Indian Navy Official Film 2011 President's Fleet Review

This publicity film was released by the Indian Navy as part of the Presidential Fleet Review 2011.

The Punjab Regiment - 250 Years - Galley Insignia

Date of Issue: October 12, 2011

The Punjab Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The first battalions were raised between 1761 and 1798. The Regiment has the proud privilege of earning 35 pre-independence battle honors and 14 post-independence battle honors besides eight COAS unit citations and 13 Army Commander Unit citations.

The Regiment insignia is a Galley, an ancient Greek or Roman warship. It is perhaps the only Infantry Regiment with an insignia of a naval vessel in the world.

Maritime Heritage of Tamilnadu - Rock Painting at Keelvalai

Date of Issue: October 8, 2011

Special Cover issued during SIPEX 2011 - Philately exhibition organized by SIPA - South India Philatelists' Association, Chennai.

The cover design shows the rock art / paintings at Keelvalai in Villupuram District of Tamilnadu, a South Indian state. The paintings, people on a small boat with pole dates back to 1000 - 500 B.C. and drawn using red ochre. Even though these sites have been known by archaeologists for more than twenty years, very little has been done so far to preserve the art forms that are usually near granite quarrying sites.

Fridtjof Nansen - 150th Birth Anniversary

Deutsche Post came out with a special postmark to celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen (1861 - 1930) - a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a record northern latitude of 86°14′ during his North Pole expedition of 1893–96. Although he retired from exploration after his return to Norway, his techniques of polar travel and his innovations in equipment and clothing influenced a generation of subsequent Arctic and Antarctic expeditions.

The ship in the postmark is the 'Fram' - a ship that was used in expeditions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions by the Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, Oscar Wisting, and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912. It was designed and built by the Norwegian shipwright Colin Archer for Fridtjof Nansen's 1893 Arctic expedition in which Fram was supposed to freeze into the Arctic ice sheet and float with it over the North Pole.

Fram is said to have sailed farther north (85°57'N) and farther south (78°41'S) than any other wooden ship. Fram is currently preserved at the Fram Museum in Oslo, Norway.

Many thanks to dear Friend, Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me an envelope with this memorable postmark.

Text Source: Wikipedia

The Long Leg (1935) - by Edward Hopper

Date of Issue: August 24, 2011

Edward Hopper (1882 – 1967) was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching. In both his urban and rural scenes, his spare and finely calculated renderings reflected his personal vision of modern American life.

The Long Leg (1935) - Few American artists are as popular or influential as Edward Hopper, whose beautiful, sunlit painting, The Long Leg, is the tenth entry in the American Treasures series. The work's title refers to sailing; a leg is one part of an alternating, zigzagging series of short and long tacks.

This painting shows Hopper's characteristic use of light to insulate objects, and reflects his love of the sea as well as his interest in architecture. The lighthouse in the painting is Long Point Light, at Provincetown. The boat is a "Knockabout" sloop, a type of craft commonly used for sailing, cruising, and fishing.

Thanks to friend, Chris Schofield, Canada for sending me this stamp on envelope.

Text Source: Wikipedia, USPS.com

SS Salier - special postmark

Displayed here is a special postmark issued for 125 years of German Naval and Marine Post, showing SS Salier, built in 1875 by Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Co.

On a voyage from Bremen to La Plata with passengers, SS Salier left Corunnna on the afternoon of December 7th, 1896, in rough weather. In the early hours of the 8th, in very heavy seas, the ship ran on to the Corona Reefs, Arosa Bay, and was wrecked with the loss of 281 lives, including Capt. Wempe.

Thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me this cover.

Text Source: wrecksite.eu

Card from Germany - Passat

Date of Issue: 02-06-2005

Passat - a German four-masted steel barque and one of the Flying P-Liners, the famous sailing ships of the German shipping company F. Laeisz. The name "Passat" means trade wind in German. She is one of the last surviving windjammers (A windjammer is the ultimate type of large sailing ship with an iron or for the most part steel hull, built to carry cargo in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Windjammers were the grandest of merchant sailing ships, with between three and five large masts and square sails, giving them a characteristic profile.

