Sunday, January 31, 2010

Finland - The Discovery of the North East Passage













The Northern Sea Route is a shipping lane from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean along the Russian Arctic coast from the Barents Sea, along Siberia, to the Far East. The route lies in Arctic waters and parts are free of ice for only two months per year. Before the beginning of the 20th century it was known as the North East Passage, and is still sometimes referred to by that name.
Baron Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld was a Finnish geologist and explorer who was the first to chart the Northeast Passage across Eurasia in 1878. Was one of the most famous Swedish explorers and geographers, mostly known for his travels in the huge areas above the Polar Circle. During his great expedition with the steam- and sailing ship Vega, his ambition was to sail around Europe and Asia through the Bering Strait. That journey came to last for two years, because he and his crew were forced to stay over the winter in the ice only a few miles from navigable waters. Finnish-born explorer and scientist who was in exile in Sweden from 1857. Nordenskiöld made his most famous expedition in 1878-1880. He navigated the 'North-east passage' on the Vega from northern Norway to the Bering Strait and described his journey in several books. They were translated during the following years into 11 languages. Nordenskiöld's literary oeuvre includes some 200 publications, from books to articles. The collection of his maps and geographical works is considered by UNESCO one of the world's most important collections of documents.
In 1877 Captain Palander returned to the Royal Navy and offered to become the captain on the expedition to navigate the Northeast Passage. For this purpose, Palander secured the whaling ship Vega, and selected the crew and officers. Accompanied with three other ships, he sailed on Vega to the Bering Strait, where spent in ice the ten-month winter, and then continued to Japan. With a strong vessel Nordenskiöld had demonstrated that one could navigate the Northeast Passage, but in wider scale shipping did not began until the mid 20th century. The ship sailed from Karlshamn on June 22, 1878, and arrived in Tromsö (Norway) on July 17 where Nordenskiöld boarded the ship. The expedition, which was carried out during 1878–1879, was ultimately successful, and shortly before the end of the voyage, he was promoted to the full rank of Captain. Upon return to Sweden, he was made a noble by the Swedish king Oscar II under the name of Palander af Vega, and parliament awarded him an annual pension of 4,000 Swedish crowns yearly. Palander was an accomplished amateur photographer and brought home approximately 60 photographic plates depicting the journey and people encountered during the trip.
Nordenskiöld returned to Europe by the Suez Canal. He reached Yokohama on September 2, 1879, as a celebrated hero. It was 325 years since Willoughby and Chancellor had first attempted the passage and 230 years since Dezhnyon had demonstrated that the journey was feasible. In 1880 Nordenskiöld was created a baron, and in 1893 he was appointed a member of the Swedish Academy. Although commercially the journey did not open expected traffic through the Bering Strait, the adventure attracted people’s imagination - it was the time, when Jules Verne published his Voyages extraordinaires and Stanley had found Livingstone from the jungles of Africa.
This remarkable card was sent to me by Ella from Helsinki. It has a stamp which is commemorating the “Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers” campaign. The striking thing about this stamp is its shape – it is circular. The other stamp is of the celebrated Baron Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Jerzy Popieluszko


