Kuantan Satellite Earth Station

Kuantan (previously called Seteshen) Satellite Earth Station is located near the coast. Beserah, Kuantan , Pahang , Malaysia . It is run by the Department of Telecommunications, which changed its name to Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) after it was privatized. The satellite station was completed in 1970.

With the opening of satellite earth station at Kuantan, has opened a new chapter in the history of telecommunications in Malaysia and it is the basis of more advanced technologies in the future. Kuantan Satellite Earth Station is still operating today.

Malaysia 12.12.2011 - Royal Institution

Malaysia is a federal constitutional elective monarchy. The system of government is closely modelled on that of the Westminster parliamentary system, a legacy of British colonial rule. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, commonly referred to as the king. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is elected to a five-year term by and from among the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states; the other four states, which have titular Governors, do not participate in the selection. By informal agreement the position is systematically rotated among the nine, and has been held by Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu since 2007. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s role has been mostly ceremonial since changes to the constitution in 1994.
Legislative power is divided between federal and state legislatures. The bicameral federal parliament consists of the lower house, the House of Representatives and the upper house, the Senate. The 222-member House of Representatives is elected for a maximum term of five years from single-member constituencies, which are determined based on population. All 70 senators sit for three-year terms; 26 are elected by the 13 state assemblies, and the remaining 44 are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong upon the Prime Minister’s recommendation. The parliament follows a multi-party system and the government is elected through a first-past-the-post system. Since independence Malaysia has been governed by a multi-party coalition known as the Barisan Nasional.

On December 12, 2011 Pos Malaysia issued a new set of special issue stamps – Institusi Diraja or Royal Institution.

The 60 sen, 80 sen and 90 sen each has photo of different Royal Regalia of Malaysia. The brief details of the stamps are :-

The 60 sen Gandik Diraja or the Royal Tiara stamp shows the tiara of the Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia.

The 80 cents Pending Diraja or the Royal Waist Buckle stamp shows the royal belt of His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

The 90 cents singgahsana or the throne stamp shows the royal throne used for special official royal ceremonies.

This lovely FDC was sent to me by Budin. The info sheet is shown above the FDC.

Centenary of Metric System 6.2.1965

The legislative basis for the present system of local government in Finland was laid down between 1865 and 1873, when laws on rural municipalities and towns were enacted. Local authorities gained the right to levy taxes and they were given responsibilities regarding, relief to the poor and basic education of citizens. This stamp and cover were issued on 6.2.1965 to commemorate the Centenary of communal self-government in Finland. Pia gave me this FDC.

1990s – Celebrate the Century

In the final decade of the last millennium, Cold War ends and the economy blooms. This is what this Minisheet says. It goes on to say that, the Soviet Union collapsed effectively ending the Cold War. Troops were deployed by the United States in the Persian Gulf, in Somalia, and in the Balkans in 1992 – often called the Year of the Woman – a record number of women were elected to political office.
American astronauts joined Russian cosmonauts on the Mir space station, and Mars Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor sent back extraordinary images of the red planet. A grouping of planets resembling our Solar System was found by astronomers. The World Wide Web and e-mail revolutionised communications. Millions of Americans bought cellular phones as service expanded. In Washington, D.C the Holocaust Museum drew huge crowds, while in Los Angeles, the Getty Centre’s architecture got rave reviews. Movie goers flocked to see Titanic and Jurasic Park. Extreme sports, such as snowboarding and BMX biking, attracted young people, and the U.S. women’s softball, soccer and basketball teams proved themselves best in the world. New words, e-commerce, Web site, Y2K and many more came into the English lexicon. The back ground photo was designed as the US economy prospered as the stock market reached all-time highs. Americans ended the decade with one of the strongest economies in the world.
My friend Hemant gave me this superb minisheet. The stamps on this sheet portray most of the facts given above and more including ‘Seinfeld’ one of my favourite comedy serials on TV. I would like to emphasise also, that the details mentioned above of the last decade are views of USPS, who issued this sheet in 2000.

1st Development Programme 1962 – 1966 10.4.1967

Greek Prosperity and Public Attitudes. In the early days of the Republic of Cyprus, the Greco-Turkish Government set their minds to dealing with the problems of a stagnant economy, unemployment of 3 per cent and considerable under-employment, and the flight of men and capital. The First Five-Year Plan (1962-1966) aimed to develop the economic potential of the island by mobilizing all unemployed resources; and secondly, to provide the necessary infra-structure and thus, eventually, to help the process of diversification of the economy with a view to removing the causes of pre-1960 economic instability.
Soon after the process of implementing the Plan began, the Greek and Turkish communities parted their ways - or, at any rate, their economies became, to a large extent, separated. By the time the Makarios Government obtained financial and technical assistance from various foreign Governments and international organizations to help lay the foundations of future prosperity---improved agriculture and mining, the setting up of small manufacturing and construction industries, the development of service industries and especially the boosting of tourism---the Turkish community were out of the Plan.

