Shimla May 2011 Issue # 41 Vol.

IV
Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin Edited by Jeevan Jyoti for free circulation among philatelists

Readers are requested to send reports of philatelic activities in their area for publication. Short write
ups by the readers about their journals, societies, publications and philatelic requirements can be
sent for inclusion in this bulletin to j.jyoti9@gmail.com or rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com and by
post to –

Ms. Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Distt.
Kullu. PIN 175126. (H.P.) India

Note- This bulletin is only for circulation among a limited group of philatelists without any commercial
purpose. The bulletin will be sent to the readers only on request. Those who wish to receive it regularly
please reply giving the name of your city / country with the subject SUBSCRIBE RAINBOW
 Date of Issue : 12 April 2011

50th Anniversary of First Human Space Flight

Dear Reader,

After Indipex 2011, philatelists are looking forward to participating in new philatelic
exhibitions. There is a proposal of holding a National Philatelic Exhibition by India Post
in 2012. It will be another golden opportunity for all Indian philatelists to participate and
attend a big philatelic show, especially for those who missed INDIPEX 2011 for certain
reasons.I have received complaints from the readers that they do not get detailed
information about International stamp exhibitions. National commissioners are
appointed for International and Asian International Philatelic Exhibitions to co-ordinate
between exhibitors and the organizers. It is the duty of all national commissioners to
send a press release note about these exhibitions to all philatelic magazines so that the
information could be circulated timely among philatelists and they could apply for the
exhibitions. It is a matter of great disappointment that no information is sent by the
commissioners prior to the exhibition and they also do not send detailed report after the
exhibition. Many interested philatelists fail to participate as they do not get information
about the exhibitions timely and only the lucky ones get entry to these exhibitions
through their personal contacts with these commissioners. The appointing body of these
commissioners must give clear instructions to the National commissioners for
circulating a Press release note about the update of the show timely as late news is of no
use for those who intend to participate in the show. I regularly receive inquiries from the
readers about exhibitions, but sometimes, find difficult to provide full information due to
its unavailability. Therefore it is requested to all commissioners to provide full
information about the exhibition with their contact details to all editors of philatelic
magazines. This is all for this month……Enjoy this issue with news and articles from the
world of stamps.....
Till Next Month…Happy Collecting !!

…. Jeevan Jyoti

See more images on Blog

Contents

Recent Indian Issues

In The News
Interview
Beginners‟ Section
Specialized Section
Something of interest, also for non-philatelists
New Issues from Other Countries
Reader‟s Right
Philatelic Library
Philatelic Clubs and Societies
Blogs & Websites on Philately
The Lighter Side
Promotional Section
Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters
Editor‟s Mail Box

Recent Indian Issues

1 February : Chaudhary Ranbir Singh – Rs 5

2 February : Mary Ward-Loretto Institutions
4 February : Corps of Signals – Rs 5
7 February : Venkata Subbiah - Rs 5
8 February : Census of India - Rs 5
11 February : V.Venkatasaubba Reddiar
12 February Khadi MS – Rs 100
12 February 100 Years of aerial Post – 4 Stamps Rs 5 each + MS
13 February Legendary Heroines of India – 6 Stamps of Rs 5 each + MS
1 March La Martinere Schools – Rs 5
23 March : Subhadra Joshi – Rs 5
20 April : Chitralekha – Rs 5
30 April : Umrao Kanwar Maharaj Saa “Archana” – Rs 5
7 May : Rabindranath Tagore - 2 Stamps
2011 revised Stamp Issue programme of India Post is available at following
link.http://www.indiapost.gov.in/philatelycalendar2011.htm

Special Cover – Postmark

1 February 2011 25th Surajkund Craft Fair - Faridabad

5 March 2011 Spring Festival, Dehradun

16 March 2011 Jagannath sadak Yatra 9 (Carried by Bullock cart from Kolkatta to Puri)

23 March 2011 Bharat Itihas Samshodhal Mandal , Pune Celebrating Centenary Year

1 April 2011 Silver Jubilee year of CIFA, Bhubaneshwar

In The News

China 2011 - 27th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition

The 27th Asian International Stamp Exhibition China 2011 , co-sponsored by State Post Bureau,
Jiangsu Government, China Post and All-China Philatelic Federation, will be held in Wuxi Taihu
International Exposition Center from November 11 to November 15, 2011. This exhibition will be a
large international stamp culture exchange activity. held in China after the 2009 World Stamp
Exhibition.

Exhibition Date: November 11 – 15, 2011, will run for five days.

National Commissioner : Dr RS Gandhi, Patna

Email : gandhipatna@yahoo.com

Exhibition aims: to promote the development of our culture; promote the cause of China's postal
and philatelic career development; promote the holding of the economic, cultural, all-round
coordinated development; to promote philately in Asia and Oceania-round development; to
promote international cultural exchange of people.

Venue : Taihu International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Organizers: the State Post Bureau, Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, the China Post
Group Corporation, China National Philatelic Federation.

Sponsor: Wuxi Municipal People's Government.

Website : China 2011

PHILANIPPON 2011: World Stamp Exhibition

Date : July 28 – August 2, 2011

National Commissioner : Anil Suri

Email : anilksuri@email.com

Venue : Pacifico Yokohama, Exhibition Hall.1-1-1.1 Minatomirai Nishi-ku,

Yokohama 220-0012, Japan

Patronage : Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP)

Auspices : Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP) http://www.philanippon.jp/english/

USPS makes mistake in new Liberty stamp…

The U.S. Post Office made a small mistake in its new Liberty stamp.
The replica statue in Las Vegas (left) and the real Statue of Liberty in New York (right). The
lighter rectangular patch in the center crown spike on the replica appears on the stamp. The
actual statue does not have this feature. Photos by Jay Bigalke / Linn's Stamp News.

"Early Show" co-anchor Jeff Glor reported the Post Office did not use Lady Liberty in New York
Harbor to make the stamp to celebrate its 125th anniversary. Instead, they mistakenly used the
image of the similar statue in Las Vegas.

There are differences in the statues' hair and eyes. He added the statue in Las Vegas is also half
the size of the real Statue of Liberty. Post Office spokesman Roy Betts told the New York Times,
"We still love the stamp design and would have selected this photograph anyway."

But Betts added the post office regrets the mistake and is "re-examining our processes to prevent
this situation from happening in the future." According to the New York Times, the stamp is not
being changed - only informational material about it.

Details in Linn‟s Stamp News

Read More article …

Los Angeles Times

Marilyn Monroe's letter auctioned for $ 52,460

A letter penned by a 16-year-old newlywed Marilyn Monroe has sold at auction for $52,460.The letter, dated
September 14, 1942, was sent by the movie star to her foster mother, Grace Goddard.Signed 'Norma', and
written in pencil, it is eight pages long.
 Image Source: AFP / Getty Images

Los Angeles-based auction house Bonhams & Butterfields had placed a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to
$30,000 on the artefact. The envelope has a postage stamp showing it was sent from Van Nuys, California
on September 14, 1942. Read More..

Postage Stamps to go online in 2012

PTI New Delhi April 20, 2011

Department of Post is planning to introduce online version of postage stamps, which will enable India Post
customers to use print out of the stamp for sending mails. "Our effort is to make access of postal service
easy and simple for users. We are working on project that will enable them to print copy of bar-code based
receipt and use it in place of postal stamps for sending mails," Department of Post (DoP) Secretary Radhika
Doraiswamy told PTI. The project is a part of e-commerce initiatives by India Post, she added. "Our minister
(Union Minister for Communications and IT Kapil Sibal) has already inaugurated e-post office and has
asked e-market place to be developed. We are in process of developing application for various platforms on
internet," she added.

Under the e-market place project, DoP will facilitate selling of small scale and cottage industry products
through its website.The product catalogue will be published on internet and will give customers an option to
select and make payments for the purchased product online.Once the order is placed, post-office, located
nearest to the product seller's location, will arrange for the pick-up and delivery of the product to the
customer."We will accept orders from both domestic and international customers," Doraiswamy said.

