Centenary of
Lions International
Lions Clubs International is celebrating its Centenary . Lions Clubs International was founded in 1917.In the one hundred years since its foundation, as a result of the goodwill work carried out and the related noble idea, the Lions movement today is active in 206 countries with 46,000 clubs and with approximately 1.4 million members, hence is the world's largest goodwill organisation organized as a club. Lions’ motto is ‘We serve’.
Dehradun July 2017
Vol. X No. 115
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 the editor : j.jyoti9@gmail.com
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 Reader
I am pleased to release
July 2017 issue of Rainbow Stamp News. The new tax policy of the government,
implementation of GST from July 1, 2017 will considerably affect the philatelic
market. It will have a great impact on the sale of stamps and other philatelic
items. Let’s wait and watch the final guidelines by the government regarding
GST. There are different opinions on this issue. Mr Naresh Agrawal has discussed
the issue of GST very well in his column and has shown his apprehension on the hard effects of implementation of GST on philatelic and postal material.. Let’s hope for the best and try to
promote the hobby of stamp collecting in every possible way. Now the time is
due for the next National Stamp Exhibition….Looking forward to the dates
to be scheduled for next National Philatelic Show by India Post !
This is
all for this month ! More in next issue.
Happy
Collecting !
Contents
§
From the Desk of Naresh Agrawal
§
Recent Indian Issues
§
In The News
§
Doon Philatelic Diary
§
Beginners’ Section
§
Specialized Section
§
New Issues from Other Countries
§
Philatelic Clubs and Society
§
Blogs & Websites on Philately
§
Current Philatelic Magazines –
Newsletter
IMPACT OF GST ON PHILATELY
Goods and
Services Tax (GST) certainly has given a big issue to the Indian public for
last few months and I believe by the time this article of mine will come in
front of you, GST might have been implemented in India to give new shape to
Indian economy and so the living of Indian people as it is going to check and
change every aspect of Indian market due to change in tax structure or say
uniformity in tax structure. Though the situation is uncertain and the impact
of GST is still unclear but it is understood that certain commodities will
become costlier where as some will help Indian buyers as will become little
cheaper. But the time will tell all about it..
Being a philatelist,
I can only understand that GST is going to give big impact on philatelic and
postal products such as mint and used stamps, postal stationery, Postal
souvenir products, postal used and mint covers, commemorative covers, post
marks, cancellations, carried covers & old and new postal items.
Several
philatelists said to have written to the ministry for exemption of GST on
philatelic items as philately is a hobby perused by people of all ages and groups.
It is one the most
popular hobby worldwide. Being a highly educational hobby, it is an essential
tool in understanding and studying our rich cultural heritage and history.
Many school children and senior citizens pursue this hobby as some senior
philatelists involve themselves in research and publish their findings through
books and dissertations in philatelic journals. Their researches help us in understanding
and assimilating information on the socio economical anthropological,
historical and political realities of that time on a global level. Thus it
gives people an insight into the attributes of their own country and
the world at large.
One
must note that in past some of the state governments in India such as Haryana and Maharashtra appreciated the need
of philatelists and had exempted VAT in their states. This exemption saw a
great revival and growth in philately in these states particularly Maharashtra.
That resulted in active participation in District and State Levels exhibitions held
thereafter and benefited philatelists in a big way. As a result, for last 4
years philatelists from Maharashtra have won several International and
National accolades, medals and awards making our country proud.
Various philatelists and expert analysts have expressed their worry of the
effect of GST on philately. Mr. Siddarth Bothra,Vice President of the “All
India Philatelists Association” stated
that the government and finance ministry had too much on their plate on
GST but that tax would be a death
blow for stamp collectors”. “Especially where high-value stamps were involved,
all collectors preferred to undergo a transparent process and they would have to pay taxes under GST.
Mr. Dinesh
Kanabar, CEO of tax consultant,advisors and an avid stamp collector quoted
“Under the GST regime, those could be regarded, for example, as unclassified
goods and subjected to a high GST, which could have the effect of significantly
dampening the hobbyists “Under GST, even an exchange is considered a
transaction”, some experts said.
The one effect we have seen due to the proposed GST is that many
auctioneers have put their proposed auctions on hold waiting for the
changes in tax rates. This has given a
set back to the philatelists hunting for unique material. “Philately has
been all along seen as a hobby, which is pursued by all sections of the
society. This also helps to save the country’s history and heritage, and making
this hobby expensive by higher taxes is not fair,” said Rajender Maru of the
Marudhar Arts, an ASI-licensed Bengaluru auction house in the country.
I am also of the
opinion that high taxation on philatelic and postal material will harm the
development of this hobby of stamp collecting. Some of our Indian philatelists
and traders have taken up the issue with ministry and have succeeded too in a
big extent in reducing the proposed
taxes clarifying certain issues. My heartiest thanks to them but at the same
time I shall add that there is still certain issues which either need to be
discussed or redressed to not only
reduce but totally get away from the GST.
It is understood, government now thinks philately as a
high potential revenue generating business and trade which could earn thousands
of crore of rupees as governments of other countries are earning. But it must
not forget that philately is philately
first, close to the heart, a hobby, a passion ….not a trade. Luckily, the hardcore efforts by some
serious philatelists have resulted in reduction of tax slabs for philatelic
items and proper identification of
product code and class of philatelic items. But perhaps they have not succeeded in getting full exemption. However,
tax in any percentage or in any form ,if levied on any of philatelic material
will pave way to kill the beautiful hobby.
Once
again my heartiest thanks to the philatelists who worked hard to interact with
ministry to get the GST on philatelic material
at low percentage. I don’t know the latest achievements in this field
but hope that it would be very low not to harm philately.
Finally
wishing philately to prosper .
-Naresh
Agrawal Ph. 09425530514
Recent Indian Issue
1 May 2017 : Ramanujacharya – Rs 25
13 May 2017 : Champaran Satyagraha Centenary –Rs 5, Rs10, Rs 25 +
MS
5 May 2017 : Telecom Regulatoy Authority of India – Rs 5
19 May 2017 : Hanagal Kumar Swamiji –
Rs 5
31 May 2017 : Eminent Writers – 5 x Rs 10 + MS
18 June 2017 : Jhala Manna – Rs 5
22 June 2017 : Survey of India – Rs15,Rs15 + MS
23 June 2017: 50 Years of Passport Act 1967
28 June 2017 : Banaras Hindu University – Se-teant pair – Rs 5+ Rs15
28 June 2017 : Banaras Hindu University – Se-teant pair – Rs 5+ Rs15
29 June 2017 : Shrimad Rajchandraji - Rs 5
Recent Special Covers
1
June 2017 : World Milk Day – Davanagere
5 June 2017 : World Environment Day – Covers
issued at different cities with same design.Vishakhapatnam cover shown below
bears the green cancellation
Forests and water
nourish all forms of life. Forests bring rain and ensure sustained availability
of fresh water. Karnataka Forest Department celebrates year 2017 as
"Forests for Water" year with public participation. The important
initiatives include Vanamahotsava, conservation of watersheds and volunteer
involvement.
