The 2012 London Paralympic Games - Disabled Olympic Games 7.5.2012

The London Paralympics will begin on 29 August 2012, when disabled athletes will take part in the sporting event in the world of disabled worlds largest multinational sports. Staging the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is a unique and inspiring experience. It is also an honour, one that the UK last enjoyed in 1948. More than 50 years on, they will host the greatest sporting and cultural show on earth again. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. They will have the chance to show the country, the world, and themselves, at their best. The International Olympic Committee says that London 2012 will enable the country to provide facilities and services for elite athletes, as well as encouraging participation in sport well after the 2012 Games are over. The Olympic Park in East London "will become a model of social inclusion, opening up opportunities for education, cultural and skills development and jobs for people across London and Great Britain" says the IOC. The Paralympic Games in London will have 11 events within the main Olympic Park in Stratford - athletics, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair rugby, goal ball, wheelchair fencing, archery, seven-a-side and five-a-side football, track cycling and wheelchair tennis.  Power lifting, judo, wheelchair basketball, boccia, sitting volleyball will all take place at the nearby ExCeL Centre, equestrian events at Greenwich Park and shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Internationally successful disabled athletes from Finland got their own stamps on 7^th May 2012. The two Finnish stamps in the Disabled Sports miniature sheet on the displayed FDC depict Leo-Pekka Tahti, the World Record holder in wheelchair racing, World Champion and Paralympic gold medallist, and Saana-Maria Sinisalo, an archer who has finished in points winning places in the World Championships. Both the athletes have high hopes of winning medals at the next Paralympics in London in 2012. In addition to the stamps, the miniature sheets depict other successful disabled athletes: goal ball players Petri Posio and Erkki Miinala, judoka Jani Kallunki, cyclist Jarmo Ollanketo, and pilot Marko Tormanen. Klaus Welp designs the stamp. The miniature sheet will contain the text “Disabled Sports” in Finnish and Swedish Braille, together with 1st class indications. My friend Ella gave this wonderful FDC to me.

EUROPA - Come Visit Finland - You'll Love It

So, are you a fan of Finland? Well, I am. And I am sure Finland loves you too! And who wouldn't love a country this strange? If ice hockey, Moomins, mobile gadgets, design, rally drivers, heavy metal, sauna or Santa gets you all excited, Finland is the country for you. They have it all (except polar bears): endless summer days, even longer winter nights, about 200 000 lakes and a picturesque archipelago, great wilderness and forests where the next person is more than 100 kilometres away, bustling cities with thriving culture and art scenes, best Scandinavian design, and the list goes on and on. But what do you know? The Finns live there. So this one is for all the fans. Go for it! Believe me I am trying my best too. So my Finnish friends don’t be surprised if one day your doorbell rings, you open the door and there’s Yours Truly smiling at you.

For starters this FDC and the two maxi cards will surely entice you. Thank you my friend Ella for this lovely touristy intro with these two card posters and the FDC. These two stamps will surely make the other EUROPA Best Stamp entrants think again!

Norway - Submarine Branch Centenary

Considering my nautical background, my dear friend Pia very thoughtfully gave me this Norwegian FDC, which celebrated a hundred years in 2009 since the launching of Norway’s first submarine at Germaniawerft in Kiel. This submarine, which was christened "Kobben" and later renamed A-1, surpassed all expectations and in 1911 a decision was made to build another three submarines at the same shipyard. A fifth was also started, but the German navy confiscated it when the First World War broke out. The history of Norwegian submarines really began in 1808, when a village genius and blacksmith, Mikkel Hallsteinson Lofthus from Hardanger, designed the first known Norwegian underwater boat. He submitted drawings to a society in Bergen that promoted useful products, but the boat was never built. There was too little interest and not enough money. However this was put right 101 years later.

"Kobben" was commissioned on 28 November 1909 after its launching and completion of diving tests in the Great Belt. It arrived in Horten two weeks later and after a few days it went into full service with a crew of 12 men. "Kobben" remained in service until 1919. It was broken up some years later, but its conning tower was preserved and is mounted as a memorial at the Navy officers' training school in Horten.

After the first world war, the Storting granted funds for new submarines, this time choosing the American Holland class which had the same diving depth as the A class but carried a larger crew (23 men). Between 1923 and 1930 the main Navy shipyard in cooperation with the Kaldnes and Thunes yards built six Norwegian submarines. Norway took over three submarines from the British Navy during the Second World War and a further three after the war. The Germans also left behind fifteen submarines. Four of these were repaired and incorporated into the Norwegian Navy. They had a crew of 47 men and a diving depth of 180 metres. In line with the Navy's Fleet Plan of 1960, the Storting approved the building of fifteen new submarines during the period from 1964 to 1967. These were of a German type and called the Kobben class. Further additions, also German in type, were made to the fleet between 1989 and 1992. These Ula class submarines are often described as the world's most advanced coastal submarines, with an official diving depth of 250 metres.  They can in fact dive much deeper – down to 500 metres it is claimed.

An exceptional thing about this limited edition FDC is the postmark or special cancellation. It is in gold!

University of Helsinki - 350th Anniversary 26.1.1990

Queen Christina (1626-1689) was the reigning queen of Sweden between 1644 and 1654. Her reign ended when she abdicated, after which she converted to Catholicism – an action which has greatly tasked historians in their attempts to offer an explanation. Christina spent the greater part of her remaining years in Rome. Her interest in cultural and scientific topics started at an early age, and she associated and corresponded with a number of the most eminent scholars of the era. Nordic Women's Literary history was the result of over a decade of work by the first-generation women's literary researchers in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The works span more than a thousand-year of womens literature history. It contains 250 articles, gives information about 850 writers and is written by hundreds of female academics. 

