Queen’s Baton relay special covers – Part 1

Sport events have significant place in the world of philately, as many stamps, FDC, postmarks and special covers are released during the time period of the event. This year India is hosting XIX Commonwealth Games and had issued various stamp related to the event since 2008.

Today I will present some of the special covers issued during the journey of baton in India till date. As there are many covers I will present all the issued covers in five parts. I would like to thanks Mr. Sreejesh Krishnan for providing me the images of all the special covers.

THE QUEEN’S Baton relay for XIX Commonwealth Games reached India on 25 June 2010 after crossing 70 countries, travelling 1, 70,000 km in 240 days. The relay commenced from Buckingham Palace, London, on October 29, 2009. The Baton entered India from Pakistan through the Wagah-Attari border today at 9.25 am, It was a day one for baton in India. Here an FDC was issued with cancellation of Attari post.

After entering India, a grand ceremony was organized before the Baton’s national relay kicked off. Since then the baton is traveling across India, the Baton will visit all 28 States and seven UTs of India including 200 cities and thousands of villages, a special covers are releases at the capital of each state.

It will be the longest Queen’s Baton relay in the history of Commonwealth Games. After the relay throughout the country, the 100 day journey will finish when the Baton bearers enter the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games. The Baton will enter Delhi through Gurgaon on September 30, 2010. There will be a three day relay of the Baton in Delhi. On October 3, 2010 Queen Elizabeth-II’s message will be removed from the Baton and read at the Games’ Opening Ceremony.

Route of Queen’s Baton in India.

Special Cover issued at Srinagar:-

Special Cover issued at Chandigarh:-

Special Cover issued at Shimla:-

Youth Olympic Games – UAE

Emirates post issued a miniature to commemorate the Youth Olympic Games held at Singapore.

Title: Youth Olympic Games – UAE
Date of Issue: 26 August 2010
Country: UAE
Denominations: 475 Fils

Home Children

Canada Post will honour the Home Children with a commemorative stamp. The stamp features an image of the SS Sardinian (a ship that carried children from Liverpool to Québec), a map symbolizing their cross-Atlantic journey, a photograph of a child at work on a farm and one of a newly arrived Home Child, standing beside a suitcase while en route to a distributing home in Hamilton, Ontario.

Starting in 1869, and continuing into the years following the Second World War, more than 100,000 orphaned, abandoned and pauper children were sent to Canada by British churches and philanthropic organizations, in the hope of providing them with a better life.

They were welcomed by Canadian families as a source of farm labour, domestic help, and, in more fortunate cases, as children of their own. But while some benefited from the promise of a brighter future that the movement’s founders had envisioned, others were abused, neglected and overworked.

The Government of Canada has recognized the experiences of Canada’s Home Children by proclaiming 2010 the Year of the British Home Child. “Designating 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child is a meaningful way to acknowledge this chapter of Canadian history,” said the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Title: Home Children
Date of Issue: 1 September 2010
Country: Canada
Denominations: 57¢

Mexico new 100-peso note confirmed

100 pesos (US$7.90), 23 ABR. 2009.
Red and yellow. Front: Ear of corn; poem about zentzontle, a bird represented by jade, flower, and two seated men; warrior poet Nezahualcóyotl. Back: Bank logo; temple, central square, and aqueduct of México-Tenochtitlán; cricket. Windowed Motion security thread and solid security thread. Watermark: Nezahualcóyotl and electrotype 100. Printer: BANCO DE MÉXICO. 148 x 66 mm. Intro: 09.08.2010.

Mauritania new 5,000-ouguiya note confirmed

5,000 ouguiya (US$17.35)
Olive and ochre. Front: The Great Mosque Ibn Abbas in Nouakchott. Back: Unloading iron ore in the port of Nouadhibou; diesel train. Solid security thread printed BANQUE CENTRALE DE MAURITANIE. Watermark: Bearded man. Printer: (G&D). 150 x 70 mm. 28.11.2009. Signature 11. Intro: 08.08.2010.

WWII banknotes issued for other countries by the British military go under the hammer

With a somewhat military theme, the Tom Warburton collection of rare currency is to sell

In a month's time, Spink will be carrying out an auction of rare currency which is likely to excite notaphilists everywhere. A fantastic selection of banknotes from the Tom Warburton collection is to go under the hammer with nearly 900 lots on offer.

There is something of a military theme to the collection with many of the pieces dating from the early 1940s and relating to countries involved in WWII.

In fact that final few lots of the sale include an Isle of Man a prisoner of war camp medal and related tokens.

The star lots of the sale illustrate this very clearly: three lots of £1 banknotes issued in 1943-45 by the British Military Authority. All three are violet and multicoloured and display a lion and crown at the right with the value at the centre and at each corner on the obverse.

British Military Authority rare banknote

If you're not familiar with the design, the reverse is a bit of a surprise, as it's a completely different colour: green at the ends flowing into a bright orange in the centre with '£1'reprinted in an almost exuberant style.