On the occasion of World
Environment Day, two special covers were released on 5th June 2017 at
Bangalore.
In The News
Spare us from steepest slab of 28% under GST says Stamp
collectors to Arun Jaitley
MUMBAI: Stamp collectors have written to
finance minister Arun Jaitley asking him to spare their hobby from the steepest
slab of 28% under the goods and services tax (GST), which is expected to be
rolled out on July 1. The fear is that collectibles such as stamps, coins,
paintings and antique items may be treated as ’unclassified goods’ and hence
face the highest GST rate.
"We are aware that the government and the
finance minister have too much on their plate on GST but a tax would be a death
blow for stamp or coin collectors," said Siddharth Bothra, Vice President
of the All India Philatelists’ Association. "Especially where high-value
stamps are involved, all collectors prefer to undergo a transparent process and
they will have to pay taxes under GST
." In April, a 1948 stamp bearing the
likeness of Mahatma Gandhi was sold for Rs 4 crore. That price would escalate
by about Rs 1 crore if the worst fears of collectors are realised.
"The issue of applicable rate of GST to
transactions is assuming significant importance, like potentially a transaction
of dealing in items which are hobbies, like philately and coin
collection," said Dinesh Kanabar, CEO of tax consultant Dhruva Advisors
and an avid stamp collector. "Under the GST regime, these could be
regarded, for example, as unclassified goods and subjected to a high GST, which
could have the effect of significantly dampening the hobbyists."
Under GST, even an exchange is considered a
transaction, experts said. However, determining the value of such a transaction
may be difficult as the object may well be unique and hence there will be no
benchmark for comparison.
"Not just buying or selling of stamps or
coins but even exchanging those by an individual or a gallery would come under
GST’s gamut," said Sachin Menon, partner and head, indirect tax, KPMG in
India. "However, this can be implemented only if one of those individuals
involved is registered and conducting these exchanges or buying, selling
openly, and may not be effective in the grey market ."
The government has still not unveiled product
categorisation, or what fits into which slab. Since categorising collectibles
can be tough, they could face the highest tax after being clubbed under
unclassified goods.
A tax official based in Mumbai said there could
even be taxes on paintings under GST but the problem is that many people buy
paintings partially in cash, he said. Some, however, see a silver lining.
"While GST at around 28% could apply on
many transactions, whether exchange or purchase of paintings, stamps, coins or
other antiques, there is a chance that under the new tax regime, this would be
more transparent," said MS Mani, Senior, director, Deloitte Haskins &
Sells.
"Mainly because the buyer may be able to
get the tax credit --provided the buyer uses these for his business or is
directly engaged in these businesses -- and hence effectively the acquisition
cost of the antique could become lesser."
Currently, most paintings, stamps and coins
escape taxation if both buyer and seller are individuals at an auction.
However, many buyers, especially of paintings,
deal outside the income tax net, or through their family offices or companies
to escape taxes, said experts. Even when galleries conduct sales, they escape
taxes most of the time and value-added tax (VAT) is applicable only in a few
situations. So, if a private Indian collector were to buy Saurashtra by SH Raza
after July 1 it could cost more than Rs 20 crore instead of Rs 16 crore, a
record at a Christie’s auction in 2010, appreciation notwithstanding.
Read more at: http://gstblog.i-tax.in/Single-News/spare-us-from-steepest-slab-of-28-under-gst-says-stamp-collectors-to-arun-jaitley
Read more at: http://gstblog.i-tax.in/Single-News/spare-us-from-steepest-slab-of-28-under-gst-says-stamp-collectors-to-arun-jaitley
GST impact:
Auction of coins, stamps on hold
- - Sharath
S. Srivatsa BENGALURU, MAY 23, 2017
Higher
tax rate forces auctioneers to wait and watch at least till August; Indian
Numismatic Association seeks exemption for antique coins
Keen
numismatists and philatelists scouting for rare coins and philately materials
through auctions in the country may have a long wait. For, the Archaeological
Survey of India (ASI)-licensed auction houses have put on hold their auctions
at least till August.
Higher
GST rates imposed on antique coins and philately, and also on the commission
charged for auctions, have forced auctioneers to wait for the GST rollout
before deciding on future dates.
While
Bengaluru saw its last auction in February this year, the next auction will not
be held before August. Similarly, other auction houses, mostly in Mumbai, have
put on hold their auctions indefinitely, industry sources confirmed. There are
six ASI-licensed auction houses in the country that are authorised to auction
rare coins.
“Philately
and numismatics have been all along seen as a hobby, which is pursued by all
sections of the society. These also help save the country’s history and
heritage, and making these hobbies expensive by higher taxes is not fair,” said
Rajender Maru of the Marudhar Arts, an ASI-licensed Bengaluru auction house in
the country. “We (auction houses) have decided to wait and watch before we
decide to hold auctions. In the proposed GST rate, we do not see many
participating anyway,” he said.
Mr.
Maru said that since he conducted his last auctions in February, he wants to
wait till at least August before deciding on the next auction. “Auctions had
been put on hold because of lack of clarity on tax rate. There was a rumour
that coins and stamps would fall in ‘other’ category that would attract 28%
tax. However, now the category has been defined as numismatics and philately
chargeable at the rate of 12%.”
20
physical auctions
On
an average, sources said about 20 physical auctions and 12 online auctions are
held in the country in a year that attract several thousands of keen bidders,
and the numbers have been growing. In the recent years, collection of antique
coins is also considered as part of investment portfolio as many rare coins
have given good returns in about five years period, sources said.
The
oldest coin in India is about 2,600 years old belonging to Gandhara Janapada
(kingdom), currently in Afghanistan that was part of larger India then. While
the export of antique coins are banned under the Antiquities and Art Treasures
Act, 1972, it can be only traded within the country.
Meanwhile,
the Indian Numismatic Association has also sought exemption from GST on antique
coins that are traded, and had even sought exclusion of coins from the
definition of goods.
While
numismatics as a hobby helps in preservation of heritage and cultural wealth of
the country, the association had also pointed out at the negligible
contribution coming from numismatic trade to the treasury.
“With
the increase in rate, the market for numismatic will be drastically curbed as
collectors would not like to invest in numismatic coins,” it said, adding that
there is a need to accord special treatment.
“As
it is, the market for antique coins and philately has been down by at least 25%
due to changes in rules and also the effect of demonetisation. A higher tax
would keep away hobbyists from making purchases,” sources said.
Commission
On
the possibility to reduce the auction house commission to attract buyers,
sources said that the auction houses were already running on thin margins, and
any reduction would leave them in dire straits. Buying set to get dearer.
