Latest Indian Issue -- Greetings

India released a set of 4 Stamps and a miniature for this festive season  on the topic Greetings...These Stamp features Kolam or Rangoli which is a form of sandpainting decoration that uses finely ground white and coloured powders, and is commonly done outside homes in India.

Date of Release :01-12-09

Denaominations : 5.00Rs X  4

Latest Indian Issues- Textiles of India

Indian post released 4 stamps on the Heritage textiles   of India..The stamp features Appatani  of Arunachal Pradesh,Kanchipuram of Tamilnadu,Kalamkari of  Andhra and Banaras of Uttapradesh..These silk sarees are world famous for their style,and look and many more..Most of these Silk Sarees took nearly 20-45 days to be woven by hand...Indians wore these silk wears on Special occasions.......

Date of Issue : 10-12-09

Dena\omination:5.00 Rs X 4

Latest Indian Issues- Convent Of Jesus And Mary, Ambala Convent.

                                                                          The Congregation of Jesus & Mary was founded in the year 1818. by Mille.Claudine Thevenet in Lyons, France.The Congregation has spread to 26 countries,all over the world.They came to India in 1842.It now runs several English and Vernacular Medium Schools, Degree Colleges, Teacher Training Centres and Boarding (Houses) Establishments in both urban and rural areas of India.Convent of Jesus and Mary School was opened on 2nd December , 1909 in Ambala Cant, today the school has strength of 1400 pupils drawn from different classes.The school celebrates its Centenary Year with joy and pride and rededicate itself to the service of mankind.

Denomination : 5.00 Rupees

Date of Issue: 02-12-09

LAtest Indian Issues- 2nd Lancers

The 2nd Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army raised in 1809. They served in the Nepal War and the First World War. During the reconstruction of the British Indian Army in 1922 they were amalgamated with the 4th Cavalry

Date of release : 02-12-09
Denomination : 5.00 Rupees

Latest Indian Issues- Preservation of Polar Regions

Hello to all Philatelic friends!!!!!!!!!! sorry for my late update on Indian issues latest releases .. 

Indian Post has all joined the prestigious campaign in issueing stamps for the Preservation of Polar regions. The international stamp campaign is being coordinated by Itella’s Philatelic Centre in Finland.Each participant country will issue its stamps on its own schedule in the period January-March 2009. Each country will also decide independently on the illustration theme for its issue. 

Date of Release : 19-12-09

Denomination : 5.00 Rs X 2

Exchange proposals are always welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Figure Skating

     Thanks to the great devotion from my dear Indian friend to this blog. But due to some obvious reason everyone knows, I cannot visit this site often. Since all the Mengjiangnv is gone, what else could I do.

However, I still should write some more for our blog, that is also what I exactly want.

           

OK, time to back on road. Today’s topic is about a Chinese figure skating couple.

            Congrats! Shen/Zhao, they accomplished an impressive show in Tokyo. Winning a score 214, breaking the world record 206 which was just set a few weeks ago by the powerful Germany opponent. That is the 6^th times for this couple winning the Grand Prix since 1998. They just came back to the competition earlier this year. However, since then, they kept breaking their records.

This match was held in the Yoyogi stadium which was built for 1964 Olympic. I visited this perfect shaped stadium in 2007 and taking the following photo from the outside flyover.

            The superstar thrown of the pair figure skating in recent 20 years should be conquered by Grinkov/Gordeeva, sadly Grinkov was taken by heart attack in 1995 forever. After that, Shen/Zhao become one of the most excellent pairs in this sport, taking 3 of the world champion titles plus 2 Olympic medals. They just belong to two different generations, which is impossible to imagine their competition. Of course, I believe competition could lead to self mastery and more amazing performance, this is also what our audience could enjoy more. Luckily, we still have the Germany pair, who did not act perfectly in Japan due to tiring game schedule. Hope they could have better condition in the coming Olympic, while Shen/Zhao keep good health.