The obverse has the country in which it was issued in black block capital text in the centre: Bulgaria (serial number 39Z 000020), Greece (39Z 000041) and France (39Z 000054). All are uncirculated and very rare.

Only 25 of the Bulgarian and Greek notes are believed to have been produced, whilst 50 French banknotes were created, so they are an obvious choice for an investment in a growing area of collectibles. Each is expected to sell for £5,000-7,000.

Spink's auction takes place in London on October 3.

Banknote signed by comedian and 'Mercury astronaut' Bill Dana could bring $5,000

All 'eight' Mercury astronauts signed this note - including Alan Shephard, the 5th man on the Moon

One lot in Regency Superior's upcoming October space sale should appeal to space memorabilia collectors, autograph hunters... and perhaps even numismatists.

The item in question is a an original "Short Snorter" $1 bill signed by each of the original Mercury Astronauts: Alan Shepard (later a Moonwalker with Apollo 15), Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper and Deke Slayton.

And beside them is the autograph of Bill Dana - one of the best-loved funnymen in America and also the unofficial "8th Mercury astronaut".

Comedian Dana was best-known for his comic creation, the heavily-accented Mexican character named José Jiménez, back in the 1960s.

The original "Short Snorter" $1 bill signed by Mercury's eight astronauts

When America's Mercury Astronauts adopted "José the Astronaut" as their mascot, Dana was chosen to speak the first words ever broadcast to an American entering space.

"Okay José, you're on your way," were Dana's immortal words which cemented his place in space exploration history.

Bill Dana later went on to join the advisory board of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, and has been acknowledged by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

He was also inducted as the official Eighth Mercury Astronaut at the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame at Titusville, Florida.

This signed photograph of the Mercury 7 astronauts posing with a
model rocket (minus Bill Dana) was sold by Paul Fraser Collectibles,
earlier this year (Click for more information)

According to Regency Superior, "the note is circulated, but is in very presentable condition with all signatures clear in blue or black ink. [It is] scarce and very desirable."

Appearing in the auction with an estimate of $5,000-7,000 (bids open at $2,500) this is a rare chance for investors to acquire the signature of one of America's funniest men, alongside seven of its bravest and most intrepid.

Regency Superior's sale will take place on October 1-3. Online bidding is also available.

Canadian banknotes exchangeable for up to $8,000 in Ontario

Waddington's watches, jewellery and numismatic sale offers some great finds for treasure hunters

Waddingtons are holding an exciting sale next month of jewellery, watches and currency from its native Canada.

The sale will feature 350 lots of jewellery and numismatics including diamond rings, silver jewellery, gold chains and bracelets, and platinum jewellery.

In addition, wristwatches by Rolex, Rado, Gruen and other known makers will be available, alongside a fine collection of Canadian 1935 bank notes and quantities of silver coins.

Although not all 350 lots have been made available for viewing yet, we can take a quick look at some highlights:

For any just starting their watch collection a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Wristwatch made in 1951 might be of interest. With reference #6084; serial #733062; using an 18 jewel mechanism in a stainless steel case, it is expected to fetch just $900-1,200.

Yellow gold diamond ring

Likewise an attractive, but affordable 14k Yellow Gold Ring set with a brilliant cut diamond (weighing approximately 1.60ct) could make a useful start to a collection, or investment.

Unusually, the expected top lots are three sets of banknotes. With notaphily an increasingly exciting area of collecting, the Canadian pieces are expected to gain solid four figure results.

Some of Canada's first banknotes ($6,000-8,000)

All dating from 1935 - the first year that the Bank of Canada issue banknotes - the lots on offer are a set of four $10 notes, listed at $2,500-3,500, a selection of four notes: one $20, two $50 and one $100, which are expected to bring $4,000-6,000 and finally nine $5 notes, which are estimated at $6,000-8,000.

The auction takes place in Ontario in the evening of September 22. Online bidding is available.

Kangeroo stamp bounds to A$10,000 in rare stamp sale

Status International's vast sale centred on Australian and British Imperial pieces

Status International of Sydney, Australia has now completed a grand 3976 lot auction catering for all types of collectors & dealers.

From bulk accumulations to intact collections to desirable single items, all types and levels of philatelic collectibles were on offer from $30 items up to genuine rarities, so there was something for everybody.

A number of lots hailed from the British Empire, (though the rest of the world was fairly represented) but it was really in Australia and its colonies that it came into its own.

The two most exciting lots were variations of an Aussie classic: the £2 Black & Rose Kangeroo. A few were available, but two stood out:

Firstly, a fine example of the Kangaroo with a broken tail variety went under the hammer. Very fresh and with nice bright colours, the piece sold for A$5,000 (US$4,450) - in the middle of its estimate range.

But the pick of the bunch was £2 Black & rose-crimson which is in simply superb condition, with rich colours and excellent centring and section of the stamp sheet undetached at the top.

Listed at A$8,000-10,000 (US$7,100-8,900) it hit the top of that range, selling for A$10,000 exactly.

