Popular Toys of Children..

 

Date of Issue : 6 May 2015

Here is a nice stamp issued by Czech Republic for Europa 2015 theme. The stamp features popular modelling  toy of children all over the world . In India it is known as Meccano . Meccano is a model construction system created in Liverpool, UK by Frank Hornby. It consists of re-usable metal strips, plates, angle girders, wheels, axles and gears, with nuts and bolts to connect the pieces. It enables the building of working models and mechanical devices.

Czech Republic selected the legendary metal Merkur modelling system as a theme for stamp for Europa 2015. The item features a crane on tracks built of colour parts of the Merkur modelling system, with a black and white outline of other parts and tools scattered around.

The legendary metal Merkur modelling system is the best-known traditional Czech toy manufactured in the Czech Republic, which became famous throughout the world. It was created in the early 20th century in Police nad Metují and its models have been successfully sold since the mid-1920s.

The modelling system is based on belts and profiles of different shapes and lengths, made of painted sheet steel and containing a network of drilled holes. These parts are put together with bolts and nuts. The system contains also other parts such as axles, gear wheels, spindles, etc. Some sets also include pulleys, bulldozer belts and even electric motors. This enables the construction of most realistic structures and different machines.

The variability and unlimited use of Merker guarantee its popularity. It helps expand children’s imagination, dexterity and creativity.

My Recent Cover…

Cover from Russia

Thanks to Limanski E.N. from Moscow, Russia

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From our Readers..

Book on ‘Meghdoot Post Cards’

I am pleased to bring my first book on ‘Meghdoot Post Cards’ under ‘Post Independence Postal Stationery of India’.The book consists of 130 pages printed on art paper with multi-color illustrations priced at Rs. 650/- (US $30/-) postage extra.
- Purushottam Das Heda email :  pdheda@hotmail.com

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New Europa 2015 stamps – Old Toys

Date of Issue : 30 April 2015

The Iceland Post will issue stamps on Europa 2015 featuring  wooden duck and the Dúa cars. The issue is to be released on the 30^th of April. According to the decision of PostEurop, the association of European public postal operators, old toys are the common theme of 2015.

The wooden duck was first produced from 1931 to 1960 by Akureyri Toy Makers and Leifur Toys, both based in Akureyri. The production was initiated by Skarphéðinn Ásgeirsson and the toys enjoyed great domestic popularity. Leifur Toys took over the production in 1942 and continued producing wooden toys until 1960.

The business failed, however, due to increased import of foreign toys. Guðbjörg Ringsted is in charge of the toy museum located in Friðbjörn’s House in Akureyri. A variety of toys from the last century can be found there, including the wooden duck. The initial production of Dúa cars started in 1985 when several pioneers in the Westfjords founded a toy workshop called Aldan.

Their goal was to produce wooden toys. The workshop produced all kinds of sought-after toys, including the Dúa cars which became very popular. The Red Cross was for many years one of the workshop’s agents, with sales proceeds going to the Red Cross house in Reykjavik which served as a relief center for children and youth. Dúa cars can be seen among other places at the local museum of Hafnarfjörður.

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STAMPEX 2015

A stamp exhibition and  workshop will be held at Shri Shyma Prasad Mukharjee Art Gallery, Rajkot  from 1-3rd May 2015.

From our Readers..

Aid to Nepal

Help Earthquake victims of Nepal !!!

An Appeal

India is doing so much to provide aid to Nepal. But, I do feel that we as citizens need to extend a helping hand too. It would be a great idea if the Dept of Posts could issue stamps and a minisheet highlighting the disaster. the money gained from the stamps could be exclusively sent to Nepal as a contribution from us Indians who feel and understand their pain and grief.

This will be a much quicker way of collecting money, rather than create a fund the credibility of which most people don't believe in anyway.

- Commodore  Vijay Kapre, New Delhi

Blog : http://letstalkstamps.blogspot.in/

New Special Covers

Rani Laxmibai – Jhansi 24 Mach 2015

India Post, U.P. Postal Circle, Jhansi Division released a Special Cover on Jhansi Ki Rani Lakshmibai on 24 March 20115 during JHANSIPEX 2015 (24-26 MARCH).  Cover approval No. UP/09/2015.

WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY - 17TH MARCH 2015

WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY - 17TH MARCH 2015
PROMOTING SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION For Sustainable Development

India Post, Punjab Postal circle released a Special cover – Approval No. 01/2015  on  World social work Day at Chandigarh on 17-03-2015. in  collaboration with UNESCO's 70th Anniversary Celebrations, IGNOU the
Peoples University, Union Bank of India. Association of Professional Social Workers & Development Practitioners (APSWDP) is commemorating First Foundation year  on the occasion of World Social work Day - 2015 and UNESCO'S 70th Anniversary celebrations.