It is in keeping with this theme that the two stamps on the cover depict firstly, University crest and Queen Christina on horseback, and on the second stamp the University crest and the degree ceremony procession in front of the main university building.

The University of Helsinki, the oldest and largest university in Finland, celebrated its 350th anniversary in 1990. Its students make up a quarter of all university students in the country. Several subjects are taught exclusively at the University of Helsinki and it also offers the largest variety of instruction. As the oldest university in Finland, the University of Helsinki is a unique and historic institution, and has been the focal point of the country’s history for the last 370 years. Today the University of Helsinki is the most comprehensive in Finland. Since 1640 the university’s part in learning has been significant. Many future leaders of the nation have been educated there. The architecture of the University in the city centre of Helsinki has become one of the beauties of the city and the National library and museum house a number of important collections. But most importantly, a university is judged by its contribution to research, both in the sciences and in the liberal arts – a theme which runs throughout the book. International comparisons have consistently placed the university among Europe’s most accomplished institutions of research and teaching. Merja gave me this historic FDC.

Belarus Folk Holidays and Celebrations

On March 1, 2009 the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus issued a souvenir sheet “Belarus folk holidays and celebrations” prepared by the Publishing Centre “Marka” of the EUR “Belpochta”.  Brief description of the stamps on the mini sheet are given below.

Kaliady (top left) is the main winter holiday connected with the day of winter solstice. It was celebrated from the 7th till the 19th of January and later was adopted for Christmas celebration by the Christian Church.

Spring greeting (top right) is an ancient heathen ceremony opening the cycle of celebrations designed to awake mother Earth from the winter sleep. In different regions the celebration began in different days from Shrovetide till Easter.

Kupalle (lower right) is an ancient ceremony festival timed to summer solstice when the lands fertility is reaching its biggest power. Following the introduction of Christianity Kupalle was timed to the Nativity of St John the Baptist and now it is celebrated in the night from July 6 to July 7.

Dazhynki (lower left) is an ancient Belarusian holiday dedicated to harvesting. Traditionally it was celebrated on the last day of rye reaping. 

300th Anniversary of the Founding of Raahe

Raahe is a town in Northern Finland on the Bothnian Bay. It is situated between two diversified industrial regions, Ylivieska and Oulu, next to the main high way and the railway routes. Raahe´s logistical location is excellent. The Port of Raahe operates all year round and it is one of the busiest ports in Finland. The distance to the international airport of Oulu is 75 kilometres. It has a great maritime history. Count Pehr Brahe, Queen Kristina´s govenor general in Finland, discovered the first Raahe harbour and founded the town by the name of Salo in 1649. In the year of 1652 the name was changed to Brahestad and later on to Raahe. The Old Town of Raahe is one of the best preserved wooden towns in Finland. The Old Town is a lively part of Raahe. Trade and shipping in Raahe have a long history, they were people´s main livelihood sources until the establishment of Rautaruukki Steelworks in early 1960´s. Rautaruukki was established in municipality of Saloinen. Metal industry in Raahe region works in cooperation. A good example of joint cooperation is Steelpolis Group. Raahe is also getting new strength from research. Raahe has always been a school town, but especially today it is a town of know-how regarding high technology (ICT). Over 1 000 students study in Oulu Polytechnic, Computer Engineering unit in Raahe.

In Raahe you can feel the presence of the sea - a placid expanse of snow in winter and blue paradise in summer. Welcome to Raahe, the Town of Sea Winds. This FDC was issued on  13.8.1949. The Church of Raahe is pictured on the stamp. And the statue of founder W. Runeberg. is shown on the cover. This nice FDC was sent to me by Pia.

Historic Figures of Macao

Macao Post especially launched an issue with a set of four stamps and one souvenir sheet, with the theme “Historic Figures and Macao” on 9.10.2011. On the four stamps. the head portraits of four historic figures are respectively printed: Lin Zexu, a national hero in Chinese modern history, personally patrolled in Macao in the great anti-opium movement, his determined steps shocked China and foreign countries: Ye Ting, an army commander of the New Fourth Army in China with fame based on military exploits spreading far away, considered Macao as his “second hometown” and spent the quietest six years of his life in Macao: Xian Xinghai, a “great and strong” musician, who praises the Chinese nation by “The Yellow River Cantata” of great momentum, was horn in the family of a mariner as a true “son of Macao”: Ho Yin, an industrial and commercial giant, famous social activist and philanthropist who made distinguished contributions to the construction of Macao and his motherland was a typical person who loved the motherland and Macao.

Centenary of the Finnish Banknote 18.5.1985

By virtue of the edict of Tsar Alexander II, issued on 4 April 1860, Finland had received its own monetary unit, the markka, tied to the Russian rouble, which itself was a fluctuating currency. The name ‘markka’ was defended by the fact that it was the oldest name for money in Finland; originally, it had been used for a medieval unit of weight.

In 1863 Johan Vilhelm Snellman was appointed Chief of Finance of the Senate. In this office, he was responsible for Finland's economic policy, and his key achievement was the pegging of the Finnish markka to the silver standard in 1865, which led to the stabilisation of the country's currency.

The monetary reform, however, did not prove sustainable, as in the 1870s the price of silver started to decline and one state after another changed over to the gold standard: Germany in 1871, Denmark and Sweden in 1873, Norway in 1875 and Finland in 1878. Russia did not adopt the gold standard until 1897.

Redemption of banknotes in gold was suspended in Finland in 1915. In 1926–1931 the gold standard prevailed again until it was abandoned as a consequence of the depression of the early 1930s. Since then, it has not been possible to exchange banknotes for gold.

