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Monthly e-Stamp Bulletin edited and published by Jeevan Jyoti from Dehradun.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Rainbow November 2017





Romantic Traditions



Date of Issue : 16 November 2017


Heart shaped special sheet of 6 stamps to be issued by Swiss Post.The “Love” special stamps take up this romantic tradition and allow the senders of love notes to lend their messages greater weight. The special stamp with its deep red heart embossed with silver foil and a subtle rose symbolizes love in all its facets.



Dehradun November 2017 Vol. X  No. 119

Readers are requested to send reports of philatelic activities in their area for publication. Short write ups by the readers about their journals, societies, publications and philatelic requirements can be sent for inclusion in this bulletin to the editor: j.jyoti9@gmail.com 

Note- This bulletin is only for circulation among a limited group of philatelists without any commercial purpose. The bulletin will be sent to the readers only on request. Those who wish to receive it regularly please reply giving the name of your city / country with the subject SUBSCRIBE RAINBOW


Dear Reader,

The organizers of the forthcoming National Philatelic Exhibition INPEX 2017 must be applauded for their high spirits and courage to take up the complete responsibility of organizing the show with the least help and support from India Post. Due to high cost of this mega event and newly introduced GST the organizers kept the entry fee quite high than the average fee, usually charged in national philatelic exhibitions. The philatelic community somehow accepted it  towards promotion of philately. But the new change in entry fee section of the prospectus after the final list of accepted entries is completed by the organizing committee seems quite undesirable. New fee structure of One Frame Exhibit Class and Literature Class is Rs.2000+ 18% GST per frame which was earlier Rs 1500 + 18% GST.

How the change in entry fee could be made at the last moment ? What is the role of National Philatelic Federation of India (PCI) ??? Is it a symbolic committee or has some control over such matters. No need to mention that some members in the organizing committee of this show are executive members of the PCI…

 The organizing committee should not have changed the rules in the prospectus at last moment but they should have requested the participants to donate some fund besides paying their entry fee in order to meet the cost of the exhibition and promote philately or they should have given a notice of the revised fee on their website with genuine reason.  This could have been the decent way of working and all would have accepted it.  Increasing entry fee  without any intimation is not a good approach of work and management. It has  disappointed philatelists and put down their enthusiasm for the exhibition.

This is all for this month.. More in next issue!  Happy Collecting!




Contents

§  From the Desk of Naresh Agrawal
§  Recent Indian Issues
§  In The News
§  Doon Philatelic Diary
§  Beginners’ Section
§  Specialized Section 
§  New Issues from Other Countries
§  Philatelic Clubs and Society
§  Blogs & Websites on Philately
§  Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletter











INPEX 2017 - Views and Counter Views


Only a few days are left for the next National Level Philatelic Exhibition INPEX 2017 to be held in Mumbai organized by Philatelic Society of India in affiliation with PCI and India Post. I must  thank  PSI for its tremendous effort and strong will to keep philately alive at higher level in India. For many years  India Post has not organized any National Level Philatelic Exhibition except one National Level Philatelic Exhibition in 2008/2009 in Chennai followed by a World Level Philatelic Exhibition in 2011 in New Delhi .

I don’t understand why a part of the philatelic fraternity in India has different opinion about  this exhibition as some philatelists  say that  the frame fee is very high, some say it is an unauthorized exhibition, some say just simple low quality medals are given , some talk about improper judging, some about management lapses regarding acceptance of exhibits, mounting, dismounting and irregular return of exhibits, some about dates of receipt of exhibit,….. I mean whatever one thinks..speaks. But  if some one asks me, I am of the strong  opinion that we all must appreciate the commendable effort of PSI. I personally don’t find any such lapses. Yes, some lapses are bound to happen in any such event. Let’s  understand and appreciate that veteran /old members of PSI  like Sri  Dhirubhai Mehta, Mrs. Damyanti Pittie and other old aged persons along with their team are working day and night  like youngsters of 20 years of age. I mean the society is so dedicated…so involved … so willing to make the show… a great stamp of success. They are all willing to deliver to best of their ability…. willing to help philatelic fraternity in India….. willing to give a recognized huge platform to Indian philatelists who are aspirants for higher level participation in  FIP or FIAP exhibitions which India Post fails to give. And what we do is just simply critiquing.

I really don’t understand  why  we  condemn and criticize? What do we get? We are philatelists and we must appreciate the efforts being done by the other. This is being done for philatelic promotion, development and for the philatelists all over India and not for any personal gains. People talk about frame fee.. I don’t understand where and how Rs. 1500.00 per frame is high. GST is not under control of any body. Expanses have gone so high. Comments should come only after the people know the expenditure involved in organizing such exhibition. Rent of the halls, transportation and handling cost of  as many as 900 frames from different places from all over India and not from one place, mounting and dismounting of frames, repairing of frames, cost of medals ( all silver and above medal are said to be made up of genuine silver and/or  gold plated silver),gifts and mementoes, stationery, hospitality, stay, conveyance, covers cost, décor  etc. .One can understand a huge amount is involved in organizing such a big show.

Before I discuss further about the show let me place the proposed ingredients of the show which I gathered during my telephonic conversations with the organizers to help philatelists to know what is here in store for them during the exhibition to assess the expenditure, level and quality of the show. 

1.   The show is going to be as big as that 900 frames are proposed to be placed on disposal of philatelists out of which as many as 100 frames proposed to be secured for youth philatelists without any participation / frame fee.

