Asterix

The Adventures of Asterix (French: Astérix or Astérix le Gaulois) is a series of French comic books written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo (Uderzo also took over the job of writing the series after the death of Goscinny in 1977). The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959. As of 2009, 34 comic books in the series have been released.

The series follows the exploits of a village of ancient Gauls as they resist Roman occupation. They do so by means of a magic potion, brewed by their druid, which gives the recipient superhuman strength. The protagonist, the titular character, Asterix, along with his friend Obelix have various adventures. In many cases, this leads them to travel to various countries around the world, though other books are set in and around their village. For much of the history of the series (Volumes 4 through 29), settings in Gaul and abroad alternated, with even-numbered volumes set abroad and odd-numbered volumes set in Gaul, mostly in the village.

The Asterix series is one of the most popular Franco-Belgian comics in the world, with the series being translated into over 100 languages, and it is popular in most European countries. Asterix is less well known in the United States and Japan.

The success of the series has led to the adaptation of several books into 11 films; eight animated, and three with live actors. There have also been a number of games based on the characters, and a theme park near Paris, Parc Astérix, is themed around the series. To date, 325 million copies of 34 Asterix books have been sold worldwide, making co-creators Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo France's bestselling authors.

France, much to the delight of fans around the world, decided to issue a series of stamps on Astrix and the other lovable creations of Goscinny and Uderzo. And I was fortunate that Marie from Nantes was kind enough to send this superb Miniature sheet for my collection. Thank you Marie.

1st World Agriculture Fair

Today is the 50^th Anniversary of the First World Agriculture Fair held at the Exhibition Grounds (now called Pragati Maidan) in New Delhi. It was on this Day 50 years ago that the Gates were thrown open to the Public at large. For us younger lot living in India then, this was indeed a very proud moment. For the rest of the World it was a reiteration of the Government Policy of recognizing the fact that India was and is an agricultural country at heart. We urban folk moved around the various stalls, admiring the skills of our farmers in producing grains for the rest of India. The implements used by our farmers was in sharp contrast to the mechanized equipment on display in the stalls of many Western countries. I still maintain that we were proud of what our farmers were doing, despite the obvious disadvantages. It is their effort of those days that have brought India to the brink of Super-Power status today.

Boston Tea Party

Almost 236 years ago today, The Boston Tea Party was enacted. The Boston Tea Party arose from two issues confronting the British Empire in 1773: the financial problems of the British East India Company, and an ongoing dispute about the extent of Parliament's authority, if any, over the British American colonies without seating any elected representation. The North ministry's attempt to resolve these issues produced a showdown that would eventually result in revolution.

The Boston Tea Party was a direct action by colonists in Boston, a town in the British colony of Massachusetts, against the British government. On December 16, 1773, after officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into Boston Harbour. The incident remains an iconic event of American history, and reference is often made to it in other political protests.

The Tea Party was the culmination of a resistance movement throughout British America against the Tea Act, which had been passed by the British Parliament in 1773. Colonists objected to the Tea Act for a variety of reasons, especially because they believed that it violated their right to be taxed only by their own elected representatives. Protesters had successfully prevented the unloading of taxed tea in three other colonies, but in Boston, embattled Royal Governor Thomas Hutchinson refused to allow the tea to be returned to Britain. He apparently did not expect that the protestors would choose to destroy the tea rather than concede the authority of a legislature in which they were not directly represented.

The Boston Tea Party was a key event in the growth of the American Revolution. Parliament responded in 1774 with the Coercive Acts, which, among other provisions, closed Boston's commerce until the British East India Company had been repaid for the destroyed tea. Colonists in turn responded to the Coercive Acts with additional acts of protest, and by convening the First Continental Congress, which petitioned the British monarch for repeal of the acts and coordinated colonial resistance to them. The crisis escalated, and the American Revolutionary War began near Boston in 1775.

My dear Friend Hemant sent this pretty se-tenant to me. But for his generous contribution all these shipping posts of mine would not be possible.

USSR - Tall Ships

UN - Safety at Sea

I want to show a short series of posts on Sailing Ships. So I’ll start with Greetings from the UN and the Conference on Safety at Sea held there at the United Nations.

Ukraine - Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year From Ukraine. Sent to me by my friend Stanislav.

