Cawnpex 2016 - District level philatelic exhibition, Kanpur

Cawnpex 2016

- A Report by Aditya Asthana

A two day district level philatelic exhibition,“Cawnpex 2016”was organized by India Post from 16^th – 17^th December, 2016. The name “Cawnpex“was inspired by the erstwhile spelling of the city - Cawnpore. The postal department branded the exhibition with a special logo of the event, featuring a picture of the current Kanpur G.P.O building. In 2015, the district level exhibition held at Kanpur was named Kanpex 2015 but Henceforth the event would be called Cawnpex. The Exhibition had 56 frames in Competitive class and 2 in Invitee class. Mr. Dinesh Chandra Sharma and Mr. Arun Agarwal were the members of the jury at the event. The exhibition took place at the Kanpur Philatelic Bureau which is situated at the second floor of the GPO building.

3 special covers were released during the exhibition. On December 16^th, the exhibition was inaugurated by PMG Mr. Alok Saxena and a special cover dedicating the flag song (Vijayi vishwa tiranga pyara, Jhanda uncha rahe hamara...') written by Shyam Lal Gupta Parshad, a popular writer from Kanpur, was released. The special cover features the image of the original notes of the writer (source: Bithoor Museum) and the cancellation features a flag. A painting competition was also organized for the school children.

On  December 17^th, two special covers were released. A cover featuring a quotation by Mahatma Gandhi, “Everyone must be his own scavenger” was released on “Swatchh Bharat”. The cancellation of the cover  features spectacles of Gandhi (Swatchh Bharat logo). Another cover featuring the pictures of Cawnpore Kotwali, Radha Krishna (J.K.) Temple and a proposed Kanpur metro train with caption “Kanpur Kal, Aaj Aur Kal” was also released. The cancellation of the cover features  Kanpur GPO building.

The award ceremony was chaired by Prof. Indranil Manna, Director of IIT Kanpur. All participants were honored with medals and certificates.

Award List

Aditya Asthana -  “Postal History of Cawnpore” Gold + Best Exhibit Trophy (Senior)

Sidak Singh Saluja –“Brave Sikhs in Defense” - Silver + Best Exhibit trophy ( Junior)

Dipak Gupta – “Innovative stamps” of Bhutan - Gold

Rajpreet Singh Saluja - “Sikhism – It’s Glory and Heritage” - Gold

Mrs. Nupur Mehrotra - Indian Postal Stationery – Gold

Winners : L to R: Sidak Singh, Aditya Asthana, Rajpreet Singh Saluja, D.D.Shukla, Dipak Gupta, Vishal Yadav

Kanpur Philatelists' meet 

 Pic 1 : D.D. Shukla, Arjun Ghosh,  Rajpreet Singh Saluja, Arun Agrawal
Pic 2 : Aditya Asthana, RS Saluja, Dipak Gupta &  Ramesh Chandra

New Stamp from India - Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay

A commemorative Stamp on Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay was released by Uttar Pradesh Governor Shri Ram Naik and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party Shri Amit Shah at Lucknow on 29th December 2016..

New Special Cover

Special Cover on Mahopadhyay Kshamakalyan Ji Maharaj

A special cover has been issued at Bikaner on 28th Dec. 2016 to commemorate bi-centenary of death of Jain saint Mahopadhyay Kshamakalyan Ji Maharaj. Special cover depicts Jain Saint performing mantra energisation of Vasakshep.

This special cover was released by Mr. Narayan Chopra Mayor of Bikaner. Mr. Mahavir Ranka Chairman Nagar Vikas Nyas Bikaner, Mr. S. S. Shekhawat Superintendet of Post Offices and Mr. Lalit Kumar Nahata convener were other dignitaries present on the stage in the release function.

