Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ships on Banknotes #11 - China 5 Fen 1953

Year: 1953
Denomination: 5 Fen

This is a 5 Fen banknote of China showing a steam cargo ship on the reverse side of the note.

This banknote was gifted by my friend, Mr. Prashant Ashar, who is also collecting stamps on ships and maritime.

Click here to see more banknotes with ships, in my collection.

Ship on Portugal 5 Escudo coin, 1977

Year of Issue: 1977
KM #: 591
Wt: 7.0 g
Diameter: 24.5 mm
Metal: Cupro-nickel

hanks to blogger friend, Ms. Malini from Singapore for sending me this coin.

The 5 Escudo coin with a ship sailing to the right was introduced in 1963 and was minted till 1985, until the new coinage was introduced.

Click here to see other coins with ships in my collection.

Source: Wikipedia, Krause World Coins catalog.

Ship on Portugal 2-1/2 Escudo coin, 1982

Year of Issue: 1982
KM #: 590
Wt: 3.50 g
Diameter: 20 mm
Metal: Cupro-nickel

Thanks to blogger friend, Ms. Malini from Singapore for sending me this coin.

The 2-1/2 Escudo coin with a ship sailing to the right was introduced in 1963 and was minted till 1985, until the new coinage was introduced.

Click here to see other coins with ships in my collection.

Source: Wikipedia, Krause World Coins catalog.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sri Lanka Navy - 60th Anniversary (1950 - 2010)

Date of Issue: December 09, 2010

Sri Lanka Navy’s 60th Anniversary commemoration Stamp and First Day Cover was ceremonially issued by HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa during the colour awarding ceremony held at Colombo Light House premises on December 09, 2010, in the presence of the Secretary to Ministry of Post & Telecommunication Mr. Asoka Jayasekara and Post Master General Mr. MKD Dissanayake.

December 09 is also celebrated as Navy Day in Sri Lanka.

The current Sri Lankan Navy was established on December 09, 1950 when the Navy Act was passed for the formation of the Royal Ceylon Navy. The roots of the modern Sri Lankan Navy dates back to 1937 when the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force was established, which was renamed and absorbed into the Royal Navy as the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II. The current name Sri Lanka Navy was constituted in 1972 when Sri Lanka becoming a Republic and the introduction of new constitution.

The pennant number of the watercraft depicted on stamp is not visible but I think it is one of the Fast Attack Craft of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Many thanks to my blogger friend, Mr. Ravindra Ratnapala for sending me this stamp and the same on envelope too.

Source: Wikipedia, navy.lk

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Flying Cloud - Clipper

Date of Issue: 1968
Michel Catalog #: 563

This 12 Bogshas/Bogaches airmail stamp was one of the 10 stamps issued on painting series by The Mutawakelite Kingdom of Yemen (see details at end).

Flying Cloud:  The Flying Cloud was a clipper ship that set the world's sailing record for the fastest passage between New York and San Francisco, 89 days 8 hours. She held this record for over 100 years, from 1854-1989.

Flying Cloud was the most famous of the clippers built by Donald McKay. She was known for her extremely close race with the Hornet in 1853, for having a woman navigator, Eleanor Creesy, wife of Josiah Perkins Creesy who skippered the Flying Cloud on two record-setting voyages from New York to San Francisco, and for sailing in the Australia and timber trades.

Click here to know more in detail about Flying Cloud and its voyages.

William J. Aylward:  was born in Milwaukee, studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Student's League in New York City. Along with Clifford Ashley, another famous illustrator of marine subjects, he studied with Howard Pyle. Aylward also taught at the Newark (NJ) School while illustrating for magazines such as Scribner's, Harper's, and Collier's. At the age of 43, he volunteered to go to France with the American Expeditionary Force and record their actions in World War I. However, his paintings speak for themselves. He was one of the most skillful handlers of watercolor who can be mentioned in the same breath with Winslow Homer.

Mutawakelite Kingdom of Yemen:  also known as the Kingdom of Yemen or (retrospectively) as North Yemen, was a country from 1918 to 1962 in the northern part of what is now Yemen.

Source: Wikipedia, freestampcatalogue.com, giam.typepad.com

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas

Date of Issue: October 1985
Scott #: 312a

Wishing all my friends and their families, blog readers, blog followers, and visitors to my blog from around the world, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2011.

The beautiful stamp above was issued by Nauru for Christmas on October 1985 with a canoe among the beautiful scenery and with the Star of Bethlehem / Christmas Star.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Card #3 from Croatia - Royal Clipper

Thanks to my friend, Josip Mikolcic, Croatia, through MyPhilately for this wonderful postcard featuring Royal Clipper, which sails in the Mediterranean as a luxury cruise ship.