This stamp and FDC was issued in honour of Jerzy Popieluszko (born September 14, 1947 in Okopy as Alfonso Popieluszko. Died on October 19 1984 in Wloclawek when he was murdered by officers of the Security Service ) - Polish priest, the Servant of God Catholic Church,. His Parents were Jerzy Popieluszko - Wladyslaw and Marianna from Gniedziejków who ran a farm. Young Jerzy was an altar boy and was distinguished by a deep religious belief, and was somewhat of a hermit. His first communion and confirmation was received in the same year - 1956. From 1961 to 1965, he attended high school in Suchowoli. He was conscientious, but an average student. After graduation, on June 24 1965 he entered the Major Seminary in Warsaw. Had to undergo military service in the years 1966 - 1968 in a special military unit for clerics in Bartoszyce. May 28 1972, he received priestly ordination at the hands of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski. Then he worked in parishes. In 1978 he became pastor of medical circles in Warsaw.
Since August 1980 he was with workers' communities, and actively supported the Solidarity Movement. During the strike was sent to celebrate Mass in the Huta Warszawa, (during the martial law) in the Church of St. Stanisława Kostki. He organized Masses for the Homeland. His pastoral activities and teaching were based on the message (St. Paul - Rom 12:21). Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko led the funeral of Gregory Przemyk. People's Republic despite criticism and opposition by the Communist regime. In September 1983 he organized a pilgrimage by people working at Jasna Gora, September 30 and celebrated the holy mass on the Ramparts. During the martial law he was repeatedly accused by the Polish People's Republic of involvement in political activities, he became the target of the operation of the Security Service. He was code-named "Popiel" probably in the second half of 1982. Father Jerzy Popieluszko was under surveillance by at least four secret collaborators. Among them were priests - there was a particularly active Father Michal Czajkowski (TW "Jankowski"), as well as lay people, such as working closely with the activist priest, KPN, Tadeusz Stachniak (TW "Sword" and "Shield") 2 December 1983 years he was served with the summons to be heard on December. 12 priest voluntarily appeared in Mostowski Palace - the seat of the Metropolitan Command MO. Here The Deputy Anna Jackowska delivered the decision to initiate criminal investigations. The hearing lasted several hours. After many days and months of such persecution by the Polish authorities he was marked for elimination.
In 1984 he was returning to Warsaw. On the way to Torun, near the town of Górsk, Jerzy Popieluszko along with his driver, Waldemar Chrostowskim were abducted by officers of the Independent Group 'D' Department IV of the Ministry of Interior. Chrostowskiemu escaped from the car, Popieluszko was gagged and transported in the luggage boot. A few days later his body was discovered in the Vistula River. His Murder and the truth about him provoked shock and outrage amongst Polish society. The official version of the abduction and murder has been repeatedly questioned, and has never been believed.
The process of Beatification of Father Jerzy Popieluszko officially began on February 8 1997 in the Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Warsaw, and the diocesan phase of the process was completed exactly four years later. In early 2009 the pope agreed to expedite consideration of the case. On December 19 2009 Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree on martyrdom of Fr. Jerzego Popiełuszki.
This First Day Cover was sent to me by Ada Lewandowska

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Birds


A sheet of birds on stamps from Umm Al Qiwain.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

WOSP


The WOŚP Foundation
On September 1, 2004 the WOŚP Foundation was entered into the central register of public benefit organizations.
The Foundation’s aim: aim is to work in the field of health protection by saving patients’ and especially young patients’ life and supporting their treatment. Additionally, the Foundation promotes health and medicines.
They pursue this aim by organizing the Great Finale money collections, by purchasing medical equipment for hospitals all over Poland, and by running four nation-wide medical programs and one educational program.
What most people would say when asked about their first association with WOŚP is the January money collection called the Great Finale. Heedless of snow and frost, thousands of volunteers march the streets of Poland to collect donations for a given aim. Each year, the Foundation chooses a theme – the aim we want to achieve. Besides, the WOŚP Foundation is the organizer of Europe’s biggest open - air music festival called Przystanek Woodstock.
Waiting… for the 19th Grand Finale on 20th January 2010
The declared sum is 36 118 272 PLN.
1500 Finale Centers from Poland and abroad played with us. In spite of very difficult weather conditions 120 000 volunteers were sent out to raise money!
The Orchestra’s birthday cake has already been eaten but is the fundraising over?
Not really! It’ll continue for over a month.
Until February 20th you can still take part in our auctions at: www.aukcje.wosp.org.pl, nasza-klasa.pl and siepomaga.pl.
Also, don’t forget about the 1% tax deduction.
And this card is due to the kind courtesy of Ada.Lewandowska of Warsaw.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Manama -Trucial States


A sheet of butterfly stamps from Manama in the Trucial States. Sent by my friend James C. Speshock from the USA.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Colorano FDC’s of the Republic of Palau and the Isle of Man


Some back-ground information on these two groups of islands will not be out of place.
Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 2,000 miles (3,200 km) south of Tokyo. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states. In English, the name is sometimes spelled Belau in accordance with the native pronunciation. It was formerly also spelled Pelew.
The Isle of Man or Mann is a self-governing British Crown dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. A Lieutenant Governor represents the Crown. The island is not part of the United Kingdom but foreign relations, defence, and ultimate good governance of the Isle of Man are the responsibility of the government of the United Kingdom.
Inhabited for millennia, the island gradually became a Celtic-Norse community as the Norse settled there, starting about AD 850. This has left a legacy ranging from the Tynwald parliament to many local place names. After a period of alternating rule by the kings of England and Scotland, the Manx came under the feudal over-lordship of the English Crown. The lordship revested into the British Crown in 1764 but the island never became part of the United Kingdom and retained its status as an internally self-governing jurisdiction.
The Isle of Man is not a part of the European Union, but has a limited relationship concerning the free movement of goods.
And all this – thanks to my dear friend Hemant.