- Sudhir Jain - Satna (MP)

Brasilia-2017 - Specialized World Stamp Exhibition

Brasilia-2017 is a Specialized World Stamp Exhibition. The Exhibition will open on 24 October 2017 and close on 29 October 2017. An exhibitor whose entry has won at least a  vermeil award at the National philatelic exhibitions, or have participated in an International philatelic exhibition and have won a medal may submit entry. Acceptance of exhibit  totally depends on organizers.

Mr Ajay Kumar Mittal is the National Commissioner. Interested philatelists may contact him at email : ajaymittal1957@gmail.com

Following classes are available for participation.

Exhibition Classes

Class 1 – FIP Championship Class - For exhibits that have been awarded three Large Gold medals, in three different years, at World Exhibitions held under FIP Patronage over the last ten years (2007-2016).

Class 2 - Traditional Philately (TP): A) Brazil. B) Americas (except Brazil). C) Europe. D) Asia, Oceania and Africa. 

Class 3 - Postal History (PH): A) Brazil. B) Americas (except Brazil). C) Europe. D) Asia, Oceania and Africa. 

Class 4 - Postal Stationery (PS). 

Class 5 - Thematic Philately (TH) (*). Exhibits will be classified under: A) 

Nature. B) Culture. C) Technology.
(*) Please, indicate clearly in the “Exhibit Application Form” as to the subclass (A, B or C) the exhibit is entering. 

Class 6 - One Frame – TP, PH, PS, TH. 

Class 7 - Modern Philately – TP, PH, PS, TH. 

Class 8 - Youth Philately:

Age for Group A: 10-15 years old (As of January 1st, 2017).
Age for Group B: 16-18 years old (As of January 1st, 2017).
Age for Group C: 19-21 years old (As of January 1st, 2017). 

Class 9 - Philatelic Literature:
A) Philatelic books and research papers (published on or after January 1st, 2012).
B) Philatelic magazines and periodicals (the whole annual volume issued after January 1st, 2015).
C) Catalogues (published after January 1st, 2015).

Article 9 – Participation Fee 
9.1 There is no fee for Non-Competitive Class entries
9.2 The participation fee for Competitive Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 is US$ 60.00 per frame. 

(An additional 50 Swiss Francs per frame for the FIP Championship Class shall be paid directly to FIP).

9.3 The participation fee for One-Frame Exhibit (Class 6) is US$ 75.00 per exhibit.
9.4 There is no fee for Youth Philately (Class 8).
9.5 The participation fee for Philatelic Literature (Class 9) is US$ 60.00 per exhibit.

All interested may please contact Mr Ajay Kr. Mittal with the details of their exhibits, earlier participation and award won etc.

Live Healthy - Bible Food

Date of Issue : 24 November 2016

Romania Post has issued a beautiful set of Stamps featuring Fruits under the series Bible Food.

The Bible gives us much information on food and many rules about healthy nutrition. These simple and modest foods can provide a complete food palette underlining healthy eating and the subject of the postage stamp issue “Live Healthy!”.

 Since the tendency to return to nature and generally the natural products has accentuated over the past few years, one should adopt a diet that ensures complete nutrition to maintain the body’s energy, without leading to the weakness of body and soul.

Using grain since ancient times is mentioned in the Bible. In ancient beliefs, bread had the attribute of a living being, sometimes being even considered the embodiment of God.

Wheat, flour, and bread dough are loaded with meanings and symbols as current and appropriate as they are old, a sign of joy and abundance. In biblical times the bread was made from wheat or barley. Both grains are rich in vitamins, fiber and cellulose, being symbols of life and rebirth and constituting essential and crucial food for both humans and animals.

The fig tree is mentioned several times in the New Testament and the Old Testament. Biblical references to the fig tree are symbolic and subject to many interpretations. 

The Bible attests the figs nutritional value, but also their value as health remedies.. They can be eaten both fresh and dried and contain very high levels of potassium.

 Since ancient times the pomegranate was used for medicinal purposes because of its amazing properties. The pomegranate was and is considered a symbol of health, fertility and eternal life. 

