My recent cover

 

2 June 2025 : Ram Van Gaman : Ayodhya

Many Thanks to Mr. Rahul Ganguli, Prayag Philatelic Society

New philatelic book launched - Guardians of Heritage

 

Guardians of Heritage

Book Launch Event – Guardians of Heritage

Geographical Indication tag serves as a mark of authenticity and recognition, safeguarding the intellectual property rights of artisans, farmers, and communities while promoting their distinctive heritage globally.

India, with its vast cultural and ecological diversity, has bestowed GI recognition upon a wide array of products ranging from 

• the agricultural products which bring fame from the farms like the world famous Basmati Rice

• food products which celebrate the culinary heritage of India like the renowned Hyderabadi Haleem

• Handicrafs which promote the tapestry of culture and craftsmen like the celebrated Kanchipuram silk sarees of Tamil Nadu 

• Manufactured products which show case the indigenous capability and capacity like the ever fragrant Mysore Sandal Soap

• to the natural products of India like the Makrana Marble 

India Post has issued a variety of philatelic materials like stamps, special covers, cancellations and other postal memorabilia to promote these GI Tagged Products of India. There are many collectors who collect these items as part of their thematic collection and the author of the book Shri. Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran is one among them. 

Based on his collection of such philatelic items, the author has compiled this book as a tribute to these GI Tagged Products. Through these philatelic materials this compilation brings to light the unique legacy of India’s marvellous indigenous products which guards the heritage titled aptly as “Guardians of Heritage”

There are also Global icons with GI Tag registration in India like the Parmigiano Cheese from Italy, Tequila from Mexico, Lamphun Brocade Thai Silk - a separate section in this compilation covers such global products with appropriate philatelic material from those countries.

As on 31st March 2025, 697 products are registered with GI Tag in India. Out of these 402 items are covered in this compilation with appropriate philatelic items.

Prepared in A4 Size with 130 GSM Art Paper, these compilations runs into 280 pages with 600 multi-coloured images covering a variety of philatelic materials from India and other countries. It will serve as a reference material not only for philatelists but also for general public who would like to enrich their knowledge about our heritage. 

This book was launched on 28th May 2025 at Anna Centenary Library . Smt. Mariamma Thomas, IPoS, Chief Post Master General, Tamilnadu Postal Circle, India Post released the first copy of the book in the presence of Mr. G Amarchand, Past President of South India Philatelists’ Association and Mr. Rolands Nelson, President of South India Philatelists’ Association.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senthilkumar Chandrasekaran is a Chemical Engineering Graduate from renowned AC Tech Campus of Anna University, Chennai, India. He is currently employed in an Indian multi national company specialised in Water and Wastewater Treatment as General Manager & Head of Engineering Function. 

He was collecting stamps during his school days and restarted his philatelic interest during 2010 and became a very active collector cum exhibitor since 2019. His collection interests includes Water, Olympics, Gandhi, Joint Issue, Indian Heritage, Indian Postal Stationary and GI Tags.

He is a Life member of South India Philatelists’ Association (SIPA), Philatelic Congress of India (PCI), Ananthapuri Philatelic Association (APA) and Madurai Philatelist and Numismatist Association (MAPNA). He had participated in various State and National level exhibitions and won medals in different categories including Thematic, Postal Stationary, Literature and One-Frame.

World Day against Child Labour

 

12 June : World Day Against Child Labour

Stop Child Labour

New Special Cancellation Cachet released today by Philatelic Bureau Raipur, Chhattisgarh on World Day Labour against Child Labour

- Capt. Vijay Wadhwa, Raipur ( C.G)

Special Cancelllation from Bemgaluru

-Praveen Shastry, Bengaluru

World Day agaist Child Labour

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.

Club News

 

Rainbow Stamp News June 2025

Dear Reader,

I am pleased to release June 2025 issue of Rainbow Stamp News. It is available at the following link :

https://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/2025/06/rainbow-june-2025.html

World Bicycle Day

 

3 June 2025 : World Bicycle Day

On World Bicycle Day : A travel card, A picture post card and a new Pictorial cancellation was released today by Philatelic Bureau Raipur, Chhattisgarh Postal Circle.

