Frigate Wandelaar - F912

Date of Issue: March 15, 1999
Scott #: 1730

Issued to commemorate 50th Anniversary of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

The Wandelaar is a Wielingen class multi-functional frigate built for the Belgian Navy. The ship is named after sandbank in the North Sea, not far from the Belgian coast or sea routes. It was built at the Boelwerf Shipyard (Temse).

She took part in the peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia from September 10, 1994 to November 18, 1994 in the framework of the standing NATO force in the Mediteranian (STANAVFORMED).

During this period, Wandelaar interrogated 350 merchant ships, investigated 45 and diverted 19 to an Italian port for further investigation.

Matthew - Ship of John Cabot

Date of Issue: April 01, 1949
Scott #: 282

This stamp was issued to commemorate the entry of Newfoundland into confederation with Canada.

The ship depicted in the stamp is "Matthew," a caravel sailed by John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto), an Italian navigator and explorer working under contract to England on his expedition from Bristol, England to North America, presumably Newfoundland in 1497. This discovery is considered by historians as having laid the initial foundation of the British Empire.

John Cabot was commonly credited as the first European to discover North America.

Polar Explorers, Russia

Date of Issue: February 24, 2000
Scott #: 6571-6575

A set of five stamps issued to commemorate polar explorers of Russia.

Thanks to Ms. Jeevan Jyoti (Rainbow Stamp Club) for sending these stamps.

Cover from Malaysia

Received this cover from blogger friend, Ms. Kow Siew Lan from Malaysia with three stamps issued on 2005 on theme - Water Transport.

Water Transport, Malaysia

Date of Issue: August 09, 2005
Scott #: 1046-1048

A set of three stamps which shows ways of inland water transportation in Malaysia. Thanks to blogger friend, Ms. Kow Siew Lan (Stamp Happy Wind) from Malaysia for sending these nice stamps in mint condition.

Sunrise and Sunset at Hong-Kong

(Click image to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: February 12, 1997
Scott #: 623, 624
Design: Keith Reynolds

The two Souvenir sheets displays the beautiful view of Hong-Kong both at Sunrise and at Sunset. From the description, we learn that there is a friendly relationship between China and Marshall Islands for more than 14 centuries. We see Chinese Junk, Wallap, and a canoe in these stamps.

Port Royal, Jamaica

Date of Issue: 1921 - 23
Scott#: 95

The stamp shows the view of busy Port Royal during 1853.


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Port Royal was the center of shipping commerce in Jamaica in the 17th century. During this time, it gained a reputation as both the "richest and wickedest city in the world". It was notorious for its gaudy displays of wealth and loose morals, and was a popular place for pirates and privateers to bring and spend their treasure. During the 17th century, the British actively encouraged and even paid buccaneers based at Port Royal to attack Spanish and French shipping.

Pirates from around the world congregated at Port Royal coming from waters as far away as Madagascar on the far side of Africa. Several 17th and early 18th century pirate ships are sunk within the harbor and being carefully harvested under controlled conditions by different teams of archaeologists. Other "digs" are staked out along various quarters and streets by different teams.

Highland Monarch, Jamaica

(Click picture to view larger Image)

The ship found in the above stamps is the Highland Monarch, built in 1928 by Harland and Wolff, Belfast, for Nelson Line. This is the only ship of the old Nelson Line ever to have been featured on a postage stamp.

Though all the three stamps are of same design and denomination, they were issued during various periods.

The green border and light ultra blue background was issued on 1938. Scott# - 121
The ultra border and slate blue background was issued on 1949. Scott# - 140
The rose red border and green background was issued on 1952. Scott# - 152

The stamp issued on 1949 is scarce to find than the other two.

Chinese New Year - 2000 - Year of Dragon

Date of Issue: January 06, 2000
Scott #: 768G

In this colorful Souvenir sheet, we can see artistic image of Dragon Boat race.

Icebreaker Botnica

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

Botnica is one of the four stamps on theme - "Icebreakers" issued by Finland on September 07, 2005.

Botnica is a multipurpose icebreaker and is considered to be the most advanced state-of-the-art vessel of her type. She was built at Aker Finnyards in Finland to Det Norske Veritas class standards. In the winter months, she returns to her main task as an icebreaker, keeping southern Finland's waterways and coastlines open to commercial traffic.

Ships and Explorers, Genoa '92

Date of Issue: August 01, 1992

Cambodia issued set of five stamps and a Souvenir sheet on Ships and Explorers, on the occasion of Philatelic Exhibition at Genoa in 1992.

5r - Bougainville - Ship: Boudese
15r - Capatin Cook - Ship: Endeavour
80r - Charles Darwin - Ship: Beagle
400r - Cousteau - Ship: Calypso
1500r - Heyerdahl - Ship: Kon Tiki (yet to acquire in my collection)

Souvenir Sheet:
1000r - Christopher Columbus - Ship: Santa Maria

INS Tarangini - Sheetlet

Date of Issue: April 25, 2004
Denomination: Rs. 5
Sheetlet Value: Rs. 100 (Rs. 5 x 20)
Design: K. Singh
Quantity Printed: 0.8 millions (40,000 sheetlets x 20)
Miniature Sheet Quantity: 0.05 millions

INS Tarangini is a three masted barque, designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited, Goa, India. The primary role of the ship is to train the cadets of the India Navy.