Doraiswamy mentioned that DoP is contemplating introduction of home pick-up services for mails and
parcels for some set of services such as registered post, insured post, speed post and WorldNet. "Customer
would have to pay online and register for the service. A postman will then go and pick the parcel or mail
from the customer. The plan, however, is currently in a discussion phase," she said. She added, "We have
to ensure that post office gets the payment for delivering services and customers get services conveniently.
Everything is being worked out through RFPs (request for proposals), but most of our services will come on
internet in 2012," Doraiswamy said.

- Business Today

New Special Covers from Orissa

16 March 2011
This is the special carried Cover issued on the occasion of Sri Jagannath Sadak Sagad Yatra which was
undertaken from 6th – 20th March from Kolkatta to Puri. Only 500 covers have been issued and each cover
is numbered and signed by Mr Dhir and Mr.Kasinath Sahoo. For availability of this cover. Mr Anil Dhir may
be contacted at jagannathsadak@hotmail.com

A special cover was released by Dr Sahadev Sahoo, eminent philatelist of Orissa, on the occasion of
Silver Jubilee year of CIFA, in presence of former Directors of CIFA Dr S. D. Tripathy, Dr S.P.Ayyar, Dr.
K.Janaki Ram, Dr. Niranjana Sarangi, and present Director Dr A.P.Sharma, CIFRI, Kolkata. Dr. T. Adhya,
Director, CRRI and Dr. A. E. Eknath, Director, CIFA. CIFA Scientists were present on the august occasion.

Philatelists of Eastern India Philatelists Association Mr Shanti Swarup Rath, Mr Debasish Mitra, Mr
A.K.Rout, Mr B. Biswal, Mr Shakeel Ahmed and Mr Saroj Kar were present on the occasion. The special
cover and cachet was designed by Dr. Bibhudatta Mishra of CIFA who is also a fish stamp collectors. Dr
Bibhudatta may be contacted for covers at following address :

- Dr Bibhudatta Mishra
Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture
Kausalyaganga, BHUBANESWAR, ORISSA-751 002
Ph.09437282638 (M); 0674-2465421(o)
E-mail: bhanubibhu@gmail.com; bhanubibhu@rediffmail.com

Blog : http://fishstamplover.blogspot.com/

INDIPEX –2011 Mark lists

Indian exhibitors of INDIPEX 2011 who wish to get detailed mark sheet of their exhibit may write to Mr
Rajesh Kumar Bagri, Commissioner General (Hony.) Indipex 2011 at email :
rkbagri.indipex2011@gmail.com

Information from RTI regarding Khadi MS and MY STAMP

Here are some questions asked by our reader Mr Hemant Kumar Jain from India Post underRTI
Act regarding Khadi MS and My Stamp. Many readers would be interested to know the answers.

1. No. of Khadi Miniature sheet printed – 105,000

2. Total No. of Presentation Pack – 105,000

3. On Presentation Pack Printed No. is .01 Million. Is it correct ??

Ans : This Number is incorrect and wrongly printed. No Clarification issued by Department.

4. How many copies of Khadi Presentation Packs were sold during INDIPEX ? What decision has
been taken by Deptt. for the rest of the Khadi Presentation Packs ??

Ans : Copies sold during INDIPEX : 22,222. Now rest of the copies are being sold through e post
office : www.epostoffice.gov.in

5. Whether Khadi Ms will be distributed to account holders of Philatelic Bureaeus ?

Ans : No. It was decided that these MS will be sold at INDIPEX Venue only .

6. Besides New Delhi Philatelic Bureau, Whether Khadi MS will be available at other philatelic
Bureaus of the country too ??

Ans : Decision not taken by the Department so far.

7. Whether FDC of this MS with special cancellation will be available for collectors ?

Ans : No

8. Those who could not avail MY Stamp Facility during INDIPEX, Can get this facility again…???
Ans : No. As this facility was only available at INDIPEX venue. Decision has not been taken to
resume this facility by the Deptt.

9. The postage for Khadi MS by Post was Rs 25 but those who ordered for 10 sheets were charged
2750 where as the Speed Post postage spent by the Deptt was just Rs 50. Why extra amount of
Rs 200 was taken by the Deptt from collectors ?

Ans : Rest of the extra amount will be returned to collectors. Anyone could claim for the
reimbursement by sending application to the Deptt . Read More

Chitralekha publishes interviews of philatelists..

Chitralekha, famous Gujarati magazine on which India Post has issued a postage stamp on 20
April, has published in its recent issue, a special article on philately in continuation to the
release of Stamp on Shri Vaju Kotak & Chitralekha. Articles tells about the hobby of philately
and they have also published interviews of noted Indian philatelists Shri Ashok Bayanwala, Shri
Vijay Navlakha (Ahmedabad), Shri Dhirubhai Mehta (Mumbai) and Mr Prashant Pandya of
Vadodara.

Small part of article translated in English is given below for the Readers….

History of Stamps

Chitralekha has done it once again and this feat in question has been unparalleled in the field of Gujarati
journalism. Ministry of Communications through its Posts & Telegraph released a commemorative stamp on
late shri Vaju Kotak, founder of Chitralekha, to engrave in history the 60-year glorious journey of the
publication. The ever-alert editorial of the magazine seizes this moment to apprise the readers of the
philately and its past traditions. Ketan Trivedy & Samir Paleja give us a glimpse into the colourful history of
the past and present traditions of philately.
The hobby of stamp collection has always been a rage in every generation. The cover story begins with a
unique case that aptly illustrates the craze for collection. A gentleman named Arthur Hind purchased a
postal stamp titled British Guyana, worth one cent, at Rs 1, 68,886 way back in 1922. One day he got a call
from another collector claiming that he too had the identical stamp with him. Arthur checked the authenticity
of the stamp and then bought the second stamp from the new collector. What he did thereafter was really
incredible. He flipped out his lighter and ignited the newly bought stamp right in front of the seller. Reason?
Arthur wanted to ensure that he was the sole owner of this exclusive stamp and therefore never wanted to
let there be any other identical stamp. This is what you call height of his passion, his craze for stamp
collection.
So welcome to the exclusive world of philately and philatelists where the latter that are spread across the
world, collect the used/unused stamps and other related postal stationeries of various countries just for pure
fun. Stamp collectors look out for quirky stamps and would not hesitate spending millions to grab stamps
bearing the Queen‟s picture with her head printed upside down. Admittedly, in this world of emails and
smses, use of postal stamps has considerably gone down but it has not dampened the spirit of these stamp
collectors. Even today there is a virtual scramble whenever a new stamp and first day cover are released.
The cover story reveals that the first ever postal stamp was released in Great Britain on 6 May 1840. Before
the practice of postal stamps was introduced, the charges for delivery were taken from the addressee.
Legend has it that a British mother refused to pay these charges for the letter received from her son. Her
logic was that there was no reason for her to pay for receiving a blank letter from her son which was enough
for her to know about his well being. Yes, that was the first ever „miss mail‟ of the world.
And this incident prompted authorities to suggest and introduce reforms in postal services and this is how
postal stamps came into being. In India first postal stamp was released on 1 October 1854 when the British
were ruling the country. It was therefore no surprise that the stamp would bear the picture of the Queen. It is
however learnt that a couple of years before the first stamp was brought out, the Governor of Sindh had
authorized a stamp for local use though, which continued till 1854.
How then the words like philately and this craze for stamp collection came into use? It is believed that a
British lady requisitioned for postal stamps through ads in paper so that she could embellish her dressing
table with them. This apparently spurred people to collect stamps. And the word philately was given by a
French man.
This and many such tidbits are strewn across the story which is amazing, full of details that were hitherto
unknown and least written about. You need not be a philatelist to be able to enjoy the story. However
chances are that you might turn into one after reading the story. Happy reading, happy collection.And yes,
let us not forget in conclusion that for those associated with Gujarati journalism and the Gujarati community
at large, this is a proud moment that one from among them appeared on the face of a postal stamp. A rare
feat and a glorious moment for all of us indeed..!!
From Chitralekha website: http://www.chitralekha.com/chitraguj/engsummary.php
Special Cover on Tagore
A special Cover on Guru Rabindranath Tagore will be released at RABINDRA PARISHAD, RABINDRA BHAWAN
PATNA on 9 May 2011. The cover has been designed by Mr Souvik Roy of Kolkatta . 2000 Covers will be issued
and the covers will be available from Rabindra Parishad Patna. For more details, Mr Souvik Roy may be
contacted at email : lorenzosouvik@gmail.com

Commemorative Stamp of IMMANUEL SEKARANAR

Date of release ….09th October 2010:

India post come now confirms the date of release of Immanuel Sekaranar stamp and it is 09th
October 2010. Earlier the actual date of release of this stamp was controversial.