The windjammers were cargo ships designed for ultra-long voyages. They usually carried bulk cargo, such as lumber, guano, grain or ore from one continent to another, usually following the prevailing winds and circumnavigating the globe during their voyages. Several of these ships are still in existence — either as school ships, museum ships or restaurant ships.)

Thanks to Mechthild Heiduk, Germany for sending me this postcard.

Text source: Wikipedia

Commissioning of INS Shakti (A57)

Date of Issue: October 01, 2011

A Special Cover commemorating Commissioning of INS Shakti was issued by Andhra Pradesh Circle of India Post.

INS Shakti (A57) - a Deepak Class Replenishment Fleet Tanker built by Fincantieri, Italy, can carry 15,000 tonnes of different varieties of fuel for ships and aircraft and 500 tonnes of dry cargo, including ammunition and provisions for the fleet to take up multiple ship replenishment operations simultaneously. It also has workshop facilities to provide frontline support to fleet ships and can operate heavy helicopters.

It is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors an electronic warfare suite, most of it being indigenous. It was designed to operate as a command platform, according to the Navy.

Commanding Officer of the ship Capt. Ravi Malhotra read out the ‘Commissioning Warrant' and the naval ensign was hoisted on board for the first time and breaking the commissioning pennant as the National Anthem was played, marked the formal commissioning of the ship.

Text Source: The Hindu - October 2, 2011

Australia 1999 James Craig - Aerogramme

 

Date of Issue: March 19, 1999

Aerogramme issued by Australia with World Stamp Expo 99 Logo. Many thanks to my friend, Vera Radnell for mailing me this wonderful postal stationery.

The ship depicted is the James Craig, a three-masted iron-hulled barque built in 1874 in Sunderland, England, by Bartram, Haswell, & Co., she was originally named Clan Macleod. She was employed carrying cargo around the world, and rounded Cape Horn 23 times in 26 years. In 1900 she was acquired by Mr J J Craig, renamed James Craig in 1905, and began to operate between New Zealand and Australia until 1911. In 1932 she was sunk by fishermen who blasted a 3-metre hole in her stern.

Restoration of James Craig began in 1972, when volunteers from the 'Lady Hopetoun and Port Jackson Marine Steam Museum' (now the Sydney Heritage Fleet) refloated her and towed her to Hobart for initial repairs. Brought back to Sydney under tow in 1981, her hull was placed on a submersible pontoon to allow work on the hull restoration to proceed. Over a number of years the vessel was restored, repaired by both paid craftspeople and volunteers and relaunched in 1997. In 2001 restoration work was completed and she was able to set sail.

James Craig is currently berthed at Wharf 7 of Darling Harbor, near the Australian National Maritime Museum. She is open to the public, and takes passengers out sailing on Sydney Harbor and beyond. She is crewed and maintained by volunteers from the Sydney Heritage Fleet. The cost of maintaining her is approaching $1 million a year and the ship relies on generating income from visitors alongside, charters, events, and regular fortnightly day-sails with up to 80 passengers.

Source: Wikipedia

Bluenose II postcard from Canada

My dear friend Laura sent me this postcard from Halifax. She knows Bluenose is my favorite, in any form, be it stamp, postcard, etc.,

The postcard says it all, so no description needed I guess.

Birth Centenary: Vice Admiral R.D. Katari (1911 - 2011)

 

Date of Issue: October 08, 2011

A privately issued Special Cover by Naval Philatelic Society, India to commemorate birth centenary of Vice Admiral Ram Dass Katari (1911 - 1983), the first Indian Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy.

He was born on October 08, 1911 at Chengalpattu, in Tamilnadu and so the postmark for the Special Cover was obtained at Chengalpattu, dated Oct 08, 2011.

