Thematic Philately

International Day of Non-Violence and other U.N.P.A Issues

Akshay — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:17:35 +0000

International Day of Non-Violence
and
other U.N Issues

On 6 August 2009, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a set of six commemorative stamps and a souvenir card on the theme “ECOSOC” (Economic and Social Council).

These stamps will be issued on August 8TH 2009, in denominations of 44 c, 98 c , F.s. .85, F.s. 1.80 , Euro 0.65, Euro 0.55

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On 15 June 2007 – The United Nations General Assembly decided to observe the International Day of Non-Violence each year on 2 October – the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who helped lead India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The resolution adopted by the 192-member body.

On October 2nd 2009, United Nations Postal Administration will issue stamps with painting of Mahatma Gandhi, This $1.00 Definitive stamp will be issued in sheets of 20 stamps. Further details about this issue is awaited.

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On October 2nd 2009, United Nations Postal Administration will also issue a personalized sheet on the theme

” 40th Anniversary UNPA Geneva”

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On October 8TH 2009, United Nations Postal Administration will issue three commemorative stamps in miniature sheet format in denominations of 44 c, F.s. 1.30, Euro 0.65 on the theme Indigenous people of the world.

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The bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille

Akshay — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:53:51 +0000

The bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille
Louis Braille Year “2009″
(By Akshay)

Louis Braille, who was born in a small town near Paris on 4 January 1809. His father was a cobbler. Louis lost his sight when he was 3 years old by injuring his eye with one of his father’s tools. This caused an infection, which spread to his other eye and he lost all of his sight.

Louis went to the village school for two years, where he learned by listening. At the age of 10 he got a scholarship to go to a school for blind boys in Paris, one of the first in the world. At the school, he was taught practical skills like chair caning and slipper making. Here, he became very good at maths and science and learned to play the organ. He was also taught to read but not to write. The letters he read were raised on a page. These letters were made by pressing letters made with copper wire onto a page. This type of writing was very hard to read because it was not easy to tell one letter from another.

In 1821, a soldier named Charles Barbier de la Serre visited Louis’ school to show the school children his invention, “night writing”. Night writing was used by soldiers so that they could pass messages along trenches at night. It was too hard so the army didn’t use it. Louis wanted to invent an easier way of reading. He experimented with different codes and finally invented Braille. Braille uses a combination of six raised dots that represents each letter in the alphabet. He also developed a different code for maths and music.

In 1827 the first Braille book was produced. Not only could people who are blind or vision impaired use Braille to read but they could also now write using a simple stylus to make the dots.

Louis eventually became a teacher at the school. Unfortunately, he did not live to see Braille used widely. Louis died on 6 January 1852, at the age of 43, from tuberculosis . Braille was not recognized as a way of reading and writing until 1918.

Today, Braille is used throughout the world and is taught to children from an early age.

Many Countries are issuing stamps on Louis Braille world over, So it is not possible for me to give pictures of all the issues, that’s why I am taking few of them and remaining are mentioned in list below.

