New Special Covers

Special Cover : Martyr's Day - 30th January , Lucknow

A special Cover and a set of  3 Picture Post Cards were released on Martyr's Day ( 30 January) at Lucknow .

Courtesy : Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhpur ; M. Gulrez -  Allahabad

Special Cover :  Our Lady of Health Church, Ariankuppam, Pondicherry : 20 December 2015

: Courtesy - Suresh Rao, Bangalore

Botanical Art stamps from USPS

The U.S. Postal Service issued a new set of beautiful floral-themed stamps with Botanical Art, booklets of 10 and 20 stamps. The stamp art features ten designs, each a detail of an illustration from an American nursery catalog printed between 1891 and 1912. The design details are courtesy of The New York Botanical Garden; the catalogs are part of NYBG’s Nursery and Seed Catalog Collection, one of the largest and most important such collections in the U.S.

In the mid-19th century, as more people discovered the joys of ornamental and recreational gardening, thriving commercial greenhouses and nurseries marketed plants to the eager gardeners. To entice buyers, the nurseries created colorful catalogs illustrated with beautiful blossoms and lush foliage. The illustrations were idealized, romantic versions of what plants could look like, but they fueled many a garden dream.

Courtesy - US Postal Service

New Stamps from India

Commemorative Stamp on Vibrant India - 25th January 2016

India is a mix of many vibrant cultures and colors. One can clearly distinguish the North from the South and the East from the West simply based on ethnic differences. With so many varied languages, festivals, religions and traditions, it makes us all the more exotic and incredible to the rest of the world! We define 'unity in diversity' like no other country does and are absolutely flamboyant in our description. Our lavish cultures speak for themselves and make us as colorful as ever. The Department of Posts had organized national level stamp design competition on the theme of ‘Vibrant India’ for the stamp to be released on the occasion of Republic Day 2016.

On the occasion of Republic Day of India a Miniature Sheet on ‘Vibrant India’ was released on 25th January 2016 in the denomination of Rs. 25. A limited edition presentation pack on Vibrant India on the occasion of Republic Day 2016 priced at 300/- is available for sale at ePost Office Portal of India Post.

Commemorative Stamp on Income Tax Appellate Tribunal – 24th January 2016

Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is celebrating its platinum jubilee this year. The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the opening ceremony of the Two Day Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal at Convention Hall, Ashok, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on 24th January, 2016. On the occasion President Shri Pranab Mukherjee released a Commemorative Stamp on Income Tax Appellate Tribunal in presence of The Union Minister for Law & Justice, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the Chief Justice of India, Shri Justice T. S. Thakur and Secretary (Posts) & Chairman PS Board Ms. Kavery Banerjee.

Courtesy - Indian Philately Digest, Stamps of India

Russian National Cuisine

Date of Issue : 13 January 2016

Here  is a beautiful stamp issued by Russian Post featuring  traditional Russian cuisine. It is a nice collectible item for those collecting stamps on Tourism and gastronomy  theme,.

An integral part of every national culture is a cuisine. World-famous Russian cuisine boasts diversity and abundance. Throughout its centuries-old history, cookery in Russia was enriched by a lot of recipes of delicious dishes. The main feature of Russian cuisine is considered to be an abundance and variety of products used for cooking.

Russian cuisine is distinguished by various sour, salted and retted vegetables, fruits and mushrooms, as well as a multitude of delicacies: sturgeon, salmon, salmon roe and caviar, cold boiled pork, etc. Profusion of soups is also a tradition, the best-known are okroshka, shchi, borsch, rassolnik, solyanka, kalya, ukha, botvinia.

Happy Republic Day !

Greetings on Republic Day

Today is our 67th Republic Day . Greetings to all Indians living in every corner of the world on this very special day.

Club News

SIPA Diamond Jubilee Stamp Exhibition

SIPA is conducting its Diamond Jubilee Philatelic Exhibition in the month of December 2016. The dates of exhibition is from 23rd to 25th of December 2016

Venue:

Shri Ramdayal Kalavathi Khemkha Agarwal Sabha Bhavan,

22c Bajana Koil St,

Naduvankarai, 

Anna Nagar, 

Chennai 600040

(Near D G Vaishnav College)

New Special Covers

 WORLD THINKERS & WRITERS' PEACE MEET : Kolkata- 27 December 2015

LUCKNOW BOOK FAIR

Spreading the Light of Knowledge....