$75,000 'double-bear' cover looms large in New York stamps auction

The first stage of the auctioning of the grand Wagshal collection of rare US stamps is near...

As we reported, the extraordinary Wagshal collection of rare stamps and covers is soon to be sold in a series of sales at Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries.

The collection is so substantial, in fact, that the auction house has taken the unusual step of starting a blog just to keep interested parties up to date with interesting discoveries they make as they go along.

Nevertheless, the first auction is to go ahead in just under a month's time: looking at 1845-69 issues overall.

Bear markets are a good reason for investors to run scared of the stock market, but whilst this sale is also dominated by bears they can be confident - the bears are those of famous St Louis, Missouri provisional 5c and 10c stamps, and very valuable.

The first key lot is a St Louis 10c black-on-greenish stamp on cover. Specifically, it is the very earliest known use of the stamp, shortly after their production was announced in the Wednesday, November 5, 1845, weekly edition of the Missouri Republican.

It is unclear from the announcement whether the stamps were available immediately, or only following the next announcement in the paper a week later but the cover, graded extremely fine, and dated November 12 is the earliest ever found, and listed here at $30,000-40,000.

St Louis Bears cover - the earliest known

However, this is not the expected top lot in the sale. That honour goes to a St Louis, 10c Black on Bluish Pelure bear stamp - the earliest use of pelure paper known - which is the only example of any US postmaster provisional to be printed on both sides.

Specifically, there is a 5c Black bear stamps impression on the reverse of the stamp, and the digit 5 is visible through the paper. The piece is in very fine condition and expected to achieve $50,000-75,000.

The auction takes place in New York on September 29, and we'll be bringing you more information on the exciting Wagshal collection before then. Alternatively, if your interest is more in British stamps, a range is on offer right now.

Burke and Wills set to traverse Australia again on 150th anniversary stamp

The 150th anniversary of the Burke and Wills expedition, the first South - North crossing of the continent is celebrated with the release of this special stamp issue.
On 20 August 1860, the Burke and Wills expedition left Melbourne for the Gulf of Carpentaria. The explorers hoped to be the first Europeans to cross Australia from the south to the north.
While the explorers reached the Gulf, the expedition ended in tragedy. Physically exhausted from their journey, they hoped to find William Brahe and much needed help and supplies at Cooper's Creek. Their expectations were dashed when they learned that Brahe had left Cooper's Creek only hours before their arrival. Burke, Wills and King then set off towards Mt Hopeless, in South Australia.
Despite offers of help from local Aboriginal people, Burke and Wills died on Cooper's Creek in June 1861. The only person to survive was John King, who was found in September by a search party sent from Melbourne.
A stamp and coin cover accompanies this issue. The Perth Mint coin used is a $1, designed by Aleysha Howarth, and uses an image of the Burke and Wills statue. Also available is a prestige booklet, which includes the stamps presented as pairs and blocks of four.

Message in a bottle - from Iceland Post

Iceland Post has started selling and distributing bottled messages – "Message in a Bottle". These items which can be purchased in post offices are amusing message holders made to be sent as mail to friends and relatives in Iceland and abroad.
The item consists of a plastic bottle (26 g) with a nice picture from Iceland on one side and an address label on the other.
The bottle contains a sheet of paper on which the sender writes his message. He then puts the sheet in the bottle, seals it with a special cork and adhesive tape (which is found on the bottle neck) and mails the bottle just as he would any other post. The postal service will then bring the bottled messages to receivers all around the world.
Bottled messages can be obtained with two pictures - of a volcanic eruption and the northern lights (aurora borealis).

