Tuesday, December 29, 2009

CGS Sagar

Date of Issue: November 03, 2003

Many thanks to Mr. D.H. Rao, Chennai; Chairman - Indian Naval Philatelic Society for sending me this valuable cover signed by the Commanding Officer of CGS Sagar, VJS Chawla.

The Coast Guard Ship (CGS) Sagar is the fourth ship in the advanced offshore patrol series built by Goa Shipyard Limited for Indian Coast Guard, the predecessors being Samar, Sangram and Sarang. The ship's keel was laid on July 6, 2000 by Vice Admiral JC De Silva, the then Director General of Indian Coast Guard. The ship was commissioned on November 3, 2003 by the then Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes at an impressive ceremony at Goa.

CGS Sagar has been equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Her special features include an external fire fighting system for rendering assistance to ships at sea, pollution response equipment for controlling oil spillage and a system interfacing all the navigational sensors and equipment to a central computer and display known as chart station. The pride of the ship is the sophisticated Oto Melara super rapid-gun with anti-shipping and anti-aircraft capability. She is designed to operate Chetak helicopter as well as the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH). She has been provided with two high speed boats enabling her to prosecute fleeing smugglers even in shallow waters.

At an economic speed, she can cover 6000 nautical miles and stay at sea for 20 days without any replenishment. Her weapons, sensors, communication systems and computerised action information system provide her a capability to perform the role of a command and control platform for the conduct of Coast Guard operations.

Click here to see Coast Guard miniature sheet issued on August 12, 2008.

Text source: mod.nic.in (Ministry of Defence, India)

Monday, December 28, 2009

Gibraltar Packet Agency - 200th Anniv

Date of Issue: September 15, 2006
Illustrator: John Batchelor

In these days of instant communication it is difficult to conceive the difficulties that existed regarding mail communication 200 years ago. After Gibraltar came under the British crown in 1704, mail was carried by ships whose Masters agreed to carry packets. However over one hundred years later, the Gibraltar Packet Service was created and commenced in July 1806. The first Gibraltar marks on letters were then introduced by the Packet Agency. After the first Packet Agent, John Hardcastle, had been in post for a few months, he asked for some marks that he could use to apply to letters. Two were produced: an arc with the name "Gibraltar", and a further arc reading "Gibraltar Paid". They were the first marks to be used on Gibraltar mail to denote that a letter had originated in Gibraltar in early 1807.

The set comprises of four stamps featuring specially commissioned illustrations on the HMP Cornwallis, HMP Meteor, HMP Carteret and HMP Prince Regent who regularly brought mail to and from Gibraltar during the 1800’s.

Text Source: Gibraltar-Stamps.com

Friday, December 25, 2009

Sir Peter Blake (1948 - 2001)

Date of Issue: November 25, 2009

New Zealand post issued this set of five stamps, miniature sheet, and limited edition imperforated miniature sheets, presentation packs etc., for Sir Peter James Blake - an inspirational leader, brilliant yachtsman, record breaker, passionate Kiwi and ardent environmentalist.

Sir Peter Blake was a New Zealand yachtsman who won the Whitbread Round the World Race (now known as Volvo Round the World Race), the Jules Verne Trophy – setting the fastest time around the world of 74 days 22 hours 17 minutes 22 seconds on catamaran Enza, and led his country to successive victories in the America’s Cup.

Sir Peter was on the Amazon River monitoring environment change when he was murdered in Brazil on 6th December 2001.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Rt. Hon. Helen Clark) called Sir Peter a living legend and a national hero in her eulogy she said in part:
Our small nation went into shock. Peter Blake was a living legend. As an outstanding sailor, he had brought great honour and fame to New Zealand. His death was unthinkable.

Sir Peter Blake is buried at Warblington churchyard, near Emsworth on the south coast of England. His headstone bears the words of John Masefield's famous poem, Sea Fever: "I must down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky, and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by....".

