DISNEY CHARACTERS - OCCUPATION

Absolutely self-explanatory! All Disney characters are, aren’t they? And the stamps in this sheet are exceptionally pretty.

1736 Expedition of Moreau de Maupertuis 5.9.1986

I’ll now tell you something about the FDC named Measurement of the Arctic Meridian in Lapland, which was given to me by Ella. In 1687 Isaac Newton wrote in his Principia that the Earth is flattened at the poles. Newton gave theoretical calculations for this. His argument caused a scientific dispute.

To prove the flattening of the Earth and to verify the theoretical calculations by Newton, the French Royal Academy of Sciences (Académie Royale de Sciences) sent two expeditions to measure the meridian at the equator and near the poles. One led by La Condamine was sent to Mitad del Mundo at that time in Peru, now in Ecuador and another, led by de Maupertuis, to the River Tornio valley. A participant in the latter expedition was also Anders Celsius, a famous Swedish physicist, who during his visit in Paris had proposed a measuring expedition to resolve the ongoing debate. The other participants were Clairaut, Camus, Le Monnier and abbot Outhier. A local participant was astronomer Anders Hellant (1717-1789) from Tornio (that time better known by the Swedish name Torneå).

A base line of 14.3 km was accurately measured on the ice-covered River Tornio and with use of that the length of the meridian degree was calculated by means of triangulation. The southernmost point of measurement was the tower of the Tornio Church and the northernmost point was the hill of Kittisvaara 4 km north of the village of Pello. A memorial was erected in 1956 on the hill. When Maupertuis returned he reported that one meridian degree is in Lapland 57,437.9 toises. (The ancient French unit of length toise was 1.949 meters.) This result when compared to the value of 57,060 toises near Paris proved that the Earth is flattened near the poles just as the theory predicts. Gross errors were later pointed out in the measurements but the conclusions were correct. The king of France rewarded Celsius with an annual pension of 1,000 livres.
The results of the measurements were made public in Maupertuis's book "La Figure de la Terre" (Paris 1738). It was also published in English as "THE Figure of the Earth" (London 1738) and in Latin, Leipzig 1742. The academy correspondent, abbot Réginald Outhier published in 1744 in Paris an illustrated account of the journey "JOURNAL D’UN VOYAUGE AU NORD, En 1736. & 1737". Outhier's map.

The stamp on the FDC depicts the leader Maupertuis, the most important observation instrument called quadrant and a reindeer referring to Lapland, and of course our Earth with flattened poles. The map on the cover depicts the River Tornio Valley between Finland and Sweden and the measurement points. Pello was the most northern point, that’s why you can see the name Pello on the postmark. The French stamp also depicts the leader of the Ecuador expedition, Charles Marie de la Condamine. The stamp was a joint issue with France. Before this issue Finnish Post had issued joints only with other Nordic countries.

Fleet Review: 75th anniversary of the RAN

On 10^th July 1911 King George V granted the titles “Royal Australian Navy” and “Royal Australian Naval Reserve” to the Commonwealth Naval Forces. To many people at the time, this creation of an independent local navy symbolised the coming of age of the new nation. Since that time the RAN has played a proud role in the service of Australia and her allies, and has a distinguished record of action in both World Wars, Korea and in South East Asia. The cover design features one of the Navy’s Sea King helicopters and HMAS Hobart, a guided missile destroyer that saw action in Vietnamese waters.
RAN’s 75th Anniversary was celebrated with a Naval Review of the Fleet. With the Reviewing Officer, Admiral of the Fleet HRH Prince Philip, Governor General of Australia, Bill Hayden, Prime Minister Bob Hawke, RAN CNS ADM Michael Hudson AO, and other VIPs embarked onboard the Reviewing Ship, HMAS COOK (A-291) and with her escort HMAS GEELONG (P-210) headed for a position just off Bennalong Point near the Sydney Opera House. At 1200hrs, with a crowd estimated at over three quarters of a million people lining the harbour on land or on the water, the RAN’s 75th Anniversary Naval Review began as the Mobile Review Line, led by HMAS PERTH with the RAN Fleet Commander RADM Ian Knox embarked, said past HMAS COOK, firing a 21 Gun Salute and the crew ‘Mans and Cheers Ship’. The other ships HMS BEAVER, HMNZS SOUTHLAND, HMCS YUKON, USS PAUL F. FOSTER, FNS COMMANDANT BLASION, and HMPNGS AITAPE followed PERTH, with their crews ‘Cheering Ship’ as they passed HMAS COOK. The RAN’s 75th Anniversary Naval Review was a great success. These nice FDCs were given to me by Maria.