Historically, Finnish banknotes reflect the country's economic and political history. The shortage of silver at the beginning of the 20th century led to the completion of the banknote series with 1 markka, 25 penni and 50 penni notes. During the national romantic period, the pictorial motifs of banknotes designed by the architect Eliel Saarinen and introduced in 1909 were related to Finnish nature and sources of livelihood, cattle breeding, forestry and shipping. The banknote series of the period of Finnish independence (type 1922) already reflects the features of classicism, and the human figures depicted on the notes ‘inspire confidence in the future’.

The eight stamps on this big minisheet on this huge First Day Cover (310mm x 220mm) were issued on 18.5.1985, which day marked the Centenary of the Finnish Banknote. The stamps on it are: 5 mk banknote from 1886; 50 mk banknote from 1909; 500 mk and on the lower edge 20 mk banknotes 1909; 1000 mk banknote 1909; 1000 mk banknote 1909, 500 mk banknote 1922; 500mk 1922. 50 mk banknote 1945; and the 5000 mk banknote 1940 and 500 mk 1955. My friend Pia sent me this wonderful FDC.

100th Birth Anniversary of Ian Fleming – Creator of James Bond

Malawi issued these superb minisheets in order to celebrate the 100^th Birth Anniversary of that Great Writer Ian Fleming, who created James Bond, better known as 007.  Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was an English author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer. Fleming is best known for creating the fictional spy James Bond and the series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character. Fleming was from a wealthy family, connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co. and his father was MP for Henley from 1910 until his death on the Western Front in 1917. Educated at Eton, the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and the universities of Munich and Geneva, Fleming moved through a number of jobs before he started writing.
The Bond books are among the biggest-selling series of fictional books of all time, having sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Fleming also wrote the children's story Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang and two works of non-fiction. While working in British Naval Intelligence during the Second World War, Fleming was involved in the planning stages of Operation Mincemeat and Operation Golden Eye, the former of which was successfully carried out. Fleming was also involved in the planning and overseeing of two active service units, 30 Assault Unit and T-Force.
His experiences of the people he met during his wartime service provided much of the background and detail of the Bond novels and his career as a journalist added colour and depth to the stories. In 2008, The Times ranked Fleming fourteenth on its list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
Fleming was married to Anne Charteris, who had been divorced from the second Viscount Rothermere because of her relationship with Fleming; the couple had one son—Caspar—although they also both had affairs during their marriage. Fleming was a heavy smoker and heavy drinker and suffered from heart disease; he died in the early morning of 12 August 1964 from a heart attack. Two Bond books written by Fleming were published after his death and a further five continuation authors have also produced novels. Fleming's creation has also appeared in film twenty-four times with seven actors playing the role of Bond. Thank you Pia for these minisheets.

AUSTRALIA’S FIRST FLEET 13.10.1987

Between 1788 and 1850 the English sent over 162,000 convicts to Australia in 806 ships. The first eleven of these ships are today known as the First Fleet and contained the convicts and marines that are now acknowledged as the Founders of Australia. This is their story. Captain James Cook discovered the east coast of New Holland in 1770 and named it New South Wales. He sailed the whole of the coast and reported to the British government that he thought it would make a good place for a settlement. Britain did not recognise the country as being inhabited as the natives did not cultivate the land, and were, therefore, “uncivilized”.
The agrarian revolution in Britain, and the population explosion in the cities, resulted in an increase in crime. As the American Revolution meant that no more convicts could be sent there, the only way to overcome the overcrowding in the jails was to establish a penal colony in the land discovered by Captain James Cook. The convicts would be transported, never to return to Britain. With this in mind, the British Government hired 9 ships and set about provisioning them, together with 2 Naval vessels, with enough supplies to keep the 759 convicts, their Marine guards, some with families, and a few civil officers, until they became self-sufficient. The convicts and marines embarked on the ships, which arrived at Portsmouth on 16th March 1787. They then waited on board until the arrival of Captain Arthur Phillip signalled the time for their departure. By the time they departed, some convicts had been aboard these ships for seven months. Very few convicts (23) died during the voyage compared to the later convict fleet. Arthur Phillip was appointed the Governor General of the Penal Colonony first set up in Sydney. These three exceptional FDCs were given to me by Maria.

National Bank of Malaysia

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM; literally National Bank of Malaysia, officially Central Bank of Malaysia) is the Malaysian central bank. Established on January 26, 1959 as the Bank Negara Malaya, its main purpose was to issue currency, act as banker and adviser to the Government of Malaysia and regulate the country's credit situation. Its headquarters is located in Kuala Lumpur, the federal capital of Malaysia. These stamps on the First Day Cover were released to commemorate the new building of the Central Bank of Malaysia, which was inaugurated on 15 May 1971.

Finland’s newest national park gets a stamp 7.5.2012

The Bothnian Sea links the Bothnian Bay (called also Bay of Bothnia) with the Baltic proper. Kvarken is situated between the two. Together, the Bothnian Sea and Bay make up a larger geographical entity, the Gulf of Bothnia. The whole Gulf of Bothnia is situated between Sweden, to the West, Finland, to the East, and the Sea of Åland and Archipelago Sea to the South. The surface area of Bothnian Sea is approximately 79,000 km². The largest coastal towns, from south to north, are Rauma and Pori in Finland, and Gävle and Sundsvall in Sweden. Umeå (Sweden) and Vaasa (Finland) lie in the extreme north, near Bothnian Bay.