Recent events

Philatelic Exhibition on Tagore

In celebration of 150 birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Council for Cultural
Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India will be organising a month long Stamp
exhibition commencing on May 9, 2011, exclusively on Rabindranath Tagore from the collection of
Sekhar Chakrabarti, Moloy Sarkar and Souvik Roy at Rabindranath Tagore Centre, Kolkata.

View its Catalogue with details of World Stamps on Tagore

http://www.scribd.com/doc/54187415/Stamp

National Stamp Fair

The National Stamp Fair will be held from June 17 to 19, 2011 at centrally located venue - Bhai Vir Singh
Sahitya Sadan, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Gole Market, New Delhi.

Contact Ashish Talwar: email : talwar2002@hotmail.com 09810186108 for details.

Philatelic & Numismatic exhibition in Trichur

Shrine Bassilica of our Lady of Dolours and Trichur Philatelic Club is jointly organising a three
day Philatelic cum Numismatic display on "Pope John Paul II and Christianity" from 29th April
2011 to 01st May 2011 on the occasion of Beatification of Pope John Paul II at Vatican which
coincides with 25th Anniversary of John Paul II visit to Trichur, Kerala.
Venue: Bassilica Jubilee Hall, Trichur.
A Special cover on Pope John Paul II will also be released on this occasion
National Numismatic Exhibition

May 6-8: Bangalore, Timings: 10am to 7 pm

Organizers: Marudhar Arts
Venue: The Bell Hotel, Adjacent to City Railway Station & Opposite Majestic Bus Station
Contact: Rajender Maru, 0 80 6532 9800
Website: www.marudhararts.com/exhi.php
Stamps of India National Exhibition

Nov 3-6: New Delhi,

Venue: NSIC Exhibition Complex, Okhla Industrial Estate, Govindpuri Metro Station
Timings: 11am to 7 pm
Organizers: Stamps of India
Contact: sj@stampsofinida.com
Website: www.stampsofindia.com/sine.html

THRISSURPEX 2011 Philatelic & Numismatic Exhibition

Nov 18-20: Thrissur, Organizers: Philatelic Club Thrissur

Venue: Pandy Samooha Madom Hall

INTERVIEW

In this issue meet with noted philatelist from

Belagaum-Karnataka, now settled in Mumbai, Mr
Umesh Kakkeri, who has specialized in
Portuguese India and won many National and
International awards at several philatelic
exhibitions for his book and exhibit on Portuguese
India. Mr. Kakkeri is a devoted philatelist has a
variety of interests, which includes, philately,
travelling and writing on philatelic and non
philatelic subjects His flair for writing enabled him
to bring out two books on contrasting topics. The
books entitled „Postal History of Portuguese India‟
and „Shree Mangesh‟ on one of Goa‟s most
famous temples, are popular among philatelists
and non philatelists too. It‟s an unusual
combination of talents of Mr Kakkeri. „Shree
Mangesh‟ reveals the history & happening of the famous temple of Goa, its campus, its daily
schedules and religious services etc.
His book „Postal History of Portuguese India‟ is a complete book on Postal System of Portuguese
India, which has won Five International silver medals in Literature Class at the World Stamp
Championship – 2004 at Singapore, World Stamp Exhibition, „Espana‟ – 2006 at Malaga – Spain,
Asian International Stamp Exhibition – 2007 at Bangkok – Thailand, Asian International Stamp
Exhibition – 2009 at Hong Kong and also at World Stamp Exhibition, „Portugal 2010‟– 2010 at
Lisbon – Portugal. His traditional exhibit on Portuguese India has won two Large Silver at nationals
and Vermeil at INDIPEX 2011.
Started collecting stamps at the age of 14, with the beginning of his collection as usual India Post
Independence. Later he went to Goa Engineering College for doing his civil engineering. One of
his catholic friends gave him around hundred stamps of Portuguese India. Then he started
collecting the missing ones & slowly collection started building up and he got deeply involved in it.
Today Mr. Umesh Kakkeri is regarded as one of the renowned philatelist of Portuguese India. It is
a great pleasure to publish his interview in this issue . Here he answers to some of my questions
which readers would like to know. … - Editor
 Postal History of Portuguese India by Umesh Kakkeri

It is a complete well researched book only of its kind on yesteryear‟s Postal

System of Portuguese India. This book has uncommon sixteen colourful
photographs, which illustrates all the aspects of history. It also lists all
obliterations including Pre-stamp period also the first day cancellations issued
by the postal department in Portuguese possession in India then, and all the
information about the Government orders including details of all the stamps
viz. value, perforation, printed quantity, printer, designer etc. and also
postal stationery including errors & varieties issued in that period (1871-1961).
It is a reference Book not only must for Portuguese India stamp collectors and
general collectors, but for all as well as personal libraries as reference book on
that subject. It‟s a book that tells each & everything about Portuguese India
postal department.

Mr. Umesh Kakkeri may be contacted at email: umesh_kakkeri@hotmail.com

Interview with Mr. Umesh Kakkeri

1. You have participated in INDIPEX 2011 and also attended the exhibition. What was the
best & worst part of the show?

Ans: I will definitely not call it as the best exhibition, however the best part of the show according to
me was I could exchange views on my subject with renowned international juries like Peter
McCann, Danforth Walker, Hasse Brockenhuus etc. and the worst part of exhibition show, I won‟t
mention because the list is endless.

2. You have specialized in PORTUGUESE INDIA . What is the reason to adopt this particular
subject for your collection ?? What are your other philatelic interests?

Ans: I did my civil engineering from Goa Engineering college, plus our family deity is in Goa. So I
become passionate about this small Portuguese enclave & started developing the subject.
I do not have any other philatelic interests, I collect only & only my subject. I personally feel that
any collector should not go on collecting each & everything that comes in his way and waste his
time & money on all, and make everything hotchpotch. Instead collector should concentrate on pin
pointed subject of his liking & be master of it

3. In exhibitions, Thematic Class has emerged as the dominant class. In your opinion what
is the reason new collectors running after this class and leaving behind traditional philately.

Ans: I think it may be because of expensive cost of traditional & Postal history philatelic material.

4. Ten to Fifteen years back the Philately had a different picture in the exhibitions as there
used to be more exhibits on traditional philately, country collections, error studies...But
Today we find that new collectors have lost interest in these subjects.....but have switched
over to Thematic Philately...Do you think that the original philately is at the verge of
extinction??

Ans: Extinction….Not at all, I have seen many international exhibitions, in which the entries for
traditional & postal history are also good enough. Thematic or topical philately can give good brain
drain to a collector to build his chosen subject in many possible ways.

5. There is no single Strong National Philatelic Federation in our country. The one which
was a stronger one in the past is now split and it is not working actively. Do you think there
is a need of a strong and active National Philatelic Federation in our country to look upon
the national philatelic activities? What would you suggest the philatelic community of India
to help in making a strong National Philatelic Federation in the country?

Ans: We have P.C.I. (Philatelic Congress of India) as our apex body or National Philatelic
Federation in our country. According to me there is not at all spit in P.C.I., Unfortunately the
present office bearers are not showing any transparencies in their decisions or activities, and some
people demand transparency including me, do you think anything wrong in it. Either you function
with taking everybody in confidence, show transparency or you quit.
I suggest that if this fascism persists then each and every Indian philatelist should first become
member of P.C.I. & use his brain and choose the office bearers of his choice, whom they think is
transparent. Just like, it happens in any democracy.

6. You have visited International exhibitions held in India and abroad. What basic difference
do you find in the exhibitions, organized in India and abroad ?

Ans: Discipline, punctuality, helping attitude, hardworking….we lack in these aspects.

7. What is your opinion about newly introduced One Frame Class in the exhibitions. In this
class only marks are awarded and medals are not given. Do you think this class should be
given more importance in order to promote philately? As it is easy to prepare one frame
exhibit.