Medical Breakthroughs

The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of medical research and technology since William Harvey first described the circulation of the blood in 1628. British physicians and scientists can justly take credit for the discovery and application of smallpox vaccination, anesthetics, anti-septic surgery and many public health measures, but perhaps some of the most important breakthroughs have taken place in the last 120 years.1st Class – Heart-regulating beta-blockers synthesized by Sir James Black 1962Beta blockers are used for various indications, but particularly for the management of cardiac arrhythmias, cardioprotection after myocardial infarction (heart attack), and hypertension. Propranolol was the first clinically useful beta adrenergic receptor antagonist. Invented by Sir James W. Black in the late 1950s, it revolutionized the medical management of angina pectoris and is considered to be one of the most important contributions to clinical medicine and pharmacology of the 20th century.
58p – Antibiotic properties of penicillin discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming 1928The discovery of penicillin is attributed to Scottish scientist and Nobel laureate Alexander Fleming in 1928 He showed that, if penicillium notatum was grown in the appropriate substrate, it would exude a substance with antibiotic properties, which he dubbed penicillin. This serendipitous observation began the modern era of antibiotic discovery
60p – Total hip replacement operation pioneered by Sir John Charnley 1962Sir John Charnley began his research into hip replacement in 1949 when he moved his clinical practice as an orthopedic surgeon to Wrightington Hospital near Wigan. While suffering many setbacks during its development Charnley finally performed the first successful hip replacement operation in 1962. This subsequently became the gold standard treatment for this condition and has remained the most successful surgical and radiological procedure up to the present day.
67p – Artificial lens implant surgery pioneered by Sir Harold Ridley 1949Whilst working with Royal Air Force casualties during World War II, Ridley noticed that when splinters of perspex from aircraft cockpit canopies became lodged in the eyes of wounded pilots, they did not trigger rejection, leading him to propose the use of artificial lenses in the eye to correct cases of cataracts. He had a lens manufactured using an identical plastic – Perspex CQ made by ICI – and on 29 November 1949 at St Thomas’ Hospital, Harold Ridley achieved the first implant of an intraocular lens.
88p – Malaria parasite transmitted by mosquitoes proved by Sir Ronald Ross 1897In 1897, Ronald Ross discovered the presence of the malarial parasite within a specific species of mosquito, the Anopheles. He initially called them dapple-wings and following the hypothesis of Sir Patrick Manson that the agent that causes malaria was spread by the mosquito, he was able to find the malaria parasite in a mosquito that he artificially fed on a malaria patient. Later using birds that were sick with malaria, he was able to ascertain the entire life cycle of the malarial parasite, including its presence in the mosquito’s salivary glands. He demonstrated that malaria is transmitted from infected birds to healthy ones by the bite of a mosquito, a finding that suggested the disease’s mode of transmission to humans.
97p – Computed tomography scanner invented by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield 1971While on an outing in the country, Hounsfield came up with the idea that one could determine what was inside a box by taking X-ray readings at all angles around the object. Hounsfield built a prototype head scanner and tested it first on a preserved human brain, then on a fresh cow brain from a butcher shop, and later on himself. In September 1971, CT scanning was introduced into medical practice with a successful scan on a cerebral cyst patient at Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon, London.
Title: Medical Breakthroughs
Date of Issue: 1 September 2010
Country: Great Britain
Denominations: 1st, 58p, 60p, 67p ,88p ,97p

Czeslaw Slania

An Post issued a stamp to commemorate legendary stamp engraver, Czeslaw Slania.
Czeslaw Slania was born near Katowice in southern Poland on 22 October, 1921, and became one of the world’s most prominent stamp engravers. In 1945, he enrolled at the Academy of Art in Krakow. The Government printing house was located nearby and for a time he worked there as a bank note engraver. In April, 1960, the Swedish Post Office employed him as a full-time designer and engraver.Slania used many different methods of engraving stamps and pioneered new production techniques. During his long career, he produced more than 1,000 stamps and was frequently honoured for producing the world’s most beautiful stamp. He engraved stamps for 31 countries, including Ireland.
Czeslaw Slania died in Krakow, Poland on 17 March, 2005.
The stamp for this joint issue was one of Czeslaw Slania’s own favourites and depicts a scene from the ballet Romeo and Juliet.
Title: Czeslaw Slania
Date of Issue: 26 August, 2010
Country: Ireland
Denominations: 55c

Festivals 2010 – Shofars

Israel post issued three postage stamps in the festival series featuring “SHOFAR”. The shofar is an ancient instrument that emits a loud, clear sound which may be heard from a great distance and it originally served to summon the army in case of emergency and to proclaim holidays and festivals.The Bible mentions the shofar more than 70 times, attesting to its significance in Jewish tradition. According to Isaiah’s prophecy, at the End of Days the sound of the shofar will herald the redemption of the Jewish people and their return to the Land of Israel from the Diaspora, “And in that day, a great ram’s horn shall be sounded, and the strayed who are in the land of Assyria and the expelled who are in the land of Egypt shall come” (Isaiah 27,13).
The shofar’s significance is especially highlighted on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, which the Torah refers to as the “Day of Shofar Blasts”. The Book of Numbers (29, 1) states that “in the seventh month, on the first day of the month… a day when the horn is sounded”. This statement is somewhat surprising – why is the blowing of the shofar noted as the central commandment on Rosh Hashanah, the day when, according to Jewish belief, all people are judged before God?
The answer to this question lies in the Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashanah tractate page 17A, “Rabbi Abbahu said… the Holy One, blessed be He, said ‘Sound before Me on a cornet made of a ram’s horn, that I may remember you, for your sake, the offering of Isaac, the son of Abraham’”. The sound of the shofar, made of a ram’s horn, was meant to remind those who hear it of the strength of Abraham’s faith, as he was prepared to sacrifice his son and of God’s mercy, as He called forth a ram for Abraham to sacrifice in place of his son.
During the Temple period, the priests played various instruments, such as horns and shofars, while performing their holy duties. Other instruments were also noted in the Book of Psalms, psalm 150, “Praise Him with the blasts of a horn, praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with lute and pipe”. After the destruction of the Temple, the custom of playing instruments during prayer ceased and only the use of the shofar remained.
The Wisemen learned from the Torah that the “teruah” blast (series of blasts) is to be blown three times, each preceded and followed by the “teki’ah” (long single blast). Since they were unclear as to precisely what kind of blast was referred to in the Torah, whether “shvarim” (three short blasts) or “teruah” (series of nine staccato blasts) or a combination of the two, it was decided that all three would be heard during prayer. The three combinations of the shofar blasts appear on the stamp tabs. The First Day Cover features the text of the blessing recited in the synagogue prior to blowing the shofar.
The shofars used by Jews of varying origins are mostly made of ram’s horn, while the Jews of Yemen use a twisted shofar made from the horn of an African antelope, called a Kodu.
Title: Festivals 2010 – Shofars
Date of Issue: 25 August 2010
Country: Israel
Denominations: 1.70, 4.20, 6.10 NIS

