Prehistoric Elephants of Nepal
Date of Issue : 7July 2015
Maxicards on Elephant from Nepal
The Maxi cards of the Prehistoric Elephants of Nepal have recently been brought out . Thee are available with Mr. Shankar Shrestha - email : shankar765@yahoo.com
Date of Issue : 21 October 2013
Polish Post will issue this month two new beautiful sets of postage stamps featuring art, cinema and theatre on 21st and 31st October.
Date of Issue : 31 October 2013
Club News
New special Cover
India Post issued a Special Cover to mark 160 year of St. Peter's Church of Bandra, Mumbai on 28th September 2013.St. Peters Church, Bandra is 160 year old parish in the Mumbai archdiocese which aims at Building a Faith Community for Service. The foundation of the original St Peter’s Church was laid in April 12, 1852, by Bishop Hartmann. The Church was completed in September 1853. It measured approximately 100 by 75 feet. In 1867 a second storey was added to the old top floor.
courtesy : Indian Philately Digest
A set of 12 beautiful Maxim Cards on Wild Flowers of India prepared by philatelists of Trivandrum. collectors may contact John Emanuel Boben Email: annakutty.03@gmail.com (M) +919495059324 or Mr. Sreejesh, Email: sreejesh.nt@gmail.com (M) +919400423402 for more information.
From our Readers…
Lord Ganesha made with stamps
I have made image of Lord Ganesha with the stamps. I have given this craft a name "Stamp Stitch' on the pattern of Cross Stitch. It is made on the same pattern, instead of threads, stamps has been used. I have used one type of stamp - a definitive of 9th series 'Tiger at Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve' . About 500 stamps have been used.
- Vipan Kumar Thakur – Chandigarh
in
Indian theme on foreign stamps
Kazakhstan Post released 2 Souvenir Sheets of values 900 & 250 Tenge on July 2nd 2013, “Memorable dates and anniversaries” on the theme “20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with foreign states” The 900 T has a gold touch using the technology of 22 Carat Gold Foil. India Flag is depicted on both sheets.
: Kenneth Sequeira - Dubai (UAE)
New stamp from India
Date of Issue : 21 September 2013
India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring Gurajada Venkata Apparao on 21st September, 2013.
: Mansoor B.- Mangalore - Blog : http://mbstamps.blogspot.com/
Private Maximum Cards
A SET OF 50 NUMBERS OF MAXIM CARDS ON 100 YEARS OF NDIAN CINEMA prepared by John Emanuel Boben E-mail : annakutty.03@gmail.com
: Sreejesh Krishnan: e-mail : sreejesh.nt@gmail.com
Indian Themes on foreign Stamps
- Kenneth Sequeira
Indian South Africans are people of Indian descent living in South Africa and mostly live in and around the city of Durban, making it 'the largest 'Indian' city outside India'. Most Indians in South Africa are descendents of migrants from colonial India during late 19th-century through early 20th-century.
During apartheid from 1948 to 1994, Indians were called, and often voluntarily accepted, terms that ranged from "Black" to "Asians" to "Indians."
A significant proportion of slaves imported into the Cape were from India, however these slaves quickly integrated with the rest of the Cape population. White Afrikaners also may have some Indian slave ancestry, an example of this being former President Klerk, who revealed in his autobiography that one of his ancestors was a female Indian slave.
An early Indian to settle in South Africa was Kalaga Prabhu, a Brahmin merchant from Cochin. He was the foremost merchants in Cochin. As punishment for conspiring with the Mysore king Hyder Ali to overthrow the king of Cochin, Kalaga Prabhu and his son Chorda Prabhu were arrested by the Dutch and exiled with their families for life to the Cape of Good Hope in 1771
The modern South African Indian community is largely descended from Indians who arrived in South Africa from 1860 onwards. The first 342 of these came on board the Truro from Madras,followed by the Belvedere from Calcutta.They were transported as indentured labourers to work on the sugarcane plantations of Natal Colony, and, in total, approximately 150 000 Indians arrived as indentured labourers over a period of 5 decades, later also as indentured coal miners and railway construction workers.The indentured labourers tended to speak Tamil, Telugu and Hindi and the majority were Hindu with Christians and Muslims among them. Indians were imported as it was found by colonial authorities that local black Africans were economically self-sufficient, and thus unwilling to subject themselves to employment by colonial farmers, while other colonial authorities believed that the "hunting and warrior" African culture of the time was incompatible with a sudden shift to employed labour.