Ans: One frame class is not yet cleared to many philatelists. Actually, it is any philatelic stream or
subject which does not have more material than one frame. It is not that easy as you think. To
choose one frame subject you have to be very informative. I think once the concept is clear among
philatelists, they may start giving medals & awards.

8. What is your opinion about the quality, denomination and selling price of newly
Introduced Khadi Stamp by India Post?

Ans: I don‟t know, I just purchased it because someone told me to buy it, actually there is none for
myself as I don't collect any other thing than my subject „Portuguese India‟ and It is not coming in
my subject. But according to me it is… Duniya jhukti hai jhukane wala chahiye….

9. Tell about your most memorable experience in a philatelic event?

Ans: My most memorable experience in any philatelic event was when I personally presented my
book „Postal history of Portuguese India‟ to The President of Portugal, Mr. Anibal Cavaco Silva,
during inauguration ceremony at Portugal- 2010 in Lisbon. He and his wife both were very happy &
talked with me about Goa for 5-6 minutes during their busy schedule. This was my first aqentance
with any President of country.
 With President of Portugal at PORTUGAL- 2010, Lisbon.

Q 10: You have written two books, one on Philately and the other on a non - philatelic
subject i.e on your family deity 'SHREE MANGESH’. It's a great achievement. Being an
engineer by profession and an ardent philatelist, what prompted you to writing and how you
spared time to write these books.....??? Just share ,,,

Ans: People have misconception about everything, for example...A lady is mother of someone,
same lady is wife of someone, she can be sister of someone, she is already a daughter of
someone, she may be niece, aunt and even mother in law of some one. She has to perform all
these relations with each individual differently by keeping her own personal identity intact,

Same way writing book is my pastime, philately is my hobby, Civil Engineer is my qualification,
interior contracting is my business, travelling is my passion....I am the same. I do not mix these
things at all. I write book when I feel about it, & I have all references or records available at my
disposal. about sparing time, I write when I do not have any thoughts in my mind. I am mentally
fresh.

11. Last but not the least ....Internet has become a good medium of information among
philatelists. But do you think if this hobby is really developing??? Most of the exhibitions
and stamp fairs have become centre of business instead of an event to promote this
hobby?

Ans: There is excellent rapo between internet & philately, all information about the chosen subject,
Auction houses, auction portals are available at your finger tips. Acquiring knowledge is unlimited.
As for your second question, look, if you call philately as business, there is risk involved but you
look at philately as hobby, there is a pleasure involved. If any person wants to choose philately as
business, ultimately he is going to serve collector only. In other way he helps in promoting the
hobby. Like any other businesses philately also requires investment. When investment is made
naturally dealer expects returns. It‟s a chain process.
Beginners’ Section

What is Retail Value?

In the philatelic marketplace, many items are bought and sold commonly enough that a well-defined
philatelic market exists. The average sale price of an item that trades often will remain fairly constant. Prices
will fluctuate according to the laws of supply and demand.

The best gauge of the average sale price for a philatelic item that is not considered rare or unique is
a philatelic catalog. There are philatelic catalogs that are primarily reference catalogs, such as the Scott
Catalogue, and there are philatelic catalogs that are sales catalogs. You must read the introductory material
of any catalog that you use to calculate the retail value of a philatelic item. In some cases, the prices are an
average of what the marketplace retail price is. In some cases the prices are based on what the publishing
company is willing to sell an item for. In all cases, the price given is what you could expect to pay, if you
walked into a well-stocked stamp store, and wanted to buy one copy of a specific item.

Most of the time, collections are sold intact, or in smaller lots (such as by country). The larger the lot, the
less expensive the price per stamp will be. While the minimum catalog value for a single stamp is twenty
cents in the current Scott Catalogue, you can buy 1,000 different stamps for $5.00 (or roughly 2 for a
penny), or 10,000 different stamps for $100.00 (or roughly a penny each). A mixture that does not
guarantee individuality (no duplication) will sell for even less, per stamp. Stamps purchased on-paper,
wherein you have to do most of the work of soaking, sorting, and separating, will often be sold in bulk by the
pound. So the catalog price doesn't really tell you what someone has paid, or will pay, for the philatelic item
that you are pricing.

What are Buy Prices?

A dealer's retail price has to cover what he or she paid to purchase the material, as well cost of handling the
item. Philatelic dealers, for example, are in business for the purpose of making a profit. If there is no money
to be earned in dealing in stamps, there is no good reason to be in business, and they could spend the time
working on their own collections instead of selling stamps.

A dealer can purchase stamps wholesale from a philatelic wholesaler. In some cases, the stamps will be
ready for sale, in stock sheets or display books, marked with catalog numbers and prices, and ready for the
dealer to use. In other cases, the dealer has to do some preparation of the material in order to get it ready
for sale.

With collections, very often there are several nice pieces or sections that can command a good sales price
by themselves, if they are separated and catalogued and described. The rest is probably not very
interesting material and can be broken up into sets, sold as one bargain lot, or perhaps simply scattered into
a "3 cents per stamp mixture box". However, the act of taking a collection, picking through it for the items
that make nice sales pieces, and then disposing of the rest, all takes time. When a dealer makes an offer for
a collection, he/she has to factor in how much time it would take to get a price that is close to the catalog
value of that set. Therefore, even if you know the exact catalog value of all the material in a collection that
you plan to sell, do not be surprised or dismayed if you are offered only 25% - 30% of your calculated
catalog value.

That's just the way it is. Dealers buy low, sell high, and the difference in prices pays for their time, their rent,
and their supplies.

Read More topics

Specialized Section

THE STORY OF PIGEON POST

By Naresh Agarwal
Contd. from the last issue…

SOME INTERSTING STORIES / EPISODES OF PIGEON POST

IN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY :

Carrier pigeons have their impressions on Indian religion, mythology, literature and culture. They
also appeared on paintings and art work. They have been in use for carrying love messages into
harems or secret military instructions to soldiers in the field.

Pigeons and Doves have important place in different religions. In Hindu,The Yama, god of the
dead, has birds such as owls and doves or pigeons as messengers. In Islam the Three Holy
Virgins are represented by stones, or pillars surrounded by Doves. In Japanese the Dove was
sacred to Hackiman, the god of war, but it was a Dove with a sword that announced the end to
war. In Chinese Doves are symbolic of good digestion, marital duty, and long life. In Pagans the
dove has been widely understood as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity, because of the
affectionate mating habits of the species popularly known as turtled doves..

IN INDIAN CINEMA

One can find many stories of love, betrayal or wartime when pigeon played important roles as
messengers. Indian cinema has explored and projected the utility of carrier pigeons in various
films acting as link between the lovers by carrying and exchanging their mails. Pigeon used in
Indian blockbuster movie "Maine Pyar Kiya" (I fell in love) and its heroics in conveying love
messages between lovers. In films like Jodha Akbar, Mugal –e-aazam, Delhi-6, Anarkali etc..
the use of pigeon is predominant. Thus indian cinema have certainly immortalized pigeons
through movies since the birth of cinema in India.:

PIGEON POST IN ART AND CULTURE :

Pigeon post has a great role in not only Indian but Western and European art and culture. It is
reflected and projected in various art forms. Various painters have given pigeon a big place in their
paintings

Nineteenth century oil paintings of young oriental ladies with a carrier pigeon and its mail

In Chinese martial art (wushu) films and dramas, homing pigeons are often used for "Pigeon Mail".
People often labor under the misapprehension that the pigeons know where to deliver the mail.
The fact is that they can only go back to one "mentally marked" point that they have identified as
their home. So "pigeon mail" can only work when the sender is actually holding the receiver's
pigeons.

SOME EPISODS :

CARRIER PIGEONS USED TO SMUGGLE CELL PHONES IN TO PRISON :

Astonishing but true pigeon post is being used in illegal operations. The prisoners desperate for
cell phones have devised a new method to smuggle them into prison using carrier pigeons. The
natural instinct of carrier pigeons to fly between two points has been recognized by prisoners.
Inmates at the Danilio Pinheiro prison near the southeastern city of Sorocaba in Brazil have
apparently been enterprising in terms of avian activities. Two carrier pigeons, one each on
successive days, were caught at the prison. Each was carrying a cell phone and a charger.
 A pigeon carrying a makeshift backpack with a cellphone is shown in São Paulo, Brazil.