The First Five-Year Plan succeeded in getting the productive resources of the island going and restored internal and foreign confidence in her economy. This FDC and the five stamps on it issued on 10.4.1976 was to commemorate the success of the 1^st Development Programme 1962 – 1966. My friend Merja sent me this nice FDC.

Year of the Dragon 5.1.2012

The Chinese calendar is based on five cycles of 12 years each. With each cycle tempered by one of the five Chinese elements – Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. Each year features one of 12 animal signs, and the year 2012 is that of the Water Dragon.

The year 2012 marks the reign of the legendary Dragon and the fifth animal in the Zodiac series on the Chinese calendar. This intelligent, flamboyant and magnanimous animal is depicted on this set of stamps (1^st Local, 65c and $1.10) issued by Singapore on 5.1.2012.

Beekeeping in Slovenia

The next time a honey bee zips by you, take a moment to appreciate what nature has given to us -- this amazing little creature...Honey bees (or honeybees) are a subset of bees in the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial nests out of wax. Honey bees are the only extant members of the tribe Apini, all in the genus Apis. Currently, there are only seven recognised species of honey bee with a total of 44 subspecies, though historically, anywhere from six to eleven species have been recognised. Honey bees represent only a small fraction of the approximately 20,000 known species of bees. Some other types of related bees produce and store honey, but only members of the genus Apis are true honey bees.

Now what is honey. Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees (the genus Apis) is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans. Honey produced by other bees and insects has distinctly different properties. Honey bees transform nectar into honey by a process of regurgitation, and store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. Beekeeping practices encourage overproduction of honey so the excess can be taken from the colony. A honey bee has a proboscis which is like a tiny drinking straw that sucks up nectar from flowers. There are 2 stomachs in a bee. Some nectar goes into a bee's main stomach to digest for food and energy, the rest of the nectar goes into a special stomach where the bee can process the nectar into honey and transport it back to the hive. Bees can detect changes in air pressure. If it's going to rain and air pressure drops, they stay in their hives. Bees also do not fly around if the temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. When it is cold, they cluster in their hive to stay warm. They use the honey that they make for food during the cold months when nectar is scarce. In a colony, there are thousands of workers bees, a few hundred drones, and one queen bee. It is said that pure honey is the only food that does not rot.

Slovenia is the only European Union Member State to have protected its native bee, the Carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica. The Carniolan bee is famed for its docility, hard work, humility and excellent sense of orientation. So it is this bee that is one of the rare internationally recognised and protected features of that country. This breed of bee is regarded as the second most widespread bee bred in the world. For this reason special attention is devoted to preserving and cultivating the pure Carniolan bee, which is also regarded as part of the natural and cultural heritage of Slovenia. And, hence, it is not surprising that these lovely stamps on this minisheet were issued in 2001 in order to honour this insect - The Bee.

Mickey Mouse – Movie Posters

All of you know who Mickey Mouse is. So I won’t go into all that. What I do want to tell you is, the reason and why this famous cartoon character was created in the first place. Mickey Mouse was created as a replacement for Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, an earlier cartoon character created by the Disney studio for Charles Mintz of Universal Studios. In the spring of 1928, with the series going strong, Disney asked Mintz for an increase in the budget. But Mintz instead demanded that Walt take a 20 percent budget cut, and as leverage, he reminded Disney that Universal owned the character, and revealed that he had already signed most of Disney's current employees to his new contract. Mintz owned Oswald and thought he had Disney over a barrel. Angrily, Disney refused the deal and returned to produce the final Oswald cartoons he contractually owed Mintz. Disney was dismayed at the betrayal by his staff, but determined to restart from scratch. The new Disney Studio initially consisted of animator Ub Iwerks and a loyal apprentice artist, Les Clark, who together with Wilfred Jackson were among the few who remained loyal to Walt. One lesson Disney learned from the experience was to thereafter always make sure that he owned all rights to the characters produced by his company.

In the spring of 1928, Disney asked Ub Iwerks to start drawing up new character ideas. Iwerks tried sketches of various animals, such as dogs and cats, but none of these appealed to Disney. A female cow and male horse were also rejected. They would later turn up as Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar. (A male frog, also rejected, would later show up in Iwerks' own Flip the Frog series.) Walt Disney got the inspiration for Mickey Mouse from his old pet mouse he used to have on his farm. In 1925, Hugh Harman drew some sketches of mice around a photograph of Walt Disney. These inspired Ub Iwerks to create a new mouse character for Disney. "Mortimer Mouse" had been Disney's original name for the character before his wife, Lillian, convinced him to change it, and ultimately Mickey Mouse came to be. Actor Mickey Rooney has claimed that, during his Mickey McGuire days, he met cartoonist Walt Disney at the Warner Brothers studio, and that Disney was inspired to name Mickey Mouse after him. Thus we have had this famous Mouse entertain us – for over 80 years now. These two stamps and the cover were issued by Bhutan Post to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 60^th Birthday. The stamps depict posters of Mickey Mouse Movies. The FDC was issued on 20.6.1989.

