World Cup Football (Jules Rimet Cup) and India

India was qualified for the final tournament for playing in the 4th edition of the World Cup Football held in Brazil in 1950. India then ranked 36 were placed in Pool- III along with Sweden (3), Italy (5) and Paraguay (10). But eventually withdrew because FIFA would not allow Indians to play barefoot. So far so good.

The Official Poster promoting the tournament unfortunately made a big goof-up. The original poster (now held in FIFA's archives in Zurich) shown below has the British-Indian Blue Ensign of pre-Independence India in place of Independent India's Tricolour adopted in 1947.

This poster was later depicted in several postage stamps issued from across the world viz., Uruguay (1951), Tcand (1977) and Japan (2010).

-       Sekhar Chakrabarty : email : sekhar.chakrabarti@gmail.com

Club News

Markand Dave wins The Royal Philatelic Society London Medal 2018

Markand Dave FRPSL,  A Philatelist from Nadiad has been awarded by Patrick Maselis RDP FRPSL , President of the Royal Philatelic Society London with the prestigious LONDON MEDAL 2018 for his outstanding and extensive services to the society as a Representative of India. He was awarded medal on 28^th June 2018. The Queen of Great Britain , Elizabeth ii is the Patron of the society where Markand Dave is the youngest fellow in the world and first Indian to receive this medal.

Stickers for Promotion of Philately

Thanks to Mr Sushil Mehra for these nice stickers.

“Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”

Date of Issue : 14 July 2018

Here is a beautiful stamp to be issued by USPS on 14 July 2018 on a famous cartoon Character Scooby- Doo.

This new issuance is a 12-stamp sheet featuring Scooby-Doo helping out by watering a blossoming plant in a flowerpot — a simple act symbolizing a component of the “Doo Good” campaign’s effort to provide young people with tools and activities geared toward enriching the environment. The campaign, launching this year in partnership with generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, also focuses on helping the hungry and acting as animal allies.

The lovable, iconic Great Dane Scooby-Doo has solved mystery after spooky mystery since his 1969 debut. With his teenage friends — Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy — Scooby is at the heart of one of the most enduring cartoon franchises in television history. The charismatic canine has now fronted more than a dozen TV series, plus direct-to-video animated films, comic books and live-action cinematic releases.

In Scooby-Doo’s comedy–mystery adventures, he and the gang investigate strange plots in eerie locales as they travel in their colorful van, the Mystery Machine. Scooby Snacks are always on hand; the tempting treats empower the cowardly Scooby to sniff out clues. Once the gang musters courage, cooperates, and persists in their dogged investigations, the spooky schemers’ plots are exposed.

Three generations of fans have now embraced Scooby-Doo and the “meddling kids,” as they are often called by the villains unmasked at the conclusion of each Scooby-Doo mystery.

Source : USPS

UNISPACE + 50

On 20 June 2018, UNPA  issued six stamps and three souvenir sheets to celebrate UNISPACE+50. 

UNISPACE+50 is a special segment of the sixty-first session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) that was held from 20 to 21 June 2018 in Vienna. The purpose of UNISPACE+50 is to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and to take stock of the contributions to global space governance of the three UNISPACE conferences, held in Vienna in 1968, 1982 and 1999. 

Club News

Philately Workshop in Chandigarh

A PHILATELY WORKSHOP WAS ORGANISED BY INDIA POST,CHANDIGARH ON 22 06 2018 WITH THE HELP OF A TEAM OF PHILATELISTS. A PHILATELIC QUIZ AND 'DESIGN A STAMP' COMPETITION WAS ALSO HELD. 

- Vipan Kumar Thakur, Chandigarh

New Special Covers from Karnataka

KTK/36/2018 - 80 Years of Vidurashwatha Dhwaj Satyagraha (Jallianwala Bagh of the South)

'Vidurashwatha' is a small village located in the Gauribidanur taluk of Chikkaballapur district in the state of Karnataka, India. Vidurashwatha is also known as the 'Jallianwala Bagh of the South'. On April 25, 1938, as a part of the freedom struggle of India, a group of villagers had congregated to organize a Satyagraha. Similar to what happened at Jallianwala Bagh, police fired indiscriminately at the group, 32 people were gunned down as the locals assert. A memorial has been erected at this location bearing the names of those who lost their lives in this incident. This special cover is released to commemorate 80 years of the incident. 