Bothnian Sea National Park is the 37th national park in Finland and it was established in 2011. The name of the park is Selkämeri in Finnish. It is the fifth marine national park in Finland and it stretches over a distance of 160 kilometres on the western coast of Finland. A total of 98 per cent of the national park lies under the surface: the park protects the marine nature. Lighthouse islands and the archipelago attract boaters and paddlers. Bothnian Sea Postage Stamp is the Third in the National Park Stamp Series

The most spectacular and nationally most significant landscapes have inspired postage stamp designers already for decades. The postage stamp series on national parks showcases Finland’s special natural features during different seasons. The third stamp in the series depicts the summery marine nature of Bothnian Sea National Park. The date of issue of the stamp is 7 May 2012. My friend Ella sent me this pretty First Day Cover.
The Bothnian Sea National Park first class non-value indicator stamp is sold as 10-stamp sticker sheets with information on national parks in Finnish, Swedish and English. Artist Teemu Ollikainen, who also took the picture above the sea level, designed the stamp. Marine biologist Heidi Arponen of Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services dived to take the underwater picture. The national park postage stamp is a joint project of Itella Posti Oy and Metsähallitus. The most genuine and valuable landscape in Finland is protected as national parks. National parks are the most important safeguarders of the diversity and vitality of Finland’s nature. National parks also are the source of good spirits and health for over 2 million nature lovers every year. Many national parks offer information on nature trails, hiking routes, accommodation and natural features at their visitor centres. Finland’s marine national parks are situated in the Eastern Gulf of Finland, the Ekenäs Archipelago, the large southwestern Archipelago, the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay. The Kvarken Archipelago between the two last-mentioned is a UNESCO natural heritage site.

Clouds 7.5.2012

In May, stamps sold in rolls of one hundred stamps each will become available. The visual themes include three different types of clouds: the amygdaloidal altocumulus cloud, the hazy stratus, and the fibrous storm cloud. This FDC was also sent to me by my friend Ella. Interested in clouds? It's quite a funny and cheap hobby to observe and try to recognize different kind of clouds. Extend challenge - learn the names in Latin: stratus nebulosus, cirrocumulus, altostratus. In these three different kind of stamps there are the name of the cloud in Latin and type of the cloud, the weather and the grade of cloudiness are marked with figures. Have a nice trip to the world of clouds! A huge cloud is depicted on the FDC for the strip of three stamps. On the first day cancellation there is a cloud as well.

The stamps, which are based on into-the-sun photographs, are by Timo Berry. The Clouds stamps' surface has pictograms printed using transparent lacquer, which indicate the cloud types, number of clouds and the weather types. Also issued on 7.5.2012.

Sunflowers 7.5.2012

Sunflowers can grow to astonishing heights and are a handsome addition to gardens and balconies. Their large capitula turn gracefully throughout the day, following the sun and attracting a wide range of wildlife to their abundant care. Butterflies suck their nectar, while bumblebees and honeybees gather pollen. The flowers also attract many kinds of predatory insects, which control the numbers of aphids and other vermin in the vicinity. Sunflowers that are left to stand during the winter provide nutrition for birds that eat their seeds. Thank you Ella for this nice FDC and the stamps on it, which were issued on 7.5.2012,and of course the pretty maxicard.

Sunflowers that grow wild in Finland usually spread from seed mixtures that are left out for birds to eat in winter. City cleaning spreads the seeds to dumps and roadsides, and the clearing away of earth, grit and snow from city streets also plays a part in transporting the seeds. Cypselas that end up in water can travel long distances; they are able to float for weeks on end. Some Finnish sunflowers have arrived straight from North America in unwashed maize and soya beans. Sunflowers in Finland do not usually have enough time for their seeds to ripen before winter sets in, so seeds must be imported every year.

When people talk of sunflowers they are almost always referring to common sunflowers, although there are many other species. The sunflower that is most common in Finnish gardens is Miss Mellish sunflower (H. x laetiflorus), an almost-native variety that is a tenacious natural hybrid of two species that can survive a long time in old gardens. One of Miss Mellish’s parent plants is Jerusalem artichoke (H. tuberosus) which is grown for its tubers and which is also a member of the sunflower genus.

The Man at the Wheel

The statue ‘The man at the wheel’ is the oldest outdoor piece of art in Mariehamn. Åland Post issued an engraved stamp featuring the well-known statue. The stamp was issued on 26.4.2012. Most stamps issued by Åland have been about maritime subjects and sea-faring activities. How much importance is given to the man at sea is aptly illustrated by the stamp on this FDC, namely The Man at the Wheel. This statue was raised in 1936 in honour of those seamen who perished at sea. Gazing towards the sea with a stern look of determination, this seaman at the wheel represents and pays homage to the maritime history of Åland.

The PhilaMirror said in its issue of 3.5.2012 that the monument ‘The man at the wheel’ was unveiled in the Western Harbour of Mariehamn on July 31, 1936. First erected in the English Park, the statue was moved in the mid-1950s, because the Midsummer celebrations were considered to dishonour the statue. Today, it stands near the Maritime Museum and, every year, many people visit the statue to pay their respects on All Saints’ Day. Unique graphic sheet A unique graphic sheet of the issue ‘The Man at the Wheel’ has also been produced. Printed in a limited edition of only 300, each sheet is individually numbered and signed by engraver Lars Sjööblom. The printing was done by hand, sheet by sheet, in a hand printing press and on paper of very high quality, specifically designed for the printing of exclusive prints. My friend Ella gave me this nice FDC. 

300 Years of Pharmacies in Finland 2.8.1989

Merja had sent me this interesting FDC commemorating 300 Years of Pharmacies in Finland. Pharmacists or apothecaries as they were also referred to in those days are what we would probably call Chemists now. Preparation of medicines came to Finland with the monks in their monasteries. The first pharmacies were founded in Turku and Viipuri also called Vyborg. The oldest pharmacy in Finland, Turun Kauppatorin apteekki, was founded 2.6.1689.