U.S. 1962 4¢ Project Mercury - John Glenn 20.2.1962

U.S. 1962 4¢ Project Mercury Dark Blue and Yellow stamp features the “Friendship 7” space capsule flown by John Glenn in the first successful orbit of the Earth. The mission was the result of a secret project run by the Post Office Department. The Post Office had recently (at the time) started using a Giori Printing Press, which allowed it to produce stamps in two or three colours in a single run (instead of having to send the stamps through for each colour).

In the summer of 1961, the Post Office Department began a special project. The new Giori Press was locked in a separate room accessed only by a small number of postal employees and with a guard to keep others out. No written instructions were given for the project. Rumours in the Department speculated that it was being used to make currency. Instead, it was printing the “Project Mercury” stamp. 

The stamp was sent in sealed packets to postmasters in 305 locations around the country, with specific instructions: “Classified Material. Do Not Open.” The packets were shipped in time for the original launch date – December 21, 1961. Weather caused delays until the end of February.

The secrecy was connected to the planned flight of the “Friendship 7” capsule. The launch was at 9:48 a.m. local time in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and splashed down at 2:43 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., the post offices were informed by telephone,teletype, and telegraph, that they could open the packet and distribute the stamps. If there had been a failure, the stamps would not have been released.

One side effect of the late release was that it gave very limited time to get First Day Covers serviced – an hour and a half, in Eastern states. Cape Canaveral is listed as the official site of the First Day of Issue. There was no Cape Canaveral Post Office until 3:30 p.m., February 20, 1962. That’s when a U.S. Air Force van was made into a temporary post office and called a substation of the Cocoa, Florida, Post Office.

John Herschel Glenn, Jr. (born July 18, 1921) was a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original astronaut group. He orbited the Earth in Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962. 

After retiring from NASA, he entered politics as a Democrat and represented Ohio in the United States Senate from 1974 to 1999. Glenn received a Congressional Space Medal of Honour in 1978. He was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990. On October 29, 1998, he became the oldest person to fly in space, and the only one to fly in both the Mercury and Space Shuttle programs, when at age 77, he flew on Discovery (STS-95). As of 2012, Glenn and M. Scott Carpenter are the last living members of the Mercury Seven.

Hemant gave me this wonderful FDC.

Horses 31.1.2012

A set of 4 stamps with values of €0,26, €0,34, €0,51 and €0,85 were issued along with the cover by Cyprus on 31.1.2012. Merja sent me this lovely FDC.

The Horse, or equus ferus caballus, is a four-legged single-toed mammal belonging to the enquidae family. Following a number of cross breeding and genetic changes the horse evolved, as we know it today. It is a tall animal and known for its proud look. It was domesticated by man around 4500 BC. Many ancient gods and Kings of Greece are associated with renowned horses such as Hercules, or Perseus with Pegasus - the famous winged horse and Alexander the Great with Buchephalus. Horses were to be found in Cyprus from 2000 BC. They were characteristically known as "portantarika" and because they were animals of exceptional beauty, physique, and character and had many uses, they were considered spoils of war. With the passing of time their number was reduced considerably.

In ancient times the horse was used for agricultural purposes and as a means of transport but also as a tool in war. It helped people to spread to new areas and in the migration of entire peoples. Today, the horse's use as a means of transport in Europe has almost been eradicated. Horses are used for riding and racing, in presidential and royal guards and in some cases by mounted police.

Discovery of America

This miniature sheet with six stamps was issued by Monaco to commemorate the 500^th Anniversary of the Discovery of America. Christopher Columbus (unknown; before 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in what is today northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish permanent settlements in the island of Hispaniola, initiated the process of Spanish colonization, which foreshadowed the general European colonization of the "New World".
In the context of emerging western imperialism and economic competition between European kingdoms seeking wealth through the establishment of trade routes and colonies, Columbus' far-fetched proposal to reach the East Indies by sailing westward received the support of the Spanish crown, which saw in it a promise, however remote, of gaining the upper hand over rival powers in the contest for the lucrative spice trade with Asia. During his first voyage in 1492, instead of reaching Japan as he had intended, Columbus landed in the Bahamas archipelago, at a locale he named San Salvador. Over the course of three more voyages, Columbus visited the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as the Caribbean coast of Colombia, Venezuela and Central America, claiming them for the Spanish Empire.