Prison guards say using pigeons to smuggle in cellphones has become commonplace

FASTER THAN E MAIL AND BROAD BAND

Carrier pigeons are being used to transfer data between offices because bosses believe it is
quicker than broadband.

Computer experts at a South African firm said it took six hours to transfer four gigabytes of
encrypted data from Durban to a call centre 50 miles away near Pietermaritzburg.

Staff at Unlimited Group, a financial services company, attached a memory card to the leg of a
pigeon called Winston who took just over an hour for the trip.

Winston the racing pigeon: A company in Durban, South Africa is using the bird to transfer
data on a memory card to a call centre 50 miles away - which is much faster than using
broadband

PIGEONS IN EXCLUSIVE SERVICE

Even in modern times, pigeons have been postal couriers. In 1981, Lockheed engineers in
California needed to send negatives on a regular basis to a test station. The birds covered the
distance in half the time and less than one percent of the cost of a car. Other means of
communication have replaced the cooing messengers, but here and there they can still be found
doing the useful work that made them the email of the Middle Ages. And they work for… pigeon
feed

PIGEON MESSAGES A UNIQUE IMPRESSIVE GIFT OR CORRESPONDENCE

.
Pigeongrams are a unique way to send invitations for your special event. To explore this ancient
but new style, a pigeongram service was started in Texas USA by a 42 years old homing pigeon
management, training and flight experience company which offered public a unique pigeon post
service allowing them to add an unusual and exciting touch to a message to be sent to
someone‟s special by using a homing pigeon as a messenger. The messages were carried by a
specially trained homing pigeon messenger through the sky and over the trees and fields of rural
Texas, the Lone Star State.

The message was printed on a Pigeongram form and attached the same to a Pigeongram
homing pigeon. The bird was conveyed to a release point, released and then flown across the
Texas countryside back to it loft.

The actual message that was carried by the homing pigeon was attached to a letter of
authenticity from Pigeongram and forwarded to the recipient via the postal service too.

The messages and the letter of authenticity were framed to create a gift..
This service was highly appreciated by bird and animal lovers, nature enthusiasts, collectors,
advertising or someone who needed to hear something special from someone. Discounted
pricing for multiple messages was also offered..

CHEAPER AND FASTER THAN CAR :

Even in modern times, pigeons have been postal couriers. In 1981, Lockheed Engineers in
California needed to send negatives on a regular basis to a test station. The birds covered the
distance in half the time and less than one percent of the cost of a car. Other means of
communication have replaced the cooing messengers, but here and there they can still be found
doing the useful work that made them the email of the Middle Ages.

PIGEONS AS LIFE SAVERS

Although the pigeon is one of the most intelligent of all the bird species, man has found limited
uses for the birds other than for the purposes of sport, food and as a message carrier. A team of
navy researchers, however, has found that pigeons can be trained to save human lives at sea with
high success rates. Project Sea Hunt has trained a number of pigeons to identify red or yellow life
jackets when floating in the water.

LIFE SAVING CREW

The pigeons were not only found to be more reliable than humans, but they were also many times
quicker when it came to spotting survivors from a capsized or sinking boat. The pigeon can see
color in the same way that humans do but they can also see ultra-violet, a part of the spectrum
that humans cannot see, and this is one of the reasons they are so well adapted to lifesaving.

SERVING AND HELPING WHITE WATER RAFTERS

Pigeons are being utilized to carry digital chips / images in a Lycra bag on their backs, of intrepid
white water rafters for the team at rocky mountain adventures as their flying service has proven to
be much quicker than driving the snaps to the base in the rocky mountains of Collorado, US.
They fly the memory card from a photographer snapping rafters near the start of their adventure to
a processing base at the end, where the daredevils can collect their finished photos.

PIGEON POST OFFICE

At the pigeon post office letter pigeons carry written reports. These type of post offices were
common in ancient times. In the modern times, pigeon post offices made their way mainly for
military and police purposes. Though some financiers required it but they had their own system.
Civilians letters too started getting way to it.. It came at some places even to the expenditure of
own pigeon post office stamps. After the Second World War the pigeon post office was displaced
nearly completely by modern telecommunications means.

In the art, the motive of the pigeon post office became above all. Their spread mainly in 19th
Century. Various stamps and related postal material by private post offices (So called agencies )
were issued which are very popular amongst the philatelists. Though the quantitative transmission
was less but it was enough fulfilling requirements of that time.

SOME INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACTS :

- By basing the pigeon's home loft in a particular spot, then sending birds out in baskets to where
the messages start their journey, one can use them as flying postmen. The ancient Egyptians
around 3000 BC.,were probably the first to do so,

- Messenger pigeons were used as early as 1150 in Baghdad and also later by Genghis Khan

- Between about 770 BC and 390 AD, the Greeks used pigeons to carry the results of the Olympic
Games.

- There were pigeon posts in existence during the Dutch war in the 16 Th century. Besieged
Haarlem used pigeons to convey messages in 1573 A.D., and Leyden in 1574 A.D.

- In 1850, Paul Reuter, who later founded Reuters press agency, used a fleet of over 45 pigeons to
deliver news and stock prices between Aachen in Germany to Brussels in Belgium. The homing
pigeons travelled the 76 miles in a record-breaking two hours beating the railway by four hours.

- Pigeon have been used to transport short messages across long distances. In fact, historically
well-known leaders, such as Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan, have used pigeons to carry
important messages across long distances.
- The outcome of the Battle of Waterloo was also first delivered by a pigeon to England.

- Pigeon Post was essential during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. It was used to extensively by
Julius Reuter's to get information on the progress of the war out of Paris. Julius Reuter was the
founder of the Reuters News Service.

- Possibly the first regular air mail service in the world was Mr Howie's Pigeon-Post service from
the Auckland New Zealand suburb of Newton to Great Barrier Island, starting in 1896. Certainly the
world‟s first 'airmail' stamps were issued for the Great Barrier Pigeon-Gram Service from 1898 to
1908.

- Pigeons were used extensively during the First World War. About 20,000 of them were killed -
and some 30 British carrier pigeons were awarded medals for bravery. One homing pigeon, Cher
Ami, was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his heroic service in delivering 12 important
messages, despite being shot once.

- Eighty-two homing pigeons were dropped into Holland with the First Airborn Division Signals as
part of Operation Market-Garden in World War II. The pigeons' loft was located in London which
would have required them to fly 240 miles to deliver their messages.¹

- Over 200,000 carrier or homing pigeons were used by the Allied forces during World War I and II
in order to conduct surveillance and relay messages to the front.

- Homing pigeons were still employed in the 21st century by certain remote police departments in
Orissa state in eastern India to provide emergency communication services following natural
disasters. This India's Police Pigeon Service messenger system in Orissa retired in 2004.

VIEWS :

In general ,pigeon enthusiasts in India say that P-mail as carrier pigeons are sometimes known
have served the country in big way especially during the time of natural calamities and disasters in
far flung areas such as floods and hilly regions as they flew hundreds of kilometers to deliver
messages before returning to base. For example in Orissa during floods in 1982 and a cyclone in
1999, as radio networks were disrupted, carrier pigeon played a vital role in exchanging the
messages. As old existing pigeon post had been discontinued in Orissa. Various social workers
and bird lover opposed that move.

Various ornithologists e.g. Delhi based Rajat Bhargava did not agree with the government
proposal. "The old pigeon tradition should not be destroyed. It's a vanishing art which should be
protected". He added "Also, pigeons are excluded from the Wildlife Protection Act. So they can be
kept. We're against cruelty to animals. But we're not against captive breeding of domesticated
animals".

Some Important Facts

The use of carrier pigeons is of the greatest antiquity. Indeed, the earliest example of the bird
being used to convey message to man would be the Dove which brought the Olive branch to Noah
as a token of god‟s goodwill. The Greeks, Egyptians and Assyrians are all believed to have used
carrier pigeons. Pliny tells how Brutus besieged by Antony in Modena, used carrier pigeons to
carry messages to the Roman consuls.Carrier pigeons were used at the siege of Leiden ( 1575),by
the Rothschilds to get news of the victory at Waterloo(1815) three days before the news broke in
London.In 1870-1 over 300 pigeons flew messages in to Paris, first written by hand on tiny flimsies
and later by microfilms pellicule. The pigeons were taken out of Paris aboard manned balloons

The first commercial pigeon service was established in 1855 between Galle and Colombo,
Ceylon to expedite news of the Crimean War. It ceased in 1858.