He assumed charge as the Chief of the Naval Staff, on April 22, 1958. During his tenure as the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Indian Navy saw a consolidation of its acquisitions, planned future growth and enhanced its training and operational effectiveness.

The operational effectiveness was amply demonstrated in the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese in December 1961. India's first aircraft-carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned during his tenure. He retired as CNS in April 1962 and two years later he was appointed as India's Ambassador to Burma, where he served with distinction for over five years.

Click here to read his biography in detail at Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia

Special Cover: INS Hansa Golden Jubilee (1961 - 2011)

Date of Issue: September 05, 2011

The Goa and Maharashtra Circle of India Post issued a Special Cover to commemorate 50 golden years of service to the nation by INS Hansa - India's Premier Naval Air Station, now located near Dabolim, in Goa.

INS Hansa was commissioned on September 05, 1961 at Sulur, near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It was initially co-located with the Sulur Air Force Base of the Indian Air Force. It was initially home to INAS 551 squadron, operating de Havilland Vampire aircraft, as well as training establishments for Hawker Sea Hawk and Breguet Alizé aircraft.

After the liberation of Goa from Portuguese occupation, Dabolim airfield was transferred to the Indian Navy. INS Hansa was then moved to Dabolim on June 18, 1964.

Over 2000 naval personnel and 1000 civilians are employed at INS Hansa. It is home to 8 Indian Naval Air Squadrons (INAS).

Among the units based here are:

INAS 300, operating BAe Sea Harrier fighter aircraft
INAS 303, operating Mikoyan MiG-29K fighters
INAS 310,operating Dornier Do 228 aircraft in electronic warfare roles
INAS 315, operating the Il-38 anti-submarine warfare aircraft
INAS 321, operating HAL Chetak helicopters for search and rescue
INAS 551, operating HAL HJT-16 Kiran jet trainers
INAS 552, operating Harrier T-60 trainers

The Crest of INS Hansa depicts Hamsa (from Sanskrit हंस haṃsa) is an aquatic bird, often considered to be a goose or sometimes a swan. The cachet design shows various air crafts of the Indian Navy.

Click here to read more interesting information about INS Hansa.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Latvian Ports - Freeport of Riga

Date of Issue: September 02, 2011
Designer: Ģirts Grīva

Received with thanks, this newly issued stamp of Latvia, on envelope from my blog reader/follower, Oleg Skleinov from Riga, Latvia.

The Freeport of Riga is located on the mouth of the River Daugava, in Riga, the Capital and largest city of Latvia. The Daugava River was used for international trade between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea as early as the 5th century. The Freeport of Riga facilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Sea ferries currently connect Riga to Stockholm and Lübeck, operated respectively by Tallink and DFDS Tor Line. The Latvian-flagged ferries MS Romantika and MS Silja Festival are located in the Riga Passenger Terminal.*

The stamp design shows Freeport of Riga during 18th Century with sail ships and present day scene showing bulk carriers and modern passenger ferry.

Text Source: Wikipedia, www.rop.lv

View Larger Map

TSS Earnslaw - card from New Zealand

Postcard from New Zealand received through postcrossing.com, showing TSS Earnslaw at Queenstown, New Zealand.

The TSS Earnslaw is a 1912 Edwardian vintage twin screw steamer plying the waters of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Central Otago, and the only remaining passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere. As of 2011, the Earnslaw is still in routine operation carrying tourist passengers across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm, a tourism operation with farm tours, horse treks, heritage tours, barbecue lunches and evening dining at the historic Colonel's Homestead.

The Earnslaw is the only working coal-fired steamship on the Lloyd's Register.

The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta, Turku, Aug 26 - 28, special postmark

To mark Turku's European Capital of Culture year, Sail Training International (STI) and the City of Turku organized the Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta on the Baltic Sea. Members of international non-profit organisation STI comprise international sail training organisations and other instances that maintain vessels and arrange sail training.

An impressive fleet of beautiful sailing ships including the giants of the sea Kruzenshtern (Russia, 113 m), Mir (Russia, 109 m) and Dar Mlodziezy (Poland, 109 m) participated.

