Club News

Hi ! In club news, meet our new member from Sri Lanka, an interview with our member Mr. Sundar Lal Bansal taken by N.Kalyani It was published in 'The Hindu' on 11 October 2008. Its really nice to see a good coverage on Philately and Philatelists in leading Dailies. It will create an interest about stamp collecting among large number of people. One more contribution by Mr. H.K. Jain. In our regular series some beautiful FDCs of Se-tenant stamps from the collection of Mr. Shrikant Parikh. Today's Post is exclusive Post related with our distinguished members. Our thanks to Ms N.Kalyani of New Delhi for her valuable contribution. Here is also a beautiful stamp (shown above) depicting Letter Box issued by Italy on Europa theme - 'Letter Writing' on 9 May 2008. This is all for Today.....Have a Nice Time !.......


EIPEX - 2008, Bhubaneshwar
A Philatelic Exhibition EIPEX-2008 is going to be organized by Eastern India Philatelists Association at the Jayadev Bhawan, Unit-II, Bhubaneswar on 25th and 26th October, 2008 to commemorate the 10 year of foundation of EIPA with active support of the Department of Posts. The exhibition will be a non-competitive one and is limited to the members of EIPA only. Two special covers will be released on the occasion depicting 'Peace' & 'Unity in Diverity' theme with beautiful cancellations.


Design a Stamp - Painting Competition in Chandigarh
To celebrate Philately Day on 13-10-2008 a painting competition for school children was organised by Chandigarh Posal Division in the GPO.The subject was 'India of my Dreams'. About 70 children participated.The competition was judged by Mr.U.D. Gauttem S.P. HQ Chandigarh Division Mr. Rakesh Walia Philatelist & Mr.G.S.Rana, Post Master .

The following children won the prizes.
1. Ms. Ritika 1st
2. Mr Amandeep Singh 2nd
3. Ms. Akshita Sharma 3rd.

-Rakesh Walia, Chandigarh

New Members

Akalanka Kotelawala, Sri Lanka

Address - 61/46N, Abawaththe Rd, Abeyrathne Mawatha, Boralasgamuwa, Sri Lanka.
Collecting Interests - All stamps all over the world. I like to share stamps also. I have many Sri Lankan stamps.
E-Mail : nipurox@yahoo.com



Going wild!

Sundar Lal Bansal talks to N.Kalyani about wildlife stamps

His philatelic collection speaks of his eye for detail, research and a scientific bent of mind. Well, he has brought to his hobby the traits from his profession. Sundar Lal Bansal, a distinguished scientist, was Chief Controller in missile research a nd development with the Defence Research and Development Organisation . His rendezvous with philately began after his retirement in 1989.
“I took to philately, focusing on wildlife, because it was linked to my interest in nature and wildlife photography,” says Bansal, a nature-lover, who has used his travel to indulge in his passion for photography.
His foray into wildlife, as his philatelic theme, made him undertake a study of biology in detail. “I enjoyed it. It entailed learning about the classification of species: amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, insects, fishes, etc.,” adds Bansal.
His first thematic stamp collection was on butterflies, followed by a collection on the endangered, panda. It covers, in the main, the giant panda, though the lesser or red panda is also featured.
These collections from around the world are extensive, if not exhaustive.
With a view to collecting stamps on threatened wildlife species, Bansal points out that he zeroed in on WWF stamps. Issued by many countries, they are easily identified by the WWF logo, the giant panda. India too issued a set of WWF stamps depicting the Asiatic lion in 1999.
And Bansal then went in for maximaphily, the collecting of maximum cards, that is not a very common category in India.
What are maximum cards?
“Called maxi or maxim cards, for short, they are picture postcards that meet certain criteria. They are called so because they exhibit maximum concurrence of the picture, the stamp and the cancellation, without being a replica of the other,” explains the philatelist who has participated in exhibitions both in India and abroad and won awards.
He goes on to elucidate that an ideal maxim card is one where the photo is not a reproduction of the stamp, the cancellation is pictorial, and the card is cancelled by the post office at the place specific to the theme of the card and on the date of issue of the stamp.
The first official maxim cards brought out by India were as late as 2006, featuring the Himalayan lakes.
His collection of more than a couple of thousand wildlife maxim cards, both those issued by the WWF and officially, that is by post offices, by countries around the world are a delight to see: wildlife species in their habitat shown captivatingly.
Bansal classifies annually the maxim cards as per the categorisation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, based on the degree of threat the species is exposed to. And the species’ current status is mentioned: endangered, critically endangered, threatened, of least concern, etc.
“The classification is done each year because conservation efforts alter the status of a species under threat,” he explains.
-N.Kalyani

Published in The Hindu 11 October 2008
Date:11/10/2008URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2008/10/11/stories/2008101152031600.htm
© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

Aldabra Giant Tortoise : Still fascinating. - Er.H.K.Jain, Mandla (M.P.)

Due to unusual shape & beautiful design of Aldabra Giant Toroise stamps it produced so many combinations for cancellations on First Day Covers. Look here some of them.

A Journey through Indian Stamps - FDCs of Se-tenant stamps

From Collection of Shrikant Parikh

Satyajit Ray / Film Director & Writer - 11January 1994

125th Birth Anni. of Mahatma Gandhi - 2 October 2008

Water Birds (Withdrawn Issue) -23 November 1994

Baroda Museum Centenary - 20 December 1994