Text source: wikipedia

Many thanks to my swap partner and friend, Ms. Corinne Pegler from New Zealand for sending me this beautiful set of stamps.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Battle of Trafalgar Bicentennial - Lesotho

Date of Issue: August 22, 2005
Scott #: 1381, 1382

Lesotho issued two sheets of stamps to commemorate 200th Anniversary of Battle of Trafalgar.

The first sheet has four stamps that shows the flagship of Lord Nelson, the HMS Victory; second one shows Admiral Lord Nelson; third one shows Nelson wounded in the battle; and last stamp shows a view of ships engaged in the battle.

Click here to see other stamps on 200th Anniversary of Battle of Trafalgar.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Ships that visited Christmas Islands

(click on image to view larger picture)
Date of Issue:
February 05, 1972 - 6c, 7c, 8c, 20c
June o6, 1972 - 1c, 2c, 3c, $1
February 06, 1973 - 4c, 5c, 9c, 50c
June 04, 1973 - 10c, 25c, 30c, 35c

Scott #: 39 - 54

1c - Eagle (1714)
Under the command of Capt. Beeckman, this ship passed Christmas Island on April 5, 1714, on a voyage from England to Borneo.

2c - H.M.S. Redpole (1890)
H.M.S. Redpole visited the island in 1890. The Redpole was a gunboat (1st Class), one of half-a-dozen sister-ships all named after birds.

3c - M.V. Hoi Houw (1959)
Hoi Houw (Sea Queen), a motorship owned by Skibs A/S Corona of Haugesund, Norway. Her service route is Whampoa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Swettenham, Christmas Island. She made her first voyage to the island on May. 14, 1959, and carries general cargo and passengers to and from Singapore.

4c - Pigot (1771)
Visited Christmas Island in 1771.

5c - S.S. Valetta (1968)
The Valetta, a bulk carrier on charter to the British Phosphate Commissioners. She visits the island at intervals to load phosphate rock for ports in New Zealand and Australia.

6c - H.M.S. Flying Fish (1887)
Originally Daring, renamed Flying Fish on January 14, 1873. On her homeward voyage from Australia to England, under command of Capt. J.F.L.P. MacLear she visited Christmas Island in January 1887.

7c - Asia (1805)
East Indiaman built 1803. A 3-deck merchantman on London-India service. Ships of iron from 480 to 520 tons were the most suitable vessels for bringing home what was known as 'gruff' goods, that is, cargoes of Indian goods consisting of such raw materials as cotton, rice, sugar, pepper, hemp and saltpetre. Fine goods, such as silks, muslins and teas were carried in the companys ships, over the 520tn mark.

8c - TSS Islander (1929 - 1960)
A Christmas Island Phosphate Company's and later the British Phosphate Commissioners' ship, built by the Grangemouth Dockyard Company, in 1929. The vessel's service ended in 1960.

9c - H.M.S. Imperieuse (1888)
The Imperieuse (wrongly spelt Imperious) on the stamp was a visitor to the island in June 1888. On this occasion, Capt. H. W. May, R.N. landed at Flying Fish Cove and formally declared Christmas Island to be part of the British Empire.

10c - H.M.S. Egeria (1887)
H.M.S. Egeria (actually HMS Hecate) visited the island in 1888 and a party from the warship discovered phosphate deposits, with the consequent annexation of the island by Great Britain.

20c - Thomas (1615)
Visited the Island on 1615.

25c - H.M.S. Gordon (1864)
This is reputed to be the ship from which Capt. Gardner landed an attempted exploration party in 1864 on the island. The first and only Gordon in the Royal Navy was in 1907.It would seem that either the name is wrong or the "H.M.S." is incorrect.

30c - Cygnet (1688)
Cygnet, made the first recorded landing on Christmas Island by a party sent by William Dampier in the year 1688.

35c - S.S. Triadic (1958)
The Triadic, was launched as the repair ship, H.M.S. Dungeness at the West Coast Shipbuilding Yard, Vancouver, on March 15, 1945. She was sold in September 1947, and was renamed Leuvuka. Sold again in 1948, she was renamed Triadic.Owned by the British Phosphate Commissioners, she is registered at London.