            China is a special country, where Olympic gold medal is everything while the silver seems to be nothing. I just hope this phenomenon could be changed forever after the domination in 2008 Beijing Olympic. The sports fans should more focus on the sports themselves not the so called national honor anymore.

            Because each sports is different. Like table tennis and badminton, maybe they just fit our oriental race, Chinese almost takes all of the gold. But like winter sport, there are only two provinces in China are cold enough for people to enjoy skating and skiing. And sadly the only two are not the most developed ones who could provide more fund to develop such sports. That is why the winter sports honor is relatively less. The first winter Olympic medal was won in 1992, 8 years later than summer Olympic and the first gold was won in 2002, 18 years later. The best achievement is only 2 gold in the Olympic and out of the top 10.

            Just 2 my cents, any break, any development in winter sports could touch me more, even if it is not a gold. While I did not watch table tennis, the so called “national ball” ever since 1998.

            Among those a few winter sports which is strong enough to win a medal, figure skating is one. The first figure skating world champion was won by Chenlu in 1996, female single. In the following sheets issued by Azerbaijan 1998, one stamp was for her. And the Sierra Lione issue as well.

 

            Shen/Zhao is the following world champion. They won three titles. I was lucky to watch one of their shows in 2002, in Beijing. Sadly at that time I did not have the digital camera so no pictures left. At the beginning, Chinese skaters are considered to have good technology but bad performance. They could jump often but not understand the music well, and lack in the art expressive ability. After Shen/Zhao, this definition is changed totally.Do you still remember their perfect performance followed the music “Nessun dorma" from Puccini’s Turandot, which touched so many audience.

            During their hey days among around 2004, they are ready to fight for the Olympic title, but a unexpected injury broke their plan. Zhao suffered from torn ligament. They stood up again soon but due to the short recovery time, they just won bronze in Turin. In 2007, still in Tokyo, after a perfect season, Zhao proposed facing all the audience on the ice. After that, they retired.

            But for the love of the figure skating or for the dream of the Olympic gold, they are back this year. Unbelievable, they are still perfect to win the Grand prix and even broke the world record.

            Zhao is 36 years old while Shen is 30. They are fighting for their dreams. Everything is so hard, but they are keeping trying. Congrats! and Good luck.

            So far I did not know any stamps issued for this couple of world champion yet. But Azerbaijan and Mongolia did record the legendary Grinkov couple forever on the stamps. (Sadly I cannot find my Azerbaijan sheet right now to scan, I supposed to have one. You can refer to the wikipedia Grinkov page, you will see that. ) Maybe one day, we can see Shen/Zhao as well. If anyone have some ideas of their issue, would you please contact me.

            BTW, my favorite stamps about pair figure skating was issued by Hungary in 1980. As following.

(All the stamps and pictures without notice are scanned or taken by myself, if you need larger pictures please contact me.)

Latest Indian Stamps -- Silent Valley

                                             The Silent Valley rain forest, one of the few remaining patches of evergreen forests in the country, was declared a national park on November 15, 1984 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The Park was dedicated to the nation in 1985 by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

India Post released a Commemorative Stamp on Silent Valley on 15^th November 2009 on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebration of declaration of Silent Valley as a National Park. On 15th November 1983 the Silent Valley forests were declared as a National Park by Smt. Indira Gandhi, Ex. Prime Minister of India. Later Silent Valley National Park was formally inaugurated and a memorial at Sairandhri to Indira Gandhi was unveiled by Shri. Rajiv Gandhi, Ex. Prime Minister of India. The design of the Stamp is Smt Indira Gandhi seeing the Valley and the design of the cancellation is flowers of the valley.

Date Of Issue:-15.11.2009.

                                                             

Indonesian Torch relay Cover

Indonesian Torch relay cover issued in 22-4-09 for the effective relay in Jakarta

2008 Beijing Games Torch relay

 

 

The image of Lightning of the Olympic Torch by Maria Nafpliotou

The first Olympic Torch Bearer Vassilis Dimitriadis

The photo of Transfer of Olympic torch to  Vassilis Dimitriadis

Indonesian Issue for 2008 Olympics

 

Indonesian Issue to commemorate the 29th Olympics Beijing,China..The above presentation pack contains sheetlet of Stamps,A FDC and Olympic Torch Relay Cover ( Shown in Next post Separately)

The FDC bears the cancellation of the Greek God Zeus..