She is a gigantic five-masted ship with 142 sails and with state-of-the-art navigation systems and all the comfort of today. She offers guests the ultimate sea-going experience balancing the grandeur, adventure and tradition of sailing with the superb service, amenities and accommodations of the finest modern yacht. Royal Clipper carries just 227 guests in luxurious style

Source: royal-clipper.cruises-croatia.com

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Navy Day, Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran Post issued four stamps and Maxi Cards on November 18, 2001, on Navy Day. Navy Day in Iran is celebrated on November 11 since 1988 to commemorate the major Iranian naval victory over Iraq during the Iran Iraq war.

The stamps were issued in vertical pairs. Scott No. for stamps - 2830 a, b and 2381 a, b.
Tabarzin (P232) - Kaman Class Missile Craft
 












Alvand (71) - launched in July 25, 1968 as the SAAM (DE 12) the first unit of the Saam Class of which 4 were built. In 1985, after the Islamic Revolution, renamed as ALVAND (71), named after a mountain in Iran.













BH7 Hovercraft - The hovercraft / air-cushion landing craft depict on this stamp is one of six built by the British Hovercraft Corporation, Cowes, U.K., for Iranian Navy, all were commissioned between 1970-1975.













Kilo Class Submarine - It is not sure which submarine is depict on this stamp, but Iran had only three submarines during this stamp issue period, it must be one of the Kilo Class submarines, all built by the United Admiralty Shipyard, St Petersburg, Russia for the Russian Navy. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 the three submarines were bought by Iran.













Many thanks to my swap friend, Mr. Hamid Reza Ebrahimi for sending me these valuable Maxi Cards for my collection.

Source: Wikipedia, shipstamps.co.uk

30 Years of Indian Naval Aviation (1953 - 83)

Date of Issue: December 04, 1983

I added this cover to my collection recently.

This special cover was issued on Navy Day (December 4th), 1983 and also to commemorate 30 years of Naval Aviation in India. The Naval aviation formally took birth with the commissioning of INS Garuda, a Naval Air Station at Kochi/Cochin on May 11, 1953.
The cachet shows INS Vikrant (R11) (formerly HMS Hercules), the first aircraft carrier in Indian Navy, commissioned on March 04, 1961, and was decommissioned on January 31, 1997, after nearly 36 years of service to the country. The name Vikrant was taken from Sanskrit vikrānta meaning "stepped beyond", i.e. "courageous", "victorious". The crest of the carrier (as seen on right side) showed a combination of bows and arrows portraying the fighter planes taking off the carrier to strike the enemy. The motto "Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah" was taken from Rig Veda which means ‘I completely defeat those who dare to fight with me’.

Source: Wikipedia, indiannavy.nic.in, militaryphotos.net

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Battle of Hastings 900th anniversary (1066 - 1966)

Date of Issue: June 04, 1966
Scott: 1160

Stamp design showing William - the conqueror, castle, and Norman ships.

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock. Their identity emerged initially in the first half of the tenth century, and gradually evolved over succeeding centuries. The name "Normans" derives from Nortmanni (Northmen), after the Vikings who founded Normandy.

The Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October 1066. It was the decisive Norman victory in the Norman Conquest of England, fought between the Norman army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army of King Harold II. The battle took place at Senlac Hill, approximately 6 miles northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex.

The Norman army was not powerful enough, so nobles as far as Southern Italy were called to convene at Caen, in Normandy. There, William promised land and titles to his followers and claimed that the voyage was secured by the Pope. William assembled a fleet said to number 696 ships—if accurate this would imply an army of over 20,000 men.

The Battle of Hastings had a tremendous influence on the English language. The Normans were French-speaking, and as a result of their rule, they introduced many French words that started in the nobility and eventually became part of the English language itself.

Click here to read in detail about the battle and its aftermath.

Source: Wikipedia

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Paper Boat

Date of Issue: November 14, 2010

This beautiful and colorful FDC with stamps were issued by India Post on Children's Day, celebrated every  year on November 14, to honor the memory of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary, and who never failed to express his love for children.

I am happy to present this FDC here as it brings nostalgic moments. I too have made a paper boat myself as a child, while at my grandma's home during the annual school holidays, making paper boats with cousins, enjoying the rain and leaving the boat in the small stream from rain water, nearby the house.

This also makes me remember the poem "Paper Boat" by India's noted poet, Rabindranath Tagore, (1861 - 1941) which I read sometime somewhere. I like to share the poem today with my readers.