50c - H.M.S. Amethyst (1857)
H.M.S. Amethyst visited Christmas Island in 1857, when Capt. Grenfell, R.N., made the first attempt to reach the summit of the plateau, which has several prominent heights.

$1 - Royal Mary (1643)
An East Indiaman, under the command of Captain William Mynors, sighted and named the island on december 25th, 1643 while homeward bound to England from the East Indies.

Text Source: Shipstamps.co.uk

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

IOM - Battle of Trafalgar Bicentennial

Date of Issue: January 09, 2005
Scott #: 1082 a&b, 1083 a&b, 1084 a&b, 1085 a&b

Technical Details:
Design: Eddie Cassidy, Mannin Design
Paintings: National Maritime Museum
Printer: TBA
Text: Mr David Taylor, National Maritime Museum
Stamp Size: 28 x 42
Format: se-tenant pairs, 4 sets per sheet
Colours: 4 plus metallic
Process: offset lithography
Perforations: 14 per 2cms
Paper: 102gms PVA gummed

Isle of Man Post issued a set of eight stamps which captures the atmosphere and drama around Lord Nelson and the events of the Battle of Trafalgar which marked a turning point in British naval history.

Following the failure of the treaty of Amiens 1803, Britain was once more under threat of invasion. Nelson, a Vice Admiral, was again sent to the Mediterranean. After a long chase across the Atlantic and back, Nelson's final battle came on the 21st of October 1805, off Cape Trafalgar. He attacked the combined fleet of France and Spain in two columns. The battle was decisive. Twenty of the thirty-three enemy ships were either taken or sunk. Whilst pacing the deck on his flagship, Victory, at approximately 1.15pm, a musket ball, fired from the French 74, Redoubtable, struck Nelson. The wound was fatal. He was carried below and died just after 4.30 pm on hearing news that the battle was won. His final words were, "Thank God I have done my duty".

Trafalgar is possibly the most famous sea battle ever fought but it had more significance than just a victory over an enemy fleet. It established Britain as the dominant sea power for the next century and laid the foundations for a confidence in the Royal Navy that still exists to the present day. Nelson practiced the initiative of taking full advantage of every situation. His tactics were revolutionary and his objectives were always the same; total victory over the enemy but with humanity. His reputation not only inspired the men he served with, but a whole nation during his life and generations of naval officers and seamen since his death. Nelson had become the Royal Navy's Immortal Memory and secured his place in European history.

Text source: paintedships.com

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Europa CEPT 1992 - Faroe Islands

Date of Issue: April 06, 1992
Scott #: 238

This souvenir sheet was issued by Faroe Islands and also was a joint issue with Iceland to commemorate 500 years of discovery of Americas by Columbus.

The stamp above shows the North Atlantic and the Viking ship in which Leif Erikson first landed in the Americas. The stamp below shows one of the ships of Columbus and the central Atlantic region.

Click here to see other stamps of Europa 1992.

Monday, November 16, 2009

QE2 Last Voyage FDC

Date of Issue: November 14, 2008

As a thematic philatelist, I am very proud to possess this limited edition [Qty - 3000] First Day Cover commemorating the Last Voyage of RMS Queen Elizabeth II, of Cunard Line.

After 40 years of cruising the oceans, this mammoth cruise ship began her final voyage on November 11, 2008 from Southampton, England and reached Dubai on November 27, 2008.

The FDC shows beautiful illustration of the QE2 leaving the Rock (of Gibraltar) for the last time on her way to retirement in Dubai.

At Dubai, she was refurbished as a floating hotel and on July 10, 2009 it was revealed that QE2 may sail to Cape Town, South Africa to become a floating hotel (for use primarily during the 2010 FIFA World Cup), in a Dubai World sponsored venture at the V&A Waterfront*.