Bhutan - The Wangchuk Dynasty

The House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since it was reunified in 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire. After consolidating power, Penlop of Trongsa Sir Ugyen Wangchuck was elected hereditary King of Bhutan, or Druk Gyalpo ("Dragon King"), thus founding the royal house.Jigme Namgyal of Bhutan (1825–1881) is a forefather of the House of Wangchuck. He served as 51st Druk Desi (Deb Raja, the secular executive) of Bhutan (1870–1873), and held the hereditary post of 10th Penlop of Trongsa. He was the descendant of the Nyingma saint Pema Lingpa and a patriarch of the Nyö clan. With his influence as Druk Desi, he aided his son in consolidating power in Bhutan and retained considerable clout after his official tenure had ended, gaining him the moniker Deb Nagpo ("the Black Deb"). Jigme Namgyal effectively reigned through his death 1881, punctuated by periods of retirement during which he retained control of the country.

During his lifetime, Jigme Namgyal and his forces came to dominate the eastern provinces of Bhutan as Penlop of Trongsa from his base at Trongsa Dzong in the town of Trongsa, Trongsa Province. A generation later, eastern forces led by his son Ugyen Wangchuck conquered western forces loyal to the anti-British Paro Penlop.

Jigme Namgyal is the father of the first Druk Gyalpo King Ugyen Wangchuck, who founded the Bhutanese monarchy in 1907 after besting his rivals, the Penlop of Paro and allies, ending protracted civil war. Jigme Namgyal is thus the forefather of all subsequent Kings of Bhutan: Jigme Wangchuck, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, and Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Several monarchs of the House of Wangchuck have borne Jigme Namgyel's names.

Crown Princes of Bhutan traditionally take the title Penlop of Trongsa (also called "Chhoetse" Penlop), reflecting the hereditary position and historical significance of the office of Jigme Namgyal. The Wangchuck dynasty centralized government power in Bhutan and established relations with the British Empire and India under its first two monarchs. The third, fourth, and fifth (current) monarchs have put the kingdom on its path toward democratization, decentralization, and development.  

Shashi gave me this wonderful Mini sheet.

Europa 2002 - 'The Circus & Famous Clowns' - Finland 15.4.2002

The Europa 2002 theme was 'The Circus, famous clowns' featuring Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837) the most celebrated of English clowns, born in London, son of an Italian father and English mother; Swiss clown 'Grock' Karl Adrien Wettach (1880-1959); 'Coco the clown' Nicholai Polakovs OBE (1900-1974) probably most famous clown in British history, originally a Jewish Latvian and Jean Hubert Charles Cairoli (1910-1980) born in Milan of French parents
Europa stamps have been issued annually since 1956. First sets representing the founding 6 members of the ECSC, European Coal and Steel Community, then by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) in 1959, (first stamps issued in 1960) and by PostEurop since 1993. Initially in 1956 a total of 13 stamps were issued with a common design from 6 different countries. A common theme of Peace and Welfare through agriculture and industry was used for 1957. The common design reappeared in 1958 and continued until 1973. From 1974 the designs reflect a common theme. The common design idea replaced the common theme in 1984, which was the CEPT 25th Anniversary (1959-84) and shows a symbolic bridge, said to represent Liaison, Exchange and Communication. With the split of posts and telecoms providers in most countries, CEPT is no longer responsible, but the postal authorities under the guidance of PostEurop continue the Europa tradition. From 1993 all the stamps have "Europa" inserted into the design in small print.
Finland Post issued this pretty stamp and Cover to commemorate and celebrate the “Circus and its famous clowns” on 15.4.2002. Thank you Merja for this lovely FDC.