Rich in antioxidants, these fruits, which were attributed curative qualities ever since antiquity, help improve blood circulation and strengthen the immune system. Pomegranates are used as an ingredient for drinks or food in many countries and rhodium flowers are used in traditional medicine for their astringent effect.

Popular worldwide, the vine is a symbol of life, health, and especially joy. In the Bible we find many references to vines and wine, all with deep meanings, and loaded symbols.

In Christian worship, wine from the grape, turned during Mass into the Blood of Christ, is the source of life.

The wine, along with bread, honey and oil are considered a staple food, symbol of wealth. 

In addition to the very good taste, grapes are miracle foods for the body. Vitamins and minerals make grapes a very healthy choice and, therefore, it is appropriate to eat them more often.

The olive tree is considered the “eternally fruitful tree”, being a tree with an extraordinary length of life, having amazing regenerative power, remaining over time a symbol of peace, wisdom and purity.

Considered some of the most nutritious fruits, olives are also real medicine. Olives, green fruit, fleshy, becoming black-purple when ripe, contain fewer carbohydrates and are an excellent source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Therefore can be a light and delicious snack, but can also be used as ingredients for different dishes.

As the fruit of the olive tree produces a rich and viscous oil which can be burned in lamps for religious rituals, the olive tree was considered sacred. Used daily in the diet, olive oil reduces the risk of heart disease and is recommended in diets. 

New Stamps from India - Prominent Personalities of Bihar

Personality Series on Bihar

Date of Issue : 26 December 2016

India Post released a set of 8 commemorative postage stamps in the denomination of Rs 5 each in Personality Series on Bihar on December 26, 2016. 

Hardayal Municipal Public Heritage Library 

Date of Issue : 26 January 2016

India Post released a commemorative postage stamp in the denomination of Rs 5 on Hardayal Municipal Public Heritage Library on December 26, 2016 

Image Courtesy : Stamps of India

King Solomon's Ships

Date of Issue : 17 November 2016

Here is a beautiful miniature sheet issued by Israel Post featuring King Solomon's Ships.King Solomon inherited a large and wealthy kingdom from his father King David, stretching from the Euphrates River in the north to the Eilat Bay in the south. The good trade relations King Solomon created with the rulers of nearby kingdoms, as well as the great wealth he accumulated thanks to those relations and to the taxes he collected, are described in the Bible in books I Kings and II Chronicles.

The development of his fleet in the Red Sea was described in detail: "Hiram sent servants of his with the fleet, mariners who were experienced on the sea, to serve with Solomon's men. They came to Ophir; there they obtained gold in the amount of four hundred and twenty talents" (I Kings, 9:27-28). King Hiram of Tyre, who knew how to build ships and had men who were skilled mariners, partnered with King Solomon, who ruled the Eilat Coast and together they built a fleet of trade ships in the Red Sea. These ships sailed to Ophir, which was apparently located along either the eastern or the western coast of the Red Sea, and returned carrying many treasures and exotic wares.

A similar journey is described in Egyptian sources dating from 500 years earlier, during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. Egyptian ships sailed southward to the Land of Punt, which was also apparently in eastern Africa. The remnants of murals on the walls of Hatsheput's mortuary temple in Deir el-Bahari feature exotic goods that were brought to Egypt at that time from the same faraway land, and contribute to the interpretation of the biblical descriptions.

In addition to gold and silver, "ivory, apes and peacocks" were also brought to King Solomon (I Kings, 10:22). The Egyptian murals show the "apes" to be baboons. 

The Bible also notes that "a huge quantity of almug wood" was brought from Ophir (I Kings, 10:11). Biblical scholars and modern researchers have voiced various opinions regarding the nature of the "almug wood". Some claim that these were special wooden beams used for construction; others think that they were saplings of exotic aromatic trees, and a third opinion is that they were a rare type of coral.

