New stamp for Fruit lovers !

Date of Issue : 7 September 2017

Here is a new unique stamp issued by Swiss Post featuring special fruit of Switzerland, Quince. The quince is Switzerland’s Fruit of the Year 2017. The miniature sheet features the refreshing colour and shape of this fruit as well as its sensuous aromas: the fruit on the sheet is treated with a special varnish which releases the aroma when touched. 

FRUCTUS has designated a fruit of the year each year since 2008. The charitable organization was established in 1985 as a nationwide association in Switzerland to promote a gene bank for all fruit varieties and standard orchards.

The name quince derives from the Latin “malum Cydonium”, or Cydonian apple; however, a connection to Cydonia on the island of Crete has not been proven. 

Quince is a stone fruit. While only a few foreign varieties can be eaten raw, the quinces found in Switzerland are known for their heady, fragrant scent and the delicacies that can be prepared from them. 

Oak tree Stamp made from real oak wood

Date of Issue : 28 July 2017

Oak Tree

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Austrian Federal Forestry Office, which was taken out of the national budget and re-established as a joint stock company in 1997, Austrian Post has come up with something very unusual for a stamp: a stamp in the shape of an oak tree made from real oak wood.

Oaks (lat. Quercus) are easily recognised even by lay persons thanks to their characteristic lobed leaves and their fruits. In Austria the main native varieties are the common oak and the sessile oak. In the eastern regions of our country, oaks are widespread and play an important economic role. They can reach a height of up to 40 metres and live to an age of around 1,000 years.

The wood of the oak is one of the most valuable native woods for use as a veneer. Oak is also used for parquet flooring, doors, window frames, steps and furniture. It is also particularly important for the production of wooden barrels for high-quality barrique aged wines. Acorns, the fruit of the oak, have a high starch content and are an important food source for wild animals. Oak bark is also used in medicine.

The oak has a hard, uniform, dense wood, characteristics which are ideal for producing high-quality veneers since they prevent the wood from breaking easily. Its high strength and ease of processing, together with the uniform structure and colour of the wood, make oak a popular and trendy wood for furniture making.

All of the oak stamps were made from thin sheets of veneer from oak round wood. For this a single tree trunk was used, originating from the Austrian Federal Forestry Office’s territory in Breitenfurt in the Wienerwald. This noble oak was around 210 years old, 30 metres tall and had a diameter of 75 centimetres at chest height. It was harvested especially to make the stamps.

All of the remaining stages in the production of the first Austrian stamp made of wood were likewise undertaken by Austrian companies. The roundwood was processed by the Vienna based company rausgebrannt in collaboration with partner companies. rausgebrannt specialises in the implementation of unusual ideas and has already produced creative designs in a wide range of materials using the most up-to-date laser technology. Production of the wooden stamps was a technically challenging undertaking – wood is a living material which “works” and also changes according to the air humidity. The short drying time for the wood meant there was a risk of splitting or deformation, and the fact that the surface of the veneer is not entirely even because of the natural wood grain made full-surface printing difficult. The tree shape was punched out of the oak veneer by means of laser cutting and laser branding. For this an in-house developed process was used to ensure nice clean edges. As a result, each oak stamp is a unique item in the shape of an oak tree and with the special feel of the renewable raw material wood.

New Thermochromic stamps - Alderney Coastal Eclipses

Date of Issue : 19 July 2017

To mark the next total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017, when all of North America will be fortunate enough to witness an eclipse of the Sun. Here is a set of stamps  to be issued by Guernsey Post Alderney on 19th July 2017 which depicts six coastal locations that will be treated to a partial eclipse, including Alderney. These specially produced heat sensitive stamps reveal information and full eclipses upon coming into contact with warm hands.

The Face of Finland...Public Faces on stamps...

On May 9, 2017 Finnish Post issued Finland 100 - The Faces of Finland, a stamp sheet consisting of photos featuring faces, These are unique stamps that portray photos of faces ! 