LUCKNOW METRO .... THE LIFELINE OF LUCKNOW  : 21 December 2015

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECT WEST BENGAL CHAPTER : Kolkata - 18 December 2015

Delicious Nordic Food Culture

Nordic Kitchen

 Iceland

Date of Issue : 16 February 2016

Finland

: 

Date of Issue : 22 January 2016

The Karelian pasty is a traditional baked product familiar to all Finns, suitable for both everyday life and festive moments. The motif of the stamp  is a tray full of freshly baked, golden brown Karelian pasties. 

The pasties on the stamps form a continuous pattern in the 10-stamp sheet, resembling water-lily pads or stones in the water. The roots of the Karelian pasty are in northern and eastern Karelia, from where the pasty tradition spread throughout Finland after the Second World War.

Karelian pasties are a popular snack you can buy at any grocery store, and the baking skills are passed from one generation to the next. The Karelian pasty is covered by the European Union's food name and product protection.The Karelian Pasty stamp is part of the 2016 Nordic stamp series, the theme of which is Nordic culinary culture.

Denmark

Danish Food 

The well-known classic from the Danish lunch table have now been honored with two stamps as part of the joint Nordic issue Nordic Food Culture. As has been the tradition for many years, the postal companies in the eight Nordic countries issue stamps with a joint theme every other year. This time, the choice has fallen on food, with each country selecting dishes which are currently popular in the country in question.

The Stjerneskud is one of Denmark’s best- known lunch dishes and it appeared on one of the stamp issue called “Nordic Food Culture”. In all its simplicity, it consists of one poached and one fried plaice fillet arranged on a piece of white bread and topped with prawns, mayonnaise, caviar, asparagus and a slice of lemon.

“In the past, the Stjerneskud was known in the restaurant business as a Tout de Paris, and in fact parts of the dish can be traced back to the French restaurant cuisine in about 1900″, explains food historian Else- Marie Boyhus.

Even though many Danes, in particular those living in northern Jutland, love the Stjerneskud, it has not been widely recognized by leading chefs. The renowned chef John Price did not hesitate to call the dish a “pig’s trough”, while chefs Rasmus Kofoed and Søren Ledet were once fired from the Hotel d’Angleterre in Copenhagen, ostensibly because they refused to serve Stjerneskud to guests. These days, however, the dish is popular fare at many village halls and also at countless restaurants, both as a starter and as a lunch dish.

On the second stamp of the issue “Nordic Food Culture” the fish specialty Sol over Gudhjem, or Sunshine on Gudhjem, appeared. This dish was developed as the island of Bornholm’s contribution to the open sandwich culture which emerged in Denmark during the second half of the nineteenth century. Freshly smoked herring is served on grainy rye bread garnished with chopped onion, chives, radishes and topped with a raw egg yolk in an onion ring.

For many years, the hot-smoking technique was a good and stable source of income for the islanders, who sold the freshly smoked fish to the fish exporters. It was naturally important that the perishable fish were cooked while they still tasted fresh, preferably within 24 hours. Today, there are still many herring smokeries on Bornholm, and Sol over Gudhjem features prominently on the menus of many of the restaurants on the rocky island.

2016 - Year of the Monkey

Date of Issue : 31 January 2016

The Year of the Monkey is a rewarding year where anything can happen. The Monkey is the most versatile sign of the Chinese zodiac. Such people are often inventors, plotters, entertainers and the creative geniuses behind anything ingenious, including mischief.

The Year of the Monkey that is celebrated by two new stamps by Gibraltar Post begins on the 8th February 2016 and finishes on the 27th January 2017. Occupying the 9th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Monkey possesses such character traits as curiosity, mischievousness, and cleverness. Forever playful, Monkeys are the masters of practical jokes. Even though their intentions are always good, this desire to be a prankster has a tendency to create ill will and hurt feelings.

Although they are inherently intellectual and creative, Monkeys at times have trouble exhibiting these qualities. When that happens, they appear to others to be confused. But nothing could be further from the truth as Monkeys thrive on being challenged. Monkeys prefer urban life to rural, and their favourite pastime is people-watching.

New Special Covers

Hi ! 

I am back to the Blog Posts. Sorry for the long gap . I was on vacation so couldn't update my blog.Now sharing here the updates of recent special covers.

Recent Special Covers

MAHAPEX 2015 - Kalaram Mandir - 17 January 2016

MAHAPEX 2015 : Nashik  - City of Grapes - 17 January 2016

-

Courtesy -  M.Gulrez

MOTHER OF FREEDOM   - RAJAMATA JIJAU   ( 1598 - 1674 ) - 8 January 2016

 Courtesy - Sreejesh Krishnan, Trivandrum

Club News

KERAPEX 2016

THRISSUR DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE BANK - 7 January 2016

First District Bank in India Providing Rupay e-commerce facility

13TH KERALA STATE LEVEL PHILATELIC EXHIBITION Inaugurated by Hon.Minister for Co-operation, Khadi and Village Industries, Govt. of Kerala Sri C. N. Balakrishnan at Sree Sankara Hall, M. G. Road, Trichur on 7th January 2016.Post Master General, Central Region, Kerala Smt. Sumathi Ravichandran released three special covers .