Based on the various interpretations, the stamp designer portrayed a heap of treasures that were unloaded on the dock at the seaport in Ezion-Geber, which today is the city of Eilat. These treasures were taken to King Solomon's palace in Jerusalem and used in the construction of the Temple and the palace. Thanks to the journey to Ophir "King Solomon excelled all the kings on earth in wealth... the king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones..." (I Kings, 10:27) 

New Special Cover...

State Bank of Mysore : 16 December 2016, Bangalore

State Bank of Mysore, an associate of State Bank of India, popularly known as "Mysore Bank", was founded by Bharat Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya under the Royal patronage of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore, Shri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, on 2nd October 1913. As a premier commercial Bank in Karnataka, it enjoys excellent brand equity in the state and is well known for the quality of its customer service. This special cover is released at its Head office in Bengaluru to commemorate Bank's 103 years of glorified banking service to the nation.

- Suresh R.- Bangalore

Merry Christmas !!

Merry Christmas

&

A very Happy New Year to all 

New stamps from India - Greetings

Season's Greetings

Date of Issue : 23 December 2016

India Post released a set of 2 special postage stamps and a Miniature Sheet on Season's Greetings on 23rd  December  2016. 

Merry Christmas

Image courtesy - Stamps of India

New Stamp from India..

Samrat Vikramaditya

Date of Issue : 22 December 2016

India Post released a commemorative postage stamp on Samrat Vikramadittya on December 22, 2016 . Vikramaditya  was a legendary emperor of ancient India. He is characterised as the ideal king, known for his generosity, courage, and patronage of scholars. There are hundreds of legends about Vikramaditya, including the ones in Baital Pachisi and Singhasan Battisi. Most of the legends present him as a universal ruler with his capital at Ujjain (Pataliputra or Pratishthana in a few stories).

Image Courtesy - Stamps of India

“Silent Night! Holy Night!”....

Christmas 2016 - Words to Silent Night

Date of Issue : 25 November 2016

Here is a beautiful stamp from Austria featuring famous Christmas carol “Silent Night! Holy Night!” This Christmas carol, which is probably the best known in the world, originated from three tiny municipalities in the province of Salzburg. It was at Christmas in 1818 that the assistant priest Joseph Mohr came to the teacher Franz Xaver Gruber and asked him to compose a melody for his poem of the same name. However, Mohr did not write this in 1818, as was long believed to be the case, but, rather, had written it in 1816, which is why the lyrics of this well-known carol at least are celebrating a special anniversary in 2016.

On this special anniversary of the poem “Silent Night! Holy Night!” a commemorative stamp has been  issued showing an excerpt from a manuscript housed in the Salzburg Museum. Whilst this is not the original version of 1818, it is the only surviving copy of Silent Night written by Joseph Mohr. This handwritten copy including the text and melody is dated to 1824 and bears the simple title “Christmas Carol”. 

2017 - The Year of Rooster

The year 2017  will be celebrate as The Year of the Rooster . The United States Postal Service will issue the Year of the Rooster commemorative forever stamp on  January 5,2017. The first-day-of-issue ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, 719 S. King Street, Seattle, Washington.

The most important holiday of the year for many Asian communities around the world, the Lunar New Year is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan and Mongolian heritage. In many parts of the world,the occasion is marked in various ways across many cultures; parades featuring enormous and vibrantly painted papier-mâché dragons, parties, and other special events are common. Vendors at outdoor markets sell flowers, toys, food, and other items for celebration. Musicians play drums to celebrate this time of renewed hope for the future.

The Year of the Rooster stamp is the 10th of 12 stamps in the Celebrating Lunar New Year series. The Year of the Rooster begins Jan. 28, 2017, and ends Feb. 15, 2018. The stamp depicts a rooster emblazoned on a red envelope (hongbao). Parents present red envelopes containing money to children and loved ones during Lunar New Year celebrations. The color red symbolizes luck in Chinese culture, while rooster imagery is often used to ward off evil spirits. 

Happy New Year Celebrations in Russia..