1. INDIA

Date of Issue : 04-01-2009

2. FRANCE

Date of Issue: 05-01-2009

3. SLOVENIA

Date of Issue: 30-01-2009

4. SWEDEN

Date of Issue: 14-05-2009

5. IRELAND

Date of Issue:23-01-2009

6. AUSTRIA

Date of Issue:20-05-2009

7. NEATHERLAND

Date of Issue: 10-01-2009

8 ALGERIA

Date of Issue:04-01-2009

9.BELGIUM

Date of Issue:23-02-2009

10.CYPRUS

Date of Issue:13-03-2009

11. MOLDOVA

Date of Issue:04-01-2009

12.ROMANIA

Date of Issue:01-11-2008

LIST OF COUNTRIES WHO HAVE ISSUED STAMP ON
The LOUIS BRAILLE

S.NO	COUNTRY	DATE OF ISSUE
1	ALGERIA	04-01-2009
2	ANDORA	24-01-2009
3	ARUBA	05-01-2009
4	AUSTRIA	20-05-2009
5	BELARUS	04-01-2009
6	BELGIUM	23-02-2009
7	BRAZIL	04-01-2009
8	CYPRUS	12-03-2009
9	CZECH REPUBLIC	02-01-2009
10	FRANCE	04-01-2009
11	GREECE	30-03-2009
12	HUNGARY	15-10-2008
13	INDIA	04-01-2009
14	IRELAND	23-01-2009
15	KAZAKHSTAN	20-03-2009
16	KOREA	05-01-2009
17	MACAU	04-01-2009
18	MOLDOVA	04-01-2009
19	MONACO	29-04-2009
20	MOROCCO	16-01-2009
21	NEATHERLAND	10-01-2009
22	POLAND	04-01-2009
23	ROMANIA	01-11-2008
24	SAN-MARINO	16-06-2009
25	SAO-TOME	15-04-2009
26	SERBIA	04-01-2009
27	SLOVENIA	30-01-2009
28	SPAIN	15-07-2009
29	SWEDEN	14-03-2009
30	SYRIA	15-01-2009
31	UZBEKISTAN	02-02-2009
32	WALLIS AND FUTUNA	07-03-2009

LOUIS BRAILLE IS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE ON WHOM STAMPS ARE ISSUED BY MAJORITY OF COUNTRIES.

A DECADE OF EURO €

Akshay — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:35:29 +0000

A DECADE OF EURO €

On the occasion of tenth birthday of The Euro, members of the European union have issued postage stamps on euro.

The euro was launched on 1 January 1999, it became the new official currency of 11 Member States (Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, and Finland), replacing the old national currencies in two stages.First introduced as a virtual currency for cash-less payments and accounting purposes, while the old currencies continued to be used for cash payments and considered as ‘sub-units’ of the euro, it then appeared in physical form, as banknotes and coins, on 1 January 2002.

The euro is not the currency of all EU Member States. Two countries (Denmark and the United Kingdom) agreed an ‘opt-out’ clause in the Treaty exempting them from participation, while the remainder (many of the newest EU members plus Sweden) have yet to meet the conditions for adopting the single currency. Once they do so, they will replace their national currency with the euro.

When the euro came into being, monetary policy became the responsibility of the independent European Central Bank (ECB), which was created for that purpose, and the national central banks of the Member States having adopted the euro. Together they compose the Eurosystem.

The € symbol is inspired in the Greek epsilon – a reference to the first letter of the word Europe, crossed by two parallel lines to ‘certify’ the stability of the Euro. Euro zone countries use the same designs in their banknotes, which were chosen from 44 proposals in a design competition, launched by the Council of the European Monetary Institute (EMI) in 1996 and in which the winning entry was created by Austrian born Robert Kalina. The designs have a common theme of European architecture in various artistic periods, from classic to modern XX century architecture The front of the note features windows or gateways while the back has bridges. Both sides bear the 12 stars characteristic of the European Union. Every banknote has more than 30 security features which include: The paper used which is 100% pure cotton fiber, the watermark depicting a special design observed by holding the note up to the light and the holographic band imprinted with the note’s denomination. In the case of the €50 notes and higher, the band is replaced with a holographic decal.

Coins have a common reverse for all countries in the Euro zone chosen by the European Commission but each country has its own design on the obverse besides the twelve stars.

These countries have issued stamps on Tenth anniversary of The Euro.

1. Belgium

Date of issue: 19/01/2009

2.LUXEMBOURG

Date of Issue : 17/03/2009

3. MALTA

Date of Issue: 30/04/09

4. PORTUGAL

Date of Issue : 28/01/2009

5. SPAIN

Date of Issue : 10/07/09

ThisSlovakian issue is not issued for 10th anniversary of The Euro but on introduction of the common euro currency in the Slovak Republic effective from 1 January 2009, But is is coincided with 10th anniversaryof the Euro. This is also first euro issue of Slovakia.

Date of Issue: 01/01/09

There are Sixteen Countries who uses The Euro as There Currency. The List and time line is as below.Countries have adopted the Euro

1999	Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg,the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland

2001	Greece
2002	Introduction of euro banknotes and coins
2007	Slovenia
2008	Cyprus, Malta
2009	Slovakia

The euro is the currency of the 329 million people who live in the 16 euro-area countries. It is also used, either formally as legal tender or for practical purposes, by a whole array of other countries such as close neighbours and former colonies.

It is therefore not surprising that the euro has rapidly become the second most important international currency after the dollar, and in some respects (e.g. the value of cash in circulation) has even overtaken it.