The translated English version, from the original Bengali language:

"Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.
In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.
I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.
I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.
I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting their white bulging sails.
I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats!
When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.
The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

INS Netaji Subhas - Golden Jubilee (2004)

Date of Issue: December 04, 2004

I am happy and proud to display this cover here today, December 04, celebrated as Navy Day in India. This was the day when the Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbor in the 1971 war. The name given to the attack was Operation Trident which was launched on December 4. Owing to its success, the day of the attack has been celebrated as Navy Day ever since.

I take this opportunity to salute the heroes of war and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the war.

INS Netaji Subhas - "INS Netaji Subhas is situated on the bank of river Hoogly, Kolkata, close to Fort William in Hastings area. The point of reference are Hastings Chapel, Ordnance Club and Marine House.

The Indian Navy and the Royal Indian Marine had their offices in Kolkata from the days of the East Indian Company. Certainly, the Hydrographic branch were employed there, and commissioned the voyages of discovery in the Bay of Bengal.

INS Hoogly was renamed INS Netaji Subhas on the 05th July 1974.

INS Netaji Subhas is the depot ship at Kolkata and she provides logistics and administrative support to all units, visiting ships and ships under construction. In addition to this the establishment also provides support to Andaman Nicobar Island." - Source: Indian Navy Information Resource & Facilitation Center

The stamp on the cover is INS Tarangini with cancellation of Indian Navy Ensign and the cachet displays the Crest of INS Netaji Subhas.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Robert Fulton and Steam Ship Clermont

Date of Issue: August 19, 1965
Scott #: 1270

Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 – February 24, 1815) was an American engineer, inventor, and artist. He is best known for designing and building the Clermont, the first commercially successful steamboat. The Clermont ushered in a new era in the history of transportation. In addition to his work with steamboats, Fulton made many important contributions to the development of naval warfare, the submarine, the technology of mine warfare, the design and construction of the first steam-powered warship, and to canal transportation.

In 1800 he was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte to design the Nautilus, which was the first practical submarine in history.

USPS issued this postage stamp to commemorate 200th anniversary of his birth anniversary.

Many thanks to my dear friend, Natalie for sending this picture postcard of Clermont with stamp of Robert Fulton.

Click here to know more about Robert Fulton and about Clermont.

Source: kiac-usa.com, Scott Stamp Catalog, Wikipedia

Monday, November 22, 2010

INS Trishul (F43) - Maxi Card

Date of Issue: December 04, 2008

This is a privately issued Maxi Card showing INS Trishul. The ship was depicted in the stamp issued by India Post on Navy Day, which is celebrated every year on December 4th since 1971.

INS Trishul (F43) is the second ship of the Talwar-class frigate of the Indian Navy, laid down on - 26 May 2000, launched on - 25 May 2001, commissioned on - 19 April 2004.

The Talwar class guided missile frigates are modified Krivak III class frigates built by Russia. These ships use stealth technologies and a special hull design to ensure a reduced radar cross section.

The word Trishul finds its origin from the Sanskrit word 'Tri' meaning three and 'Shul' meaning a spiked weapon. Consequently, this three-edged spiked weapon resembles a trident. Indian mythology has it that the Trishul was a powerful and all pervasive weapon of the Lord Shiva, that was effectively used by him to ward off evil. The Trishul as a weapon has been used ever since then to symbolize the victory of truth and righteousness over evil. According to mythology, surviving the onslaught of the Trishul is impossible. The crest of the ship depicts a strong arm rising out from under the sea, holding the powerful Trident. The mythological truth of this feared weapon, when extended to the INS Trishul makes the ship powerful in all three dimensions - air, surface and sub-surface. A warship that will be feared for her lethality and brutal power.

Click here to know more about Talwar class frigates.













Source: Wikipedia, Bharat-Rakshak.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Ships on Banknotes #10 - Laos 100 Kip

100 Kip banknote of Laos issued sometime before 1976, showing fishermen on longboats in a lake. The Pathet Lao Kip was used in the areas which were under the control of the Pathet Lao. Banknote denominations of 1, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 kip were issued. The notes were printed in China.

Source: wikipedia

Click here to see more banknotes with ships, in my collection.

Card #1 from Netherland

This is my first postcard on my theme from Netherland.  Postcrossing user nonili (Nora) sent this card from the Netherlands. It looks like the boat is skiing on a frozen lake.

Card #1 from Philippines

This is my first postcard from Philippines, a country with 7,107 islands. Thanks to friend, Daniel (Nelo) for sending this beautiful card showing an outrigger canoe at a beautiful landscape of Palawan, El Nido. He also fixed two stamps matching my theme - watercraft.

