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

Surprise - from Russia!

I received a bunch of stamps from Russia couple of days back. It was kind of a surprise though Alesya aka Lis had been mentioned that she is going to send me few items. Thank You, Lis.

Below is a miniature sheet to commemorate the 2018 FIFA cup to be hosted by Russia in June/July of 2018. If you look closely it shows a silhouette of many hands holding aloft the FIFA trophy. 

Below are few assorted stamps issued by Russia in 2014 to celebrate aviation pioneers and pilots. 

Below Miniature-sheet is to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the St. Petersburg Post Office (issued in 2014). It looks almost like a cancelled post-card. You can see that the 'circular' stamp is contains the image of the seal. In-fact, Russia used to charge by weight until about 150 years - there were no stamps till then! I haven't figured out why it has a French phrase mentioning - "Post office street" on it; Anyone knows?

                                      

Swap materials - from Russia!!

Today I received some beautiful covers,cards, MS and also stamps from Olga. 

Olga is an avid collector of Elephants on stamps, cards and covers. In return she has sent me a few FDC's and MS enhancing my Flights of Fancy and unique shaped MS theme. Above all, this was one of the Best Packaging in a Swap I have ever seen :) Thanks a ton, Olga.

Antonov O K - Pioneer of Russian Aviation

The multifaceted Antonov O K is a pioneer of Russian Aviation. Antonov is interested in aviation since his childhood and spent most of his time making paper gliders.  His painting skills came handy in designing aircrafts.

He designed 52 Gliders and 22 airplane types and he is the man behind Guinness record holder AN 225.

Antonov was born on February, 1906. In 2006 for his 100th Anniversary, Russia post issued a miniature sheet with his picture and the aircraft designed by him. I got these through a private swap from Olga of Russia.  Thanks Olga.

Mining and Metallurgical Company Norilsk Nickel - Embossed stamp, Russia

I have received a gorgeous card from Marina, Russia illustrating historical places of St.Petersburg.

The stamp she used is a 2015 issue of Mining and Metallurgical company, Norilsk Nickel.  It was issued in June this year to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Norilsk Nickel, the largest producer of Nickel and Palladium.

They are supplying their products to more than 40 countries and India is the  one among them.  In the year 2014, Norilsk Nickel company has won a trophy in Mumbai at Indian Surface Finishing Exhition (ISF)

The Metallurgist, helicopter and the plant are embossed.  It will nicely fit into my theme "Unusual Stamps" collection.

Thanks Marina.

The card depicts the following historical places of St. Petersburg.

2015 The 50th Anniversary of the First Spacewalk by Alexey Leonov

Recently I received this beautiful Palace Post card and The 50th Anniversary of the First Spacewalk by Alexey Leonov stamp on cover from Olya of Russia. Thanks Olya.

The post card depicts the interior of the most famous Turkish Palace - Dolmabahce. The picture shows the bedroom of Sultan Abdulaziz.

The Cosmonaut stamp is issued to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the First Spacewalk by Alexey Leonov.  On 18th March 1965, Alexey became the first human to conduct Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA).  The stamp was issued in 2015, April 10th.

The hand cancellation shows that it was posted on 20th of July and it reached me on 3rd of August.

A.N. Tupolev - Pioneer in Russian Aircraft design

Irina from Russia sent me a card depicting various air crafts with my themed stamps.  Thanks Irina.

Tu-22M3 and TB-7 are strategic Bomber and These stamps were issued by the Russian Federation in the year 2013 to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Birth of A.N. Tupolev.

1980 12th Summer Olympic games

Today I got a wonderful First Day Cover from Beate Tauscn who is in Germany. 

Actually The FDC was issued by Russia (CCCP) in 1978 to commemorate the 1980 12th Summer Olympic games held in Moscow, Soviet Union, the present day Russia.  As far as I know Russia has issued Five FDC's on Sailing Olympic games and this is one among them.  He used Germany's Ludwigslust Castle stamp and sent it to me. 

As I am the fan of World Travelling covers, I like this one a lot.

I was surprised to see not one but two "People At Work" themed Cards and whole lot of stamps in the above cover!

First one is  issued under Building Trade - Carpentry.  This one bears 60 Rappen definitive stamp issued in 10th September 1984.

Second one  is Issued in 10th April 1986 under "Youth Hostel" commemorative stamp series.

Thanks a lot, Beate.

Sochi Winter Olympics: Liechtenstein

Sochi, Russia is situated along the black sea is mainly covered with rocks such as Mesozoic and Cenozoic.  It was named Sochi in the year 1896 and got its city status in 1917.  During World War II, it served as a rehabilitation  center and at present it is the major resort town of Russia drawing millions of visitors annually, mostly during May to September. It is also the unofficial summer capital of Russia.





In 2007, Sochi won the bid to host the XXII Winter Olympic Games and Para Olympic Games and in 2014 it successfully conducted those two major events. This was the first time Russia had hosted Winter and Para Olympic Games after the dissolution of the Union of  Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) in 1991. Sochi, Russia hosted the XXII Winter Olympic Games from 7th to 23rd February 2014. To commemorate this event Liechtenstein Post has issued a stamp on 11th November 2013.



The face value is 2.60 and the the name Liechtenstein are printed using the Silver Hot foil printing method. Stone originating from Sochi was powdered and mixed with paint and affixed  to the stamp using thermography process. Thermo means heat.  Using heat to create the letters or images on the desired surface is called thermography. Here the powdered rock is mixed with the paint and applied on the stamp paper and heat is used to affix that firmly on the stamp.  If you glide your fingers on dark blue colour place you can feel the powdered stone.

29th July: World Tiger Day

Today is World Tiger Day. Starting from 2010, every year 29th of July is celebrated as World Tiger Day or Global Tiger Day.  In Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit they decided to create awareness about Tiger and the necessity to preserve their habitat because they were very close to extinction.

In 1913 an estimated 100,000 tigers were there in the world.  But today, there are only 3000 tigers and most of the tiger species like Javan tigers, Bali tigers already in the extinct list.

India is having the highest number of tigers which is around thousand. Let us save the majestic animal from extinction and make them double by 2022 as decided at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit. India had started the "Project Tiger" campaign under the then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1973.

Because Tiger is India's National Animal, I felt compelled to write a small poem about this wonderful animal to create awareness.

Guess Who I am

- Deepthi Sudharsan - 

I am Yellow with black stripes

Hunting in the dead of night,

I crouch and pounce on my prey

Before they take flight

Me and my friends are very few

Victims of mad poaching,

We are losing our hide-outs

To people who are encroaching

If you guessed I am a Tiger

You are surely very bright,

I would like to meet you

But you would die of fright!