The Stamps are released on 18-03-08

London wins 2012 Hosting

Finally London won the Bid for 2012 Olympics..They issued this overprint stamp to celebrate their victory for hosting 2012 Olympics..

117th I.O.C. Session for 2012 Olympics Hosting

 

 

Singapore issued 4 stamps to celebrate the 117th I.O.C. Session where the bid for 30th Olympic Games held.,And finally London won the bid beating  New York-USA,Madrid-Spain,Moscow-Russia and Paris-France

Also Singapore is going to host the first Youth Olympics in 2010..

Waiting for my set of Stamps which I'm waiting to for....

2012 London Olympics FDC

The First Set of Stamps released by Britain to celebrate their hosting of  the prestigious 30th Olympic Games in London for the year 2012..

The Cover bears the cancellation of Badminton,

A very beautiful FDC sent by my friend Steve...Thanks a lot my friend....

(Due to the Postal Service strike in London,The letter reached a quite later)

Vietnam 2008 Olympic Stamps

 

The Vietnam Issue for Olympics sent to me by registered .....

Vietnam issued 4 stamps to celebrate their participation in Olympics 2008,Beijing,P.R.China.

The Stamp shows Fencing ( Sorry!!! I Couldn't read that,,,,Hope it'll be  Fencing),Canoeing,Tae-Kwon-Do ,Swimming.

A beautiful set and excellent stamps and Unique Shape like a Trapezium and has an Elliptical Shape  perforation too..

Thanks to my friend Hoang from Vietnam for the nice cover....

Latest Indian Issue -India - Philippines Joint issue

                                                                        The Ganges River Dolphin or Gangetic Dolphin is a freshwater dolphin that is found primarily in the River Ganges. Its zoological name is Platanista gangetica.The Ganges River Dolphin can be seen in several rivers of South Asia. There are two subspecies of the Ganges River Dolphin - one which is found in the Indus River and the other is found in river systems of North India, Nepal and Bangladesh. It can be seen in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna in India, the Karnali River in Nepal and the Karnaphuli and Sangu Rivers in Bangladesh.

The Ganges River Dolphin is found in fresh water in rivers across the Indian subcontinent. It prefers to swim in deeper waters. During times of flood the Ganges River Dolphin is also seen in seasonal channels and flood plains. It prefers to stay in water with a temperature between 8 and 33 deg Celcius.The Ganges River Dolphin eats various species of fish, frogs, amphibians and other invertebrates and possibly turtles and young water birds. Fish is the main part of its diet and the Ganges River Dolphin spends much of its time feeding near the riverbed. It uses echolocation to find its prey and also uses its flippers and snout to locate something edible in the muddy riverbed.

Butanding (Rhincodon typus)is a whale shark with scientific name (Rhincodon typus). It is a slow moving and largest specie of fish in the world which is also a filter feeding shark. It can live for about 70 year and can grow up to 12.2 meters and weigh up to 13.6 tons. It is usually found in tropical and warm oceans as their habitat.

As a filter feeder, the whale shark’s foods are phytoplankton, macro-algae, plankton, krill and small nektonic like small squids, shrimps and prawns.

The whale sharks “Butanding” usually” visits the waters of the Philippines specifically in Donsol from the month of November to May. Butanding is migratory creature in nature which commonly travels across the oceans which close to the equator. Studies showed that nowhere else in the world they have seen a larger group of butanding than in the waters of Donsol, Sorsogon.

Date of Issue : 16-11-09

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- Children's Day

India's first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was born on November 14. After his death in 1963, his birthday has been celebrated as Children's Day in India.Children's Day is not just a day to let the future generation have its say. It is a day to remember a leader who, in his quiet but determined way, laid the foundation to convert a nascent nation into a world power.