Friday, January 15, 2010

USA - Max Cards with Colorano Cachets


These are some more US Max Cards with Colorano Cachets on nautical themes.
The top card is about Francis Marion (c. 1732 – February 26, 1795) who was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven out of the state in the Battle of Camden. Due to his irregular methods of warfare, he is considered one of the fathers of modern guerrilla warfare, and is credited in the lineage of the United States Army Rangers.
Some info on the Golden Hinde, the Clipper Flying Cloud and the Hyde Street Pier shown in my previous post.
Famous Sir Francis Drake’s Ship - The first ship to circumnavigate the World
The Golden Hind (or Golden Hinde) was an English galleon best known for being the first ship to successfully complete its global circumnavigation mission between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake. She was originally known as the Pelican, but was later renamed by Drake mid-voyage in 1577, as he prepared to enter the Strait of Magellan, calling it the Golden Hind to compliment his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose armorial crest was a golden 'hind' (the heraldic term for a female deer). Hatton was one of the principal sponsors of Drake's world voyage.

ClipperFlying Cloud

The Flying Cloud of 1851 was the most famous of the extreme clippers built by Donald McKay in East Boston, Massachusetts, intended for Enoch Train of Boston, who paid $50,000 for her construction.
The Flying Cloud was purchased at launching by Grinnell, Minturn & Co., of New York, for $90,000, which represented a huge profit for Train & Co. Within six weeks she sailed from New York and made San Francisco 'round Cape Horn in 89 days, 21 hours under the command of Captain Josiah Perkins Cressy. On July 31, during the trip, she made 374 miles in 3 days. In 1853 she beat her own record by 13 hours, a record that stood until 1989 when the breakthrough-designed sailboat Thursday's Child completed the passage in 80 days, 20 hours. The record was once again broken 2008 by the French racing yacht Gitana 13 with a time of 43 days and 38 minutes.
In the early days of the California Gold Rush, it took more than 200 days for a ship to travel from New York to San Francisco, a voyage of more than 16,000 miles. The Flying Cloud's better-than-halving that time (only 89 days) was a headline-grabbing world record that the ship itself beat three years later, setting a record that lasted for 136 years.
.In 1862, Flying Cloud was sold to go under British colors without change of name, and was soon traveling between the mother country and Australia and New Zealand. Her latter years were spent in the timber trade between Britain and St. Johns, Canada. On June 19, 1874 the Flying Cloud went ashore on the Beacon Island bar, St. John's, Newfoundland, and was condemned and sold. The following June she was burned for the scrap metal value of her copper and metal fastenings.
Hyde Street Pier
The Hyde Street Pier is a historic ferry pier located on the northern waterfront of San Francisco, California, amidst the tourist zone of Fisherman's Wharf.
Prior to the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, it was the principal automobile ferry terminal connecting San Francisco with Marin County by way of Sausalito to the north, and the East Bay by way of Berkeley . It was designated part of US 101 and US 40. The ferries were operated by the Golden Gate Ferries, a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific railroad.
Today, the pier is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Various historical ships are anchored to the pier, some available for self-guided or docent-led tours. Among the ships on display or in storage are the Balclutha, an 1886 square rigged sailing ship, as well as C.A. Thayer, Eureka, Alma, Hercules, Eppleton Hall, and over one hundred smaller craft.
Very many thanks to Hemant.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Guadeloupe - Souvenir Sheet

Guadeloupe - Souveir Sheet


A photograph of the beach of Holy-Anne (Martinique) illustrates the cover of this souvenir sheet from Guadeloupe. The 10 stamps shown are: Point Castles (Guadeloupe), the bananas (Martinique), Manicou, The Rock of Diamond (Martinique), Gone Dumanoir (Guadeloupe), Church of Balata (Martinique), Lobsters, Beaches and coconuts and the Carnival, and last but not least the Falls of Carbet (Guadeloupe) This lovely souvenir is from Michelle in Guadeloupe.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

