Cute Cats on new Vanuatu stamps

 

Date of Issue : 14 July 2011

Hi ! In today’s Post some cute cats on stamps of Vanuatu issued on 14 July 2011. These are Vanuatu’s most famous working cats.The one on 100 Vatu stamp is most photographed cat in the world and is able to do many acts as an entertainer and has been on the job of inspecting the catch on the incoming fishing boats and also as a rat cat. The First Day cover is awesome with beautiful cancellation of cat paws. It’s a nice item for those collecting stamps on cats or pet theme. This is all for Today…Till Next Post…Have a Nice Time !

 

Cats of Vanuatu

Cute and cuddly is the theme of these tropical cats of Vanuatu.  Cats come in many colours in Vanuatu and are as lovable and popular as any of the cousins the world over. The lush backdrop of tropical flowers adds to the appeal of the stamps.

The issue features Boots on the 100 vatu stamp who is without doubt Vanuatu’s most famous cat. Boots was born in February 2003 in Port Vila to a Mother who was a bit of a floozie. Looking for a better life Boots ventured out on his own and found a pet friendly home with 2 large dogs and two territorial cats.

Working Cat

To avoid confrontations Boots was given a job as a rat cat at the Waterfront Bar & Grill. He soon discovered that he loved the Waterfront and the fresh fish but hated rats. He then applied for a position of entertainer. After trying different acts he proved his prowess in sucking a drink through a straw and ringing a ships bell as shown on the stamp. When asked he would hop on the bar, stroll to the bell and wait for instructions. He can differentiate any number up to five and ring the bell that many times and is then rewarded with fresh tuna.

Most photographed cat in the world

He also has the job of inspecting the catch on the incoming fishing boats and there has never been a bad fish since Boots has been on the job. With his pet humans, Boots has recently moved to his new home at the War Horse Saloon in Port Vila where he performs six nights a week seeing visitors from all over the world. He has been on Television and in the media in both Australia and New Zealand and is arguably the most photographed cat in the world and is honoured to feature on a Vanuatu stamp, though he wishes it was fish flavoured.

 

For more information about this issue please contact:
The Manager,Philatelic  Bureau,Vanuatu Post, Port Vila, Vanuatu E mail: philatelic@vanuatupost.vu

Massena’s Lorikeets on new Vanuatu stamps

Date of Issue : 25 May 2011

Vanuatu Post issued a set of 4 beautiful stamps and a Miniature sheet on 25 May 2011 featuring Massena’s Lorikeets. All the stamps also bear the logo of WWF. The first day cancellation also shows a Lorikeet. It is a wonderful set for bird lovers.

Massena’s Lorikeets

Listed as a sub-species of the Rainbow Lorikeet, Massena’s Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus massena is also known as the Coconut Lory and in Bislama – Nasiviru. While the Rainbow Lorikeet, through 21 different races is found throughout Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomons and parts of Australia, Massena is found only in the Bismarck Archipelago (near New Guinea), the Solomons and throughout Vanuatu except Futuna and Lopevi. Growing to around 250mm including a 100mm tail, these striking coloured lories are mainly bright green with a red breast, bluish-mauve head and red-orange beak. They frequent flowering trees but their movements are usually erratic as they travel, even between islands, in search of food.

Growing to around 250mm including a 100mm tail, these striking coloured lories are mainly bright green with a red breast, bluish-mauve head and red-orange beak. They frequent flowering trees but their movements are usually erratic as they travel, even between islands, in search of food.

Living primarily in wooded habitat in lowland areas, they are sometimes found in steep terrain where favourite trees or shrubs are flowering. They prefer habitat other than true forest or mangroves however and are found in trees.bordering watercourses surrounding paddocks, in suburban gardens and in nearly every coconut plantation. The nectar and pollen from these coconut palm flowers form their staple diet and in return the lories are important pollinators of these trees. Other sources of food include the Indian Coral tree, the African Tulip tree and the Sago palm. They also enjoy the soft fruit of the Panama Cherry tree and ripening fruit from domestic orchards. Maize and sorghum crops are also targeted.