But why Children's Day? Apart from being known for his skills as a statesman, Nehru was also immensely fond of children. The more popular and famous of Nehru's pictures show him with children.

In all the photographs Nehru's joy at being with children is apparent. When he is not sharing pleasantries with them, the expression of intense concentration as he listens to them reveals his commitment and attitude to children. Children to Nehru were little adults in the making.Nehru, to children, is never the Indian political leader and prime minister. He is always Chacha Nehru - Nehru Uncle.

 

Children's Day is an event celebrated on various days in many places around the world. International Children's Day is celebrated on June 1 and Universal Children's Day is on November 20.Other countries celebrate a local 'children's day' on other dates. The holiday is simply set to honor children and minors.

 

 

The first day cover is a Montage of paintings.One shows a child resting from labour demanded on him, far beyond his strength and age- placed between two nurturing hands whoch carry his dreams: the company of other children and an education that empowers him. Below that a glowing night scene depicts a young boy teaching adults to read and write and to learn computer skills.

Another painting shows children’s concern for the elderly and for the physically challenged.In yet another picture a child observant eye and the heart goes out to the enviroment which we do not hesitate to pollute with our everyday activities.

Date of Issue : 14-11-09

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

 

Latest Indian Issue -- 60 Years of The CommonWealth

The Commonwealth is now a unique association of 53 independent states consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding.It comprises countries from all major continents of the world, rich and poor, small and large.In the 60 years since the Declaration, the relevance and value of the relationship has repeatedly been reaffirmed and consolidated.

The creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1965 and the ever expanding number of professional and advocacy Commonwealth organisations reflect this; but most significant is the expansion of membership from 8 in 1949 to 53 in 2009. A clear demonstration of how the scope of the Declaration ensured that the Commonwealth retained a relevance to other newly independent nations.

In many ways the ‘atmosphere of goodwill and mutual understanding’ in which the Declaration was formulated can be seen as the crucible in which the character governing the Commonwealth today was created. It balanced modern realities with the pragmatic and the positive, which is why 30% of the world’s population have cause for celebration in 2009.

Date of Issue : 13-11-2009

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

Latest Indian Issue -- Gauri Shankar Dalmia

Born on November 12, 1910 at Lakhisaray village in Munger district, Bihar, Dalmia took an active part in the freedom struggle.
Responding to the call of Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, he abandoned his family business.
Dalmia, who published ”Prakash” in Hindi and ”The Spark” in English as weekly magazines for about two decades, passed away on June 16, 1988.He was associated with many business and educational institutions.He had an abiding interest in journalism.

Date Of Issue:-12.11.2009.

Thanks to Mr.Vinod for Images

1996 Atlanta Olympics -- USA FDC'S Available with me!!!!!!!

1. Decathlon

2. Free Style Wrestling

3. Men's Canoeing

4. Women Gymnastics

 

 

5. Men's Shortput

 

6. Men's Hurdles

 

 

7.Women's Sailboarding

8. Women's Diving

 

9. Beach Volleyball

10. Men's Running

 

 

 

A different FDC from the previous one for Men's Canoeing....

I request our friends all over the world help me to get the remaining FDC'S also the sheetlet which is not in my collection...............I can offer latest Indian Stamps and Miniature Sheets for exchange!

1996 Atlanta Olympics -- USA Stamps

On May 2, 1996, the U.S. Postal Service held first day of issue ceremonies in Washington D.C. for a new sheet of 20 32-cent stamps commemorating the Atlanta's 1996 Summer Olympics. The ceremonies were originally scheduled to have been held in Atlanta, but at the last minute the Postal Service switched the official release site to Washington D.C. Because many people had planned to attend the Atlanta ceremonies, the Postal Service allowed the Peachtree Center post office in downtown Atlanta to also sell the Olympic stamps on May 2. 