Date of Issue : 9 May 2017

Finish Post, Posti ran a campaign in fall 2016 to collect photos of faces from the public for a special stamp publication to mark Finland's centenary of independence. The thousands of photos come together like a mosaic to form different stamps, which are positioned on the sheet in the form of the map of Finland. Each stamp and booklet is unique.

"These stamps are worth a close look, as receivers and senders might spot their own face or the faces of acquaintances on them," says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti.

The stamps were designed by graphic designer Klaus Welp, with the advertising agency Bob the Robot responsible for their technical implementation. To Posti's knowledge, this method of stamp design and production has never been used before.

The Finland 100 - The Faces of Finland booklet contains ten domestic no-value indicator stamps (unit price €1.30). A total of 60,000 booklets have been printed. 

New stamp from Russia with Luminescence Effect...

The 175th Birth Anniversary of Arkhip Kuindzhi (1841-1910), Artist

Russian Post has introduced an original stamp that commemorates the 175th birth anniversary of Arkhip Kuindzhi, a Russian painter. It is the first time in the history of philately that special transparent ink, which glows in the UV radiation, has been used when manufacturing this special philatelic item.

The souvenir sheet consists of a postage stamp bearing an image of Night on the Dnepr painting (1882), and the margins feature a painting by Ivan Kramskoi called Portrait of Painter Arkhip Kuindzhi. Thanks to the technologies used, a glow in the UV radiation can be seen on the stamp.

Kuindzhi was called “a painter of light”. The stamp truly represents the painter’s artistic intention to create real moonlight and space depth. In the artist’s opinion, Night on the Dnepr became the main painting of his life.

The painting depicted on this original souvenir sheet by Russian Post demonstrates harmonicity and tranquility, as well as simplicity of patterns. The moon shines in the night sky, painting the clouds in a cold light. The moonlight can be seen fluctuate in the waters of Dnepr below.

The slow current of the river, its curves, the coastline and peasants’ huts can also be seen. The whole nature has become silent fascinated by the marvelous shining of the sky and the Dnepr waters.

Stamps that glow in the dark...

Glowworms

Date of Issue : 2 March 2016

Here is a new set of  stamps with a Miniature sheet to be issued by New Zealand on 2nd March 2016.The bio-luminescent beauty of the New Zealand native glowworm is a sight to behold, and it can be found throughout Aotearoa. This stunning stamp issue pays tribute to this awe-inducing insect with an exciting twist - the stamps glow in the dark. The photography featured on the issue is from New Zealand photographer Joseph Michael's 'Luminosity' series. 

Despite what the name suggests, glowworms aren’t true worms – they’re the larval stage of the fungus gnat. The fungus gnat can glow at all stages of its life (except in the egg stage), but it’s during the larval stage that it shines the brightest. The famous blue-green ‘glow’ is a chemical reaction created in what is the glowworm equivalent of the human kidney. The total life cycle of the fungus gnat takes around 11 months, with the glowworm stage being the longest in the life cycle, averaging around nine months.

The New Zealand native glowworm is scientifically known as Arachnocampa luminosa, and although it is most spectacular when seen in caves, it’s common outside caves too, favouring damp, warm conditions with a good supply of food.

The photographs featured on these stamps have been taken by New Zealand photographer Joseph Michael, whose Luminosity series came to global attention in 2015. These stunning photographs were taken using long exposure techniques and were shot over many long nights deep in the glowworm caves of the North Island.

This visually striking stamp issue “New Zealand Native Glowworms” features four gummed stamps as well as a $2.00 self-adhesive stamp. The stamps have been printed using glow-in-the-dark ink to replicate the effect of glowworms in the wild ‒ simply expose them to sunlight and then step into a dark space to see the stamps light up.

