A set of 2 stamps of Rs.20 and Rs5 has been released on Brahmos Cruise Missile on 22nd December 2008.
Liberia has released a stamp in honor of Barack Obama's historic election victory over John McCain. Liberia is the first country to issue an official postage stamp honoring Barack Obama.
I have received 2 more cards on my subject "SHIPS" and one of the card also had a ship stamp at the back. This is getting to be interesting and I thank the Postcrossing members, Anna R and Tove from Finland, who have sent me the same.
Received this cover from Nargiza,Belarus. One stamp of Bejing Olympics features the sport of rowing and the two to the right are on garden flowers (definitive issue). Thank you for the cover.
The Picture of the Ship is of P.S."SKIBLADNER" (pron. shee-blah-d-ner), this preserved and restored paddle steamer is over 150 years old but continues to run a timetabled service in the summer months. It is the pride of Norway's inland, and one of Norway's best-loved tourist attractions. The stamp of the same ship can be seen at the top left among the four stamps.
I received this beautiful cover on my collecting subject "Ships and boats from Mauritius. Thanks, Tasneem for the cover. Unfortunately the Mauritius Post has stuck a label on the part of the picture to the left side of the cover. These 4 stamps of 2005 depicts Ship models.The Ship models of Mauritius are known for thier beauty and high quality workmanship.The first stamp is of the "100 GUN SHIP" built at the end of the 17th century.The "SAMPAN" is a chinese model, the "ROMAN GALLEY" was a Roman warship and the last one is of "DRAKKAR", the clinker hull Viking long ship.
It is published by Shri.M.P.Rajan, Chief Postmaster General, Karnataka Circle, with a short Foreword by himself. The same is available at all Philatelic Bureau's of Karnataka and other Main Post Offices.
I just received this cover from Belgium, with two stamps and a cancellation picture of shoe, which I think is of the National Shoe Museum in Izegem. Thanks Thomas for this nice cover.
I received this beautiful card of Singapore Philatelic Museum from my friend Nagendra Nayak, who had visited the Museum. I have also scanned the cancellation which depicts the Museum.
A Philatelic Exhibition was organised by the Philately Bureau, Mangalore in association with D.K.Philatelic and Numismatic Association at Head Post office, Mangalore on 13 Oct 2008 to celebrate PHILATELY DAY. The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. T.Govind Naik, Senior Superintendent of Posts, Mangalore. Mr.P.V.Kurlekar, Senior Postmaster, Mangalore, Mr. S.Gopal, Rtd. SSP, Mangalore, Mr.Mansoor Bolar, Jt. Secretary of D.K.Philatelic and Numismatic Association, Mr.Deepak Alvares, In-charge of Philatelic Bureau, Mangalore, Mrs.Severine D'souza, and the employee's of the Mangalore Head Post Office were also present at the venue.
About 18 frames of Exhibits were exhibited at the venue. The collection of The D.K.Philatelic and Numismatic Association (special covers of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts) Mr.M.Prabhakar Kamath, Mr.Baikady Srinivas Rao, Mrs. Jane D'souza, Ms.Tapasya Bhandary and Mansoor Bolar were exhibited.
When we note the stamps affixed on the cover, we can see a light brownish
colour mark or line which looks like it has been cancelled using a pen. The
below SS gives us the real picture of the same.To know more you can visit the
blog of Eric.
The Olympic Games concludes on 24 August. For this occasion a joint stamp will be issued by UK & China to commemorate the handover ceremony of the Olympic flag to London on 22 August.
On 15 August 1947, India attained freedom from the British rule. Every year, August 15 is celebrated as the Independence Day in India. This national festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country. Independence Day is celebrated with flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes in the state capitals. The Prime Minister's speech at the Red Fort in Delhi is the major highlight.
This tortoise is a native of The Aldabra atoll, part of the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean.The size of an Aldabra Giant Tortoise can be upto 4ft. and weigh around 550lbs. They are normally dark grey to black in colour, have small pointed head covered with scales on forelegs.
Dodo was a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It was a flightless member of the pigeon family, which weighed up to 23 kg. Portuguese became the first Europeans to discover the dodo in the year 1500. By 1680 it had been driven to extinction by humans who hunted it for flesh and later the dogs, pigs, rats, and monkeys introduced by Europeans to Mauritius. 
Our present day knowledge of what the dodo looked like is based on several sources like the diaries and writings of the sailors and captains who landed on Mauritius in the 16th and17th century, drawings from the few humans who were able to witness them alive and the few fossils excavated from the island, which are kept at the British Museum, and a foot and a beak which are preserved at Oxford. The dodo was a large, plump bird covered in soft, grey feathers, with a plume of white at its tail. It had small wings that were far too weak to ever lift the dodo off the ground, dubbed the bird "dodo" which meant simpleton in Portuguese tongue (“doudo”).
Today the idiom "as dead as a dodo" means undoubtedly dead and "to go the way of the dodo" means to become extinct or obsolete, or to become a thing of the past.
The Dodo is a lesson in extinction. It is hoped that the lesson of the Dodo can help prevent similar extinctions, and aid us in preserving the diversity of life on earth.
The SS above was released along with 4 stamps set on 22 June 2007 by Mauritius. The above SS is painted by Julian Pender Hume, a Paleontologist by profession. The 4 stamps are also art work of different artist's view of the dodo.
Some of the cards have the pictures of the stamps released by India Post, like roses, jasmine, sandalwood and others of historic and cultural importance like Mysore Palace, Tipu's Palace, Chennakeshava Temple, Yakshagana, wooden toys etc.
In India most of the collectors use the term Miniature Sheet (refer picture above) including India Post, for the small sheet of stamp which may include one or more stamp, usually different stamps. The stamp may be part of the picture depicted in the sheet or a separate one, and the paper margin surrounding the stamps may be plain design. Here the stamp has perforation and can be separated from the sheet and when it is separated it usually it looks same as the separate sheets of stamp issued along with the Miniature sheet. The miniature sheet is issued purely for the collectors. We rarely use the term Souvenir sheet in India.
The Linns website has a different description:
A miniature sheet is a smaller-than-normal pane of stamps issued in that form in addition to being issued in full panes. The smaller size and fewer stamps are what distinguishes it from a regular pane. (This is usually referred as sheetlets among Indian collectors and what we refer as Miniature sheets are Souvenir Sheets according to the Linns)
A miniature sheet is usually without marginal markings or text saying that the sheet was issued in conjunction with or to commemorate some event, which is what distinguishes it from a souvenir sheet.
In practice, many dealers and collectors refer to both small regular panes and souvenir sheets as "miniature sheets." (Refer www.linns.com)
I would be delighted to get maximum comments on this subject as to what are your views and what it is known as, in your respective countries for those who read this article in different corners of the globe. For now, whatever name it is called by, most collectors love to have this piece (Miniature or Souvenir sheet) among their collections so do keep collecting and enjoy it.
The first intimation card depicts Thousand Pillar temple at Moodabidri and the second, Traditional Buffalo Race in Paddy Puddle.
The New Intimation card has the advertisement of the various services provided by India Post.
Back side view of Intimation card and Proof of Delivery (POD)
Special Cover released on the ocassion of "Mangalapex", District level Philatelic exhibition, to celebrate 15 years of Speed Post Service at Mangalore - 17.01.2003.