In 1896 W Fricker experimented with carrier pigeons between the Great barrier Islands and
Auckland ,New Zealand, and inaugurated a public service early in 1897. Special adhesive stamps
were issued in November 1898.Two services operated till 1908 when extension of the telegraph
service rendered them superfluous.

Between 1931 and 1941 semi official carrier pigeon services operated in India,using specially
printed flimsies, often of a commemorative nature, and latterly raising funds . For the war effort.

HM Naval Pigeon Service formed 189 for use of Naval emergencies, was used extensively in
both world wars and also organized pigeongram flights for charities and fund raising stunts in
peacetime.

A pigeongram service operated between Guernsey and the island of Herm in 1949; special 1s
stamps and flimsies were issued.

The only instance of tame birds being used to carry mail was in the Gilbert Islands in the
1880‟s,when missionaries used frigate birds to carry letters tightly rolled and inserted in a quill
attached to their tail covers.

The Idea of microfilming messages to save weight in aerial transmission was first used in the
Franco- German War,1870-1. the technique was developed by the Persian chemist Barreswil and
used for messages transmitted by pigeon, sent from Tours to Paris. By means of photomicroscopy
it was possible for a pigeon to carry upto 40,0000 messages on 12 – 18 measuring 38 x 60mm
rolled to a pin‟s thickness and inserted in to goose or crow quills, through which a silk thread was
passed to fasten it to the pigeon‟s tail coverts. On arrival in Paris the films were carefully
removed,unrolled,monted on glass slides and projected on a screen so that four telegraphists
could transcribe the messages in longhand for onward transmission to the addresses by the city
post.

The idea was received by Kodak in 1932 but rejected by the British Post Office who felt that the
public would never agree to the use of form filling or consent to their messages being exposed for
all to see. In 1941,however, the scheme was brought in to use, for the use of military personnel
stationed in the Middle East.Kodak supplied equipment and technicians and established a
processing station at Cairo. A standard form was devised and a charge of 3d per Airgraph
instituted. Completed forms were microfilmed and flown to England for processing at Kodak‟s
Wealdstone plant near London. The prints were forwarded to Londan Postal region, folded and
placed in window envelops marked “AIRGRAPH” and dispatched to addressees. The first
Airgraphs left Cairo on 21st April 1941 and reached England on 13 May. A service in the opposite
direction was in August 1941 and gradually extended to other war zones. The service ceased on
31 July 1945. In four years some 350million airgraphs had been transmitted. The total weight of
film used was no more than 50 Tonnes – compared with an estimated minimum of 4500 tonnes
which a similar number of ordinary letters would have weighed.
.IMPORTANT : The contents of this article are the personal opinions of the author, and should
not be construed as concrete opinion in any way though various articles, data from various net
sources have been collected and reformed to suit the essence of this article. Author is thankful to
various sites, archives and museum sites or articles from where some of the photographs or
images have been taken purely for the purpose of projecting those in the article to complete the
storyline for the interest of the philatelic fraternity. Author is thankful to all.

Mr Naresh Agarwal may be contacted at email : nareshkumar1992@yahoo.co.in

With this part the series on Pigeon Mail concludes…. Special thanks to Mr
Naresh Agarwal for writing a very comprehensive series on pigeon Mail. Hope
the readers enjoyed it ! - Editor

Something of interest, also for non-philatelists….

By Dr Avinash B. Jagtap

When the picture postcards would talk after a century.....

Apart from collecting stamps, covers etc. there is a special delight in collecting picture postcards.
Especially in the post Edwardian Era (1910-1920) many British and European visitors, relatives
and friends of the British forces, who were then in the His Majesty‟s Governmental Services in
India, used to send picture postcards to their loved ones, many with interesting remarks, garnished
with typical British humour. I have here a few from my collection, written by (Mr.) Will to Mr. or Mrs.
W. Baker of Bayswater in London and dating from 1913-1914. Many of these places which Mr. Will
had visited have changed not only their faces but also have adopted themselves to a new
atmosphere all together. These picture postcards tell us their stories, with the grandeur and beauty
of the (now) lost paradise. To a person who happens to be the owner of such a treasure, it does
mean much more than a mere collection of postcards...
 Pic 1

Mumbadevi Road, Bombay (dated: 13. Jan. 1913) “Just another card for your album. We went down this
road when we first came out to India. Notice there are no pavements to the streets out here...” (Pic 1)
Another card with the same view (dated 11. April 1913) “ Just a card, showing you one of our main streets
out here. See our trams. After they have started you have time to go and get a drink and then catch them up
the fellow who run them ...” (Pic 1)

Pic 2
Bombay Dancing girls: sent from Kirkee Bazar (Poona) dated 2. April 1913) “...Arrived at Kirkee. Quite
safe and had a grand ride 6 days in the train just like a continuous geoscope of natural beauty and scenery.
It is ever so much hotter here and more public about and a nice large town close by named Poona...” (Pic 2)

Pic 3

Crawford Market, Bombay: dated 17 April 1913 “This shows you a view of one of our big market places.
You can get chickens down there for 4d to 6d each... for cheap dinners. Notice the comical trams and
buses...” (Pic 3 )

Pic 4
Mysore Kolatum Dancers: sent from Bangalore, dated 7 May 1913 “... I am sending you Miss Moud Allen
and Miss Anna Palova (Pawolowa?) the dancers ha! ha! She‟s got rings on her fingers and rings on her
toes and bracelets on her muscles also through her nose!....” ( Pic 4 )

Pic 5

Parvatti Hill & Temple, Poona: sent from Poona Camp, dated 15. September 1913: “...This is the sort of
place for a nice quiet stroll on Sunday evenings. The tomb up on the hill is worshipped nearly every night by
the natives...” (Pic 5)

To be contd....

New Issues from other countries

Australia

22 March 2011 : Floral paintings – 5 val.

Cyprus

23 March 2011 Roses – 2 val.

Hong Kong

14 April 2011 Green Living – 4 val.

Italy

25 march 2011Italian Cheese : 4 val.

27 May World Theatre Day – 1val.

Gibraltar

4 April 2011 Europa 2011 – 4 val.

Hungary

12 April 2011: %0 years of First Man in Space – Souvenir Sheet

Isle of Man

10 May 2011 : Cartoons by Dusty Miller – 6 val.

Isle of Man Post will issue a set of 6 stamps in honour of a former Liverpool telegram boy who became the
Island‟s most influential cartoonist.

Between 1933 and 1962 newspaper cartoons by Harold „Dusty‟ Miller (1898-1964) captured political and
social issues in a way that text alone could not. Some cartoons would remain topical for generations.
Occasionally he bordered on morale-raising or conscience pricking propaganda but mostly visualised public
sentiment. Miller won a scholarship to Liverpool School of Art when 13. Financially unable to take
advantage of it, he became a telegram message boy, at 14, for Liverpool Post Office.

In 1953 Dusty‟s artistry in oils and water colours led to his being founder chairman of the Isle of Man Art
Society. His dream of an annual Easter art exhibition was realised in 1963, one year before his death, aged
66. Ten years later, the founder of Isle of Man Post Office and former work colleague, Victor Kneale, would
suggest that, had Dusty been alive, he could have designed commercial postage stamps. In fact, he had
produced two designs in about 1938 and 1953 when there were public campaigns for them.
Jersey

29 April Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate – MS

Latvia

8 April 2011 Europa 2011 – 2val

Malaysia

28 March 2011 Spices from Malaysia – 5 val.

Monaco

3 March 2011 Europa 2011 : Year of Forests

Poland

5 May 2011 Europa 2011 – 1 val

San Marino

50 Years of First men in space – 1 val

Ukraine

12 April 2011 50 Years of first human Space Flight

USA
11 April 2011 :New River Gorge Bridge,

It is the third largest arch bridge in the world. Its 1700-foot span is the longest steel arch in the
Western hemisphere. The bridge is so tall that the Washington Monument could stand under it with
300 feet to spare.