Lauding Malaysia for Hindu temple
postal stamp, Hindus urge other countries to follow
Hindus have commended Pos
Malaysia Berhad for featuring Kuil Sri Kandaswamy Hindu temple of Brickfields
area of Kuala Lumpur on a postal stamp.
This 60 sen (cents) stamp
shows the majestic Sri Kandaswamy Temple, which was inaugurated in 1902. This
Temple features huge golden Kodimaram, Vasantha Mandapam, Yagasalai Peedam,
sacred pond Skandapuspakarani, sacred Kadambam tree, etc.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed,
in a statement in Nevada today, pointed out that Hinduism was very rich in
architecture and design and its architectural texts went back to pre-BCE Sulvasutra, which dealt with the
geometric layout of altars. Visvakarman was regarded as the universal
architect/builder who presided over Sthapatyaveda, Hindu treatise on
architecture. Ancient Silpasastras gave direction on the
symbolic meaning and ritual significance of the buildings.
Rajan Zed, who is
President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that as most of the
countries now housed traditionally designed Hindu temples where area Hindus
regularly worshipped, postal services of these countries should step forward
and issue postal stamps depicting these temples. Besides honoring these places
of worship, these stamps on Hindu temples would also raise awareness of their
citizens about Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world with
about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought.
Sri Kandaswamy Kovil,
which opens daily at 05-30 am, performs various services, including “1008
Sangga Abishegam” for RM 1981. K. Aruljothi is the President and Parameswara
Kurukkal is the Chief Priest.
Pos Malaysia Berhad is the
postal delivery service in Malaysia whose history goes back to early 1800s.
Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh is the CEO.
Belarus – India Joint Issue
In October
2017 A joint stamp Issue between Belarus and India is scheduled to be issued.
Best
Europa stamp 2017 - Public Prize
Europe
After a year without public prize for the Best Europa stamp, the on-line
competition is back. You can vote till the 9th of September 2017 for your
favorite Europa stamp 2017 ! For Voting please visit the following link :
Recent Stamp Exhibitions
BRASILIA -2017
Brasilia-2017 is a
Specialized World Stamp Exhibition. The Exhibition will open on 24 October
2017 and close on 29 October 2017. Mr Ajay Kumar Mittal is the
National Commissioner. email : ajaymittal1957@gmail.com
BANDUNG
2017
BANDUNG 2017 - Specialised
WORLD STAMP EXHIBITION, 3-7 Aug 2017 Exhibition under FIP PatronageShri
Sahdeva Sahoo is National Commissioner for this exhibition. emails : sahadevasahoo@gmail.com &
sahadevas@yahoo.com Phones +91 9337103542
+91 674 2432251 (LL)
+91 674 2432251 (LL)
News from Philatelic Societies
German Philatelic Collector Group ArGe
Zoologie
New postmark from Germany
on “ Stamps on Stamps”
On July 30th 2017 a new
pictorial postmark in 34369 HOFGEISMAR will be available.
The pictorial postmark is featuring two stamps (the stamp
featuring the Inverted Jenny from USA and the first Canadian stamp from 1849
featuring an American beaver).
The postmark honors the 40th Anniversary of the German Philatelic
Study Group USA/CANADA and her Meeting in Hofgeismar during the philatelic
exhibition MAERCHENPOSTA. Hofgeismar is located in the rural Region of the German
County Hessen with a section of US/Candadian Philately
-Wolfgang Beyer, Vice Chairman of the German
Philatelic Collector Group ArGe Zoologie
Karnataka Philatelic Society
KARPHILEX-2017 State Level Stamp Exhibition
Organised by Karnataka Philatelic Society
Dates
: 14,15,16 July, 2017
Venue
:
Rajarajeshwari
Kalyana Mantapa 2nd Block, Dr Rajkumar
Road, 80 Feet Road, Rajajinagar, Bangalore – 560010
Enquiries/Details:
Contact
K.Chaitanya Dev- +919900196728
Mr
Mani Muthu Krishnan - +918904003936
Mr
Nikhilesh Melkote - +917760995362
Doon
Philatelic Diary
250 years of Survey of India
- Abhai Mishra
Survey
of India is one of the oldest Engineering departments of Government of India.
It was established in 1767 at Calcutta with the appointment of Major James
Rennell as Surveyor General of Bengal by Lord Clive. Rennell primarily focussed
in surveying the areas of Bihar and Bengal. Though the maps were not very
accurate but they sufficed to meet the needs of that time. The contribution of
Michael Topping is worth mentioning as he was the first to use triangulation
for surveying 300 mile along the coast from Madras to Palk Strait. In 1793 he
established the first astronomical observatory in Madras and subsequently first
surveying school in 1794. The Presidencies of Bombay and Madras had their own
Surveyors General in 1796 and 1810 respectively. In 1815 Col. Colvin Mackenzie
was appointed as the first Surveyor General of India and the post of Surveyor
General of Bengal, Bombay & Madras was abolished. Even before the Ordnance
Survey of UK, it was in India that systematic survey was established.
One
of the herculean task ever undertaken by any agency in the world was the Great
Trigonometric Survey started by the SOI under William Lambton. Lambton started
the GTS work from Madras in 1802 when he measured the baseline at St. Thomas
Mount and started his triangulation. He was accredited for measuring the
longest geodetic arc closest to the equator. In 1818 George Everest joined
Lambton, and after the death of latter in 1823 he was made in charge. In 1830 he was appointed as the Surveyor
General of India. He completed the Great Meridional Arc in 1841 and it is
really surprising that Everest spheroid is still being used by Asian countries.
It
was in Dehra Dun that the GTS culminated. Besides
the great arc series, extending from Cape Comorin to Dehra Dun, there are two
longitudinal series, the one extending from Cachar, in Assam, to Peshawar, and
the other from Calcutta to Karanchi: between these are numerous series of
triangles, those to the east of the great arc being at distances of about one
degree, or 60 miles apart, taking meridional directions, thus forming what is
called a gridiron system, similar to that adopted in the French and Russian surveys.
Radhanath Sikdar, the Chief Computer at the Dehra Dun Survey of India
Office, calculated the height of Peak XV as highest in the world which was
later named as Mount Everest. The period of 1865 to 1885 is dedicated to the
Indian explorers who surveyed the forbidden land of Tibet, Mongolia and Central
Tibet. As the British surveyors were not allowed in the above mentioned
territories, Major Montgomerie trained Indian explorers to survey these regions
clandestinely. The most celebrated Indian explorers were Pundit Nain Singh, Kishan Singh, Kalian Singh, Hari Ram,
Lala, Nem Singh, Kinthup, Rinzin Namgyal and Ugyen Gyatso. In
1854 the SOI printed the first postage stamps of India. The headquarter of SOI
was shifted to Delhi in 1911 and then to Dehra Dun in 1916.
