Cherry Blossoms on stamps

 

Date of Issue : 24 March 2012

Cherry Blossom Centennial stamps by USPS

This unique, panoramic stamp commemorates Tokyo's gift of cherry blossom trees to the city of Washington D.C. as a sign of growing friendship between Japan and the United States of America.

In 2012, the U. S. Postal Service commemorates the centennial of the gift of more than 3,000 cherry blossom trees from the city of Tokyo to the city of Washington, D.C with the Cherry Blossom Centennial (Forever) stamp design. The two stamps, which are near mirror images, form the left and right halves of a panoramic view of blooming cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin. The stamp on the left depicts blossoming trees arching over two girls dressed in bright kimonos, and a family on a stroll with the Washington Monument in the background. On the second stamp, the Jefferson Memorial forms the backdrop for tourists taking in the sights under a canopy of pink blooms.

 

Date of Issue : 24 March 2012

Sakura stamp issue from Japan

The Japanese Post has issued new stamps commemorating 100th anniversary of cherry blossom trees donation by Japan to the United States. Japan gave 3,020 cherry blossom trees as a gift to the United States in 1912 to celebrate the nations' then-growing friendship. These trees were planted in Sakura Park in Manhattan and line the shore of the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. The first two original trees were planted by first lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda on the bank of the Tidal Basin.

The stamps feature:

Washington Monument and Cherry Blossoms
Jefferson Memorial and cherry blossoms
Sakura (Ichiyo); Sakura (cherry); Sakura (Shirayuki); Sakura (Kanzan); Sakura (Gyoikou)

Club News

Glimpses of KANPEX 2012

 

  

: Ashwani Dubey from Kanpur

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Bonsai..

 

     

Sierra Juniper                                              Trident Maple

Date of Issue: 23 January 2012

   

Black Pine                                                    Azalea

 

Banyan

Hi !

Here are five beautiful stamps issued by US Postal service showing Bonsai, the plant art which gives a magnificent shape to the plants in small pots !! These are wonderful stamps  showing some well developed trees in small pots  and these nice stamps are  sure to be liked by all plant lovers and thematic stamp collectors !!

With these five stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates the beauty of bonsai. The word “bonsai” (Japanese for “plant in a pot”) refers to the art of cultivating plants — usually trees — in trays, pots, or other containers. Favorite bonsai plants include evergreens, maples, and azaleas, but many other trees and shrubs are also suitable.

One of the common styles of bonsai is shown on each of these five stamps. The first stamp depicts a Sierra juniper in semi-cascade style, in which the tip projects over the pot rim but does not extend below the base. Second is a trident maple in informal upright style, in which the trunk bends slightly to the left or right. Third is a black pine in formal upright style, with the trunk straight and tapering evenly, with symmetrical branches, from base to apex. Fourth is an azalea plant in multiple-trunk style, with several trunks emerging from one root system. The fifth and final stamp shows a banyan in cascade style, in which the trunk evokes a stream flowing down a mountainside, with the tip extending below the pot’s base. The plants depicted are roughly 15 to 20 inches tall.

Although no one knows when the first bonsai was created, it is generally accepted that Buddhist monks brought the practice from China to Japan about a thousand years ago. The bonsai collection at the National Arboretum began in 1976 when the Nippon Bonsai Association in Tokyo, Japan, presented the people of the United States with 53 plants as part of the U.S. bicentennial commemoration.

A bonsai master begins with seeds, cuttings, a naturally stunted tree, or a very young tree. Over time, he or she prunes the roots and branches, uses wire to shape and “train” the branches, and sometimes scrapes or peels bark to achieve desired effects. The plant is watered and repotted when necessary, and can live a hundred years or more.

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My recent covers..

 

Monaco

Thanks  David JASTRZEBSKI ! …..for the cover with nice stamp and Greetings. Though it reached me very late…It took about two months to arrive Kullu !!

Poland

Thanks Andrzej Panachida !…. for the nice cover and lot of stamps and postcards for my collection.…

USA

Thanks Charles !….for cover and stamps..I am sorry  The beautiful souvenir sheet of Canadian Int. Phil. Exhibition sent by u with other stamps  got damaged on way to Kullu….