Taiwan Lighthouses Postage Stamps (Issue of 2010)

A lighthouse is a structure used as a beacon or signal to warn or guide ships at sea. Lighthouses make great contributions to marine navigation safety, commerce and the development of trade, as well as a nation’s international image. Chunghwa Post first issued a set of stamps on lighthouses in 1989, and then it is followed up with another set of four stamps on the topic, featuring the Chilung Tao Lighthouse (show on the card), the Wenkan Tui Lighthouse, the Paisha Chia Lighthouse, and the Liuchiu Yu Lighthouse. The stamps are painted by Mr. Hung-tu Ko and printed in color offset with spot varnish by China Color Printing Co., Ltd. These stamps were released on July 28, 2010. The Chilung Tao Lighthouse (NT$5): The lighthouse is located at the highest point on Chilung Tao, off Keelung Harbor. Built in 1980, this octagon-shaped concrete tower, with a black-and-white vertical-striped daymark, uses air batteries for electricity. In 1998, the lighthouse switched to solar power. In 2006, wind power was added as a secondary power source. The lighthouse has a nominal range of 13.8 nautical miles. Maria gave me this FDC.
Some of you may have noticed that the date on the postmark is 28.7.1999 which is 11 years earlier than the date of actual issue.. Why this is so has intrigued me too. If I find out the reason I shall definitely inform My readers about it. However, if some of you already now the reason, please let me know.

Sea Shells 1.7.1986

Merja sent me this pretty First Day Cover. The information on these sea shells is courtesy Cyprus Postal Department. Issued on 1.7.1986.

Molluscs are found on all sea shores in Cyprus, but in most people's view, they are of no interest or importance. However, the ease with which the delicate beauty of their shells may be preserved in dried specimens has, recently, begun to attract the attention of an ever increasing number of people. The phylum mollusc is one of the largest groups of the marine invertebrates. The world "molluscus" means "soft" and denotes the soft fleshy body of the animals. Because of their structure most of these animals are often enclosed and protected by a hard shell. The shell is secreted by the mantle, a tissue that is present at the soft body of the animal. The molluscs are divided into six classes: Monoplacophora, Loricata, Gastropoda, Scaphopoda, Lamellibranchiata, Cephalopoda. In Cyprus waters there is a wide diversity of species. The stamps of this issue depict four of these species, one classified in the Lamellibranchiata (Bivalves) class and three in the Gastropoda class.

Chlamys pesfelis. Family Pectinidae. Valves convex up to 30mm. Surface has finely grooved ribs. Shell colour is pink or yellow-pink. Ears are unequal. It is found in deep waters. Rarity: Occasional.

Charonia variegata. Family Cymatiidae ("Triton shells"). Shell is large, up to 250mm, fusiform, yellow-brown. Spire highl aperture with toothed lips with a horny, ovate operculum. Found on rocky shoes around the island. Rarity: Common

Murex brandaris. Family Muricidae ("Rock shells or whelks"). Up to 95mm. Shell is yellowish, Siphon canal long. Surface with long spines. Operculum is thick and horny. They feed on other animals, especially bivalves. Found in shallow waters around the island. Rarity: Occasional.

Cypraea spurca. Family Cypraeidae ("Cowry shells"). Up to 35mm. Shell is thick, oval with a very well developed inflated body whorl. Surface is smooth, beautifully coloured, grey-yellowish with small brown dots. Its aperture is long and narrow; operculum is absent. Found on rocky shores around the island. Rarity: Common

UK 21.4.1986 - The Queen's 60th Birthday

This cover celebrates the Queen's 60th Birthday on 21st April, 1986. And, it was quite recently that she celebrated 60 years of her reign. Pia sent me this nice FDC.

Mother Teresa 12.9.2002

Cyprus issued this stamp and FDC on 12.9.2002. Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), more commonly known as Mother Teresa, was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950. For over 45 years, she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta".
Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity at the time of her death had 610 missions in 123 countries including hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counselling programmes, orphanages and schools. She received numerous awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, and the Bharat Ratna in 1980. Merja gave me this nice FDC commemorating this Saint.

Greenland National Museum and Archives

The Greenland National Museum is located in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. It was one of the first museums established in Greenland, inaugurated in the mid 1960s. The museum is affiliated with the Danish National Museum which has expanded its collections. The museum has many artifacts related to archaeology, history, art, and handicrafts and also has information about ruins, graveyards, buildings etc. This pretty cover was given to me by Merja.