Olympic sports featured on stamps in the sheet (along with the descriptive text that appears on the back of the stamp) are:

Men's Cycling - Sprint cycling was one of the original events in the 1896 Games. It combines speed and strategy on a banked track. A women's event was added in 1988.

Women's Diving - Platform diving is performed from a board 10 meters above the water. The most difficult dive is the back 1 1/2 somersault with 4 1/2 twists. The U.S. has won over half the medals awarded in both men's and women's events.

Women's Running - There are 8 women's running events, from 100 meters to the marathon (26 miles, 385 yards). Until 1964, the longest race was only 200 meters.

Men's Canoeing - Whitewater, or slalom, events were added temporarily in 1972 and permanently in 1988. Flatwater canoeing has been part of the Games since 1936.

Decathlon - The decathlon consists of 10 events. On the first day, athletes compete in the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 400-meter run. On the second day, they perform the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500-meter run.

Women's Soccer - Although men's soccer has been a part of the Games since 1900, a women's tournament will be held for the first time in 1996. Eight teams will take part.

Men's Shot Put - The shot put has been included in all Games since 1896. A shot is a 16-pound ball of iron or brass. The United States has won 15 of 22 gold medals.

Women's Sailboarding - The first sailboarding contest was included in the 1984 Los Angeles Games. A separate women's event was added in 1992.

Women's Gymnastics - Women gymnasts compete in an all-around event, a team event, floor exercises, balance beam, uneven bars, and vault. Contestants must be at least 15 years old by the end of 1996.

Freestyle Wrestling - Wrestling has 10 weight divisions. It is the only sport with a maximum weight limit; wrestlers must be less than 286 pounds. The United States has earned more medals than any other nation.

Women's Softball - Softball will make its first appearance in the 1996 Games. The United States team is the world champion and one of the teams favored to win a medal.

Women's Swimming - The women's 400-meter freestyle event was first held in 1920; the 800-meter event was added in 1968. American women have won 15 of 24 gold medals in these events.

Men's Sprinting Events - The 100 meters and 400 meters were part of the first Games in 1896. In the 100, 200, and 400 meters and the two sprint relays, the United States has won two-thirds of the gold medals.

Men's Rowing - There will be 14 rowing events contested at the 1996 Games; 8 for men and 6 for women. For the first time, lightweight events will be included for men under 160 lbs. and for women under 130 lbs.

Beach Volleyball - Beach Volleyball, played with two-person teams, will be added to the Games program for the first time in 1996. There will be both men's and women's events.

Men's Basketball - Since basketball first made its appearance in 1936, the United States has won 92 games and lost only 2. Professionals from the NBA were allowed to compete for the first time in 1992.

Equestrian - Equestrian is one of the only two sports in which women compete against men. The jumping event was first included in the 1900 Games. The sport was opened to women in 1952.

Men's Gymnastics - Male gymnasts compete in 6 events; horizontal bar, parallel bars, vault, pommel horse, rings, and floor exercises. There are also an all-around event and a team event.

Men's Swimming - The backstroke event was first included in the Games of 1900. There are now two events; the 100 meters, which is two lengths of the pool, and the 200 meters, which is four lengths.

Men's Hurdles - The 110-meter hurdles event has been included in all Games since 1896. The United States has earned 48 medals. No other nation has won more than 5.

1996 Atlanta Olympics .... Contd...

 MASCOT:
        The mascot for the Olympiad was an abstract, animated character named Izzy. In contrast to the standing tradition of mascots of national or regional significance in the city hosting the Olympiad, Izzy was an amorphous, computer-designed fantasy figure.

 

HIGHLIGHTS:
         

A record 197 nations, all current IOC member nations, took part, with a record 79 of them winning at least one medal. Palestine was allowed to compete in the Olympics for the first time. Also for the first time, Olympic medals were won by the athletes from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burundi, Ecuador, Georgia, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mozambique, Slovakia, Tonga, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Lee Lai Shan won a gold medal in sailing, the only Olympic medal that Hong Kong ever won as a British colony (1952-1997). This meant that for the only time, the colonial flag of Hong Kong was raised to the accompaniment of the anthem God Save the Queen, as Hong Kong's sovereignty was later transferred to China in 1997.