* - Source: wikipedia

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Europa 1992 - Poland - 500th Anniv. of discovery of America

Date of Issue: May 05, 1992
Scott #: 3085a

Designer: J. Wysocki

Polish Post issued a se-tenant pair of stamps to commemorate 500th Anniversary of discovery of Americas by Christopher Columbus.

The pair of stamps show Christopher Columbus and his flagship 'Santa Maria' and the chart showing Atlantic ocean, Africa, and America.

Click here to see other stamps of Europa 1992.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Europa 1992 - Jersey

Date of Issue: April 14, 1992
Scott #: 593 - 595

22p - John Bertram (1796-1882)
28p - Sir George Carteret (1610-1680)
39p - Sir Walter Ralegh (1554-1618)

This FDC with set of three stamps are issued by Jersey Post to commemorate 500 years of Discovery of Americas by Columbus.

Click here to see other stamps of Europa 1992.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Death of Lord Nelson - October 21, 1805

Date of Issue: October 21, 2005
Scott #: 1028, for Isle of Man #: 1127

On this very same day, October 21, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars who won several victories, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, during which he was killed.

The battle of Trafalgar was the most decisive British naval victory of the war. Twenty-seven British ships of the line led by Admiral Lord Nelson aboard HMS Victory defeated thirty-three French and Spanish ships of the line under French Admiral Pierre Villeneuve off the south-west coast of Spain, just west of Cape Trafalgar. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost twenty-two ships, without a single British vessel being lost.
Extracts from the log book of Manxman Captain John Quilliam on board "Victory" 21st October, 1805 "At 4.15pm the Spanish Rear Admiral to windward struck to some of our ships which had tacked after them, observed one of the enemy's ships blow up and 14 sail standing towards Cadiz and 3 standing to the southward, partial firing occurred until 3.40 when a victory having been reported to Admiral Right Honble Lord Visc't Nelson KB, Commander in Chief died of his wounds."

Nelson was mortally wounded during the battle, becoming Britain's greatest war hero.
A number of monuments and memorials were constructed across the country to honor his memory and achievements, with Dublin being the first city to create its own monument to Nelson, with work beginning on Nelson's Pillar in 1808. Others followed across the country, with London's Trafalgar Square being created in his memory in 1835 and the centrepiece, Nelson's Column, finished in 1843.

Source: wikipedia, gibraltar-stamps.com

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

USS Constellation - 150th Anniv

Date of Issue: June 30, 2004
Scott #: 3869

Designer: Howard E. Paine
Engraver: Christopher Broadbridge

Many thanks to Mr. E. Alexander Gerster, friend through MyPhilately.com, for the mint stamp, stamps on cover, and providing information on the stamp and USS Constellation.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued a stamp on USS Constellation to commemorate its 150th anniversary.

USS Constellation constructed in 1854 is a sloop-of-war, and the second United States Navy ship to carry this famous name. For decades, naval authorities disagreed on whether Constellation was a new ship built in 1854 of a modification of the 1797 frigate of the same name. In 1991, scientific examination of the ship and a recently discovered half-hull model confirmed that the ship berthed in Baltimore and known as the USS Constellation was indeed a new ship built in 1854.

USS Constellation is the last sail-only warship designed and built by the United States Navy.

The stamp art is a hand engraving based on a photograph, believed to date to 1893, in the collection of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.

Click here to know more about USS Constellation.

Source: wikipedia, USPS.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

INS Vikrant

Date of Issue: February 16, 1986
Scott #: 1115

India Post issued this stamp of INS Vikrant to commemorate her Silver Jubilee on February 16, 1986.

INS Vikrant, (R11) formerly HMS Hercules, was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The name Vikrant was taken from Sanskrit vikrānta meaning "stepped beyond", i.e. "courageous", "victorious".