The stamp at the top was issued in 1971, showing tourists sailing at the rapids at Pagsanjan falls. The stamp seen at the bottom was issued in 1998 to commemorate participation of Philippines at the Expo '98 held at Lisbon, Portugal.

The card reached me in 25 days, after being missent to Thailand.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Battle of Dunkirk

Date of Issue: May 13, 2010

Received this PHQ card addressed to me with the same stamp fixed on other side, from Ms. Eileen, UK through postcrossing.com.

Royal Mail brought a special issue of 8 stamps and a miniature sheet with 4 stamps on "Britain Alone". It is Royal Mail’s tribute, 70 years on, to those who stood proud and defiant against the Axis powers in the dark days of 1940.
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 24 May-4 June 1940.

The above stamp shows two boats packed with evacuees from Dunkirk, France heading back to UK.
                                  British propaganda later exploited the successful evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, and particularly the role of the "Dunkirk little ships", very effectively. Many of the "little ships" were private vessels such as fishing boats and pleasure cruisers, but commercial vessels such as ferries also contributed to the force, including a number from as far away as the Isle of Man and Glasgow. These smaller vessels, guided by naval craft across the Channel from the Thames Estuary and from Dover, assisted in the official evacuation. Being able to reach much closer in the beachfront shallows than larger craft, the "little ships" acted as shuttles to and from the larger craft, lifting troops who were queuing in the water, many waiting shoulder-deep in water for hours. The term "Dunkirk Spirit" still refers to a popular belief in the solidarity of the British people in times of adversity.

Source: Wikipedia, Royalmail.com

Monday, November 1, 2010

ROKS Dokdo (LPH 6111)

Date of Issue: April 15, 2009
Designer: Jaeyong SHIN

Korea Post issued the above stamp to commemorate 60th Anniversary of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. The stamp is issued as an octagon-shaped which reflects the symbol of the Marine Corps, the octagonal hat.

The vessel depicted in this stamp is the ROKS Dokdo, the lead ship of the "LPX" class of amphibious landing ships of the Republic of Korea Navy, launched on 12 July 2005 at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Constructions Co. in Busan. Named after the Dokdo islets, Dokdo was commissioned into the ROK Navy on 3 July 2007.

Designed by Hanjin Heavy Industries, the requirements for the amphibious landing ships were to enhance Korea's current amphibious operation capability, both in terms of assault and military operations other than war (MOOTW) type operations.

Presently the Dokdo is the largest vessel in the South Korean Navy. Previously, this spot was held by the 9,000-ton at-sea Underway Replenishment (UNREP) support vessel Cheonji.

The LPX can carry 720 marines (+300 crew members), 10 tanks, 10 trucks, 7 AAVs, three field artillery pieces, 10 helicopters, and two LCAC hovercrafts capable of landing on enemy shores doing 40 knots (74 km/h)—a mix that enables it to launch troop landings from both sea and air.  The flight surface is also sprayed with urethane, which can support VTOL jets, like Harriers.

Source: Wikipedia and Korea Post information brochure.

Thanks to friend Park Choonjong, Korea for sending me the stamp and the information brochure.

Friday, October 22, 2010

British Voyage of The Endeavour - 1997

Year of Issue: 1997

I am excited today to find this surprise treasure in my letter box. Many thanks to my friend, Laura Termes of Canada, presently pursuing higher studies at UK.

This is a Limited Edition Souvenir Aerogramme issued by Royal Mail in 1997 to commemorate voyage of 'replica' of HMS Endeavour around the world.  HMS Endeavour is the ship of Captain James Cook, (1728 - 1779) on his first voyage of discovery, to Australia and New Zealand from 1769 to 1771.

The front side shows the replica Endeavour in full sail at sea; Captain James Cook is depicted on the reverse, writing notes in his log book; the inner flap shows the sail routes of Endeavour in 1768 and replica ship in 1997.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Card #1 from Denmark

Received this wonderful postcard from Facebook and MyPhilately friend, Peter Gortz, Denmark. This is the first card on my theme from Denmark.

The ship depicted on card is the HDMY Dannebrog (A540) (HDMY - Her Danish Majesty's Yacht) was launched by Queen Alexandrine at Copenhagen in 1931, and commissioned on 26 May 1932. The yacht now serves as the official and private residence for HM The Queen of Denmark, HRH the Prince Consort, and members of the Royal Family when they are on official visits overseas and on summer cruises in Danish waters.

Since it was commissioned in 1932, the yacht has travelled more than 300,000 nautical miles (600,000 km) and visited most of the ports of Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. The yacht has also visited European ports, especially in France and cruised the Mediterranean and the Caribbean Seas.

