Russia - Numismatics on Stamps

Recently, I received a beautiful embossed Miniature sheet from Olga in Russia which combines two of my hobbies; Numismatics and Philately ( Odd and Unusual stamps ).

On January 12th 2016, our friendship started with the introduction of our interests.  Nearly a year has gone, we never discussed or negotiated anything. as we know each others interest and tastes very well.  All our correspondence has always been brief - "I got yours, mine is on the way". 

I am very happy with my hobby, otherwise I won't  have met friends like Olga.

Below you can find two FDCs depicting the history of bicycles and a MS showing a few coins.

Issued to commemorate 150th Anniversary of the Bank of Russia, 2010

It is embossed, the scanner couldn't do the justification to show the embossed effect

 History of Bicycles, Issued in 2008

Glow in the dark - Nocturnals - Malaysia

Nocturnals are animals that are active during night. Bat is a familiar nocturnal animal.  They have some special features to survive in the dark like big ears, sensitive whiskers, keen noses,s and above all, sharp vision to see the prey and predators in the dark.

To highlight this special capability, "Vision" Malaysian post issued a Glow-in-the-dark Miniature sheet in 2008.  The eyes of Slow Loris and Tarsier glow in the dark.  Thanks to Joel for sending this nice imperforated Miniature sheet for me.

You can see the glow effect below and actual sheet further down the page.

Hans Grade : German Aviation Pioneer

Germany has issued many nice stamps on Aviation.  Today I have received one among them from my friend Miss. Malin, Germany.  The stamp she used was issued on October 9, 2008 for commemorating 100 years of Engine powered Flight.   It features German Aviation Pioneer Hans Grade in his self constructed Tri-plane.  It is interesting to know that Grade's monoplane carried Germany's first Air Mail.  Nice addition to my "Flights of Fancy" collection.  Looks like Malin's Dad is a stamp collector as well; Thanks to Malin and her Dad.

Finding Nemo: Taiwan

I am a great fan of Pixar Animation Studios.  I have seen almost all of their movies half a dozen times. Bug's life and Finding Nemo are my favourites. When I came across the Finding Nemo Miniature Sheet, I realized that it has a circular shaped stamps too which comes under my theme Unusual/Unique stamps. So I picked up one.  I am talking about the 3rd April 2008 Taiwan Post's miniature sheet based on the movie  Finding Nemo.  They have issued two miniature sheets, I got one and am looking for the other MS.

Nemo is a small clown fish.  When it swims near the surface of the water it is caught in the fishing net and the story revolves around his father searching for Nemo and How Nemo escapes from the dentist's fish tank and reunites with his father.  Even though Nemo and his father Marlin are the key characters of the movie, I like the Dory, a blue reef fish, with short memory but with unbelievable talent ( Yes! it knows the Shark's language:-) ) and really a cool fish. I heard that they are going to release a sequential "Finding Dory" MS in 2016. Even though the turtles came for a brief part in the movie, they make a strong impression.

Below is one of the miniature sheets. Note that there are circular as well as rectangular stamps featuring the characters from Finding Nemo.

15th January : Pongal, Harvest Festival

Indian Economy is heavily dependent on Agriculture.  To thank the Gods and our farmers who have helped us, we celebrate harvest festivals all over India in various names.

Pongal is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu.  It usually occurs mid-January.  It is a four-day festival. The first day is called "Bhogi".  On this day people use to clean their houses, burn the old unwanted things, and buy new things to mark the beginning of a new life. The second day is the real "Pongal".  On this day people say thanks to the Sun God and prepare a dish called "Sweet Pongal" and "Salt Pongal".  Pongudhal (Pongal) is a Tamil Word meaning flourishing/boiling.  People boil fresh milk in a mud or Copper vessel. While it is boiling they chant "Happiness should overflow in our life like this overflowing boiling milk" and "Pongalo pongal, Pongalo Pongal" and with this milk only they prepare sweet pongal.  The third day is to say thanks to the animals which helped on the field and is called "Maattu Pongal".  Usually, Cow and Buffalos are decorated well on this day and they worship those animals.  The fourth day is called "Kaanum pongal",  On this day relatives get to gather in some commonplace like beach, park and have their dinner together.  "Kaanum" means "Meeting".

Few other harvest festivals in India are Sankranti, Baisakhi, Bihu, Hareli, Nuakhai. 

The first stamp is issued by India Post in the year 2006 and the second one is issued by Singapore Post in the year 2008.

Andi Herzog - Austria: 3D Motion Stamp

Andi Herzog is a successful Austrian foot ball player.  He was born in Vienna, Austria, 10th of this month (September) , 1968.   Currently he is the assistant coach of United States foot ball team.

Even though Austria never won Foot Ball world cup, It secured 4th place in 1934 and 3rd place in 1954.

The below stamp is issued to commemorate Andi Herzog's goal against Sweden in the 76th minute which opened the door to the World Cup 1998 held in France.

It is a 3D motion picture stamp issued in 5th May, 2008.

Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi: Indian Mathematician

Recently my uncle presented me a stamp of Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi and he told me that he is a great mathematician.  I have heard about Aryabhatta, Bhaskara, Panini, Ramanujan and Sakunthaladevi, but not Damodar Kosambi.

Kosambi was born in Goa, 1902 studied in India and USA.  He showed interest in statistics and ancient sanskrit texts.  He worked in Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.  I heard that the formulae printed in this stamp is related to "Kosambi's Map Function" and is related to something called Quantitative Genetics.

Clusius Gentian: Austria, Embroidery stamp

Gentiana Clusii is a mountain flower that is mainly found in the Alpine mountains and is native to Europe.  It is commonly known as Clusius Gentian and got its name from the botanist who studied Alpine Flora.

It is a perennial herb.  Flowers are bell-shaped and blue in colour. It blooms from May to July.

Like Edelweiss this is also a protected flower.

Even though Poland, Switzerland, and other countries issued stamps of this flower, the one issued by Austria on 19 September 2008 is a special one because it is a self-adhesive embroidery stamp.

Venus of Willendorf - 3D stamp

In Willendorf, Austria near Danube river Archeologists have found a sculpture of a woman in 7th August 1908. They named it "Venus of Willendorf".  This obese, naked woman with curly hair statue was made of limestone.  The paint remains of the this sculpture shows that it must be painted with red ochre. This sculpture is now kept in Natural and History Museum in Vienna.

This significant Arichelogical finding which dates back to 30,000 to 25,000 BC was issued as a 3D lenticular stamp by the Austrian Post in the year 2008, to celebrate 100 years of its finding.

Polyurethane Foot Ball stamp: Austria

On the eve of 2014 FIFA World Cup, what better stamp to share than the 2008 Austrian stamp depicting a football. The stamp is self-adhesive and made of polyurethane.It was released on the occasion of UEFA 2008 Cup. It is a limited edition stamp with less than half-million printed (a small number considering the demand of anything soccer related).

It is unusual to find a corporate name on stamp, and this has one! Adidas has been the official football manufacturer since 1970s. Few people know that this year's World Cup Footbal has a name of it's own. They are called Brazuca - supposed to represent 'Brazilian way of life'.