Asiago International Awards for Philatelic Art

 

 

On July 17th, the 41st Asiago International Awards were held. UNPA  won the Best Stamp of 2010 award for 2 event sheets about human trafficking and the fight against child labour.

At the ceremony for the forty-first Asiago International Awards for Philatelic Art, held in Italy on 17 July, UNPA received the prize for "best stamps in the world" for 2010. The winning stamp sheets highlighted "Human Trafficking - Blue Heart Campaign (UNODC)"  by UNPA Vienna and "Against Child Labour (ILO and Geneva World)" by UNPA Geneva.

UNPA Vienna issued a special stamp sheet on the theme "human trafficking" on 5 February 2010. The Blue Heart Campaign is an awareness-raising initiative developed by UNODC to fight human trafficking and its impact on society. The campaign aims to inspire decision makers to effect change, as well as to encourage the involvement of all areas of society to help stop this crime. The campaign allows people to show solidarity with the victims of human trafficking by wearing the blue heart as an international symbol against this crime. The blue heart represents the sadness of those who are trafficked while reminding us of the cold-heartedness of those who buy and sell fellow human beings.

On 2 September 2010, UNPA Geneva issued a stamp sheet on the theme "child labour". The drawings featured on the stamps show the grim realities of exploited young people. The selected images are part of "Children's Views of Child Labour", a vast initiative promoted in 2009 by GenevaWorld in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and with the support of local volunteers to mark the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the ILO Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour.

The prize is given annually under the patronage of the President of Italy. The organizing Italian stamp collectors club, Sette Comuni, is one of the most well-known and respected stamp collectors clubs in Europe.

Awards won by other Postal administrations..

Portugal won the Tourism award for the Public Elevators series.

Hong Kong won the Ecology award for a souvenir sheet about the Development of Old Areas.

Greece won the Olympic Academy award for their Europa 2010 Children's book set.

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Stamps on Centenary of First UK Aerial Post

 

Date of Issue : 9 September 2011

Royal Mail is issuing a miniature stamp sheet and prestige stamp book on 9 September 2011, as a tribute to the pioneering aviators who made philatelic history through the UK’s first aerial post service a century ago.

Gustav Hamel’s 15-minute flight from Hendon Aerodrome to Windsor Castle on 9 September 1911 was part of the celebrations of the coronation of King George V.  It was the first of 16 aerial post flights carrying commemorative postage to mark the coronation.  The flights took place until 26 September 1911 and are recognised as the world’s first scheduled airmail service.

Now exactly 100 years on, Royal Mail marks the event with a miniature sheet, featuring a border that replicates the design of an original publicity poster for the inaugural flight.  The four-pane prestige stamp book written by Peter Lister, President of the British Air Mail Society includes a pane comprising four 50p Windsor Castle stamps, re-issued from the 2005 set of high-value definitives stamps printed by intaglio.

The Aerial Post Miniature Sheet tells the story of this historic flight; featuring original photography of key events from the day; from Hamel receiving the first mail bag (1^st Class), sitting in the cockpit of his Blériot XI monoplane at Hendon Aerodrome (68p), and his arrival in the grounds of Windsor Castle (£1.10). The fourth £1 stamp features Clement Greswell, another of the pilots who helped deliver the UK’s first aerial post.

 

Indian themes on foreign stamps

                                                             - Kenneth Sequeira

Post : United Nations ( Geneva )

Stamp issuing authority : United Nations Postal Administration

Date of Issue  : 24 May 2002

Primary theme: Minerology & Geology

Subject : International Year of Mountains - Kamet - India

Kamet  is the second highest mountain in the Garhwal region of India, after Nanda Devi, 7,816 m (25,643 ft). It lies in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand , close to the border with Tibet. It is the third highest mountain in India and the 29th highest in the world. Kamet is most properly considered part of (and the highest summit in) the Zaskar Range, which lies north of the main chain of the Himalaya, between the Suru River and the upper Karnali River. In appearance it resembles a giant pyramid topped by a flat summit area with two peaks.

Due to its position near the Tibetan Plateau, Kamet is remote and not as accessible as some Himalayan peaks. It also receives a great deal of wind from the Plateau. However, by modern standards, it is a relatively straightforward ascent for such a high mountain.

Other Mountains in this series are from Japan, Switzerland, Antarctica, US, Chile, Tanzania, Kyrgystan, Nepal, Pakistan, Canada & New Zealand .

Other stamps in this  series

 

  :  Pradip Jain – Patna , Kenneth Sequeira – Dubai (UAE)

 

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Stamps on International Judo Federation

 

 

Through the cooperation of Magyar Posta Zrt. and the International Judo Federation, on 21 August 2011 two different souvenir sheets have been released to commemorate the anniversary of the 60 years of the International Judo Federation.   

The main motif of the IJF 60 Years I souvenir sheet is judokas wrestling. The logo of the International Judo Federation is featured in the perforated design and the same logo is repeated in the border above it.

The main motif of the IJF 60 Years II souvenir sheet is a portrait of the founder of judo Jigoro Kano. The logo of the International Judo Federation is used in the perforated section.

 

 

Special Covers

In this column Special covers released in different states are published for  for the cross reference of Thematic Collectors.

West Bengal

Yuva Philatelic Exhibition, Liluah 

Karnataka

Karnataka Philexpo - 74

Maharashtra

United Nations Day

: Ashwani Dubey - Gorakhpur

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New Stamps on Int.Year of Forests..

 

Tijuca National Park

Date of Issue : 6 July 2011

Here are new stamps on International Year of Forests.The main theme for the International Year of Forests 2011 is “Forests for People”. It highlights the dynamic relationship between forests and the people who depend on them. Brasil Post issued a souvenir sheet commemorating International Year of Forests and World Philatelic Exhibition Brasiliana 2013 . UNPA will also issue new stamps on 13 October in celebration of International Year of Forests.

