Obama Stamp from Russia – Fact or Mystery

 

It is a label and not a real stamp

The recent news published by  Voice of Russia about the issue of Obama stamp by Russia Post created a great interest in philatelic community. The stamp is one of the most searched stamps on Internet by collectors in the last few days. The picture of  stamp and cover shown by some sites ( also given here) are just imaginary stamp and not the real stamp. One can closely observe the picture here. The name of country  is not mentioned any where on the stamp. How does it show that it has been issued by Russian Post ??? No sign of issuing postal authority. If it is just a souvenir item by Russian Post, the name of the issuing authority must be given on the stamp.

If any collector comes across the genuine stamp on Obama by Russian Post may kindly share the image on this blog. A website “ Russia Post “ available in Russian only but on translation gives following news. However this  is not the official website of Russia Post. From all resources it is clear that  Russia has not issued any stamp on Obama.

I shall be thankful if any philatelist or collector from Russia could clarify the doubt about ……. Obama Stamp . Readers are most welcome to give their views on this issue….

The news on a Russian  site

On the anniversary of Barack Obama has released a Russian Post a souvenir set of vignettes and envelopes featuring the U.S. president. Rather than face value for the money gift sets bear the number "50". August 4th Barack Obama will be celebrating its fiftieth birthday.

View this link :   Почта России поздравила президента Америки

 

Fake cover of  so called Obama stamp

Recent stamps issued by Russian Post

 

Date of Issue : 15 August 2011

Date of Issue : 1 August 2011

Date of Issue : 29 July 2011

The list of stamps given on official site of Russia Post

These are  the screen shots taken from official website of Russia Post.  Obama stamp is not listed any where on the list.

 

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Support Anna…Make a new India !!

Indian common man is against corruption, and the its time to introduce a new and strong anti-corruption law that would help to stop all corruption in India.

 

Anna Hazare – True follower of Mahatma Gandhi…..

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Anna Hazare A Strong Man which is now known as Second Gandhi Of India . Anna Hazare, is the man of the moment - an anti-corruption crusader who is determined to establish the Jan Lokpal Bill that can bring in a strong anti-corruption law in India.This patriot has sculptured himself to fight for the attainment of a peaceful nation.Anna Hazare’s hunger strike, to usher in a corruption-free society - with transparency and accountability as hallmarks, is finding new takers from among the masses every day.The question arises here : does non-violence serve as a mighty tool in the 21st century as well? The evident answer is: sure, it does.

No nation has set a greater symbol like the coercive non-violent protest in India. While the deadliest of weapons might fail to deliver desired results, peaceful non-cooperation from a civilian is known to yield results since the struggle-days of India’s independence. Such quiet yet powerful protests often write new, glorious chapters in the text of history. India’s told and untold experiments with democracy speak loads about the valor of non-violence and Gandhian philosophy.

There’s something so magical about Gandhigiri that though the people who adopt it come from nowhere, they take over the masses with time, cause an emotive storm and simply pull the mighty straight to the ground. Hazare’s call for an unshakeable movement against corruption resonates with various sections of the society.

Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi held the opinion that we may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word and deed. Still we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make strong progress towards it.”

Non violence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding . It is a sword that heals.” Setting an apt example for a world that resorts to conflict and mass destruction to fight for various causes, the Hazare movement is seeking a revolution on the lines of noble reforms and writing a history in which future generations can take pride.

In today’s generation, most of us have not seen Mahatama Gandhi and his way of fighting against the English. However, Anna Hazare has provided us a glimpse of the ‘Freedom Struggle’ through his fight against the ‘Corrupt’ officials of the government including politicians.
Corruption in politics has become a plague across our country, it is draining our resources and demoralizing our nation. This bill would go a long way to deterring those that steal and undermine the public good. India has a proud history of people power overcoming oppression -- today if we all stand with one voice we can fight this corruption that is poisoning our political system.

K2 (Godwin Austen) stamp…

 

Date of issue : 19 May 1988

On stamp : Godwin Austin, the correct name of peak is Godwin Austen

Wrong spelling of peak on stamp

India Post issued a set of 4 postage stamps on 19 May 1988 on Himalayan Peaks.Many collectors might not be aware of the fact that the stamp with Rs 4 denomination issued on K2 (Godwin Austen) bears the wrong spelling of the peak. On stamp the designer has inserted Godwin Austin which should have been Godwin Austen.K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. With a peak elevation of 8,611 m (28,251 feet) and India’s highest mountain peak. The name Mount Godwin-Austen was suggested, in honour of Henry Godwin-Austen, an early explorer of the area.

Discussion

What is an approppriate maxim Card ?

