Centenary of discovery of Insulin - Brazil's 1st 2D barcode stamp

For the centenary of the discovery of Insulin, the Brazilian post has issued a stamp on 27th July 2021. This is the first Brazilian postage stamp with a 2D barcode.  Each stamp has an alphanumeric code, comprised of five letters and four numbers, sequentially generated. Mine is "AAABG7019".  It had a print run of 200,000 stamps. At the time of writing this, Brazil issued another QR code stamp on 8th October for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Dias Correa.

No Face Value was mentioned on the stamp, but it is meant for 1st class rate for domestic mail and sold at Brazilian Real 2.05 on the day of issue.  Perforation is also special like a few other recent stamps, it was cut to shape with “BR” on both sides.  The Postcrossing stamp also has the BR perforation at the top and at the bottom.

Nice addition to my Odd and Unusual stamp collection.

Permanent Pictorial Cancellation : Rock Fort temple, Trichy

Recently I got a chance to visit Tiruchirappalli (aka. Trichy).  It is situated on the bank of the river Cauvery in the southern state of India, Tamil Nadu.  This city was part of several wars in ancient times and the important Carnatic war between the British and the French as it helped British to spread their dominance in southern parts. 

The "Rock Fort" is the pride of Tiruchirappalli. The Fort on a 272 feet high rock was first built by the Vijayanagar Empire and subsequently renovated by the British.  There are two rock-carved temples inside the hillock, the "Uchi Pillayar temple" ("Uchi" means top, "Pillayar" is the Hindu Elephant God) and the "Thayumanavar temple" ( “Thai” means mother and “anavar” means like a mother).  

The temples were constructed by Mahendra Varma.   While hiking the steps one will come across “Thayumanavar Shiva temple” first, people worship the Thayumanavar for normal and safe delivery.  Those who want to achieve their accomplishments visit the hilltop temple deity Pillayar. 

No wonder the Tamil Nadu circle came up with the permanent pictorial cancellation of this historic and religious significant fort.  It was first introduced on 17th December 1974. Then the cancellation of the rock fort was inside a square.  Another one was introduced in 1981 has the rock fort inside a circle cancellation. 

Those visiting Trichy and wish to get the cancellation, please visit the Trichy Philatelic Bureau, situated inside the Head Post office.  When I was visiting, I met postal assistant Mr. K. Mahendran, who is very kind and helpful.  He can be reached out at his number +91 9940743901. 

Those who are far off and won’t get the opportunity to visit this place -but would like to have the cancellation- please email tiruchirappalliHO@indiapost.gov.in to get the details or alternatively write to,

 

The Senior Postmaster 
Trichy Philatelic Bureau 
Trichy HO, Trichy 
Tamil Nadu - 620001 

Around the world Halloween

 Around the world Halloween

Have you been told that Halloween originated in the US and is it all about chocolates (as treat)?  As Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday in the US, we might all think so. But, It's Really not.  

The history of Halloween dates back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of the summer and the beginning of the dark winter. The Celts, who lived many years ago in the areas now called Ireland, the UK, and northern France, believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain. So, to pay homage to the dead, people gathered to light bonfires, offer sacrifices to God, dress up in costumes and leave foods on tables outside to satiate the spirits.  The costumes are made from animal skins, as they believe it will ward off all unwanted visitors.  As time passed, people modified the festival and started dressing up as ghosts, demons, and other creatures to perform antics in exchange for money, food, and drink. 

In Scotland, young people participated in a similar tradition called Guising - where they dressed up in costumes to go around the neighbourhood singing or performing tricks in exchange for offerings like fruits, nuts, or coins.

As pumpkin is harvested during this period and it is easy to carve, they used pumpkin for Jack-o-lantern.

During the second half of the 19th Century, America was flooded with new immigrants, especially the Irish after the Irish Potato famine. Their customs meshed with American Indians and a new version of Halloween emerged. But Halloween got its popularity in the U.S only after it was depicted in 1951, the Peanuts comic strip and 1952 Disney's cartoon "Trick or Treat" - featuring Donald Duck and his nephews. 

In India, Bengalis celebrate this as Bhoot Chaturdashi, a day before  Kali Puja.  Bhoot Chaturdashi is also about warding off evil spirits. On this day people light 14 lamps around the house, especially in the dark corners, to chase the (if you believe) dark spirits away. Many also believe that the number of lamps represents the 14 forefathers. 