The Mercury newspaper favoured the importation of labour, although other Natal newspapers were against the idea. In general, the importation of labour was not viewed as politically important by colonists when it was proposed, and the importation of Indian labour was driven by lobbying by a relatively small group of sugar planters, and the long-term consequences of Indian immigration (the establishment of a permanent Indian population in Natal) were not taken into account (by 1904, Indians outnumbered whites in Natal).
The remaining Indian immigration was from passenger Indians, comprising traders, and others who migrated to South Africa shortly after the indentured labourers, paid for their own fares and travelled as British Subjects. These immigrant Indians who became traders were from varying religious backgrounds, some being Hindu and some being Muslims from Gujarat (including Memons and Surtis), later joined by Konkanis, and Urdu speakers. These Muslims played an important part in the establishment of Islam in the areas where they settled. Indian traders were sometimes referred to as "Arab traders" because of their dress, as large numbers of them were Muslim.
Indentured labourers on sugar plantations were frequently mistreated, and lived in unsanitary conditions. However, formerly indentured labourers quickly established themselves as an important general labour force in Natal particularly as industrial and railway workers, growing most of the vegetables consumed by the white population. A large percentage of indentured labourers returned to India following the expiry of their terms, and some of those who returned alerted authorities in India to abuses taking place in Natal, which led to new safeguards being put in place before further recruiting of indentured labourers was allowed to take place.
Passenger Indians, who initially operated in Durban, expanded inland, establishing communities in settlements on the main road between Jo'burg and Durban. Natal's Indian traders rapidly displaced small white shop owners in trade with other Indians, and with black Africans, causing resentment among white businesses.
Apartheid
In 1961, Indians were officially recognised as permanent part of the South African population, the Department of Indian Affairs was established, with a white minister in charge. In 1968, the South African Indian Council came into being, serving as a link between the government and the Indian people.The University of Durban- Westville was built with a Rand-for-Rand contribution from Indian South Africans and the government in the 1970s. Before that, Indian students had to take a ferry to Salisbury Island's abandoned prison, which served as their university.Casual racist expressions were used during the years of apartheid. Indians in South Africa were (and sometimes still are) referred to by the racial term "coolie "
Post-apartheid
Many Indians played an important role in the anti-apartheid struggle and some occupied positions of power in post-apartheid South Africa. Indians who were citizens before 1994, and thus discriminated against by apartheid, are considered black for the purposes of Employment Equity, that is, they are classified as having been disadvantaged under apartheid. They are thus eligible for affirmative action. They are also eligible for Black Economic Empowerment.
South African Post released 3 stamps in Dec 2011 to mark the 150th Anniversary of arrival of Indian workers in South Africa.
SA 1 & 3 are the 2011 stamps . SA2 is a 1994 stamp depicting Indian laborer working in sugar cane field.
: Kenneth Sequeira : email - kenneth.sequeira@hotmail.com
Club News
Stamp Exhibition in Allahabad
13 - 14 Januray 2013
: Moni Kumar - Allahabad
From Our Readers….
Maximum Cards : Swami Viviekananda
: Sreejesh Krishnan – Trivandrum : email : sreejesh.nt@gmail.com
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation. A self adhesive stamp was issued by Correos (Spain) on this subject within the Civic Values series.
Water is a source of life and a critical resource for the development, health and wellbeing of human beings. It is known that the risk posed by climate change is increasing every day and freshwater scarcity affects every continent. The lack of safe water and its distribution is a major challenge of the 21st century affecting countries all over the world.
An estimated one fifth of the world population suffers from water scarcity and one quarter of the total population lives in countries lacking the necessary infrastructure to transport water from rivers and aquifers. Water scarcity is caused not only by natural causes but also by human action, as an uneven distribution, abuse and pollution of water result in an increase in water-scarce regions.
The declaration of 2013 as International Year of Water Cooperation wishes to raise awareness among countries and institutions on the need to strengthen cooperation on safe water issues and tackle the challenges of meeting the demands of access to safe water, trans boundary water management, water equality and water supply.
The stamp depicts symbolically the idea of a glass of water, as an individual use of water, pouring onto an inverted tap, as a sign of scarcity and depletion.