Commissioned in the Indian Navy on November 11, 1997, INS Tarangini forms a part of the 1st Training Squadron, bsed at Kochi, on the West Coast of Southern India.

The Circumnavigation Voyage of the ship was from January 23, 2003 to April 25, 2004.

Cruiser Georgios Averoff

Date of Issue: April 01, 1927
Scott #: 330

Georgios Averoff is the world's only surviving heavily armored cruiser of the early 20th century with two twin 234 mm turrets, four twin 190 mm turrets, eight 76 mm machine guns, four 76 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, six 37 mm machine guns and three torpedo tubes. During the Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913, she was the Hellenic Navy fleet flagship during the campaigns in the North and Central Aegean islands, as well as the coastal cities of East Macedonia and Thrace.

Under the will of a deceased Greek millionaire, Mr. Georgios Averoff, about £300,000 was left for the benefit of the Greek Navy. This sum was devoted to the part-purchase of the cruiser named in his honor.

Georgios Averoff's last voyage was to Rhodes in May 1945, to commemorate the accession of Dodecanese from Italy. She was towed to her permanent berth in Faliron Bay in 1985, where is now open as a museum.

Corinth Canal

Date of Issue: April 01, 1927
Scott #: 326

The stamp shows a ship traveling through the Corinth Canal.


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The Corinth Canal is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It is 6.3 kilometres in length and was built between 1881 and 1893.

FDC China - Scenic views of Hong-Kong

Date of Issue: November 28, 1995
FDC Design by: Zhao Xing
Cancellation design by: Liu Chao

The FDC design shows a Chinese Junk with the Victoria Harbor, Hong-Kong, at the background.

The 20 fen stamp shows Victoria Harbor and the 290 fen stamp shows Repulse Bay.

Maritime Heritage. Admiral Kunjali IV Marakkar 400th Death Anniv.

Date of Issue: December 17, 2000
Denomination: Rs. 3
Design: S. Samanta

According to tradition, Marakkars were originally marine merchants of Kozhikode (Calicut) who left for Ponnani in the Samoothiri Raja's dominion when the Portuguese came to Kozhikode. The Raja took them into his service and eventually they became the Admirals of his fleet.

Of the four Marakkars, Kunjali Marakkar IV is the most famous.

India Post issued a stamp commemorating the maritime heritage of Kunjali Marakkar on December 17, 2000 on the 400th anniversary of the end of the Marakkars. The stamp design shows the 17th century Galley/war-paroe, a small craft used by the Kunjalis, which, manned by just 30-40 men each, could be rowed through lagoons and narrow waters. Several of these crafts were deployed at strategic points and they would emerge from small creeks and inconspicuous estuaries, attack the Portuguese ships at will, inflict heavy damage and casualties by setting fire to their sails and get back into the safety of shallow waters. In these guerilla raids, the Marakkars had shown remarkable prowess.

Card from Australia

This is my first card from Australia, received through postcrossing, sent by Ms. Angie who lives in Perth.

I was very much happy on seeing the card with all different ship stamps. Instead of a postcard, she has pasted all these used stamps on a card and sent to me. wow..!!! I still can't believe my eyes.

Thanks Ms. Angie for such a memorable card.

Old Sailing Ships

Date of Issue: May 24, 1973
Scott #: 340a

This souvenir sheet has four stamps with designs of old sailing ships. Since there is sufficient information about all the ships in the sheet, I just reproduce them.

H.M.S. Saint Lucia: The French Ship - Enfant Prodigue was patrolling off St. Lucia at the time the island was being occupied by the British. This ship was captured by Sir Samuel Hood's squadron on 24 June 1803 and was renamed as HMS St. Lucia.

H.M.S. Prince of Wales: This is Admiral Sir Samuel Barrington's flagship in 1778 when St. Lucia was once more captured from the French. Admiral Count d'Estaing launched a vigorous attack on the British Fleet but, on being repulsed for the second time, he was obliged to retire in confusion.

Oliph Blossom: This merchantman, more correctly known as the Olive Branch, was on her way to the Guianas in 1605 when, due to prevailing winds and unskillful navigation, was forced to call at St. Lucia.

H.M.S Rose: On 26 February 1762, Admiral Rodney detached a reinforcement from his squadron and despatched it to St. Lucia under the command of Hon. Commander Hervey. HMS Rose was a unit of the invading force that captured the Island from the French.

Card from Croatia

Received this card from fellow blogger Mr. Dragan Buskulic (blog name: My Philately World) from Croatia. I thank him very much for sending this card along with a lot of other ship stamps to me.

The ship in this picture is a bulk carrier named "Hellas in Eternity" built in 1970 by a well-known ship building company, 3. MAJ located at Liburnijska, in Rijeka, Croatia (formerly part of Yugoslavia/Jugoslavija), so we can come to conclusion that this card was printed before partition of Yugoslavia (i.e. 1989).

The port of Rijeka is one of the major ports of Croatia and the city of Rijeka is third largest city in Croatia.

Card from Malaysia

Received this beautiful postcard from my first international swap friend through Orkut, Ms. Julie Wong. We can see fishing boats moored at Teluk Paru, a well-known destination for fishing activities. This small bay at beach forms a natural shelter for boats.

Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, Jewel of Kedah, is an archipelago consisting 99 islands in the Andaman sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia.

Card from Finland

Postcard received from postcrossing member Laura from Finland. The card shows ships at a port in Helsinki, capital of Finland.