The Santa María was probably a medium sized nao (carrack); about 60 feet long on deck, "very little larger than 100 toneladas" (100 tons), and was used as the flagship for the expedition. The other ships of the Columbus expedition were the smaller caravel-type ships Santa Clara, remembered as La Niña ("The Girl"), and La Pinta ("The Painted One"). All these ships were second-hand (if not third or more) and were never meant for exploration. The Niña, Pinta, and the Santa María were modest sized merchant vessels comparable in size to a modern yacht, and not the largest ships in Europe at the time. They were smaller trade ships greatly surpassed in size by ships like the Great Michael, built in Scotland in 1511 with a length of 73.2 m (240 ft), and a crew of 300 sailors, 120 gunners, and up to 1,000 soldiers. The Peter von Danzig of the Hanseatic League was built in 1462 and was 51 m (167.3 ft) long. Another large ship, the English carrack Grace Dieu, was built during the period 1420–1439, was 66.4 m (218 ft) long, and weighed between 1,400 tons and 2,750 tons. The reason size is mentioned is that Columbus' three ships were built to sail the Mediterranean Sea, not the open ocean. This says a great deal about the courage of Columbus and his crew.

New Year Greetings

This is a very pretty cover with two lovely stamps issued to wish New Year's Greetings. The issue is dated 1.12.1990, and is also commemorating the Year of the Goat.

KJ Ståhlberg 22.3.1965

Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (January 28, 1865 – September 22, 1952) was a Finnish jurist and academic, who played a central role in the drafting of the Constitution of Finland in 1919. He was the first President of Finland (1919–1925) and a nationalist liberal. After Finland gained its independence in December 1917, the Constitutional Committee drafted new proposals for a form of government of an independent Republic of Finland. As chairman of the council, Ståhlberg was involved in the drafting and re-drafting of constitutional proposals during 1918, when the impact of the Finnish Civil War, and debates between republicans and monarchists on the future constitution, all led to various proposals. His proposals would eventually be enacted as the Constitution of Finland in 1919. In 1918, Ståhlberg supported the idea of republic instead of the then-popular constitutional monarchy. Pia gave me this FDC that has great historical significance.

Post boxes of England

We’ve been using post boxes, for more than 200 years and research has discovered that the earliest known post box was installed at Wakefield Post Office® in 1809. To celebrate this anniversary Royal Mail is releasing a Miniature Sheet of four stamps featuring iconic wall mounted Post Boxes. A post box is the overall title for any kind of posting box whether it’s standing proud on the pavement (pillar box), a smaller freestanding version (pedestal box), on, or in, a wall (wall box), or on a pole (lamp box). The first Post Boxes, often just slots into the office, appeared over 200 years ago at Post Offices® for the convenience of people posting unpaid letters (the letters were paid for by the recipient). Wall boxes as we know them today were installed from 1857 as a cheaper alternative to pillar boxes, and have established themselves as a national icon, serving the needs of smaller communities.

The first pillar-boxes were installed in 1852 in the Channel Islands and 1853 on the mainland. Now, around 100,000 Post Boxes of all kinds exist across the UK. To celebrate this anniversary Royal Mail is releasing a Miniature Sheet of four stamps featuring iconic wall mounted Post Boxes.

The Miniature Sheet

1st Class – George V Type B Wall Box
This example with the royal cipher of George V was cast by W T Allen & Co Ltd, London, between 1933-36, and is from Cookham Rise near Maidenhead.

56p – Edward VII Ludlow Box
Introduced in 1887 this type of standardized box derives its name from the foundry where many of them were made. This example is from Bodiam, East Sussex.

81p – Victorian Lamp Box
The lamp box could also be attached to lamppost or other such structure. This example is from Hythe in Kent and was installed in 1896.

90p – Elizabeth II Type A Wall Box
This Elizabeth II Wall box is located in Slaithwaite near Huddersfield and would have been made between 1962 and 1963.

Passenger Ferries 1.2.2012

This FDC also issued on 1.2.2012 is about two passenger derries. M/S Birger Jarl (0.55 Euro) is a cruise ship owned by Ånedinlinjen and operated on cruise service between Stockholm, Sweden and Mariehamn on the Åland Islands (Finland). She was built in 1953 as a passenger liner at Finnboda shipyard in Nacka, Sweden as S/S Birger Jarl for Rederi AB Svea. In 1973 she was sold to Jakob Lines, was renamed S/S Bore Nord and converted into a ferry. In 1978 she passed under the ownership of Ånedin Linjen and was renamed S/S Baltic Star. In 1982 the ship's original steam engines were replaced by new diesel engines, hence the ship's prefix was altered into M/S. In 1989 the engines were again changed to new diesels. In 2002 the ship reverted to the name Birger Jarl.