The spacious, well-presented Greenland National Museum is based in an extended 1936 warehouse. Its better exhibits include an interesting section on 1950s social change and a geological room emphasising that the world's oldest rocks (3.8 billion years old) come from the Nuuk region. However, the unmissable climax is the mummy room. Here a trio of mummified 15th-century women and a very spooky six-month-old child stare blindly out from their dimly lit display cases. Their fur clothes and kammiks (traditional boots) are intricately sewn and embroidered, but their cause of death remains uncertain. Found at Qilakitsoq near Uummannaq, they made the cover of National Geographic and are an eerily unforgettable sight.

Bhutan - Royal Wedding

The fifth Dragon King came down from his golden throne to place a silk crown upon the head of his bride. Monks chanted in celebration and she took her seat beside him Thursday, the new queen of the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan. The wedding of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck to his commoner bride, Jetsun Pema, has captivated a nation that had grown impatient with their 31-year-old bachelor king's lack of urgency to take a wife and start a family since his father retired and handed power to him five years ago.

Thousands of Bhutanese from the surrounding villages joined the king and queen at their wedding reception at a fairground outside the country's most sacred monastery fortress, where a slate of dancers performed traditional routines for the new couple. "I have longed for this celebration, and here it is," said Pema Gyeltshen, a nearby villager, as he watched the dancing. When the king, who has a reputation as a down-to-earth and accessible leader, was asked how it felt to be married, he asked his questioner if she was married. When she said no, he responded: "It's great; you should try it yourself."

The celebrations began at 8:20 a.m. – a time set by royal astrologers – when the king, wearing the royal yellow sash over a golden robe with red flowers and multicolored boots, walked into the courtyard of the 17th century monastery in the old capital of Punakha and proceeded up the high staircase inside. A few minutes later, his 21-year-old bride, the daughter of an airline pilot, arrived at the end of a procession of red-robed monks and flag bearers across a wooden footbridge over the wide, blue river beside the fort and followed him inside. Singers chanted songs of celebration amid the clanging of drums and the drone of long dhung trumpets. She wore a traditional wrap around skirt with a gold jacket with deep red cuffs.

Inside, the nation's top cleric, who presided over the wedding, performed a purification ceremony for the couple in front of a massive 100-foot (30-meter) Thongdal tapestry of Bhutan's 17th century founder, the monk-king Zhabdrung.  

Shashi gave me this nice mini sheet.

175th Anniversary of the National Public Building programmes 19.4.1986

During the National construction year in 1986 in Finland, a booklet of 6 stamps and an FDC were issued on 19.4.1986 to commemorate the 175^th Anniversary of the National Public Building programmes. Each of these stamps portrayed one famous building as shown. This nice cover was given to me by Pia.

1/6 Conference palace, Baghdad 1982
2/6 Lahti Theater 1983
3/6 Kuusamo Municipal Offices 1978
4/6 Hamina Court Building 1984
5/6 Finnish Embassy, New Delhi 1986
6/6 Western Säkylä Daycare Center 1980

Helene Schjerfbeck 23.1.2012

Helene Schjerfbeck had a long and productive career. Her early work already had a significant impact on Finnish art, though her contemporaries did not always understand her artistic experiments. Today she is regarded as one of the great names in Finnish art. Helene Schjerfbeck's career as an artist underwent many radical artistic transitions - from French-influenced realism to pared-down portraits and still life’s that plumb the hidden depths of phenomena. Helene Schjerfbeck's artistic career was exceptional in many senses. She began her studies at the age of eleven and while still very young acquired considerable technical skill, which soon matured into an original artistic style. Although a hip defect restricted her life, she painted continuously and produced an extensive oeuvre; as well as oil paintings, this included watercolours, drawings, lithographs and textile designs. Helene Schjerfbeck's career underwent many radical artistic transitions - from French-influenced realism to pared-down portraits and still life’s that plumb the hidden depths of phenomena. Although today Schjerfbeck is one of Finland's most respected painters, her contemporaries were critical of her; she only began to win admirers after a solo exhibition organised by Gösta Stenman in 1917.
The year 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of artist Helene Schjerfbeck (1862–1946). In honour of the anniversary, a booklet of four self-adhesive stamps designed by Teresa Moorhouse depicting her works was released. The theme of the cover and one stamp is Self-Portrait, Black Background, an artwork based on Schjerfbeck’s famous self-portraits from 1915. The School Girl II from 1908 represents the artist’s modernist style where an impact is highlighted through simplified details. Green Apples and Champagne Glass from 1934 represents Schjerfbeck’s accurate control of composition and colour harmony. The lithograph Silk Shoes from 1938 typifies a central theme of the artist’s decades-long career – dancing shoes. The background of the stamps depicts a staircase at the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki where an exhibition of Schjerfbeck’s work will be organized from June 1 to October 14, 2012. This nice cover was also given to me by Ella.