In all these customs, people believe that the 'gateway' between the dead and the living opens and the dead descend to the earth on this day.

More than anything, all these festivities ward off evil spirits.

US National Wildlife Day : September 4th

In September of 2006, Steve Irwin, fondly known as “The Crocodile Hunter”, died in an encounter with a stingray 

Steve Irwin was an expert on animals and spent much of his career working to bring attention to endangered species and aid conservation.   Every day, we are losing some species.  Because of human behavior, many species are extinct.  Steve was the voice for these voiceless creatures. And his amazing videos with different animals drew attention to their plight and changed our perception towards wild species.

Colleen Paige, the Pet Lifestyle Expert, and author founded US National Wildlife Day in Irwin's honor.  Since 2006  September 4th is remembered as a US National Wildlife Day.

If we don’t start taking care of wildlife now, we’re going to lose them. Once an animal has gone extinct, they’re lost forever to future generations, it’s our responsibility not to let that happen.

August 12th : US Vinyl Record Day

 August 12th: US National Vinyl Record Day

Vinyl records are also known as gramophone records and phonograph records. This is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove.

In the beginning, until about 1960, records were made of shellac, a thicker, more brittle material.  However, polyvinyl chloride became the most popular choice throughout the ‘40s, and this is how the name 'vinyl record' came about, it did not really matter what material was used. 

In 2002, Music enthusiast and founder of the first nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the cultural influence of vinyl, Gary Freiberg of California created National Vinyl Record Day. He chose August 12th to commemorate the day because on this day the phonograph was invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. Though back in 1857 itself the phonautograph was patented by Leon Scott, this was not for the intention of playing them back at the time but for visual analysis. Just in 2008 that phonautograms of speech and singing that were made by Scott in the 1860s were played back as sound! 

On Vinyl Record Day, Gary encourages everyone to remember the good things in life and to look back on fond memories, especially vinyl records.  Even though the first record was made in the 1800s, records are still being created today!  More vinyl records were sold than CDs in 2020.  

On 4th September 2014 Swiss Post issued the below Record Stamp. There is a hole in the center of the round stamp so that it can be placed on the record player to play the brass version of the Swiss National Anthem.

World Calligraphy Day

 World Calligraphy Day

Since the year 2017, the second Wednesday of August is celebrated as World Calligraphy day.  Calligraphy is an art,  where art meets handwriting.  It has been around since ancient times and has had a vast impact on history and culture all around the world.  Different civilizations have different styles inspired by their cultures because it is the combination of visual art with writing.

Today, in the modern world, it is used in many design concepts for advertising and promoting, and it is easy to do because of the advanced technology we have today.

In 2017, The Pen Museum and the Manuscript Pen Company have taken the initiative to create a World Calligraphy day to popularise this art and the rich history attached to this art.  The Pen Museum is a museum dedicated to teaching the art of calligraphy and the Manuscript Pen Company being an art retailer specializing in calligraphy products.

Let the creativity of writing flow through this art.

Below fan-shaped MS was issued by Taiwan Post on 13th January 2016 on the theme Calligraphy and Paintings.

The above Taiwan Miniature sheet depicts a 7 character regulated verse written by Wen Zhengming.  To attract and highlight their culture to the modern generation, these scripts are printed on bamboo strips and the stamp is in the form of a fan.  

The 7 characters regulated verse reminds me of our Thirukurral written by Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.  All 1330 couplets (Kurals) have 7 words, 4 in the first line and 3 in the second line. 

August 10th : World Lion Day

August 10th: World Lion Day

World Lion Day is celebrated every year on August 10th since 2013.  The King of the jungle, being the largest species on earth, really struggling for its survival.  These majestic cats that symbolise courage, ferocity, and power are threatened by extensive habitat loss. There has been a decline in 80% of the population of lions in the past 100 years. 

The King of the jungle actually lives in grasslands and plains.  They were once found throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe.  But their numbers dwindled over the years.  Currently, they just exist in over 25 African countries and 1 Asian country.  The last remaining population of the Asiatic Lions can be found in Gujarat's Gir National Park.  The top member of Asia's Big 5, now only seen in India.

In 2013, National Geographic, Dereck, and Beverly Joubert founded the Big Cat Initiative in 2009 and created World Lion Day in 2013. The majestic species standing as a symbol of many countries and kingdoms, now in the mercy of humans.  Let's protect these wild cats in their natural habitat.

The below stamp was issued by India Post in the year 2015