MS Cristal (Local Post) is a cruise ship owned and operated by the Cyprus-based Louis Cruise Lines. The ship was originally built as the cruiseferry MS Viking Saga in 1980 at Wärtsilä Turku New Shipyard, Turku, Finland for Rederi Ab Sally. In 1986 she was renamed MS Sally Albatross, and rebuilt into a cruise ship the following year. The ship was destroyed by a fire in 1990, and completely rebuilt at Finnyards, Raum, Finland. She was re-delivered in 1992, still named Sally Albatross. After partially sinking 1994 she was rebuilt at Industrie Navali Maccaniche Affini, La Spezia, Italy, re-entering service as MS Leeward for Norwegian Cruise Line. Subsequently she sailed as MS SuperStar Taurus for Star Cruises, MS Silja Opera for Silja Line and spent a year laid up as MS Opera prior to entering service with her current owner in 2007. Although the 1980 ship and the 1992 ship appear superficially unalike both externally and internally, they share the same IMO number because they are technically the same ship. Ella gave me this interesting nautical FDC.

Postal Labels

On 1.2.2012 Åland started her stamp issuing programme for 2012 by the issue of 4 postal labels, and two ship stamps commemorating M/S Birger Jarl and MS Cristal.

Åland has issued new franking labels on duck theme. Wildfowl decoys are lifelike dummies used by hunters to encourage birds to land nearby. The oldest decoys were made from plants such as bulrush, and the first decoys carved from wood were unpainted. Decoys are now mostly made from plastic. The new series of postal labels shows painted wooden decoys. One of the largest sea ducks is the eider with a body length of 60 to 70 cm. It has a large bulky shape with a short neck, a large head, and a long wedge-shaped bill without knob. The bill is feathered on the sides from the base of the bill to the nostrils. Its characteristic triangular head shape with the bill and forehead forming a straight line can readily distinguish the eider. The wings are broad, short, and relatively small with a wingspan of 95 to 105 cm. The male eider is also called eider drake. The first day cancellation is designed like an eider decoy seen from above. Juha Pykäläinen’s illustration on the first day cover is a duck hunting blind made of stones. There, in the duck blind, we see a hunter waiting for seabirds to be lured by his waterfowl decoys. The labels are priced at 0.75, 0.80, 0.95 and 1.00 Euros. Ella gave me this interesting FDC.

1987 - International Year of Shelter for the Homeless

Centenary of communal self-government in Finland 6.2.1965

The legislative basis for the present system of local government in Finland was laid down between 1865 and 1873, when laws on rural municipalities and towns were enacted. Local authorities gained the right to levy taxes and they were given responsibilities regarding, relief to the poor and basic education of citizens. This stamp and cover were issued on 6.2.1965 to commemorate the Centenary of communal self-government in Finland. Pia gave me this FDC.

8th World Games 2009 at Kaohsiung

The World Games of 2009 took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from July 16, 2009 to July 26, 2009. The games featured sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. Nearly 6,000 athletes, officials, coaches, referees and others from 103 countries participated in the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games, setting a record high for the multi-sport competition. The International World Games Association (IWGA) President Ron Froehlich praised the July 16–26 games as the "best games ever." Competitions at the highest level in a multitude of diverse, popular and spectacular sports make up the mainstay of The World Games.Sports practiced on land, in the air, in and on the water, they all concur in the pursuit of 'Faster, Higher, Stronger'.
At quadrennial intervals, in the years following the Games of the Olympiad, the world’s best athletes in these sports unite in their common search for excellence during The World Games. As the pinnacle in the competition calendar and as a highly visible stage for top athletes to perform on, The World Games generate worldwide exposure for the participating sports and athletes alike. Above all, The World Games provide the unique setting for thousands of athletes from different sports and countries to join in a celebration of unity and friendship across all boundaries. The World Games are the MAIN EVENT for all these athletes – one marked by sporting exploits as well as by camaraderie.

Yes to Life, No to Drugs

Budin sent me this FDC from Malaysia. Hand in hand with the globalisation of the world’s economy, has come the globalisation of drug abuse.Drug abuse is a problem faced by countries worldwide, and is a challenge to the International community. Non-goverment organisations (NGO’s) throughout the world play a major part in preventing drug and substance abuse. The International Federation of NGO’s for prevention of drug and substance abuse (IFNGO) comprises of NGO’s all over the world engaged in the advocasy and prevention of drug abuse activities. Through the IFNGO, NGO.s share ideas and learn from the experience of other’s, in order to create a safer woeld.

The IFNGO has played a significant role in fostering cooperation and collaboration between Government and NGO’s throughout the world. The IFNGO has demonstrated leadership and direction on these issues through its biennial world conferences, and workshops. Last November 2011, the 30th Anniversary of IFNGO was celebrated in conjunction with the 24th IFNGO World Conference which was hosted by ANCD, Australia and co-hosted and organised by PEMADAM Malaysia, and convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is IFNGO’s objective to work together as one, to pursue activities to prevent drug and substance abuse in order to achieve a Drug-free Society.