Sámi culture 23.1.2012

The Sami people, also spelled Sámi or Saami, are the Arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe's northernmost and the Nordic countries' only officially indigenous people. Sami ancestral lands span an area of approximately 388,350 km² (150,000 sq. mi.), which is approximately the size of Sweden, in the Nordic countries. Their traditional languages are the Sami languages and are classified as a branch of the Uralic language family. The Sami languages are endangered. Traditionally, the Sami have pursued a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping and sheep herding. Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding, with which about 10% of the Sami are connected and 2,800 actively involved on a full-time basis. For traditional, environmental, cultural and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved only for Sami people in certain regions of the Nordic countries. In January 2012, the centre of Finnish Sámi administration, education and know-how began operating in Inari, located on the shore of the Lake Inari with its unique nature. The Sámi Cultural Centre Sajos will be the largest conference and event venue in Northern Lapland. Equipped with modern conference technology and communications capabilities, the venue is suitable for conferences with up to 500 participations.
Sámi culture has been celebrated now with a four-stamp miniature sheet, shaped after the floor plan of the Sámi Cultural Centre SAJOS that was opened in Inari on January 9, 2012. Located by Juutuanjoki River, SAJOS is a centre for the Finnish Sámi administration and culture where events, congresses and meetings can be organized. Sámi artist Merja Aletta Ranttila illustrated the Sámi Culture sheet. The layout has been produced by Markku Virtanen from Lapland. The self-adhesive stamps are shaped like mountains. The troll-drum-patterned sheet illustrates the three daughters of the Sámi Mother Goddess, a reindeer village and lean-to’s. My friend Ella sent me this FDC and mini sheet.

Helsinki - The World Design Capital 23.1.2012

With more than half the world’s population now living in urban areas, design has become an increasingly fundamental tool to make cities more competitive, attractive, liveable and efficient. The World Design Capital designation is a city promotion project that celebrates the accomplishments of cities that have used design as a tool to reinvent themselves and improve social, cultural and economic life. The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design announced, that the appointment of WDC 2012 has been conferred to the City of Helsinki (Finland). Announced during the closing ceremony of the Icsid World Design Congress in Singapore, Helsinki will move on to be the third city to hold the biennial designation in 2012. Appointed to cities based on their accomplishments and commitment to design as an effective tool for social, cultural and economic development, the WDC designation is an ambitious project initiated and managed by Icsid to promote the impact of design on quality of life. Since its inception in 2004, the project has developed into a tangible venture and is being recognised internationally for its ability to showcase the merits of design-led initiatives within various municipalities.

For the City of Helsinki, design has for decades been a pivotal enabler to building an open city. The concept of ‘Embedded Design’ has tied design to innovation and has enabled desirable solutions that have addressed the needs of its inhabitants. Helsinki Design is also part of world design – it is created together with the international design community and the people of the world. Helsinki Design includes well-known global brands, such as Nokia, Kone and Marimekko, popular events, like the annual Helsinki Design Week, outstanding education and research institutions, such as the University of Art and Design Helsinki, and exemplary architects and designers such as Eliel Saarinen and Alvar Aalto. Helsinki is a vibrant community – a great place to work, live and explore. A modern landscape where talented individuals encompass every sphere of international and Finnish society, it is a hotbed for innovation and a positive environment for creative industries. The City of Helsinki will follow in the footsteps of Torino (Italy) and Seoul (South Korea) to develop an inviting programme for 2012.