On the stamp you can see an old pharmacy bottle, distillation equipment (the three flames under it are symbols for the three centuries), a mortar and pestle and an important medicinal plant, Digitalis purpurea (Common foxglove). 

The North By the Sea - Life at Sea

This lovely album of miniature sheets of stamps is an annual feature now. Eight Nordic countries make a simultaneous Joint issue of stamps from their respective countries about “Life at Sea”. Who wouldn’t want to live and work by the sea after looking at these lovely stamps? And, I was the lucky to get this lovely album from My Good Friend Pia.

Cultural Heritage

My Dear friend Maria gave me this lovely FDC with the pretty set of four featuring Cape Silverware.

Significant Rivers - Joint Singapore - Egypt Issue 17.10.2011

Singapore Post issued on October 17, 2011 a set of 2 stamps (probably the longest in World Postal History - 162mm × 30mm. I have been informed by my Good Friend Kasinath that the length of the stamps on the mini sheet in his possession is only 120mm) to celebrate the strong bilateral relations between Singapore and Egypt. A very original theme to illustrate this issue: Significant Rivers! The Singapore River has accompanied the people of Singapore since 1819 when the country was created while the Egyptians have always depended on the Nile, the longest river in the world, ever since the time of the Pharaohs.

Singapore and Egypt enjoy warm and long-standing relations. Our ties with Egypt go back to 1965, when Egypt was the first Arab country to recognise Singapore's independence and it was also the first Middle Eastern country that Singapore established diplomatic relations with in November 1966. Since then, bilateral relations have grown from strength to strength. The stamp issue interestingly depicts the two significant rivers of Egypt and Singapore. Historically, when Singapore was founded in 1819, trade, commerce and finance activities sprang up on the banks of the river, enabling Singapore to flourish as an entrepot. Today, the Singapore River continues to play an important role in Singapore's landscape, with many bustling food and commercial activities found along it. During my stay in Singapore earlier in the year, I spent many hours along this river sampling the delicacies on offer at the many pubs and restaurants along the river. Similarly, the Nile, the longest river in the world, has been the lifeline of civilisation in Egypt for thousands of years. In fact, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus described Egypt as the gift of the Nile. Flowing northwards into the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile irrigates Egypt's rich agricultural lands. The Nile has indeed sustained major population centres living beside it for a very long time.

Therefore, both the Nile and the Singapore River have played a key role in the history and development of Egypt and Singapore respectively. It would not be wrong to say that this stamp issue will be a treasured and special one for stamp collectors, as well as for all those who are interested in the important role of the two rivers in the two countries over the years.

Aromatic Flowers – Jasmine 2.5.2012

Cyprus issued this wonderful set of stamps on 2^nd May, 2012, and I had the good fortune of getting this FDC from my good friend Merja. And, these stamps are not just beautiful but, aromatic as well. They smell devine, and one feels as though one is standing in a garden full of jasmine. Yes, that’s true. 

Europa - Visit Cyprus 2.5.2012

These two stamps on the special cover were issued by Cyprus. They belong the series of EUROPA stamps printed every year by member countries on a common theme. This year’s Tourism Promotion theme is “VISIT…”. And so we have the Visit Cyprus stamps on the cover given to me by my friend Merja.

The Philippine Eagle

The Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines   is a sovereign country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam. The Sulu Sea to the southwest lies between the country and the island of Borneo, and to the south the Celebes Sea separates it from other islands of Indonesia. It is bounded on the east by the Philippine Sea. Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but have also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. An archipelago comprising 7,107 islands, the Philippines is categorized broadly into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila.

WWF’s involvement in the Philippines dates back to 1969, when it funded efforts to protect the Philippine eagle. The Philippine Eagle was officially declared the national bird of the Philippines on 4 July 1995 by President Fidel V. Ramos under Proclamation No. 615. This eagle, because of its size and rarity, is also a highly desired bird for birdwatchers. This fabulous set of four First Day Covers with the lovely matching stamps were issued to commemorate an official  WWF Philippine Programme which was established in Manila to supervise WWF's numerous field activities and to work more closely with local partners. This turned into an associate programme known locally as Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas (Fund for Nature of the Philippines). In 1997 it became a full member of the WWF Network. The stamps feature the Philippine Eagle. The details are (Denomination and Image) P1.00 Philippine eagle head profile; P4.75 Philippine eagle perched on a branch of a tree; P5.50 Philippine eagle in flight and P8.00 Philippine eagle feeding an eaglet in the nest.

The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle, is an eagle of the family Accipitridae that is endemic to forests in the Philippines. It has brown and white-coloured plumage, and a shaggy crest, and generally measures 86 to 102 centimetres (2.82 to 3.35 ft) in length and weighs 4.7 to 8 kilograms (10 to 18 lb). Among the rarest, largest, and most powerful birds in the world. It is critically endangered, mainly due to massive loss of habitat due to deforestation in most of its range. Killing a Philippine Eagle is punishable under Philippine law by twelve years in jail and heavy fines. The Philippine Eagle's nape is adorned with long brown feathers that form a shaggy crest. These feathers give it the appearance of possessing a lion's mane, which in turn resembles the mythical griffin. The eagle has a dark face and a creamy-brown nape and crown. The back of the Philippine Eagle is dark brown, while the underside and under wings are white. The heavy legs are yellow with large, powerful dark claws, and the prominent large, high-arched, deep beak is a bluish-gray. The eagle's eyes are blue-gray. Juveniles are similar to adults except that their upper part feathers have pale fringes. This wonderful set of FDc was given to me by my friend Maria.