Source: Wikipedia

Monday, October 18, 2010

Kruzenshtern - Circumnavigation - 2006

Date of Issue: March 24, 2006

Many thanks to friend Mr. Vitaly Rymkevich of St. Petersburg, Russia for sending me this FDC.

This stamp was issued to commemorate circumnavigation of the sail ship Kruzenshtern in 2006.

Kruzenshtern is a Russian four masted barque and tall ship that was built in 1926 in Germany, under the name Padua (named after the eponymous Italian city). She was given to the USSR in 1946 as war reparation and renamed after the early 19th century Baltic German explorer in Russian service, Adam Johann Krusenstern (1770-1846).

In 1995/96 she made a trip around the world in the trail of her namesake. She again circumnavigated the globe in 2005-06 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Krustenstern's circumnavigation.

Source: Wikipedia

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Ships of the Union Castle Line


Date of Issue: December 05, 2007
Artwork: Peter Bilas
The South African Post Office celebrates the romance of traveling by ship with a set of stamps and a commemorative envelope issued on 5 December 2007.
The Union-Castle Line, famed for it’s lavender hulled liners that ran on a clockwork timetable between Southampton and South Africa, began as two separate companies: Union Line and Castle Line. The two amalgamated in March 1900.

The following ships of the Union Castle Line are featured on the stamps:

RMS Scot: Of all the steamships built before the Union - Castle amalgamation, the Scot stands out as the most famous. She was built on the Clyde and launched in 1890 and her early career marked the high-water mark of 20 years’ rivalry between the Union Line and Donald Currie’s Company. In 1893, the Scot had established a record time for the passage from England (14 days, 8 hours, 57 minutes), a record which stood until 1936, when the Stirling Castle reduced the time to 13 days 9 hours. In outward appearance her clipper bow, tall funnels and graceful lines easily made her one of the most handsome vessels afloat and she was popularly described as the `Albatross of the South’. Because of her reputation for speed, the Scot was a good advert for the Union Line. However, she proved to be a terrific coal eater and expensive to operate and was sold within a few years of the amalgamation of the Union and Castle lines. After changing owners a few times, she ended her days in 1927 at the shipbreaker’s yard.

The Dane: is depicted here after departure from Southampton in September, 1857, with the Needles off the Isle of Wight in the background. She arrived in Cape Town on 29 October. The Dane was the first Union Line mailship on the run and symbolises the beginning of an era. The Dane was moved from the mail service to the Mauritian service in 1864. During the following year she was used as an admiralty transport vessel in the naval operation to suppress slave trading on the East African coast. En route from Simons Town to East Africa, she was wrecked on Thunderbolt Reef near Port Elizabeth on 1 December.

Kildonan Castle: was built in 1899 by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. She was the last mail ship to be completed for the Castle Line before the merger, but commenced her career as H. M. Transport 44 for use during the Boer War. On her maiden voyage she carried 3000 troops to Cape Town and in December 1900 was used as a prisoner of war ship at Simonstown. During 1901 she returned to Fairfields for completion before undertaking her first commercial mail sailing on 7th December. At the end 1920 she was refurbished and returned to the mail run where she remained until replaced by the Carnarvon Castle in 1936 and put in reserve. When the building of the Dunbar Castle was delayed in January 1930 she was deployed on the Intermediate run until May when she was laid up at Netley pending disposal. In May 1931 she was sold for £11,250 and broken up in Norway.


The Edinburgh Castle: was built in 1910 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast. Sister of the Balmoral Castle, she was the last of a group of almost identical ships. On 14th August 1914 she sailed from Cape Town with mail and government-only passengers to Gibraltar, where she embarked troops before being escorted to England by HMS Minerva. She was then taken over as an auxiliary cruiser for the South Atlantic patrol and in January 1915 sailed from Devonport for South Africa with White Star’s Ceramic to hunt for the German ships Karlsruhe and Kronprinz Wilhelm. Edinburgh Castle resumed commercial operations in 1919 after a refit and during that year carried General Smuts back to South Africa. She was withdrawn from service in 1938 and laid up at Netley until she was bought by the Admiralty for use as an accommodation ship in Freetown, Sierra Leone for Naval personnel and survivors of sunken ships. In 1945, as towing back to England would not be cost effective, she was towed 60 miles out to sea and sunk by gunfire and depth charges.