The Future City stamp booklet, which celebrates Helsinki’s position as the World Design Capital, presents seven new stamp designers who were awarded in the open design competition organized online in spring 2011. The highly popular competition produced a total of 1,422 designs, of which the jury and the public selected eight for the final stamp booklet. The competition winners include professionals in graphic design, amateur designers and two children. The eight designs awarded in the competition were:-
Future City by Chloe Chapeaublanc, a French graphic designer; Onnela by Sini Henttonen, a student of textile art and design from Helsinki; Citykani by Katja Hynninen, a textile designer from Tampere; Kaupungin liike by Daniel Kallsrtöm, a schoolboy from Helsinki; Asenne by Ville Korhonen, a graphic designer from Lahti; Tulevaisuus rohkeana by Elias Ollila, a 6-year-old boy from Espoo; and Color Power and Mix by Varpu Kangas, a freelance graphic designer from Helsinki.
The World Design Capital is an initiative of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design - an international non-governmental organisation that aims to protect and promote the profession of industrial design. Ella sent me this lovely FDC and booklet issued on 23.1.2012.

Valentine’s Day 23.1.2012

Today is Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is a holiday observed on February 14 honouring one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

Valentine's Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600–1601):

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5

Ella sent the lovely First Day Cover and the booklet shown here. They were issued on 23^rd January 2012. The Finns celebrate this day as “The Friendship Day”. Six symbols for friendship. This year's Valentine's Day stamps are designed by Päivi Unenge, a Finnish illustrator living in Sweden. The miniature booklet called I Heart You! contains six self-adhesive stamps and motifs including little girls, birds, pets, and, naturally, hearts.

The heart symbolizes friendship – be it between friends or lovers. Friendship is vital, and friends carry all joys and sorrows. “I hope that these cheerful and colorful stamps bring joy to people in the middle of the darkest winter”, says artist Päivi Unenge.

IFSDA

50^th Anniversary of the IFSDA

Karoly sent me this interesting FDC commemorating The International Federation of Stamp Dealers Association ‘IFSDA’, which was created by a group of philatelic businessmen to regulate the business and set high standards within the industry. The stamp and cover were issued in the erstwhile Yugoslavia by the PTT on 24.10.2002.

The objectives of IFSDA are the following :

- To promote and maintain a high standard of professional integrity among Philatelic dealers throughout the world.

- To promote the exchange among the member organizations of information and literature likely to be of service to the philatelic trade.

- To try in all ways to reduce the barriers in international Philatelic trade.

- To promote the exchange of information regarding the marketing of stolen, forged, faked and repaired stamps.

- To promote and help promoting stamp collecting throughout the world.

IFSDA cooperates with:-

- with U.P.U., F.I.P., or other organization.

- in the event of theft or other criminal acts against the philatelic trade.

- in International Exhibitions and control the seriousness of the commercial stand holders.

Flora & Fauna

Malaysia issues very pretty stamps. To illustrate this fact I am presenting a few mini sheets of stamps of that country showing a part of its abundant ant wealth of flora and fauna.

On the Wheat Route

Åland has always immortalized ships and boats of all vintages through her pretty stamps, throughout her philatelic history. The Australian marine artist Robert Carter has immortalized Finnish sailing ships during their last trip on the wheat route in 1949. The Four-masted steel barque Pamir is shown departing from the Port Victoria in the Seychelles. The barque Passat, another vessel of Gustaf Erikson's fleet, is seen in the background with her sails reefed and loading. Although the Passat couldn’t sail away until five days later, she rounded Cape Horn before the Pamir. Pamir thus became the last sailing merchant vessels that rounded Cape Horn on 11.7.1949. Both vessels were sold to Germany. Passat served in Travemünde as a school and museum ship. Pamir was one of the famous Flying P-Liner sailing ships of the German shipping company F. Laeisz. She was the last commercial sailing ship to round Cape Horn, in 1949. Outmoded by modern bulk-carriers, and having severe technical difficulties after her shipping consortium was unable to finance much-needed repairs and recruit sufficient capable officers, on 21 September 1957 she was caught in Hurricane Carrie and sank off the Azores, with only six survivors recovered after an extensive rescue effort. Pia gave me this nice cover.

Archbishop Makarios 19.1.1986

Further to my post on May 26, 2011., this is a Special cancellation to remember and commemorate the First President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios. The stamps on this FDC were issued in 1977 and are the same as on the FDC in the post mentioned ibid. This cover was given to me by Merja.