KTK/41/2018 - Silver Jubilee of Manipal Academy of Higher Education. 

KTK/42/2018 - World No Tobacco Day

World No Tobacco Day 2018 will focus on the impact tobacco has on the cardiovascular health of people worldwide. Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular diseases. 

KTK/43/2018 - 55th year of Sir M. V. Memorial Education Society.

KTK/44/2018 - 8th International Conference on the Biology of Butterflies, Bengaluru

The International Conferences on the Biology of Butterflies are four-yearly gatherings of scientists and butterfly enthusiasts. The conferences celebrate scientific discovery of the fascinating beauty, diversity and lives of butterflies. This postal special cover is released on the occasion of the 8th conference held in Bengaluru, India, in June 2018 - the first time this conference is organised in a biodiverse developing country. 

-Suresh.R

Bengaluru

Noted stamp dealer Arun Bhattacharya is no more...

A well known figure in the philatelic fraternity, Shri Arun Bhattacharya of Kolkata passed away today, 22 June 2018. He was Vice President of Philatelic Dealers Association. Active as Stamp Dealer for over 4 decades he traveled all over India and nearby nations regularly. He was a very popular stamp dealer among philatelists as his rates for  philatelic items were very reasonable and moreover he was a very sweet tempered person.

He used to  supply stamps and other philatelic items  to many dealers in different parts of the country.  It is a big loss to Indian philately. He will be missed in every stamp exhibition . Those who know him personally would never forget him Our deepest condolences. May his soul rest in peace.

World Music Day

21 June  - World Music Day 

 World Music Day is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day the citizens of a city or country are allowed and urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun and not for payment.

The first all-day musical celebration on the day of the solstice was originated by the French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, and by Maurice Fleuret, and was first celebrated in Paris in 1982. Music Day later became celebrated in 120 countries around the world.

International Day of Yoga

21 June - International Say of Yoga

FIFA World Cup Russia 2018

Date of Issue : 14 June 2018

On 14th June,2018 Malta Post  issued a miniature sheet bearing one stamp marking the 2018 FIFA World Cup™. The stamp carries a face value of €3.00 and depicts the official mascot of the event.   Russia’s official mascot for this event is a wolf named Zabivaka™ designed by a student, Ekaterina Bocharova. In Russian, Zabivaka™ means “the one who scores”, a suitable name for this wolf who radiates fun, charm and confidence. Apart from promoting the event, the mascot’s role is also intended to serve as an ambassador of Russia throughout the world.

New Stamp from India : 100 Years of Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha

100 Years of Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha

Date of Issue : 17 June 2018

Proud moment: Justice Shivaraj V Patil, former Supreme Court judge,right, receiving the commemorative stamp from R. Anand, Post Master General, Chennai city region.  

Centenary commemorative postal stamp released

A centenary commemorative postal stamp to mark the 100th foundation day of the Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha was released here on Sunday, 17th June 2018.

The stamp contains a photo of Mahatma Gandhi, the founder president of the Sabha, and a letter written by him.

Speaking on the occasion, R. Anand, Postmaster General, Chennai city region, said India Post had never failed to commemorate such historic institutions. Himself a student of the Sabha, Mr. Anand said he had done his Prathmic to Praveen course here and had, in his possession, certificates signed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was also president of the Sabha.

‘Historic occasion’

President and Chancellor of the Sabha and former judge of the Supreme Court, Shivaraj V. Patil, said, the day was a historic one in the annals of the organisation. He said every foundation day would be celebrated for 15 days.

Member of Parliament S. R. Vijayakumar said that Gandhiji had held the post of president till his last breath. He said that the Parliament had made the Sabha as an Institution of National Importance in 1964.

