Meet our new members.

8. Farrokh Magra, Mumbai

I am Farrokh Magra from Mumbai.I collect only Indian stamps. In Pre Independence era, I have stamps from very first issue of 1854 till 1940 except for some high value stamps which are beyond my reach.From 1941, I have the entire collection in mint upto date. I have also some official stamp booklets issued by the British Govt. issued as souvenir for different occasions.I like to collect any unique item pertaining to British period, and would welcome any enquiry.
I can be reached at E-mail : magra@godrej.com


9. Purushottam Das Heda ,Hyderabad

My Name is Purushottam Das Heda aged about 63 years. I collect India Post Independence Block of 4 as well as mint sheets. Block of 4, I collect are with traffic lights (Registration markings) on all four sides. i.e. A, B, C and D or some people call it 1, 2, 3 and 4. Further I collect complete stationery including Advertisement stationery (Post Independence India). I will be very happy to contact with philatelists having the similar interest.
My Postal Address is : 3-12-12/C, Ganeshnagar Colony, Ramanthapur, Hyderabad - 500013 E-mail : pdheda@hotmail.com

News from Members -

Mr. Shrikant Parikh from Ahmedabad -

We are well aware of the unprecedential scarsity of Madhubala stamps. Here are the scans of FDCs of Madhubala issue The stamps on the FDC are Imperf from one and two sides of the stamp.

Imperf on two sides

Imperf on one side

Vinod Sabharwal from New Delhi

latest Indian Issues

Aga Khan Foundation FDC issued on 17 May 2008

After Manoj Tiwari, Taj on Gibraltar stamp we have brought for you one more interesting news from Stamp World while surfing on net. Please have a look ! Let us know too if you come across any eye catching news of the Philatelic World to share with others.

Collector's Delight- First Beaded Stamp By Singapore

Here is a good news for those who collect unusual stamps. Singapore becomes the first country to issue first beaded stamp of the world on April 8, 2008. It will become a fancy and novel item for stamp lovers all over the world. It's a philatelic treat for collectors of unique stamps. This beautiful souvenir sheet is in the shape of a purse where the stamp is beaded. The beads are stuck the stamp manually. The souvenir sheet is part of the set consisting of eight stamps which depict the items from the Peranakan Museum Collection. This is produced by the latest designing and printing technique with the use of special material.The word Peranakan means 'local born' in Malay. It refers to the Peranakan Chinese as well as other Peranakan communities which developed in South-east Asia. Peranakans are known for the beauty of their crafted furniture, jewellery, embroidery, beadwork, textiles, garments and porcelain. The Peranakan Museum houses the best collection of Peranakan artifacts in the world. The first four stamps of the set show embroidered items. The other four stamps depict details of porcelain work. Earlier in the year 2001 Switzerland had issued a stamp which when rubbed on released the rich smell of chocolate. They had issued this to commemorate the chocolate industry. Last year they had a stamp which had letters in Braille language.Every year since 2000 they come out with a unique stamp. Scented, wood touch, metallic, plastic, Grammophone record Stamp, personalized stamps and stamps in unusual shapes have already been issued by some postal administrations. Now Singapore deserves the credit to be the first country to issue this beautiful unusual beaded souvenir sheet.

Stamp with the flavour of chocolate

7.Shrikant Parikh, Ahmedabad

Mr. Shrikant Parikh is a renowned philatelist from Gujrat and known for his detailed listings of Indian Aerogrammes, Se-tenant Stamps, Sheetlets as well as Miniature Sheets. He has complete collection of UMM Block of 4 since 1947 till date including Definitive and Military Overprints. Recently he has completed collection of Combinations of Se-tenant stamps from 1974 till date and has also prepared a CD of it. He has also prepared complete collection of Aerogramme (Normal & with Advt.), Inland Letter card (Normal & with Advt.) and Sheetlets of India. He has published 2 albums for Se-tenant stamps, and Miniature sheets. Mr. Parikh has been writing articles on various subjects of philately for GPA News and other philatelic magazine since a long time. Recently he was awarded ‘Certificate of Appreciation’ by Michel a well known stamp catalogue publishing company of Germany for his unfailing services of 30 years to them.
E-Mail : shrikantparikh@rediffmail.com