Centenary of the Post Office Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands (the western portion of the island is a part of the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua). It is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, in a region defined since the early 19th century as Melanesia. The capital is Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea is one of the most culturally diverse countries on Earth. According to recent data, 841 different languages are listed for the country, although 11 of these have no known living speakers. (A detailed series of language maps of Papua New Guinea may be found at Ethnologue) There may be at least as many traditional societies, out of a population of about 6.2 million. It is also one of the most rural, as only 18% of its people live in urban centres. The country is one of the world's least explored, culturally and geographically, and many undiscovered species of plants and animals are thought to exist in the interior of Papua New Guinea. The majority of the population live in traditional societies and practise subsistence-based agriculture. These societies and clans have some explicit acknowledgement within the nation's constitutional framework. The PNG Constitution (Preamble 5(4)) expresses the wish for "traditional villages and communities to remain as viable units of Papua New Guinean society", and for active steps to be taken in their preservation.
After being ruled by three external powers since 1884, Papua New Guinea gained its independence from Australia in 1975. It remains a Commonwealth realm of Her Majesty Elizabeth II, Queen of Papua New Guinea. Many people live in extreme poverty, with about one third of the population living on less than US$1.25 per day.

Like the natural beauty of the country, Papua New Guinea stamps are among the worlds most beautiful and colourful. This FDC was issued on 9.10.1985 to commemorate the Centenary of the Post Office. My friend Maria gave me this nice First Day Cover.

Development of the New Rural and Urban Residents’ Pension Schemes

The 17^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2007 set the goal of putting in place a social security scheme covering both urban and rural residents. In 2008 the CPC decided to establish a new rural pension scheme. In 2009, the State Council introduced a pilot scheme in 10% of the regions in China, which expanded to 60% in 2011, when a pilot scheme for urban residents was carried out alongside. The two schemes would realise full coverage of the population in China by 2012. With the intro duction of the New Rural and Urban Residents’ Pension Schemes, a social security system covering both rural and urban citizens has been basically put in place in China. The two schemes are of great significance to guarantee and improve people’s livlihood, promote economic growth in urban and rural areas, and maintain social harmony and stability.

The China National Philatelic Corporation specially issued a commemorative cover and a lovely stamp to go with it, to mark the development of the new rural and urban residenrs’ pension schemes in China. My friend Françoise sent me this nice FDC.

Golden Eagle

This mini sheet from Azerbaijan portrays the majestic Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) which is one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas. Despite being extirpated from some its former range or uncommon, the species is still fairly ubiquitous, being present in Eurasia, North America, and parts of Africa. The highest density of nesting Golden Eagles in the world lies in southern Alameda County, California. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks.
Golden Eagles use their agility and speed combined with extremely powerful talons to snatch up prey including rabbits, marmots, ground squirrels, and large mammals such as foxes, wild and domestic cats, mountain goats, ibex, and young deer. They will also eat carrion if prey is scarce, as well as reptiles. Birds, including large species up to the size of swans and cranes as well as ravens and Greater Black-backed Gulls have all been recorded as prey. They have even been known to attack and kill fully grown roe deer. The Eurasian subspecies is used to hunt and kill wolves in many native communities, where their status is regarded with great mystic reverence.
Golden Eagles maintain territories that may be as large as 155 square kilometres (60 sq mi). They are monogamous and may remain together for several years or possibly for life. Golden Eagles nest in high places including cliffs, trees, or human structures such as telephone poles. They build huge nests to which they may return for several breeding years. Females lay from one to four eggs, and both parents incubate them for 40 to 45 days. Typically, one or two young survive to fledge in about three months.

150th Birth Anniversary of Aleksis Kivi 10.101984

My friend Pia gave me this commemorative FDC, issued on 10.10.1984 in honour of Aleksis Kivi’s 150th Birth Anniversary.Aleksis Kivi, originally Alexis Stenvall, (1834-1872), was a Finnish national author and poet, creator of modern Finnish literature. His major novel, Seitsemän veljestä "The seven brothers" (1870), the classic of Finnish culture, has been translated into several languages. Aleksis Kivi was born in Nurmijärvi on the 10th of October 1834 to a rather poor family with three sons. His father Eerik Johan Stenvall was a tailor but a relatively educated man, his mother Annastiina, came from a smith's family. In the house where Kivi was living, the master had a wide library and soon Kivi got to know works from authors such as Shakespeare, Cervantes and Byron. Kivi fell in love with his masters daughter Albina Palmquist, who later moved to Denmark. This relationship probably gave influence to Kivi's female characters in several of his plays. Kivi finished his secondary school in 1857 and was admitted to the University of Helsinki in 1859. The classics of literature and theatre were his interests. The same year he made his first play, Kullervo, which was based on the Kalevala, The Finnish National Epic. In Helsinki, Kivi made friends with leading Finnish speaking personalities such as J.V. Snellman, Elias Lönnrot, Fredrik Cygnaeus and Emil Nervander, who were also his supporters, Snellman also economically. Kivi wasn't very keen on studying, and spent more time writing and drinking than in university. After winning a competition held by the Finnish Literature Society, for his play Kullervo (1859), he had enough money to continue writing in Nurmijärvi and in Siuntio. Charlotta Lönnqvist, who is considered his biggest supporter, helped him along and during that period he published 12 plays, a collection of poems and a play Nummisuutarit "The Heath Cobblers", which won the State prize in 1865. Kivi's friend and supporter, theatre director Kaarlo Bergbom, made many of his plays known to the public. This epoch-making period, which started in 1863, dedicated Kivi to his mission in life as an author. The novel Seitsemän veljestä "Seven brothers" published in 1870, received scathing criticism from the Finnish professor August Ahlqvist, who characterized the book as a blot on the name of Finnish literature, from its realism, humor and language, which he found too offending and vulgar. With this critic and disparagement, Ahlqvist totally blackened his reputation, and became a symbolic example of oppressiveness against artistic freedom. For Kivi's susceptible nature, this critic was a prime cause for his mental collapse later on. The last years of his life, apart from his constant financial difficulties and breakdown, Kivi also suffered from schizophrenia, and received treatment in the mental hospital of Lapinlahti in Helsinki. Aleksis Kivi died on December 31st, 1872 in Tuusula, where his brother had taken him to spend his last months. The statue of Aleksis Kivi is erected in front of the Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki, next to the railway station as depicted in the maxi card which I had displayed in my postcards blog http://mypicturepostcards.blogspot.in/search/label/Finland on 15th February, 2012..