The event will be a highlight of the Capital of Culture year. The 2011 event is launched in Klaipeda, Lithuania, where the vessels began their voyage to Turku. The journey from Finland continued to the the final port of the race in Gdynia, Poland.

The Tall Ships Races event has previously been hosted by Turku in 1996, 2003 and 2009, attracting a satisfied audience of hundreds of thousands from around the country.

Text Source: tallships2011.fi

Many thanks to my friend, Edina at MyPhilately.com for arranging this cover to my growing collection of postmarks.

There are two stamps on the envelope. First stamp shows the Training Ship Suomen Joutsen, issued in 1972. The second stamp was issued in 2010.

Centenary of Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911 - 2011

Date of Issue: August 02, 2011

This is the first in a four-year program of stamps celebrating the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE). The series will be made up of five stamps issued each year until 2014 using the overall themes of departure and journey, arrival and exploration, science and triumphant return.

The initial five stamp strip shows the key moments in the departure of the AAE from Hobart and the journey to the Antarctic.

The SY Aurora (SY - Steam Yacht) carried the AAE to and from Hobart. The stamp photograph was taken by expeditioner Xavier Mertz and the map in the stamp shows the AAE's route.

Captain John King Davis, Captain of the SY Aurora, and second-in-command of the expedition.

The SY Aurora on Antarctic voyage. The stamp photograph was taken by expeditioner Andrew Watson and the postmark image is taken from a message sent by Bob Hodger on the SY Aurora.

Landing at Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by the Aurora's Second Officer, Percy Gray.. The background image, shows the Aurora off Macquarie Island and was taken by expeditioner Frank Hurley.

Birdlife on Macquarie Island. The main photograph was taken by expeditioner Harold Hamilton.

The background landscape image used across the five stamps was taken by expeditioner Leslie Blake and is held in the Home & Away Collection in the SLNSW.

Text Source: auspost.com.au

Many thanks to my dear friend, Vera Radnell for these wonderful stamps on envelope too.

Commissioning of INS Satpura (F48) - Special Cover

Date of Issue: August 20, 2011

The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma released a special cover for Commissioning INS Satpura during the ceremony held at Mumbai on August 20, 2011.

The cachet shows INS Satpura in action and the special postmark shows the Crest (design showing "Khandas" - Indian double-edge straight sword - emerging from the Satpura hill ranges. The word "Khanda" has its origin in the word "Khand" meaning "to break, divide, cut, and destroy.") and motto (Resolve, Pride, Courage).

INS Satpura is the latest stealth frigate of Indian Navy, with pennant number F48, second ship of the Shivalik Class Frigates built by Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai.

Card from Sri Lanka - SLNS Sayurala (P623)

Received this postcard as a surprise from blogger friend, Mr. Ravindra Ratnapala, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The card shows the flag of the Sri Lankan Navy and Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) SLNS Sayurala (meaning: sea waves), with pennant number P623. It was named as the CGS Vigraha (39), a Vikram class offshore patrol craft of the Indian Coast Guard. She was in service in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2011, during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Source: Wikipedia

Cover from Japan with ship stamps - Phila Nippon 2011

A colorful cover sent by friend, Michiho Miyamoto, Japan with ship stamps. We can see a personalized stamp with Phila Nippon 2011 logo and overprinted Philanippon 2011 on a ship stamp design issued in 1999. The stamp below was issued in 1958 to commemorate Centenary of the opening of ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, and Hakodate to foreign powers. The stamp design shows ships in harbor and statue of Li Naosuke (known for signing the Harris Treaty with the United States, granting access to ports for trade to American merchants and seamen and extraterritoriality to American citizens).

Pictorial Postmark - Visakhapatnam Shipyard

Date of Issue: September 30, 1975

The above is a special cover issued to commemorate introduction of permanent pictorial postmark in Visakhapatnam, a major sea port on the south east coast of India, in the state of Andhra Pradesh; and is also the headquarters to the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. The description on the reverse of the cover states, the cover illustration and postmark shows an ancient marine craft from the legend of Buddha.