2.   Efforts are being made to invite highly reputed exhibits to the level of Gran Prix award.  Philatelic gems and marvels are proposed to be on display

3.  All the five days are going to see release of special covers on different interesting subjects. Some of the proposed subjects are as World Aid day, Disability, Monument :  3D image :  Figure of Mumbai, Indian Navy Day :  safe and secured sea, Swachhta  & one  carried cover . May  be after long time a non Gandhian release of cover is proposed during exhibition. The society has paid all the expenditures for permission for the cover, designing, printing etc. of the covers .No relaxation given by India post . One of the cover will have 3D images on it to be viewed by special  specs.

4.    PCI accredited jury will adjudge the exhibits. So quality judging is expected. Yes, for a few new classes, there may be some difficulties.

5.   Jury critic session will be there

6.   PCI, India Study Circle, RPSL etc. are going to organize their meetings, seminars and workshops during the exhibition

7.   Workshops for beginners are proposed to be held along with other activities.8. as I understand there would be around 200 entries in all the groups and so one or the other award will also be given to most of the participants. The medals too cost very high.

8.   No entry fee for the exhibition

9.   Good number of stamp dealers are likely to grace the show

Looking in to this, I understand the exhibition would be of very high standard. Let’s thank PSI for taking up such a big project for the sake of philately. We must understand that a huge expenditure, tremendous  efforts, dedication and hard work are involved in organizing this exhibition and no financial support has been given to PSI  by any philatelic society.

Well, I would appeal to all the readers  to visit the show and also not  to condemn but  appreciate the efforts of PSI and wish this exhibition a VERY VERY GREAT SUCCESS. Looking forward to see you all at INPEX2017.

-Naresh Agrawal  Ph. 09425530514




Recent Indian Issue






18 September 2017 : Vulnerable Birds  - 3 X Rs 5
21 September 2017 : India Canada Joint Issue – Rs 5 + Rs 25 + MS
22 September – Ramayana- 10 x Rs5 + Rs15 + MS
7 October 2017 – Rapid Action Force - Rs 5
11 October 2017 : Nanaji Deshmukh – Rs 5
15 October 2017 : Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport- Rs5 + Rs 15 + MS

23 October 2017: 3 Kumaon (Rifles) –Rs 5
26 October 2017 : India Russia Joint Issue :Rs 5 + Rs 25 + MS
1 November 2017 : 1. Kavi Muddana 2. Adikavi Nannaya 3. Draksharamam   Bhimeswara Temple

Recent Special Covers


30 September 2017 : Konchady Shree Kashi Math, Mangaluru
4 October 2017 : World Animal Day, Bangalore
9 October 2017: World Post Day
10 October 2017 :World Mental Health Day . Electronic City







In The News

Recent Stamp Exhibitions
BRASILIA -2017


BRASÍLIA-2017 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition was held at Ulysses Guimarães Convention Center, Brasilia,Brazil From 24th to 29th October, 2017. Mr Ajay Kumar Mittal is the National Commissioner from India.   The detailed result of this exhibition is available at following link :
Congratulations to all  Winners




 Ajay Mittal, Lallan Singh, Ilyas Patel, Shubhrajyoti Behera, Avinash Sharma, Dinesh Sharma, Mohanchandran Nair

BRASÍLIA-2017 Specialized World Stamp Exhibition Results of seven exhibits from India

Traditional Philately Class
Ajay Kumar Mittal: Indore State Postal System
Gold  90 Marks

Thematic Philately Class
Lallan Singh, Hows and Whys of Birds
Vermil  80 Marks

Ilyas Patel, The Story of Building Bridges - An Index of Human Civilization
Large Silver  75 Marks


Youth Philately Class
Shubhrajyoti Behera, Wonders of Nature - Conserve it or lose it
Large Silver  76 Marks

Avinash Sharma, Olympic Games
Vermil  80 Marks

Philatelic Literature Class
Dinesh Chandra Sharma, Philately as a Teaching tool
Silver Bronze  65 Marks

Mohanachandran Nair, Ananthapuri Stamp Bulletin

Bronze  63 Marks



Commissioner for MACAO 2018 Philatelic Exhibition (FIAP)
Mr. Anil Suri has been appointed as Indian National Commissioner for the MACAO 2018, FIAP Specialized Stamp Exhibition to be held in Macao, Macau from 21 to 24 September 2018.

Exhibition Classes: Traditional, Postal History, Postal Stationery, Thematic, Youth, One Frame (TR, PH, PS, AE, AS, TH, MA & RE), Literature and Modern Philately only.

Eligibility: The minimum eligibility for participation in a FIAP exhibition for Senior Class & Youth Class (Groups B & C) is Vermeil Medal and for Youth Class (Group A) a Large Silver Medal secured at a National Exhibition.
Contact information:
Mr. Anil Suri,
Khushal Villa, E-70, Kalkaji,
NEW DELHI - 110 019.

Phone: (Res.) +91-11-2643 0813 / (Off.) +91-11-2647 4681
(M): +919811176908
Email: 
anilksuri@email.com





Commissioner for PRAGA 2018 Philatelic Exhibition (FIP)
Mr. Rajan Jaykar has been appointed as Indian National Commissioner for the PRAGA 2018, FIP Specialized World Stamp Exhibition to be held in Prague, Czech Republic from 15 to 18 August 2018.

Exhibition Classes: Traditional, Postal History, Modern Philately (Trad. & PH), One Frame (Trad. & PH), Open Philately and Philatelic Literature Classes only.

