25 years of Speed Post Service in India….

 

25 Years of Speed Post : 24 August 2011

A special Cover was issued in Ahmedabad on completion of 25 years of Speed Post service in India. CPMG, Gujarat Circle Mrs. Humera Ahmed through an elegant function held at Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute, Ahmedabad arranged to release a special cover today .  The Chief-Guest at the function  was  Padmshree and Padmvibhushan Mrs. Ela Bhatt - founder of Internationally reputed organization SEWA .

Coutresy - Shrikant Parikh – Ahmedabad

Speed Post

It is an express mail service of India Post for letters and documents offered in league with the international EMS service. It was started on 24 August 1986 for providing time-bound and express delivery of letters, documents and parcels across the nation. It links more than 1200 towns in India, with 290 centres in the national network and around 1000 centres in the state network. For regular users, Speed Post provides delivery ‘anywhere in India’ under contractual service. For corporate customers, Speed Post provides ‘Home collection’, credit facilities, on-line tracking, account management and personalized services.

Speed Post ushered in a new era when ‘One India, One Rate’ scheme was launched @ INR  25 for all destinations across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Now, Speed Post delivers  ‘Value for money’ to every one every where, delivering local Speed Post upto 50 grams @ INR  12, inclusive of Service Tax.  .

Speed Post Home Collection

With a view to provide convenience for the customers , Speed Post provides collection from the premises of the customers  through on-call collection and regular collection at some of he towns.

Speed Post Passport Service

In a unique partnership, Department of Posts and MEA have come together to provide convenience in getting passports. Applicants need to buy the Passport application form available with the Speed Post Centre, fill it and submit it along with the fee. Speed Post Centres will check the forms , send them to the designated Passport Office for further processing and issue of Passport. The service is available only for issue of new passports and not for the renewal of passports.

State-wise list of post offices providing Speed Post Passport Service

Speed Post International Service

Backed by Universal Postal Union, EMS Speed Post offers economical and faster service to 97 foreign countries.  Be it an important letter or University application form, be it an export consignment or a business sample, Speed Post will take it across with care. For international Speed Post tariff and destinations, click here

Read More…

Festivals of India – Janmaashtami

 

 

Janmashatami is an important festival of India, celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna. Just wish to share a nice stamp issued by India Post in 1978 on famous verse from Geeta. This stamp was also selected for Pride of India Collection which includes Gold replica of  best 25 stamps  issued by India Post.

In English translation: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action। Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

The content of the Gita is the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna taking place on the battlefield before the start of the Kurukshetra war.

Greetings on Janmaashtami

Janmashtami is celebrated with fervor in India. Euphoria for the festival is not just restricted to Mathura - the birth city Mathura but pervades in rest of India too. The birth of Lord Krishna is one of the most popular festival of Hindus and they celebrate the occasion to the hilt.

The festivities include various rituals being followed religiously. Temples all over India engage in various ceremonies and prayers in honour of Lord Krishna. Chanting of shlokas, readings from religious texts, singing devotional songs and dance performances are part of festival.

The Janmashtami of Mathura and Vrindavan, the places where Lord Krishna had spent his childhood, are famous all over the world. Devotees from across the world come to these pious places to celebrate Janmasthami.The temples especially in Vrindavan witness an extravagant and colourful celebration on this occasion. Raslila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.

Special Cancellations

Cancellations issued  by Lucknow GPO

Clean Cities Week 

 

World Telecommunication Day

 

National Solidarity Day

 

: Ashawani Dubey - Gorakhpur

New Stamps on AIDS Prevention..

 

 

 

Date of Issue : 8 June 2011

Fiji Post issued a set of four stamps on 8 June 2011 in global  response to HIV AIDS Prevention. Fiji is made up of about 332 islands covering some 650,000 square kilometres of ocean. From 1874 to 1970, Fiji was a British colony. The population totals some 700,000 people.Fiji is classified as a low HIV prevalence country; however the number of new HIV infections is increasing.

Stamp Designs

Protect youth from HIV and Zero new infections (20c stamp, 40c stamp)

In Fiji HIV is mostly transmitted through unprotected sex, and there is a potential high risk of infection among young people. In 2010 more than half of all new infections, 23 of 33, were in young people aged 10-29. The high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections especially among young people, potentially increases the risk of HIV infection. It is therefore essential that young people are empowered to protect themselves from HIV infection.

Prevent mothers and babies from HIV (65c stamp)

In 2010 there were 33 new reported cases of which 12 were pregnant women, but there were no babies born HIV positive in 2010. Government has ensured the prevention of parent to child transmission as one of its main focus areas in the national response to HIV. The awareness of the availability and benefits of voluntary counselling and testing for pregnant mothers resulted in the increase of testing in the ante-natal clinics from 46% in 2006 to 67% in 2010.

Zero discrimination ($5 stamp)

HIV related stigma and discrimination continues to hamper the AIDS response. This year the Fiji Government enacted the HIV Decree. When enacted to its capacity the Decree safeguards the privacy and rights of people living with or affected by HIV, including confidentiality of personal information.