Press Clipping

: Ashwani Dubey - Gorakhpur

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Love stamps from USA..

 

Valentine’s Day stamps from USPS

US Postal Service has issued a number of beautiful stamps for Valentine’s Day. All the 34 issues can be view at :

USPS on Love Stamps… 

 

: Dr Hemant Kulkarni, Milwaukee – USA

Radio Story about postage stamp design

 

Julie Shapiro, Artistic Director of the Third Coast International Audio Festival, produced this episode. Julie spoke with Terry McCaffrey, the retired manager of stamp development for the USPS Stamp Services Office, and Ethel Kessler, an Art Director who’s been working with Stamp Services for over 15 years.Just listen !! Click following link !!

http://99percentinvisible.org/

Book Review

A new book by Mr Praful Thakkar "Glimpses of Indian Autographs" is a wonderful book. It is a specialized book for autograph lovers.

It gives the glimpses of autographs of eminent Indian personalities of various fields. The book contains around 600 autographs in 8 major groups which are further divided in 42 different categories. In each category about 13 autographs, along with the photographs of the celebrities, are presented. The effort in the book is made to project glimpses of different themes under which autograph collection can be made.

The autographs of Indian personalities are classified thematically into autographs of Presidents, Bharat Ratna, Music Maestros, Cricket Players,World’s Top models etc .The book gives some rare autographs of Indian Princely Rulers along with their Coat of Arms. The book also gives a separate chapter to foreign personalities.

An alphabetically arranged index with details of celebrities is given at the end of the book to help the reader to find the location of particular autograph.The book gives a special section on ‘Association of Philately with the Autographs’.  A special chapter is added in the book which depicts the Autographs in the design of Indian Postal Stamps. Another chapter depicts original autographs, on the First Day Covers, of personalities, related or associated with celebrities whose stamps are issued.

It is a complete book for autograph collectors as well as a delight to people of all ages and tastes. In fact this book is a feast to everyone’s eyes and an asset for the possessor. All would love to read it and it is an essential book for libraries, schools and colleges and a collectible item for book and autograph lovers !! I would recommend this wonderful book to one and all !! The book is hardbound with beautiful design layout and high quality printing.

Price Rs 1500 US $ 50 It is available at following address :

Rekha P. Thakkar',

34, Janvishram Society,Behind Sahjanand College, Ambawadi,, Ahmedabad 380015

email: thakkar34@yahoo.co.in or pkthakkar@yahoo.com

Praful Thakkar, the renowned philatelist of Gujarat is Limca Book Record Holder in 2009 for Autographs & Canteen Tokens and  is a collector of autographs, stamps, First Day Covers (FDCs), coins, medals, tokens, badges , badge plates etc. and many more collectibles of India since last more than 45 years. He has written several books on these subjects of Hobbies. Mr Praful Thakkar may be contacted at e mail : pkthakkar@yahoo.com

This is one of the most beautiful souvenirs  of stamp exhibitions I have seen so far….Many thanks to  South India Philatelists’ Association and members of SIPEX 2012 for bringing out such a nice souvenir with comprehensive articles on a variety of subjects. – Jeevan Jyoti

SIPEX 2011 Souvenir : Review by - Naresh Agarwal

The souvenir released on occasion of SIPEX2011, a National Level Philatelic Exhibition published by South India Philatelists’ Association, Chennai is a collection and depiction of journey to the said show through well labeled pictures, nice graphics, views of the philatelic material issued. Journey through different facets of philately through various high quality and informative articles through the train and track of well printed, colorful, glossy paper of most appropriate size bound nicely in to a book form. The book is truly a souvenir for possessor as it gives glimpse of the SIPEX2011,the messages given by various persons, the articles on various aspects of philately written by various eminent and upcoming writers which have been found to be very informative. The well wishers of the show who contributed in form of advertisement have also been honored by giving such colorful space and well designed and placed advertisements. The editor has toiled hard to give an attractive shape to the contents by giving nice presentation, selection and skilled composing

In the article section, although all the articles have given nice impression but truly out of the assemblage of these 17 nos. articles covering different aspects of philately; article by C.G.Bhasker on “Czeslaw Slania,the Master Engraver”, & the one titled “Changing Face of Postal Stationery” by S.Balasundaram appealed me the most as those have a touch of extensive and fine research.

