International Homeless Animals' Day

August 20,  marks the  International Homeless Animals Day. It is an effort to raise awareness about the extreme overpopulation affecting animal shelters, The International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) will hold events and candlelight vigils across the world in honor of those animals that have lost their lives due to overpopulation.

            

 

In 1992, ISAR introduced International Homeless Animals’ Day as an innovative educational vehicle with a purpose of informing society of the global tragedy that overwhelms animal shelters each year – pet overpopulation. Since the conception of International Homeless Animals’ Day, ISAR has reserved the third Saturday of August, commemorating the Day annually, to promote new campaigns, programs, and ideas on the solution to the pet overpopulation epidemic: spay/neuter.

Every year more than 4.5 million dogs and cats die in local animal shelters due to a lack of space. For the past 19 years,  ISAR has promoted new ideas and efforts to maintain the pet population with spay and neuter programs.

Event Schedule for International Homeless Animals' Day: August 20, 2011

Last year, the U.S. Postal Service released this pane of 10 special stamps entitled "Animal Rescue: Adopt A Shelter Pet". The stamps received a boost from talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, a well-known advocate for pet adoption - and Halo, a pet food company she co-owns. After introducing the stamps on the Ellen DeGeneres Show last March, USPS and Halo launched a "Stamps to the Rescue" campaign. Halo set a goal of feeding 1 million shelter dogs and cats by the end of 2010 - and delivered on its promise. Halo has donated food to more than 100 shelters throughout the United States.

The stamps feature photographs of five cats and five dogs taken by veteran stamp photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce. All ten animals were adopted from a shelter in New Milford, CT.

 

This special stamp issue seeks to raise awareness of responsible dog ownership and support the dedicated work of organisations re-homing lost and abandoned dogs. The stamps were  issued by Australia Post  in 2010 .

The UK  released a series of stamps celebrating the 150th anniversary of animal rescue organization Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.  The postage feature seven dogs and three cats who used to reside in the home, but who now are living it up in their new forever homes. 

Love and Care for animals

These stamps were issued by Australia Post in  October 2010 to draw attention to the importance of Australian wildlife carers and their ability to return animals to their native habitat after injury or illness.

New stamps from Australia..

 

 

Centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition

Date of Issue : 2 August 2011

This is the first in a four-year program of stamps celebrating the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). The series will be made up of five stamps issued each year until 2014 using the overall themes of departure and journey, arrival and exploration, science and triumphant return.

The initial five stamp strip shows the key moments in the departure of the AAE from Hobart and the journey to the Antarctic.

The SY Aurora carried the AAE to and from Hobart. The stamp photograph was taken by expeditioner Xavier Mertz and the map in the stamp shows the AAE's route.

Captain John King Davis, Captain of the SY Aurora, and second-in-command of the expedition.

The SY Aurora on Antarctic voyage. The stamp photograph was taken by expeditioner Andrew Watson and the postmark image is taken from a message sent by Bob Hodger on the SY Aurora.

Landing at Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by the Aurora's Second Officer, Percy Gray.. The background image, shows the Aurora off Macquarie Island and was taken by expeditioner Frank Hurley.

Birdlife on Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by expeditioner Harold Hamilton.

 

 Maxim Cards

 

Colonial Heritage - Emerging Identity

 

Date of Issue : 28 July 2011

This stamp issue is the second in a four-year series titled Colonial Heritage, developed to commemorate Australia's philatelic history. This stamp issue focuses on emerging colonial identity, representing the shift in colonial thinking, reflecting a greater sense of belonging in the "new" homeland.

Miniature Sheet

Kangaroo and Lyrebird
The kangaroo and the lyrebird originally featured in stamps marking the 1888 centenary of New South Wales, the first adhesive commemorative stamp issue to be released worldwide. The kangaroo, flanked by the Sydney flannel flower, was in a one shilling (1/-) brown design; the lyrebird, bordered with waratahs and honeysuckle, was in an eight pence (8d) magenta design. The other Australian colony to feature a kangaroo was South Australia, using it in a blue two-and-a-half (2½d) stamp design released in 1894.

Black Swan and Southern Cross
The Black Swan has a strong place in Western Australia's philatelic heritage. It remained the central motif of the colony's stamps from its first issue, in 1854, until stamp production was transferred to the Commonwealth in 1902. The Southern Cross featured on many Australian colonial stamps, the first of which was the five shilling (5s) New South Wales medallion stamp of 1861. This resonant symbol of the south also appeared in the designs of one Western Australian stamp, six Victorian stamps and four New South Wales designs, including stamp duty and charity designs.

Like the first in the series, this issue comprises stamps in double-definitive size, on paper featuring a simulated watermark.