News from Tel Aviv

Now the World's biggest philatelic show " World Stamp Championship 2008" is going on at Tel Aviv, Israel from May 12 - 22 May 2008. It's the Olympics of stamps. Once every four years the collectors with the world's largest and most expensive stamp collections gather and display their wares.This year it's a beautiful solid silver trophy donated by Shimon Pires, The President of The State of Israel for the winner.The World Stamp Championships is an exclusive club. It's estimated you'll need a minimum $5m to compete for the trophy.With over $500million worth of rare stamps in the exhibition hall the World Stamp Championships are proving to be quite an attraction.Up to 60,000 people are expected to visit the city of Tel Aviv for this exhibition from all over the world which is quite a big figure as compared to the population of Tel Aviv which is about 390,400. Four years ago the World Stamp Championships were held in Singapore.The last Bangkok stamp exhibition attracted over 650,000 visitors. In forthcoming World Stamp Exhibition at China, the organisers expect 700,000 visitors.

News from our member

Col. Suresh Bagga writes from Panchkula.....

I have two frames displayed at Chandigarh Philatelic Bureau, and I keep changing the exhibit in one frame every month. At present one frame is for 'Vintage Collection' It has postcards and covers as old as over a hundred years; and the latest being well over 50 years old. Later ones are addressed to my father and some have my name on the address but all of them are unique for cancellation marks or postal stationery used. This frame will have new exhibit this month. The other frame 'Our Neighbours' has on row each from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Now I am preparing exhibits from Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar for the frame to complete the theme. Bhutan sheets will have CD-ROM stamps, Talking Stamps (Gramophone records), Steel Stamps and first 3-D stamps issued on Space Exploration. Myanmar collection has two stamps issued by Japan during occupation of Burma in 1942. Nepal will include 1935 issues of Shri Pashupati stamps.

Taj Mahal on Gibraltar Stamp

Taj Mahal the pride of India will appear once again on a foreign issue very soon. After it has become one of the Seven Wonders of the World its beauty has attracted several postal administrations. Gibraltar is going to issue a set of seven stamps on recently selected Seven Wonders of the World by voting. These are The Christ redeemer in Brazil, The Coliseum in Rome, Italy, Petra in Jordan, The great wall in China, The Machu Pichu in Peru, Chichén Itza in Mexico and the Taj Mahal in India. The date of the issue is yet to be decided by the Gibraltar postal Administration.

Bhojpuri Star Manoj Tiwari, on Dutch stamp

Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari is on cloud nine as he has piped maestro Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia to be the Indian face on a Dutch postage stamp.The government of Netherlands has issued a postage stamp in Bhojpuri star Manoj Tiwari’s honour.The actor is both dazed and delighted. Says Tiwari, “Two names were put forward for the honour — Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and mine. That I was chosen over a man of such stature and seniority fills me with both pride and humility.”There’s also also a sense of disbelief. “This has come as a huge surprise,” he says. “There’s a special event in my honour on May 21,” he informs. The honor was conferred on him last March but was made public only last week when Tiwari received an e-mail from the Dutch government notifying him about the 44-cent (Euro) stamp in recognition of his soaring popularity in Holland that has a large population of migrant people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.. This is for the first time a postage stamp of Holland has been issued in the name of a foreigner. Tiwari, who recently moved out of Mumbai after being targeted by anti-Bihari extremists like Bal Thackeray of Shiv Sena and his nephew and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, engaged in an act of 'Gandhigiri' on March 24 when he handed out red roses to passengers at Patna Junction leaving for Mumbai to spread brotherhood and regional harmony between Bihar and Maharashtra.

6. Varad P. Dhaky , Ahmedabad

I am introducing myself Varad.P. Dhaky , did post graduation in Electronics in the year 1973 and having business of Industrial Export- Import Consultancy . I am collecting stamps and coins for more than last 40 years . I am a thematic collector mainly collecting Fiscal stamps of Princely States of India and Court Fee Stamp Papers , Stamps of Indian theme on Foreign Stamps , Novelty /Unique Stamps , Jainism , Export/Exhibition . Currently I am active as a Secretary General of Gujrat Philatelists’ Association Ahmedabad for the last 12 years and Ex- Honorary Secretary and Editor of the Newsletter of Gujrat Coin Society , Ahmedabad . My E-mail ids are altoexim@yahoo.co.in , vpdhaky@vsnl.net & vdhaky@gmail.com

Members

1. Praful Thakkar, Ahmedabad

I am Praful Thakkar, IAS (Retd.) and has retired from Govt of Gujarat as Secretary to the Government. I am a collector of Stamps, Coins, Tokens, Medals and Autographs since last more than 40 years.I have hosted my 2 websites as mentioned below.It will be my pleasure to be associated with Rainbow Club.