(Information Courtesy : europa.eu and Philatelic web site of respective country )

Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers

Akshay — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:28:51 +0000

In 2009,about 40 countries has issued stamps on climate change. The common theme is

Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers

The international stamp campaign is being coordinated by Philatelic Centre in Finland. Each participant country has issued its stamps on its own schedule in the period January-March 2009. Each country will also decide independently on the illustration theme for its issue. A shared feature for the issues is the crystal insignia,

Pictures and Details for all the thirty eight countries are mentioned here:

1. Aland

Date of issue: 22.01.2009

2. Algeria

Date of issue: 28/03/09

3. Andora

Date of issue: 27.03.09

4. Argentina

Date of issue: 7th March 2009

5. Australia

Date of Issue : 4 th March 2009

6. Austria

Date of issue : 26/03/2009

7. Azerbaijan

Date of issue: 03/03/09

8. Belgium

Date of issue: 09/03/09

9. Brazil

Date of issue: 18/03/09

10. Bulgaria

Date of Issue: 27/03/09

11. Canada

Date of Issue: 09/04/09

12. Chile

Date of Issue : 18/03/09

13. Croatia

Date of Issue : 27/03/09

14.Czech Republic

Date of Issue: 11/02/09

15. Ecuador

Date of Issue:

16. Estonia

Date of Issue: 15/01/09

17.Faroe Islands

Date of Issue:23/02/09

18. Finland

Date of Issue : 18/03/09

19. France

Date of Issue : 30/03/09

20. Greece

Date of Issue:

21. Greenland

Date of Issue:19/01/09

22. Hungary

Date of Issue: 27/03/09

23.Iceland

Date of Issue: 29/01/09

24. Indonesia

Date of Issue: 18/03/09

25. Japan

Date of Issue: 30/06/09

26. Kazakhstan

Date of Issue: 12/03/09

27.Latvia

Date of Issue: 18/03/09

28.Lithuania

Date of Issue: 27/03/09

29. Moldova

Date of Issue: 18/03/09

30. Netherlands

Date of Issue: 18/03/09

31. New Zealand

Date of Issue: 04/03/09

32. Norway

Date of Issue: 20/02/09

33. Peru

Date of Issue:

34. Romania

Date of Issue: 21/03/09

35. Slovenia

Date of Issue: 27/03/09

36. South Africa

Date of Issue:

37. Switzerland

Date of Issue: 05/03/09

38. Ukraine

Date of Issue: 18/03/09

Issues from India, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay are yet to be released.

THE BHARATIYA VAYU SENA ‘S PLANES ON INDIAN POSTAGE STAMPS

Akshay — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:07:36 +0000

THE BHARATIYA VAYU SENA ‘S PLANES ON INDIAN POSTAGE STAMPS

The India Post has being issuing postage stamps on our Mighty, Powerful and Gallant BHARATIYA VAYU SENA (INDIAN AIR FORCE). Here is a peek into these stamps and planes on them. The “BHARATIYA VAYU SENA” ( INDIAN AIR FORCE) was officially established on October 8, 1932 as an auxiliary air force of the Indian empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945, the Royal Indian Air Force served the Union of India, with the prefix being dropped when India became a republic in 1950.The Bharatiya Vayu Sena has strength of approximately 170,000 personnel, 730 combat and 1,700 non-combat aircraft in active service, the Indian Air Force is the world’s fourth largest air force in the world.

These are first set of stamps issued on The Bharatiya Vayu Sena, these are issued on silver jubilee of The Bharatiya Vayu Sena in the year 1958. The first plane of The Bharatiya Vayu Sena Westland Wapiti and Hawker Hunter (which was latest aquisition in 1958) are featured on these stamps. Note that only word in hindi on these stamps are न पै.

This stamp was issued to commemorate the armed forces on the first republic day after the 1965 War. The stamp, released on 26 Jan 1966 features a formation of three Gnats renamed AJEET. And also features cruiser INS Mysore and Infantry soldier.

The Folland Gnat (renamed AJEET) is the only aircraft to have been ‘rewarded’ with a stamp of its own in recognition of its performance in the 1965 War.This plane has also earned the name of The Saber Slayer, because many USA made Pakistani Sabers were shot with it in 1971 Bangla war.Date of release was 16-10-67.