Eligibility:  The minimum eligibility for participation in a FIP exhibition for Senior & Youth Class Groups B & C is Vermeil Medal secured at a National Exhibition and for Youth Class Group A Large Silver Medal.
Contact information:
Mr. Rajan Jayakar
Flat No. 2, Court View, 126, Maharashi Karve Road,
Churchgate, MUMBAI - 400 020.

Phone: +91-22-22820570 / +91-22-22820572
(M): +9198210 72417
Email: 
rajanjayakar1948@gmail.com

INPEX 2017 - National Stamp Exhibition



 National Philatelic Exhibition INPEX 2017, organized by Philatelic Society of India will be held  from 30th November to 4th December 2017 at world trade center, Mumbai.

View details on : http://www.psi1897.com/


FORTHCOMING INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITIONS UNDER FIP/FIAP

2018 May 27-31: Jerusalem, Israel, ISRAEL 2018 World Stamp Championship

2018 Aug 15-18: Prague, Czech Republic, PRAGA 2018 World Stamp Exhibition

2018 Sep 21-24: Macao, MACAO 2018 35th FIAP International Stamp Exhibition
2018 Dec: THAILAND 2018 World Stamp Exhibition

EUROPA 2018


Date of Issue : 15 February 2017
The theme of EUROPA 2018 stamps will be “Bridges”. The Europa postage stamp (also known as Europa - CEPT until 1992) is an annual joint issue of stamps with a common design or theme by postal administrations of member countries of the European Communities (1956-1959), the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) from 1960 to 1992, and the PostEurope Association since 1993. Europe is the central theme.
EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals. As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.
Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation.

New Pictorial Postmarks

New postmark on animal from Italy



On Novermber 25th 2017  a new pictorial postmark in 09091 ALES, ITALY will be available.The postmark is featuring a Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

- Wolfgang Beyer, BDPh(German Philatelic Federation)



New Book on One Cent Magenta

The One Cent Magenta by James Baron




A new book by New York Times reporter James Barron follows the incredible history of a tiny postage stamp that ignited a deep desire among the rich, and not so rich, to possess it.  161 years ago, London issued, among others, a provisional one-cent postage stamp for British Guiana because a regular shipment of stamps never arrived. In 2014, the one-cent magenta, called that for its color, was auctioned off at Sotheby’s to shoe design magnate Stuart Weitzman for $9.5 million.
The one-cent magenta, the only one of its kind in the world – making it unique as well as rare – is the only British colonial stamp not owned by Queen Elizabeth. That fact, along with many others, including some dubious but entertaining anecdotes, is told by New York Times writer James Barron in a witty and engaging short philatelic history called The One-Cent Magenta: Inside the Quest to Own the Most Valuable Stamp in the World.

One of the questers was John du Pont, the eccentric, deranged heir to the du Pont chemical fortune, who was convicted in 1997 for murdering an Olympic gold wrestler living on his estate. In 1980 du Pont bought the one-cent magenta for $935,000, and then, from jail, offered it to a museum if it would put in a good word for him toward a pardon. Du Pont died in prison in 2010, but the dull, rose-colored, clipped-corners one-cent magenta, called the Mona Lisa of stamps, continues its celebrated life at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, where it can still be seen through this November.

What a history! The stamp, used for periodicals, was discovered in 1873 by a 12-year-old boy rummaging through his uncle’s effects. He sold it for six shillings – about $17 today. But soon word was out about the stamp’s being the sole survivor of its kind, and the craze was on. In 1922 an American textile tycoon bought the stamp but heard there was another one-cent magenta, and so, the rumor goes, he bought that one and set it on fire with his cigar, thus ensuring he’d have the one and only. Apocryphal? Maybe, suggests Barron, but part of the culture of stamp collecting.  

Another anecdote has a rich oddball owner who had handcuffed himself to the stamp by way of a briefcase, needing to be sawed free because he lost the key.

Barron has a good time telling the tale, especially because it emerged by accident. He bumped into an old acquaintance at a cocktail party who turned out to be a leading auctioneer at Sotheby’s and was investigating the stamp. Sniffing out a story, Barron was invited to follow his friend around and was thus introduced to the secretive, clubby, insular world of stamp societies, plutocrats and obsessives. As Barron says “people in Stamp World fixate on what is old and rare, quiet and orderly – qualities all but lost in [our] age of high-speed internet and mass-market products.”

Barron’s little book is rich in history. Until the late reformist late 1830s, for example, British postal service was wasteful, expensive, inconsistent, with postage being paid not by the sender but by the recipient. As for America, did we know that the biggest-selling American commemorative stamp was not the 32-cent Marilyn Monroe in 1995 but the 29-cent Elvis Presley stamp from 1993? That, and other goodies,  constitute the heart of this insider look into a world most of us know nothing about and couldn’t afford. But the book also prompts a question for all of us: what do we collect and why and what kind of value do we ascribe to collecting, besides money?


Source : WSHU

Doon Philatelic Diary

ARIES Observatory, Nainital






Abhai Mishra

After independence, Government of India took major initiatives to establish scientific and R&D institutions in the country. Due to the efforts of Dr. Sampurnananda, then cabinet minister of education in the Uttar Pradesh, government and other eminent scientists like Dr. A.N. Singh and Dr. S.D. Singhal, Uttar Pradesh State Observatory (UPSO) came into existence. It was established within the premises of Government Sanskrit College (presently Samurnananda Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya), Varanasi on 20 April 1954. It started a humble beginning with a gravity driven 25-cm Cooke refractor and a set of Rhode and Schwarz quartz clocks. Later Dr. MK Vainu Bappu transformed it into a modern centre of Astrophysical Research.





