Barrel Mail..

 

  

Date of Issue : 6 August 2013

A new stamp released by the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is dedicated to barrel mail. From around 1909 mail and other essential items were delivered to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands within barrels lowered or dropped from passing P&O and Orient Line ships. The approaching liner would notify the cable station on Direction Island and staff members would collect the barrel from their jukongs.

At the same time, outgoing mail was sealed in a tin can and attached to a line trailing from the ship making the drop. Some mail dispatched to and from the islands in this way carried a range of postal markings and cachets such as “Tin Can Mail” or “Orion Barrel” (in reference to the RMS Orion).

A regular air service, first introduced in 1952, put an end to barrel and tin can mail in 1954.

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New Special cover from Dehradun

 

A new special cover on Nanda Devi Rajjaat Yatra will be released on 20 August 20 13 at Dehradun.

 

Release of Special Cover & Special Cancellation

Venur : Hotel Madhuban, Rajpur Road, Dehradun

Date : 20 August 2013 at 5 PM

: Abhai Mishra – Dehradun

The Nanda Raj Jat offers an unparalleled and complete experience to the travelers with interest in local cultural and religious traditions of Uttarakhand as well as to those who are decent trekking enthusiasts. Its sanctity for locals is equal to Kumbh and it is one of the most lively and colourful festivals in the region.

Nanda devi - the daughter of Kings of mountains, and the consort of Lord Shiva - is the supreme spiritual goddess of the locals of Garhwal and Kumaon region. She visits her maternal dwelling in these Himalayan heights in the Bhadrapad (months of August - September) - and this festive break is celebrated by the natives.

The Nanda Raj Jat takes place once every twelve years - the journey starts from Nauti village accompanying a mythical four-horned sheep and Doli and all sorts of gifts for Nanda Devi, who is treated as a daughter revisiting her mother.

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Yala National Park of Sri Lanka..

 

Date of Issue : 28 July2013

The Philatelic Bureau of Sri Lanka issued six new postage stamps in the denominations of Rs. 5.00, Rs 15.00, Rs. 30.00, Rs. 40.00 and Rs. 50.00 depicting six selected animals living in the Yala National Park to coincide with the completion of seventy five years of the network of Wild Life Reserves in Sri Lanka, as the fourth issue in the series of stamps on Sri Lanka’s National Parks.

As for the objectives of the Wild Life Reserves Network of Sri Lanka which has evolved for a period of seventy five years now since February, 1938, in addition to the long term protection of Wild Life resources, it contributes to a large extent to the national economy of the country as well.

 

 

1.Hawks-bill Turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricate)

Growing to about 3 feet in length, this member is one of eight species of sea turtles recognized in the world, and one of the five that inhabit the coastal waters of Sri Lanka. All turtles are considered globally threatened and live by feeding on sea weeds, grasses, jellyfish, corals etc. They come ashore to lay eggs in a nest dug in the sand with their flippers. A total of 20-40 or more nicely round white eggs are laid in the dugout cavity at night when they beach for nesting. The eggs are covered with sand using  the flippers and pressed with body thumping. The nestlings hatch out in approximately 23-26 days and head out straight to sea. The yolk sac in the belly is supposed to provide the initial energy for the hatchlings to swim as far as possible to the reef areas. They do not come back to land until mature and ready to breed, the age of which has  not yet been established. The nesting beach is believed to be the same area from where  it left as a hatchling. The use of its carapace scales for ornamental accessories by humans  is the biggest threat to its survival.

2.Swamp Crocodile( Crocodylus palustris )

Crocodiles are members of the reptilian group, and are considered to be in the direct line of evolution to birds. They possess a heart with a left aortic blood vessel like the birds and different from the other reptiles. Sri Lanka is blessed with two species – the marsh or swamp crocodile and the larger and more aggressive estuarine crocodile – Crocodylus porosus inhabiting  generally the salt waters.  The swamp crocodile grows to about 10 - 12 feet, with webbed fingers, dorsal nares and a nasal track separated from the mouth by a palate. They are efficient swimmers paddling with the dorso-ventrally flattened tail.  Crocodiles build nests in dug-up cavities in the embankments of rivers etc. in which they lay eggs that are hatched by the addition of decaying vegetation. Crocodiles are very protective of their young and are most aggressive during the period when the young hatchlings are around.  They are carnivorous and feed of dead carcasses or captured animals.

3.Elephant( Elephas maximus )

The largest animal on the Asian continent, the elephant is related to the African elephant in being in the same Family Proboscidea. The main feature of recognition is the presence of the prehensile nose or proboscis. An average animal can grow up to about 7-9 feet at the shoulder. They are herbivorous and need around 1/3rd their body weight in foliage per day. The Sri Lankan elephant feeds 70% on grasses and balance on vegetation plants of around 10cm in diameter at breast height.  Thus it has been recognized as an “edge species”  loitering and feeding in high densities in forest with heavy scrub, open grasslands and water. The cause for damage to property, crops and consequently even to human life is believed mainly due to this preference of food and  a unique feature in its feeding biology. The grinding capacity of the molar teeth that replaces over the years fails to be effective and efficient  in old age and a preference for softer lush “agricultural” food draws them to human habitation. The continued encroachments of their territory by humans have compounded the conflict further. The elephant tamed by us has become  part of our culture and religious practices. Among the Asian elephant  it is only the male that bears the magnificent tusks, a sad cause for its state of threatened status.