During
the Second World War a new map factory was established at Hathibarkala, Dehra
Dun with modern printing machines to meet the ever increasing demand of maps
for military operation. In 1982 satellite geodesy was introduced and this
increased the accuracy and resolutions of the maps. With the advent of Digital
Cartography, the maps were digitized. This year SOI is celebrating its 250
years and its contribution to the National progress in unparalleled.
Beginners’ Section
Top
Extraordinary stamps of 2016
Glowing
Stamp from Russia
This souvenir celebrates The 175th Birth Anniversary of
Arkhip Kuindzhi (1841-1910) .Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi (1841-1910) was a
Russian painter, landscape artist. The souvenir sheet of this great Russian
artist glows in the UV radiation because of the special transparent ink used in
this stamp to create the picture of the painter.The painter’s artistic
intention was to create real moonlight and space depth. In the artist’ s
opinion, Night on the Dnieper river became
the mail painting of his life. The painting depicted on this original souvenir
sheet by Russian Post demonstrates
harmony and tranquility, as well as
simplicity of patterns. The moon shines in the night sky, painting the the
clouds in the cold light. The moonlight can be seen fluctuate in the waters of Dnieper.
Do
you know ?
DISIGNER’S DAUGHTER NAME FOUND HIDDEN IN USA STAMPS
In 1989, the US Postal
Service commissioned Al Hirschfeld, the cartoonist for the New York Times and
also the Greatest American Caricaturist of this century to do a Series of 26
Sketches of Great Personalities from the World of Entertainment. In 1994 series of 10
stamps featuring caricatures of Actors and Actresses of the Silent Screen, he
incorporated his daughters name NINA secretly as design somewhere in the stamps
depicting Rudolph Valentino, Clara Bow, Charlie Chaplin, Zasu Pitts and Theda
Bara.
In Memory of Dr Satyendra Agrawal….
I found an old letter of Dr. Satyendra Kumar
Agarwal. Beautiful letterhead, excellent handwriting and also reference of
RAINBOW STAMP NEWS . Just sharing here in his sweet remembrance.
- Sudhir Jain, Satna
(MP)
In
great philatelic memory of Dr Satyendra Kumar Agrawal, I am re-publishing some
of his best articles every month this year. Those who were closely associated
with Dr Agrawal may also share their memories
in this column.- Editor
© Dr.Satyendra Kumar Agrawal
Illustrated
INTIMATION CARDS
Similar to Proof of Delivery cards,Speed Post
Business Office at Mangalore introduced multi-colored illustrated Intimation
Cards dropped by the Postman for the
purpose of informing the arrival of Speed Post article if the addresseeis not
available at the address.
Intimation Card
Not issued in large numbers these Intimation
Cards also depicted Flora-Fauna, local traditions and cultural heritage of
Karnataka.
Flying Bird
Buffalo
Race
Coastal Karnataka has a long historical and cultural
tradition. Situated on the West Coast,
it has attracted many foreign traders from Europe, the Middle East and even
Israel for centuries. Mangalore was
under Portuguese for some time and later under Tippu Sulthan until the British
defeated him. The stamp of various
cultures is evident along this coast.
There has since been a dilution in the original culture over the years.
However, in the villages a rich local culture
aligned to religion and the temple is still very evident.
The Buffalo Race is one of the oldest sports
in KAMBALA region. This event is the
highlight of a major festival organized by the villagers. It takes place on a muddy track adjoining a
rice fieldusually on Sundays in winter season.
Traditional Buffalo Race in Paddy Puddle
Thousand
Pillars temple at Moodbidri
Moodbidri is a small town about 37 km
northeast of Mangalore, in Karnataka, known as the 'Jain Kashi' of South India.
It is an ancient center of Jain
religion, culture, art and architecture during 14th - 16th centuries.Jains from
all parts of India come here to worship in the famous 18 Jaina basadis that are
dedicated to the memory of the Tirthankars.
Moodbidri houses 18 Jain temples (basadis).
The oldest of them is the 15th century Chandranatha Basadi, which is also known
as the 1000 (Thousand) Pillars temple or 'Savira Kambada basadi'.
It is a large granite temple built in 1430
A.D. during the regime of Vijayanagar king Devarai II. Lower portion of this
temple is built with stone consisting one thousand pillars and upper portion
with wood, an excellent work of art dedicated to Tirthankar Chandra
Prabhuji.The main entrance of the thousand pillar temple, which faces the east,
opens onto a wonderful 15 meter tall monolithic pillar called Mahastamba in
front of the doorway.
The 2.5 meter tall bronze idol of Lord
Chandranatha Swami in the sanctum hall is considered to be very sacred. The
pillars of this basadi are decorated with carvings typical of Vijayanagarstyle.
The temple pillars have been beautifully
constructed with the help of engravings or hippogryphs. Hippogryphs are the
carvings of the charging horses. These sculpted horses are often seven to eight
feet tall. There are certain pillars too that do not have such horse
engravings. These pillars have been adorned with characters that appear in the
Indian mythology. The outer walls of the shrine and court depict scenes from
the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. There are sculptures on the pillars in
the halls, in the panels between the plinth and the cornice moldings of the
basement. The gopurams of some of the temples have intricately carved
sculpture.
The 'mandapas' are decorated with sculpted
miniature elephants.Such features of Vijayanagar sculptures render a fantastic
look to the temples.
Thousand Pillars temple (Front)
Thousand Pillars temple (Reverse)
Illustrated PODs and ICs are only issued by
Speed Post Business Office at Mangalore havingpictures of local culture,
tradition and historical places etc.
depicted on one face of these cards are not in large number.
Mangalore also issued a new Intimation card has the advertisement of the
various services provided by India Post.
Advertising Intimation Card
Recently the intimation card and POD has lost its
importance as tracking facility is available through internet and intimation is
made through phone, SMS etc.
Speed Post-movement-status on Internet
IMP : In Ist part
of this article published in August 2015, a mistake is pointed out by Sudhir
Jain ji of Satna, MP – Instead of “Gommateshwara” Proof of delivery card depicts RATNAGIRI
BAHUBALI OF DHARMSTHALA. Height is 39 feet and situated at Dharmsthala,
District South Kannada, Karnataka. It was established by Dr. VeerendraHeggade
of Dharmasthala in the year 1982.Thanks to him and also for images of
Intimation Cards.
US
Two Cent Red Sesquicentennial issues of 1926–1932
-Col J Dutta & Dr Anjali Dutta
In 1926, Philadelphia
hosted the Sesquicentennial International Exposition, a world fair to
commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence.