Varanasi was not very well suited for astronomical observation so search of alternate place commenced with site surveying at Dehra Dun, Mussoorie and Nainital. Finally the present location at Manora peak, Nainital was selected to be the most appropriate site for astronomical observation. In November 1955, the observatory was shifted to a small cottage at Debi Lodge, half way up to Snow View from the Lake Bridge at Nainital. With the creation separate hill state Uttaranchal in November 2000 the observatory was renamed as State Observatory (SO).
Efforts were on to grant the observatory, autonomous status so that it can grow. On 7th Jan.  2004, Government of India decided to grant the observatory autonomous status through decision of the cabinet committee. The observatory was renamed as ARIES (Aryabhatta Research Institute of observational Sciences) and placed under the Department of Science and Technology on 22 March 2004.


ARIES has 32.38 hectares of land at Manora Peak, Nainital on which functional and residential buildings are located. Presently it is the leading research institute in observational astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric sciences. The unique position of ARIES (79° East), places it at almost in the middle of 180° wide longitude band, between Canary Island (20° West) and Eastern Australia (157° East), and therefore complements observations which might not be possible from either of these two places. World class research in solar, planetary, stellar, galactic and extra-galactic astronomy including stellar variability, X-ray binaries, star clusters, nearby galaxies, quasars is being carried out in this observatory.

Beginners’ Section

Postal History of India




The purpose of this outline is to get a quick understanding of India Post journey from Feudal Era to Independence. Also, it helps the reader a roadmap to learn about postal history of India. 

India’s Postal History from the Feudal Era to Independence, 1947
Part 1 (Feudal Era to 1837)

1.    Introduction
Meaning of Dak, Post

2.    Feudal Postal History
·         AlauddinKhilji(ZiauddinBarni)
·         Mohammad Bin-Tughlak(Ibn Batuata)
·         SecunderLodhi(Henry M. Elliott, Memoirs of the Races of the North-Western Provinces)
·         Sher Shah Suri
·         Mughals
3.    Postal System between 1600 – 1765
·         EIC’s Informal communication system
·         EIC’s engagement in Indian Politics(Battle of Plassey, Buxur)
4.    Postal system between 1766-1774
·         Clive Post
5.    Postal system between 1774-1837
a.    Establishment of Public Postal System
b.    Introduction of Inland Letters
c.    Introduction of Parcel Service
d.    Postage Payment
e.    Route Development
f.     Postal services in smaller towns
g.    First Map of India
h.    Speeding/efficiency the mail delivery
·         Experiment with horsemen.
·         Contract system
·         One Anna Post Office at Calcutta
i.      Postal organisation
j.      Delivery and Dead Letter Office
k.    Introduction of Free Postage
l.      Foreign Mail Development
·         Introduction to International Trading and Mail routes
·         Early Route
·         Packet and Ship Letter
·         Ship Rates
·         Port of Entry(India and Great Britain)
·         King's Postage
·         Need for Faster Communication
·         Thomas Waghorn
·         Establishment of Alternative route from Alexandria.
m.   Miscellaneous Developments
n.    End of the Initial Development period
Conclusion

History from the Feudal Era to Independence, 1947
Part 2 (1837-1873)

1.    Postal System between 1837-1854
a.    Postal Reform
·         Post Offices under the control of respective Presidency
·         Postal rates based on Weight and Distance
·         Introduction of Dual Postal System(Imperial and District)
·         District Post made Public
·         Introduction of rules of Dead Letters
·         Introduction of rules for postal markings at the time of booking.
b.    Other Development
·         Postman
·         Introduction of Ekka mails
·         Scinde District Dawk

2.    Postal System between 1854-1873.
a.    Postal Reform
·         Establishment of Postal Department as an organisation
·         Uniform rate with respect to Weight only
·         Introduction of first postal manual
·         Introduction of Bhangy Post(Parcel) for Public
·         Introduction of postal stamp
·         Introduction of Normal letters and Registered letters
·         Abolition of Free Postage for “On Public Service” posts
  1. Other Developments
·         Post Offices were categorised into Head, Sub Post Offices and Branch
·         Introduction of Railway Mail
·         Establishment of India Used Abroad
·         Opening of Army Postal Service
·         The Sea Post Office(Sea Sorting)

3. Miscellaneous Development
Conclusion

India’s Postal History from the Feudal Era to Independence, 1947
Part 3 (1873-1947)

1.    Standardisation of Obliterators
2.    Joining Universal Postal Union(Free Flow of Communications)
3.    Overland Parcel Post
4.    Introduction of Post Card

·         Introduction of cheap communication
·         Slogan Postal Mark
·         Bazar/Private Post Cards

5.    Integration of Postal Service
·         Princely States Postal System and Imperial Postal System

6.    Railway Mail Service(RMS)
·         Introduction of Mails by Railway
·         Introduction of letter sorting in the running Rails

7.    Introduction of Financial and Other Services
·         Value Payable Post(V.P.P)
·         Money Order
·         Postal Order
·         Savings Bank
·         Life Insurance

8.    Army Post Office
9.    Introduction of  Continuous Delivery
10. Abolition of District Post offices
11. Introduction of Motor Mail Service
12. Introduction of Express Delivery
13. First Experimental Airmail Service
14. Establishment of Nashik Security Printing
15. Introduction of Certificate of Posting
16. Introduction of Mobile Mail Van Service
17. Opening of Philately Bureau

-Swamynathan .R , Mumbai


Specialized Section



US Liberty issue 1954-1965







Col J Dutta & Dr Anjali Dutta

The Liberty issue was a definitive series of postage stamps issued by the United States between 1954 and 1965.  It offered twenty-four denominations, ranging from a half-cent issue showing Benjamin Franklin to a five dollar issue depicting Alexander Hamilton.



½ ¢ Benjamin Franklin, $1 Patrick Henry and $5 Alexander Hamilton

However, in a notable departure from all definitive series since 1870, the stamp for a normal first-class letter − the 3-cent value − did not present the portrait of a president, but instead offered a mono-colour image of the Statue of Liberty.  Moreover, two-colour renderings of the Statue of Liberty appeared on both the 8-cent and 11-cent stamps; and it is from these three denominations that the Liberty issue takes its name.  Oversized versions of the 3c and 8c stamps also appeared on a Miniature sheet issued in 1956 for the Fifth International Philatelic exhibition.

  

3¢, 8¢ and 11¢ Liberty stamps

The stamps were printed by Bureau of Engraving and Printing by rotary/Giori press dry/wet printing. They were issued to replace the 1938 Presidential series, this patriotic set of stamps honoured guardians of freedom throughout US history. Eighteenth Century America is represented by Revolutionary War heroes and statesmen such as Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Henry, Jay, and Revere.

Leaders of the 19th century included Monroe, Lincoln, Lee, Harrison, and Susan B Anthony make an appearance.  The 20th century was represented by Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and General Pershing.

The Liberty Series also featured famous locations important to America’s democratic history, such as Bunker Hill, Independence Hall, and the Alamo.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing began an experiment in 1954.  In previous “wet” printings, the paper had a moisture content of 15 to 35 percent. In the experimental “dry” printings, the paper had a moisture content of 5 to 10 percent. This process required stiffer, thicker paper, special inks, and greater pressure to force the paper through the plates.

Stamps produced by dry printing can be distinguished by whiter paper and higher surface sheen. The stamps feel thicker and the designs are more pronounced than on wet printings.  The experiment was a success, and all U.S. postage stamps have been printed by the dry method since the late 1950s.

The 8¢ Liberty was chronologically the first stamp issued in the Liberty series; this is also one of only two stamps in the series printed on the flat plate press, although it required two passes through the press to print both colours.  Taking advantage of the new Giori press, which could print multiple colours from a single plate in one pass, the 8¢ Liberty stamp was re-engraved, moving the torch below the top inscriptions.


8¢ Liberty printed by flat plate press and Giori press


Fifth International Philatelic Exhibition miniature sheet

Pictures of other national landmarks, such as Bunker Hill and Mount Vernon, are found on several values, while the rest of the stamps follow tradition, containing portraits of well-known historic Americans.  The six denominations in the set that illustrate buildings (The Alamo, Monticello, etc.) were all designed in landscape format, resulting in a free intermixture of landscape and portrait orientation for the first time in a definitive US issue (in all previous mixed sets, landscape stamps had been confined to the highest denominations).


¢ Palace of the Governors, 1½ ¢ Mount Vernon and 2½¢ Bunker Hill




   

4½ ¢ The Hermitage, 9¢ The Alamo and 10¢ Independence Hall


20¢ Monticello
Like three previous US definitive issues, the Liberty series offered one − and only one − image of a prominent woman.  But while Martha Washington had played this role in the series of 1902, 1922-25 and 1938, the Liberty Issue eliminated her, instead presenting Susan B Anthony, portrayed on the 50-cent stamp.


50¢ Susan B Anthony



Stamps of the Liberty issue, their first day of issue sites and dates

·         ½¢ Benjamin Franklin, Washington, DC - Oct. 20, 1955
·         1¢ George Washington, Chicago, IL - Aug. 26, 1954
·         1¼¢ Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe, NM - Jun. 17, 1960
·         1½¢ Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, VA - Feb. 22, 1956
·         2¢ Thomas Jefferson, San Francisco, CA - Sep. 15, 1954
·         2½¢ Bunker Hill Monument, Boston, MA - Jun. 17, 1959
·         3¢ Statue of Liberty, Albany, NY - Jun. 24, 1954
·         4¢ Abraham Lincoln, New York, NY - Nov. 19, 1954
·         4½¢ The Hermitage, Hermitage, TN - Mar. 16, 1959
·         5¢ James Monroe, Fredericksburg, VA - Dec. 2, 1954
·         6¢ Theodore Roosevelt, New York, NY - Nov. 18, 1955
·         7¢ Woodrow Wilson, Staunton, VA - Jan. 10, 1956
·         8¢ Statue of Liberty - (Rotary Press-Flat Plate), Washington, DC - Apr. 9, 1954
·         8¢ Statue of Liberty - (Giori Press), Cleveland, OH - Mar. 22, 1958
·         8¢ John J. Pershing, New York, NY - Nov. 17, 1961
·         9¢ Alamo, San Antonio, TX - Jun. 14, 1956
·         10¢ Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA - Jul. 4, 1956
·         11¢ Statue of Liberty, Washington, DC - Jun. 15, 1961
·         12¢ Benjamin Harrison, Oxford, OH - Jun. 6, 1959
·         15¢ John Jay, Washington, D.C. - Dec. 12, 1958
·         20¢ Monticello, Charlottesville, VA - Apr. 13, 1956
·         25¢ Paul Revere, Boston, MA - Apr. 18, 1958
·         30¢ Robert E Lee, Norfolk, VA - Sep. 21, 1955
·         40¢ John Marshall, Richmond, VA - Sep. 24, 1955
·         50¢ Susan B Anthony, Louisville, KY - Aug. 25, 1955
·         $1 Patrick Henry, Joplin, MO - Oct. 7, 1955
·         $5 Alexander Hamilton, Paterson, NJ - Mar. 19, 1956

  
  The Liberty Issue was the first definitive series including multiple presidents issued since 1861 which did not contain a single stamp honoring a recently deceased president.  To be sure, the only president who would have qualified, Franklin D. Roosevelt, had died quite a while before − some nine years − and, moreover, was not admired by the political party that introduced the new series. FDR was the first deceased president since Chester A. Arthur (d. 1886) to have been excluded from the next multi-president definitive series to appear after his death − denied an honor that had been accorded to his eight predecessors in office, namely Cleveland, Harrison, McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, Wilson, Harding and Coolidge.  It is also notable that only 28% of the Liberty series stamps offered images of presidents (7 out of 25 denominations): a smaller presidential percentage than had appeared on any previous US definitive issue.

Release of the Liberty series began in 1954, and the set was essentially complete by 1960, but a few values were added subsequently.  While the Liberty stamps were generally replaced by the Prominent Americans series, issued starting in 1965, several of its denominations remained on sale for a considerable period of time afterwards.  Most notably, two coil stamps − the 2-cent Thomas Jefferson and the 2- cent Paul Revere − were repeatedly reprinted, continuing on sale well into the 1980s.  Remaining stocks of the 12-cent Benjamin Harrison stamp were sold at some post offices in 1981 to meet the new postal card rate as the United States Postal Service was not able to issue a new 12-cent stamp prior to the implementation of the rate increase.
Over the time span that the series was issued, the technology of printing postage stamps changed.  This led to many of the stamps having varieties with different papers, perforations and the addition of a phosphor coating. Thus at this more specialized level the series is rather complex.

The 1/2 cent stamp was the last issued of that denomination for use as postage, although a postage due stamp of that value was issued in 1959.  It was also the last appearance of Franklin on a lower value stamp in a regular series, a tradition that had been followed since 1847.  In this series, two of the fractional denominations -- 4½¢ and 2½¢ -- appeared on US postage stamps for the first time.

Coil stamps:
The designs for the 8 most common denominations in the Liberty Series were also prepared as coils for use in stamp affixing machines by large mailers.

1¢ George Washington, Baltimore, MD - Oct. 8, 1954
1¼¢ Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe, NM - Jun. 17, 1960
2¢ Thomas Jefferson, St. Louis, MO - Oct. 22, 1954
2½¢ Bunker Hill, Los Angeles, CA - Sep. 9, 1959
3¢ Statue of Liberty, Washington, D.C. - Jul. 20, 1954
4¢ Abraham Lincoln, Mandan, ND - Jul. 31, 1958 [The 4-cent coil "WET" print (Stickney press) exists only Pre-canceled, and is the scarcest regularly issued "KEY" item of the entire series.]
4½¢ The Hermitage, Denver, CO - May 1, 1959
25¢ Paul Revere, Wheaton, MD - Feb. 25, 1965

  
  
    

In late 1954, 5000 panes each of 100 stamps, of the 2¢ Jefferson, Scott catalog 1033, were printed on experimental bright Silkote Postage stamp paper. These were released at a few post offices in Maine.  It is estimated that no more than 400 of these stamps, which have been designated "1033a", still exist.

- Col Jayanta Dutta & Dr Anjali Dutta


In Memory of Dr Satyendra Agrawal….


In great philatelic memory of Dr Satyendra Kumar Agrawal, I am re-publishing some of his best articles every month this year. Editor





FANCY CANCELS OF USA
- © Dr. Satyendra Kumar Agrawal



Though illegal but highly desirable: Modern US Fancy Cancels


Modern Fancy Cancels are finer, clearer and more stylized than their predecessor’s classic Fancy Cancels, representing mostly physical items.   Possibly as many as 2,000 different fancy cancellations exist from the period  between the early 1920s to the mid 1930s,  In addition to Cork and wood, as used for carving    19th C fancy cancels , 20th C used apples, potatoes, linoleum, shoe soles, leather belts, roofing shingles and rubber stamps  for preparing cachets. But the most important and striking difference between Classic and Modern Fancy Cancels is that later one was prepared and applied by general public before presenting the Postal authority for mailing. Few also requested to Postal cleark to apply their prepared devices for defacing the stamps. The ink used was also not always black as per postal directives but were in multitude of colours, most favorite of them are red, blue, green and purple.

  
  

Few bi-coloured example are also known to exist and much sought by the thematic philatelist. Eye catching and breathtaking beauty of many of such bi-coloured pictorial cancels are credited to B.R.Bales of Ohio. Like John W. Hill of Waterbury, he also used his fanciful devices on limited number of covers, sometime even less than 10, making them scares.

These cancels have one more attraction for thematic philatelist – matching of the pictorial design with the name of registering post office, town or city, whenever possible. It is apparent in the CDS applied obverse in case of Registered and on front for First Class Mails covers. Few examples are ‘Mint leafs’ from ‘Mint, Tenn’.
   

‘Rose’ from ‘Roseville, Ohio’ and

Cancels also prepared to depict a theme or representing a pictorial design of a particular product for which that town is recognized and to honour any Special event or holiday.

During the 1929 Baseball World Series the town of Genesee Depot/Wisconsin used a cancel depicting a bat, a ball and "WS" ("World Series") which was used on each day of the series.




   There is no limit to the imagination of the carver in preparing variety of killers even on a single cover. An interesting cover of 1929 depicting eight strikes of seven different cancels on a single registered envelope interspersed with some really bad poetry is worth showing here. The cancellations are   Sad/Happy face*. Elephant*. Rabbit*. Fawn*. Owl*. Moon*. Stars*. "Merry Xmas"*and Frog*. 



