Hello friends…
After giving some thought, I decided to create a series of monthly review posts of all my philatelic items received during the last month. This will not only help me researching my latest acquisitions and sort them but also help to create something like a journal of latest issues.
Before we delve into the details, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you who are reading this post. Your support, encouragement, and constructive feedback have been invaluable. I am delighted to share that our blog was recently awarded a Bronze medal in the literature section at the National Level Philatelic Exhibition, AMRITPEX 2023, held in New Delhi. For those who have already read the AMRITPEX blog, you are already aware of this achievement. Thank you all for being a part of this incredible journey.
As a token of appreciation, I have planned a special surprise for you in this blog post. So without further ado, let’s get started!
1. Stamp Collection Highlights
In this section, I would like to share some of the stamps I received in last month. Each stamp carries a unique piece of story in the history.
Through my participation in stamp bag activities at the Postcrossing Welfare Society of India, I had the pleasure of acquiring a variety of interesting and beautiful stamps.
Stamp #1: St. Andrews – The Old Course (Great Britain 1994)
This stamp is a part of the “Scottish Golf Courses” series issued by the Royal Mail on July 5th, 1994. It showcases the iconic Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Old Lady or the Grand Old Lady. As the oldest golf course, it holds a significant place in the history and heritage of golf. The stamp perfectly captures the essence of this legendary course and the rich traditions and timeless beauty of Scottish golf.
Stamp #2: Peace Corps (USA 1972)
The peace corps stamp issued by United States of America on 11th February, 2023 as tribute to the independent agency and program established in 1961 through an executive order by President John F. Kennedy. The volunteers of the peace corps undergo training and are deployed to provide international development assistance. The stamp features USA flag and doves, which represents their commitment for promoting peace and cooperation worldwide.
Stamp #3: Buffon’s Kob (Federal Republic of Cameroun 1962)
This unique stamp depicts the magnificent antelope species known as Buffon’s Kob. The stamp’s design beautifully captures the elegance and grace of the Buffon’s Kob, with its slender build, distinct spiral horns, and a rich reddish-brown coat. Buffon’s Kob, scientifically known as Kobus kob. Native to the grassy savannas and floodplains of sub-Saharan Africa, this species is known for its large herds and spectacular mating displays. The male Buffon’s Kob utilizes its impressive horns and engaging leaps to attract potential mates, creating a mesmerizing sight for observers.
Stamp #4: Parent Teacher Association (USA 1972)
On 17th February, 1897, the National Congress of Mothers was established, which later evolved into the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). In 1972, merely two years after the unification of the PTA, the United States Postal Service (USPS) acknowledged the remarkable achievements of the PTA in promoting the well-being of children.
Stamp #5: Flag Over Capitol (USA 1985)
This stamp was issued by USPS on 29th March, 1985. The stamp is noteworthy for being the first to undergo perforation using the BEP’s innovative Eureka perforator. This new perforator introduced flawlessly precise bull’s-eye perforations on the sheets, marking a significant advancement in the stamp production process. Furthermore, this stamp was part of the first booklet ever issued by the United States that contained commemorative-sized stamps.
I have a personal attachment to this stamp not only because of the technical details I discovered while writing this article, but also because it bears the quote “Of the people, By the people, For the people” by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. I vividly remember learning these words during my childhood civics classes. Every year, during the Republic Day speech, these words would be emphasized to remind us of our responsibility in shaping our nation.
The increased size of the stamps provided more room for designer Frank Waslick to enhance his original artwork. While the dimensions of the flag and the capitol remained unchanged, the wings of the capitol were extended, and additional elements such as a flagpole and Washington scenery were incorporated into the design.
Stamp #6: Temple Architecture- Jagannatha Temple, Puri (India 2003)
Okay…now the last one, one of my favourites. I was looking for this stamp since the time when I started stamp collecting. But last month became lucky. Finally able to grab a whole sheet of this stamp at a very good price. This particular stamp holds special significance as it was released as part of a series on “Temple Architecture,” featuring the renowned Lord Jagannatha Temple of Puri. The stamp’s thematic value and exquisite design quickly garnered popularity, leading to its increased value in the secondary market.
2. Philatelic Cover Highlights
Last month, I received various philatelic and commercially used covers, which included a diverse range of postal items.
Cover #1: Philatelic Cover with Avatar – The Way of Water Stamp (New Zealand 2023)
I was thrilled to receive a magnificent cover adorned with two exquisite stamps. These stamps are part of a set of 8 stamps that were specially released to celebrate the Blockbuster Hollywood movie Avatar: The Way of Water. The stamps, issued by the New Zealand Post on March 1, 2023, hold significant value as the movie production extensively took place in New Zealand. Now I am looking for rest 6 stamps on some covers to complete my collection.
Cover #2: Commercially used Cover from Museum Road S.O.
In the preceding month, I sent a money order to procure philatelic materials from the Evening Post Office situated at Museum Road S.O. under the administration of the Karnataka Postal Circle. Consequently, I received an envelope adorned with postmarks representing the first Evening Post Office in Bangalore, fondly referred to as the Garden City of India. This envelope holds particular significance as it adds another noteworthy element to my collection, beautifully complementing the inaugural date cancellation already in my possession.