The HMS Hercules was purchased by the Govt. of India on 1957 and the ship was commissioned as INS Vikrant on February 16, 1961. Her service to the country, particularly during Indo-Pak war on 1971 showed her real prowess and shall always be remembered. As the flagship of the Eastern Fleet, commencing on December 04, 1971, she launched strikes on Cox Bazar, Chittagong airfield and ships in harbor of Chalna, Khulna, and Mongla. The part played by Vikrant in the 1971 operations undoubtedly helped hasten the surrender of Pakistani troops.
The stamp is based on the art work prepared by Alka Sharma and designed by India Security Press, Nashik. The First Day Cover shows a Sea Harrier Aircraft ready for take off and Seaking Aircraft started upon either side of the deck ready for launch and the crest of INS Vikrant superimposed on it. The cancellation designed by Alka Sharma.

Vikrant was India's only carrier for over twenty years, but by the early 1990s she was effectively out of service because of her poor condition. Even following major overhauls she was rarely put to sea. She was formally decommissioned on January 31, 1997 and is preserved as a museum at Mumbai. She is the only World War II-era British-built aircraft carrier to be preserved as a museum.

Source: Wikipedia, India Post information brochure.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

ORP Piorun (G65) and ORP Piorun (422)

Date of Issue: January 04, 1999
Scott #: 3434a

This set of stamps were issued to commemorate 80 years of Polish Navy. 1918 - 1998

The ship in the first stamp is ORP Piorun (G65), an N class destroyer used by the Polish Navy during the Second World War. The name is Polish for "Thunderbolt". Initially commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Nerissa, she was later transferred to the Polish Navy in 1942 as a replacement for the destroyer ORP Grom. She was returned to the Royal Navy in 1946, as HMS Noble and scrapped in 1955.

The second stamp shows ORP Piorun (422), commissioned on March 11, 1994, a small missile ship, one of the three vessels of the "Orkan" type used by the Polish navy.

Source: Wikipedia, marynarkawojenna.pl

Ship postcards from Wales

Here are some ships on postcards printed at National Museum of Wales. Thanks to postcrossing.com member Chrisy for the cards.
Card #1: Glanhafren, bought by John Mathias & Sons, Aberystwyth and Cardiff in 1890.
Card #2: Hannah and Jane, Schooner, built at Pwllheli in 1867.
Card #3: S.S. Northfield, one of the ships operated by the Cardiff-based Field Line.
Card #4: S.S. Bernard, belonged to the Turnbull Bros., Cardiff
Card #5: Hirose, a trawler owned by Neale & West of Cardiff.
Card #6: S.S. Anne Thomas, built to the order of Evan Thomas, Radcliffe & Co. in 1882.

Admiral Zheng-He's voyages - 600th Anniv.

Date of Issue: June 28, 2005
Scott #: Stamps - 3438 a - c
Souvenir sheet - 3439

600 years ago the first long voyage of the Chinese admiral Zheng He began.

Between 1405 and 1431, he conducted seven voyages to the Pacific, to the Indian ocean and to the Persian Gulf. It is supposed that he also reached America. Celebrating these voyages a lot of different stamps regarding Zheng He and his armada were issued by China, Singapore, Macau, Indonesia, and Marshall Islands.

Before the start of his last voyage. Zheng He had a premonition and ordered to build a pillar with the following inscription: "We sailed more than 100,000 Li (approx. 50,000 kilometers) over enormous waters and saw enormous waves, which piled up like mountains touching the sky and we discovered barbarian lands far away, hidden in fine, blue-shimmering fogs, while our sails filled up like clouds day and night".

Click here to see 580th anniv. stamps of Zheng-He by China.

Thanks to Ms. Jia Caixu, China for this stamp set.

Source: shipsonstamps.org

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Europa 1992 - Ireland

Date of Issue: May 14, 1992
Scott #: 864, 865

Ireland issued two stamps on Europa 1992 to commemorate 500th anniversary of discovery of America by Columbus.

The first stamp shows all the three ships on his voyage, Santa Maria, Nina, and Pinta. Second stamp shows Columbus landing in the New World.

Columbus 500th Anniv - Sri Lanka FDC

Date of Issue: December 01, 1992
Scott # for stamps: 1059 - 1062

Sri Lanka issued this set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet with these four stamps to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage and discovery of America.