Source : International Stamp News
From our Readers…..
Light houses of India
Ravindra Wamanacharya, Nashik
email : r_wamanacharya@yahoo.co.in
New Blog
Heritage of India by Dokka Srinivasu
Dokka Srinvasu has created blogs on several themes. Along with stamps and coins he collects vintage and modern post cards related to Indian Heritage and culture. Dokka Srinvasu email : articles.for.focus.magazine@gmail.com
The blog could be viewed at following link :
Date of Issue : 25 September 2012
Hi ! Here are two beautiful stamps issued by Luxemborug Post featuring two adventure sports. The tamps portraying paragliding and diving are multicolored and very attractive. The sheetlets of these stamps are awesome !! These are good collectible items for those collecting on Tourism, Adventure sports and landscapes !!
Other new issues from Luxembourg
Date of Issue : 25 September 2012
Molconcours 2012 - Potable Water
From 21 September 2011 to 31 January 2012, Luxembourg students were asked to create designs on the subject of potable water. Water is the most important substance for mankind. The human body is composed of 60 – 70% of water. Without it, humans would only survive for a few days. Since potable water affects all humanity, it was chosen as the theme for this “Grand Prix P&T 2012”. In total, more than 1,400 designs were submitted in two age categories (primary school and secondary education). A jury composed of 7 members selected the designs of Lisa Drouet (11 years old) and Belinda Torres (15 years old) as the most supportive of the theme.
The "Office des Timbres" contest was organised in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior and the Grande Région, the Water Management Administration, and the Luxembourg Association of Water Services (ALUSEAU).
From our Readers…
Private Maximum cards on Endemic Species of Indian Biodiversity created by Boben J E - Blog : http://philalover.blogspot.in/
Best Maximum Card Competition (created during 2011)
Maximaphily is the most beautiful and exiting way in stamp collecting. It is one of the eleven recognized classifications of Philately. All types of visitors in the F.I.P. exhibitions find it very attractive, because of the beautiful illustrations on postcards and because the purpose of Maximaphily is to collect exclusively Maximum cards.
A Maximum card is made up of three elements:
1. The postage stamp. 2. The picture postcard. 3. The postmark.
The three elements are joined together in a fascinating way conforming to the following very precise regulations adopted by the International Philatelic Federation (F.I.P.). The meeting of the above three elements having a close visual relation constitutes the Maximum card .
The postage stamp
- It must be in perfect condition.
- Only one postage stamp should be affixed on the view side of the picture postcard. Before 1978, when the “International statute of Maximaphily” was approved, maximum cards showing several postage stamps are tolerated, if one or more of those are concordant with the picture on the postcard.
- In the case where a postage stamp has multiple, secondary or partial subjects, each subject must as far as possible, be dealt with separately.
- The postage stamp (or the souvenir sheet it belongs to, if it is stuck on the postcard) must not exceed a quarter of the postcard area.
- When the same subject is spread out on several se-tenant stamps making a panorama, the set can appear on a single postcard. However, when a subject is isolated on one of the se-tenant stamps only the one on which the treated subject is illustrated should be affixed to the postcard.
- The use of an illustrated postal prepayment impression dispensed by automatic vending machines, affixed on the view side of the postcard, is allowed.
- In general, abstract or symbolic subjects do not suit Maximaphily and are excluded from its field.
The picture postcard
• The picture postcard must be, if possible, on sale before the issue of the stamps or if it has been specially published, it must reproduce an existing document.
• Its size must conform to dimensions accepted by the “Universal Postal Convention”. However, postcards of square or rectangular shape available on the market are accepted, provided that their size allows them to be laid out on a sheet to the A4 format (210 x 297 mm) at a rate of two per sheet. Out of respect for its designer, it is strictly prohibited to reduce the size of a postcard by cutting it.
• The picture must offer the best possible concordance with the subject of the postage stamp or with one of them, if there are several. Mere reproduction of stamp design on a picture post card should be avoided.
• The picture must emphasize the subject of the postage stamp.
• The postcards on the market are accepted as they are. They can have margins and a text directly connected with the subject. Old postcards can have on the view side an area for correspondence. With the exception of these old postcards, the larger the picture is, the better the quality of the maximum card is considered to be.
• All postcards fully reproducing the postage stamp, that is to say with perforation, face value, country name, are forbidden.