Greetings (Definitive Stamps) – Israel

Israeli post issued a set of two Greeting stamps to suit various occasions. The two stamps are “Happy Holidays” and “With Compliments”.The Israel Philatelic Service refreshes and adds to the selection of personalized stamps from time to time and adjusts the themes to suit more occasions.
“Happy Holidays”The stamp breathes new life into the traditional greeting and lends it a new and special twist. In Israel, people greet each other in this manner on seven different occasions each year, and the routine greeting becomes more festive and elegant when accompanied by a personalized stamp sheet.
“With Compliments”The stamp is geared toward an esteemed individual who we would like to honor or thank, expressing these feelings through an official national stamp. The “With Compliments” stamp sheet lends an air of prestige and honor to the expression of this sentiment. Title: Greetings (Definitive Stamps) – Israel
Date of Issue: 25 August 2010
Country: Israel
Denominations: 1.70 NIS

Animals and their Offspring

Israeli post issued a sheet featuring various animals and their offspring, their natural habitat and surroundings.It is found that in fowl and mammals, caring for the young is the normal process. These species’ young receive the full attention of their parents or mother, who devotedly feed, protect and keep them warm. Even animals that are usually calm and quiet can become very forceful when protecting their young.
It has been found that the babyish look of a little round body, with plume or soft hair, making chirping or gentle crying sounds and combined with a degree of helplessness attracts our attention and brings out our maternal or paternal instincts: to stroke, hug, calm, help and protect. Even people who are not considered to be animal lovers can find themselves petting a licking puppy, holding a newly hatched chirping chick or hugging a bleating lamb.
And we are not the only ones who are won over by the sight of a baby. There is a well known film that shows an African tiger just after hunting a female baboon. The tiger suddenly discovers a young newborn clinging to its mother’s stomach. The tiger instantly changes from its usual behavior as a bold efficient predator – it sniffs the infant, licks it gently, supports it when it nearly falls and watches over it until its fate is sealed by the absence of a nursing mother.
Most people live in cities and rarely see young animals. Few see chicks, which are born incredibly independent. Moments after hatching they can stand, their eyes are open, they are covered with plume and are ready to follow their mothers and gather their own food. But despite this independence, they are not yet able to conserve their own bodyheat at night, and huddle tightly under their mothers’ spread wings.
Kittens, on the other hand, are born completely helpless: their eyes are closed, their bodies are limp and they lie on their sides, their fur is very short and they can do no more than cling to their mother’s nipple and suckle to gain nourishment. It takes about 10 days for their eyes to open and they only wean off mother’s milk at the age of two months. Kittens are known to be mischievous, but what appears to us as innocent fun play is, in many cases, practical training for the rest of their lives – leaping quickly to catch fleeing prey, swiftly reaching out a paw to catch prey with their claws or simply gnawing on their siblings.
Bunnies are born deep inside burrows or in birthing crates when raised in petting zoos or homes, and they are blind and completely helpless. Before giving birth, the female rabbit lines the nest with soft hair that she pulls off her stomach. Approximately four weeks later they are already able to walk alongside her and are slowly weaned.
Title: Animals and their OffspringDate of Issue: 25 August 2010Country: IsraelDenominations: 1.70 NIS x 6

Autumn's first Finnish stamps: Pop culture classics, national parks and nature

The autumn stamps kick off on 13 September with pop antiques from the 1960s. Many homes in those days had the Cobra phone, go-go boots, ball chair and floral mirror shown on Pekka Piippo's stamp. The Antiques stamp series thus makes a leap in time from the previous Gustavian and Art Nouveau stamps.
The national parks stamp takes us this time to Torronsuo in Southwest Finland. The first class non-value indicator stamp designed by Teemu Ollikainen is an autumnal image of a marsh with data on the location.
Beautiful Finnish scenery is also shown on the miniature sheet entitled Autumn. Designed by Asser Jaaro, the three stamps depict a crayfish, mallards and a European elk (moose).
Written in Braille, the stamps also carry the markings "1 lk kl" (First Class) and "Suomi-Finland".

Jersey Nature - Freshwater Fish Postage Stamps

A set of six postage stamps plus a Miniature Sheet will be issued on 7th September 2010 to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Jersey Freshwater Angling Association.
The stamps and Miniature Sheet feature a selection of freshwater fish which can be found in the reservoirs, streams and ponds of Jersey.