Maxi Cards

: Australia Post

Alpine leisure sports on new Australian stamps..

 

Date of Issue : 19 July 2011 

Here are three new beautiful stamps on winter sports.Two of Australia's most popular alpine pastimes, skiing and snowboarding, feature in a new stamp issue coinciding with the 150th anniversary of skiing in Australia. The stamp issue comprises one domestic rate stamp (60 cents) and two international rate stamps ($1.60 and $1.65), .Outdoor activities has been beautifully captured in this winter-themed commemorative stamp issue. Skiing and snowboarding are very popular in Australia.

 

Snow skiing had its genesis in Australia 150 years ago, at the Snowy Mountains settlement of Kiandra, New South Wales. A small group of Austrians and a Norwegian, goldminers at the settlement, were behind the activity. The club that developed was called the Kiandra Snow Shoe Club, later renamed the Kiandra Pioneer Ski Club. This is thought to be the first and longest-surviving ski club in the world, established the same year as the first club in Norway, although the claim is not universally supported.

Today, skiing and snowboarding are undertaken in three Australian states: New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Australia's 14 alpine resorts are of varying size and sophistication, the most popular being Perisher, Thredbo, Mt Buller, Hotham and Falls Creek.Victoria is home to a total of eight resorts, some of which offer only cross-county skiing; New South Wales is home to four; and Tasmania to two. Between them, New South Wales and Victoria attract the lion's share of skiers and snowboarders, Tasmania representing around just one per cent of the market.

The three stamps in this issue represent the two most popular alpine leisure sports in Australia, downhill skiing and snowboarding. They focus on recreation rather than competition and represent a range of proficiency, from a tentative learner to advanced slope slayers. The photographs also depict a sense of place, Australia's snowfields being unique for their open vistas and alpine gums.

Maxim Cards

: Australia Post

Club News

Seminar on ‘Modern Trends of Philately’

A  Seminar on ‘Modern Trends of Philately’  has been organized by Philatelic Society of Rajasthan on  31 July 2011 at  St Xavier’s School , Jaipur. It will be inaugurated by Shri Rajeev Singh,Chief Postmaster General , Rajasthan Circle.

Time : Sunday, 31 July 2011 Morning 11.00 o’clock

Venue : Seminar Hall , St Xavier’s School , Bhagwandas Road , Jaipur

Digital Presentations : Virtual Philately by Mr Yogesh Bhatnagar

                                      Philately E-Trade by Dr Rakesh Thapar

- Rajesh Paharia, Jaipur

Australian native baby animals on stamps…

 

 

Date of Issue : 1 July 2011

Australia Post issued a set of five stamps on  Australia's most popular native baby animals  The animals featured on the stamps are a bilby, dingo, kangaroo, koala and sugar glider.

This issue also includes five stamp and coin covers, each depicting a different baby animal. These special covers feature an exclusive $1.00 aluminium-bronze coin from the Perth Mint.A set of beautiful maxicards has also been issued.

The Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a nocturnal marsupial with distinctive rabbit-like ears, greyish fur and a beautiful bushy black tail with a white tip. It survives on a diet of seeds, grubs, bulbs, fruit and insects. Bilby babies stay in the pouch for about 80 days.

The Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) is Australia's native dog. It is typically ginger in colour although some dingos are black and tan. While the young pups stay with their mother while learning the art of hunting, they usually live in packs which help rear them. Unlike other dogs it does not bark.

The Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a shy, small gliding possum found in the forests and woodlands of eastern and southern Australia. It has a membrane extending from its fifth finger to its ankle enabling it to glide between trees using its long bushy tail for stability and steering.

The Kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is probably the most recognisable of all Australian marsupials and the red kangaroo is found on the Australian coat of arms. There are over 60 different species of kangaroo and they live in all areas of Australia. Essentially nocturnal herbivores, kangaroos eat grasses, leaves, fungi and the shoots of small trees and need very little water to survive.

The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is one of Australia's best known and most loved animals. A mammal not a bear, the koala is found from northern Queensland to southern Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, although habitat destruction through residential development and farming has significantly reduced its distribution. Koalas spend most of their time in eucalypt trees sleeping and feeding. 

Maxi Cards

 

: Australia Post

Living Australian..

 

Date of Issue : 7 July 2011

Australia Post issued a beautiful set of five stamps on 7th July depicting the the theme “ Living Australian”. The stamps feature the life of  Australian people. The set is wonderful and best suitable for themes like tourism, people and culture, life style and some more associated themes like pets, wildlife etc…The first day cancellation on FDC is very interesting in the form of ‘slippers’ which signifies the “life at leisure”. 