USA - Max Cards with Colorano Cachets

Some info on the Golden Hinde, the Clipper Flying Cloud and the Hyde Street Pier shown in my previous post.
Famous Sir Francis Drake’s Ship - The first ship to circumnavigate the World

The Golden Hind (or Golden Hinde) was an English galleon best known for being the first ship to successfully complete its global circumnavigation mission between 1577 and 1580, captained by Sir Francis Drake. She was originally known as the Pelican, but was later renamed by Drake mid-voyage in 1577, as he prepared to enter the Strait of Magellan, calling it the Golden Hind to compliment his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton, whose armorial crest was a golden 'hind' (the heraldic term for a female deer). Hatton was one of the principal sponsors of Drake's world voyage.

ClipperFlying Cloud

The Flying Cloud of 1851 was the most famous of the extreme clippers built by Donald McKay in East Boston, Massachusetts, intended for Enoch Train of Boston, who paid $50,000 for her construction.

The Flying Cloud was purchased at launching by Grinnell, Minturn & Co., of New York, for $90,000, which represented a huge profit for Train & Co. Within six weeks she sailed from New York and made San Francisco 'round Cape Horn in 89 days, 21 hours under the command of Captain Josiah Perkins Cressy. On July 31, during the trip, she made 374 miles in 3 days. In 1853 she beat her own record by 13 hours, a record that stood until 1989 when the breakthrough-designed sailboat Thursday's Child completed the passage in 80 days, 20 hours. The record was once again broken 2008 by the French racing yacht Gitana 13 with a time of 43 days and 38 minutes.

In the early days of the California Gold Rush, it took more than 200 days for a ship to travel from New York to San Francisco, a voyage of more than 16,000 miles. The Flying Cloud's better-than-halving that time (only 89 days) was a headline-grabbing world record that the ship itself beat three years later, setting a record that lasted for 136 years.

.In 1862, Flying Cloud was sold to go under British colors without change of name, and was soon traveling between the mother country and Australia and New Zealand. Her latter years were spent in the timber trade between Britain and St. Johns, Canada. On June 19, 1874 the Flying Cloud went ashore on the Beacon Island bar, St. John's, Newfoundland, and was condemned and sold. The following June she was burned for the scrap metal value of her copper and metal fastenings.

Hyde Street Pier

The Hyde Street Pier is a historic ferry pier located on the northern waterfront of San Francisco, California, amidst the tourist zone of Fisherman's Wharf.

Prior to the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, it was the principal automobile ferry terminal connecting San Francisco with Marin County by way of Sausalito to the north, and the East Bay by way of Berkeley . It was designated part of US 101 and US 40. The ferries were operated by the Golden Gate Ferries, a subsidiary of the Southern Pacific railroad.

Today, the pier is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Various historical ships are anchored to the pier, some available for self-guided or docent-led tours. Among the ships on display or in storage are the Balclutha, an 1886 square rigged sailing ship, as well as C.A. Thayer, Eureka, Alma, Hercules, Eppleton Hall, and over one hundred smaller craft.


USA - Colorano Cachets


Vintage, contemporary and custom images printed on a silk-like fabric are used to create hand-crafted cards of unparalleled beauty and sophistication.
Brilliant full-color art, dazzling gold borders, and the unique look that only a "silk" cachet can offer, have made COLORANO the choice of knowledgeable collectors for more than 35 years. Blank cacheted envelopes are not available in advance of an issue. Typically, covers are available 3 to 6 weeks after issue date.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Ferguson College – Pune





















Many of my friends and relatives and some visitors, mainly ex – students of the college wanted more info. Not having studied at these hallowed precincts, I decided to show the full info sheet. Click for an enlarged view.

United Nations - Transport


These stamps and First Day Covers issued by the UN show transportation on land, sea and air over the ages across the world. These lovely pieces were sent by Hemant from Milwaukee. Thanks a lot.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

125 years of Fergusson College, Pune


Fergusson College has 125 years of history as the flagship of higher education in Pune. Alma Mater to leaders across the entire spectrum of societal positions: Prime-Ministers, Industrialists, Doctors, Engineers, Academicians, Scientists, Litterateurs, Artistes, and Sportspersons.

Fergusson College is 125 years on 2nd January, 2010.