14 April Go Green – 16 stamps

Reader’s Right

Editor’s note- The aim of this stamp newsletter is to provide instant information and facts on
philately to the readers and not to hurt anyone‟s feelings. Readers may express their views,
anguish and resentment through this column on philately. The platform is not used for any vested
interest to cause derogatory to philately. When writing your views be sure that it should be related
to philately only. It should not be used to express personal feelings between persons or groups in
any manner.
Tagore Stamp from Uruguay…

Dear Jeevan Jyoti

Please recall our correspondence with Mr. Nicolas Malosetti, regarding inclusion of a small poem
of Tagore in the proposed stamp to be issued by Uruguay in commemoration of Tagore's 150
years of birth. I had suggested then to Mr Maosetti, for inclusion of Tagore's "Aami Prithibir Kabi" (I
am the poet of the world) in the stamp.

I am extremely happy to receive the special cover from Uruguay(sent by Mr. Malosetti) released
on the occasion of issuance of the Tagore stamp on 16 February 2011 which has the words "Aami
Prithibir Kabi" as was originally suggested by me. Part of the credit for this also goes to you, since
it was you who had forwarded the original request letter of Mr. Mallosetti.

- Sekhar Chakrabarti

From Editor….

I don’t know how to express my happiness when I received this mail from Mr Sekhar
Chakrabarti and saw the cover with Tagore’s poem on it….since both of us were
involved with the issue prior to its release..Here is the story behind it which readers
would like to know It is a matter of great pleasure that India Post is commemorating
150th Birth anniversary of Tagore on 7th May by issuing special postage stamps on this
occasion…
During Indipex 2011 Ururuguay issued a stamp on Rabindranath Tagore. Prior to the
issuance of this stamp I received an email from Uruguay Post that they wished to include a
small poem by Tagore on the First Day Cover of the stamp and they wanted to know if any
permission was required from concerned authorities for copyright publications . I forwardrd
that mail to Mr Sekhar Chakrabarty of Kolkatta for an expert opinion. Mr Chakrabarty
suggested them to include Tagore‟s "Aami Prithibir Kabi" (I am the poet of the world) and
advised them that permission is not required for 100 years old publications. It is a matter of
great pleasure that this suggestion was materialized and the small poem of Tagore
appears on the cover which Mr Sekhar Chakrabarty received from Uruguay (sent by Mr.
Malosetti) released on the occasion of issuance of the Tagore stamp on 16 February 2011
which has the words "Aami Prithibir Kabi" and it was originally suggested by Mr Sekhar
Chakrabarty.

I am extremely happy that small effort done in this regard resulted in a wonderful cover of
the greatest poet of our country “ Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore”. with his beautiful lines
"Aami Prithibir Kabi" I express my gratitude to Uruguay Post to honour the greatest poet
of our country on commemorative stamp of Ururguay and including his poem on the
cover….and many thanks to Mr Sekhar Chakrabarty for his efforts in selecting the most
appropriate poem of Tagore and finally suggesting the Uruguay Post to include it on
Special Stamp Cover !!

Hemant V Kulkarni, USA

The background story behind the Tagore poem getting printed on the cover is fascinating and is in a way
tribute to the popularity of your blog that's being respected around the world (Uruguay in this instance).
Also, thanks to your appropriate contacts of knowledgeable experts for suggestion of a presumably fine
poem by Tagore (my lack of understanding Bengali) is commendable. Mr. Shekhar Chakrabarty too
deserves congratulations. Great story!
Naresh Agarwal, Bilaspur (CG)

Congrats to you for such efforts. You know, small but perfect action from you ultimately brought out such
beautiful cover. Mr. Chakrabarty of course, deserves all appreciation for suggesting inclusion of the poem.
but one thing is for sure that RAINBOW is now an established and recognized bulletin all over the world that
Uruguay Post contacted you for your valued suggestions. I really feel proud of you for this achievement. ...In
deed this action is not small as you say....... your greatness

Prashant Pandya, Vadodara

Mr. Sekhar really gave a good idea of putting this sentence 'Aami Prithibir Kabi'. It's great pleasure
for us and honour for India that Uruguay Post issued a commemorative stamp on greatest poet of
India.

Ilias Patel, Ahmedabad

I am delighted to learn @ happy ending with small but timely efforts. How many in India do that?
We at GPA submitted a proposal to release a stamp at 600 years of Ahmedabad which has gone in to dust
bin. It is only due to the fact that Gujarat is run by Narendra Modi? Ahmedabad is such great historical city
in India no else city can parallel it. So India Post does not wish to glorify this great city which is expected to
be declared as "world heritage city" shortly. This is nothing but a misery of Gujarat Philatelists.

Philatelic Library

e books on Philately : All about Stamp Collecting

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37667833/Stamp-Collecting

Online Stamp Catalogue…

Search stamps of different countries online…

http://www.catawiki.co.uk/catalog/100271-stamps

New Blogs & Websites

Lighthouses : http://ksbeacon.blogspot.com/ - Mr. K Sridhar, a thematic Philatelist from

Mangalore has created this new blog on Lighthouses .

Kevin’s Stamp Album : http://kevinsstampalbum.com/ - Stamps of Israel, Japan,Ukraine &

Ryukyu Islands.

My Picture Postcards : http://mypicturepostcards.blogspot.com/ - New Blog on post cards

created by Mr Vijay Kapre.

Classic Errors http://classicerrors.com/ - A professional blog on Errors, varieties and rarities

on Indian stamps
Hockey on Stamps : www.hockeyonstamps.com It is a specialized website on Hocky stamps. Sports
lovers wud admire it very much.

Cricket Memorabilia : www.nazimcricket.com/stamps.php - It is a specific website on Cricket

theme
Ferozpur Collection : http://www.myferozepur.com/ - Special website created by Narinder Sethi of
New Delhi on Ferozpur covers.

Gandhi Stamps : http://gandhistamps.com - The website is a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi

Philately. All the stamps issued on Mahatma Gandhi from various countries in the World have been
featured.

Phila Mirror : http://philamirror.info/ - It is a very informative site. Regular updates on Indian &
foreign stamps and news from the philatelic world are given on this site. This is a very useful site
for every philatelist.

Indian Stamps for your Virtually : http://indianphilately.blogspot.com/ A nice blog has been
created by Mr Kumar Kamaleshan Nair of Trivandrum. The regularly updated blog gives details
about Indian stamps. The blog is beautifully designed by Mr Nair.

Join Mobile Philately & Stay Updated - http://mobilephilately.blogspot.com/ It is a blog by

Mr Dipak Modi of Jalna, Maharashtra. Mobile Philately is a mobile technology based philatelic
community with short messaging service (SMS) that allows the community members to get latest
updates related to Indian philately directly into mobile message box.
Se- tenant Stamps of India - http://setenantsofindia.blogspot.com/ It is a specialized Blog on se-
tenant stamps.

Flags & Stamps - http://flagstamps.blogspot.com/ - It is a specialized blog on Flag Theme .

http://jefferson-stamp.blogspot.com/ Stamp - Blog on COSTUMES, DANCES, CULTURES,

FOLKLORES, ORIGINAL INHABITANT, UNIFORM MILITARY, & COAT OF ARMS

http://www.stampshopy.com/ - A new site on Indian Stamps and other philatelic items.

http://indiastampsdetails.blogspot.com/ - A new Blog on Indian Stamps by Sundar R. of Salem,

Tamilnadu

http://dorincard.blogspot.com Donicard Language: English Topics: maximum cards, stamps,

postcards Description: Focus on wild mammals on (traditional or non-traditional) maximum cards.
.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Stamps-Philately-1610/indexExp_69442.htm - It is a site based on
Question & Answers on Philately. Mr Prashant Pandya replies to queries.

Philatelic Clubs & Societies

Baroda Philatelic Society - http://www.vadophil.org/

Eastern India Philatelists’ Association - http://www.filacapsule.blogspot.com/

Indian Stamp Ghar - http://www.indianstampghar.com/

Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana - http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/

Ludhiana Philatelic Club

Mobile Philately - http://www.mobilephilately.webs.com/

Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Rainbow Stamp Club - http://rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com/

South India Philatelists Association - http://www.sipa.org.in/

Stamps of India - http://www.stampsofindia.com/

The Lighter Side

Just Smile..