DIAMOND JUBIKLEE CELEBRATION OF COLLEGE OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL

SCIENCES, MANNUTHY, TRICHUR - 7 January 2016

The first Veterinary College of state of Travancore - Cochin

KERALA INSTITUTE OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION - 7 January 2016

An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Local Self Government, Govt. of Kerala, is the nodal agency for training research and consultancy for local self-governent institutions in Kwerala.

- Sreejesh Krishnan, Trivandrum : email : sreejesh.nt@gmail.com

Special Cover on Padmavibhushan Dr Veerendra - 6 January 2016

- Sudhir Jain

A special cover issued at Dharwar (Karnataka) on 6th January 2016 on renowned Jain personality and Kshetradhikari of Shri Kshetra Dharmsthala Pujya Dr. Veerendra Heggade. Special cover released in a grand function by Defence Minister of India Shri Manohar Parrikar in the presence of PMG Shri B. P. Sarangi.

The occasion was to honour Pujya Veerendra Heggade on facilitation of Padmavibhushan. Function was jointly organized by Lions Club Hubli PARIWAR and Sanskar School Hubli. Lions President Mahaveer Kundur was instrumental in release of this special cover. 

Club News

Rainbow Stamp News January 2016

Hi !

January 2016 Issue of Rainbow Stamp News has just been released. It is available on following links !

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.in/ ( For Indian Readers )

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.in/2016/01/rainbow-january2016.html

http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/ (For Overseas Readers)

Happy Collecting !!!!   Happy Collecting !!! Happy Collecting !! Happy Collecting !

Stop to human trafficking !

The UPAEP is celebrating their 100 years anniversary this year and it has been commemorated by many stamp issues from the UPAEP member countries. This year’s America-UPAEP issue is dedicated to supporting the fight against human trafficking, which is particularly severe in the case of children in America and women in Europe, who are brought from countries in Eastern Europe and Africa through deceit or coercion.

Trafficking or illegal trade of persons for unlawful purposes is a crime against humanity, having unfortunately become a global phenomenon, a form of 21^st century slavery due to the very high number of victims (estimated at over four millions).

This crime against humanity has become a global problem that has gotten so large in scale, with more than 4 million individuals exploited, that it has become known as 21st century slavery. The trafficking business moves tens of billions of dollars per year worldwide, in addition to the more than 12.3 million people who are living in conditions similar to slavery, according to a denouncement from the International Labour Organisation. In Latin America more than two million children and adolescents suffer sexual, commercial or labour abuse, and even in the European Union there could be as many as 275,000 victims of human trafficking, according to United Nations estimates.

In 2000, the UN passed the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons in response to this type of crime. The protocol is one of three passed at the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, also known as the Palermo Convention. This legal instrument aims to facilitate convergence in the establishment of national criminal offences that support efficient international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting cases of human trafficking. The Protocol’s other objective is to protect and assist the victims of human trafficking with full respect for their human rights.

Happy New Year !!

Date of Issue : 12 January 2016

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year !!

In 2016, the U.S. Postal Service® issues another stamp in its popular Love series, Quilled Paper Heart. Quilling—also called paper filigree—involves rolling and shaping narrow strips of paper, laying them on their edges, and gluing them in place to form intricate designs. The origin of the name “quilling” is obscure, but it might have come from the first tool used to create the paper curls, the base of a feather or quill.

Artist Yulia Brodskaya used heavy paper strips to create her design, choosing bright colors that would be appealing and eye-catching. The heart shape in the center of the stamp art is made from paper strips of many colors and is surrounded by white paper swirls. The background is white with shadows cast by the dimensional pieces of quilled paper.

Quilliing is believed to date from the 15th or 16th century. The first known quillers were monks and nuns in European religious houses. Inspired by metal filigree, quilling was an inexpensive way to create elaborate decorations normally beyond the means of most churches and religious orders. When gilded or silvered, the curled paper could resemble the work of the finest gold- and silversmiths, while designs made with cream-colored paper or vellum appeared to be carvings of ivory.

During the last 20 years, quilling has gained a new popularity. It is a technique that has changed very little with the passage of time and is accessible to anyone. Modern-day quillers only need a few tools to get started—paper, scissors, glue, and a quill-like implement for curling the strips.