- Sreejesh Krishnan - Trivandrum

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Toys of yesteryears

 

Date of Issue 16 April 2015

Serbia Post will issue two stamps on 15th April 2015  and French Post will issue a stamp on 4th May 2015 featuring popular old toys for Europa 2015 theme. The theme of Europa 2015 stamps is Old Toys.

Date of Issue : 4 May 2015

View  : All Europa stamps

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Stamp exhibition in Germany

RHEIN-RUHR-POSTA 2015 LÖHNE(GERMANY) 17 – 19 April 2015

 

A big philatelic Exhibition will be held from April 17th to April 19th in Löhne, Germany. Philatelists from Germany and other European countries will display 130 exhibits including 13 exhibits about philatelic literature in more than 600 Frames together with  a special show about Polar philately. During this philatelic event the following German Collector Groups will hold a meeting in Löhne :

ArGe BRAZIL, ArGe USA/CANADA, ArGe COINS and MONETARY SYSTEMS, ArGe AUTOMOBILES, ArGe PRECANCELLATIONS, ArGe POLAR PHILATELY and  Ar Ge MAPS/SURVEY/DISCOVERY of EARTH.

Interested Indian Philatelists or from other countries may please  contact

me for more information about these German Collector Groups. Mail:  Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de .

During this great philatelic event RHEIN-RUHR-POSTA 2015 from April 17th to April 19th in Löhne,five different very nice pictorial  postmarks  will be available

On April 17th a new postmark will be issued in 32584 LÖHNE. The postmark will feature a Minervas

Owl ( Athene noctua) and the logo of the philatelic exhibition.

On April 17th a new postmark will be issued in 32584 LÖHNE. The postmark  will feature Erich von

Drygalski, the leader of the first German  expedition to South pole.

On April 17th a new postmark will be issued in 32584 LÖHNE .  The postmark will feature a motorcycle

of the popular make Miele from the last Century.

On April 17th a new postmark will be issued in 32584 LÖHNE.  The postmark will feature a squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and a letterbox.

On April 19th a new postmark will be issued in 32584 LÖHNE.  The postmark will feature a steam locomotive.

Interested philatelists may please contact: Wolfgang Beyer, Vice Chairman of the German

Philatelic Collector Group ARGE ZOOLOGIE. Mail: Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de . Postage rates:

0,80 Euro AIRMAIL, 2,95 Euro Registered AIRMAIL.

Courtesy: Wolfgang Beyer, Wolfgang Bloebaum and Wolfgang Duemke

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Saving children with oncology

 

Date of Issue – 16 March 2015

Slovak Post has released a special stamp celebrating the anniversary of the opening of a special department for the transplantation of haematogenous cells that was established at the University Children’s Hospital and Clinic (UCHC) in Bratislava in 1995. The item was issued and put into circulation on the 16^th of March.

The Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU) of the Paediatric Haematology and Oncology Clinic in the UCHC in Bratislava is the only one of its kind in Slovakia, where the transplantation of haematogenous cells in cases of children (ranging from 0 to 18) with oncology, serious haematology and metabolic issues (as well as some congenital malfunctioning of the immune system) are conducted.

The BMTU has been a long-recognized member of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), and the results the Unit has achieved using this therapy can be compared to the results of the paediatric transplant centres in the most developed countries in Europe.

New Special Covers

GUJPEX 2015 : Special Cover on Martyrs of Adas - 26th March 2015

On the third day of GUJPEX 2015 exhibition a Special Cover on Immortal Martyrs of Adas was released by Shri Ambesh Upmanyu, Postmaster General (BD), Gujarat Postal Circle.

125 Year of the National Council of YMCAs of India – 20th February 2015

 

YMCA Madras, along with the National Council of YMCA, organized 125th Anniversary Celebrations - Thanksgiving Service on 20th February, 2015 at YMCA Vepery Youth Centre, Chennai, in the presence of the World YMCA President, Mr. Peter Posner. On the occasion a Special Cover was also released to mark 125 Year of the National Council of YMCAs of India (Special Cover approval no. TN/07/2015).

Special Cover on Dr. K. V. Rao, founder of Dr. K.V. Rao Scientific Society – 21st March 2015

A special cover was released to mark the establishment of 15 years of Dr. K. V. Rao Scientific Society and the 95th birth anniversary of Dr. K. V. Rao.