Here  is a scan of Maxim card sent by Mr Sanjiv Jain of Dehradun. I publihed two cards prepared by him with cancellation from Bilaspur (CG)  in my last post. After the publication I received mails from some philatelists of Bilaspur as they were anxious to know how a collector from Dehradun could get max cards cancelled at Bilaspur. For all  those who are keen to know is just to inform them  that  a person has  liberty to get cancellation from any place of his choice if he can approach that  place ….

However in case of these Maxim Cards the choice for  place of cancellation is not appropriate. It should have been  New Delhi where Rashtrapati bhawan is located and easier to obtain for a collector from Dehra Dun.

Here is another card from Mr Jain with four stamps on it. As per FIP rules and regulations there should be ONE stamp on the view-side of the card. The card with more than one stamp cannot be considered as Maximum Card.

World Population Day…

 

World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987, approximately the date on which the world's population reached five billion people.

 

 

World Population Day 2011: The World at 7 Billion

World Population Day will kick off the 7 Billion Actions campaign.

This year, as the world population is expected to surpass 7 billion, UNFPA and partners are launching a campaign called 7 Billion Actions. It aims to engage people, spur commitment and spark actions related to the opportunities and challenges presented by a world of 7 billion people.

In many ways a world of 7 billion is an achievement: Globally, people are living longer and healthier lives, and couples are choosing to have fewer children.

New Stamp on Amnesty International

 

Date of Issue : 30 June 2011

On the 30 June, 2011, An Post issued a stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Amnesty International.

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement that campaigns for internationally recognised human rights for all, regardless of political or religious affiliations. It was founded on 28 May, 1961, after a British lawyer, Peter Beneson was reading an article in a newspaper while he was on the London underground, on his way to work. It told the story of two students in Portugal who had been jailed for raising a toast to freedom.

Soon after, he had a letter published in The Observer, London, and other international newspapers, about these ‘forgotten prisoners’ and this attracted over 1,000 offers of support, enough for the launch of Amnesty International. Shortly afterwards, in 1962, its Irish section was launched. Sean MacBride, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and a recipient of a Nobel peace prize, was very involved with Amnesty International in its foundation years.

Discussion

Can you identify which is the real stamp ???

Difficult to identify…..

The small one on the (right side) is a picture of the real stamp. The bigger image (left side) is the design produced by the French post earlier this year.

This "stamp" is self adhesive and produced on a kind of plastic giving a kind of wood effect.

 

 

Club News…

 

 

Hi ! I have just published July issue of Rainbow Stamp News on Blog with articles and news from the world of stamps. Special feature of the issues are Interview with Mr Rajesh Kumar Bagri, Commissioner General of INDIPEX 2011 and a very informative article by Dr Satyendra Kumar Agarwal for the lovers of Thematic Philately.  Just enjoy this issue with other regular features : series by Dr Jagtap and Mr Naresh Agarwal. This is all for today …Till Next Post….Have a Nice Time !!

Discussion

Our Readers write…

e Post Office….

Kasinath R. :  My Watercraft Philately - http://shipthemegallery.blogspot.com/

Recently when I tried to access e PostOffice website, I got this message as shown in the attachment.
This makes me to think whether providing credit/debit card information with this site will be secure or tampered with.India Post officials maintaining the site should try to rectify the problem ASAP to prevent any fraud happening.

Readers are requested to Comment …. or share their experience if they received such message while accessing ePost Office website.

Covers with special postmarks..

 

Discussion

Critical Analysis of the cover :

Mr Pradip Kumar Malik of Patna has sent scan of this cover for Critical analysis. I am giving here special comments  on this cover by Dr Avinash B. Jagtap .

 

Expert Comments by Dr Avinash B. Jagtap

The cover sent from the USA with the personality stamp depicting one of the best character representing screen-play actor Gregory Peck. The cancellation reads "Mocking Bird Station". Late Mr. Gregory Peck acted in the film with the caption " To kill a Mocking Bird". Of-course the post office from where the envelope was dispatched has the same name (of course it must have been given after the film with the name "To kill a mocking Bird" was screened). It is a pictorial cancellation. The cover can be shown in a display which is based on "Famous Actors" or "Famous Films". Unfortunately the cancellation is rather too big and touches only one side of the stamp affixed to the cover. Had it been fully applied to all three stamps, it would have been difficult to read it (as the stamp itself is in grey-black colour). The cover can also be displayed in a collection on birds, but only with some reservations.

My recent Covers

I have received two special covers from Mrs Radha Ramalingam  of Thiruvannamalai. Many thanks to Mrs Ramalingam for the covers.