 

4.Black-necked Stork( Ephippiorhynchus asiatucus )

The tallest bird of Sri Lanka with a height  over  5 ft. It inhabits coastal wetlands such as marshes, lagoons,  estuaries and large water bodies. A bird that had a distribution in the North West and East of Sri Lanka is presently,  sighted often in the wetlands of the Yala National Park Complex. There has been numerous sightings of birds caring sticks for nesting and  juvenile birds, yet no documented nest has yet been seen in the country  in the last 50 years or more. It is known to nest in tall trees away from the coastline in forests.

5.The Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

An interesting member of the hoofed family - Artiodactyla, they live in small sires, numbering around 4- 5 animals. Moving through the soft earth, like a plough they dig up for yams and grub worms etc. The area left behind after a successful feeding bout is a completely upturned soil. They like to wallow in mud. The babies are lined with black horizontal marks and number up to even 10 in a pack. The male has a fairly large pair of tushes and the females too sometimes have smaller pairs. The adult animals are very protective of their babies and will not hesitate to take  on even a leopard if it happens to stalk the babies.  

6.The Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

The most common mammal is in the dry and semi arid forest in the country.  Generally they are observed in herds of half a dozen to a hundred or more, of both sexes and all ages .   

Spotted deer spends much of its time grazing upon various grasses and herbs in open areas in the forests. They browse on the leaves of bushes, saplings and scrub vegetation also. They are also very fond of the fruits and flowers that fall from the forest trees.

The main predators of this beautiful animal are leopard and crocodile. Their vision and hearing are exceedingly acute and their sense of smell is very well developed. These adaptations help them to escape from predators.

: Sri Lanka Post

New Stamps from Oman

Omani crafts Day 2013 !!

: Pradip Jain – Patna

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Greetings on Eid

 

Eid Mubarak

Greetings to all on festive occasion of Eid !!

Eid is a day of merriment and thanksgiving. Members of the Muslim community celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes.

Eid -ul-Fitr  "festival of breaking of the fast"), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, Eid, is an important religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramazan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day and Muslims are not permitted to fast on that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramazan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality.

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Stamps on children’s songs of Israel

 

Date of Issue : 26 August 2013

Israel Post will issue a sheetlet with 12 stamps on most popular Children’s songs of Israel. These songs have been published in books, numerous versions have been recorded by Israel’s finest artists and to this day they continue to be played on radio and television and in the theater. But most of all, these songs have been preserved thanks to preschool and kindergarten teachers.

As Hebrew culture began to flourish a new and the People of Israel returned to their homeland, children’s songs served as a crucial means to instill language and common values. This stamp series includes a dozen well known children’s songs that are sung by all and passed from one generation to the next. Songs about nature and animals, time and space, family, pain and hope.

The children’s songs are an important part of Israeli music and they provide insight into the world of Israel’s children.

Merry Choir: this happy and optimistic song describes a concert performed by a bird orchestra.

I Am Always Me: This is an enchanting song about a world of contradictions, at the center of which is a boy who always remains himself. This song is identified with play songs and word games.

A Brave Clock: This song about a vigorous clock was based on a foreign-language poem.

What Do the Does Do?: This song bears the name of a children’s book written by poet Leah Goldberg, Israel Prize recipient for literature in 1970.

I Wanted You to Know: This song participated in the 1977 Children’s Song Festival, as the dream of peace between Israel and Egypt became a reality. Although it did not win the competition, the song has become timeless.

Buba Zehava (Doll): this song was written by the poet Miriam Yalan-Shteklis, Israel Prize recipient for children’s literature 1956.

Why Does the Zebra Wear Pajamas?: Author, poet and landscape artist Omer Hillel wrote many stories and songs for children. Musician Dubi Seltzer, 2009 Israel Prize recipient for Israeli music composed the music for this song in the early 1960′s for his wife, singer Geula Gil.

The Prettiest Girl in Kindergarten: This song appeared in the book HaKeves Hashisha Asar (The 16th Sheep), written by poet Yehonatan Geffen.

The Post Van: Naomi Shemer was an Israeli songwriter, composer and singer and Israel Prize recipient for Israeli music 1983. Some of her first songs, such as The Post Van and Our Little Brother were written when she taught children rhythmics.

My Dad: This was the first song written by songwriter Talma Aligon. The song describes the admiration a little girl feels for her father and the immense disappointment she experiences when he falls asleep while she sings him his favorite song.

Horse Rider: National poet Chaim Nachman Bialik wrote this poem in 1922, but it was only published a decade later in his book Poems and Songs for Children (1933).

Brave Danny: This song was written in 1943 and was first published in the book Danny.

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New Stamp from India

 

Kerala Legislative Assembly

Date of Issue : 7 August 2013

India Post issued a commemorative stamp on Kerala Legislative Assembly.

: Sreejesh Krishnan – Trivandrum

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 7 (UNI) A stamp, brought out by the Union Postal Department to mark the 125th year of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, was released by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here today.
   The Chief Minister received the Stamp from the Chief Postmaster General Santi Nair. In his address, the Chief Minister said the Stamp marking the anniversary was indeed an honour for the Assembly.
   He also said the Kerala Legislative Assembly has set benchmarks for other assemblies in India to emulate. The Kerala Legislative Assembly that has witnessed several discussions and presentation of bills has a lot of historic significance, he added.

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My recent covers..

 

Covers from Germany

Thanks to Mr Wolfgang Beyer for the nice covers with special pictorial cancellations from Germany.

     

 

Cover from Mongolia

Thanks to  J. Enkhbold , Mongolia  for this nice cover and card.

The cover and stamp on right hand side features Green Tara, known as the Buddha of enlightened activity.  This cover was posted on 13th June but it arrived here today !!

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