Shaped and Transparent S/S on Christmas from New Zealand

 

New Zealand is home to some truly beautiful stained-glass windows, which add character and charm to churches and buildings throughout the country. The Christmas 2015 stamp issue features five vibrant stained-glass windows, ranging in design from the traditional to the contemporary.

Stained-glass windows date back to ancient times, with some existing in Britain possibly as early as the 7th century. The movement gained popularity in the Middle Ages as a way to convey narratives from the Bible to the masses, and has evolved over time to incorporate more colour and detail.

Date of Issue : 4 November 2015

An innovative miniature sheet

As part of this special Christmas issue, NZ Post  created a unique miniature sheet that encapsulates the theme of stained-glass windows. The miniature sheet is printed on translucent gummed paper and is die-cut in the shape of traditional stained-glass church windows.

The colourful stamps in this issue feature Christmas-related imagery from stained-glass windows around New Zealand, ranging from central characters from the nativity story to the ‘New Zealand Christmas tree’, the pōhutukawa.

80c - Angel

This stained-glass depiction of an angel is part of the Kelvin and Janice Loveday commemorative window in St Mark’s Church, Carterton. Angels play an important role in the nativity story, with the Angel Gabriel telling Mary that she would give birth to Jesus and an angel bringing the news of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds.

$1.40 - Dove

The dove is recognised as a symbol of peace as well as one of the forms of the Holy Spirit. Doves are often seen as a decoration on New Zealand Christmas trees. The dove depicted on this stamp is part of a larger stained-glass window at St Aidan’s Anglican Church, Remuera, Auckland.

$2.00 - Mary and Jesus

This vibrant stained-glass window sits inside St Mary’s-in-Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, Auckland and depicts Mary with the baby Jesus. According to the nativity story Mary and Joseph were unable to find a room at the inn, and took shelter in a stable in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.

$2.50 - Pōhutukawa

Often referred to as the New Zealand Christmas tree, the native pōhutukawa is symbolic of summer and the festive season. The pöhutukawa shown on this stamp is part of a larger window in the Christchurch Hospital Nurses Memorial Chapel.

$3.00 - Wise Men

According to the nativity story, the three wise men were kings of the East who were led to where Jesus lay by an angel. There they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This stained-glass window is one of three windows portraying the nativity story in St Benedict’s Church, Auckland.

Stunning self-adhesive stamps

To help people with their local and international Christmas sending, three self-adhesive stamps will be issued in denominations of 80c, $2.00 and $2.50.

 

Special First Day Covers

The design of the miniature sheet first day cover cleverly incorporates the translucent miniature sheet to depict an actual stained-glass window. Through the top of the window pane, views of New Zealand's christmas tree, the pōhutukawa can be seen.

 

Stamp in a form of a bicycle wheel

 

 

Date of Issue : 19 February 2015

125 Years of Bicycles in Iceland - Self-adhesive stamp

Stamp in a form of a bicycle wheel – an extraordinary issue by Iceland Post

Here is an an extraordinary stamp issued by Iceland Post celebrating 125 years of bicycles in Iceland. Postphil believe that issuing a special stamp is a nice way to mark the occasion and celebrate this environmentally friendly means of transport.

The first reports of the use of bicycles in Iceland appeared in the magazine Fjallkonan in 1887. The article dealt with the abilities of women and indicated that they might even excel men. The first bicycles known to have been imported to Iceland were seen in 1890. Knud Zimsen, later mayor of Reykjavik, had a Velocipede bicycle which was a popular type at the time.

At the time, bicycles were owned only by a few and caught the eye in the midst of the horse traffic. The first decades of the 20th century saw a considerable increase in cycling. In 1920, nearly 900 bikes were in use in Iceland. Following the oil crisis in the Seventies, cycling became more popular the world over.

Bicycles have never been as popular as they are today with general increase of interest in the benefits of physical exercise, be it cycling, jogging or walking. Since 2003, the Sports and Olympic Federation has supported the campaign “Bike to Work”. The main objective is to raise awareness of cycling as a healthy, environmentally friendly and efficient means of transport.