• Postcards with multiple pictures as well as ones with holograms are forbidden.
What about the postmark and the time of cancellation?
The pictorial design of the cancellation and the place of cancellation (name of the post office) should have a close and direct connection with the subject of the stamp and of the picture postcard, and its date should be within the validity of the stamp and as close as possible to the date of its issue.
What is "appropriate material"?
The Maximaphily items should conform to the principle of maximum possible "visual" concordance between: The postage stamp, the picture postcard and the postmark. Special attention must be paid to the observance of the three concordances: of subject, of place and of time.
• The concordance of subject is the most important condition to characterise a Maximum card, e.g. the best concordance between the subject of the stamp and the illustration of the picture postcard.
• The concordance of place requires a connection between the name of the place or the locality written in the postmark and the subject of the stamp and the card.
• The "first day cancellation" can only be used when it is in accordance with the above mentioned condition
• For monuments, landscapes and sites the only place giving the required concordance is the one where the monument, the landscape or the site is located.
What is not appropriate material ?
Any other material which does not conform to the above mentioned regulations is considered as not appropriate material for this classification of Philately.
Furthermore, the following items cannot be used for maximum cards: collages, cut-outs, private photographs on photo paper, colour or black and white photocopies, photo-montages, drawings, documents specially devised for the stamp issue to be printed privately on photo paper thanks to a computer, digital printouts, illegible postmarks, bigger size or different shapes of postcards: only square and rectangular formats are allowed; all others are excluded.
World Competition Best Maximum Card created in 2011
FIP Maximaphily Commission organizes a Best Maximum Card Competition every year. We at India are also participating this year in this competition.
For Indian participation
All those interested in participation are requested to send their entries to me by email at ajaymittal1957@gmail.com at an earliest possible and by post also at my address given below.
Last Date for sending entries : 15 September 2012
Best three cards will be selected by an expert group and send for participation in the world competition. A small information about the printing process used quantity printed and concordance between the three aspects of maximum card (i.e. Picture Post Card, Stamp and Cancellation) may also be sent along with the card. All entries sent for competition will not be returned.
We are compiling a catalogue of the Indian Maximum Cards issued by Individual collectors. Kindly send me details with scans by email of the cards issued on Indian stamps by any society or individual collectors.
All are requested to kindly send a high resolution scan of the cards issued by them till date with a small information about the card and quantity printed. If available for sale the price of the card may also be mentioned.
As it is not yet decided the location of the Next Competition of the Best MC. There is a possibility that the FIP Maximaphily Commission can first publish all the National Selections for this Competition at their FIP Maximaphily Commission website and then request all National Delegates to submit their votes by email or letter.
Any clarifications and/or suggestions regarding FIP Rules and regulations of Maximaphily are also welcome.
- Ajay Kumar Mittal
FIP Maximaphily Representative from India
email : ajaymittal1957@gmail.com
Postal address : D-57 South Extension part-1 New Delhi-110049.
Phone : +91- 9811032311
Bhavani Singh (Krishnanand Saraswati) , spiritual leader was born in Jodhpur in 1900 and died in Mauritius on 23 August 1992.
Swami Krishnanand Saraswati, who was revered far beyond India, died suddenly in Mauritius at a time when the Silver Jubilee of his first visit to the island was celebrated. It was a fitting end to a life given to the service of others: the ceremonies were held on 13 and 14 August, he enjoyed the further celebration of his 92nd birthday on the 22nd, and then, during the evening of the 23rd, he died.
His background was sophisticated: born into the royal family of Jodhpur, his name had been Bhavani Singh and, after obtaining an MA and LLB at Benares Hindu University, he became district magistrate on the borders of Gujurat and Rajasthan. In 1937 his life was transformed. Initiated into the order of Saraswati and named after Krishna, during a long meditation in the Himalayas he formulated the two guiding principles of his life - dedication to God and service to humanity. For 10 years he collaborated with Mahatma Gandhi in spreading the Hindi language. Then, what began as a response to appeals from Indian communities in Kenya during the Mau Mau conflict and in Mauritius on the verge of independence developed into a life spent travelling to displaced or expatriate Asian communities, 'scattered' as he put it 'all over the world' - in Africa, in Britain and Europe, even Afghanistan and, briefly, the United States.