The cachet shows portrait of Columbus and his flagship Santa Maria. Each of the stamps depict events in chronological order.

1.00 - Aug 1492 - The voyage begins
11.00 - Oct 1492 - First landing in the Americas
13.00 - Dec 1492 - Santa Maria is wrecked
15.00 - Apr 1493 - Return to Spain

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The Navigators - 1992 Commemorative Issue New Zealand

Date of Issue: March 12, 1992
Scott #: 1089 - 1092

This set of four stamps are issued to commemorate 500th anniversary of discovery of America by Columbus as well as 350th anniversary of sighting of New Zealand by Abel Tasman.

Details given on the back of the FDC - The Navigators - In small, wooden sailing boats, European navigators explored the world's oceans using only the stars as a guide. During the long months at sea, food shortages, illness, mutinies, and battles took their toll on officers and crew alike. Despite such handicaps, seafaring explorers charted the oceans, discovering new lands, and opening up valuable trade routes.

The navigators stamp issue commemorates the sighting of New Zealand by Abel Tasman in 1642 and the sighting of the America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The stamps depict Tasman's two ships, the flagship Heemskerck and the Zeehaen, and Columbus' three ships - the Santa Maria, captained by Columbus, the pinta, and the Nina.

The stamps and first day cover were designed by Geoff Fuller of Havelock North.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Australian Bicentennial - SYDPEX 88

Date of Issue: July 30, 1988
Scott #: 621a

Click image to see larger picture.

This souvenir sheet was issued to commemorate Sydpex 88, Bicentennial National Stamp Exhibition held at Sydney during July 30 to August 07, 1988.

The sheet shows the relationship of Australia with Solomon Islands; the above half shows the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbor Bridge, and two container ships; and the below half shows scenic view of Solomon Islands and two steamships at port.

M.V. Papuan Chief - A container ship built in 1977 for the China Navigation Co at HongKong. It was chartered by the New Guinea Australia Line (NGAL) for the service between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

M.V. Nimos - A container ship built in 1977 for the China Navigation Co at HongKong.

S.S. Malaita - A cargo vessel built in 1893 originally named Antilia, renamed in 1905 as Malaita, one of the main islands of the Solomon Islands.

S.S. Makambo - Named after an island in the Solomon Islands group, a cargo-passenger vessel built in 1907 for for Burns, Philp & Co. Ltd., Sydney NSW. She was built for the service from Sydney to New Hebrides. During World War II, on June 12, 1944 torpedoed and sunk by the British submarine HMS STOIC, off Phuket, Siam (now Thailand).

Source: shipstamps.co.uk

Saturday, September 26, 2009

My Virtual Exhibit

This is my first ever exhibit, and this is not a formal one with write-ups on display card etc., but just a virtual exhibit on topic - Voyages of Discovery.

Click here to see the stamps displayed at MyPhilately.com, a social network site for philatelists.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Commissioning of INS Car Nicobar & INS Chetlat

Date of Issue: February 16, 2009

INS Car Nicobar (T69) & INS Chetlat (T70), the first & second ship of the series of ten Water Jet Fast Attack Craft on-order with GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers), Kolkata , were commissioned by His Excellency, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, The Governor of Tamil Nadu on 16 Feb 2009 at Chennai.

The ships will be cost-effective platforms for patrol and rescue operations at sea. The vessels are the first water-jet propelled ships of the Indian Navy and are based in Chennai under India's Eastern Naval Command.

The first vessel - Car Nicobar - has been named after the northernmost of the Nicobar Islands. The second vessel - Chetlat - has been named after the northernmost of the Lakshwadeep Islands.

Source: wikipedia and bharat-rakshak.com

I have spares of this cover for exchange. Anyone interested, contact my mail ID.

Rowing, 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta

Date of Issue: July 10, 1996
Scott # for stamp: 1377

This stamp which shows rowing is one of the five stamps issued in this series to commemorate Summer Olympics held at Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. in 1996.

