Tanzania III

Tanzania II

Tanzania I

Collectors of African stamps may like to see these miniature sheets of Tanzanian stamps, which portray life in that country in a general sort of way.

Aarhus PO in Denmark

Aarhus was a beautiful and quaint town, with the oldest Post Office in Denmark. I am using the past tense simply because this card is dated 10^th September 1985. I am not aware at present, if this Post Office exists, and if modern life has permitted Aarhus to remain quaint in the next 24 years. If any visitors can throw light on the subject via e-mail or send me a picture postcard of present-day Aarhus I’ll be more than happy for the information, which will naturally be posted here.

Alex sent this lovely miniature sheet from Germany on Motorsport. Some of you racing car fans may be able to identify these historical beauties.

The Sangam Age

This special cover is in commemoration of the Sangam Age and the Maritime Heritage of the Tamil people. Below is a brief description of that Great Period in Indian History.

The Sangam Age

The Sangam age is one of the greatest periods of tamil Nadu chronology. It might have been produced in the first 3 centuries of the christian era.
Sangam Literature
The most available tamil Work is Tolkappiyam--A work on phonetics and clearly established grammar of Tamil language
Ettuthogai(eight Anthologies)
Pathupattu(ten Idylls)
Pathinenkil kanaku(18 ways of civilization)(this is a post sangam work.
Twin epics
1.Sillapadikaram(talks about ancient madurai city and Metaphor on Women)
2.Manimekali(literature attached with sillapadikaram) talks about Buddhism and Hinduism

Kings during Sangam age
1.the cheras - cheran senguttuvan
2.the cholas - karikalan
3.the pandiyas - Illapervaludi(meaning of name- a person of young and brave)
4. kurunila mannarkal(7 chieftains) were the subordinate kings to the chera, chola, pandiyas. also known as Kadaiyelu vallalkal.
Kingship
1.king is center of administration
2.he had separate identical flag and tree
3.if any king fell down the tree, it symbolizes he wants to have war with that king.
4.more importance to the local govts,ie., decentralized form of governance.
5.there were charismatic, traditional and democratic form of govt.
revenue
1.main source of income was tax
2.1/6th of procuts of land was collected as tax.
3.there was tax exemption also.
4.tributes and court fees were also the sources.
Infrastructure
1.main infrastructure was to tanks and canals
2.cosiderable amount was to education, literature
3.plenty of revenue expended to roads, hospitals and defense
Division of land
the land was divided into 5 types for easy administration, viz,
1.kurinji - hills and forest(hunting place)
2.mullai - pastures and lands(cattle breeding place)
3.marudam - field and plantation(plough cultivation)
4.niethal - seashore(fishing)
5.palai - dry lands(plunder warfare)

(Enlarge the picture on the Right for details of the coins depicted on the cover)

Nantes Railway Station in France

This Maxim card was issued in 2001 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the first train at Nantes Railway Station in France. This card is kind courtesy of My friend Marie in Nantes.

Australia

A few Australian Covers just for Old Time's sake