrestling between the Pandava Bhima and the Kaurava Duryodhama (Mahabharata) in the presence of oversized Krishna with four arms and his brother, Balarama, armed with a ploughshare.

The burning of Khandava Forest

The god of fire, Agni grew ill on account of the vast amounts of sacrificial butter he was made to consume by an especially devoted practitioner of Vedic sacrifice. Turning to Brahma for a cure, he was instructed to consume Khandava Forest and all of the creatures that lived in it, as a more healthful form of nourishment. Agni went to the forest and attempted to burn it down, but he was thwarted by Indra who doused the flames with rain from the skies. Indra, it turned out, was the friend of Takshak the king of the nagas who happened to call the forest his home, and the sky god was not about to let his friend die a horrible death by immolation. Undeterred, Agni sought and obtained the help of the epic heroes Krishna and Arjun. While Agni surrounded the forest with flames, the heroes positioned themselves at opposite ends of the forest and shot any creature that sought to escape. When Indra attempted to extinguish the fire by causing rain to fall, the heroes fired a dense cloud of arrows that blocked the raindrops from reaching the forest. In the end, all but a few of the creatures in the forest were slaughtered by the heroes and consumed by the gluttonous Agni, who derived much satisfaction from the massacre.

On the pediments the rains, represented by detailed diagonal lines and above them all is Indra, the Sky God, giver of rain, riding atop his three-headed elephant, Erawat (figures of Indra and Erawat are found throughout the intricate workmanship at Banteay Srei).

Below them are Krishna and Arjun on their Chariots with forest animals in panic. Takshat nag is carved in the middle of the scene.

Other pediments portray Vishnuist themes such as 'The Rain of Indra' and 'The Killing of Kamsa'.Two other famous pediments from this monument now can be found at the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh and at the Musé national des Arts asiatiques - Guimet, Paris.

A magnificent sculpture from Banteay Srei, now in the National Museum is the seated image of the Shiva with Uma on his knee (the head of Uma was unfortunately stolen from the museum in the 1970s) is also depicted on a Cambodian stamp.

What is Angkor? Many people who have not been to Angkor think it is only one monument-Angkor Wat. This erroneous idea probably arose because it is the most frequently visited and written about. In fact Angkor consists of a lot of temples. Each king built a state temple to his patron divinity to solidify his symbolic relationship with that of god. Each also constructed at least one temple dedicated to his ancestor to ensure the continuation of the royal line.

The temple buildings which today be considered to be architectural master pieces, were build in a period of 300 years. They show us how important the Hinduism and later the Buddhism have been for the society of Cambodia.

Rules and guidelines for release of a special cover as prescribed by the Department of Posts, Government of India

Compiled by Ajit Kumar Dash,Secretary, Eastern India Philatelists’ Association, Bhubaneswar

CHAPTER-I

Definition of Philatelic Terms

Rule-13. Special Cover: An event which is not important enough to be commemorated by issue of commemorative/special stamp or for which a stamp cannot be accommodated in the annual issue programme may be commemorated by the department by issue of special covers which can be cancelled with a special cancellation at the post office selected for the purpose. Such covers can also be issued at the instance of private parties on payment of requisite charges. These covers should bear minimum postage stamps of any kind equivalent to the minimum inland letter mail rate. Heads of the Circles are the competent authority to sanction special covers commemorating any event/ institutions/ inaugural flight under their jurisdiction.

A. The proponent will provide the following details/material to the Head, of Circle for consideration of the proposal:

i) The proposed date of issue.

ii) Proposed design for the special cover.

iii) Proposed sale price of the cover.

iv) Quantity of covers.

v) Name (s) of the Post Office (s) or/and the venue from where such special covers are to be issued.

B. The Design of the special cover should be restricted to the left half of the cover and should not impinge upon the address portion of the cover. The legend on the cover should mention only the name of the event/occasion being commemorated in Hindi and English.

C. The size of the special cover should be one of the sizes prescribed by the Department for letter envelopes. Postal Guide Inland Services issued by Department of Posts can be referred to by the Circles in this regard.

D. The Design of the special cover should be of secular nature and should be devoid of any nuances which may cause embarrassment to Government.

E. The sale price of the special cover should not exceed Rs. 5/- excluding the cost of the postage stamp to be affixed on the cover. The denomination of the postage stamp should be equivalent to the minimum inland letter mail rate, except in the case of first flight covers between two countries when the denomination should be equivalent to the minimum foreign letter mail.

