The Bannerghatta National Park. (Butterfly)

The Butterfly Park at Bannerghatta was inaugurated on 25th November 2006.I t is spread across 7.5 acres of land and includes a 'butterfly trail', which comprises a butterfly conservatory, museum and an audio-visual room for educational, scientific and training facilities. The butterfly conservatory has a polycarbonate roof and is a 10,000 sq ft.circular enclosure,it has been carefully designed to support over 20 species of butterflies. The environment has humid climate, an artificial waterfall and host plants and shrubs that attract butterflies. The second and dome have a museum that exhibits different species of butterflies and a media room showing video on butterflies.

A special cover was released on 23rd May 2009 of the butterfly cancellation at Bannerghatta Post Office. The cancellation depicts line drawing of the butterfly named "Malabar Banded Peacock".

My thanks to Zameer Ali, Bangalore, for the special cover.

Latest Release - India

Today a stamp on Rev.J.J.M Nichols Roy was released (12.06.2009)

Do you want to take up Stamp Collecting?

Of recent, I am getting many mails especially from kids, young beginners and a few who want to start afresh, with collection from their school days, asking for help with stamp collecting.

Here I present a short article which may help all of you with the basics of stamp collecting.

Stamp collecting started almost with the first prepaid stamp Penny Black way back in 1840 and since then it is collected in many ways like mint, used etc. There are also many forms of stamps like miniature sheets, coils, etc., which come in various shapes.

First of all, what do you collect and from where? a beginner starts with used stamps from the letters he receives (which has become a rarity with the advance of modern technology like the telephone, internet etc.) one can also collect mint commemorative stamps from the Post Office or buy both used and mint stamps from dealers. A very good initiative is to join a local stamp club or collectors club where stamp collecting is practiced wherein you can meet like minded collectors and seniors who will impart valuable knowledge and guide you. It is also be helpful when you want to take part in a competitive exhibition. There are many websites and blogs which has news on different sections of stamp collecting.

What are the basic materials you need, well not much, a few envelopes, some cardboard box (which are better than plastic for your stamps) and stamp stock books as per your need. Stamp stock books are albums with 10 to 20 cardboard pages with thin film of transparent glass paper through which you can insert your stamps and also view it for future reference.

A magnifying glass to which helps to see you stamps better for hidden markings, date of issue etc. A pair of stamp tongs, these are not the tongs (tweezers) with sharp pointed end, but with flat, rounded end.

Finally an Album to store your stamps (these come in various types) specially those stamps which you want to retain with you forever. Loose-leaf Albums are better as you can add more leaves when required and also for re-arrange the pages. You can add some bits of information like the country (when it is printed in an alien language) or any interesting tidbits.

Here I would like to stress upon the fact that graph sheets are meant only for exhibiting your stamps in public exhibitions and are different from albums or album page. Many of the beginners who view the same in exhibitions end up pasting their stamps to the graph sheets, as the hinges or mounts are not visible.

With this hobby you can learn as you go along, and each person will develop their own ways of collecting, presenting, displaying and finding amazing stamps. You can pass this hobby to any person with out any age restriction, even kids can begin in a small way.

My personal advice to all beginners, do not try to build a collection overnight after visiting a stamp exhibition (many of the dealers lure you to buy ready-made collections) Exhibiting and winning medals should not be the sole aim of this hobby, but enjoy it by collecting stamps and other materials over the years by taking your own time and facing challenges, then you will have a special sentiment toward each stamp in your collection and this will be the true essence of Philately. Awards and Medals should only be a by-product because if you aim only for Medals, your interest wanes off after you achieve an award. Remember you are the best judge of your own collection.

Finally I welcome comments from other readers, bloggers and philatelists so that it can be of additional help to the beginners.

Irish Immigration - Joint issue.

On February 26, 1999, the U.S. Postal Service and Ireland Post released a joint stamp on Irish Immigration. The U.S stamp was released in Boston, with a special ceremony in Chicago.The irish stamp was released in Cobh, a port city approximately 120 miles south of Dublin from where the majority of the emigration ships departed for America.

In the 114 years between 1815 and 1929, nearly six million immigrants sailed across the ocean in huge vessels searching for new opportunities in North America. The five-year period between 1845 and 1850 marked the height of the migration out of Ireland. During the Great Famine more than a million Irish died of starvation and disease when a fungus destroyed the Irish potato crop, which the population depended on as the main ingredient in their diet.

The stamp depicts a large ship sailing into a harbor as seen from a dock. The words "IRISH IMMIGRATION 33 USA" in the U.S stamp and the words "IRISH EMIGRATION 45 EIRE" are featured in the Irish Stamp.

Thanks, Sandra for the beautiful cover which is a valuable addition to my collection.

Govt. Locks in Seattle.

I received this classic Art Post card of Govt. Locks in Seattle, Washington from a friend in U.S.A

This Lock is second only to the Panama Canal Locks, in size of the vessels served. Ships are lifted from the level of Puget Sound to the level of Lake Union and Lake Washington or lowered when outward bound.

Auction of Audrey Hepburn Stamp.

A rare special stamp featuring late British Actress is to be auctioned today, which is worth to be more than USD 40,000.