World’s first valentine’s Day stamp with music video

 

Slovak Post has  released on the 30^th of January, a special stamp celebrating St. Valentine’s Day. It is first music video-stamp in the world issued for Valentine’s Day.

The motif of a Valentine postage stamp was selected on the grounds of an opinion survey of the general public, interconnected with the publisher’s intention to address especially the young teenage generation, who prefer the virtual world of electronic media, by issuing a stamp with a personalized coupon.

Taking into account the postage stamp was designed in the form of an illustrated QR code with a link to a video clip about love. The QR (Quick Response) code was originally developed by the Japanese company Denso-Wave in 1994 to monitor manufacturing processes in the automobile industry. As the company published code specification without claiming patent protection, the QR code became freely available to different types of both commercial and non-commercial activities all over the world.

The principle of QR code usage is based on reading a code via a mobile device by means of freely downloadable software (QR code reader) designed to decode text information included in a code, which takes the form, for example, of a web address. However, a QR code on a postage stamp is not a novelty of the world. Two Valentine postage stamps with QR codes and individual perforations in the shape of a heart were issued by Taiwan in 2011 with the text messages “Happy Valentine’s Day” and “I Love You!”.

The new Slovak postage stamp incorporates all current achievements of QR code postage stamps. It is not only in the shape of a heart, i.e. an illustrated QR code, but can also be identified as the first music video-stamp in the world issued for Valentine’s Day, as the QR code comprises a link to the video from the mega concert of the band Elán in Prague on September 20, 2003 with sequence of the song “Čakám Ťa láska” (I am Waiting for You, My Love) from their debut album “Ôsmy svetadiel” (The Eighth Continent). The classical postage stamp has thus become not only an interactive expression of love between the two in love but it is for all who would like to express their love in an untraditional way.

Musical Stamp in form of Vinyl Disc

 

Record souvenir sheet from Switzerland

Date of Issue : 4 September 2014

Here is  a unique Souvenir sheet in form of  gramophone record from Switzerland.Swiss Post introduced a new series of original stamps that have form and function of vinyl discs.

A piece of music has been imprinted on the “record” part of the souvenir sheet using a special coating. When you take the circular, ready-for-postage stamp off the souvenir sheet and place it on your record player, it plays a brass band version of the Swiss national anthem.

Even if the stamp, which is suitable for franking, is detached from the souvenir sheet, a specially engraved soundtrack still allows the miniature sheet to be played on a record player which is set to 33 rpm.

 

Stamp on Gazzetta di Mantova – one of World’s oldest newspapers

 

.

Date of Issue : 1 September 2014

Italian Post released a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Gazzetta di Mantova, the oldest surviving Italian newspaper.Gazzetta di Mantova is a local daily newspaper, published in Mantova, Italy. It was established in 1664 making it one of World’s oldest newspapers still existing.

The 70 cent stamp recording the printing of the Mantua organ’s first issue in 1664, since when it has played a major role in the life of the historic Lombardy city and today belongs to the Espresso-repubblica group of publications.The stamp depicts the oldest copy extant of the newspaper, conserved in the state archive of Modena, and its current masthead.

New Postal stationeries (postcards) from Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic  two new stationeries(postcards) featuring animals will be available soon. One postcard is featuring a butterfly and two kingfishers. The other one is featuring the butterfly Lesser Purple Emperor(Apatura ilia).