-Capt. Vijay Wadhwa, Raipur (C.G.)

Club News

 

AMSI Zoom Meeting

Friday 23 May 2025   IST  7.00 PM 

CET 3.30 PM   GMT 2.30 PM   ET  9.30 AM

New Special Cancellations

 

21 May 2025 : World Tea Day: Raipur (C.G.)

At Raipur Philatelic bureau. Releasing A picture post card on International Tea Day and another Pictorial cancellation on Anti Terrorism

21 May 2025 : Stop Terrorism : Raipur

- Capt. Vijay Wadhwa, Raipur

21 May 2025 : International Tea Day : Bengaluru

Source : https://www.facebook.com/groups/panindiapostal

Permanent Pictorial Cancellations

19 May 2025 : Museum Road PO : Bengaluru

Source : https://www.facebook.com/groups/panindiapostal

New stamps from India

 

125 Years of Kdaikanal Solar Observatory

Date of Issue: 16 May 2025

Date of Issue: 1 May 2025

News from Air Mail Society India Foundation

   

Air Mail Society India Foundation Zoom Meeting

First Monthly Zoom Meeting of AMSI will be held on 23rd May 2025 at 7:00 PM IST / 3:30 PM CET / 2:30 PM GMT / 9:30 AM ET. 

Zoom Meeting Link: https://tinyurl.com/AMSIzoom

Meeting ID: 954 5217 0103

Passcode: 889501

Obituary

 Noted philatelist Shrikant Parikh is no more..........

With immense sorrow and heavy heart, I am sorry to inform my philatelist friends that a noted philatelist of Ahmedabad, Shri Shrikant Parikh passed away today. He is known for his specialized collection of Se-tenant Stamps.https://setenantsofindia.blogspot.com/ He was an active postcrosser with a high ranking on the PostCrossing website, I had a long association with him for about 17 years when I started Rainbow Stamp News. He contributed regular news and articles for my Rainbow Stamp Club blog and Rainbow Stamp News. I had my last communication with him on Tuesday 29th April 2025 but never knew that it was his last WhatsApp message to me acknowledging my postcard sent to him from Kuala Lumpur. Besides Stamps he had a keen interest in the collection of Picture Postcards, Souvenir spoons, and Bonsai, I had seen his excellent collection of Bonsai which he used to make himself during my visit to Ahmedabad. Our heartfelt condolences... I have lost my very close philatelist friend.....May his soul Rest in Peace...

Book Review : Pincode ( Postal Index Number) Six digits, One Nation

 

  

Pincode (Postal Index Number) Six digits, One Nation

By Sushil Mehra

Pincode ( Postal Index Number) Six digits, One Nation By Sushil Mehra : Edition  2025 (First): Philatelic Research Booklet - Pin Code Study : Publisher : Sushil Mehra : Type Paperback : Pages - 50 :  Price - Rs 850/-  : For Private Circulation : Contact : email : gaureshmehra@gmail.com  WhatsApp  : 9972091818

A Postal Index Number refers to a six-digit code in the Indian postal code system used by India Post. The PIN system was introduced on 15 August 1972 by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, an additional secretary in the Government of India's Ministry of Communications. The system was introduced to simplify the manual sorting and delivery of mail by eliminating confusion over incorrect addresses, similar place names, and different languages used by the public. The first digit of a PIN indicates the zone, the second indicates the sub-zone, and the third, combined with the first two, indicates the sorting district within that zone. The final three digits are assigned to individual post offices within the sorting district.

 

The book “Pincode ( Postal Index Number) Six digits, One Nation” gives detail description of the PIN Code structure digit wise with Map. The promotion of PIN Code on various postal articles in form of cancellations, meter marks, on margins of stamp sheets, printing on covers and postal registration /speed post receipts. The book also gives the details of the special covers and private covers issued on PIN code. The postcards have a special feature for the use of PIN code which is a part of promotion of the use of PIN code which makes postal delivery easy and fast. It is described  with the images. The book gives the list of Philatelic Bureaus of India with PIN its codes. The author has also given special chapters on ZIP Code versus PIN Code and last Pin Codes of India. 