 

100 Years Urs Celebrations of Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqi Fazilat Jung -20th March 2015

A special cover was released on 100 Years Urs Celebrations of Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqi Fazilat Jung by Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri K. Chandrashekar Rao at Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad.

Audumbaram Tree, Warangal – 16th March 2015

A Special Cover was released by A.P. Postal Circle on Audumbaram Tree, a 24 hour oxygen generator at Warangal on 16th March 2015.

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest

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Stamps with message for life

 

 

 

Chunghwa Post is issuing a set of four stamps on idioms to enhance teenagers’ understanding of Chinese idioms and to inspire them. The issue will be released and put into circulation on the 20^th of March. All four stamps have  message for life to follow .  The designs follow:

1. Bo Le Appraises the Horse (NT$5): Bo Le is the name of a constellation in charge of the heavenly stable. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC), there was a man named Sun Yang that many called Bo Le because he was expert in the ways of horses. There is a legend about his search for a good horse. One day, he saw a horse struggling to pull a salt cart up a steep slope. When he approached, the horse suddenly neighed loudly. From the horse’s cry, Bo Le knew that this was the horse he was looking for, so he purchased it. After being properly cared for, the horse did indeed become a great war horse. Later, people began to call anyone who was good at scouting talent Bo Le.

2. The Ambition of a Swan (NT$5): The Records of the Grand Historian devoted a chapter to a man named Chen She. Chen was poor when he was young and once worked as a farmhand. One day, he woefully said to his coworkers: “Let’s not forget about each other when one of us strikes it rich one day”. The others laughed and said, “You are just a hired farmhand, you will never strike it rich”. Sighing, Chen said “How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?” The idiom compares ordinary people to sparrows, who are incapable of understanding the aspirations of a hero. Later, the idiom came to be used to describe great ambition.

3. Adept with Both the Pen and the Sword (NT$5): In Chapter 93 of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a man beats Kong Ming at his own game. Surprised, Kong Ming inquires about him: “Who is that? How did he see through my trick? “He then was told: “His name is Jiang Wei who is very devoted to his mother. He is adept with both the pen and the sword. What’s more, he is intelligent and brave. He is a truly outstanding fellow”. The idiom “adept with both the pen and the sword” is now used to encourage people to pay attention to their work and their extracurricular skills.

4. Tiny Blade of Grass and Spring Sun (NT$5): “The Song of the Wandering Son”, a poem by Tang dynasty poet Meng Jiao, reads as follows: “The thread in the hand of a loving mother goes into the clothes for her wandering son. She makes the stitches tight before he leaves, worrying it might be a while before he returns. How can tiny blades of grass repay the sun, however much they appreciate its warmth?” The idiom describes how children receive so much from their parents that it is hard to expect them to repay it in kind.

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Toys of yesteryears…

 

 

Date of Issue : 5 March 2016

Azerbaijan Post issued two stamps and a beautiful miniature sheet on Europa 2015 theme, old toys. The stamps feature traditional popular toys of children which every child used to play few decades ago. The stamp are so colorful and the lovely toys take you back the childhood days.

Old Toys from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post)

Date of Issue : 5 April 2015

A set of two stamps will be issued by Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post) on 5th April featuring Europa 2015 theme of  old toys.

View : Europa 2015  Stamps

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It’s a children’s world….

 

Toys of yesteryears

Here are some new stamps from Sweden and Netherlands, related with the children’s world. A  new Souvenir sheet shown above, to be issued by   Swedish Post on 26th March 2015 featuring Europa 2015 theme “ Old Toys”. The beautiful souvenir sheet features  teddy bear, a doll and other toys of yesteryears which used to  globally popular among children.

Birth stamp from Dutch Post

Date of Issue : 2 March 2015

Dutch Post issues the Birth stamp in order to “reflect the spirit of the times”, the PostNL website states. The current Birth stamp is available from March 2. It features a pink rattle among other images, and will replace the famous stork Birth stamp which has been used for 18 years.

The new Birth stamp is a collage of illustrations of objects and symbols people often associate with birth and babies: a pram, a rocking horse, a rattle, a bottle, little flowers and hearts.

 

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Philatelic Exhibition on ‘Women’ theme to be held at Bangalore from 7th to 9th March 2015.