Courtesy : Wolfgang Beyer, Vice Chairman of the German Philatelic Collector Group ARGE ZOOLOGIE. E-Mail: Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de . &  Wolfgang Hoelzl

Club News

BILASAPEX – 2014 – District level   stamp Exhibition

12-14 September 2014

A three days District Level Philatelic exhibition will be held at Bilaspur C. G. from 12th Sept. to 14th. September 2014. Following philatelic items are proposed to  be released during the exhibition.
3 Special Covers

1) Malhar Chattisgarh's Archaeological Gems
2) Kendai Water Fall
3) Bilaspur Railway Station 1989

4 Stamp Booklets

 

1) Chafara (Red Frangipani) Achanakmar
2) Bison -Wild Life of Achanakmar Tiger Reserve
3) Gandhi with Child
4) Mother Teresa

 

606 words on a stamp…

 

Here is a unique stamp from Belgium Post issued on 8th March. The postage stamp released by bpost to celebrate the International Women’s Day held the world record. The stamp with 606 words was recognized “stamp with the largest number of readable words” by Guinness World Records.

The stamp depicts a woman’s face that is composed of integral sentences coming from the “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”.

The background of the image entirely consists of text. The stamp designer Ann Bessemans used the Big Vesta font for the text to make it perfectly readable in very small size.

It is the first time bpost is issuing a stamp dedicated to the International Women’s Day. “Bpost already released stamps with women in the lead role, but this is the first one for the International Women’s Day”, said Fred Lens, spokesman for bpost.

As a bonus, the stamp entered the philatelic world history: “We’ve sent our design to Guinness World Records, and it has immediately won in the category “stamp with the largest number of readable words”, says Lens. “The category didn’t exist before, but with 606 words, our record will hopefully just hold out”.

Club News

UPHILEX 2014

UPHILEX 2014, a state level exhibition is being held at Lucknow from 7-9 March 2014. About 300 frames with exhibits of different categories from collectors all over the state have been displayed in the exhibition .

: Ambrish Kumar - Allahabad

Silver stamps with diamonds from Nederland

 

 

Here are unique stamps to be issued by Nederland Post. The stamps are extraordinary made of pure Silver and Diamonds to attract the collectors . It’s a nice item for the collectors  of unique and extraordinary stamps.

Since April 30, 2013 Willem-Alexander is King of the Netherlands. To mark this event the Dutch Postal Authority (PostNL) together with the Royal Dutch Mint designed and produced a series of 10 legal tender stamps representing the portrait of King Willem-Alexander depicted in the format of Minted Photo Image (MPI) and 3D relief, with a rose cut diamond attached, and 9 other ruling European Monarchs. All the stamps are made of pure silver with a small diamond added.

Burgos as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy for 2013

Here is a beautiful stamp from Spain featuring some popular dishes from Spain. Spanish cuisine  is a big tourist attraction in Spain. The stamp depicts a still-life of typical dishes such as black pudding, olla podrida, made with pinto beans, chorizo sausage and lamb, a variety of cheeses and a glass of local wine.

A jury consisting of eleven experts on gastronomy and tourism has chosen Burgos as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy for 2013, a stamp was issued by Spanish Correos in this regard. The nomination is backed up by the prestigious US newspaper, the New York Times, which considered Burgos to be the Best Tourist Destination in Spain in 2013 and 25th in the world.

The culinary venture came into being in 2011, when the Spanish Catering Federation and the Spanish Tourism Journalists and Writers Federation decided to promote gastronomy as a tourist attraction in Spain and abroad. The award recognises that the quality of the city’s gastronomy excels in all aspects, from creative cooking to the wealth of products.

During this gourmet year there have been competitions for savoury tapas (snacks) and sweet tapas made with local liqueurs; also an artisan cheese contest, organized by the Spanish Cheese-makers’ Network, with over 150 varieties sent in from all over Spain, 24 of which were protected Designations of Origin.

The gastronomy of Burgos offers a wide range of local products that are outstanding for their quality. Therefore, it is no secret in the city that you can enjoy a tasty tapa or delicious set meal, washed down with wine from the Ribera del Duero or D.O. Arlanza.

As well as gastronomy, Burgos invites you to admire the art of its Gothic cathedral, a World Heritage Site, the arches and gates entering the old town, pedestrian streets, tree-lined walks and the most surprising spots. As for culture, there is the Museum of Human Evolution taking you on a journey to the past and the origins of man in Europe, with a display of the remains found in the archaeological site of Atapuerca.

