New Special Cover

A new Special Cover was released at Tirunelveli, on 8 September 2016 to commemorate Silver Jubilee of Manonmanian Sundaranar University.

- Kasinath R. - Tanjore : email : kasinath80@gmail.com

Stamp on Maharaja Agrasen by Maldives Post

Date of Issue : 1 October 2016

 Maldives Post has issued a stamp on Maharaja Agrasen to commemorate Agrasen Jayanti on 1st October, 2016.The stamp has been issued under the series of “Inventions and Explorations” along with other personalities like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Christopher Columbus, Charles Darwin & Valentina Tereshkova.

Maldives produced the postage stamp on October 1, in a symbolic gesture of appreciation of the close ties between India and Maldives – and to further develop the ties – especially in business.

Maharaja Agrasen was a legendary Indian king (Maharaja) of Agroha, acity of traders. The Agrawal and Agrahari communities are descendents from him. He is credited with the establishment of a kingdom of traders in North India named Agroha, and is known for his compassion in refusing to slaughter animals in yajnas.

Only 1,200 limited edition copies of the stamp have been produced, out of which 1,000 will be sold to Indian businessmen and businesswomen. A copy of the stamp has also been presented to the Indian government.

New Special Covers

Two Special covers were released during   Ballaripex-2016  recently held from 24 - 26 September 2016 at Ballari .

Ballari Fort: Situated in the historic city of Ballari, the fort was built in two parts, namely, the Upper Fort and the Lower Fort. The upper part was built by Hanumappa Nayaka, a feudatory of Vijayanagara Empire while the lower part was built by Hyder Ali, The Sultan of Mysore. The fort has fine ramparts with several historical and religious monuments. The upper fort has a citadel with several ancient tanks while the lower fort housed the arsenal.

Lotus Mahal , Hampi: This is an exquisite pavilion in the walled area of 'Zenana' (women's quarters). it is believed that the women of the royal family, who lived in the nearby Queen's Palace, disported themselves in the water pavilion within their protected enclosure and met in the Lotus Palace. The palace is a complex and intricate blend of Indo-Islamic architecture and gets its name from the lotus bud carved on its domed and vaulted ceiling. Hampi ruins, the former capital of the Vijaynagara Empire are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

-Suresh R. - Bangalore : email : suresh.hobbies@gmail.com

Endangered animals on new Australean stamps

Date of Issue : 20 September 2016

seven special stamps by Australia Post representing endangered animals that are part of current zoo and/or other conservation programs in Australia. These animals are at risk of extinction and are classified as either Endangered or Critically Endangered according to Australian and international measures. Three animals are exotic and four are native. The critically endangered animals are depicted here individually.

The large definitive stamp, representing the Southern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne corroboree, commemorates the centenary of Taronga Zoo in NSW, which has breeding programs for this rare frog. At just 2.5–3cm in length, this small, brightly coloured amphibian is one of the world’s rarest frogs.

The carnivorous Snow Leopard Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia is a large cat native to mountain ranges of central and south Asia at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,500 metres. These cats are rarely seen because they inhabit harsh terrain with an extreme climate and are distributed across a range of over two million square kilometres across 12 countries.

The Asian Elephant Elephas maximus used to roam over most of Asia, but is now restricted to just 15 per cent of its original range. The population has declined by at least 50 per cent over the last 60–75 years. The most recent estimate of the global population is 41,430.

The Western Lowland Gorilla Gorilla gorilla gorilla is a large primate native to the rainforests of central Africa, specifically in lowland forest and swamp forest from sea level to about 1,600 metres. Gorillas are mainly herbivorous. Their staple foods are pith, shoots and leaves. They also eat many species of fruit.

The short-necked freshwater Western Swamp Tortoise Pseudemydura umbrina is found only in two locations in a small area of the Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia. It is Australia’s most endangered reptile and measures just 11 to 13cm from nose to tail.

One of the world’s rarest and most endangered species, the Orange-bellied Parrot Neophema chrysogaster, is on the brink of extinction. It is listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act and on the IUCN Red List.

The Northern Quoll Dasyurus hallucatus is a small, omnivorous marsupial that once occurred across extensive areas of northern Australia. It has now contracted to only isolated populations.

MS Subbulaxmi on special personalized stamp sheet by UNPA

Special personalized Stamp sheet on legendary singer MS Subbulakshmi issued by UNPA

Date of Issue : 2 October 2016

M.S. Subbulakshmi is a legendary Indian musician and the most celebrated singer from Carnatic music tradition. She was the first musician ever to be awarded Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor and also the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asian Nobel Prize.

Subbulakshmi is also the first Indian to perform at the United Nations in 1966 on the occasion of UN Day. The background photograph is from her performance at the UN. UNPA  commemorated this special occasion with the issuance of a special event personalized sheet of ten $1.20 denominated stamps on 2 October 2016.

- Cdr. G Sri Ramarao,I.N,(Retd.) - Bangalore

Memorable Moments 2 - Naturepex 2016

Mr Rajesh Kr Bagri giving presentation on Thematic Philately

Philately quiz competition conducted by Mr. Bibhudutt Mishra

Procession of Horse carried mail

Mr. Ravindra Wamanacharya with his exhibit "Call of wild Special covers"

Mr. Ravindra Wamanacharya receing award

Exhibit Rainbow - by Jeevan Jyoti sp GPA award in One Frame Cateogory

Exhibit - Climate Change by Ajay Srivastav Dehradun

Mr. Anand Kakad - receiving Gold Medal

Mr. Sandip Chaurasia receiving certificate

Courtesy - Ravindra Wamanacharya - Nashik