Edwin Fox - World's 9th oldest ship

Date of Issue: March 7, 1990
Scott #: 984

This stamp is one among the six ship stamps showing historic ships of New Zealand. What makes this cover more special is that it is issued in limited quantity autographed by Jack Stace, then President of the Edwin Fox Restoration Committee, and was cacheted on board the vessel on the first day of issue and then postmarked at the Picton Post Office. Many thanks to my friend, Corinne Jennifer, NZ for sending me this cover and increasing value to my collection. She also sent me the pamphlet of the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum (see on right).

some info from the card accompanied the cover... The Edwin Fox is New Zealand's most historic vessel still afloat. She was built at Sukeali in Bengal (India) of solid teak for the British East India Company in 1853.

Historical Significance:  The Edwin Fox is the last surviving vessel built for the British East India Company; the last surviving veteran of the Crimean War; the last surviving vessel to have carried convicts to Australia and the last surviving sailing ship to have carried settlers to Australia and New Zealand.

The Edwin Fox Maritime Museum is located at Dunbar Wharf, Picton Foreshore, Marlborough Sounds.

Bali Yatra - Festival of Boats

Date of Issue: November 02, 2009

This Special Cover was issued in Orissa Circle of India Post by District Council of Culture, Cuttack in association with Orissa Philatelic Association.

Bali Yatra literally means "journey to Bali". It is popularly known as Cuttack Bali Jatra. This festival is held in Odisha (formerly Orissa), in the city of Cuttack at "Gadagadia ghata" of the Mahanadi river, to mark the day when ancient Sadhabas (Odia mariners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali, as well as Java, Sumatra, Borneo (all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka for trade and cultural expansion. They sailed in large vessels called Boitas.

The festival marks its beginning at the end of the Kartik Purnima in October and November, and goes on for a period of seven days right from the full moon. This is the specific time that was considered auspicious by the Sadhabas to begin their voyage in vessels called Boitas. The scientific cause of starting voyage on "kartika purnima" is to take profit of the wind blown this time. "Ajhala" or big fabrics were used to carry "boita" or vessels by wind.

In Cuttack, Bali Yatra is celebrated annually as a large, open, fair near the Barabati Fort area. It is said to be the largest fair of Odisha state. People from all over India come to experience it. In Bali Yatra, children float toy boats made of colored paper, dried banana tree barks, and cork in the Mahanadi river, ponds, and water tanks, to commemorate the voyage of their ancestors to Indonesia. These toy boats, that are usually launched after sunset with small oil lamps, lit and placed inside them, provide a very attractive sight during the festival. People sing a song "Aa ka ma bai, pan gua khai..."to remember the early maritime history of Odisha (Orissa). The song tells about four months that are important for marine merchants of Kalinga (early Odisha).

This festival is also celebrated with great fanfare in Paradeep. Bali Yatra bears testimony to the rich maritime legacy of ancient Orissa. It is also known as Boita Bandana Utsab, or the "festival of boats".

The cachet design shows colorfully illustrated boita, a boy floating toy boat with lamp. The postmark is of boita.

Source: Wikipedia

Card #10 from U.S.A.

One more card received today from Natalie, showing Jonathan Hulls' Steamboat. On the reverse, has matching steamship stamps. A nice thematic card, I could say, with matching stamps. Think I should have a separate album to keep these wonderful postcards from Natalie alone.

..info printed on reverse of the card -

Jonathan Hulls' Steamboat (1737) - The first patent on record to propel a vessel by steam was that of Jonathan Hulls, who published a pamphlet in 1737, seventy years before Fulton's "Clermont," describing it as a means of towing vessels out of the harbor against tides and winds. This is the first suggestion of a paddle-wheel driven by steam power and the idea of placing the wheel in the stern occurred to the inventor through observation of water fowl, ducks, and geese, that pushed their webbed feet behind them.

Card #9 from U.S.A.

Receiving more nice postcards recently from my dear friend, Natalie. This is the first map card in my collection.

The card shows location of islands of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the distance to various places in miles. At the bottom of the card there is an outrigger canoe. The reverse of the card has matching stamps, the Hawaii Statehood stamp issued in 1984 showing a Polynesian canoe.

Card #8 from U.S.A.

My friend, Natalie sent me this beautiful vintage postcard of early steam driven sternwheeler which were once busy in the Columbis River in the U.S.  The address side is decorated with matching steam ship stamps. The vessels on the card are "Bailey Gatzert" and "Dalles City."

Columbia River: Columbia river is one of the largest rivers in the west side of America. Its estimated length is 1400 miles. The river is broken by falls and rapids into many separate portions, and the ingress and egress are embraced by a surf eaten bar, still it is open to steamboat navigation from its mouth to the Cascade. About 160 miles along the river are located some of the largest salmon canneries in the world.

Bailey Gatzert (left side in card): The Bailey Gatzert was a famous sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Columbia River and Puget Sound from the 1890s to the 1920s. She was named after Bailey Gatzert, an early businessman and mayor of Seattle.

Dalles City (right side in card):  "Dalles City" was built at Portland in 1891 and rebuilt in 1909.

Source: Wikipedia, columbiariverimages.com

Card #2 from Malaysia, multi-colored boats

Thanks to my friend, Vera Radnell, for sending me this colorful postcard from Ipoh, Malaysia. The card shows a leisurely afternoon fishing village scene with multi-colored boats moored along the riverbank.

The fishing boats and coconut trees resembles much like Indian State of Kerala.