World’s first Thermo - sensitive stamps…

 

 

Hi !

Here are world’s first heat sensitive stamps issued by Belgium Post. These are unique stamps with special features. The color of the tree depicted on stamp changes with increase in the temperature.

The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (IRM) is celebrating its hundredth anniversary this summer. On this occasion, the Institute has partnered with bpost to present the first Belgian and even world novelty: four thermosensitive stamps depicting the four seasons of the year.

The IRM is celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 31. To mark the event, the Institute cooperated with bpost to issue special stamps printed with a temperature responsive ink.

“This technological innovation is the first Belgian and certainly the world first”, exclaims the spokesman for bpost, Fred Lens. The series consists of five stamps: a stamp depicting the building of the IRM and four heat-sensitive stamps, each representing a tree whose leaf forms the map of Belgium. The foliage is green but when the temperature exceeds 25°, for example if one puts a finger on the stamp, the green layer disappears showing the tree in one of the four seasons (sun, rain, snow, clouds).

New stamps on Music

Belgium post issued a stamp dedicated to traditional music festivals held in open air all around Belgium in summer time. The most famous ones:

Rock Werchter: it’s a Belgian annual music festival held in the village of Werchter, since 1976. It is one of the five biggest annual rock music festivals in Europe (the other four being Exit, Sziget Festival, the Glastonbury Festival and Roskilde Festival). The 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2012 festivals received the Arthur award for best festival in the world at the International Live Music Conference (ILMC). It can host 85,000 guests daily, of which 67,000 combine all four days, to add up to a total maximum of 139,000 different attendees.

Pukkelpop: it’s an annual music festival which takes place near the city of Hasselt, Belgium in mid-to-late August. It is held within a large enclosure of fields and woodland in the village of Kiewit, approximately 7 km north of Hasselt. It is the second largest music festival in the country after Rock Werchter, with an attendance rate of 180,000 over the course of the event in 2009.

Dour Festival: it is an annual music festival in the municipality of Dour, Belgium. Since its creation in 1989, the festival has grown to an attendance of about 144,000 in 2008 (over 4 days). The festival format now consists of 4 days, 6 stages and 200 bands and DJ’s. The festival’s acts come from a wide range of genres, such as: electro, rock, drum and bass, pop, R&B, reggae, house, punk, hardcore, metal, hip-hop, indie, techno and more. The festival attracts a very international and mixed crowd. In January 2010, Dour Festival won the prize for the best medium-sized festival at the European Festival Awards.

 

Chocolates

 

 

The word "chocolate" entered the English language from Spanish. How the word came into Spanish is less certain, and there are competing explanations. Perhaps the most cited explanation is that "chocolate" comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, from the word chocolātl, which many sources derived from xocolāt, from xococ 'sour' or 'bitter', and ātl 'water' or 'drink'.

Chocolate  is a processed, typically sweetened food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC. The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste, and must be fermented to develop the flavor.

After fermentation, the beans are dried, then cleaned, and then roasted, and the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The nibs are then ground to cocoa mass, pure chocolate in rough form. Because this cocoa mass usually is liquefied then molded with or without other ingredients, it is called chocolate liquor. The liquor also may be processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Unsweetened baking chocolate(bitter chocolate) contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, combining cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat, and sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk. White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids.

Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world. Chocolate chip cookies have become very common, and very popular, in most parts of Europe and North America. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain holidays. Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages, to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate.

Cocoa mass was used originally in Mesoamerica both as a beverage and as an ingredient in foods. Chocolate played a special role in both Maya and Aztec royal and religious events. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the deities and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies. All of the areas that were conquered by the Aztecs that grew cacao beans were ordered to pay them as a tax, or as the Aztecs called it, a "tribute".

Stamps shown above featuring chocolates  were issued by US,France,Belgium and Switzerland.