F. The special covers will be printed by the proponent strictly as per the design approved by the Head of Circle. The proponent will hand over all such covers printed to the office of CPMG/PMG.

G. The Circle office will hand over all the covers to the concerned post office for sale at the venue of release. All the sale proceeds of these special covers at the rate approved by Head of Circle will be given to the proponent by the Circle office along with the balance of unsold special covers.

H. The proponent will supply to the Circle Office at his own cost 10 special covers duly cancelled within 10 days from the date of issue, for record purpose. The Circle Office will forward 5 of these covers to Director (Philately) for keeping them in the National Philatelic Museum. In addition, the proponent will, if necessary, arrange distribution of special covers to the VIPs attending the release function as well as used in the presentation albums at their own cost, as the Department does not organize such functions.

I. Directorate will continue to approve all such proposals for special cover which have a bearing on the diplomatic relations of India with other countries.

J. Every case approved by the Head of Circle would be intimated to the Directorate so that action may be taken to publicize the event for the benefit of philatelists all over the country though News letter/ Website.

K. The special cover may preferably be printed by offset process using maplitho paper of 176 GSM.

L. The proponents will deposit 200 blank covers with the Philatelic Bureau which issues the special cancellation. These will be put up for sale for a period of one month from the date of release, at the price fixed by the Department and the amount realized from sale of such covers will be deposited to government account.

M. The unsold covers would be returned to the proponent after the expiry of one month from the date of release. The Bureau will circulate information regarding the availability of the cover to all the Philatelic Bureaux in advance, preferably two weeks before the date of release.

Rule-16. Cachet: It is a cancellation device which is usually impressed with a hand stamp canceller on a cover to denote the date of the special event on which it was provided e.g. important occasions, personages, inaugural flights or expeditions etc. It can also be impressed with the help of a mechanical device for neat cancellation. The cachets are withdrawn from the philatelic bureau immediately after four weeks of the occasion is over.

The cancellation cachet are procured by the Heads of the Circles and supplied to all the bureaux under his jurisdiction before the date of release. The manufacturing specifications are as under :-

1. Metal to be used: aluminum

2. Process of preparation of blocks- photo chemical.

3. Aluminum block to be fitted with wooden board

4. Size of the handle: length 11cms, excluding the portion to be put into the slot. Diameter -1 inch.

5. Wood to be used for handle: shisham

6. Handle should be fitted to the block with nails of glue in a strong manner so as not to come out while handling.

Rule-17. Pictorial cancellation: These are permanent, regular date cancellations provided at any post office located at a place of tourist attraction. It normally features the major tourist attraction of the place. The Head of Circle is empowered to approve this cancellation.

To be contd…..

New Issues from other countries

Canada

19 Oct 09 Lest we forget

Denmark

27 Oct 09 Winter postage stamps – 4 Val

Israel

26 November - The Yiddish Theatre, 1876, lasi, Joint Issue Israel – Romania

This joint Israel-Romania stamp issue commemorates the establishment of the Yiddish Theatre in Iasi, Romania in 1876 and the accomplishments of the founder of Jewish theatre, Abraham Goldfaden. The stamp features an adapted illustration, based on the original poster for the play Two Kuni Lemls. The First Day Cover features two quotes from the play Two Kuni Lemls, both in the original Yiddish and translated into Hebrew.

Spain

8 Oct 2009 America UPAEP - 0,78 €

The association of countries which make up the UPAEP (the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal) issues every year a stamp with a common theme devoted on this occasion to traditional games. This issue is dedicated to the traditional Baraja espanola (Spanish deck) used in games of chance. The stamp depicts a composition of the four suits of the Spanish classic deck, given by the Museo Fournier de Naipes in Alava.

Switzerland

3 Sep 09 Congratulations – Wedding, Birth, Anniversary 3 Val

20 Nov 09 Christmas – 3 val

29 Nov 09 Olympic and Paralympic Games Vancouver 2010 - CHF 1.30 Alpine Skiing CHF 1.00 Bobsleigh

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.

To,

Smt. Devika Kumar
DDG Philately,
Department of Post
Govt. of India, Dak Bhawan,
Parliament Street,
New Delhi - 110 001

Sub : Non availability of new release Stamps/ Philatelic products.