As a part of Women’s day celebration Karnataka Postal Circle is organizing Philatelic Exhibition on the theme of ‘Women’ at "Chaya" and "Belaku" halls of Rangoli Metro Art Center, MG Road Metro Station premises, Bangalore from 7th to 9th March 2015. Exhibition will be inaugurated at 11.00 am on 7th March 2015. Exhibition will remain open between 11.00 am to 07.30 pm. Karnataka Postal Circle will also be felicitating five post-women for their diligence to duty on the occasion. The exhibits will include collections from noted philatelists of Bangalore, DR Sumitra Arya, Tamil Vanan (exhibit on Mother Teresa) and other philatelists.

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International Day of Happiness

 

Date of Issue :10 March 2015

 

The International Day of Happiness, established by the United Nations General Assembly on the 12th of July 2012, is celebrated on the 20th of March. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that the world needs a new economic paradigm that recognizes the parity between the three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and environmental well-being are indivisible, together they define gross global happiness

Republic of San Marino celebrates the International Day of Happiness with a philatelic set designed by Mirella Musri, an illustrator, an artist and a teacher from Argentina. The issue has been already designed and is to be put into circulation on the 10^th of March.

The two stamps show four children from different ethnic groups playing together: they run on the earth (€ 0.95 value) and they ride a stylized swallow with Mount Titano in the background (€ 2.30 value).

Europa 2015 Stamps from San Marino

San Marino Post is ready to release a special stamp issue for Post Europ stamp competition. The philatelic release consists of two items that will be put into circulation on the 10^th of March.

PostEurop, organization who meets every two years to decide the themes of the philatelic issues of its member States dedicated to Europa, chose “old toys” for the year 2015. The 0.80€ value depicts a rocking horse, a toy that ties the present of the children with the past of the adults. The first rocking horse dates back to 1610 and it is kept by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

The 0.95€ value shows a toy car, a typical game that connects present and past generations. The designer Gabriella Giandelli is also a comic-strip artist, a scriptwriter, a director and a children’s book illustrator. She created the character “little rabbit Milo” for the Mondadori’s children collections which also became a cartoon for the Rai network.

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Special stamp on International Year of Light

 

Date of Issue : 2 March 2015

Here is a unique stamp with special effects to be released by Liechtenstein Post today. This special  stamp, being  released on the 2nd of March is to celebrate the International Year of the Light.

Sunlight is the foundation of life for humans, animals and plants. Light in general is also a key subject of science and culture. The United Nations proclaimed 2015 as the International Year of Light: 1000 years ago it was proven for the first time that light sources emit light rays, exactly 200 years ago the wave character of light was discovered and the quantum theory of light is 110 years old.

Experimenting with light arouses scientific curiosity. The special stamp “Play of Light” (value: CHF 1.90) permits the observer to conduct three experiments relating to the anniversaries mentioned. The background of the stamp glows in the dark owing to its fluorescent colour. It turns into a source of light if it was exposed to sunlight beforehand.

The wave theory can be observed if the stamp is held up to a source of light. The micro-perforations in the paper become easily visible as the light waves are diffracted through the small openings. For the experiment on quantum theory, the light pink colour behind the ball was printed with a special colour. When irradiated with UV light, the colour turns from pink to violet.

Europa 2015 stamps from Liechtenstein

 

Date of Issue : 2 March 2015

Another set of stamps to be released on 2nd March features Europa 2015 . Toys are the theme of this year’s Europe stamps issued by the member states of the trade association representing European public postal operators, PostEurop. The Liechtenstein issue comprises two special stamps showing figurines produced in Liechtenstein in the 1940s, a “Polar Bear” (value: CHF 1.40) and a “Goat” (value: CHF 1.40).

The artistic realisation focuses on the actual purpose of the figurines – playing – so the pictures look like snapshots of childlike playing scenes: The polar bear is enjoying the climate in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator and the goat is proudly climbing a lemon. The toy factory in Schaan at that time made nativity figurines and other animal figures for several years. A kind of modelling material was developed in advance on the basis of kieselguhr in protracted tests. This was pressed into metal moulds and painted by hand after hardening. The figurines found a ready market worldwide. In 1949, one of the company’s founders left the company. Under the name Spiwa, his partner merged with another company in the business and continued to make toys for some years afterwards.

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New stamp on UNICEF

 

Date of Issue  : 5 February 2015

Here is a beautiful stamp issued on UNICEF. The design of the stamp is excellent.  Magyar Posta has issued a special stamp to welcome UNICEF operating in Hungary for forty years. On the stamp design a graphic work entitled “Children’s Tree” can be seen, while on the first day cover the main aims of UNICEF are displayed. The stamp was released on 5 February 2015.

 

 

In the history of mankind World War II was the greatest armed conflict, in which 70 nations took part and more than 62 million civilians and soldiers died. Among the survivors there were millions of orphaned and severely traumatised children. In that world the victorious and the defeated both were in need of support.