Season's Greetings

A sovenir sheet wishing everyone season's greetings from Austria. Very thoughtfully sent by Anita.

Romania - Miniature sheets

Some nice miniature sheets from Romania. One shows two basilica's which are on the list Of UNESCO World Heritage sites. This was during a Joint Romania - Russia stamps issue. The other was issued in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Soviet satellite and the 1st artificial satellite around the Earth - Sputnik 1.

Romania - Nicolae Grigorescu

Nicolae Grigorescu, 1838-1907, was one of the founders of modern Romanian painting. He painted the church of the Zamfira monastery, Prahova county, and the church of the Agapia monastery, Neamt county. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts - Paris. In 1877 he was called to accompany the Romanian Army as a "frontline painter" in the Romanian War of Independence. During the battles at the Grivica Strongpoint and Oryahovo, he made drawings and sketches which later used in creating larger-scale works. In 1889 his work was featured in the Universal Exhibition in Paris and at the Romanian Atheneum.

This Miniature sheet shows the painting “Woman on the Beach” by the famous Nicolae Grigorescu, was sent to me by my friend Daniela.

Romania - Small Arms

This Mini sheet shows hand guns in the National Military Museum in Romania. They date from the Eighteenth Century to early 1900's. This MS is kind courtesy Daniela.

Austria - Infanta Margarita Teresa

Margaret Theresa of Spain; 12 July 1651 – 12 March 1673) was Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Archduchess consort of Austria, Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia She was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and his second wife Mariana of Austria. She was the elder sister of Charles II the Bewitched, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs. She is the central figure in the famous Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, and subject of many of his later paintings.

Despite the extensive history of inbreeding between the Austrian and Spanish Habsburg family branches, Margaret Theresa exhibited few or none of the genetic defects inherited by her brother and some other relatives. She was the favourite child of her father, Philip IV of Spain, who referred to her as "my joy" in his private letters. She was an extraordinarily beautiful child, with porcelain skin, blue eyes, and blond hair.

For political reasons, Margaret Theresa was betrothed as a child to her maternal uncle and paternal cousin, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. Her father stipulated that she should maintain her position in the line of succession to the Spanish throne and would pass her succession rights to her descendants, something Leopold I gladly accepted.

In the summer of 1666, saddened by her father's death, the fifteen-year-old infanta left her native Spain and traveled to Austria. She was accompanied by several Spanish attendants, and was solemnly welcomed by her future husband/uncle, Leopold. Their wedding took place in the city of Vienna, one of Europe's most beautiful capitals, on 12 December 1666. Despite the difference in their ages and Leopold's unattractive appearance, they were very happy together, as they shared a number of interests, especially theatre and music. She called him "Uncle" (even after they were married); he called her "Gretl", a German nickname for Margaret.

One of the most outstanding events during their reign was the splendid performance of the opera Il pomo d'oro ("The golden apple") by the Italian composer Antonio Cesti. It was performed as a celebration of Margarita's 17th birthday in July of 1668. This magnificent performance is frequently considered to be the peak of Baroque opera in Vienna during the seventeenth century.

After giving birth to six children, and weakened by many miscarriages, Margaret Theresa died at the young age of twenty-one — leaving Leopold heartbroken. Her only surviving child was the Archduchess Maria Antonia. She was buried in the Imperial Crypt, in Vienna.

This lovely mini-sheet was issued on 22^nd October 2009 to commemorate this very famous historical personality from Austria. Anita sent me this lovely sheet from Austria.

Malaysia 28.12.2008 - nstallation of His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz and his consort Tuanku Aishah Rohani

Installation of His Royal Highness Tuanku Muhriz and his consort Tuanku Aishah Rohani. These First Day Covers are kind courtesy of Caroline from Sabah in Malaysia.

Malaysia

State Definitive Series Special Collection of Garden Flowers.

Ukraine

On the left is a miniature sheet displaying folk dresses of Ukraine in very pretty rural settings. On the right is a mini sheet that gives us a nice idea of Ukraine's varied wealth of flora and fauna.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad 1984

Today is the 125th Birth Anniversary of India's 1st President Late Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The Nation pays tribute to this simple man who Graced the Office of President with great Dignity and Humility.