La baguette Scratch-and-Sniff stamp

 La baguette

The baguette is not just a staple of our daily lives; it is the emblem of our gastronomy and the crown jewel of French culture.

St. Honoré, the patron saint of bakers, is also revered by confectioners, pastry chefs, flour sellers, and candlemakers. Honoré passed away on January 16th and his feast day is May 16th, 600 AD, a date that is celebrated by bakers in France as St. Honoré’s Day.

In honor of St. Honoré’s Day in 2024, La Poste, the French postal service, issued a unique stamp featuring the iconic baguette. This stamp is particularly special because it is a scratch-and-sniff stamp. The ink used contains microcapsules that release the fragrance of a freshly baked baguette when rubbed by the customer.

In 2022, the French baguette was granted UNESCO heritage status, a testament to its cultural significance and enduring legacy.

I am fortunate to possess this special stamp - both on the cover and in mint condition.

Konark Sun temple - Permanent Pictorial Cancellation

 Konark Sun temple - PPC

Konark is a coastline city in Puri, Odisha. Konark has been derived from "Kona" - corner, and "Arka" - Sun. Konark Sun temple was built by King Narasinga Deva in 1250 A.D.  It is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Sun God.  It is made up of black granite and a black pagoda.  It took 16 years to complete the structure. 

The temple is shaped like a big chariot, representing Sun God's chariot.  Hindus believe that Sun God travels from east to west on a 7 horse chariot.  7 represents the number of days in a week. And 12 pairs of wheels (12*2=24) represent 24 hours of the day.  It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984.

India Post introduced a PPC on 10-05-1979 depicting the Chariot Wheel.