150th Anniversary of Kalevala 28.2.1983

This historic FDS with the iconic stamps was issued on 28.02.1985, in order to celebrate 150 years of the Kalevala. The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology. It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature. The Kalevala played an instrumental role in the development of the Finnish national identity, the intensification of Finland's language strife and the growing sense of nationality that ultimately led to Finland's independence from Russia in 1917. The first version of The Kalevala (called The Old Kalevala) was published in 1835. The version most commonly known today was first published in 1849 and consists of 22,795 verses, divided into fifty songs (Finnish: runot). The title can be interpreted as "The land of Kaleva" or "Kalevia".

The postage stamp on the left (1.50) depicts the Finnish oral poet Petri Shemeikka. The picture is based on a photo taken by Samuli Paulaharju. The postage stamp on the right (2.10) depicts the Finnish oral poet Larin Paraske. The painting is done by Albert Edelfelt, but there is an error: she didn’t play the kantele at all.

This lovely FDC was given to me by my dear friend Pia.

Peacock

The peafowl, of genus peafowl, family Phasiamidae, is a non-migrant bird. There are only two species of it in the world. The green ones (Pavo muticus) are found in western and southern Yunnan of China and Southeast Asia, and the blue ones (Pavo cristanis) inhabit India and Sri Lanka. The white peafowl is the albino aberrant form of the blue peafowl. Peafowl dwell in subtropical grasslands and jungles less than 2000 metres above sea level. They usually move in flocks of 3 or 5 and feed on grass seeds, fruits and insects. The male bird is over two metres in length, in iridescent blue and green, with a crest and tail coverts. The coverts make a splendid fan when spread, and are like a beautiful curtain when closed. The female does not have tail coverts and is pale brown on the back. Peafowl are precious birds that people love as a symbol of auspiciousness.

This picture of a Peacock on a Chinese Souvenir Sheet is indeed a piece of art in itself.

100th Anniversary of Mikhail Yangel

This cover and the stamp on it was issued by Ukraine in honour of one of the greatest missile designers in erstwhile Soviet Union or USSR. Mikhail Kuzmich Yangel (25 October 1911 –. 25 October 1971) was a leading missile designer in the Soviet Union. His career started as an aviation engineer, after graduating from Moscow Aviation Institute in 1937. He worked with famous aircraft designers Nikolai Polikarpov and later, Artem Mikoyan. Then he moved to the field of ballistic missiles, where he first was in charge of guidance systems. As Sergei Korolev’s associate, he set up a rocket propulsion center in Dnipropetrovsk in the Ukraine which later formed the basis of his own OKB-586 design bureau in 1954. At first, Yangel’s facility served to mass-produce and further develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in which area Yangel was a pioneer of storeable hypergolic fuels. His bureau designed the R-12, R-16 and R-36, whose launch vehicle adaptations are known as Cosmos,Tsyklon, Dnepr respectively are still in use today. Yangel narrowly avoided death during the development of the R-16 in the Nedelin catastrophe. Yangel's bureau was part of the General Machine-Building Ministry headed by Sergey Afanasyev.

For his outstanding work, Mikhail Yangel was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1960 and USSR State Prize in 1967. He was also awarded four Orders of Lenin, Order of the October Revolution, and numerous medals. He died in Moscow on 25^th October 1971.

Several notable places were named after Yangel:

A street in the Chertanovo neighborhood in Moscow

A Metro station Ulitsa Akademika Yangelya on the Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya Line (near the above street)

A street in Kiev

One of the two major streets in Baikonur (the other is in honor of his main rival Sergei Korolev)

The crater Yangel on the Moon.

A minor planet 3039 Yangel discovered by Soviet astronomer Lyudmila Zhuravlyova in 1978 is named after him.

Order of St. Sergei and St. Herman 100th anniversary 18.2.1985

Sergei and Herman of Valaam (1100 - 1199) were founders of Valaam (Valamo) Orthodox Monastery which grew up on an island in Lake Ladoga. They are the miracle-workers of Valaam and the bringers of enlightenment to Karelia. Sergei and Herman probably lived in the 12th century, though some scholars have placed the foundation of Valaam - and thus the lives of Sergei and Herman - in the 14th century. The Brotherhood of St. Sergius and Herman is focused on catechetical education and parish level diaconia.  The organization was founded in 1885. Hence, the issue of this stamp designed by Pentti Rahikainen and issued on the 100^th Anniversary of these two Saints on 18.02.1985.

The Orthodox Church of Finland honors both of the founders of the monastery Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam as Enlighteners of Karelia as well as Saints. Their day of memory is celebrated yearly on June 28. The day of memory of All Enlighteners of Karelia is celebrated on the Saturday between the last day of October and November 6th. My dear friend Pia sent me this iconic FDC.