Critical analysis of the cover :

On the Brihadeesarar Temple  cover the  special postmark does not touch the stamp so philatelically it cannot be regarded as  an appropriate special cover.

Cover from USA

I received this cover with nice stamps from USA, sent by Mr Charles. The cover is not cancelled and it bears a personalized stamp with two stamps from USPS.

Thanks to Mr Charles Jensen, Florida- USA

 

Thanks to Mr Wolfgang Bayer, Germany

Children's TV stars on stamps..

 

Date of Issue : 8 June 2011

Post Danmark issued two stamps on 8 June 2011, two of DR’s children's TV stars: Bruno and Teddy. cartoon films are favourite of children all over the world. These stamps are sure to be liked by children and those collecting on ‘ children theme ’. This stamps have a white background so the characters look very bright and attractive .

Teddy

The good-natured Teddy lives in a secret den in a secret forest, where he goes on adventures with his adult friends Aske, Luna and Viola. His best friend is Chicken, who is younger but sometimes smarter than Teddy. His youngest friend, Duckling, does not understand very much and so can be a bit trying.

Bruno

Bruno the Bear made his television debut in 2005 as the door opener for the advent-calendar serial “Teddy’s Christmas Journey”. He is an old, badly worn bear, filled with hay and straw. Instead of a right paw, he has a claw, which is sometimes replaced with a pizza-slicer or a flamethrower. Bruno usually sees himself as the centre of the universe. He speaks with slight Jutland accent and, as seen on the stamp, he loves French fries.

Special Covers

North East

Letter writing Campaign

Gangtok : 19 June 2003

Image source : Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhpur

Discussion

Critical Analysis of the cover : The 3 elements of the above cover are not co-related. The stamp is on Energy conservation, cover illustration shows Rhododendron and the cancellation shows “letter writing campaign”. Not a good item for thematic collection . All the three elements must have relation with each other.

Club News

News for Coin & Banknote collectors…

Issue of 10/- denomination banknotes with inset letter "B" in both numbering panels in Mahatma Gandhi Series 2005 bearing the signature of Dr. D. Subbarao, Governor

The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue Rs 10/- denomination banknotes with inset letter "B" in both numbering panels in Mahatma Gandhi Series 2005 bearing the signature of Dr. D. Subbarao, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. Except for the change in the inset letter, the design of these notes to be issued now is similar in all respects to the banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series 2005 issued earlier. All banknotes in the denomination of 10/- issued by the Bank in the past will continue to be legal tender.

Issue of ` 100/- denomination banknotes with inset letter "L" in both numbering panels in Mahatma Gandhi Series bearing the signature of Dr. D. Subbarao, Governor

The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue ` 100/- denomination banknotes with inset letter "L" in both numbering panels in Mahatma Gandhi Series with the signature of Dr. D. Subbarao, Governor, Reserve Bank of India and the year 2011 printed on the back of the Bank note. Except for the change in the inset letter, the design of these notes to be issued now is similar in all respects to the banknotes in Mahatma Gandhi Series 2005 issued earlier. All banknotes in the denomination of ` 100/- issued by the Bank in the past will continue to be legal tender.

- Vishal Sanganeria , Guwahati

Stamps on endangered animals..

Date of Issue : 3 June 2011

Singapore Post issued a set of four stamps on 3 June 2011 featuring endangered animal, Oriental Small-Clawed Otter.

The Oriental Small-Clawed Otter, also known as the Asian Small-Clawed Otter, is rare in Singapore, but has been recorded from the north-western coast of Singapore namely the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. The Oriental SmallClawed Otter is regarded as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in its Red List of Threatened Species. It is distinguished from other Asian otters by its small size, and small hands and feet with short claws that do not extend beyond their partially webbed fingers and toes. The Oriental Small-Clawed Otter inhabits mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands.

Discussion : Appropriate special cover

Philatelic Critical analysis

In this column critical analysis of the philatelic items will be published. Interested collectors may send scans of philatelic items for expert comments by Dr Avinash Jagtap. The idea behind this column is to provide right philatelic knowledge to the readers .

Double Cancellation Cover

Contradicting facts

The above special cover issued during Ahimsapex – 2010, an exhibition on Gandhi exhibits.It must have a stamp and cancellation on Gandhi.

2. The cover featuring both Gandhi and Tagore in the illustration, must have a Tagore /Gandhi stamp

3.The cancellation shows 150th birth anniversary of Tagore. But the cover was issued on 3 Oct 2010 .The 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated in 2011.

4. The exhibition was on Mahatma Gandhi ( Ahimsapex 2010 ) so cancellation should have connection with Gandhi. The cover illustration, stamp and cancellation do not match with each other which should have common connection. No use of taking another cancellation of First issue of Tagore stamp on the same cover. This cover could give you negative points in the exhibition. Read expert comments by Dr. Avinsah B. Jagtap .

