New Special Cover

 

A special cover was released on 28 March 2014 on the occasion of Bharat Ratna conferred to Prof CNR Rao during the Dr.Kulapati K.M.Munshi Memorial lecture under the presence of Hon'ble Governor of Karnataka at Khincha Auditorium, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Race Course Road, Bangalore .

- Jagannath Mani & Suresh Rao – Bangalore  : email : jagannathmani7@gmail.com

 

Club News

Workshop on Philately at National Postal Academy , Ghaziabad

-Mainak Kathiara, Ahmedabad

India Post is serious on improvement of Quality, Services for Philately and release of Stamps in a better way & with better Quality and Management. With this objective, they organised a Special Three Days Workshop on Philately for Director Level Officers of India Post at Rafi Ahmad Kidwai National Postal Academy (RAKNPA), Ghaziabad from 3rd March 2014 to 5th March 2014, where Mr. Mainak Kathiara (President Emeritus, Gujarat Philatelists' Association) was invited for a Presentation on "Philately from Philatelists' View". Points mentioned in this presentation were presented to all of them during interactive session on 3rd March 2014.

The Workshop on Philately & Marketing was attended by 30 Director Level Officers from all Circles of India. The main Objectives of the Workshop were:

1) Be able to understand the developments taking place around the world in production & promotion of postage stamps & philatelic products.
2) Be able to visualise philately as a business proposition.
3) Be able to understand the stakeholders perspective on philately.
4) Be able to understand the need to involve all stakeholders for the benefit of one another.
5) Be able to work out a branding & marketing strategy for philately.
6) Be able to organise exhibitions & other philatelic events.
7) Position philately appropriately in the market to generate interest amongst all stakeholders making financial sense for one another.

This event can be considered a turning point for future of philately in India. The concern for upgrading philatelic standards, promotion and its long term plan, vision of India post, giving a status to the hobby & above all inviting suggestions from the stakeholders (philatelists) will help to consolidate philately in India. 3 day workshop on Philately & Marketing, involving the Director level officers (DPS) of all postal circles will send good signals to all the philatelic bureaus across the country in near future. Many suggestions offered were noted down with an assurance of action plan. The feeling was very positive as Member HRD/Director Philately took the initiative & was committed to improve the Philately scenario of the country. The Power Point Presentation (PPP) was taken in good spirits, suggestions were noted & discussed. The message & the will to improve upon were clearly seen. After this workshop, we are very hopeful that in near future philately in India will have a more respectable image in near future. GPA thanks the initiative taken by India Post for inviting & understanding 'Philately from Philatelist's view'. To involve the stakeholders (philatelist) is certainly a positive step & initiative from India Post.

 

New Stamps on Music

 

Date of Issue : 27 March 2014

Iceland Post issued a set of two stamps on  Europa 2014 theme “ Native Musical Instruments”. The stamps feature stone harp and Electromagnetic harp.

Stoneharp:

In 2001 the artist Páll Gudmundsson in Húsafell created a new musical instrument, the so-called stoneharp. The harp consists of stones, each of which forms one tone in a three and a half octave instrument. The stoneharp is composed of rhyolite stone slabs. This instrument is probably unique in music history. It was used in the composition Odin’s Raven Magic which the Icelandic band Sigur Rós performed along with musicians and singers.

Electromagnetic harp:

The innovation awards presented by the President of Iceland in March 2013 included a new musical instrument, the electromagnetic harp created by artist Ulfur Hansson. Utilizing hand woven magnetic actuators (solenoids) that feedback through 26 strings on the inside, the harp is a completely acoustic electronic instrument. Cables, coils and electrical system are inside the body of the instrument itself. It has a characteristic tone and timbre and is controlled either via open sound control or by a touch keyboard.

Miss World 2013 on stamp

 

 Not only is Filipina-American actress, Megan Young, the crowned most beautiful woman in the world, she has now been honored by the Philippine Postal Corporation on 24th March 2014 with her postage stamp.

In a ceremonial launch at the Post Office Building, Monday morning, Miss World 2013 Megan Young personally unveiled her framed stamp and signed souvenir sheets and stamps that spectators and collectors purchased.

According to Postmaster General Josie Dela Cruz, Miss World 2013 Megan’s triumph is very much deserving of a place in the roster of PHLPost stamps not only because of her sheer beauty but mainly because of her undeniable charm and will to win the pageant for her fellow Filipinos.

Eighty thousand (80,000) copies of the Megan Young stamps were released last February 24, 2014 which feature the image of Young, taken as she was crowned Miss World 2013 during the pageant held at Indonesia, printed in embossed gold stamping technique.

The stamp costs Php 30.00 and Php 40.00 each while the souvenir sheet is sold Php 100.00 per piece.Megan Lynne Young is the first Filipina to win the title of Miss World since its creation in 1951.

Indian philately to be showcased at Slovenia fair

Ljubljana, March 26 (IANS) India Post will put on display the evolution of Indian philately at an annual international exhibition in Slovenia's capital from March 27-29.

Slovenia Post and the Slovenia Philatelic Association will support the display of Indian stamps in this Central European nation, First Day Covers and other materials at the annual international fair COLLECTA, according to the Indian Embassy in Ljubljana. 

India Post will be in focus at this fair. Slovenia Post will also circulate the Indian stamps through major post offices to generate widespread interest in Indian philately.

The process initiated by the Embassy of India in Ljubljana is expected to culminate with the joint issue of stamps by postal authorities of both the countries to commemmorate an event significant to both partners, such as Children's Day.

The popularisation of Indian philately in Slovenia is aimed at promoting awareness and curiosity about India to boost tourism and foster greater knowledge and mutual understanding, the embassy said.

COLLECTA brings together international collectors and traders including those interested in philately, numismatics,  military, antiques, vinyl records and CDs, comics, figurines, minerals, fossils and precious stones.