250th Anniversary of the 1734 Legislation of Sweden 6.10.1984

This First Day Cover and the Finnish postage stamp on it was issued to celebrate the 250 years' anniversary of the 1734 Legislation of Sweden. At the time of the anniversary, parts of this legislation was still in use in Finland. This FDC was given to me by my dear friend Pia.

300th Anniversary of the Russian Navy

The Russian Navy is the naval arm of the Russian Military. The present Russian Navy was formed in January 1992, succeeding the Navy of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which had itself succeeded the Soviet Navy following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The first Russian Navy was established by Peter the Great (Peter I) in October 1696. Ascribed to Peter I is the oft-quoted statement: "A ruler that has but an army has one hand, but he who has a navy has both." The symbols of the Russian Navy, the St. Andrew's flag and ensign (seen to the right), and most of its traditions were established personally by Peter I. The international designation of Russian naval vessels is RFS — Russian Federation Ship.

The Russian Navy possesses the vast majority of the former Soviet naval forces, and currently comprises the Northern Fleet, the Russian Pacific Fleet, the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Russian Baltic Fleet, the Russian Caspian Flotilla, Naval Aviation, and the Coastal Troops (consisting of the Naval Infantry and the Coastal Missile and Artillery Troops). The Russian Navy has suffered severely since the dissolution of the Soviet Union due to insufficient maintenance, lack of funding and thereby training of personnel and timely replacement of equipments. Another setback is attributed to Russia's domestic shipbuilding industry which is reported to have been in decline as to their capabilities of constructing contemporary hardware efficiently. Some analysts even say that because of this Russia's naval capabilities have been facing a slow but certain "irreversible collapse".
This commemorative Miniature sheet of 4 Russian stamps, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. was issued on 26th July 1996. The ship shown at top left was the Galley Printcipyum that served in the Navy in 1696. The ship shown in the stamp below that is the Azov which was a 74-gun ship of the line of the Imperial Russian Navy. Azov was built in 1826 to compensate the losses of the disastrous 1824 Saint Petersburg flood. In the same year Azov, commanded by Mikhail Lazarev, became the flagship of Admiral Login Geiden's First Mediterranean Squadron and sailed to the Aegean on a joint English-French-Russian peacekeeping mission. On October 20, 1827 Azov spearheaded the Russian squadron into in the Battle of Navarino. She engaged numerous enemy ships and sustained heavy damage. After refit at Malta Azov continued her service as Geiden's flagship and enforced naval blockade of Greece and the Dardanelles. In the beginning of 1830 Azov returned to Kronstadt. By this time the ship was literally rotten owing to poor workmanship and combat damage. She was retired in the same year and broken up in 1831 after only four years in service.
The stamp at top right depicts a Nuclear powered missile submarine. And below that is a stamp showing the Aircraft Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov. This ship proudly called Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza Kuznetsov "Fleet Admiral of the Soviet Union Kuznetsov", laid down as Riga, launched as Leonid Brezhnev, on sea trials as Tbilisi, and finally named Kuznetsov is an aircraft cruiser (heavy aircraft carrying missile cruiser (TAVKR) in Russian classification) serving as the flagship of the Russian Navy. She was originally commissioned in the Soviet Navy, and was intended to be the lead ship of her class, but the only other ship of her class, Varyag, was never completed or commissioned and was sold to the People's Republic of China as a hulk by Ukraine. Kuznetsov was named after the Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov. This pretty mini sheet was given to me by my dear friend Maria.

140th Anniversary of Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association

Kiang Wu Hospital Charitable Association (referred to as Kiang Wu Charitable Association), is one of the relatively large-scale charitable organizations run by the locals in Macao, was established in 1871. It has gone through three centuries of history and reached the age of 140. The purpose of the Charitable Association is to undertake charity activities, provide medical services, and develop education to benefit the general public. The Charitable Association is an administrative public welfare legal entity registered with the Macao SAR Government and has subordinate organizations including Kiang Wu hospital, Kiang Wu Nursing College, Kiang Peng Middle School and social service organizations including the Kiang Wu Funeral Parlour and the Kiang Wu Mourning Garden.

As being the main body of the Charitable Association, at the time of establishment, Kiang Wu Hospital dedicated their efforts into helping the sick by using traditional Chinese medicine. At that time, natural disasters frequently took place in the mainland, which brought continuous misery upon the people in Mainland China, so the directors of the Charitable Association proactively made donation to relieve the people in disasters. In 1893, Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty granted the Association a plaque, with “Built under the Emperor’s Order” as recognition of their contribution. In 1892, Mr. Sun Yat-sen went to Kiang Wu Hospital to undertake the post of voluntary doctor of western medicine and opened up the vanguard of western medicine. ln order to support Mr. Sun Yat-sen in connecting with the society by making use of his medical skills to declare the thoughts of democratic revolution, the Charitable Association offered great amount of funds for subsidy. During the period of the Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945), Kiang Vu Hospital directly supported the frontline, by providing medical treatment to the wounded, relieving the refugees and acting as the chief of Macao Branch of “War Bond Fundraising Committee” to actively raise funds for supporting the Anti-Japanese War. After Hong Kong was occupied by the British, the Association also helped to evacuate a lot of intellectualists and nationalists. Kiang Vu Hospital has always been serving the community with the spirit of practicing medicine to help, heal, and rescue those in need. Since the foundation of New China in 1949, it has been constantly walking towards modernization.

This set of commemorative stamps in the minisheet on the First Day Cover postmarked 25.10.2011 integrates the images such as the emblem, establishment steel hoard, bronze statue of Mr. Sun Yat-sen, pictures of buildings as well as the white marble embossments, etc., indicates the friendship of the Charitable Association with Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the development process of the Charitable Association closely connected with Macao history of 140 years since the establishment and the consistent purpose of serving the society.