: Vanuatu Post

Club News

Press clipping

Limited edition khadi stamps now available

AHMEDABAD: The world's first 'khadi' stamp is available in Ahmedabad from Saturday.The stamp, with the image of Gandhiji and the charkha on a piece of khadi cloth, will be a collector's delight.
The stamp is a premium limited edition printed on a miniature sheet format. The khadi theme pertains to Mahatma Gandhi and his idea of 'self-reliance' and national pride.
It was in Ahmedabad that the idea of khadi was born with Gandhiji experimenting with the charkha in 1918.
"The postal department had never issued a stamp on any material other than paper. Our department thought it apt to introduce the khadi stamp as Gandhiji advocated the use of handspun khadi. Gandhiji called it the 'thread of life'.
"Politically, khadi was part of Gandhiji's movement to defy the economic exploitation by the British. The khadi cloth and the charkha became the symbol of India's liberation and patriotism. It is for this reason that the khadi stamp was introduced," says chief postmaster general Gujarat Humera Ahmed.
The stamp was introduced earlier this year during the World Philatelic Exhibition - Indipex 2011. But this is the first time the limited edition stamp is being sent to a few select centres across the country, including Ahmedabad, where Gandhiji set up his Satyagraha Ashram in 1915 soon after returning from South Africa.
There are only 10,000 khadi stamps printed by the India Security Press in Nasik. "Most of these stamps were sold during the exhibition in Delhi. Only a few are left and are available at a special counter at the Ahmedabad GPO," according to a senior India Post official.
The Ahmedabad GPO has also brought out a special collection of post cards to commemorate 600 years of Ahmedabad.
"We have covered the historical assets of Ahmedabad in our post cards. We wanted to come out with a souvenir for the city and a collection of post cards is an apt choice," says Ahmed.

Times of India 28 may 2011

Aerogrammes featuring Birds and Fishes..

 

 

 

Here I wish to share beautiful Postal stationery issued by Vanuatu Post. These are colorful Aerogrammes depicting Birds and Fishes. These aerogrammes are quite suitable for thematic collection on birds and fishes. Vanuatu Post has also issued a set of 4 stamps on 23 March 2011 featuring famous Coffee from Vanuatu. The stamps are wonderful showing a variety of coffee flavours. The First Day Cancellation is equally good showing a hot coffee cup. The designs of the stamps are very nice and on first glimpse , the stamps give  aroma of hot Tanna Coffee from Vanuatu….Just enjoy a nice cup of coffee through today’s Post…  Also read thrilling details of Underwater Post Office of Vanuatu…This for all for Today…… Till Next Post….Have  a Great Time !!

Tanna Coffee – The Taste of Vanuatu…

 

Date of Issue – 23 March - 2011

The Tanna Coffee Development Company was established in Tanna in 1982, to assist Vanuatu soon after its independence.   The process of famous Tanna Coffee  begins with the hand picked cherries being processed at 35 pulperies on Tanna. The cherries are pulped, naturally fermented, washed, screened and sun-dried prior to transportation to the Dry Processing Factory. Here the dry skins are removed, 'green beans' graded according to size and then bagged ready for shipping to Port Vila. The coffee beans are then carefully roasted as part of the 25 steps in the process from the 'plantation to the cup'. Modern international standard packaging completes the process. Currently, all coffee is sold in roasted and packaged form through Tanna Coffee’s facility in Port Vila with 70% being distributed locally and the balance being exported overseas. The Roasting Factory has now been developed to cater for tourist visits.

 

 

Underwater Post Office of Vanuatu Post

Vanuatu Post’s Underwater Post Office, found just off Hideaway Island near Port Vila, has quickly become one of the busiest post offices for postcards in the world!
Visitors from around the world have literally donned their mask and snorkels, postcards in hand to experience the world’s first underwater post office.

And they have not been disappointed. The Post Office is only 50 metres offshore and at just three metres below the surface, is very accessible to the young and young at heart. Thousands of visitors have posted one of the special waterproof postcards available in Vanuatu; these cards are collected regularly by one of Vanuatu Post’s four trained scuba divers and “cancelled” underwater with an embossing cachet. Mail that requires a normal Underwater Post Office date stamp is cancelled in the Main Post Office.

Since opening in 2003, the underwater post office has received an estimated 100,000 visitors. The underwater branch is manned daily for usually about an hour, longer on cruise ship days or with demand.

“I love working at the underwater branch,” says VPL’s Samuel Robert. “It’s great fun and really pleasing to see so many visitors each day who cannot believe their eyes!”
Vanuatu Post has released two stamp issues commemorating the world’s first underwater post office.

: Vanuatu Post