Sesquicentennial International Exposition logo
Although it opened to
great fanfare, the exposition failed to attract enough visitors to cover its
costs. The fair organization went into
receivership in 1927 and its assets were sold at auction. The idea to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of
Independence by holding a world’s fair originated in 1916 with John Wanamaker
(1838-1922), owner of Wanamaker’s department stores and lone survivor of the
1876 Centennial Exposition’s Finance Committee, who called upon Philadelphia to
host an industrial and commercial exposition that would fittingly mark the
birth of the United States. World War I
temporarily delayed planning, but in 1920, Mayor
J. Hampton Moore (1864-1950) and a group of leading citizens took up the effort. They formed the Sesquicentennial Exhibition Association (SCEA) in 1921. The fair opened on May 31, 1926 and ran through till November 30, in South Philadelphia between the Naval Yard and Packer Avenue and between Tenth and Twenty-Third Streets. Secretary of Commerce Hoover and Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg participated in the opening ceremonies with Mayor Kendrick. For early fair goers, though open the fair was not quite finished. Several buildings remained under construction until late July, nearly two months into a six-month event.
J. Hampton Moore (1864-1950) and a group of leading citizens took up the effort. They formed the Sesquicentennial Exhibition Association (SCEA) in 1921. The fair opened on May 31, 1926 and ran through till November 30, in South Philadelphia between the Naval Yard and Packer Avenue and between Tenth and Twenty-Third Streets. Secretary of Commerce Hoover and Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg participated in the opening ceremonies with Mayor Kendrick. For early fair goers, though open the fair was not quite finished. Several buildings remained under construction until late July, nearly two months into a six-month event.
During this period (1926-1932), the U.S. Post Office issued
more than a dozen 'Two Cent Reds' commemorating the 150th
anniversaries of Battles and Events that occurred during the American Revolution. The first among these was the Liberty Bell 150th
Anniversary Issue, in 1926 − designed by Clair Aubrey Huston, and
engraved by
J. Eissler & E. M. Hall, two of America's most renowned master engravers.
J. Eissler & E. M. Hall, two of America's most renowned master engravers.
The 'Two Cent Reds'
were among the last stamps used to carry a letter for 2 cents, the rate
changing to 3 cents on July 6, 1932. This rate remained the same for 26 years
until it finally changed to 4 cents in 1958.
The Liberty Bell stamp was issued to commemorate the 1926 Sesquicentennial Expo, which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 50th anniversary of the 1876 Centennial Exposition. It depicts the bell the organizers constructed, an 80-foot replica of the Exposition's symbol, the Liberty Bell, covered in 26,000 light bulbs, at the gateway to the festival on Broad Street.
80-foot replica of the Exposition's
symbol, the Liberty Bell, covered in 26,000 light bulbs, at the gateway to the festival.
Sesqui-Centennial Stadium (later known as Philadelphia Municipal Stadium and,
after 1964, John F. Kennedy Stadium) was built in
conjunction with the fair.
1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition embossed stamp from the issued envelope
mint and used
Two Cent Red
Sesquicentennial issues of 1926–1932
Battle of White Plains
This
red 2-cent stamp commemorated the Battle of White Plains, New York, which
occurred on October 28, 1777. The stamp was issued on October 18, 1926. Its design was inspired by E.L. Ward's
painting 'Alexander Hamilton's Battery'.
It commemorates the Battle of White Plains, a Revolutionary War battle
fought on October 28, 1776. The design
honors Alexander Hamilton, an outstanding artillery commander, and his men. The
artwork shows a four-man Continental gun crew with cannon and ammunition. The stamp was also issued in sheets of
twenty-five inscribed in the selvage for the International Philatelic
Exhibition in New York (USA Scott 630). These souvenir sheets were actually
printed on site at the exhibition on a flat plate press set up for the
occasion.
Vermont Sesquicentennial
The
red 2-cent Vermont Sesquicentennial stamp, issued on August 3, 1927, celebrated
the 150th anniversaries of the Battle of Bennington (August 16, 1777) and the
independence of Vermont. The British
General John Burgoyne's forces were turned back at Bennington by a contingent
of Green Mountain Boys. The stamp
depicts a Green Mountain Boy dressed in buckskin and leaning on his rifle. Vermont was not one of the thirteen original
states. It was actually an independent
entity at the time
Burgoyne's
surrender at Saratoga
First Day of Issue: August 3, 1927. British General Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga is
often noted as the turning point of the American Revolutionary War. The moment is commemorated on a stamp also
inscribed Oriskany, a central New York village that was the site of one of the
bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War, setting in motion events leading to
the surrender. Called the
“Burgoyne Campaign,” it commemorates several different events. In fact, General John Burgoyne isn’t the
central character in the stamp and it wasn’t originally intended to honor him,
as he was a British general fighting against America. The stamp pictures
Burgoyne (left of center) handing his sword to General Horatio Gates of the
Continental Army. The stamp image is
based on John Trumbull’s 1821 painting “Surrender of General Burgoyne.”
Valley Forge – George
Washington at prayer
Issue Date: May
26, 1928. From December 19, 1777 to June
19, 1778, the Continental Army, under the command of General George Washington,
camped at Valley Forge. Valley Forge is located about 25 miles west of
Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. Washington chose to camp at Valley
Forge due to its defendable location and proximity to farm supplies and trade
routes. The shared hardships toughened the American army and solidified its
determination. The recently defeated, undisciplined troops that entered Valley
Forge in December emerged a highly skilled fighting force in June.
An Artillery wife, Mary Hays McCauly (better known as Molly
Pitcher) exhibited legendary heroism bringing water to the troops and tending
to the wounded at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778. In 1928
she was honored on the first United States commemorative overprint when the
words "Molly Pitcher" were overprinted on a standard 2 cent George
Washington stamp from the 1926-31 series.
George Rogers Clark Leads the Capture
of Vincennes
Issue Date: February
25, 1929. Around 1732, the French built
a settlement on the Wabash River. This
waterfront trading post, named Vincennes, was the first permanent European
settlement in Indiana. It was named
after its founder, the Sieur de Vincennes.
The British gained control of Vincennes in 1763, after the French and
Indian War. Frontiersman and soldier
George Rogers Clark (1752-1818) was living in Kentucky at this time, then part
of Virginia. However, Virginia refused
to send military aid to the Kentuckians when Indians, with British military
supplies, began staging raids in the area.
Clark told Virginia officials, “If a country is not worth protecting, it
is not worth claiming.” This argument
worked, and the officials sent valuable supplies of gunpowder to Clark in
Kentucky. In 1777, during the
Revolutionary War, the British built Fort Sackville at Vincennes. In 1778, Clark took Fort Sackville, and with
it, Vincennes. The British were soon
able to recapture the fort, but Clark again attacked and forced them to
surrender. Clark’s victory at Vincennes
and other settlements were key to the US claim of ownership of the vast
Northwest Territory at the end of the Revolutionary War.
The Wizard of Menlo Park – Thomas Alva
Edison
First Day of Issue: June 11, 1929.
