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.