The stamps and the cover were issued on 27.2.2012. The details of the stamps are:-

(a) 60sen (setennant). They are designed to portray a happy life that can be achieved via a healthy lifestyle without drugs. One of the stamps features a happy and healthy family. The other stamp features a healthy environment amongst teenagers and their peers. This is because a healthy lifestyle begins from young age, where the family plays a major role in moulding a child. Then when the child reaches adolescence, his peers play an important part.

(b) RM1 stamp depicts the next stage, where the child reaches adulthood and joins the professional category. In short, this stamp aims to stress on the fact that a healthy lifestyle from the beginning to the end of life of a person can be achieved by choosing to say YES TO LIFE, NO TO DRUGS, and ensure a bright and healthy future for all.

Modern Art in Homg Kong

Hong Kong has always been a convergengent point of oriental and occidental cultures. It is within this context that local contemporary art has developed. This set of special stemps on the cover depicts various paintings and sculptures by four leading Hong Kong artists. Each of them has his own distictive style of artistic expression. They together with many local artists, have made invaluable contributions to art education and promotion in Hong Kong. The four items chosen for depiction on stamps are representative examples of the artist’ work in the areas of medium, subject matter and artistic style. The FDC and the stamps on it were issued on 19th July, 1989. The details of the stamps very briefly are :-

60c Cheung Yee (born 1936). Twin. 1965. Wood. This sculpture was inspired by a Chinese character and reveals a primitive feeling through the treatment of wood and the subject matter.

$1.40 Chen, Luis (born 1905), Figures, 1965-85. Acrylic on paper. In this painting, ink lines are applied to outline the figures, which are juxtaposed. Every face on the figure tells a story. A closer look into these cartoon-like images may lead one to discover a complex psychological world.

$1.80 Van Lau (born 1933), Lotus, 1936, Copper. The lotus depicted on the stamp is one of the artist’s endeavours in representing Chinese subject martters in three-dimensional form.

$5.00 Lui Shou-kwan (1919-1975), Zen painting, 1970. Ink and colour on paper. The painting reflects the philosophy of Zen through the image of a lotus. The black horizontal bold strokes of ink may be regarded as mud in the pond.

10th Anniversary of “Europa” stamps in the Republic of Moldova

The two stamps on this minisheet were issued By Moldova on 12.6.2003 to commemorate the 10^th Anniversary of the release of the first EUROPA series of stamps in Moldova. The top stamp (5L) shows Chişinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova. While the stamp below (1.50L) depicts a typically Rustic scenery in Moldova.

Encounter In Space “With Friendship” Stamps.12.1.2000

The friends do some space travel in the stamps of the “With Friendship” booklet, issued on January 12^th, 2000. The booklet comes from the Finland Post, conveying feelings of empathy, care, and co-operation, contains six stamps, each with a face value of FIM 3.50.

The thought: “To encounter the unknown together” led the designer of the booklet, Ms Tiina Kuoppala, to the space motif. “I arranged space in such a manner that the coldest and most distant planets, Neptune and Pluto, are farthest to the right, and the last planets to be used are the ones closest to the sun, the Earth and Mars”, the designer explains. “Migratory birds use the planet Neptune as a balloon, an aid in their travel through space. There are two entrance openings in the nesting box, but just one home, conveying the idea that a true friend’s home is yours as well”, Ms Kuoppala says. On the most distant and coldest planet, Pluto, there is a big igloo, housing our friends. The stamp shows two friends, one of which is a polar bear, at play: the one is blowing soap bubbles that freeze to ice, while the other one is catching them.

The Jupiter stamp shows the friends painting the smiling giant red. They work in close cooperation. On the Saturn stamp, the friends are trying to set the planet in motion: the one tries to rock it, the other one trusts in the lifting force of a heart-shaped balloon.

On Mars, our traveler encountered a huge sand storm: he was blown out in space, but his friend, a green Martian, manages to rescue him with a magnet.

In the stamp depicting the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon, the traveler carries the Earth on his back towards the heat and the light. The traveler carries his companion as well: the stronger carries the weaker. The Moon is important to the Earth, so it’s not left behind.

Greetings and messages, to be affixed on the letter, are printed along the edges of the sheet let. Thank you Pia for this extremely nice FDC, with such a delightful theme.

Aku Ankka aka Donald Duck Comics in Finland, 50th anniversary 13.3.2001

So far, Donald Duck has been the most popular weekly magazine in Finland. It entertains over a million readers every week and is educational too, in teaching a third generation of Finnish children to read and use good Finnish. The Donald Duck magazine advocates the use of correct and eloquent Finnish language and promotes reading and writing in general. It has been a candidate for the Finnish Agricola literature prize and has the whole-hearted support of Finnish teachers.