Malaysia's oldest Hindu temple portrayed on stamp for the first time

Malaysia's oldest Hindu temple - the Sri Maha Mari-amman temple - has been given the honour of being the first ever to be portrayed on a postage stamp.
According to The Star, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu launched the stamp on Sunday to commemorate the temple's sixth consecration ceremony to be held today.
The ceremony is held once every 12 years.
The ceremony was to celebrate the completion of the temple's upgrading work every 12 years and to re-energise the power of the temple, said its information officer B. Vivekananda.
Founded in 1873, the temple, which was originally located near the Kuala Lumpur railway station was moved to the current place in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in 1885. It is credited with having 242 idols on its gopuram (gateway).

Monte-Carlo Magic Stars

The Monte-Carlo Magic Stars will celebrate their 25 years from 6 to 10 October 2010. Under the Presidency of H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, the festival is a reference point in the world of magic and illusion. Each year, the best young talents are awarded with magic wands of gold and silver.Title: Monte-Carlo Magic Stars

Date of Issue: 23 August 2010

Country: Monaco

Denominations: 1.40 EURO

50th Anniversary of Monaco Scientific Center

The Monaco Scientific Center (C.S.M.) is an independent public establishment founded by Prince Rainier III on 23 May 1960 in order to provide the Principality with the means to carry out scientific research activities.It is essentially dedicated to marine biology. Since 1990, it has specialized in studying the function of coralline ecosystems (tropical and Mediterranean) with regard to global climatic changes. The C.S.M. is considered to be one of the main centers in the world carrying out research into the physiology of coral. Since 2009, it has been open to the biomedical domain.
Title: 50th Anniversary of Monaco Scientific Center

Date of Issue: 23 August 2010

Country: MonacoDenominations: 0.58 EURO

Hotspots – Pitcairn Islands

Pitcairn post issued a set of five stamps featuring various ships used to discover submarine volcanoes. Approximately 90km WSW of the Pitcairn Islands a number of submarine volcanoes have been discovered on the over-30-million-year-old Pacific Ocean crust, at around 25 degrees 10’S, 129 degrees 20’W.Also known as Seamounts or Hotspots, the three largest are 1,500 – 3,000M in height and have been given the names Adams, Bounty and Christian. More than 100 submarine volcanoes exist with 20 small volcanic hills or eruptive vents reaching 500M in height. These have been located within the area of study which has a radius of 110km, with Bounty and Adams being 25km apart.
Formed by successive eruptions of lava, the volcanoes have proved of immense interest to scientists and geologists, as well as to the people of Pitcairn with the largest hotspot, Adams, rising to 3,500M and coming within 39M of the surface. The Bounty seamount rises to within 450M of the surface and appears morphologically more youthful (350,000 years) than Adams with water samples indicating continuing hydrothermal activity.
The Frenchcompany Ifremer, have used two dedicated ships R.V. L’Atalante and R.V. Nadir and recently completed 15 dives with the submersible Nautile making observations and sampling volcanic structures on the ancient ocean crust of the Farallon Plate, at depths of 3,500 – 4,300M. Their work uncovered evidence that the seamounts were formed by successive eruptions of highly vesicular, alkaline lava flows. Evidence of lava tubes, hydrothermal springs, trachytic lava flows and deposits of iron silicide hydroxides (on Bounty’s peak), have also been found.

Title: Hotspots – Pitcairn Islands

Date of Issue: 18 August 2010

Country: Pitcairn Islands

Denominations: 80c; $1.20; $1.50 and $3.00

100th Anniversary of the Birth of Mother Teresa

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, known around the world as Mother Teresa, the Austrian Post Office is issuing a commemorative that in a way is to be seen as a sign of respect for this great woman.

MotherTeresa was born on 26 August 1910 in Üsküp in what was then the Ottoman Empire and is today Macedonia. She was brought up in a wealthy Catholic family to strict religious standards. As early as the age of 12, she decided that she would live for peace and betterment of humanity.

Title:100th Anniversary of the Birth of Mother Teresa
Date of Issue: 26 August 2010
Country: Austria
Denominations: 1.30 EUR

London Festival of Stamps-winning collection will auction priced €25,000

Charting the development of overseas mail from sail to steam, this sale is umissable for philatelists

A famous exhibition collection of stamps will appear for sale in Christoph Gärtner Philatelic's September 7-10 auction.

A previous Gold medal winner at London Festival of Stamps in 2010, the collection charts the development of overseas mail systems, the period from sail to steam...

It comprises 200 items: "covers, telegrams, and other related items as a few classic stamps - showing 'Early transatlantic mail', 'North Atlantic - sailing on schedule', 'The West Indies', 'South America', 'East India and other Asian destinations', 'Australia and the Pacific' and 'Faster, larger, stronger ... telegrams'" according to Christoph Gärtner's sale description.

This Some highlights from the collection (Click to enlarge)

This extraordinary collection contains rare covers, lovely illustrations, extremely scarce cancellations and destinations of the 18th and 19th century plus plenty of information.