Windsor Castle: Built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, the Windsor Castle was launched on June 23, 1959 by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. At the time of the launch, she was the largest liner built in England and the largest liner owned by the Union-Castle Line. Windsor Castle’s maiden voyage was from Southampton on August 18, 1960, arriving in Durban 11.5 days later. In December 1967 she celebrated her 50th voyage, having steamed 700,000 miles and carried 35,000 passengers with no breakdowns or delays. The great vessel was the flagship of the Union Castle fleet, but sadly her career was short lived. By the 1970s, with the advent of the jumbo jet and economy air travel to South Africa, Union Castle began to phase out its money-losing passenger services. August 12, 1977 saw her 124th and last sailing from Southampton. It was also the final mail sailing for Union Castle Line.

The Transvaal Castle later SA Vaal: The Transvaal Castle was launched in 1961 by John Brown & Co, Clydebank. She was delivered to Union-Castle Line, and served on their route to South Africa from Southampton from 1962. She remained in Union-Castle Line colours only until 1966, when she was transferred to the South African Marine Corp (UK), remaining on the same service under the British flag, with Union-Castle Line crew and management as S.A.Vaal. In 1969 she was transferred to the South African flag.

I thank my swap friend, Mr. Johns, South Africa for sending me both the mint set and the same on envelope.



Source: http://www.postoffice.co.za/

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Tug Lyttelton 1907

This is the first Cinderella stamp in my collection. Many thanks to my friend Corinne Pegler for sending me this sheet.

What is a Cinderella Stamp? - Definition from Wikipedia - "Virtually anything resembling a postage stamp, but not issued for postal purposes by a government postal administration..." The term also excludes imprinted stamps on postal stationery.  Cinderella stamps are not normally listed in the main stamp collecting catalogs. If they are, it is usually in a separate appendix within the publication, and so they are sometimes called back of the book stamps.

This sheet with four stamps shows the tug Lyttelton at Lyttelton harbor, the tug at sea, the tug in Akaroa Harbor, and the tug passing Akaroa lighthouse. This was issued by the Tug Lyttelton Preservation Society in 1990, and all proceeds from the sale of these stamps go towards helping to maintain tug Lyttelton.

Source: Wikipedia.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Ships on Banknotes #9 - Singapore $5

Date of first issue:  August 21, 1989
Size in mm: 133 x 63
Color: Green

This banknote is of 3rd series of Singapore Banknotes commonly termed as "ship" series issued and used between 1984 and 1999. The series starts with the merchant craft of bygone days, and progresses to the modern bulk carrier which is featured on the highest denomination. The nine denominations in this series are $1, $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $10,000.

The vessel depicted on the obverse (front) side in this $5 banknote is a Twakow or sailing lighter, a locally built craft designed by the Chinese. It carried cargoes mainly from the Malay Peninsula.  It was also used to unload cargoes from large ships at the anchorages to many warehouses on the banks of Singapore and Kallang rivers. The Twakows subsequently lost their masts and sails after bridges were built across the rivers.

The reverse of the banknote depicts birds eye view of PSA Terminals at Singapore. PSA Singapore Terminals is the world’s largest container transshipment  hub, handling about one-fifth of the world's total container transshipment throughput, and 6% of global container throughput. It has a network of 200 shipping lines serving 600 ports in 123 countries.

Click here to see other banknotes in my collection with ships.

Source: Wikipedia, mas.gov.sg, shipstamps.co.uk

Thanks to blogger friend Ms. Malini,  (Encyclobanknotes) for sending me this banknote.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Card #5 from Canada

Many thanks to my friend, Emilia for sending me this wonderful card with the centenary of Royal Canadian Navy stamps issued this year.

The card shows image of the the German Steam Ship, SS Bremen semi-postal stamp issued on November 05, 1940. Scott #:  B185.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Europa 1992 - Gibraltar PNC

(click image to view larger picture)
Date of Issue: February 06, 1992
Scott: 611a, 613a

Today I would like to share my first PNC (Philately and Numistaic Cover) in my collection.

The stamps as part of Europa theme, were issued on February 06, 1992 and this official stamp and coin  cover (PNC) was issued by Gibraltar on August 03, 1992 with a £2 coin depicting Christopher Columbus and his flag ship Santa Maria to commemorate 500th anniversary of discovery of the Americas.

24p - Columbus and Santa Maria
24p - map and Nina
34p - map of Columbus' many voyages and Pinta
34p - map and sailor - Rodrigo de Triana

Few interesting words from the information printed on the card - ".....the fleet weighed anchor on the 3 August 1492 arriving at the Canaries on the 10 August. It was not until the 6 September that the 3 caravels set sail from the Canaries into the unknown - The NEPLUS ULTRA.
Despite various false alarms probably through the eagerness by mariners to claim the reward for sighting land it was not until 2 o'clock in the morning of 12 October that land was clearly sighted by Rodrigo de Triana (honored on the fourth stamp, see FDC), a sailor on board the Pinta about 6 miles away.