However, in 2005 Indonesia Post issued a set of two postage stamps, one of which has the same design as above. So, it is evident that the design is from a relief on the walls of Borobudur Temple, Indonesia - a 9th Century Mahayana Buddhist monument.

Click here to see the Indonesian stamp with details.

Anyone have an idea why this design is chosen for as a pictorial postmark for Visakhapatnam? Is it because Visakhapatnam is surrounded by ancient Buddhist sites dating back to 5th Century?

Nippon Maru - Special Postmark - PhilaNippon 2011

PhilaNippon 2011 - World Philatelic Exhibition was held at Yokohama, Japan during July 28 to August 02, 2011.

Korea Post introduced a special postmark to commemorate the event with the design of Nippon Maru, a four-masted sail training ship. It is now a museum ship docked in front of the Yokohama Maritime Museum.

Many thanks to my swap friend from Korea, Park Choonjong for sending me the cover with this beautiful postmark.

HMS Bounty at 37th Bremerhaven Festival Week - July 27-31, 2011

The 37th Bremerhaven Festival Week was celebrated during July 27 - 31, 2011. Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham. Though a relatively new city, it has a long history as a trade port and today is one of the most important German ports, playing a crucial role in Germany's trade.

The replica of famous ship HMS Bounty visited Bremerhaven during the festival and to commemorate the event, a special postmark was issued depicting the Bounty. Many thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer for sending me a cover with this beautiful postmark.

Source: Wikipedia

Portugal and Thailand Diplomatic Relations - 500th Anniv

Date of Issue: July 20, 2011

Portugal and Thailand Jointly Issued set of four stamps to commemorate 500 years of friendship between the two countries.

In the reign of King Ramathibodi II of the Ayutthaya Period, Portugal was the first Western nation to come into contact with Thailand. There were trade transactions and co-orpration in many areas.

 So, the relationships between Thailand and Portugal dates back almost five centuries when the two countries established diplomatic ties on February 10th, 1859 by the signing of a trade and navigation agreement. In 1981, Thailand opened its first embassy in Lisbon whereas Portugal established its consular office in Bangkok in 1818.

The design in first pair of stamps shows Portuguese trading ships and small house boats of Thailand along the coast of Thailand. The second pair of stamps shows busy harbor life in Thailand in olden days.

Icebreakers of Finland

Finland Issued set of four stamps on September 07, 2005 on Icebreakers. These are the official Maxi Cards. Thanks to my swap friend, Mr. Holger Kaufhold for these cards.

The four icebreakers depicted on stamps are Urho, Otso, Fennica and Botnica. The ships represent the last three generations of Finnish icebreakers. Each stamp shows the name and building year of the icebreaker, and also the name and building year of the sister ship. The four stamps illustrate the 24-hour operation of the Icebreakers in - evening, night, morning and day respectively.

The oldest of the vessels is the icebreaker Urho. Otso was built in 1986. The ship is more modern in terms of technology and in particular more cost effective than Urho. 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. The newest of the ships depicted on the stamps is Botnica. It was built in 1998 with advanced multipurpose icebreaker technology.

 

Source: filahome.nl

 

Philippine Independence Centenary (1898 - 1998)

Date of Issue: June 03, 1998
Scott #: Stamp - 2079, SS - 2080

Philippines got independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. To commemorate 100 years of independence, Philippines, Mexico (former Spanish Colony), and Spain jointly issued stamps. The stamp and souvenir sheet here are issued by Mexico.

The stamp design of 3.40p shows an ancient sailing Galleon and flag of Mexico, whereas the stamp on souvenir sheet shows flags of Mexico and Philippines.