Special Covers

Many collectors often enquire about special covers issued by different postal circles.The series of special Covers, issued in different states of India is being published for the cross reference of thematic collectors. The cancellations on the covers  might become a  part of their topical collections.

Maharashtra

Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. : 4 August 2011

 

150 glorious years of Railways in India :  28 September 2003

: Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhpur

Pictorial Cancellation on Archaeopteryx…

 

 

Here are some very nice pictorial cancellation to be issued in Germany at different places. Mr. Wolfgang Beyer  has sent details about them. Those interested in these cancellations, may write to Mr Beyer.

On August 11^th   a pictorial cancellation will be provided   featuring the prehistoric  bird ARCHAEOPTERYX   at the post office  Eichstätt , Germany.

A pictorial Cancellation will be provided on Dinosaur park at Munchehagen, Germany featuring Dinosaur on 30 July 2011.

These pictorial  postmarks are available from Mr. Wolfgang Beyer Member of Staff   from the  Philatelic group ArGe ZOOLOGIE . Email : Wolfgang.Beyer1@polizei.sachsen.de

Archaeopteryx

Archaeopteryx  is the earliest bird in the fossil record, coming from the Late Jurassic lithographic limestone near Solnhofen, Germany. The first specimen was found in 1891, almost coincident with Darwin's publication of Origin of Species two years later, and ten more have since been found.

Archaeopteryx was about the size of a crow with short, broad wings and a long tail. While its feathers were similar to those of living birds, it had jaws lined with sharp teeth, three fingers ending in curving claws, and a long bony tail, in stark contrast to modern birds.

Archaeopteryx's many features of dinosaurs such as the jaws with teeth, tiny forelimbs with three claws, a long tail and a head covered with scales while body, wings and tail were covered with feathers as in a bird provides strong evidence of the dinosaur ancestry of birds, and, more generally, of the validity of the Theory of Evolution.

Club News

New Stamp from India

 

India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp on 28 July 2011 on Shri Kasu Brahmananda Reddy. 

: Mansoor B.,Mangalore

Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, noted leader is credited with creating the Industrial infrastructure in and around Hyderabad. During his long regime of seven years (Longest for any Congress chief minister in the state of Andhra Pradesh), many major industries like BHEL, HMT, IDPL, Hindustan Cables and several defense establishments like MIDHANI, Bharath Dynamics were established.Kasu Brahmananda Reddy also held the key positions, such as Home Minister of India (1974–1977) and the Governor of Maharastra (February 20, 1988 to January 18, 1990).The famous Chiran Palace was named after Kasu Brahmananda Reddy. National Park in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, was named in his honor.

 

Special Covers

Rajasthan

State animal of Rajasthan - Chinkara  ( Rajpex –2007 )

 

: Ashwani Dubey - Gorakhpur

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

The Treasures of Hungarian Museums…

 

Date of Issue : 18 May 2011 

The Magyar Posta issued a set of two stamps on 18 May 2011 featuring famous items from famous Hungarian Museums.

The Rákóczi Museum operates as an affiliate of the Hungarian National Museum in Sárospatak. The castle of the Rákóczi family is today the most significant Rákóczi-linked location in Hungary, more than one hundred thousand people visit it every year. The permanent exhibition of the "golden age of the Rákóczi family" is the most detailed and the richest collection in the subject with regards to artefacts. Among the permanent exhibitions it is important to mention the exhibition on grape growing and wine making.

The  objects and motifs of the Rákóczi Museum in Sárospatak appear on the HUF 280 stamp, from left to right: a stove tile made by the Haban potters settled in town quarter known as Héce by György Rákóczi I (17^th c.); the building of the Rákóczi castle: the inner castle courtyard with the red Tower (16^th c.) and the Lorántffy lodge; Head of the angel from the north gate of the Old Palace (16^th c.); a product from the glassworks established by Ferenc Rákóczi II, a thread-decorated glass jug (19^th c.); a shark-decorated glass with the coat of arms of the Mikes family (1682) and also from the glassworks established by Ferenc Rákóczi II a glassworks glass (18^th c.)

The Hungarian Chemistry Museum was established in 1963 by the Ministry of Heavy Industry with the purpose of collecting the Hungarian memories of the chemical industry and the science of chemistry, to keep them safe and make them accessible for the generations to come. It has been in operation in the Thury castle since 1969. Since being established it has retained its curiosity and operates as Central Europe's only independent museum of chemistry.

The order of the motifs forming the stamp image of the Várpalota Museum of Chemistry on the HUF 385 stamp are, from left to right: the certificate of Lajos Ilosvay (1851-1936) a prominent figure in Hungarian education in chemistry and medicine; the museum building, Thury castle; János Bánffy-Hunyady (1578-1646) Hungarian alchemist living in London; pharmacy vessels from the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th centuries and a mercury air pump from the bequest of Károly Than.

News from our Readers..