Aku Ankka (Finnish for Donald Duck) is a Finnish weekly Disney comic’s magazine published by Sanoma Magazines. The first issue was published on December 5, 1951 and sold 34,017 copies. The first issue, with a special Christmas theme and the Snow White story published later in the 1950s, are very prized collectors' items and can fetch a price of several thousand euros on the collector market. Until 1956, the magazine was published monthly, between 1956 and 1960 biweekly, and since 1961, once a week every Wednesday. As of August 2010, 2893 issues have been published.

Despite being a part of a multinational franchise with most stories produced abroad, Aku Ankka has become a cultural icon in Finland. This is largely due to the magazine's colourful and innovative use of the Finnish language. Many characters' names are Finnish language spoofs of established celebrities' names. In 2001, in recognition for their work for the Finnish language, the Finnish language department of University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Arts gave the Kielihelmi-award the editorial team. With a circulation of over 320,000 and more than a million readers weekly,

Aku Ankka is the most popular weekly publication in Finland as well as the largest edition per capita in the world for a Donald Duck magazine. There is a popular belief that Donald Duck was once banned in Finland for not having any pants. This myth was sparked up by an incident in 1977, when Helsinki councilman Markku Holopainen proposed discontinuing the use of city funds for the purchase of Aku Ankka comics for youth centres, as a reaction to financial difficulties. The following year, as Holopainen was running for a Parliament seat, his opponents then called him "the man who banned Donald Duck from Helsinki". A similar incident also took place a few years previously in Kemi and international reports then exaggerated the situation with claims that the character's attire and his unmarried relationship to Daisy Duck were the culprits.

The Aku Ankka comic is now more popular in Finland than in the country of its origin, the United States (where Disney is better known for its cartoons and films than comics). The United States Donald Duck cartoonist Don Rosa is exceptionally popular in Finland, and has acknowledged this by creating The Quest for Kalevala, a Donald Duck story specifically set in Finland. Pia gave me this lovely FDC. This Five-stamp miniature sheet was issued on 13 March 2001 The magazine is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Finland this year. Designers of these lovely stamps and cover were Susanna Rumpu and Ari Lakaniemi

Hlödver the Tall 28.7.2000

There are many tall stories about the Vikings from the Scandinavian Islands. One is about Hlödver the Tall from Saltvik. According to Snorre Sturlusson’s Nordiska Kungasagor, Hlödver was a tall Ålander who was handpicked by Viking King Olav Tryggvason to form part of the crew on Ormen Långe. Tryggvason grew up in Estonia and had seen much of the Scandinavian Islands on his travels between his foster home and his real home in Trondheim. According to Sturlusson, Hlödver could not say no when Tryggvason asked him to accompany him as a helmsman on Ormen Långe, after all, it was the biggest and most beautiful ship that had been built. In AD 1000, Ormen Långe sailed to Poland with a number of other ships to collect Queen Tyra’s inheritance. Along the route Olav Skötkonung and his allies lay in wait, and Olav Tryggvason fell in battle side by side with Hlödver the Tall from Saltvik at the naval battle at Svolder. The end of the Viking Age is generally considered to be when the people converted from pagan beliefs to Christianity, sometime around AD 1100.

Åland has many traces of the Vikings. In Saltvik was a great Viking market held on 28th-29th July 2000 with Viking "Hlödver the Tall" as a protector. Whether it was Saltvik of Åland is not quite clear, but it is possible. Saltvik has apparently been a Viking port and trading center. The pretty stamps on the cover and the cover itself were issued on 28.7.2000. This nice FDC was given to me by Pia.

Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints

China does issue very beautiful stamps. Just should look at these gems on this lovely miniature sheet which were issued on 15th January 2008. Zhuxianzhen, a historically important commercial town, is located 20 kilometers southwest to Kaifeng City, Henan Provinces. The Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and boomed during the Song (960-1279). As the birthplace of Chinese New Year Woodprints, Zhuxianzhen exerted an influence upon the New Year woodprints produced in Wuqiang, Yangliuqing, Taohuawu, and Yangjiabu. This art form of features a typical northern style, characterised by bold and unconstrained lines, lively composition, exaggerated designs and exquisite application of colors, which are radiant and may never fade. According to a historical book "Dream of the Capital", during the Northern Song (960-1127), woodprint New Year paintings were prevalent in the capital city, Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng). In 1127, when the Jin troops attacked and captured Bianjing, the woodprint workshops and artists were forced to relocate to Zhuxianzhen, 20 kilometers away. Hence the name "Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints”.
In 2006, Zhuxianzhen New Year Woodprints was included in the first national intangible culture heritage list. These sets of stamps and this minisheet were issued on 15 January 2008 in order to celebrate Woodblock New Year Pictures of Zhuxian Town - Door God, Sanniang Teaches Her Son, Back from a Fruitful Trip, and Legendary Heroines.