In 2001, the government printed 14 million Audrey Hepburn stamps as part of a series featuring movie stars including Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Greta Garbo. The print run was destroyed after Hepburn's son, Sean Ferrer, objected to the cigarette holder dangling from the actress' mouth and refused to grant copyright.

It is beleived that about thirty of these proof copies escaped destruction and has been used for sending letters from Berlin, but only 4 has been identified till date and this is the fifth to surface, as it is thought that the rest may be destroyed along with the covers.

Updates of STAMPMANIA 2009

STAMPMANIA 2009 is getting overwhelming response and there are plans for several activities during the event to make it a memorable one.

Dealers, if you are planning to make it to the event, HURRY UP! as only 4 booths are available at First Floor. The Organisers have come up with the idea of putting web banners of dealers in ‘PARTICIPATING DEALERS’ link who have booked their dealers’ booth at ‘Stampmania 2009. For the first time in any philatelic exhibition, organisers have offered opportunity to place such web banners on exhibition’s website and are receiving good response from dealer friends.Web banners will be placed on the website in 600 x 100 pixel size. (Please note that banners of other sizes will not be accepted)

visit www.stampmania2009.com for more information or contact:
Mr. Prashant H. Pandya
Phone Nos.: (R) 0265-2371179, (O) 0265-2425131
Mobile: 9879571179,
email: info@vadophil.org

Cover from UNPA

Here is a cover I received from United Nations Postal Administration, which has beautiful stamps from UN. To the right, is a set of four Se-tenant stamps on Earth Summit and three stamps on Youth.

I had planned to write a short write-up on World Heritage Sites - Germany, but I found the same in detail in another blog of a friend and hence I am giving a link to Rainbow Stamp Club in which you can find the same.

Teddy Bears - for kids who collect stamps.

Kids just love Teddy Bears and if you are a stamp collector you may love this slide show on Youtube. Yes there are other clips on Youtube related to stamps, so if you are feeling bored at home this summer vacation you can watch this video and do something interesting with your stamps, if you are just starting on with stamp collecting you may get some interesting topics to decide.

Click here for the Video. - TEDDY STAMPS

Steamboats from USA

Today I present a cover received from Sandra,USA which has set of 5 stamps on Steamboats released in 1996 of 32 cents each. The top two stamps has been cancelled by wavy lines and place of cancellation, but the three stamps below has escaped cancellation.

The five stamps depict Steamboats, FAR WEST (1870-1893), ROBERT E. LEE (1866-1876), REBECCA EVERINGHAM (1880-1884), SYLVAN DELL(1872-1919) and BAILEY GATZERT (1890-1923).

Passenger Ferries from Aland

In June, Aland Post starts a new series of stamps on the theme passenger ferries, which operate or has operated to and from Aland since the start of passenger ferry service in 1959. The first two stamps depict the first ferry and the newest.

One of the ships featured is the s.s Viking; the other is a new one yet to be named and it is called as Newbuilding 2009 as seen in the stamps.

On 1 June 1959, the first proper passenger ferry, the s/s Viking, sailed off on its maiden voyage from Galtby in the Finnish archipelago of Turku, via Mariehamn to Gräddö in Roslagen.

The second stamp to be issued 1 June shows Viking Lines’ newbuilding, which will be operating between Kapellskär, Sweden, and Mariehamn, Aland. She is planned to be put in traffic at the end of 2009 or in the beginning of 2010. It will be the first newbuilding ever for short-route service across the Sea of Aland.

The passenger ferry series starts in 2009 and is planned to continue for quite a few years ahead. Shipping has always been of great importance to Alanders, not to say a bare necessity if you wish to travel to or from Aland.

Courtesy: Aland Post.

Updates on STAMPMANIA 2009

It's my pleasure to inform all Philatelists that STAMPMANIA 2009 is receiving tremendous response from Dealers, Collectors, Philatelist and Well-wishers.

Dealers note that all booths at Ground flour is booked and only a few are available at first floor, which will be alloted a first come first serve basis.Hence I request all dealers who are interested to book the booths at the earliest.

For more information visit the website at www.stampmania2009.com

FDC from Australia.

Here I present two FDCs received from Australia on my subject.

First one has the cachet of HMS Investigator Australia Day 1980, the stamp depicts Capt.Matthew Flinders, which is released on 23rd Jan 1980. Second cover is of Australia Day 1978 with the stamp of Australian Flag released on 26th Jan 1978.

Cover from Finland

Here is a cover I received from Finland on my collecting interest. Thanks for the cover.

Stamps on Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, a hoax story ???

Postal department of Netherlands released four postage stamps to honour Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of Art of Living. Two of the stamps carry photographs of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The third stamp has a photograph of Vishalakshi Mantap, the meditation hall at Art of Living’s international centre in Bangalore. The fourth stamp is dedicated to the work done by the Art of Living for the education of the under-privileged.

(The above story is said to be a hoax (read comments) as I was unable to find any news of the same in the TNT website.

Any other comments welcome.

No Entry for Saddam Hussein at Iraqi Stamp Show !

A stamp Exhibition was recently held at Baghdad Central Post Office, organised by the Ministry of Communications to commemorate the 87th year of Iraq joining the Universal Postal Union.

Famous figures from Hitler to the first king of Iraq and the Penny black were exhibited, but the government rejected the stamps that had portraits of Saddam Hussein, saying that they represent the blackest hours of Iraqi history.