Issued on 8th October 1982, 50 Years from the day the IAF Act was passed, this stamp showing the Wapiti with the latest and secret acquisition of that time, the MiG-25 which is renamed as ‘Garuda’.

These Se-tenant Stamps issued on 8th October 1992 on the occation of Diamond Jubilee of The BHARTIYA VAYU SENA, features (from top left corner Clock wise) MIG-29 Fighter, MIG-27 Fighter, IL-76 transport plane, and of course The Westland Wapiti. The Wapiti is the most commmemorated aircraft in Indian stamps.

This Stamp issued on April 01 1993 the Diamond Jubilee of the No.1 Squadron “The Tigers” with the Squadron crest and the Westland Wapiti making appearance again.

This stamp issued on 16th December 1997 to marks the 50 Years of the Indian Armed Forces, features the silhouette of a Sukhoi-30.

This stamp issued on 26th December 1999 on the occasion of 40th anniversary of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) shows the LCA Tejas, the Prithvi Missile and the Indra II Radar, all of which are operated by the Indian Air Force, The Arjun Tank can also be seen.

This commemoration stamp is issued on 19th February 1999 on the Golden Jubilee of the National Defence Academy at Khadakvasla features the Silhoutte of a Jaguar IM Fighter Bomber.

This stamp is one of the five stamps( Se-tenant strip of five) issued on 27th January 2000 on the 50th anniversary of Indian Republic, featuring Param Veer Chakra Awardees. This stamp shows Flying Officer Nirmal Jeet Singh Shekhon PVC , Who fought with six F-86 Sabres at Srinagar when it was attacked. He took off and battled with the six aircraft singlehandedly before sheer numbers overwhelmed him. The Ajeet (Knat) can also be seen.

These stamps issued on 5th February 2003, this was also The Centinial year of man’s First flight From Top Left corner clockwise:

HAL Ht-2 or Hindustan Trainer-2 built by HAL, this was the first ever indigenously built aircraft inducted into the IAF.
The HF-24 Marut is the first indigenously built fighter.
The LCA Tejas is in testing stage by HAL is made of composite materials.Advance Avoinics, Fly by wire technology is also integraed in this.
The ALH Dhruv is multi roll Helicopter indegenously developed by HAL.This Helicopter is also being exported.

This stamp was released on 21st December 2005 on the golden jubilee of No.16 Squadron “The Cobras”.From Bottom to top The Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV , The HF-24 Marut, and the Jaguar IS.

These stamps are issued on October 8th 2007 on Platinum Jubilee of Bharatiya Vayu Sena features ( from top left Corner Clockwise)

ALH Dhruv,indigenously developed by HAL, seen here wearing peacock decoration of The Sarang, Helicopter acrobatic team of IAF.
The Beriev A-50 is the AWACs variant of the Illyushin-76 transport aircraft. India’s first A-50 aircraft equipped with the Phalcon radar arrived on 25th May 2009 and was officially inducted on the 28th May 2009( AWACs appeared on the stamp before it joined IAF). With the induction of the AWACS, India has joined a club of only six other nations – the US, Russia, Britain, Japan, Australia and Turkey – that operate such a sophisticated system.
The Westland Wapiti making appearance again.
IL-76 Transporter here seen as refueler, Refueling two SU-30 Fighters.

Though India has not developed many planes but the Bharatiya Vayu Sena’s Pilot’s shown to the world that they one of the best, not only in skills but also in gallantry. ( I want to thank Bharat-Rakshak from where I have used lots of references in writing this Weblog)

New issues on heritage building and architecture

Akshay — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:15:18 +0000

New issues on heritage building and architecture

There are some interesting issues on heritage building and architecture world over I am mentioning some of them here. 1. Swedish issue on High-rise structures for homes, entertainment,sports and communication: These stamps shows pictures of landmark buildings of Sweden. A)The Turning Torso residential skyscraper B) The Balder roller coaster, C)The Kaknästornet tower for ether communication and D) The Lugnet ski jump These structures are now presented on four stamps of SKR 12.00 each for postage for international greetings. These stamps are issued on 14th may 2009. 2. United Nations’ Issue on World Heritage sites Germay: On 7 May 2009, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued a set of six commemorative stamps and three prestige booklets on the theme “World Heritage – Germany”. This is the fourteenth United Nations stamp issue to illustrate World Heritage sites. It is the twelfth in a series of stamps and prestige booklets focusing on either one specific World Heritage site or a group of World Heritage sites in one geographical location.The stamps were designed by Grit Fiedler (Germany). These stamps depicts paintings of

The town hall and the statue of Roland on the marketplace of Bremen

The Aachen Cathedral The Wartburg castle The Monastic Island of Reichenau The palaces and parks of Potsdam and Berlin

The Luther memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg

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3. Swiss Post issue on Contemporary Architecture: These stamps features works by Gion A. Caminada and the team of Pascal Müller/Peter Sigrist. Date of issue is 08.05.2009.