On Souvenir Sheet…

In the souvenir sheet’s background, a forest symbolizing the Park can be seen. Green in different tones was used to create a harmonious effect by overlapping the elements portrayed in the stamps, which represent typical fauna and flora species: the violet-capped woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis), the green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon), the hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou insidiosus) and the orchid Hadrolaelia lobata, which is the symbol of the Tijuca National Park, an endemic species threatened by extinction. On the upper left corner, one can see the logo of the International Year of Forests and the logo of the World Philatelic Exhibition Brasiliana 2013 can be seen on the right.

Rio de Janeiro 's Tijuca National Park surrounds one of the 7 Wonders of the World :100-feet high statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms.Corcovado.(Christ the Redeemer seen from   the city of Rio de Janeiro, Corcovado Located in the Tijuca National Park, at more than 2000 feet high). 

Tijuca National Park

The Tijuca Forest is a mountainous hand-planted rainforest in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the world's largest urban forest, covering some 32 km² (12.4 mi²). The forest shares its name with the Tijuca bairro or neighborhood that contains it.The Tijuca Forest is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife, many threatened by extinction, found only in the Atlantic Rainforest After all the original forest had been destroyed to make way for coffee farms, Tijuca was replanted by Major Manuel Gomes Archer in the second half of the 19th century in a successful effort to protect Rio's water supply.In 1961, Tijuca Forest was declared a National Park. The Forest contains a number of attractions, most notably the colossal sculpture of Christ the Redeemeratop Corcovado mountain.

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Stamps from UN Postal administration

 

On 13 October 2011, the United Nations Postal Administration will issue three mini-sheets of eight stamps to commemorate the International Year of Forests.

Every one of us is connected to forests. Forests contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in the air. Over 40 per cent of the world’s oxygen is produced from rainforests. A tree releases 8 to 10 times more moisture into the atmosphere than the equivalent area of the ocean. Forests protect watersheds which supply fresh water to rivers – a critical source of the water we drink and use in our daily lives.

Healthy forests sustain healthy people. Tropical forests provide a vast array of medicinal plants used in healing and health care. More than a quarter of modern medicines originate from tropical forest plants. Forests curb transmission of infectious diseases. Undisturbed tropical forests can have a moderating effect on the spread of insect- and animal-borne diseases.

The International Year of Forests 2011 offers a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the challenges facing many of the world’s forests and the people who depend on them.

 

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New Stamps from UN Postal Administration..

 

Date of Issue : 1 July 2011

On 1 July 2011, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued a set of six commemorative stamps with the theme "ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council) - Education".

The stamp designs are based on six internationally agreed "Education for All" goals which aim to meet the learning needs of all children and adults by 2015.

Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Education is a powerful tool by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and participate fully as citizens. Yet millions of children and adults remain deprived of educational opportunities, many as a result of poverty.

United Nations 30 Years of a World Living with AIDS

 

Date of Issue : 3 June 2011

On 3 June 2011, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued a stamp issue commemorating 30 years of a world living with AIDS.

The issue consists of three self-adhesive stamps in a ribbon die-cut shape in mini-sheets of four stamps in the denominations of US$ 0.44, CHF 1.30 and € 0.70. This is the first time ever that UNPA has issued self-adhesive stamps.

The United Nations Postal Administration is part of a global initiative of participating postal administrations around the world who are issuing stamps on the topic of HIV/AIDS in 2011 in order to raise awareness of HIV prevention and to reduce the number of new infections. This initiative was organized by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNI Global Union.

Special Covers 

Tamil Nadu

 

: Ashwani Dubey - Gorakhpur

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New Stamps on Birds…

 

Date of Issue : 7 September 2011

On 7 September 2011, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue a set of 12 stamps depicting endangered species. These will be the nineteenth set of stamps in UNPA’s multi-year series Endangered Species.

Date of  issue : 16 September 2011

Royal Mail highlights the diverse birdlife to be found around the UK’s coastline for the fourth and final issue of its Birds of Britain Post & Go pictorial stamps.

To be issued on 16 September, this issue of Birds of Britain features six birds active around the UK coastline, from the diminutive puffin and ringed plover, to larger seabirds like the gannet and cormorant.

Birds on other recent  wildlife stamp sets

 

Souvenir sheet showing a Wandering Albatross in flight

South Georgia - Frozen Planet Stamp Issue

This spectacular South Georgia stamp issue, Frozen Planet, released ahead of the BBC's Frozen Planet TV series, is due for release on 15th September 2011.

The theme of these stamps, like the series they represent, is the extreme seasonality that occurs in the Polar Regions.

Produced by the BBC's Natural History Unit, Frozen Planet is the most ambitious series on the Polar Regions ever undertaken.

60p - Southern Elephant Seals
70p - Wandering Albatross
95p - Blonde Fur Seal Pup
£1.15p - King Penguin

£2.50p - souvenir sheet showing a Wandering Albatross in flight against the South Georgia backdrop

Frozen Planet broadcasts on BBC One in autumn 2011. The series is presented by Sir David Attenborough, who himself first visited South Georgia in 1982 while filming for the television series, Living Planet.

Biodiversity featured on new Irish stamps

An Post's, latest definitive stamp series features eight species found on this island and its surrounding waters. The series attempts to raise public awareness of the importance of conserving and cherishing biodiversity. Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life and natural processes on Earth. The latest issue is the second phase of An Post's Biodiversity series.

The species featured on these stamps are: the Beadlet Anemone, the Squat Lobster, the Cuckoo Wrasse, the Common Frog, the Green Huntsman, the Elephant Hawk-moth, the Goldfinch and the Red Deer.

 

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