Legacy of the Loom as Asia welcomes the Year of the Dragon 2012

Further to yesterday’s post on the Legacy of the Loom, this the second minisheet on the FDC also issued on 12.1.2012 Pos Malaysia ushered in the Lunar New Year in style with the introduction of a limited edition gold dragon stamp in the form of a Ming Empress robe. This kind of stamp depicts a dragon in a cloud with bats in royal embroidery and was issued on 12.1.2012. Pos Malaysia Stamp and Philately Unit chief Yasmin Ramli said the collection would be a treat for stamp enthusiasts to commemorate the Year of the Dragon. "People can buy it in gold hot stamping prints at RM5 or they can buy the normal prints for RM3," said Yasmin.

Asia has welcomed the Year of the Dragon with a cacophony of fireworks, hoping the mightiest sign in the Chinese zodiac will usher in the wealth and power it represents. From Malaysia to South Korea, millions of people travelled huge distances to reunite with their families for Lunar New Year - the most important holiday of the year for many in Asia - indulging in feasts or watching dragon dances. The dragon is the most favourable and revered sign in the 12-year Chinese zodiac - a symbol of royalty, fortune and power that is also used in other cultures that see in the Lunar New Year, such as in Vietnam.

As such, hospitals across China and in Chinese communities everywhere are bracing for a baby boom as couples try to have a child this year. Nannies in Beijing and neighbouring Tianjin are charging more in 2012, and the beds in the capital's maternity hospital are all booked up until August, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong even took advantage of the Dragon to call on the country's residents to boost a stubbornly low birth rate, in an attempt to reduce the government's heavy reliance on foreign workers. "I fervently hope that this year will be a big Dragon Year for babies ... this is critical to preserve a Singapore core in our society," he said in his new year message.

But in Hong Kong, where tens of thousands of pregnant mainlanders come to give birth every year to gain residency rights for their babies, the Dragon may not prove such a boon as it could exacerbate problems such as limited beds and soaring delivery costs. And according to some astrologers and geomancers, the Dragon may bring natural disasters and financial volatility to an already destabilised world. Hong Kong feng shui master Anthony Cheng warned that a "scandalous corruption case" would rock China in the second half of 2012, and also said high-ranking Chinese officials would be forced to step down, thrown behind bars or even die.

But people across Asia disregarded the doomsday predictions over the holiday, preferring to feast and celebrate with their families, and pray at temples or pagodas. Highways in Malaysia, where 25 per cent of the population is ethnic Chinese, were clogged at the weekend while the capital Kuala Lumpur became almost deserted as people travelled home.

The Legacy of the Loom

Pos Malaysia released on 12 January 2012 its first stamp issue for year 2012. The topic of the stamp issue was "Legacy of the Loom" consisting of a set of 5 stamps (in the format of a strip) with denomination 60s each as shown on the sheet. The other stamps issued on the same day were to welcome the Year of the Dragon. I’ll talk about these stamps a little later.

Cycling in Finland 4.9.1998

Finland is a great place for bicycle touring. It provides varying landscapes for culture and nature-lovers alike. Finland is well worth a visit by bike, it has some very beautiful and interesting scenery, however be prepared to see plenty of trees, lakes and long roads! Up in Lapland beyond the arctic circle the scenery reminds you of Scotland without the mountains, in mid summer there is no darkness at night, which takes a little getting used to and if you are really lucky you might see the Aurora Borealis (NoFinland is ideally suited for cycling tours. The roads are mostly pretty flat, with some gently rolling hills. Away from the main routes, there's little traffic. The scenery is varied, with lakes and forests, peaceful farmland and small villages.rthern lights). There are bike paths in all the major towns and along the main routes so people can get to work and visitors can get out into the countryside. And if you want to get off the beaten path, there are plenty of opportunities for mountain biking. Merja sent me this nice FDC which celebrates the centenary of the Cycling Union.

Anniversaries and Events in Cyprus 23.9.1985

Anniversaries and events have always been important in our lives. It is no different for tcountries too. In keeping with tradition Cyprus issued these two FDCs and the lovely stamps on them to highlight some important dates, namely on the 29.9.1985. Merja sent me these two pretty FDCs.