Softball, beach volleyball and mountain biking debuted on the Olympic program, together with women's soccer/football and lightweight rowing.

• Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic torch during the opening ceremonies of the games and received a replacement gold medal for his boxing victory in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
• Kurt Angle of the United States won the gold medal in 100 kg (220 lb) freestyle wrestling while suffering from a fractured neck
• Slovene gymnast Leon Štukelj arose at the opening ceremony as one of the oldest living sportsmen in the world (age 97)
• Naim Süleymanoğlu became the first weightlifter to win three gold medals.
• Donovan Bailey of Canada won the men's 100 m, setting a new world record of 9.84 seconds at that time. He also anchored his team's gold in the 4x100 m relay.
• Michael Johnson won gold in both the 200 m and 400 m, setting a new world record of 19.32 seconds in the 200 m. Johnson afterward began disputing Bailey's unofficial title as the "world's fastest man", which later culminated in a 150-metre race between the two to settle the issue.
• Marie-José Perec equaled Johnson's performance, although without a world record, by winning the rare 200 m/400 m double.
• Carl Lewis won his 4th long jump gold medal at the age of 35.
• Cycling professionals were admitted to the Olympics, with five-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain winning the inaugural individual time trial event.
• Michelle Smith of Ireland won three gold medals and a bronze in swimming. She remains her nation's most decorated Olympian. However, her victories were overshadowed by doping allegations even though she did not test positive in 1996. She received a four-year suspension in 1998 for tampering with a urine sample, though her medals and records were allowed to stand.
• Kerri Strug of the United States women's gymnastics team vaulted with an injured ankle and landed on one foot. The US women's gymnastics team won its first gold medal.
• Shannon Miller of the United States won the gold medal on the balance beam event. The first time an American Gymnast had won an individual gold medal outside of a contested Olympic games.
• Amy Van Dyken won four gold medals in the Olympic swimming pool, the first American woman to win four titles in a single Olympiad.
• Deon Hemmings became the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal for Jamaica and the English-speaking West Indies.
• Five athletes were disqualified for using banned drugs. A few of these athletes were reinstated since the drug they took had been declared illegal only a week before the Olympics.
• Andre Agassi won the gold medal in tennis. This helped him become the first male player to ever win the career Golden Slam.
• Deng Yaping of China won two gold medals in Women singles and doubles of table tennis. She also won these two titles in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
• The US women's soccer team won the gold medal in the first ever women's soccer event.
• Xeno Müller won gold for the Men's single scull event (rowing) in his first Olympic appearance. His time of 6:44.85 is still the current Olympic record.
• Alexander Karelin won his third Olympic gold medal as a Greco-Roman wrestler.
• Spain won gold at the inagural rhythmic gymnastics team competition defeating the favorite and reigning world champion Bulgaria who won the World Championship less than a month ago.

1996 Atlanta Olympics

                                       Atlanta was in September 1990 in Tokyo, Japan, over Athens, Belgrade, Manchester, Melbourne and Toronto. Atlanta's bid to host the Summer Games that began in 1987 was considered a long-shot, since the U.S. had hosted the Summer Olympics just 3 games earlier in Los Angeles. Atlanta's main rivals were Toronto, whose front running bid that began in 1986 seemed almost sure to succeed after Canada had held a successful 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and Melbourne, Australia, who hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics and felt that the Olympic Games should return to Australia. The Athens bid was based on sentiment, the fact that these Olympic Games would be the 100th Anniversary of the first Summer Games in Greece in 1896.

1996 Summer Olympics Bidding Results

City	NOC Name	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5
Atlanta	United States	19	20	26	34	51
Athens	Greece	23	23	26	30	35
Toronto	Canada	14	17	18	22	-
Melbourne	Australia	12	21	16	-	-
Manchester	United Kingdom	11	5	-	-	-
Belgrade	Yugoslavia	7	-	-	-	-