Ref : 1. 16th Aug. 2009 issues Heritage Railways Stations of India 2v stamp + Miniature Sheet

2. 1st Oct. 2009 Rare Fauna of North East 3v Stamp + Miniature sheet

Dear Devika jee,

With reference to the above we are sorry to inform you that it is getting nearly Two months the Railway stamp and Miniatue sheet not yet available in the Patna Philatelic Bureau and other Bureau's as well. This is quite disappointing situation and bringing bad name to India Post, philately.

It is quite rampant these days non availability of all Philatelic items on the day of issue, when the Philatelist reaches to the Bureau on the day of issue they return highly disappointed. This problem needs to be addressed with top priority.

It is hereby suggested when all the Bureaus have received the stamps, Miniature Sheet and related items then only you announce the date of release to avoid all the confusions.

With regards,

PRADIP JAIN

POST BOX 128,MITHAPUR,PATNA 800 001 (INDIA)PH: 0091-612-2215929 FAX: 0091-612-2238010

Mobile : 0091-93341 32162 E-mail: philapradip@gmail.com

Blogs & Websites on Philately

http://www.stampmania2009.com/ - The website of forthcoming one frame National Philatelic Exhibition

http://www.stampsofindia.com/ – This is the website of India with complete information on Indian stamps.

http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.com/ – This is a new blog on se-tenants stamps of India by Mr. Shrikant Parikh of Ahmedabad.

http://www.vadophil.org/ - Website of Baroda Philatelic Society.

http://prashantpandya.blogspot.com/ - A new Blog in Hindi by Mr. Prashant Pandya of Vadodara. It is the only blog for philately in Hindi and created to have awareness about philately amongst philatelists as well as non philatelists.

http://letstalkstamps.blogspot.com/ – A new Blog created by our member Commodore Vijay Kapre of New Delhi.

http://www.indianstampghar.com/ - A very popular Blog by Nr Vinod Sabharwal of New Delhi.

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://wwwmyfavouritestamps.blogspot.com/ - A blog on my favorite stamps.

http://mbstamps.blogspot.com/ - A Blog by Mr Mansoor B of Mangalore.

New Links & Blogs

http://indianmythology.com/finish/seestory.php?storyID=258
http://indianmythology.com/finish/seestory.php?storyID=251

http://mypicturepostcards.blogspot.com/ - A new Blog “ My Picture Post Cards” created by Comm. Vijay Kapre of New Delhi

http://pradipphila.blogspot.com. – A new Blog 'Pradipphila Art Gallery'- created by Pradeep Kumar Agrawal of Patna

The Lighter Side

Interesting & Unusual Stamps

- Sunder L. Bansal, New York

1. From Canada

The three stamps on the souvenir sheet, issued by Canada on 17 October 2009, feature replays of the historic 500^th goal of Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, and Guy Lafleur, while playing for the Canadians. The souvenir sheet was produced using a highly-specialized process called Motion stamp technology. It is the first time Canada post has produced stamps using this technology. The stamps were printed by Outer Aspect Ltd. of New Zealand, the world leader in Motion stamp technology. (New Zealand has issued in 2004 first stamps of the world using this technology)The back of the souvenir sheet features photographs of the 15 Montreal Canadians players whose jerseys have been retired. Only 375,000 Souvenir Sheets have been printed.

2. From Aland,

Aland issued on 8 May 2009, Europa, on the occasion of International Year of Astronomy. All the 8 stamps show seven stars in the galaxy with holes as stars. The tabs show the constellation stars without holes.

THE LAST POST - Anil Dhir

I saw it through the early morning mist which had swept in from the sea. The old letter box, nestled on the trunk of a middle growth banyan tree. It had a wonderful rusty patina that only comes with years of quiet neglect. The silent sentinel was all but hidden in the shade of the tree near the fishing jetty of Satapada, the small village on the north of Chilika Lake.

I was spending a weekend, photographing the birds and dolphins of the Chilika Lake. Satapada is a little sleepy village on the edge the Lake. This was a chance discovery on an early morning walk to the lake’s edge. A slight drizzle had made me take shelter under the tree and it was providence that had made me see it.

The banyan tree must have not been very old, just about thirty to forty years. The older trees are characterized by their aerial prop roots which grow into thick woody trunks which, with age, can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. There were very few of these on this tree, the ones that were there were all hanging about the trunk, half a dozen strands had covered the rusty letter box.