THE IRISH VIRGIN

In a tiny village on the Irish coast lived an old lady, a virgin and very proud of it. Sensing that her final days
were rapidly approaching, and desiring to make sure everything was in proper order when she dies, she
went to the town's undertaker (who also happened to be the local postal clerk) to make the proper "final"
arrangements.

As a last wish, she informed the undertaker that she wanted the following inscription engraved on her
tombstone: "BORN A VIRGIN, LIVED AS A VIRGIN, DIED A VIRGIN"

Not long after, the old maid died peacefully. A few days after the funeral, as the undertaker--postal clerk
went to prepare the tombstone that the lady had requested, it became quite apparent that
the tombstone that she had selected was much too small for the wording that she had chosen.

He thought long and hard about how he could fulfill the old maid's final request, considering the very limited
space available on the small piece of stone.

For days, he agonized over the dilemma. But finally his experience as a postal worker allowed him to come
up with what he thought was the appropriate solution to the problem.

The virgin's tombstone was finally completed and duly engraved, and it
read as follows:

"RETURNED UNOPENED"
Interesting Facts…

Great Collections: The 'action man' and philatelist Charles Nissen

Charles Nissen was a notable stamp dealer, trusted advisor to the king and also a forgery sleuth...

Charles Nissen (1880 - 1944) was one of the most industrious and dynamic men of philately, best
remembered for unearthing a major postage stamp fraud.

British born Nissen was instrumental in building the Royal Philatelic Collection of the royal family, regarded
as one of the greatest stamp collections in the Commonwealth. Often acting as philatelic adviser to King
George V, Nissen was granted a Royal Warrant for his efforts.

Nissen was a well-respected stamp dealer, handling many notable specimens in his lifetime. His company,
Chas. Nissen & Co. Limited, continued to thrive long after his death and was granted a Royal Warrant from
Elizabeth II.

Nissen had made an early impact on the philately world when in 1898, at the age of 18, he discovered what
became known as the Stock Exchange Forgery. Nissen found that a number of used stamps on telegraph
forms from 1872 and 1873 lacked watermarks and had unusual corner lettering.

It was subsequently revealed that a Stock Exchange Post Office clerk in London had been pocketing one
shilling telegram fees while using forged stamps. Following fruitless Police inquiries, it was presumed that
the culprit had died in the intervening years. The faked stamps often appear at auction and can command
significant prices.

Nissen wrote The Plating of the Penny Black Postage Stamp of Great Britain, 1840
A distinguished author on philately, Nissen's seminal work is The Plating of the Penny Black Postage Stamp
of Great Britain, 1840, which he published in conjunction with Bertram McGowan in 1922. Nissen
subsequently received the Crawford Medal for philatelic literature from the Royal Philatelic Society London.

He also published the Official Stamps of Great Britain book in 1906, established the British Philatelist
publication in 1908 and edited the Stamp Collectors' Annual with PC Bishop from 1904 to 1911.

Promotional section

Year Book 2011

Mr Madan Middha the publisher of Year Book of Indian Philately needs suggestions from the Readers for
Year Book 2011..for which he has started working Readers are requested to send their suggestions about
contents of the new edition. Articles are also invited from the readers. Please contact Mr Middia email
madan_middha@yahoo.co.in

Collectable Stamp series to commemorate World Cup Cricket Cricket 2011

Recent stamps issued by some countries on World Cup Cricket Cricket 2011 are available with Mr Pradip
Jain. He may be contacted at : philapradip@gmail.com

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters

Stamp of India Collectors’ Companion - India‟s first and most updated weekly e-newsletter edited by
Madhukar and Savita Jhingan from Stamps of India, New Delhi. E-mail: mjhingan@yahoo.com Website:
www.stampsofindia.com

ITS Stamp News - Quarterly - Editor: Suraj Jaitly Publisher: Indian Thematic Society website -
http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/

Phila News, Editor Rajesh Pahariya and published by Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur

VADOPHIL, Editor - Prashant Pandya and published by Baroda Philatelic Society, Vadodara.
Website -http://www.vadophil.org/

e ZEP Newsletter http://www.ezep.de/zpj/zpj.html Editor : Dieter Leder

email zpj@arcor.de website www.eZEP.de

SIPA Bulletin Editor - Mr G. Madan Mohan Das and published by South India Philatelists‟ Association,
Chennai website : http://www.sipa.org.in/

FILA Capsule – Editor : Ajit Dash and published by EIPA, Bhubaneshwar.

GPA News – Editor- Ilias Patel and published by Gujarat Philatelists’ Association, Ahemadabad.

Kar Phila News published by Karnataka Philatelic Society & edited by by Akshay Borad

e–mail : akshayborad@hotmail.com
Editor’s Mail Box

Dr Hemant Kulkarni, USA

The recent rainbow blog is very informative and studded with wonderful and colorful stamps from around
the globe. Articles are unusual and entertaining for a philatelist novice or not. I read various complaints in
other blogs about how the bureaus in India have been exploiting stamp enthusiasts by selling special
Gandhi pack at more than its face value.

Dr Avinash B Jagtap-, Switzerland

Thank you for forwarding the April 2011 issue of Rainbow Stamp News". All articles epecially the interview
by Mr. Ilias Patel are interesting. With the time the criticism on "Khadi Stamp" and "personalised stamps"
will go on increasing.

Naresh Agarwal, Bilaspur (C.G.)

This time Rainbow seemed to be charged more as it gave a different, colorful look.It seems more graceful
and attractive. It is really nice to see that more people are now coming up with their articles and comments
.You really deserve appreciation for making such platform and for being so generous to accommodate
them. Now I feel Rainbow will serve philately in a better way.

RAINBOW STAMP CLUB

This is a blog of e-stamp Club www.rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com . The idea of this blog is to extend
philatelic fraternity in all corners of the world. Readers may write about themselves with their collecting
interests and share new ideas with other philatelists. Those who are interested may send following details
for publication on blog. If they wish they may also send their photo for publication. New Post on recent
issues, news on stamp activities and Contribution by members are published every day on this blog.

Name…………………………………………
City/Country………………………………..
E-Mail………………………………………..
Postal Address…………………………….
Collecting Interests……………………….
Brief write up about yourself……………

Readers may also express their views on any philatelic matter which will be published under Club News at
Rainbow Stamp Cub Blog. Philatelic Clubs and Societies may also send brief write ups. News about new
issues of India and abroad and other information related with Philately are regularly posted on this blog.
Readers may send reports on new issues, special covers, cancellations & philatelic activities of their area
for inclusion in this Blog. - Editor

Courtesy - News and Image Resource to this issue - Stamps of India, Sekhar
Chakrabarty - Kolkata ; Prashant Pandya - Vadodara Mansoor B.- Mangalore, International
Stamp News ; Sreejesh Krishnan - Trivandum ; Raman Kumar Mandal - Gorakhpur; Souvik
Roy – Kolkata; Hemant Kumar Jain – Mandla (MP)
All the images of this issue have not been included here. For detailed images related
to this issue Please Visit: http://www.rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/

Address for communication:

Jeevan Jyoti, c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav, Director, Great Himalayan National Park, Shamshi, Kullu
(H.P.) PIN 175126 India

E-mail – j.jyoti9@gmail.com or rainbowstamp2008@gmail.com

Last date for receiving write ups – 25th of every month. Kindly send images in jpg
compressed format & text in MS Word only.

If you liked this issue please forward it to your friends and help in promoting philately.

A Request to Readers & Contributors-

Please do not send the text in scan form. Send your write ups in MS Word only.

Kindly specify your contribution such as article/News/ Reader‟s Right / Beginners‟ Section/ Lighter
Side etc.

Please do not send forwarded messages for promotional section if you want to give any
information for promotion please write personally with brief write up. As this newsletter is
not used for any commercial purpose in any manner.

Attention -
Please send limited number of images in compressed jpg format only with your article. Please send
text and images separately. Please do not send text or image for publication in PDF.

Till Next Month …..Happy Collecting…………………………………………………………………

Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti, from Kullu (Himachal
Pradesh) India.