E-mail : pkthakkar@yahoo.com

http://www.indianautographs.com

Thematic Gallery of Indian Autographs

http://www.indiannumismatics.com

Classic Gallery of Indian Numismatics

2. Col.Suresh Bagga, Panchkula

Graduate in Architecture from the University of Bombay, joined Indian Army and was in thick of action in 1971, in now Bangladesh. A stint in Bhutan motivated me to my own Bhutan Collection of fascinating stamps. Completed MBA, for a second career in civvies after hanging the OG uniforms. Have been an ardent collector of Stamps, Coins and Paper Money since school days. First exhibition of Stamps - I participated in my school in 1954 and in 1955 my brief article on Stamp Collection published in school magazine. In 1956 a discussion on Stamps Collecting aired from AIR in the children’s programme. I have my webpage which have 21 albums containing images of all the stamps issued since 1947. I am proud to be associated with Rainbow Stamp Club. The link is - http://community.webshots.com/user/baggasuresh

Collecting Interests : Philately & Numismatics

E-mail : baggasuresh@yahoo.com

3. Jyotirmay Bareria, Bangalore

This is Jyotirmay Bareria, basically from Patna but now sort of settled in Bangalore. I have been working in IT industry for last 8 years. Basically a software engineer by profession but philatelist by heart. I collect stamps on India, Australia and USA country wise. But for last couple of years, I am passionate on my theme "World War 2 and its effect on society". I have been collecting stamps since my school days but actively got involved since 2000. It's pleasure to associate with Rainblow stamp club.

E-mail : jbareria@gmail.com

4. Vipan Kumar Thakur, chandigarh

I am Vipan Kumar Thakur from Chandigarh. I am in Govt Service. I collect stamps on India theme wise. I also collect special covers issued by Indian Army Postal Service. I have been collecting stamps since my school days. I have prepared a slide show on Stamp Collecting, which can be downloaded from www.stampsofindia.com under the head Instant Delivery. It's a pleasure to be associated with Rainbow Stamp Club.

E-mail : philavpnthakur@rediffmail.com

5. Anurag Verma, Jalandhar

I am Anurag Verma from Jalandhar, I collect stamps. I would say for me stamp collection is not a hobby but a passion. I have a complete collection of India Mint Stamps from 1947 upto 2007, along with military issues, definitive series and Miniature Sheets. Apart from India Stamps I also collect mint Miniature sheets, mint sets on Endangered animals and I am trying to collect stamps on Beetles & Insects from round the world. I am also a keen reader of monthly newsletter Rainbow Stamp News. I find Rainbow Stamp club Blog & Magazine quite interesting .
My E-mail id is : anuragverma@rrkabel.com

Recent Premature Issues in the market - Yet to be officially issued

Your artwork could be on a stamp

By Aditya Ghosh

It can bring them out of obscure villages, where they mix colors on canvas to express their creative urge, to centre stage. Their art now has a chance of reaching millions across the world on postage stamps. The Deptt. Of Posts and the Ministry of Women and Child Development have come together to invite young artists to create artworks themed on children’s issues, which will be reproduced on postage stamps.” Though just a pilot project, it promises to be a new medium for the artists and provide them the encouragement they rarely receive,” said Ajit Vahadane, of the Indian Artists’ Network, who has been asked by the ministry to spread the word. The stamps will be released in September. The brainchild of Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhary, the artists will have to submit their work to the department for selection. ”Because the postal department takes at least six months to print the stamps, we need the entries quickly.” said the ministry’s undersecretary C.K. Reejonia. Though Vahadane is wary of Politics that might go into the eventual selection of paintings, he said it would encourage artists who have no platform to showcase their works. “ Artists from rural areas are so creative and sincere, but no one wants to see their work. It is a challenge, and an opportunity, to create an impression in postage stamp size. We are circulating a mail to inform all artists in our network” he said.

To Put Your Painting on a Postage Stamp

E-mail Ajit Vahadane, at admin@indianfinearts.com . You can also contact C.K. Reejonia, Undersecretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.

Published in The Hindustan Times April 2, 2008