The attractive front and last pages themselves depict and declare the high standard of souvenir. I rate this souvenir much higher than the one issued during INDEPEX2011,a world exhibition held in India.

The book has fulfilled all of its objectives, covered all aspects and shown every necessary element. This souvenir is recommended to all to be preserved not only as a souvenir but an asset for the upcoming readers as the articles have been found very genuine, interesting and informative.

The copies of souvenir are available with the office of South India Philatelists’ Association.Intrested readers may contact at  e mail : sipagold@gmail.com

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New stamps on Birds of Prey from USA

 

 

Date of Issue : 20 January 2012

The U.S. Postal Service issued a set of five stamps on 20 January 2012 featuring  the Birds of Prey stamps: the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and northern harrier (Circus cyaneus).

These powerful birds are depicted in colorful portraits and shown from the neck up. Birds of prey, also known as raptors, thrive in diverse habitats and live on every continent except Antarctica. The roughly 500 species of raptors include birds that hunt by day, such as falcons, eagles, and harriers, and birds that hunt by night — the owls. They share several common characteristics. Birds of prey are carnivorous and use their powerful talons to capture prey. Their exceptionally keen eyesight allows them to see small objects in detail, even from a great distance. As predators high on the food chain, raptors play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature.

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2012 stamp programme of USA

 

US Postal Service will issue postage stamps on a variety of subjects in the year 2012.Here is the 2nd part of the proposed list of stamps to be issued in 2012. The date of issue is not yet finalized by US Postal Service. There are about 45 beautiful issues in the list. I am publishing them in parts !!

 

With the issuance of these stamps, the U.S. Postal Service celebrates bicycling, one of the most popular outdoor activities in the country. Each of the four colorful se-tenant stamps features a different kind of bike and rider: a young child just learning to ride with training wheels, a commuter pedaling to work, a road racer intent on the finish line, and an airborne BMX rider.

 

In 2012 the U.S. Postal Service continues its Celebrating Lunar New Year series with a Year of the Dragon stamp, the fifth in the series. The stamp art shows the head of a colorful dragon against a brilliant blue sky. The Year of the Dragon begins on January 23, 2012, and ends on February 9, 2013.

These cheerful stamps portray Santa Claus flying through the air in his sleigh. With a cargo of toys and gifts produced in his workshop by elves, he lands on the rooftop of house after house and slides down the chimney to leave presents for girls and boys of all ages. Santa’s annual journey is joyfully captured in this block of four holiday stamps, with two rows of two stamps each presenting a “classic” image of Santa and his reindeer circling around snow-covered rooftops.

Celebrate Scouting, the “sister” stamp to the 2010 Scouting stamp, pays tribute to scouting organizations for the opportunities and pleasures they have provided millions of youths worldwide.

The stamp features a large silhouette of a girl with binoculars looking into the distance — perhaps sighting a soaring bald eagle or a faraway destination. The scene within the silhouette features a girl in mid-stride with a walking stick, shorts, and backpack on a serious summer trek. The environment is composed of large redwoods, a lake, a distant forested mountainside, and small ferns in the foreground. The sky has a dramatic blue gradation as it appears in early morning or late evening.

 

With the Heart Health stamp, the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise public awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy heart.

The stamp art focuses on the feelings of wellness and vitality that come from physical exercise, a key element in controlling and preventing coronary heart disease, or CHD. The design shows a bright yellow sun disc, a leafy green tree icon, and a blue swirl of a sky. The striding figure at the center of the stamp has in his chest a full red heart. At the figure’s feet, a large red apple represents a well-balanced diet, another essential factor in maintaining a healthy heart.

In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service pays tribute to four influential choreographers who changed the art of dance: Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Katherine Dunham, and Bob Fosse. Designed to look like posters advertising a performance, the stamp art captures the luminosity and mystery of a live dance performance.

The stamp design for Isadora Duncan reflects her interest in classical Greek dance forms and shows the seemingly effortless style that she developed. Radical for its time, her linking of movement and expressiveness garnered her worldwide critical acclaim.