Inventor of the phonograph and founder of General Electric, Thomas A.
Edison was honored on a stamp in 1929. There are three collectible varieties of
this issue as it was printed using both rotary and flat plate techniques, and
was the first commemorative stamp to be issued in coil format. This stamp was issued to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the first incandescent electric light. Because of the Post Office policy never to
portray a living person on a United States stamp, Edison's picture could not be
shown on the stamp that honored him. It
was the third stamp issued with this design that was produced for use in
vending machines. Edison’s first patents
were for improvements in telegraph technology.
After selling these patents for a substantial amount of money, a 23-year-old
Edison bought his first workshop in Newark, New Jersey. He made improvements to
the design of the typewriter there in 1874.
Before Edison’s improvements, people had been able to write faster by
hand than by typing. While working in a
workshop in Menlo Park, New Jersey from 1876 to 1887 Edison created the first
practical electric light on October 19, 1879.
People all over the world quickly learned of this astounding
accomplishment and the “Wizard of Menlo Park.”
Issue Date: June
17, 1929. John Sullivan (1740-1795) was born in Somersworth,
New Hampshire, and practiced law in Durham.
Although closely aligned with New Hampshire’s British governor as a
young lawyer, Sullivan joined the fight for American Independence in the early
1770s. Sullivan served as New
Hampshire’s delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, rose to
the rank of major general in the Continental Army, and took part in several
prominent battles during the War of Independence. Sullivan led a controversial expedition
against the Iroquois confederacy in 1779.
His force of 4,500 troops sought to eliminate England’s close allies by
destroying their food supply. The
Sullivan Expedition destroyed villages and crops across a broad swath of
Pennsylvania and New York. Criticized
for the brutality of the campaign, Sullivan resigned his commission in
1779. The citizens of New Hampshire
considered Sullivan a hero and he served as the state’s attorney general,
speaker of the house, and governor before being appointed the first judge of
the Federal District Court in 1789
The Battle of Fallen Timbers
Issue Date: September
14, 1929. The United States gained title to the massive Northwest Territory
from the British during the Revolutionary War.
However, hostile Indians, supplied and encouraged by the British, almost
prevented white settlement. President
George Washington sent military expeditions against the Indians in 1790 and
1791, but they met with defeat till he appointed Anthony Wayne (1745-1796) as
head of the US Army in 1792. This
brilliant tactician had earned the name “Mad Anthony” Wayne through his acts of
reckless courage during the Revolutionary War.
On August 20, 1794, Wayne’s forces defeated a large army of Indians at
the Battle of Fallen Timbers, near present-day Toledo, Ohio. In 1795, Wayne forced the Indians to sign the
Treaty of Greenville. This treaty made
the Northwest Territory, which included all of Indiana, available for American
settlement.
Ohio River Canalization
Issue Date: October
19, 1929. In 1929, the Corps of
Engineers completed the Ohio River Canalization. The project began in 1875 in
an effort to tame the turbulent waters of the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio
rivers. Utilizing a system of dams and
locks, the Ohio River Canalization turned the unruly rivers into a 967-mile
chain of waterways that stretches from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo,
Illinois
The
United States issued four commemorative stamps in 1930. The Massachusetts Bay Colony Issue
celebrated the 300th anniversary of the founding of the colony and shows the
colony seal. The Carolina-Charleston
Issue celebrates the 250th anniversary of the founding of Charleston, South
Carolina and shows Governor Joseph West standing beside a Kiawah Indian. The Braddock's Field Issue celebrates the
anniversary of 1775 Battle of Braddock's Field and shows George Washington as a
colonel in the British army. Friedrich
Wilhelm von Steuben, featured on the final stamp of 1930, was a
German-Prussian army officer who served under George Washington during the
American Revolutionary War and is credited with teaching the Continental Army
the essentials of military drill and discipline.
The Massachusetts Bay
Colony
This
commemorative issue celebrated the 300th anniversary of the founding of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony. The red 2-cent stamp, issued on April 8, 1930,
depicts the colony's seal. The seal portrays an Indian holding a bow and arrow,
the words "Come over and help us" emanating from his mouth. It was founded by sixty English Puritans
seeking religious freedom. Some members
of the colony saw themselves as missionaries sent by God to convert Native
Americans to the Christian faith. They
wouldn't tolerate any other religious belief in their midst, forcing others to
"seek freedom" by founding colonies elsewhere.
Charleston, South Carolina
Date
of issue: 10 April 1930. It commemorated
the 260th anniversary of the founding of the Province of Carolina and the 250th
anniversary of the establishment of the city of Charleston. King Charles II of England granted charters
to territory in South Carolina to eight of his loyal friends in 1663. Seven years passed before the group, which
was known as the lord proprietors, sent the first colonists to settle along the
coast of South Carolina. The English
settlers selected a spot where the Ashley and Cooper rivers fed into the
ocean. According to a legend handed down
through the years, a friendly Indian chief named Shadoo invited the colonists
to settle at a site across the river from the city’s current location in 1670. Settlers of the small town moved across the
river to Charleston’s present location in 1672, and the port town became a
bustling trade center. The wealthiest
city south of Philadelphia, Charleston was the capital city of South Carolina
from 1670-1790, as well as the cultural and economic center of the South. The colonists’ relationship with England
became strained during the War of Independence.
Charleston became a focal point in the American Revolution. In 1774, South Carolina declared its
independence from the crown on the steps of Charleston’s Exchange and Custom
House.
Battle of Braddock’s
Field
Date
of issue: 9 July 1930. This stamp commemorates the 175th anniversary of the
Battle of Braddock’s Field. During the
struggle of the British to free the Northwestern Territory from French occupation
(French and Indian War), General George Braddock ignored the advice of George
Washington about Indian methods of fighting from ambush. At the Battle of Braddock, British troops
were scared by war whoops and confused by Indians fighting from behind
trees. General Braddock was killed and
his troops defeated. The battle featured
several commanders besides Washington who would become prominent in the
American Revolution. General Thomas Gage
went on to become the British Commander-in-Chief at the beginning of the
Revolution, Horatio Gates was a Colonial Army general who commanded American
forces at the Battle of Saratoga, and Charles Lee became a major general in the
Colonial Army
General Baron Frederick
Wilhelm von Steuben
Issue Date:
September 17, 1930. This stamp commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth
of the Prussian-born General Baron Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben, whose
exceptional services to the Colonial Army greatly improved their militarily
techniques during the Revolutionary War.
The movement to get a stamp issued in honor of General Steuben faced
many impediments. Several Postmasters
General rejected the suggestions, citing issues such as no resources for new
commemoratives, to unwritten standards for new issues. Finally, in 1930, a stamp was issued to
commemorate the anniversary of von Steuben’s birth.
In 1931, this 2¢
stamp was issued to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown. At Yorktown, French and American forces
worked together to crush the British army under General Charles Cornwallis.