The land sighted turned out to be an island called Guanahani by its inhabitants and renamed San Salvador by Columbus. The island is now knows as Watling Island in the Bahamas...."

The coin on the cover shows Columbus and his flag ship "Santa Maria."

Monday, September 13, 2010

Dirk Hartog's Landing - 350th Anniversary

Date of Issue: October 24, 1966
Scott:  423

Dirk Hartog (1580  –  1621) was a 17th century Dutch sailor and explorer. Dirk Hartog's expedition was the second European group to land on Australian soil. He left behind an artifact to record his visit, the Hartog plate (depicted on cachet design on FDC).  He made landfall at an island on  1616, off the coast of Shark Bay, Western Australia, which is now called Dirk Hartog Island, named after him. His was the second recorded European expedition to land on the Australian continent, but the first to do so on the western coastline.

Dirk gained employment with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1616, and was appointed master of a ship (the Eendracht, meaning "Concord" or "Unity") in a fleet voyaging from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies. The Eendracht is a 17th century Dutch wooden hulled sailing ship.

Fate of the ship, Eendracht: She apparently remained in the East Indies, until 13 May 1622, where on a local trading voyage she is recorded as having been wrecked and lost off the western coast of Ambon Island in the central Moluccas. She had aboard a cargo of coins, and her wreck has not been recovered.

The Dirk Hartog plate may now be seen in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

In 1985, Australia Post issued a set of four stamps commemorating 200 years of colonization and on one stamp, the ship Eendracht is depicted (see image on right). Scott #: 950

Source: Wikipedia

SS Sardinian

Date of Issue: September 01, 2010
Design: Debbie Adams
Paper Type: Tullis Russell
Printing Process: Lithography in 6 colors plus varnish.

Canada Post issued a stamp in honor of British Home Children. Starting in 1869, and continuing into the years following the Second World War, more than 100,000 orphaned, abandoned and pauper children were sent to Canada by British churches and philanthropic organizations.

At the bottom of the stamp is depicted SS Sardinian, a steam ship built by Allan Line of Canada, which carried some children from Liverpool to Canada.

I thank my friend, Emilia at Canada, for the stamp and also the envelope with three stamps posted on day of issue.

Source: Canada Post

Monday, September 6, 2010

Card #4 from Canada

I thank Ms. Emilia, Canada for this artistic card. The card  portraits a Canadian Sailor in his costume on 1940s. The stamp on back is the recently issued Centenary of Canadian Navy 1910 - 2010.  Click here to see more info about the stamps, which I have already posted.

The painting is art work of Canadian Painter - Jack Humphrey (1901-1967). The painting  is presently at the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art at Beaverbrook Art Gallery, New Brunswick.

Card #6 from U.S.A.

Received this wonderful card from my friend, Ms. Gordon, U.S.A. She has also fixed ship and boat stamps. Thank you so much Ms. Gordon.

The ship on the card is SS Columbus, built in 1924, by Norddeutscher Lloyd and made her maiden voyage on April 1924.  At the time, she was the German merchant marine's largest, fastest ocean liner.  She was one of the first liners to have an outside swimming pool installed on her top deck, as well as a platform for night-time dancing.

During the World War II, on 19 December 1939, the British destroyer HMS Hyperion sighted Columbus about 400 miles off the coast of Virginia. The still neutral American heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa  was also in the area, and silently observed the two ships. Rather than surrender the ship, her crew scuttled her, and she burned and sank.

Click here to read more about SS Columbus at Wikipedia.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Karaweik Hall - postcard from Myanmar

This is my first postcard from Myanmar and also has become one of my favorite cards. Thanks to Ms. Thitar Aung, Myanmar for this wonderful postcard.

The floating Karaweik Restaurant on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake is one of the landmarks of Yangon. This modern architecture of a mythical creature Karaweik Hall was constructed in 1972.  This is the concrete replica of The Royal Barge, which is depicted in many stamps of Myanmar and also in a banknote.  This whole building was gilded with gold about 20 years ago. Karaweik Hall will serve lunch and dinner with Myanmar, Chinese, Eastern and Western cuisine at moderate prices. It is also an excellent idea to examine the beauty of this royal barge and the stunning view of the Shwedagon. Traditional dance performances are normally held here in the evenings.

Click here to see the Royal Barge on Myanmar stamp.

Source: Myanmars.net

William Hall, V.C. and HMS Shannon

Date of Issue:  February 01, 2010

This is the official FDC of William Hall plus some extra stamps of my theme to cover airmail postage. I thank Ms. Laura again for this fantastic cover.

