Date of Issue : 12 June 2014
Here are new stamps from Malta Post in a souvenir sheet featuring FIFA World Cup 2014. The FIFA World Cup 2014 is being held in in Brazil between 12 June and 13 July 2014. This is the championship’s 20th edition having started in Uruguay in 1930. Brazil is hosting the event for the second time and 32 nations are competing for the grand title. A total of 64 matches are to be played in 12 cities across Brazil and this is the first time that goal-line technology will be used in the World Cup Finals. The official anthem for the 2014 World Cup Finals is “We Are One” and was sung by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez and Claudia Leitte at the inauguration ceremony.
The official emblem is entitled “Inspiration” and the design is based on the idea of three victorious hands together raising the World Cup trophy. Its colours evoke the country’s national flag and the design reflects Brazil’s desire to warmly welcome the world to this grand event.
The mascot for Brazil 2014 – the animated armadillo Fuleco – is set to make Fifa millions. But the real animal – the Brazilian three-banded armadillo – is perilously close to extinction.
The event’s official mascot and emblem has been featured respectively on the 0.59 and 1.55 stamp. The World Cup has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946 due to the Second World War. Eight different countries have won the 19 World Cup events with Brazil topping the list – winning five times. The other World Cup winners were Italy with four titles, West Germany with three titles and Argentina and Uruguay with two titles each. England, France and Spain won the title once.
In 2012, Fifa unveiled its mascot for Brazil 2014, a colourful armadillo called Fuleco. Its real-world inspiration is the Brazilian three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes tricinctus, a species that has evolved the defensive trick of rolling up into a near-perfect, football-like sphere.
Club News
The Year Book of Indian Philately : 2013
The Year Book of Indian Philately : 2013 edition by Madan Middha has just been released. The book is available with Mr Middha.
Please contact Mr Madan Middha Saket Vihar, Phalka Bazar, GWALIOR 474 001. - email : madan_middha@yahoo.co.in
2013 edition of the Year Book includes important philatelic texts / research articles on some important subjects in Indian Philately, like
- A very important article on “Mail Arrangements between India & Pakistan” after partition of 1947, is authored by famous postal historian Shri Ashok Bayanwala for the 2013 edition of the Year Book. The article makes a very interesting reading and is a gem of the postal history information.
- The Telegrams or the Telegraphs, breathed their last in India during 2013. “Indian Telegraphs” had a long history, spread over 63 Years and covering every sphere of Indian lives. It was befitting to have a tribute for this service included in the 2013 edition of the Year Book, we have done so. A farewell write-up to this iconic service is written by Shri Ilyas Patel on its setting off. A write-up to preserve for the times to come; for reference & remembrance.
- The regular contributor, Shri Naresh Agarwal has penned an article on “Azad Hind Stamps” for this edition. Azad Hind Stamps have a special philatelic and also emotional significance among Indian Philatelists ; these are inseparable part of Indian Postal History. You will be astonished to learn about the background and other details about them.
- India and Indian Philately is known in the world by name of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi is one of the themes recognised and collected world over with great enthusiasm. Noted thematic collector Shri Sudhir Jain has compiled an article on “Gandhi : 1948 Issues” which highlights lots of details about this much recognised stamp issue from India, which with “Service” overprint, is known as the costliest modern stamp of the world.
- An specially commissioned article on “Indian Watermarks” is a worthy addition to the contents of the 2013 Year Book. This article provides the details of the watermarks found on Indian Postal Stamps to the date, with illustrations of all of them.
- On the contemporary scene, India Post has started a new money transfer service in collaboration with the ICICI Bank, one of the largest private banks in India, called the “Smart Money Order”. This service has many firsts to its credit and has an interesting story to go through. Famous writer Prashant Pandya has recorded the facts and the story of this service for the Year Book 2013.
- Rajesh Paharia, a postal history enthusiast has contributed an article on “Window Delivery” facility provided by the postal departments in earlier years. This is one of the rare subjects in philately with little information available ; this article is an effort to unfold this mystery.
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