The maxi card shows Lynley Hannen and Nicola Payne, coxless pairs, who won bronze medal at 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

Thanks to Ms. Corinne J. Pegler, NewZealand for sending me this maxi card.

Monday, September 21, 2009

1993 - 94 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race

Date of Issue: January 19, 1994
Scott #: 1198

Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, now known as Volvo Ocean Race, as Volvo being the current sponsor (from 2001); is a yacht race around the world held once every three years.

In 1972 England's Whitbread company and the British Royal Naval Sailing Association agreed to sponsor a globe-circling regatta, which would be called the "Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race”.

The winner of the 1993-94 race was NewZeland's Endeavour and the skipper of the team was Grant Dalton.

Thanks to Ms. Corinne J. Pegler, NewZealand for sending me this stamp.

Click here to see Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 Souvenir Sheet issued by Ireland, the winner of the race.

Source: wikipedia

Monday, September 7, 2009

HMS Duke of York

Date of Issue: April 29, 1985
Scott #: 187

The pair of stamps show side and top view of HMS Duke of York. Click stamp to view enlarged image.

HMS Duke of York (pennant number 17) was a King George V class battleship of the Royal Navy. The ship was originally to be named Anson but adopted her final name in December 1938.

She was commissioned too late to see action against the Bismarck, or any other German naval surface raider in the early Atlantic battles of World War II. However, Duke of York did play a role in reducing German naval power.

The ship was scrapped in 1957 at Faslane, Scotland.

A distinguishing feature of the Duke of York was the extended fire control platform located on the after funnel. On this ship it extended out over the boat deck (after the refit during which the aircraft equipment was removed from the ship's configuration). Duke of York also introduced the HACS V*, AA fire control system which is also a distinguishing feature from the King George V and Prince of Wales.

Source: wikipedia

HMS Hood

Date of Issue: April 29, 1985
Scott #: 186

This pair of stamps show the top and side views and HMS Hood in action.

HMS Hood (pennant number 51) was a battle cruiser of the Royal Navy, and considered the pride of the Royal Navy in the interwar period and during the early period of World War II. Hood had served in the Royal Navy for over two decades before her sinking in combat with the German battleship Bismarck at the Battle of Denmark Strait on 24 May 1941.

She was one of four Admiral class battle cruisers ordered in mid-1916 under the Emergency War Program. Although the design was drastically revised after the Battle of Jutland, it was realized that there were serious limitations even to the revised design; for this reason, and because of evidence that the German battle cruisers that they were designed to counter were unlikely to be completed, work on her sister ships was suspended in 1917. As a result, Hood was Britain's last completed battle cruiser. She was named after the 18th-century Admiral Samuel Hood.

Click here to read more about HMS Hood.

Source: wikipedia

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Card #3 from Canada

Received this beautiful postcard today from Brenda, postcrossing user from Canada.

The card shows the cruise ship / ferry named Spirit of British Columbia, built in 1993 of BC Ferries, which has capacity of carrying 2100 passengers and 450 cars.

Along the route, passengers can view beautiful sights of Orca (Killer Whales).

Cover from Australia with ship stamps

Received this cover from DanBrown, Australia - Co-founder of MyPhilately.

The stamps on cover, the 24c stamp was issued on 1981, and the stamps above are from a set of four stamps on the series "Clipper Ships" issued in the year 1984.

Thank you very much Dan.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Admiral Zheng-He's Voyages - 580th Anniversary

(Click stamps to view larger picture)
Date of Issue: July 11, 1985
Scott #: 1992 - 1995

Thanks to Ms. Jia Caixu, China for sending these stamps on exchange.

Zheng-He (1377 - 1433), Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat and fleet admiral, who made the voyages collectively referred to as the travels of "Eunuch Sanbao to the Western Ocean" or "Zheng He to the Western Ocean", from 1405 to 1433.

There are claims that Persian stories of Sinbad the Sailor are based on the voyages of Zheng He.

China Post issued commemorative stamps for "The 580th Anniversary of Zheng-He's Maritime Expeditions."