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4. Irish issue on 400th Anniversary of Kilkenny City Status : The stamp features an illustration of Kilkenny Castle, as viewed from the quays, with St. John’s Bridge in the foreground. The stamp is issued on 16th june 2009.

Welcome to Thematic Philately

Akshay — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:30:40 +0000

Welcome to first posting of “The Thematic philately”

INERNET HAS BECOME A POWERFULL MEDIUM IN PROMOTION OF PHILATELY. AND CONTRARY TO DOUBTS OF MANY ELDER PHILATELISTS, THAT INTERNET IS KILLING PHILATELIC, IT HAS BECOME A BIG BOOSTER IN PROMOTION OF PHILATELY. KNOWLEDGE HAS BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH IT AND NEWS TRAVELS VERY FAST.SPECIALLY FOR THEMATIC PHILATELISTS AND COLLECTORS FOR WHOM KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION PLAYS A IMPORTANT ROLE IN THERE PURSUIT OF THEMATIC COLLECTION. THOUGH I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING STAMPS SINCE CHILD HOOD BUT BECAME A SERIOUS COLLECTOR FROM LAST 5-6 YEARS, AND WHO ELSE THAN ME CAN VOUCH FOR THIS FACT THAT INTERNET HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT AND HELPED ME IN COLLECTING MY THEME IN A VERY SHORT TIME.SO I OWE A LOT TO INTERNET. I HAD STARTED A YAHOO GROUP “ INDIAN THEMATIC PHILATELISTS’ GROUP” ON May 30, 2007, THE MAIN AIM OF STARTING THIS GROUP WAS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION WITH FELLOW THEMATIC COLLECTORS IN INDIA, BECAUSE I FELT THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE IN INDIA WANT TO SHARE THIER KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION ( THIS WAS MY EXPERIENCE FROM LOCAL PHILATELIC SOCIETY), I AM KEEPING THIS GROUP NON COMMERCIAL. AND IT IS GROWING DAY BY DAY. NOW DAYS WEBLOGGING IS BECOMING VERY POPULAR AND MORE AND MORE COLLECTORS AND PHILAELISTS REGULARLY USE THIS FOR KNOWLEDGE GAINING AND SHAREING, MY FRIENDS SAKET (MY COLLECTION OF STAMPS ON FLOWERS) AND JAGNATH ( Olympic Games Philately)HAS ALREADY STARTED THIER WEBLOGS, AND OF COURSE RAINBOW STAMP NEWS IS ALSO DOING GOOD JOB. SO I GOT INSPIRED IN STARTING THIS WEBLOG. I WOULD BE UPDATING THIS ON REGULAR BASIS WITH THEMATIC NEWS AND INFORMATION . AND OF COURSE WHAT I WILL POST ON THIS WEB LOG SHALL ALSO FIND PLACE ON ” INDIAN THEMATIC PHILATELISTS’ GROUP” . PLEASE SEND YOUR VIEWS REGARDING MY POSTINGS.PLEASE SEND ME NEWS AND ARTICLES WHICH YOU THINK YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH FELLOW PHILATELISTS. TODAY TO START WITH I AM BORROWING MY ARTICLE FROM “ INDIAN THEMATIC PHILATELISTS’ GROUP“.

Thematic Philately

International Day of Non-Violence and other U.N.P.A Issues

International Day of Non-Violence and other U.N Issues

The bicentennial of the birth of Louis Braille

A DECADE OF EURO €

Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers

THE BHARATIYA VAYU SENA ‘S PLANES ON INDIAN POSTAGE STAMPS

New issues on heritage building and architecture

Welcome to Thematic Philately

International Day of Non-Violence
and
other U.N Issues