Living Australian

What does it mean to be "Living Australian?" The Australian day Council of NSW with the support of Australia Post encouraged Australians from across the country to explore the theme of "Who We Are" as a nation, by showcasing how they live as Aussies every day through the creative medium of photography.

The response was overwhelming, with 3,350 images submitted in the categories of Community; Pride; Family and Mates; and Freedom. The winning entries, including the overall winner "Best Friends" by Ann Clarke of South Australia, are featured in Living Australian 2011 Stamps Series.

The overall winner: Best Friends.
The bond between man's best friend and his owner has always been a strong one. Dogs offer companionship, loyalty, and for large numbers of people they also provide a service.

To view all entries to the Living Australian photography competition visit www.aussievault.com.au

 

Embrace Friendship
Australia Day allows family and friends the opportunity to get together and celebrate. It can also be the day when groups of people meet up and forge life-long friendships.

Cricket at the GABBA
The love of sport can grab you when you're quite young in this land of sporting fanatics. Whatever the game, or its level of popularity, you will find a spectator following. 

Little Man's Business
Performing the Wedge Tail Eagle Dance allows this young boy to learn the ways of his ancestors, to keep tradition alive and to celebrate his own heritage.

This Is So Relaxing
This kangaroo relaxes on the beach and enjoys the sun, sand and surf like so many other Australians.

Maximum Cards

: Australia Post

Discussion

I came across  a nice post on Gandhi Philately Study Circle Blog which I want to share with all of you. It is about Fake FDC made from !980 Nicaragua Souvenir sheet. The blog is devoted to Gandhi philately and discussions give on the blog are very interesting and informative.

Visit Blog for full details…http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/

GANDHI Philately Study Circle

Philately of Today

Another very good blog, I wish to mention here is “ Philately of Today” with regular interesting aricles and discussions on a variety of philatelic subjects…. Visit Blog : http://philatelyoftoday.blogspot.com/

Read the article.. ' What is happening to our dear hobby’….. many more interesting articles by the blogger….

50 years of Amnesty International…..

 

Date of Issue : 5 July 2011

Australia Post issued a stamp on 5 July 2011 in celebration of 50 years of Amnesty International. Australia Post issued stamp in the sheetlet of 10 stamps and a Maximum card has also been issued. Amnesty International is the largest member-based human rights organisation in the world.

Amnesty International

Founded in London in 1961, Amnesty International is the largest member-based human rights organisation in the world, made up of more than three million ordinary people in over 150 countries. The primary objective of Amnesty International is to campaign for the international recognition, respect and protection of human rights.

A charity funded largely by its members and public donations, Amnesty International is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. This means it is free to criticize any government's human rights record without fear or favour and is able to retain a reputation of impartiality and transparency.

In 1977 Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for having "contributed to securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby also for peace in the world".

 

Maxi Card

Special Covers

Bihar

 

 

BIPEX – 82 : 7 February 1982

 

Bipex – 82 :  5 February 1982

: Ashwani Dubey - Gorakhpur

Icebergs on Stamps…

Date of Issue : 7 June 2011

Here is a set of 4 new stamps and a MS issued by Australian Antarctic Territory depicting picturesque view of icebergs. In addition to stamps and MS, Stamp booklet and Max cards have also been issued.

Icebergs

Literally meaning ice mountain, an iceberg is a large piece of ice formed from freshwater that has broken off from a snow-formed glacier or ice-shelf and is floating in open water.

The largest recorded icebergs have been carved, or broken off, from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Iceberg B-15, when photographed in 2000, measured 295 km long by 37 km wide, with a surface area of 11,000 kilometres. Icebergs are generally described by shape and include tabular, dome, pinnacle, wedge and dry-dockan eroded iceberg resulting in a "hole".

Including all its islands and ice shelves, Antarctica is nearly twice the size of Australia, covering 13,661,000 square kilometres. The Australian Antarctic Territory is 5,896,500 square kilometres, or 42 per cent of the region.

The stamps in this issue capture the beauty of icebergs, revealing their different shapes, colours, effects and textures.

: Australia Post

Australian Antarctic Territory

The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is a part of Antarctica. It was claimed by the United Kingdom and placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1933. It is the largest territory of Antarctica claimed by any nation. Since the Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article 1 of which states "The treaty does not recognize, dispute, nor establish territorial sovereignty claims; no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force", most countries do not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica.

The territory is inhabited by the staff of research stations. The Australian Antarctic Division administers the area primarily by maintaining three year-round stations (Mawson, Davis and Casey), which support various research projects.

Special Covers

North East

Palbheu – 2005 Sikkim Philately Exhibition

: Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhapur