UNESCO WHS Miniature sheet

India Post issued a  set of six stamps and a miniature sheet on Hill forts of Rajasthan on 29th December 2018. 

This is the second Odd shaped Miniature sheet issued by India post.  It is in the shape of the UNESCO logo.

This is the first set in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India series.  

Denominations: Three 12 Rs and three 5 Rs.

The stamps depict forts of Amer, Kumbhalgarh, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Gagron and Ranthambhor.

SOAR Stamp - Ireland

Stamps on a Roll (SOAR)

On 22 July 2010 An Post introduced Stamps On A Roll. The stamps are on rolls of 600 and are only given a denomination at the time of purchase. To distinguish these stamps from other stamp products, they are being given the name Stamps On A Roll or SOAR for short.  They are self-adhesive labels with the pre-printed designs, the country name, and upright sequential number in the lower right corner and at the point of purchase are printed with the face value, date of purchase, a unique identifier code for each stamp including the number of the post office and the device, and operational control numbers.

In January 12,2017, Ireland post issued  9th definitive stamp series - A history of Ireland in 100 Objects, a selection. The objects featured on the SOAR stamps are a Mesolithic Fish Trap, a Ceremonial Axehead, a Neolithic Bowl, a Gold Hoard, a Flint Macehead, Bronze Age Funerary Urns, the Tara Torcs and the Broighter Boat.  The stamps features Augmented Reality, If you scan the stamp with CEE App it will take you to www.100objects.ie/about/ .

I got the Funerary Urns on cover, The Bronze Age Funerary Urns (1900–1300 BC) were made to be buried with the dead. 

CEE App code Stamp - Ireland

On an Easter Monday, April 24, 1916, a group of Irish nationalists proclaimed Ireland's Independence from the United Kingdom. The Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army  made a Proclamation and it was read out by Patrick Pearse outside the General Post Office on Sackville Street.  

Though the Rising failed in military terms, the principles of the Proclamation to varying degrees influenced the thinking of later generations of Irish politicians.

Since the rising happened on an Easter day, it is called Easter Rising.

To commemorate 100th year of this event on January, 2016 An Post (Ireland Post) introduced 16  stamps under the 8th Definitive stamps series.  The stamps have been grouped as Leaders and Icons, Participants, Easter week and the Aftermath. 

These stamps features Augmented Reality, and when scanned by a smartphone with the CEE APP, will play the below video.

Disclaimer:  I have compiled whatever I have read and understood through the Internet.  If anything wrong please email me, I will make the changes.

Paquebot Cover : Malta

Paquebot, the word in French translates literally to “Ship, Cruise, Liner" . Letters posted at sea carries this "Paquebot" cancellations.

My cover was posted on board the Virtu Ferries catamaran MV Jean De La Valette.  The vessel operates daily Malta-Sicily voyages, and it has been in operation since 2010. It is named after Jean de Valette, the Grand Master of the Order of St. John who is known for his role during the Great Siege of 1565 and for founding Malta's capital city Valletta in 1566. The catamaran is among the fastest vessels in the world.

On 7 November 2011, MaltaPost installed a letterbox on board the vessel, and mail posted on board should have additional "PAQUEBOT" and/or "MAILED ON BOARD M/V JEAN DE LA VALETTE" markings, which are applied at the Central Mail Room in Marsa once mail from the vessel is being sorted.

Some interesting things about usage of stamps in Paquebot covers,

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) created procedures for a variety of international postal regulations. Accordingly, mail posted aboard a ship in international waters was entitled to be franked with stamps of, and in accordance with the postal rates of the country of the ship’s registry. However, if the ship is in territorial waters (the part of the sea within a stated distance of the shore of a state), the UPU rules change, as follows: “Items posted on-board a ship during the stay at the two terminal points of the voyage or at any intermediate port of call must be prepaid by means of postage stamps and according to the tariff of the country in whose waters the ship is lying.” 

An interesting cover to my collection and my First one from Malta.  Now I have to look for a picture post card from Malta to complete my Malta collection.

Odd World - Fujeira

My Fujeira collection of Odd and Unusual stamps/MSs

Big Size

1972, March 31st - Lunar Exploration Airmail Stamp

First Flight Cover - Coimbatore New Delhi, Air India

Air India, India's National carrier recently introduced a non stop flight from Coimbatore, the "Manchester of South India" to National capital New Delhi on 1st December of 2018.  To commemorate this, Coimbatore postal circle issued a First flight Cover.

Marudamalai Murugal temple - Coimbatore and India Gate - Delhi, two prominent attractions of the two cities are  depicted on the cover. 

My very first FFC issued by India Post.  Nice addition to my "Evolution of flight" theme.