Reference
1. Sesquicentennial
opens as sun shines; 100,000 pass gates, New York Times,
1926-06-01, p 1.
2. US Stamps Commemoratives of 1926-1927 at http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/usstamps_1926.html
3.
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products/United-States
THE
WORST TRADE ROUTE IN THE WORLD
Image source : Kashmiristamps
website
Came
across this inocous looking Envelope cover during one random search on the Net
while trying to know more about Mail runners in the Himalayas, you know the
guys who used to take letters / Posts during the 19th century.
Looked
at it closely it and the writings on it in Persian, English and Dogri in Takri
script got me more interested. And then I read on it. It was letter sent from
Yarkand in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang (Sinkiang) or East Turkestan as it was
known at that time to someone in Hoshiarpur in Punjab. There was a constant
trade from Hoshiarpur to Yarkand via Mandi, through Kullu Valley onto Leh and
onwards to Yarkand. It was in my opinion the hardest trade route in the world.
(Thanks to kashmirstamps website for this invaluable photo and details).
A
large quantum of the trade was carried on through the classical trade route
from Ladakh to Yarkand in the Tarim Basin in Turkestan of the old ( Xinjiang
Province of China at present ). The traders from Ladakh took to Yarkand (which
served as the gateway to Central Asia) items like Shawls, Indigo, Tea, Corals,
Muslin etc. On the other from Yarkand into Ladakh (and further into Kashmir and
North India) came in Silk, Precious Metals, Costumes, Jewellery and oddly
Russian currency towards the end of the Nineteenth century.
Now
the letter this Envelope contained was posted on October 05, 1890 and it was
delivered at Hoshairpur on November 29, 1890 after a total of 55 days. It
entered the Bristish India Postal system once it reached Leh, which it did on
November 12, 1890 and the Dogri stamps/writings were affixed on November 17,
1890 somewhere on the way which is speculated as Mandi but I seriously doubt
anyone could get from Leh to Mandi in 5 days. So that place remains a mystery.
Also it seems to be at a point under Dogra suzerainity which Mandi never was.
My best guess is that it was somewhere in the Ladakh but where exactly is a
mystery.
To
understand the dynamics of the whole journey from the Hoshiarpur to Yarkand you
need to consider that it involved crossing the Dhauladhar Range, the Great
Himalaya itself, the Karakorams and finally the Kun Luns itself. It involved
crossing over 10 Passes, some of which are the highest in the World. It also
included crossing the extremely inhospitable Depsang Plains. If ever there was
a difficult "trade route" this was it. Infact one English gentleman
called it the "Worst Trade Route in the World".
Most
of us are familiar with the Route from Hoshiarpur to Leh. Form the plains upto
Mandi into the Kullu Valley and then upto the first great Pass, the Rohtang La.
At around 13000 ft Rohtang may be dwarfed by some of the other passes which
come later but with the amount of snow it received it came with a reputation.
No wonder it derived its named from "A pile of Corpses". After
crossing into the vertically dramatic Lahaul Valley the route went upto the the
Baralacha La, lying on the water shed of the Great Himalayas. After the getting
into the Trans Himalayan Ladakh region the route crossed the Lachulang La and
the Tangang La after crossing the Plateau known as the More Plains. And then we
got to Leh.
Leh
was the midway point in some ways and as such was full of businessmen from both
ends of the Route and places in between as well as traders from Kashmir who
came up through the Zoji La Pass. Leh was a busy trade town at that time with a
mix of Yarkandi, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Tibetan, Europeans as well as the very
interesting Arguns (these were people born out of mixed marriages between
Yarkandi and Kashmiri traders and local Ladakhi women) people besides the local
Ladakhis.
The
great passes that had to be crossed in this great trasnverse starting from the
Leh side included the now "world famous" Khardung La. From the
head of the Nubra Valley started the descent into the second Pass, Sasser La,at
5411 m. From this pass the route descended into the Depsang Plains. From the
Depsang Plains, which are as desolate as any place on the planet with an
average elevation of 5300 m the route headed over the Karakoram Pass which
stood at 5540 m. The Karakoram Pass was/is totally bereft of any kind of
vegetation and lot of the livestock just gave up. It is said that the path up
the Pass is still strewn with hundreds of bones and skeletons of pack animals
that just gave up and died. After crossing the the Karakoram Pass the route
went towards the relatively easy Suget La.
After
crossing the easiest pass on the route, Suget La, ~ 5500, which was in the Kun
Lun mountains the route descended into the staging post of Shahidullah which
offered some rough pastures for the load animals to refuel. It is interesting
to know the British considered Shahidullah as the frontier of the state of
Jammu and Kashmir and not the Karakoram Pass as some others assumed it to be.
After
Shahidullah came the last pass before descending into the plains of Central
Asia, the Sanju La at 5364 m. From this Pass the mountains gave way and the
trade route made its way into the fabled city of Yarkand.
Of
course this letter came in the opposite direction and I tried to get a
transalation done from a friend (Thanks to Seema Bhatt for helping out
here). In Persian the letter says "Lifafa dar Zila Khas Hoshyarpur ba
nazre Lala Sahib Mela Das Hangame naik mosool howa. Az muqam e Yarqand az
janabe Samad Joo Soofi. 20th of safar 1308 Safar." The meaning with all
the Persian respects and adab, means that the letter is addressed to one Lala
Mela Das of Hoshiarpur and it is sent by Janaab Samad Joo Soofi. The sender in
all probability was a Kashmiri trader based in Yarkand, guessing from his surname
but as with a lot of Punjabis earlier the surname of Lala Mela Das remains a
mystery. I checked up with a friend, who's ancestors also used to trade with
Yarkand, also from Hoshiarpur if he knew of this gentleman but till now ive
drawn a blank.
Anyways
this just goes to show what all is revealed when one digs into a simple old
enevlope. The people/ the route it took/ the language/languages used/ the
scripts/ the dates/ the reason etc etc. Truly something worth getting into the
depth of.
For
me the quest will continue as I plan to visit Yarkand some times in August I
guess as I have always been fascinated by the Trans Himalayan Central Asian
towns which were at the end of the Silk Road from our side and have a glimpse
of the Worst Trade Route in the world. Yarkand, Kashgar, Khotan, Tashkurgan and
of course the Karakoram Highway are all on my list :)
Additional
inputs from : When Men and Mountain Meet : The Explorers of the Western
Himalayas 1820 - 75. This has to be one of my favorite books on the Himalaya.
- Ambesh Upmanyu, Ahmedabad
- Ambesh Upmanyu, Ahmedabad
New
issues from other Countries
Jersey
10
July 2017 : 200
years of the kaleidoscope
Six stamps celebrating the 200th
anniversary of the invention of the kaleidoscope will be issued by Jersey Post
on 10 July 2017, the stamps feature kaleidoscopic patterns inspired by the
Island’s flora and fauna.