Was the tree protecting the letter box in a loving embrace or was it strangulating it? Maybe the tree remembered the day when three big nails were driven into its trunk and the red letter box had been put up. However to me it seemed that the tendrils were protecting it, keeping it safe, and holding it in place. The long nail on which the letter box had hung had long since vanished, it had been absorbed by the growing trunk. The Banyan had forgotten and forgiven. In Hinduism the banyan is considered very sacred and is called "Ashwath Vriksha." God Shiva as Dakshinamurthy is depicted sitting in silence under the banyan with sages at his feet. It was the tree under which the Buddha got enlightenment. The banyan tree is the national tree of India. Like the network of India’s postal system, the banyan’s roots and branches too are symbolic of the country’s unity. The Banyan is thought of as perfectly symbolizing eternal life due to its seemingly unending expansion.

The thick canopy was shelter from the rains, which were very frequent in this area. May be in another decade the letter box would be totally engulfed in the tendrils, swallowed by the tree, as if a mother had taken its child back into the womb.

Standing under the tree, looking at the rusty and peeling letter box was like being in a time warp. The tree and the letter box must have such wonderful memories of the days gone by. This was the letter box that everyone knew about in all the adjoining islands. The original estuary of the Chilika, where the vast lake met the sea is a tiny inlet was just about three miles kilometres as the crow, or rather, the white bellied eagle flew. These were rich fishing grounds and many small boats dotted the area. The people of the small islands would give their letters to the boatmen, who often docked their small boats at least once a day at Satapada, either for fresh water or for selling their catch to the fish traders. Many a time, the boatmen just touched base, jumped off the little boats and sprinted to the letter box, posted the letters and then rushed back to catch the ebb tide that would take them home.

There were letter boxes in many of the outlying island too, but the islanders preferred to have their letters sent across and posted at Satapada, as the other mail route was very lengthy. Mail was collected and sent to Parikud and then on to Berhampur via the Palur Junction. Even letters sent to nearby Puri took a week to be delivered if posted on the islands.

The Letter box used to be stuffed full by noon and the peripatetic postmaster (who had long since retired), used to come on his ramshackle bicycle and open the rusty lock. At times, when the letter box was full, he used to find some letters kept at the fork of the tree. At times, finding the box full, the boatmen would walk half a mile to the village and give their letters to the postmaster and tell him to get a bigger box. Many a time the crab seller would call out to anyone passing by to let the postmaster know that the letter box was full. The postmaster too had written quite often for a pillar box, but the Postal Superintendent at Puri had always turned down the request.

The Letter Box was painted red once every year. There were stubs for inserting the clearance indicator tablets which would have told the people of the next clearance, but the tablets had never been used. Once a day, the old postmaster emptied the box and put the letters his sack. He slung the sack on the handlebars of his bicycle and would then go to the jetty for sending the onward mail sack across the lagoon.

In the last two decades, the letter box had seen so much. From a sleepy waterfront, the village had developed into an important tourist destination. The sprawling Panthanivas of the tourism department had come up in the adjoining land. Many buses would come from Puri and bring day trippers who would hire boats to go further from shore where the dolphins frolicked. The fishmongers would set up shop under the tree and sell crabs and prawns.

During the super cyclone of 1999, the lake waters had come up to the tree. Most of the adjoining trees were flattened by the hurricane winds, but this banyan tree stood tall. Perhaps it was spared because of the Letter Box, which was a good luck charm. The early years of this century saw the setting up of Mobile phones towers in Satapada. This forecast the death knell for the letter box. The vastness of the lake and the distance between the small islands made the use of mobile handsets very popular in a short time. Just twenty metres behind the tree was a small market where the advertisements of Aircell, Reliance Mobile and Airtel were boldly displayed.

Gradually, in gentle degrees, the letter box’s importance to the islanders waned. There were fewer and fewer letters, until the day when there were no letters at all. The postmaster would anyhow come every day, as he had to put the mailbags on the ferry which carried the mail across to the islands. He would now open the letter box only once in two days and even then find no letters. In fact if he found any letter, he was quite surprised.

Then one day it happened. The key to the lock was lost. The letter box was never opened again. Maybe it still had a few letters in it. The last clearance must have been about ten years ago, because the present sub post master told me that he had never checked up the letter box.