Maurice Pate – who later became the first Executive Director of UNICEF – wrote the following to the US Secretary of State in his letter: “I need 100 million dollars to give 6 million children a glass of milk and a piece of bread.” UNICEF was launched with this sentence. Its aim was to help freezing, starving and sick children, including Hungarian children, in post-war Europe.

However, following foundation they had to face the fact that it is not only wars that cause pain to children. All children in the world must receive the fundamental rights they are entitled to: the right to protection, health, education and equality. In 1965 UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “the promotion of brotherhood among the nations”. UNICEF fights for these rights in Hungary as well.

According to global surveys there are between 500 million and 1.5 billion children who have suffered from some sort of violence. According to some estimates every tenth child is affected by violence in Hungary. UNICEF believes that child abuse could be prevented completely, and all children exposed to danger have the right to protection and must be given appropriate assistance. UNICEF launches campaigns in Hungary to help both adults and children understand children’s rights.

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New stationeries (envelopes) from Germany

On March 8th 2015  two different stationeries (envelopes) will be issued in Neuwied by the Philatelic Collector Group of Neuwied. One of the envelopes is featuring on left side, a Seriema (Dicholophus cristatus), extinct in Brazil and the second one features two Pataxo-Indians from the state of Bahia (Brazil).

Interested philatelists may please contact: Wolfgang Beyer,member of the German Philatelic Collector

Group ARGE BRAZIL. The envelopes are available unused and with pictorial postmark.

Mail: Wolfgang.beyer1@aol.de .

Courtesy: Mr. Jürgen Glahe´, Chairman of the German Philatelic Collector Group Neuwied.

 

Threatened Pataxo Indian Tribe of Brazil Celebrates Supreme Court Decision

The Pataxo Ha-Ha-Hae Indian tribe, residing in Brazil, has been allowed by a Supreme Court verdict to live undisturbed in their area. The court has asked the ranchers illegally occupying the area and their indigenous territory to leave the region.

The decision by Brazil's Supreme Court came after a long judicial battle, the Survival International organisation informed. For decades, the Pataxo of Bahia state has been subjected to violent conflict by the ranchers and other poachers illegally occupying the area.

They have been pushing to be able to live undisturbed on their ancestral land, a right guaranteed to them by Brazil's constitution and by international law. According to Survival International, State Deputy Padre Ton emphasised that this land is for the Indians, "chased away and evicted by the violence they suffered".

The history of the colonisation of Bahia's southern region is a tragic tale of tremendous violence exerted against the Indian inhabitants.Time and again the indigenous groups residing in the region have been subjected to threats, affronts, challenges and aggressions of hired thugs.

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Alice in Wonderland on stamps…

 

Date of Issue  - 6 January 2015

2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the classic children’s novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, to celebrate this literary milestone, Royal Mail issued set  a set of stamps on 6 January  . Alderney Post will issue stamps on 6 February 2015.

 

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a series of stamps have been created to illustrate classic moments from the story.

Stamps from  Alderney Post

Date of Issue : 5 February 2015

This set consists of six items that depict different episodes from this fascinating story. The issue is to be released and put into circulation on the 5^th of February.Keith’s amazing imagination and brilliant illustration skills have resulted in a truly outstanding stamp set which brings to life many of the famous and fascinating characters created by Lewis Carroll that have enthralled children and adults across the decades.

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KARNAPEX 2015

19 January 2015 - Day 4

Fourth and last day of exhibition observed as "Swatchchta Diwas" marked the culmination of four day long Philatelic Exhibition. Valediction ceremony was held in the evening in presence of Shri Vajubhai Vala, Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka.

On the occasion three special covers were released by Hon’ble Governor Shri Vajubhai Vala, Chief Postmaster General, Karnataka Circle, Shri M S Ramanujan and other guests on dais. The release function was followed by Prize Distribution.

Second Special Cover was on 100 Years of Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI).

Third cover was on 150 Years of Allahabad Bank. Allahabad Bank, a nationalised bank with its headquarters in Kolkata is the oldest joint stock bank in India. On 24th April 1865, a group of Englishmen at Allahabad founded Allahabad Bank. By the end of the 19th century it had branches at Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Nainital, Calcutta, and Delhi. Allahabad bank is celebrating 150 years of its establishment.

Ms. Sanvi Suresh (8 years) won Large Silver Medal and CPMG trophy for best exhibit in youth class for her one frame exhibit on ‘The Story of Penguins’.

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest

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