Scottish scientist, Sir David
Brewster, patented the kaleidoscope in 1817. A prolific inventor, Brewster
received numerous prestigious awards in recognition for his immense
contributions to science, specifically optics. Whilst he has many inventions to
his name including the binocular camera, lighthouse illuminator and lenticular
stereoscope, his most enduring legacy is the kaleidoscope.
Illustrating the intricate patterns of
a kaleidoscope to appear on the stamps was a challenging process as artist,
Mark Wilkinson describes: “To design imagery inside a kaleidoscopic pattern of
six segments was not as straightforward as I first thought it might be. Every
element that sits on the edges creates a self-contained pattern that can be
unexpected and occasionally obtrusive. After playing around for a while, it
became easier to predict the symmetry.”
Each of the six stamps has been
designed around a specific aspect of Jersey wildlife: shells and anemones,
feathers and eggs, wildflowers, woodlands, minibeasts and marine life.
Malta
31 May 2017 : Postal Uniforms
This issue consists of four stamps
showing MaltaPost's corporate mascot, Peppi Pustier, dressed in uniforms worn
by the 'posties' of the Maltese Islands over the years. These portray the
corporate branding as well as the fashion trends and social developments over
the years. Progressively the uniform became less formal and more practical.
This resulted from the 1960s social revolution, when society parted with
conservative ideas and welcomed a less formal way of life.
The 2.00 stamp depicts Peppi Pustier
in an early 1900s uniform. It consists of a single-breasted felt jacket with
front patch pockets having the Queen Victoria crown embossed on the buttons,
the postman's personalised number on the collar. For smartness and protection
from the elements, many postmen wore black boots. A beige satchel and a
regulation cap, also worn by policemen at the time, was included in the
uniform.
On the 1.00 stamp, Peppi is seen on a
motorcycle sporting a grey Eisenhower twill zip-up jacket with cuffs. Postmen
in the 1980s wore light blue shirts, V-neck wool jerseys, ties bearing the
postal horn logo of the time as well as a metal helmet with 'Posta' written
across the forehead.
In the early 2000s, the postal
services launched the first logo as 'MaltaPost'. The uniform, as portrayed on
the 0.59 stamp, was yellow and blue and matched the company's branding. For the
first time, a postman wore a more casual baseball cap.
The formal and smart uniforms shown in
the first two stamps are similar to the ones worn by members of authority at
the time, indicating the central role held by the postal service. The role was
paramount in an age when communication could only reach towns and cities via
the post.
The postal service today is being
replaced by electronic means of communication, yet its role in the internet age
remains central, particularly in the area of online shopping. Today MaltaPost
has geared itself to embrace this shift in the market. Today's uniform, as seen
on the 0.26 stamp consists of casual grey trousers and a polo shirt,
complemented by a fleece jacket for winter wear. The charcoal grey colour along
with a hint of red strongly portrays the current corporate colours. The jacket,
hat and fleece jacket sport an embroidered MaltaPost logo. This new uniform
adopts modern textiles ensuring comfort, practicality and professionalism.
New Zealand
7June 2017 : New Zealand Surf Breaks
New Zealand sits right
in the cross hairs of the Roaring Forties, leaving it exposed to the rolling
swell that boils up from turbulent Antarctic storms. New Zealand’s minute size
means that surfers are able to chase swells from north to south in a matter of
hours.
Each of the five stamps
in this issue features one of New Zealand’s prime surfing spots, with dramatic
images captured by some of New Zealand’s top surf photographers. The North
Island is represented by two of New Zealand’s most well-known surf spots, Piha
Bar in Piha and Manu Bay in Raglan, as well as the Waiwhakaiho River mouth in
Taranaki along Surf Highway 45. The South Island is represented by Mangamaunu
in Kaikoura and Aramoana Spit in Dunedin, both producing world-class breaks in
the cooler southern waters.
United Nations
5 June 2017: World Environment Day
World Environment Day (WED) is
celebrated on June 5 each year and is the United Nations’ principal means for
encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment.
Over the years it has grown to be a
broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over
100 countries. It also serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something
positive for the environment, galvanizing individual actions into a collective
power that generates a positive impact on the planet.
Acknowledgement
Ananthapuri Stamp
Bulletin June 2017 from Ananthapuri Philatelic Association
Vadophil Issue No. 150
from Baroda Philatelic Society
Blogs
& Websites
Philatelic Clubs & Societies
Ananthapuri Philatelic Association, Thiruvanthapuram
Chandigarh Philatelic Club
Deccan Philatelic Society – Pune, Maharashtra
Ludhiana Philatelic Club
Numismatic &
Philatelic Association of Vellore Fort http://numismaticphilavellore.site40.net/index.htm
Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur
Rajkot Philatelic Society – Rajkot, Gujarat
Gujarat Philatelic Association - Ahmedabad
The Army Philatelic Society, Pune
RAINBOW STAMP CLUB
This is a blog of
e-stamp Club 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. New Post on
recent issues, news on stamp activities and Contribution by members are
published every day on this blog. 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
Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters
VADOPHIL, Editor -
Prashant Pandya and published by Baroda Philatelic Society, Vadodara. Website -http://www.vadophil.org/
ITS Stamp
News - Quarterly - Editor: Suraj Jaitly Publisher: Indian Thematic
Society website - http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/
Ananthpuri
Stamp Bulletin - Monthly e -stamp
bulletin of Anathapuri Philatelic Association, Thiruvanthapuram
Journal
of the Army Philatelic Society : Editor – Col Jayanta Dutta
Stamp of India Collectors’
Companion - India’s
first weekly e-newsletter edited by Madhukar and Savita Jhingan from Stamps of
India, New Delhi. E- mail: mjhingan@yahoo.com Website: www.stampsofindia.com
India Post – Quarterly
Journal of the India Study Circle publishes original articles submitted by
members of ISC.
GPA News – Published by Gujarat
Philatelists’ Association, Ahemadabad.
Stamps Today – Stamp & Coin
Magazine edited by Vijay Seth
Courtesy - News and Image Resource to this
issue :
Indian Philately Digest , Stamps of India ; WOPA , Suresh
R.- Bangalore; Kasinath
R. – Tanjore, Jagannath Mani - Bangalore
Address for communication :
Jeevan Jyoti,
c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani,
Dehradun – 248002. India
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 or PDF. Send your write ups in MS Word only.
Kindly specify your
contribution such as article/News/ Reader’s Right / Beginners’ Section/ Lighter Side etc.
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.
Any material from this newsletter may be reproduced
only with the written permission from the editor.
…..Happy Collecting…………………………………………………………………………………
Rainbow Stamp
News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti from Dehradun, (
Uttarakhand ) India for free circulation among philatelists.