I had second thoughts on writing this piece. The mandarins at India Post, if they access this story will be quick to issue orders for its removal. Experience has taught me that things move very fast and efficiently from the top to the bottom, not vice versa. In all probability, or should I say certainty, the letter box will not be there when I next go to Satapada, but my earnest request would be to let it be as it is, a silent sentinel, a remembrance of things past, of a glorious era when letters were written and posted. If I would have had my way, I would have erected a small memorial around the tree, and ensure that no harm comes to it. It would be a happy reminder of the romance of posting letters.

In Hinduism the banyan is considered very sacred and is also called the “kalpavirksha”, meaning the wish fulfilling tree. I wish from the core of my heart that the letter box remains where and as it is.

Promotional section

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ITS Stamp News

edited by Suraj Jaitly – The stamp journal dedicated to Thematic Philately For more details Contact: surajjaitly@hotmail.com or indianthematicsociety@gmail.com

INDIAN THEMATIC SOCIETY
MIG # 3464, PHASE TWO, DUGRI ROAD, LUDHIANA - 141 013. INDIA
Mobile: +91 98728 51244 Telfax: + 91 - 161 - 2521244

Mobile Philately………What it is?

Mobile Philately is mobile technology based philatelic community with short messaging service (SMS) that allows the community members to get latest updates related to Indian Philately directly into mobile message box.Type your Name, Mobile Number, City, Pin Code, Email ID & Collecting interest and send a SMS to 09890373344 or you can also email this information to modi.philatelist@gmail.com For More Details Contact: Deepak Narendraji Modi , 1-09-123, Dr.Rajendra Prasad Road, Badi Sadak, JALNA – 431203 (M.S.) OR Log on to www.mobilephilately.webs.com

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: www.stampsofindia.com

October 2009 eZEP-newsletter website www.eZEP.de E-Mail :zpj@arcor.de

Editor’s Mail Box

Vijay Deshpande, Mumbai

I am very pleased to read about the Rainbow Stamp NEWS and the interview of my old friend from Mumbai Dr Hemant Kulkarni of Milwaukee. It is a very interesting one and surely it will be acknowledged by many stamp collectors like me. Heartiest compliments and Keep it up ..

Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad

Nice to go through RSN/Oct. The interview column is interesting.Congratulations once again for a very

informative and picturesque publication.

Rajprit Singh Saluja, Kanpur

Please accept by heartiest congrats for bringing out such colourful and informative issues of Rainbow Stamp NEWS with so much consistency . I hail from the same city from where you also come i.e. Kanpur .I have been an avid reader of your e magazine from the first issue onwards. The interview with Dr .Hemant V. Kulkarni was very refreshing .His views on stamp collection can inspire anyone to take up the hobby with more vigour .I thoroughly enjoyed his views on stamp collecting .Please convey my appreciation to him . The views on Thematic FDC Collection by Shri Praful Thakker was a brilliant idea.

. These useful information in your magazine, make it so different .Try and make it into a fortnightly one .

Dr. Avinash B. Jagtap, Switzerland

Thank you very much for the October 2009 issue of Rainbow Stamp News. The article by Dr. Satyendra Agrawal is wonderful. As he had been to that place he could write up-to-date account on the subject, decorate with stamps and view cards.Also the interview of my friend Dr. Hemant Kulkarni of Milwaukee is nice. It gives an idea how one can enjoy Stamp Collecting as a hobby, without any future "destination" to participate in a stamp exhibition with a "selfish" motive to win a prize, or to speculate about the "treasures" one has. One can collect whatever pleases a person, Art for the Art Sake. It is good for self and also for the society.

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, International Stamp News, ; Shrikant Parikh- Ahmadabad, Prashant Pandya-Vadodara, Mobile Philately – Deepak Modi, Pradip Jain – Patna; Terry Mtchelle; Dieter Leder, Germany; Ajit Dash– Bhubaneshwar; Suraj Jaitly – Ludhiana;Pradip Mohanty – Cuttack; Jigar Desai - Mumbai

Address for communication:

Mrs. Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Kullu (H.P.) PIN 175126 India

E-mail – j.jyoti9@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.

Attention -
Please send limited number of images in compressed jpg format only with your article. Please send text and images separately. Please do not send text or image for publication in PDF.

Till Next Month …..Happy Collecting…………………………………………………………………

Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti, from Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) India.