He was active in some 70 countries with friends of all races and religions. His spiritual influence was such that, after training more than a score of followers in Ghana, during 1957 he laid the foundations for the Hindu Monastery of Africa, where devotion found practical expression through social work. But he was no proselytiser: he thought religions divisive. His teaching was as much through example as his quiet words and his plain advice about yoga. Of those books in airport kiosks by writers claiming to be 'experts' on yoga, he once remarked: 'Yoga is much more than standing on your head and making those difficult postures . . . yoga is a decision for the whole life. Yoga means the union of soul with God and yoga is the path.' For him God was suffering man and service to him was yoga.
The Human Service Trust, founded some 25 years ago, was a practical example of that philosophy. Penniless himself - friends or some group who had heard of 'Swamiji' would send an air ticket with their appeal for his presence, would meet him at the airport and put him up - his method was to inspire the prosperous to give to those in need. Invited to the Erasmus University in Holland, he watched open-heart surgery. Afterwards the professor and his team were moved to donate their instruments to hospitals in Mauritius. Among the many who have benefited were victims of a cyclone in Andhra Pradash and a flood in Gujarat. The Prime Minister of Mauritius has spoken of the thousands of youths who 'owe their life-philosophy to Swamiji, who set up training for young people in voluntary social work.'
In India eight eye-camps have provided operations, medicines and spectacles to patients. Wherever he went he helped keep cultures alive: his visits to Bristol or Bradford or Brent were marked by exuberant performances of music, song and dance.
Swami Krishnanand started the Human Service Trust with a group of 40 young volunteers in the year 1967. The aim was to have responsible persons to work for the benefit of the Mauritius. Till date, thousands of youngsters have been trained and encouraged to persevere in the field of education, social work, business and even politics among others. Swami ji has spread his work in 72 countries.
Swami Krishanand Saraswati took 'Samadhi' in the year 1992 in Mauritius. Swami Krishanand ji's 'Samadhi' is found near the Human Service Trust Mahatma Gandhi Ayurved Hospital at Calebasses.
Mauritius released a commemorative stamp under local events 1992 issues to mark the 25th Anniversary of his arrival to Mauritius.
- Kenneth Sequeira
e- mail : kenneth.sequeira@hotmail.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Maxim Cards
Critical analysis : These Maxim Cards issued by UNPA recently on 19th April 2012 has not been designed as per FIP rules of Maximum Cards. This card uses all four stamps in block where as per FIP rules only one stamp could be affixed on the card matching with the stamp design for creating a Maximum Card. Such Maxim cards are not appropriate to display in a competitive exhibition. An exhibitor may get negative points for such cards though these are official cards of UNPA.
Date of Issue : 20 March 2012
The bright yellow sunflower is native to North America and grown mainly in Queensland and New South Wales in Australia. Sunflower seed is a source of oil used for cooking, salads, paints and industrial lubricants. Non-oil varieties of sunflower are used as birdseed or roasted and eaten as a snack.
Hi ! Here is a wonderful set of five stamps issued by Australia Post on ‘Farming in Australia’ featuring cow rearing, fruit and flower cultivation in Australia. The stamps are so beautifully designed featuring fruits in the best possible view that it attracts a collector on the very first sight !! This stamp set is a nice collecting item for those collecting on fruits, flowers and cow breeds !!
The dairy industry is one of Australia’s major rural industries, ranking behind only beef and wheat. While all states and territories have dairy industries, most production occurs in the more temperate south-east areas of the country, and includes milk, yoghurts and a wide variety of cheese types. The most common dairy cow breeds are the Holstein Friesian and the Jersey.
The pineapple is a tropical fruit native to South America and in Australia grows best in tropical Queensland and northern New South Wales. Lutheran missionaries planted the fi rst crops in Brisbane in 1838 and the commercial industry was established in 1924. In 1946 canning plants were built at Rockhampton and Cairns.
Australia is consistently among the top 10 wine-growing countries in the world. Shiraz is the most produced variety, followed by chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon. The main wine-producing states are South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, although Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and ACT also have wine industries.
The humble apple tree originated in Central Asia and is one of the most widely cultivated plants in the world. Of the many apple varieties in existence, around 15 are produced commercially in Australia, with Pink LadyTM, Granny Smith, Gala and SundownerTM being the four most common. Victoria is Australia's leader in apple production and the market is primarily domestic, with the majority of fruit sold and consumed fresh.
Maxim Cards