The book is interesting and informative with a beautiful layout . It will be helpful in the study of use, promotion and importance of the PIN code. Every philatelist would find the book quite useful. 

 

 About the Author

 

Sushil Mehra is a keen philatelist and numismatist with special interest in various varied subjects related to stamp, coin and note collection. He has participated in several stamp exhibition . He is a member of Karnataka Numismatic Society as well as member of Karnataka Philatelic Society. He has a complete collection of Post Independence India Stamps. ET (Economic Times) as well Deccan Herald have published articles on his collection. Karnataka Postal Circle has released Post Cards on his collection as well as two books on Special Covers of Karnataka to which he Contributed. He is author/co-author of many books on philately. Some of them are :

 

• Glimpses of Vintage Bengaluru’,
• ‘Guide to Permanent Pictorial Cancellations of India’,
• ‘ My Dashavatar Collection with special emphasis on Rama and Krishna’,
• ‘Exemplified Philatelic Terms’, 
• ‘Jai Hind – The True spirit of India’,
• ‘The Handbook of Permanent Pictorial Cancellations of India’.
• ‘INK THE PPC: An Updated Guide to Permanent Pictorial Cancellations’
• ‘My Collection of Special Covers issued by Karnataka Postal Circle 2019-2023’
• ‘The Post Office Buildings of India’
• ‘CARRIED COVERS of INDIA’
• ‘Gandhi Connections’ on Post Offices in India bearing the name of Gandhiji
• ‘Daakiya Aaya, Chitti Laya’ – a book in Hindi about Postmen and Letters through the ages through the eyes of picture postcards

He has won several award at National and International Philatelic Exhibitions.

-      -  Jeevan Jyoti

 

Europhilex 2025 : Results

 

EUROPHILEX 2025

Indian Winners

1. Markand Dave 2.Dinesh Kanabar 3. Nisarg Sutaria 4. Jeevan Jyoti 5. Mohanachandran Nair

6. Sridevi N. 7.Capt. Vijay Wadhwa 8.Kumesh Kumar Jain 9. Gauresh Mehra 10.Sushil Mehra

Markand Dave FRPSL

The Rocket Mails of India - Gold with Fel. of Jury.

Markand Dave

The 1929 Air Mail Stamps of India -  Gold

Dinesh Kanabar FRPSL 

-Treasure of British India Archive - - Large Vermeil

Chandrajit Ghose - The Rocket Mails in India - Large Vermeil

Nisarg Sutaria – Vermeil

Dinesh Kanabar – Vermeil

Jeevan Jyoti – Large Silver 

Mohanachandran Nair - Large Silver

Capt Vijay Wadhwa – 6 Silver  (  6 entries)

Sridevi N. – Silver + Large Silver ( 2 entries)

Kumesh Kumar Jain – Silver

Sushil Mehra – 2 Silver Bronze (  2 entries)

Gauresh Mehra – Silver Broze

View : Result 

Result: Literature Class

View : Literature Entries

-Markand Dave , National Commissioner for  India

THE PCI PHILATELIC TRUST

 

THE PCI PHILATELIC TRUST

Financial Grant 2024-25

The PCI Philatelic Trust is committed to supporting initiatives that align with its objectives.As part of this initiative, We had announced our grant scheme for 2024-25 in September 2024 and received encouraging response. We are pleased to announce that a grant Rs. 40,000 has been awarded to Mr. Aranya Dutta Choudhury for his upcoming book on The Non-Postal Stamps & Stamp Papers of North-Eastern India.

We aim to mobilize additional resources and increase the grant amount in FY 2025-26 to further support philatelic research and scholarship projects.

About his Book

This book delves into the fascinating world of non-postal stamps and stamp papers from the princely states and provinces of Northeastern India, including Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, and Assam. It explores their historical and administrative significance, detailing their role in governance, legal transactions, and the evolution of fiscal instruments. With a focus on rare varieties, official records, and archival research, this work aims to serve as a valuable resource for philatelists, historians, and collectors, shedding light on a lesser-explored aspect of Indian philately.

- Piyush Khaitan

  Chairman & Trustee,

  The PCI Philatelic Trust.

www.pciphilatelictrust.weebly.com