Two special cancellations on the same cover ……..

The first cancellation showing Tagore was impressed on a stamp which has nothing to do with Tagore. The cancellation must have some direct relation with the illustration on the stamp. In fact the whole cover has three different themes and they are not at all inter-related. First the choice of the illustrated blank Cover as it is available before affixing a stamp shows Mahatma Gandhiji and Rabindranath Tagore. This indicates that the stamp which will be affixed must have to do with Mahatmaji AND Rabindranath Tagore, but in fact the stamp shows another personality......"Virchand Raghav Ji Gandhi" . (different from Mahatmaji) and the first special cancellation shows Rabindranath. So this is a very much absurd situation and this Cover has no philatelic bearing. In fact it is a trash, "kitsch"! By adding another stamp on Rabindranath Tagore and putting one more special cancellation, the whole thing has become very ridiculous. This can not be considered something of any value and shows only the poor philatelic knowledge of the collector.

- Dr Avinash B. Jgatap, Switzerland

Club News

The India International Hot Air Balloon Mela was held in Delhi from 13^th to 28^th November 2010. The inaugural hot air balloon was from near Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial. This was the first time a Hot Air Balloon Flight was initiated from near Rajghat.

To commemorate this event, 50 individually numbered Special Cards were prepared by Nikhil Mundra, Gandhi Philatelist (www.gandhistamps.com). All 50 cards were then flown aboard the inaugural flight of the Balloon Mela from Rajghat on the 13^th November 2010.

The cards feature an artwork depicting the Rajghat memorial, the main gate and the 0 km milestone at Rajghat.

For more details visit: http://gandhiballoon.blogspot.com

- Nikhil Mundra email : nikchik135@gmail.com

Wedding day dawns for Prince William and Kate….

 

 

The very special day for William and Kate has arrived .The Royal wedding takes place today in Westminster Abbey.As the wedding date has got closer and closer, the wedding has begun to really capture everyone’s attention.Over 2bn people worldwide are expected to tune into watch the wedding. Today's Royal wedding will have a distinctly Irish feel. Prince William will be married in red — wearing the famous tunic of an Irish Guards officer rather than his RAF uniform. Many Postal administrations are issuing special stamps today to mark this very special royal wedding !!

Date of Issue : 29 April 2011

Club News

Here are some questions asked by our reader Mr Hemant Kumar Jain from RTI regarding Khadi MS and My Stamp. Many readers would be interested to know the answers. Brief translation of Question and answer for Non Hindi Readers is also given below.

Information from RTI regarding Khadi MS and MY STAMP

1. No. of Khadi Miniature sheet printed – 105,000

2. Total No. of Presentation Pack – 105,000

3. On Presentation Pack Printed No. is .01 Million. Is it correct ??

Ans : This Number is incorrect and wrongly printed. No Clarification issued by Department.

4. How many copies of Khadi Presentation Packs were sold during INDIPEX ? What decision has been taken by Deptt. for the rest of the Khadi Presentation Packs ??

Ans : Copies sold during INDIPEX : 22,222. Now rest of the copies are being sold through e post office : www.epostoffice.gov.in

5. Whether Khadi Ms will be distributed to account holders of Philatelic Bureaeus ?

Ans : No. It was decided that these MS will be sold at INDIPEX Venue only .

6. Besides New Delhi Philatelic Bureau, Whether Khadi MS will be available at other philatelic Bureaus of the country too ??

Ans : Decision not taken by the Department so far.

7. Whether FDC of this MS with special cancellation will be available for collectors ?

Ans : No

8. Those who could not avail MY Stamp Facility during INDIPEX, Can get this facility again…???

Ans : No. As this facility was only available at INDIPEX venue. Decision has not been taken to resume this facility by the Deptt.

9. The postage for Khadi MS by Post was Rs 25 but those who ordered for 10 sheets were charged 2750 where as the Speed Post postage spent by the Deptt was just Rs 50. Why extra amount of Rs 200 was taken by the Deptt from collectors ?

Ans : Rest of the extra amount will be returned to collectors. Anyone could claim for the reimbursement by sending application to the Deptt .

Philatelic Exhibition on Tagore

In celebration of 150 birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India will be organising a month long Stamp exhibition commencing on May 9, 2011, exclusively on Rabindranath Tagore from the collection of Sekhar Chakrabarti, Moloy Sarkar and Souvik Roy at Rabindranath Tagore Centre, Kolkata.

View its Catalogue with details of World Stamps on Tagore

http://www.scribd.com/doc/54187415/Stamp