The first stamp shows Zheng-He standing in front of a map of the Indian Ocean. In the margins are pictures of his fleet. The second one presents the scene of Zheng-He 's first meeting with the Champa Empire (in modern-day Vietnam). Local people sing and dance cheerfully to welcome Zheng-He' visit. The third stamp shows Zheng-He's fleets arriving at Arabia, where envoys of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) offer silk and porcelain in exchange for the local products. The last one depicts Zheng-He's fleets reaching Africa. The king welcomes Zheng-He in a full dress. Zheng-He embraces his fist and expresses thanks to the local people.

Click here to read more about Zheng-He and his seven voyages in Wikipedia.

Click here to see 600th Anniv. stamps of Zheng-He by China.

Source: chinaculture.org, wikipedia.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

River Canoe, Brazil

Date of Issue: August 01, 1980
Scott #: 1707

This stamp was issued on occasion of Stamp Day.

It shows the river canoe commonly found in the Sao Francisco river.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Ary Rongel (H44) - Brazilian Antarctic Research Ship

Date of Issue: May 13, 1997
Scott #: 2630

This souvenir sheet issued to Commemorate 15 years of PROANTAR - which began in 1982, the year in which the first Brazilian expedition to the Antarctic took place.

The souvenir sheet shows the Oceanographic Support Ship Ary Rongel - H 44, ex-Polar Queen, was the first ship to bear that name in the Navy of Brazil, from Admiral Rongel Ary dos Santos; map of South America, and a detailed map of the South Shetland Islands showing the Ferraz base (antarctic base of Brazil) with a Brazilian flag.

Source: many websites.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Expedition of Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira Bicentennial

Date of Issue: May 09, 1992
Scott #: 2379

LUBRAPEX - An international philatelic exhibition for collectors of Portugal and other Portuguese speaking countries. The first Lubrapex meeting was conducted in the year 1966.

This souvenir sheet was issued for the purpose of 14th Lubrapex held on Lisbon, Portugal during May 09 - May 17, 1992, and also to commemorate 200th Anniversary of the Expedition of Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, a naturalist, in Brazil.

Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira was a Brazilian naturalist. He undertook an extensive journey which crossed the interior of the Amazon Basin to Mato Grosso, between 1783 and 1792.

Queen Maria I of Portugal, desiring to know more about the central and north of the Brazilian colony, which at that point remained practically unexplored, in order to implement developmental measures, ordered Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira, as a naturalist, to undertake a "philosophical voyage through the captaincies of Grão-Pará, Rio Negro, Mato Grosso e Cuiabá." The idea was to provide an impetus for economic exploration and enable conquest of disputed territory.

His was the most important voyage of discovery in Brazil during the colonial period.

Source: wikipedia

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Card #6 from Germany

Received this picture postcard this week from Mr. Wilhelm, Germany through Postcrossing.

The ship in this card is Queen Mary 2 at Hamburg Port, Germany.

Some facts of Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Line:

* QM2 is five times longer than Cunard's first ship, Britannia (230 ft.)
* QM2 is 113 feet longer than the original Queen Mary
* QM2 is more than twice as long as the Washington Monument (550 ft.)
* QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower (984 ft.)
* QM2 is more than 3½ times as long as Westminster Tower (Big Ben) (310 ft.)
* QM2 is only 117 feet shorter than the Empire State Building (1248 ft.)
* QM2 is more than three times as long as St. Paul's Cathedral (366 ft.)
* QM2 is as long as 41 double-decker London buses (31½ ft. each)
* QM2's whistle is audible for 10 miles

Source: cunard.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Icebreaker MS Fennica

Date of Issue: September 07, 2005

Received this stamp through postcrossing from Ms. Laura, Finland.

MS Fennica is one of the four stamps on theme - "Icebreakers" issued by Finland.

MS Fennica, built in 1993, is the first multipurpose icebreaker in Finland. In the winter, the multipurpose icebreakers sail in domestic icebreaking duties. In the summer they have offshore duties in the service of international oil and gas industry.
Related Posts with Thumbnails

World Clock