New stamps on Horses…

 

 

Date of Issue : 18 September 2013

The Post of Czech Republic will issue a set of two stamps featuring breeds of horses on 18th September 2013.

Kinsky horses (Equus Kinsky) from the Kinsky stud belong to the best horse breeds in the Czech Republic. The typical feature is their gold-coloured coat and black (duns) mane. The breeding of horses in Chlumetz stud started in the 17th century. The gold-coloured horses served mainly military and farming purposes. On the Empress Maria Theresa’s order, the breeding programme was extended to cover the army demand during the seven-year war between Austria and Prussia.

Originally, no horse pedigrees were kept. This was changed in 1832 by the introduction of the Kinsky horse studbook; the studbook is still in use today as the evidence of the history of Chlumetzer horses.
A new race course was built in 1843; three years later, it hosted the first race in the Bohemian Kingdom held according to the English rules and won by the Chlumetzer stallion Caesar. The emphasis was clearly shifting from hunting to racing, which helped establish the long-lasting tradition of the Pardubice Grand National in 1874. Many of the Pardubice Grand National winners came from the Kinsky horse breeds including but not limited to, 1897, 1900 - Magyarád, 1899 - Sláva, 1931 - Pohanka, 1937 - Norma, 1966 - Nestor. These as well as many other Chlumetzer horses were regularly among the top award winners.

The character, colour and ease of ride of these horses make them in high demand by breeders and riders all around the world. The talent of Chlumetzer horses is universal; they can be used for many disciplines from classic dressage to jumping, teaming and hunting. They are frequently saddled as sport horses for children.

Most stallions at stud in the Czech Republic are imported; the export of Chlumetzer horses to the world is a rare exception. A Chlumetzer horse can also be found at the Royal Stud in England; the mare Johanka Kinská (Joan Kinsky) was a 100th birthday present to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

Great Footballer of 20th Century - Josef “Pepi” Bican

Date of Issue : 18 September 2013

Josef “Pepi” Bican was born in Vienna on 25 September 1913 into a Czech family and died in Prague on 12 December 2001. Pepi’s father was a great footballer who represented Austria. Following his father’s example, Josef Bican became a world-famous footballer. The author of 644 league goals, he spent most of his career in the Czech FC Slavia Prague.

As a young player, he represented Austria where he scored fourteen goals during nineteen matches. During his years in Rapid Vienna he became the best shooter in the Austrian League. In 1937, he joined Slavia Prague where he remained for most of his life. One year later, he became the best shooter of the Central European International Cup (a competition compared to today’s Cup of Masters). Bican’s greatest achievements as a footballer came during World War II. Despite the possibility to join foreign clubs after the war, he remained loyal to Slavia. He was also good at tennis and futnet.

After the turning point events of 1948, he was found to be a class enemy and Slavia Prague was found to be a bourgeois club by the ruling Communist Party. Bican found a job as an unskilled worker in the iron and steelworks in Kladno. It had taken many more years before he became a coach in Slavia Prague, Kladno, Liberec and Brno FCs. In the late 1960s he also worked as a coach in Belgium.

Bican, Pelé and Uwe Seeler were declared the greatest football players of the 20th century. A planet was named in Josef “Pepi” Bican’s honour. Planet 10634 is known as “Pepibican”.

 

Club News

ITS Postal Auction No.62 - Last date 5.10.13

To have a detailed list of "ITS Postal Auction No.62" with 140 Lots of Indian stamps, Miniature sheets, sheet-lets, thematic sets from different countries etc. visit www.scribd.com/suraj_jaitly

For more details visit at http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/

- Suraj Jaitly      Mobile: +91 98728 51244
MIG # 3464, Phase Two, Dugri Road, Ludhiana - 141 013 INDIA

email : indianthematicsociety@gmail.com

ITS at http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/
ITS Stamp News at http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/