Special Covers from Andhra Pradesh

a special cover was released by Numismatic and Philatelic Society of East Godvari, Andhra Pradesh with the famous Annavaram Temple with the cancellation of the Temple Structure. This was released on the occasion of the East Godavari Numismatic and Philatelic Exhibition held in 2009.

 

Date of Issue : 26 June 2011

Annavaram village is situated on the banks of the Pampa River in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh in India.Annavaram is located at a distance of 125 KM from Visakhapatnam and 80 KM from Rajahmundry. National Highway number 5 passes through Annavaram. The bypass road (NH - 5) goes straight and to visit the temple take right turn in the junction near the Annavaram. It takes two and half hours from Visakhapatnam and from Rajahmundry side it will take 2 hours. Separate pooja halls are available for offering special pujas.

Annavaram Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple
The most distinctive feature of Annavaram is the shrine to Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy on the hill top. The name of the Goddess is Ananta-lakshmi Satyavathi Ammavaru.
National Highway (NH)-5 pass via Annavaram. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates regular bus services from Kakinada to Tuni, Rajahmundry to Tuni, and Yele-swaram to Tuni via Annavaram. Important trains links of the South Central Railways (SCR) passing through are the Vijayawada-Vishakapatnam Ratnachal superfast express, the Chennai-Howrah Mail, Kolkata-Chennai halt at Annavaram, which is the nearest railway station about 2 miles from the temple. The temple, situated on the hill top is about four furlongs away from its base. It can be reached either by steps covered with canopy, via ghat road or trekked through a rusty stone paved trail road.

 

The popularity and importance of the temple is gaining among the pilgrims and this place is considered as second only to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. Festivals are celebrated round the year at this temple with great pomp and show. Some of the popular festivals celebrated are the Kalyanam festival in May, Devi Navaratri festival in September, the Swayamvara Vardhanti of Sraavana Suddha Ekadashi Day, Srirama Kalyana, Kanakadurga Yatra, Prabha Utsavam, Teppa Utsavam and Jalatoranam.
The serene atmosphere of the temple and its surroundings captivate devotees of Lord Veera Venkata Satya-narayana Swamy. The prasadam offered to the devotees has a wonderful taste that cannot be replicated.
Etymology of Annavaram
Anna means whatever you say or you desire and varam means boon, hence whatever you desire will be given as boon by the deity.
Ratnagiri rupaya Ramasatyadevaya Mahashakthi yantraya Bakthakalpavrukshaya

 

:  Cdr G.Sriramarao, I.N (Retd), Vishakhapatnam

2 Different Khadi Stamps

Here is a set of 2 different Khadi stamps with totally different portrait Of "Mahatma Gandhi". Left side looks normal but on Right side, the portrait is stretched vertically and the stretch is also visible on Charka.

- Er.Hemant KumarJain, Civil Lines,Mandla (M.P.)

Festivals of India - Buddha Purnima

 

 

Greetings on Buddha Jayanti

The festival of Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti celebrates the birth of Gautam Buddha in 563 BC. The most important of all the Buddhist festivals, Buddha Purnima is considered the most auspicious of all the days in the year. Although there are minor regional variations in the way Buddha Purnima is observed, the festival is generally observed by lighting oil lamps before the image of the Buddha, by reciting prayers or reading from the scriptures. Meditation and offerings of flowers, silk scarves, incense and fruit are also part of the worship rituals.Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) and Bodhgaya (Bihar) are, in particular, known for the Buddha Purnima celebrations which are held in these two cities.

Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is known as Visakhapuja in Thailand, Makha Bousa Festival in Laos and Vesak in Sri Lanka. Here are some exhibt pages from our distinguished reader Dr Eli Moallem of Israel that feature stamps on Great Buddha Festival from Thailand, Laos and Sri Lanka.

Visakha Puja - Thailand

Makha Bousa Festival - Laos

Vesak – Sri Lanka

Vesak Day - Philippinies

Permanent Pictorial Cancellations

Gujarat

Chamrdharini, Vadodara

Sasangir

: Vijay Modi – Himmat Nagar, Gujarat e mail : vijay_idom@rediffmail.com

New Stamps on Yuri Gagarin..

Ukraine – 12 April 2011

On 12 April 2011, 50th anniversary of first Human Space Flight was celebrated all over the world. On this occasion many countries issued postage stamps featuring Yuri Gagarin, first man in Space. Ukraine and Kazakhstan also issued commemorative postage stamps featuring Yuri Gagarin on this great event.

Kazakhstan – April 2011

Club News

New Special Cover

Date of Issue : 1 February 2011

25th Surajkund Craft Fair

: Raman Kumar Mandal, Gorkahpur

Online Stamp Catalogue…

Search stamps of different countries online…

http://www.catawiki.co.uk/catalog/100271-stamps

News Clippings

Strange but True …..

A Postman in woman’s dress

: Naresh Agarwal, Bilaspur (CG)

Earth Hour 2011.....

Earth Hour 2011: It's time to go beyond the hour

8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

My Recent Cover

Thanks to Mr Wolfgang Beyer, Germany