Cover #3: Commercially used Cover with IDY 2023 postmarks
On June 21st, during the International Day of Yoga celebrations, a special pictorial cancellation was released at all the philatelic bureaus in the Maharashtra Postal Circle. The captivating postmark showcases an intricate line art representation of a person engaged in surya namaskar, enclosed within the graceful contours of a lotus shape. At the center top of the cancellation, a radiant sun symbolizes the significance of this ancient practice.
With prior knowledge of this release, I sent money orders to all six bureaus, allowing me to obtain covers with the special pictorial cancellation. Each cover was meticulously posted on the same day, thanks to the invaluable support and cooperation of the bureau officers.
Cover #4: Some FDCs of India with Place Cancellations of Dehradun
Recently, I had the opportunity to cancel some of the blank First Day Covers (FDCs) I had with the place cancellations from Dehradun and Dehradun Cantt. Additionally, I was fortunate enough to obtain some brochures through a senior philatelist from Dehradun. Sharing below some of the recent FDCs and brochures I got.
3. Postcard Highlights
In this section, let’s uncover the beauty and stories concealed within each precious piece of snail mail.
Postcard #1
The first postcard that I received in was through postcrossing.com from USA. The card depicts a self portrait of Pablo Picasso. This painting from 1907, portrays the artist with stylized face, featuring his iconic almond eyes. Picasso painted this self portrait, when he was 25 years old.
Postcard #2
I received this delightful postcard through the June Round Robin (RR), one of the fascinating activities organized by PSOI. It was posted from the Netherlands and adorned with two stunning stamps from a recently issued stamp set on the Journey to the Moon. The first stamp features a satellite with solar panels, while the second stamp showcases the Orion capsule, specially designed to carry astronauts. One of the interesting thing about this stamp set is one stamp was not released yet out of total 10 stamps. Which means total 9 stamps released this year and one stamp (the 10th one) will be released in 2025, when man sets his foot again on the moon around 2025.
These unique-shaped stamps were presented on a captivating Royal Mail postcard adorned with the depiction of 67P, a comet comprised of rock, ice, and dust. The designation “67P” signifies that this particular comet was the 67th periodic comet to be discovered. The design featured on the postcard is a reproduction from a stamp that was originally issued in 2020.
Postcard #3
I also received this remarkable postcard as part of the May Round Robin activity from a postcrossing friend in Tamil Nadu. The postcard, shaped like the Ashoka Pillar, was designed to commemorate 75 years of independent India. It showcases India’s achievements in various fields over the past 75 years. The postcard features two stamps: one depicting scenes from the Ramayana, and the other featuring E.V. Ramasami, an Indian social activist and politician who initiated the Self-Respect Movement. The stamps were beautifully cancelled with a permanent pictorial postmark from Kanchipuram.
Postcard #4
Another beautiful postcard I received through Postcrossing from Luxembourg. The postcard showcases a collection of different stamps issued by different countries. What makes this postcard even more special is the inclusion of the Postcrossing stamp of Luxembourg, marking my first card from Luxembourg with this unique stamp. I greatly appreciate the sender for including it. Additionally, the other postage stamp used on the postcard features KLECKKRAUT, a beautiful wild flower. The stamps were elegantly cancelled with a special red cross Luxembourg slogan cancellation.
Postcard #5
The last picture postcard I received last month was part of the June 2023 Round Robin (RR) organized by PSOI. It was sent from Bangalore and features a captivating view of the Suru River in Ladakh, which is a tributary of the Indus River. The postcard is adorned with stamps showcasing the GI tag agricultural product Kaji Nemu, as well as definitive stamps of Yoga and Tamil writer and independent activist C. Subramania Bharati.
4. Special Postmarks on Postcard:
Last month, I received a remarkable assortment of beautiful postmarks, mostly from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Some of the postcards had ventured across great distances through ordinary post, while others were carefully cancelled for philatelic collection. As a passionate collector, I am delighted to have acquired these treasures. Let me share these vibrant postcards.
Besides these, there are several more cancellations that were released during the month of June, but they have not yet reached me. I will provide updates on these cancellations in the next month’s post once I receive them.
5. New Stamp Issued By India Post
SCO Council of Heads of State
Raj Bhavan, Uttar Pradesh
Thank you!
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to some incredible individuals from the philately fraternity who played a pivotal role in helping me acquire the materials displayed in this post. First and foremost, a heartfelt thanks to Mr. Sreejesh for his assistance in obtaining the FDCs and brochures cancelled with the place cancellations from Dehradun. I am immensely grateful to Mr. Sushil Mehra, an esteemed philatelist from Bangalore, for his valuable contributions in providing articles with inaugural day cancellations from The Evening Post Office. I would also like to extend my appreciation to Mr. Harish from Bangalore and Mr. Sunil from Pune for their dedicated efforts in sending the pictorial cancellations released in their respective locations, even amidst their busy schedules.
Here comes the last but important part of this post! As a token of gratitude, I would like to give away the following philatelic registered cover with Rath Yatra stamp (2010) cancelled with Pictorial Cancellation of Lord Jagannath Temple (Puri H.O.).
To participate in this giveaway, simply leave your comments on the post below before July 31st, 2023. I welcome your suggestions, feedback, and thoughts on which item you liked the most from this blog. All comments containing more than 13 words will be published, and next month, a cover will be sent to each participant. At last, click on this link to fill the form with your address. Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and help them participate in this exciting giveaway.
With this, I would like to conclude for now. I am looking forward to receiving a lot of responses from all of you. See you next month with an exciting array of new and diverse philatelic items.