Although some small items (picture cards mostly) were withdrawn by the collector in order to show them in a publication, this special exhibition collection is most impressive from item to item and is "of high trading value" according to the sellers.

Bids on the collection will open at €25,000, and then close on September 10. Watch this space for more news on the sale.

Rare Twopenny Blue and Penny Black multiples lead British rare stamp sale

Appearing at Spink next month, the only combination of its kind known goes under the hammer

As we've reported, Spink are holding a spectacular pair of sales of rare stamps in Singapore late next month including the Stolz collection of the postal history of British South-East Asia.

But ahead of that, they've managed to slip in an interesting sale of Great Britain's stamps and postal history, for which some details are now available.

Comprising nearly 300 lots, the auction includes a remarkable collection of early newspapers (Smith's Currant Intelligence, True Domestick Intelligence and others) noting some details of the post at the time (including a messenger extorting extra pennies for the delivery of pre-paid mail).

However, the most exciting lots for philatelists are three Twopenny Blue multiples - one used but separate and two on covers.

The former is a CG-DH block of four in dull blue, margins generally good to large but just cut into at lower right, cancelled by fine strikes of 1844-type Irish numeral "317" of Macroom Lusk in blue.

Despite a vertical crease on the right and a scissor cut between left pair, this is a remarkable block of this very rare combination and certainly not overvalued at its listing of £10,000-15,000.

First of the two covers has an HG-HL strip of six Twopenny Blues in a pale blue shade, all of which have margins all round. These are close in places at the foot but very large at the top, even showing a portion of one additional stamp on the fifth across.

Twopence blue strip cover

Every stamp was tied on 1841 (14 Dec.) on its way to its destination HMS Gorgon in Malta by black Maltese Cross. This rare and beautiful example of an overseas destination cover, unusually crease-free, is listed at £15,000-18,000.

Finally, an HE-IF block of four Twopenny Blues in a vivid, bright blue shade, used with an 1840 Penny Black Plate VI NE-NF pair on 1840 (28 Aug) cover from Inverary to Edinburgh is the star of the show.

Twopence blue block and Penny Black pair cover

With large margins all round and dull red Maltese Cross cancellations, this is believed to be the only block of four used with a Penny Black on a complete cover to either an inland or foreign destination, including Mulready covers and is therefore listed at £15,000-20,000.

The auction takes place on September 9. Investors who can't wait that long may wish to take a look at these Great British stamps which are currently on the market.

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games Commemorative Stamps

On 14 August 2010, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee in collaboration with the Singapore Post launched four Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010) stamps.

This is the third stamp issue on Singapore 2010.

The stamps come in a set of four designs featuring the Singapore 2010 Mascots, Lyo and Merly, in poses showcasing the Culture and Education Programme (CEP) and Singapore 2010 Sports.

The first two designs highlight the World Culture Village and Island Adventure formats of CEP. Athletes will learn about diverse cultures, teamwork and leadership through these two activities. The next two designs feature the Mascots in their favourite sports of Aquatics – Swimming and Basketball respectively.

Nigeria has launched OPEC golden jubilee anniversary stamps

Ahead of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, has flagged off the in-country celebration of the Organization's Golden Jubilee with the launch of commemorative postage stamps.

The Minister said the launch, in the capital city of Abuja, was one of the events mapped out by the OPEC Secretariat for all member countries for the anniversary celebrations, which will round off in September in Vienna, Austria, where the headquarters of the cartel is based.

Special stamp patterns for 16th Asian games 2010 released

In August China Post issued special stamp patterns for the 16th Asian Games when the Games celebrated its 100-day countdown.

The stamp pattern for envelopes features the Games' Emblem with a denomination of 1.2 yuan and that for postcards features the Games' Mascots with a denomination of 0.8 yuan.

Jeevanandham – India

India post issued a stamp of P.Jeevanandham, a freedom fighter and Tamil writer. He was the founder of Tamil literary magazine “Thamarai” and the communist newspaper “Janasakthi”.

Title: Jeevanandham – India
Date of Issue: 21 August 2010

Aviation Centenaries – Gibraltar

Gibraltar post issued a set of stamps featuring the 100th Anniversary of Seaplanes depicting Henri Fabre flying Le Canard on 28th March 1910 making it the first seaplane to take off from water; the Supermarine S.6B: Schneider Trophy winner in 1931, the first aircraft to break the 400 mph barrier; the Short Sunderland from 204 Squadron, Gibraltar in 1941 and the Saunders-ROE Princess from 1952.


The aviation centenaries stamps feature Baroness Raymonde de Laroche, the first woman to obtain the pilot’s license on 8th March 1910; the first fare-paying passengers flown by DELAG’s Zeppelin LZ7 on 21st June 1910; Hubert Latham setting the altitude record at the time of 4,541ft. on Antoinette VII on 7th July 1910 and the Clément-Bayard No.2 – the first airship flight across English Channel on the 16th October 1910.

Title: Aviation Centenaries – Gibraltar
Date of Issue: 20 August 2010
Country: Gibraltar
Denominations: 10p, 42p, 49p, £2.00

Argentina – Romania Mountain Lakes

Argentina post jointly with Romania issued a set of stamps featuring mountains and lakes.