Customs Union Agreement with the E.U 11.1.1988

Customs Union Agreement with the E.U. came into effect in 1988. Cyprus has a record of successful economic performance, reflected in rapid growth, full employment and stability almost throughout the post-Independence period. The underdeveloped economy of 1960 has been transformed into a modern economy with dynamic services, industrial and agricultural sectors and advanced physical and social infrastructure. In terms of per capita income, currently estimated at $11.000,(1993) Cyprus is classified among upper middle income countries.These achievements appear all the more striking in view of the severe economic and social dislocation and the loss of resources caused by the Turkish invasion of 1974. These stamps on the cover sent to me by Merja is to commemorate that event.
The success of Cyprus in the economic sphere is the combined result of the existence of a dynamic and flexible entrepreneurial community and of a well-educated labour force, the adoption of a market oriented economic system and the sound economic policies followed by the government.
Over the last decade the economy has increasingly become oriented towards Europe. The European Union, with which a Customs Union Agreement was put into effect in 1988, is now the largest trading partner of Cyprus. The application of Cyprus to become a full member of the Union in July 1990 is a clear indication of the European orientation of Cyprus and has led to the adoption of harmonization of economic and social institutions and policies with those of the European Union as a major policy objective.

Vintage Cars

This lovely sheet of stamps featuring Vintage cars was issued by Equatorial Guinea in 1973. It shows almost all the vintage cars one could ever hope to see. And for James Bond fans such as myself, there is even the Aston Martin!

Canada Millenium Issue

These three stamps are a special millenium set issued in December 1999 alonwith the the special covers. All these were kind courtesy of Maria.

Anniversaries & Events 13.10.1986

The Anniversaries and Events commemorated in Cyprus on 13.10.1986 were :-

Year of Overseas Cypriots. Cyprus has about 350000 persons of Cypriot origin living abroad. These Cypriots exhibit a noteworthy presence and a wide range of activities in all the continents. The overseas Cypriots, especially after the invasion of the island by Turkey in 1974, have intensified their offer of help to the metropolis and have proved that they are correctly considered one of the basic mainstays of the struggle of Cyprus for survival, freedom and vindication. Ten years had passed since the founding of the World Organisation for Overseas Cypriots and 1986 was declared "Year of the Overseas Cypriots". The Fifth World Congress of Overseas Cypriots took place in Nicosia during the period 24-30 August 1986. The Cyprus Postal Services commemorated the Year of Overseas Cypriots with the issue of this commemorative stamp.

Return of Halley's Comet. Comets are heavenly bodies, which rotate round the sun. Each comet consists of the "nucleus" which is its solid part, the "nebule" that surrounds the nucleus and is called "the hair" and "the tall" a thin extension of the hair. Halley's comet was discovered by the English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656-1742). In people's imagination comets are the causes for destruction and the harbingers of misfortunes. During its last period turn that year, which takes place every 75.5 years, the comet was examined "at close proximity" from spaceships. The comet was visible only through telescopes in Cyprus from early December 1985 until mid May 1986. Merja gave me these two nice FDCs issued on 13.10.1986.

UK 25.4.2002 - The Queen Mother

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the last queen consort of Ireland and empress consort of India.

Born into a family of Scottish nobility as The Honourable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, she became Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon when her father inherited the Earldom of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1904. She came to prominence in 1923 when she married Albert, Duke of York, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. As Duchess of York, she – along with her husband and their two daughters Elizabeth and Margaret – embodied traditional ideas of family and public service. She undertook a variety of public engagements, and became known as the "Smiling Duchess" because of her consistent public expression. In 1936, her husband unexpectedly became King when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson. Queen Elizabeth accompanied her husband on diplomatic tours to France and North America before the start of World War II. During the war, her seemingly indomitable spirit provided moral support to the British public. In recognition of her role as an asset to British morale, Adolf Hitler described her as "the most dangerous woman in Europe". After the war, her husband's health deteriorated and she was widowed at the age of 51.

On the death of her mother-in-law Queen Mary in 1953, with her brother-in-law living abroad and her elder daughter, the Queen, aged 25, Elizabeth became the senior member of the British Royal Family and assumed a position as family matriarch. In her later years, she was a consistently popular member of the family, when other members were suffering from low levels of public approval. She continued an active public life until just a few months before her death at the age of 101, seven weeks after the death of her younger daughter, Princess Margaret. 

Thank you Maria for this cover with the nice stamps issued on 25^th April, 2002. The photographs on the stamps show the Late Queen Mother dueing the different phases of her life.