WHY and HOW all these happened?

There are many reasons behind the preparation of such Fancy Cancel covers all started from 1927 and came to an end after directive of the US Assistant Postmaster General, dated August 27, 1934 for use of only authorized black ink and authorized devices for defacing by the postal employee, and rejecting the request of general public for mailing their pre cancelled covers with their prepared fancy design cancels.

The most important reason seems to be monetary. The origin of such covers belongs mostly to 4th class post offices situated in small towns where compensation of    postmasters was based on the number of pieces they processed. First in 1910, and later in 1928, postmasters were instructed by .the Postmaster General NOT to apply a dated postmark on the front of a registered letter. This directive however, failed to instruct the postmasters exactly how to "kill" the stamps on the front of mail. Then postmasters of 4th class taken this opportunity to cancel the registered envelope with their attractive coloured fanciful devices created by themselves. The   popularity of such fanciful registered covers  increased so much among the resident   as well as stamp collectors,  that even peoples reaching with their pre canceled covers with fancy pictorial cachets prepared by then on multitude of themes even in colour ink. Though it was not authorized but looking their increasing compensation due to increasing number of covers for posting forced them to overlook this unauthorized cancelling devices present for Registration. 

The reason behind request for sending envelopes by Registered post has two important reasons behind them,

1.            To take advantage of unclear directive  of the Postal department regarding types of killers to be used on Registered cover for franking stamps while putting CDS obverse making room for more stamps and
2.            Opportunity to use multiple strikes for franking stamps with attractive pictorial killers making these covers more attractive aside from the proof that they went through the mail.

The era of Modern Fancy Cancels also came to an end but before this both philatelists and postmasters created a multitude of colorful and interesting cancels and many of them are unlike anything ever done before in terms of their colorful style, themes and multiple strikes. Because of these directives and unclear instructions to the postmasters, it is clear that even though many of these fancy killers were inspired and/or created by philatelists, they constitute a legitimate collecting field. Some of these fancy cancels are exceedingly rare, and in some cases, only a few strikes exist.  Unfortunately many 20th C. fancies only exist on first class mail, and NO registered uses are known.



To my surprise I found one cover dated September 1, 1934 and Feb 12, 1935 respectively in an auction of France International, USA.May be

this practice of preparing fancy cancel continued in some part of USA for few more years and overlooked by the postal clerks. 
  
New issues from other Countries

Finland



6 September 2017: National Urban Parks

National urban parks make up a network of valuable urban landscapes that covers the most important locations with regard to urban culture and nature. There are currently eight national urban parks in Finland.

New Zealand

1 November 2017 “: Christmas 2017


Some of the first items used to decorate Christmas trees were as simple as fruit and nuts. Sprigs of holly and other seasonal flowering plants were also used, as well as candles, which were a bit of hazard until the invention of lights. As the custom of putting up a Christmas tree slowly began to spread through Europe and on to America, the ornaments became more diverse as people started experimenting with different materials.



The first tinsel was made of beaten silver and was much heavier and limited in colour compared to today’s vast array of glistening, colourful plastic and foil versions. Cookies, marzipan and other sweet treats were cut into different shapes such as circles, hearts and stars and hung on branches along with paper snowflakes and hand stitched angels.
This homemade style was overtaken in popularity when the art of glass blowing was taken up in Germany and delicate hand crafted baubles were produced. By the 1880’s, Germany was leading the world in hand crafted glass ornaments. Moulds of children, angels, bells and more saw the shape and style of Christmas decorations change once again.
With the popularity of celebrating Christmas on the rise, the Christmas decoration market began to boom around the world. Soon Japan and the Czech Republic were producing decorations to be imported into America and Europe. The invention of new technology and materials meant that mass production was possible. Suddenly everybody could have glittering, colourful decorations adorning their Christmas tree.
The particular style of art that has been used to create this year’s stamps is known as quilling. It’s thought that its origins date back more than 500 years, but it was at its most popular during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The name came from the act of wrapping a strip of paper around a feather quill to create a tight coil. These days, people can get special tools and templates as well as machine cut strips to make their artworks even more detailed and precise.
Quilling’s popularity peaked in the early 1800’s as a hobby for ‘ladies of leisure’. Although previous to that it had been popular among nuns as a way of decorating sacred texts, containers and holy pictures.
Quilling has been brought back to life in recent years with many hugely talented artists such as Yulia Brodskaya who is responsible for the stamp artwork, choosing it as their discipline. A close look at the art works displayed in this stamp issue give an idea of the time, patience and skill required to create these vibrant works. 
Switzerland



16 November 2017 : Love

Nobody knows who invented it, yet it is in danger of being forgotten – the secret language of stamps. From 1900 until the 1960s, this romantic notion was very popular among lovers. Is the stamp on the envelope tilted to the right? Or is it perhaps upside-down? In days gone by, lovers could send each other secret messages this way. The “Love” special stamps take up this romantic tradition and allow the senders of love notes to lend their messages greater weight. The special stamp with its deep red heart embossed with silver foil and a subtle rose symbolizes love in all its facets.
Here’s what the main secret messages signify:
– Stamp straight: Thinking of you all the time.
– Stamp tilted to the left: The usual meeting place.
– Stamp tilted to the right: Passionate kisses!
– Stamp upside-down: I love you.
– Stamp on its side, tilted down to the left: Forever yours!
– Stamp on its side, tilted down to the right: I dreamt about you.
Spain




15 September 2017 : Old Crafts


This year, Correos issues a new series dedicated to the old trades. This series is inaugurated by one of the oldest trades in the history of mankind, pottery and, to honor it, the stamp is dedicated to the ceramics of Talavera.It is presented in a new Premium Pliego and has the characteristic of being printed on a paper with textured ceramic.