EOKA (Greek for National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters)) but sometimes expanded as Ethnikí Orgánosis Kipriakoú Agónos (Greek for National Organisation of Cypriot Struggle) was a Greek Cypriot nationalist military resistance organisation that fought a violent campaign for the end of British rule of Cyprus, as well as for self-determination, and for union with Greece (enosis). The United Kingdom had promised Greece unification with Cyprus if Greece would enter World War I on the side of the Allies; but the Greeks declined this invitation and therefore the promise was never realised. In the 1950s, EOKA organised to free the Greek Cypriots from British rule. The leadership of AKEL at the time (a political party with communist roots), opposed EOKA's military action, advocating the Gandhiesque approach of civil disobedience such as workers' strikes and demonstrations. This came into direct contrast with the previous leadership who some five years previously had organised the plebiscite of 1950, where the vast majority of Greek Cypriots who voted were for the union with Greece (98%). EOKA was an anticolonial, antiimperialist nationalist organisation with the ultimate goal of "The liberation of Cyprus from the British yoke". Although not stated in its initial declaration of existence which was printed and distributed on the 1st of April 1955, EOKA also had a target of achieving enosis (union of Cyprus with Greece). Despite this ideology being reflected in many of its members (and chiefly its military leader George Grivas) throughout the armed campaign, it was not of universal acceptance. The head of the political arm of EOKA, Makarios, took a more compromising approach especially during the later stages of the struggle. There were arguments of collusion with the CIA to further american interests. Ultimately, the intents of the struggle were political, not military. EOKA wanted to attract the attention of the world through high profile operations that would make the press headlines. In his memoirs Grivas admits to "by deeds of heroism and self sacrifice to draw the attention of international public opinion, especially among the allies of Greece".

International Youth Year. With the slogan "Participation, Development and Peace" the United Nations Organisation proclaimed 1985 as International Youth Year. Basic aim of the International Youth Year is for mankind to become aware to a large degree of the importance of Youth and to give the chance and possibility for a greater active participation and involvement in the process of social and economic development and in the benefits that result from this. The 13c stamp, depicting the International Youth Year emblem, has been released on this occasion.

European Music Year. The Council of Europe and the European Communities declared 1985 as European Music Year. The reason is that this year the birth-anniversaries of great European composers, Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Berg and Schutz coincide. It aims at making better understood the role of music in modern society and the responsibilities of the governments of Europe towards music. Cyprus has released the 15c stamp depicting the Cypriot composer, orchestra-conductor and musicologist Solon Michaelides (1905-1979).

40th Anniversary of the United Nations Organisation. The foundation of the United Nations Organisation on October 24, 1945 is a milestone and starting point of the post war history of the world. With 159 members (in 1985), the UNO functions for the preservation and consolidation of world peace and security, the development of friendship among peoples of the world and the attainment of international cooperation in the search for ways and methods of peaceful confrontation of world and international problems.

25th Anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. Twenty five years ago, a short while after midnight of the 15th to 16th of August, 1960 the flag of the Republic of Cyprus was hoisted for the first time in all public buildings in Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus was recognized as a sovereign and independent state and was accepted in the family of nations in September 21, 1960, when it became a member of the United Nations Organisation. In 1961 Cyprus became member of the Council of Europe and the British Commonwealth. The government of the Republic was carried out smoothly and the Republic proceeding with a firm and quick step towards progress, till December 1963 when, owing to the partitionist and expansionist policy of Turkey, Cyprus was wounded by the Turkish Cypriot rebellion. Yet both communities continued living in peace next to each other until the Turkish invasion of July-August 1974. Today, twenty five years after the establishment of the Republic, the people of Cyprus continue experiencing the painful results of the invasion and they are firm in their resolve to continue their efforts and find a peaceful, just and viable solution to the problem which safeguard of all inhabitants.

30 Years from the Commencement of the National Liberation Struggle. Thirty years have passed sine the heroic liberation struggle of the people of Cyprus started on April 1, 1955. The epos of legendary E.O.K.A. (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) is the result of a deliberate effort of the people of Cyprus who inspired by lofty principles and ideals and joined in a campaign with unanimity and faith in the struggle fought, under the political leadership of Archbishop Makarios III and the military leadership of Georghios Grivas-Dhigenis, to throw off the foreign yoke and for the freedom of their country. The heroic epos of 1955-59 with its sacrifices, its gallows and holocausts, marks the steps of our history and our national fate and renews today our faith and attachments to the moral values which guide our trying historic course. The stamp depicts a detail from the "Barn of Liopetri" painted by Pol. Georghiou.