To be contd..

Source : Beyond The Perf

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New 2012 Stamps from USA…

 

Date of Issue : 3 January 2012

The new “Spectrum Eagle” Presorted First-Class Mail non-denominated stamp (25¢ assigned value) comes in six color varieties. The eagle’s profile is depicted in white, set against a sequence of six varying shades of reds, yellows, greens, and blues. Each color blends with the one following, resulting in a gradual spectrum from left to right across the six stamps.

Other stamps to be issued in the month of January 2012 

A scenic landscape by contemporary New Mexico artist Douglas West. Statehood date is Jan. 6.

 

Fifth in the series of designs by artist Kim Mak, celebrating Lunar New Year, which in 2012 is Jan. 23, a bit earlier than usual.

Stamp Preview of US 2012 stamps

Here i the list of stamps to be issued by USPS in the year 2012 covering a large variety of subjects. The dates of issue are yet to be decided by USPS. It is a preview of the forthcoming issues .

 

The U.S. Postal Service celebrates the friendship between America and Japan with the Cherry Blossom Centennial issuance. That friendship found lasting expression a hundred years ago when the city of Tokyo gave 3,020 cherry trees to the city of Washington, D.C.

In this unusual design, two stamps form the left and right halves of a single, panoramic view of cherry trees blooming around the Tidal Basin in the nation's capital. In the stamp on the left, blossoming trees arch over two girls dressed in bright kimonos and a family on a stroll. The Washington Monument rises in the background. In the stamp on the right, the Jefferson Memorial is the backdrop for other tourists taking in the sights under canopies of pink blooms.

In 1912, Edgar Rice Burroughs published his first story, “Under the Moons of Mars,” and his first Tarzan story, “Tarzan of the Apes.” The U.S. Postal Service joins with fans around the world in celebrating the centennial of a cultural phenomenon.

This stamp shows Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs’ most famous literary creation, clinging to a tree by a vine in his left hand and wielding a weapon in his right. Burroughs appears in profile in the background. Hulbert Burroughs, the author’s son, took the 1934 photograph that served as the basis for the stamp portrait of Burroughs. The depiction of Tarzan is artist Sterling Hundley’s own interpretation of the character.

 

The U.S. Postal Service issues Love Ribbons, a stamp featuring a graphic design of pink-tinged, satin ribbons that spell out the word “Love” in a graceful, cursive script on a bright red background. Pieces of ribbon that appear to extend beyond the borders of the stamp broaden the reach of the design and its sentiment.

Like stamps, ribbons often adorn our special packages to friends and family. Attached to floral arrangements, boxes of candy and gifts of all kinds, ribbons beautify and embellish our gestures of romance, friendship, and caring. Silk, satin, taffeta, and organdy ribbons are often used to enhance the beauty of bridal bouquets and invitations for weddings and other special celebrations for our friends and loved ones.

In 2012, the Postal Service will honor John H. Johnson, the trailblazing publisher of Ebony, Jet, and other magazines. Johnson overcame poverty and racism to build a business empire embracing magazines, radio stations, cosmetics, and more. His magazines portrayed black people positively at a time when such representation was rare, and played an important role in the civil rights movement.

The U.S. Postal Service has recognized the achievements of prominent African Americans through the Black Heritage series since 1978. This stamp honoring Johnson is the 35th stamp in that series, which highlights outstanding individuals who helped shape American culture.

To be contd….

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New Christmas stamp

 

It’s Christmas Time !!

Have Fun in these Holidays !!

Bulgaria

Date of Issue : 17 November 2011

The Bulgarian Post has issued a stamp dedicated to Christmas and New Year holidays. The stamp features a Snowman formed from the stamp's denomination.

Croatia

Christmas

Date of Issue : 3 November 2011

Motif: “The Birth of Jesus”

New Year 2012

Date of Issue : 24 November 2011

Motif: dance of falling snowflakes

 

My Recent Covers

11.11.11 Cover from USA

The sender has not written his name ….Thanks plz contact me !!

 

Davisd Jastrzebski, Dijon – France http://lettresautourdumonde.blogspot.com/

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