Date of Issue : 1 December 2016

Here is a beautiful stamp sheet  from Russia Post featuring New Year celebration . In Russia, the New Year is one of the most important family celebrations, and its traditions are handed down from generation to generation. The New Year has been celebrated on 1 January since 1700 by a Decree of Emperor Peter I.

The main attribute and symbol of the holiday is the Christmas tree, which is installed in all Russian cities. Various festive contests, games and competitions take place in skating rinks and stadiums.The postage stamp depicts a New Year circle dance in a skating rink.

Tourism in Jerusalem....

Date of Issue - 17 November 2016

Here is a wonderful set from Israel Post featuring "Tourism in Jerusalem ". "Everyone has a city, and its name is Jerusalem" wrote poet Natan Yonatan, reflecting the wide range of emotions that this magical city evokes in the hearts of billions of people around the world. For thousands of years this magical city has been at the center of existence for people of different religions and cultures who consider it to be the place where God chose to be revealed and where He will judge mankind at the end of time.

Pilgrims of all religions choose to come to Jerusalem to follow their religious sentiments, to see the places they admire and to walk in the footsteps of the saints who have molded the essence of their faith. Thus for example, Christian believers can walk the alleyways of the Old City along the traditional Via Dolorosa and touch the stones they believe to be holy.

Throughout history, representatives of many different empires ruled Jerusalem, leaving their mark upon the city by erecting magnificent buildings representing their own culture. The Ramparts Promenade, which runs along the top of the Old City walls and was built in the 16th century by Turkish Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, provides tourists with a wonderful viewpoint overlooking the roofs of the Old City interspersed with minarets atop mosques, church towers and domed synagogues.

From atop the walls, visitors can also see the new city of Jerusalem, which began to be built in the mid-19th century. During that tumultuous time, the European powers attempted to emphasize their presence in Jerusalem by erecting magnificent large buildings, which continue to adorn the streets of the city to this day. Tourists can stroll along Jaffa Road, one of the main streets of the city, or ride the light railway that was installed in recent years, gazing at buildings such as the Generali Building, which was constructed by representatives of Italy and features a winged lion, the symbol of the city of Venice.

In 1892 the first railway line in Eretz Israel was completed, running between Jerusalem and the Jaffa port. The First Train Station, built at that time, served the city for decades. A new train station was built in the late 20th century in the southern part of the city, and the old building was renovated. It now serves as a tourist attraction, providing visitors with a delightful combination of culinary art, culture and atmosphere on the old train platforms. Visitors can walk or bike along the old train route, which is now a well kept park.

The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo provides an enjoyable break from visiting historical sites. Here tourists can see animals mentioned in the Bible alongside rare and endangered species. Direct contact with the adorable animals in the petting zoo melts the hearts of the young as well as the young at heart.

The peak of the Mount of Olives provides enchanting views of the city of Jerusalem, including those mentioned above and many more. Its abundance of historical sites makes Jerusalem one of the most fascinating cities in the world. And in the words of poet Natan Yonatan, "Everyone has a place in Jerusalem that he calls love." 

Father Christmas

Date of Issue : 21 November 2016

Here is a beautiful set of stamps and MS featuring Father Christmas issued by Jersey Post. The stamps depict Santa clause in different moods. It is a wonderful set for children and those collecting on Christmas theme.

New Book on Special Covers of Tamil Nadu

Collector's Guide on Special Covers of Tamil Nadu

A new book "Collector's Guide on Special Covers of Tamil Nadu" compiled by T. Mathan and N. Vignesh was released on 25th November 2016 during SIPA Diamond 2016 Jubilee Exhibition. This beautifully designed hard bound book gives complete data with colored pictures of  special covers (1961 onwards ) released by Tamil Nadu Postal Circle of India Post . The book is very useful for all stamp lovers and philatelists. Thematic collectors can find various themes in this book for their philatelic collection. The price of the book is Rs 800.  Interested philatelists may contact : N. Vignesh  email :  sendmailstovicky@gmail.com  ph. +91 7418711411 (Whats App)