From the beginning of time, man needed utensils that would make life easier for him. For this reason, probably arose the occupation of potter, which consists of making objects of clay.This activity and its products have always been an object of admiration, and this is demonstrated by the many works of art of different painters such as Velázquez, Goya or Murillo, also Zurbarán or Romero de Torres, who included some pottery motif in many of their creations.

The pottery takes us to the ceramics, and concretely, the protagonist of this emission, the well-known ceramics of Talavera.It is known as Cerámica de Talavera, a type of ceramic that is made in the city of Talavera de la Reina, with materials from the Tagus River such as mud, kaolin and different and beautiful enamels.

It is used to make dinnerware, fountains, wall murals and other ornamental elements.
The city, has a quality brand that makes its pottery products different from the rest, is called “Marca de Calidad Talavera Cerámica”.

These products are known all over the world and, in addition to being purchased, can be enjoyed at the Museo de Cerámica Ruiz de Luna.This museum is located in the city of Toledo and was created by the Spanish ceramist Juan Ruiz de Luna, as a deposit of his private collection. After his death, it was ceded to the town hall of the town.

With this stamp, which presents hands working the mud and a decorated jar, Correos intends to start a tribute to all trades that came to make life easier, wrapped by art and good work.


Acknowledgement
- Judaica Thematic Society (UK) November 2017 Newsletter edited by Gary Goodman
Blogs & Websites

Philatelic Clubs & Societies 
Ananthapuri Philatelic Association, Thiruvanthapuram
Baroda Philatelic Society -  http://www.vadophil.org/
Chandigarh Philatelic Club
Deccan Philatelic Society – Pune, Maharashtra
Eastern India Philatelists’ Association - http://www.filacapsule.blogspot.com/   
India Study Circle -  http://www.indiastudycircle.org/
Indian Stamp Ghar - http://www.indianstampghar.com/
Indian Thematic Society, Ludhiana -   http://indianthematicstamps.webs.com/
Ludhiana Philatelic Club
Numismatic & Philatelic Association of Vellore Fort  http://numismaticphilavellore.site40.net/index.htm
Philatelic Congress of India - http://www.philateliccongressofindia.com/
Philatelic Society of Rajasthan, Jaipur
Philatelic Socety of India , Mumbai : http://www.psi1897.com/
Rajkot Philatelic Society – Rajkot, Gujarat
Gujarat Philatelic Association - Ahmedabad
South India Philatelists Association -  http://www.sipa.org.in/
The Army Philatelic Society, Pune

RAINBOW STAMP CLUB

This is a blog of e-stamp Club www.rainbowstampclub.blogspot.com . The idea of this blog is to extend philatelic fraternity in all corners of the world. Readers may write about themselves with their collecting interests and share new ideas with other philatelists.  New Post on recent issues, news on stamp activities and Contribution by members are published every day on this blog. Readers may also express their views on any philatelic matter which will be published under Club News at Rainbow Stamp Cub Blog. Philatelic Clubs and Societies may also send brief write ups. News about new issues of India and abroad and other information related with Philately are regularly posted on this blog. Readers may send reports on new issues, special covers, cancellations & philatelic activities of their area for inclusion in this Blog. - Editor

Current Philatelic Magazines – Newsletters
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ITS Stamp News - Quarterly - Editor: Suraj Jaitly Publisher: Indian Thematic Society website - http://itsstampnews.blogspot.com/

Ananthpuri Stamp Bulletin - Monthly e -stamp bulletin of Anathapuri Philatelic Association, Thiruvanthapuram

Journal of the Army Philatelic Society : Editor – Col Jayanta Dutta

SIPA Bulletin http://www.sipa.org.in/

Stamp of India Collectors’ Companion - India’s first weekly e-newsletter edited by Madhukar and Savita Jhingan from Stamps of India, New Delhi. E- mail: mjhingan@yahoo.com Website: www.stampsofindia.com

India Post – Quarterly Journal of the India Study Circle publishes original articles submitted by members of ISC.

GPA News – Published by Gujarat Philatelists’ Association, Ahemadabad.

Stamps Today  Stamp & Coin Magazine edited by Vijay Seth

Courtesy - News and Image Resource to this issue :   Indian Philately Digest ,  Stamps of India ;  WOPA , Suresh R.- Bangalore; Sreejesh Krishnan – Trivandrum.,Ajay Kr Mittal- New Delhi

Address for communication :

Jeevan Jyoti,  c / o Mr. Ajay Srivastav Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun – 248002. India  
             
 E-mail –    j.jyoti9@gmail.com 

*  Last date for receiving write ups – 25th of every month. Kindly send images in jpg compressed format & text in MS Word only.  
          
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Any material from this newsletter may be reproduced only with the written permission from the editor. …..Happy Collecting…………………………………………………………………………………            

Rainbow Stamp News is edited and published monthly by Jeevan Jyoti from Dehradun, ( Uttarakhand ) India for free circulation among philatelists.



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Participated in different philatelic exhibitions Wrote for philately column in The Pioneer and worked as sub-editor for U-Phil Times published from United Philatelists, Kanpur.Did Schooling from Kanpur Vidya Mandir and Post Graduation in Botany from A.N.D. College Kanpur.

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