William Hall was born circa 1825 to African-American parents who had been liberated from the U.S. slave trade. He launched his seafaring career at a young age, first joining the crew of an American trading vessel in 1844. In 1852, he enlisted in the British Royal Navy as an able seaman.

In 1857, while serving on the HMS Shannon, Hall volunteered with a relief force sent to Lucknow, India, where a British garrison was besieged by mutineers. Two survived the attack, Seaman Hall and Lieutenant Thomas Young, but only Hall was left standing, and he continued to fight until the relief of the garrison was assured. For this outstanding display of bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On the stamp, Hall is shown against a seascape, with the HMS Shannon in the background. He is wearing his Victoria Cross, the Indian Mutiny Medal, the Turkish Crimea Medal and the Crimea Medal.

Click here to learn more about the stamp in detail from Canada Post site.

HMS Shannon - HMS Shannon was a Liffey-class steam frigate of the Royal Navy.

Under the command of Sir William Peel, Shannon played an important role in the Indian Mutiny landing a naval brigade which fought at the Siege of Lucknow, including the Storming of the Sikandar Bagh. Five Victoria Crosses were won by the following crew of HMS Shannon: Lieutenant Thomas Young, Lieutenant Nowell Salmon, Leading Seaman John Harrison, Able Seaman Edward Robinson and Able Seaman William Hall, the first Black person and the first Canadian sailor to be awarded a Victoria Cross.

Click here to know more about HMS Shannon at Wikipedia.

Source: Canada Post and Wikipedia

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Ships on Banknotes #8 - Singapore $10

Date of Issue: March 01, 1988
Size in mm: 141 x 69
Color: Red

This banknote is of 3rd series of Singapore Banknotes commonly termed as "ship" series issued and used between 1984 and 1999. The series starts with the merchant craft of bygone days, and progresses to the modern bulk carrier which is featured on the highest denomination. The nine denominations in this series are $1, $2, $5, $10, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $10,000.

The vessel depicted in this $10 banknote is a barter trading vessel - "Palari" a two-masted wooden sailing ship with a stern and keel. This is the older type of the traditional Indonesian sailing ship - Pinisi.

Click here to see other banknotes in my collection with ships.

Source: Wikipedia, mas.gov.sg

Thanks to blogger friend Ms. Malini,  (Encyclobanknotes) for sending me this banknote.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Card from Belarus

This is my first post card from Belarus and also the first on my theme from Belarus. The card shows passenger ferries at a river station on river Irtysh in Omsk (Russia).

Many thanks to Marina from Belarus for sending this card.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Treasure Island

Date of Issue: March 18, 1969
Scott #: 198 - 201

A set of four stamps were issued by British Virgin Islands to commemorate 75th anniversary of death of R.L.Stevenson, author of the book "Treasure Island."  It is also one of my favorite books which I enjoyed reading in my childhood.

Designs:
4c - Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins (the boy who found the treasure map, and also the chief narrator of the story.
10c- Jim's escape from the pirates.
40c- The fight with Israel Hands
$1 - Treasure trove.

The author, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His most well known books also include Kidnapped and the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Treasure Island is an adventure novel narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book in 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881-82 under the title The Sea Cook; or, Treasure Island: A Story for Boys. The name of the ship which is involved in this story is the schooner - Hispaniola.

It is one of the most frequently dramatized of all novels. "The effect of Treasure Island on our perception of pirates cannot be overestimated. Stevenson linked pirates forever with maps, black schooners, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen with parrots on their shoulders. The treasure map with an X marking the location of the buried treasure is one of the most familiar pirate props", yet it is entirely a fictional invention which owes its origin to Stevenson's original map. The term "Treasure Island" has passed into the language as a common phrase, and is often used as a title for games, rides, places, etc.

It is said that the Virgin Islands were used as the setting for "Treasure Island."

Interested to know the summary of the Treasure Island and the characters involved? Click here

Source: Scott catalog and Wikipedia

Monday, August 16, 2010

Card #8 from Germany

Thanks to postcrosser Christine, Germany for sending me this wonderful card of the Gorch Fock, sail training vessel of the German Navy, launched on 1958.

Germany also issued a stamp to commemorate 50 years of service of Gorch Fock on 2009. Click here to see the stamp and details.

Card #10 from Finland

Received this postcard from Ms. Nina, Finland, living in Borga, a seaside town at the south coast.

The card shows the Brigantine Fredrik on full sails leaving the Port of Palermo on 1871, a historic city in southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo.
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