The images on the stamp shows Lago Nahuel Huapi – Argentina and Balea Lake – Romania.

Title: Argentina – Romania Mountain Lakes
Date of Issue: 14 August 2010
Country: Argentina
Denominations: $7, $1.50

XXIII IUFRO World Congress

The forest is vanishing. The forest, the lung of the earth, is being destroyed by reckless development, logging, abnormal climate changes, and other destructive factors, leading to global warming, loss of biodiversity, desertification, and other serious environmental problems.

Held from August 23 to 28, 2010 at the COEX, Seoul, under the joint sponsorship of the Korea Forest Service and Korea Forest Research Institute and under the theme of “Forests for the Future: Sustaining Society and the Environment,” the XXIII IUFRO World Congress will discuss the roles and importance of forests and seek ways to facilitate sustainable co-existence of human beings and nature.

IUFRO, established in 1892, is a non-profit, private organization designed to support the world’s forest research institutes in exchanging information and promoting cooperation. Currently, its membership includes approximately 700 research centers and universities from 110 countries, with 15,000 scientists, government officials and experts at international agencies in active service.

At this round of its congress, held every 5 years, 3,000 forest scientists from about 100 countries will present 2,000 theses under 9 academic themes in an effort to attain scientific answers to critical global issues, and will adopt as the Seoul Declaration the results of the discussion among the world’s great scholars on political, economic and social values as well as the roles of forests.

Even though Korea was once turned into ruins by Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War, it is now cited as a world’s outstanding success case which has achieved forest greenification in the shortest possible time unprecedented in world history – by planting 10 billion trees and thus reviving the health of its forests. A commemorative stamp featuring “trees and life” is issued, hoping that this round of IUFRO world congress will uncover ways to heal the ailing earth through forests.

Title: XXIII IUFRO World Congress
Date of Issue: 23 August 2010
Country: South Korea
Denominations: 340 won

Archaeological site of Kernav? – Lithuania

The archaeological site of Kernav? is an outstanding representation of the cultural tradition of civilization and an exceptional illustration of buildings, architectural composition, and landscape of one of the periods of humankind history.

The complex ensemble of archaeological properties reflects the development stages of the settlement situated in the valley of the River Neris from the Stone Age to the 13th-14th centuries.

The State Cultural Reserve of Kernav? covers the territory of 194,4 ha. The entire complex of objects of cultural heritage preserved encompasses 18 archaeological, historical, and cultural properties. One of the properties, a group of five hill-forts, is the only and exceptional property in the region of the Baltic Sea. In the 19th century, the hill-forts were given the names of the Pilies kalnas, the Aukuro kalnas, the Mindaugo Sosto piliakalnis, and the Lizdeikos kalnas.

In July 2004, the archaeological site of Kernav? was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Title: Archaeological site of Kernav? – Lithuania
Date of Issue: 7 August 2010
Country: Lithuania
Denominations: 3 Lt x 2

Collecting Buddhist stamps

Translated by LIM LIY EE

A Buddhist and stamps collector has been integrating his faith with his interest as he has a special preference for collecting stamps with Buddhism theme.

Shu Zhonghan has sorted out thousands of the stamps he collected according to the themes such as the Four Great Bodhisattvas, the Four Great Buddhist Mountains, Buddhist figures and the biography of Gautama Buddha. Each of the theme has lots of stories to tell.

The stamps he collected are from around the world such as China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand and even Muslim countries which possess different Buddhist cultures.

To enhance the value of appreciation of the stamps, he has put them with envelopes, pictures and postcards as embellishments or explanatory notes. It has at the same time enhanced the value of artistic for his collection.

He does not only collect them in stamp albums but he also shows them to the public through exhibitions .He also takes the opportunity to tell his guests Buddhist stories.

Shu has been a Buddhist since young and he started collecting stamps since teen age. At that time, his attention was drawn by a Buddhist stamp on an envelope sent by his relative from China.

At that time, stamp collecting experts suggested that it would be an advantage to collect stamps based on a particular theme instead of collecting a wide-variety of stamps. Therefore he has focused on only Buddhist stamps since then as he is a Buddhist.

He indicated that among thousands of the stamps, it was indeed hard to categorize them. However, with the assistance of his three daughters, he was able to get relevant information for each of the theme.

According to him, as he is a preacher, he had organized two stamp exhibitions to promote Buddhism to the public and they received great responses from the public.

Nevertheless, he stressed that according to the national standards, there were some rules to be followed while collecting stamps such as a stamp must have more pictures and less text and three stories to be told on a piece of paper. He said that his collection has not met the requirements yet.

Therefore, he is currently striving to upgrade his collection to the international standard with the guidance of Malaysia Stamps Association and the assistance of his friends who lend him their stamp collections for reference.

He is also planning to translate the theme of his stamps into English as he would like to share the Buddhist stamps with more people at his international stamp exhibitions in the future.