The Sabha was inaugurated by Annie Besant on June 17, 1918 and the first Hindi class was conducted by Devdas Gandhi, the youngest son of Mahatma Gandhi. During its silver jubilee celebrations, Gandhiji stayed for nearly 10 days on the premises of the Sabha.


The institution currently runs eight postgraduate centres, 41 teacher training institutions, five CBSE schools and several Hindi teaching centres.

Source : The Hindu

Lily of the Valley...

On 20 June 2018,  a new definitive stamp  will be issued by Czech Republic with denomination 1 CZK. The stamp  features a Lily of the Valley (Convalaria majalis). 

New Pictorial Postmarks from Korea

- Wolfgang Beyer ,BDPh (German Philatelic Federation) and Mr.Slavomil Strnad, Czech Republic

Finnish Flavours and Costumes

Six Finnish flavors that get water in the tongue

Date of Issue : 6 June 2018

Here are six tempting stamps issued by Finnish Post on 6th June 2018 featuring the Finnish flavors. The stamps illustrate six taste sensations that most Finns know. The stamps are rye bread, pullout, new potatoes, coffee, cheese and strawberry.

National Costumes of Finland

Date of Issue : 6 June 2018

Here is another recent issue from Finland, a mini sheet featuring two national costumes. The costume of the goddess represents the Western-Finnish tradition and Jääsken costume of Karelian craftsmanship and costume. The miniature sheet depicts the entire national costume and the magnifying glasses have magnified the fine details designed for the costumes among others.

Eid Mubarak

Greetings to all Readers on the auspicious occasion of Eid !

Eid Mubarak !

FIFA World Cup Russia 2018

FIFA World Cup Russia 2018

14 June - 15 July 2018

Date of Issue : 14 June 2018

Russian Post issued a souvenir sheet on 14 June 2018 to commemorate mega Football event FIFA World Cup 2018.


FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia ™ - the 21st FIFA World Cup, which will be held in 11 major Russian cities from June 14 to July 15, 2018. Teams-participants are divided into 8 groups of 4 teams each. A total of 64 matches will be played at the tournament, 48 of them in the group stage, 16 in the playoffs, where the winner will be determined, as well as the teams that took the second, third and fourth places.

The final parts of the FIFA World Cup ™ are the most spectacular and interesting, they always gather a large spectator audience and attract great interest in the entire sports community, as the strongest national teams of the planet and outstanding players take part in the competitions. The final match of the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Rossiitm will be held July 15 at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. 

On the post block there is a stylized image of a soccer ball with the types of stadiums and landmarks of cities that hosted the 2018 FIFA World Cup ™, and the official symbols of the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia ™. The postal block comes out in 2 forms of release - without perforation of the mark in the block (toothless) and with perforation. 

New Round Kiwi stamps from New Zealand

Date of Issue : 4 July 2018

New Zealand Post's popular Round Kiwi stamp has been refreshed for the eighth time, celebrating 30 years since it was first launched in 1988. This issue features all five species of kiwi in their habitat - the brown kiwi, great spotted kiwi, little spotted kiwi, tokoeka and rowi – and in a range of vibrant colours. 

Kiwi are flightless, nocturnal birds endemic to Aotearoa. They emerge from their burrows after dark to forage noisily along the forest floor and sniff out worms and insects. Their nostrils are at the base of their bill and give the kiwi a superior sense of smell that makes up for its poor eyesight. Kiwi have been described as ‘honorary mammals’ because of their hair-like feathers, long tactile whiskers at the base of their bill, and their marrow-filled bones. Kiwi are also sometimes called ‘te manu huna a Tāne’ - the hidden bird of Tāne, the god of the forest.

 New postmark on bird from Poland

On June 15th 2018  a new pictorial postmark on bird will be available in LOMZA 1 ,Poland.

The postmark is featuring a White Stork (Ciconia Ciconia).

-Wolfgang Beyer, BDPh (German Philatelic Federation)