Malaysia - China Relationship 600th Anniv (1405 - 2005)

Date of Issue: July 21, 2005
Scott #: 1036-1039; SS - 1040

Malaysia issued this set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet to commemorate 600 years of relationship with China.  My opinion is that this stamp issue coincide with the 600 years of Zheng-He's voyages.

Designs on stamps:

30sen - Chinese Chop

30sen - Ancient Chinese ship

50sen - Malaysian and Chinese men talking

1RM  - Decorated plate

2RM  - Ornament and coin.

Click here to view all stamps and materials in my collection regarding Zheng-He's Voyages.

Saxon Steamship Company - 175th Anniversary

Date of Issue: June 09, 2011

Sächsische Dampfschiffahrt, a.k.a. the Saxon Steamship Company, has been cruising the River Elbe when on July 08 1836, a dozen citizens from the city of Dresden obtained a royal privilege for establishing steamboat navigation in Saxony.

The company, which has changed ownership and names several times, has the oldest continuously-operating fleet of paddle-wheel steamers in Europe, along with two modern motor cruisers. Seven of its nine vintage steamboats, including the Personen Dampfschiff Diesbar were built in the 19th Century.

The sailing area stretches from the historic center of Dresden, in River Elbe to Seusslitz (near the porcelain town of Meissen) and Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful river landscapes in Europe.

Source: DeutschePost.de, EuropeForVisitors.com

 

Many thanks to friend Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me these two registered covers, one each postmarked at Berlin and Bonn. Unfortunately, the miniature sheets on both covers were cancelled by ball pen by a careless postal worker.  :(

Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) - June 18 - 26, 2011

Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) is an annual sailing event in Kiel, Germany. It is the largest sailing event in the world, and also one of the largest Volksfest in Europe.

Kiel Week is held annually in the last complete week in June.  This year 2011, it is 129th Kiel Week and was held on June 18 to 26. Kiel Week ends with a large fireworks display at 11 p.m. on Sunday, fired from pontoons or the quays at the Howaldtswerke, visible all across the Bay of Kiel.

Most ship races begin at the Olympic harbor of Schilksee, also the center of most sporting activities during Kiel Week. Other good places to view sailing races of smaller ship types are along the Kiellinie at the west coast of the Bay of Kiel.

Kiel Week usually gathers around 5,000 sailors, 2,000 ships, and about three million visitors each year. The event is organized in joint effort by the Yacht Club of Kiel, the Norddeutscher Regattaverein, the Hamburger Sailing Club, and the Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee.

Another special event is the Tall Ships Parade, often led by the Gorch Fock, with more than 100 tall ships and traditional sailing ships and hundreds of yachts. The Tall Ships Parade is usually in the morning of the closing Sunday of Kiel Week.

 

Schleswig-Holstein (F216) - a Brandenburg class Frigate of the German Navy. These frigates primarily carry out antisubmarine warfare, but they also contribute to antiaircraft warfare defenses, the tactical command of squadrons, and surface-to-surface warfare operations. Their design includes some stealth features. 

This special postmark is to celebrate 125 years of the Lightship Laeso Rende. A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship which acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction. The type has become largely obsolete; some stations were replaced by lighthouses as the construction techniques for the latter advanced, while others were replaced by large automated buoys. The Lightship Laeso Rende is located in the harbour of Heikendorf, a small town near Kiel.

Sail Ship Atlantis was built in 1905 in Hamburg as a light ship and served as such in the Outer Elbe River near Station Elbe II. Then she was taken out of service. Just like other light ships the underwater lines of the Atlantis have the classical shape of a sailing ship. After a thorough restoration the Atlantis began her second life in 1984. With the rigging of a barque she sails the seas of Western Europe and the Caribbean. In 2005 the windjammer was taken over by the Tallship Company and underwent another metamorphosis, while maintaining her traditional atmosphere and stylish interior. Since 2006 the Atlantis sails mainly around the Balearic Islands and the south coast of France.

Source: Wikipedia, and tallship-company.com

Many thanks to friend Wolfgang Beyer from Germany for continuously sending these wonderful postmarks on envelopes.