Postmark: 25 years of partnership of Dresden & Hamburg

A registered cover sent by my German friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer with special postmark issued by Deutsche Post to commemorate 25 years of cooperation/partnership between two German cities, Dresden (the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border) and Hamburg (officially Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, is the second largest city in Germany, the thirteenth largest German state, and the sixth largest city in the European Union).

The postmark depicts a steamer ferry and the stamp on right side of envelope is issued in 2011 for 175th Anniv. of Saxon Steamship Company, which was already discussed here in my blog. Click here to read the earlier post.

Special Cover - Kachchhpex 2005 - Dredgers

Date of Issue: November 30, 2005

A special cover was issued during Kachchhpex - Kachchh District-level Philatelic Exhibition, the cover sponsored by Jaisu Shipping Company P. Ltd. Kandla Port.

The cover illustration mentions "Role of Shipping in growth of Indian Economy" and depicts two of the dredgers from the fleet of Jaisu Shipping Company.

Dredger:  A dredger (or “dredge” as is the general usage in the Americas) is any device, machine, or vessel that is used to excavate and remove material from the bottom of a body of water. For example, a scoop attached to the end of a rope or pole by which a man can draw sediments up from the bottom of a pond is a dredger. Developing this idea further, a motorized crane equipped with a drag bucket or clamshell (grabber) that is used to scoop material from the bottom of a body of water is also a dredger. The crane could be located on the bank, or perhaps mounted on a barge. If the crane is mounted on a barge, the entire vessel is referred to as a dredger.

Kamal XXV:  Formerly Kutch Vallabh, built in 1975 at Mazagon Dock Yard, Mumbai and rebuilt in 1998 is a type of Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger - (TSHD) that trails its suction pipe when working, and loads the dredge spoil into one or more hoppers in the vessel. When the hoppers are full, the TSHD sails to a disposal area and either dumps the material through doors in the hull or pumps the material out of the hoppers. Some dredges also self-offload using drag buckets and conveyors.

Kamal XXVI:  Built in 1989 is a type of Rock Bucket Ladder Dredger - A bucket dredger is equipped with a bucket dredge, which is a device that picks up sediment by mechanical means, often with many circulating buckets attached to a wheel or chain. Some bucket dredgers and grab dredgers are powerful enough to rip out coral to make a shipping channel through coral reefs.

Source: Wikipedia, www.jaisu.in

Maori War Canoe - Ngatokimatawhaorua - Postcard

This wonderful picture postcard sent by my swap friend in New Zealand, Ms. Corinne Pegler, depicting Maori War Canoe.

the information found on reverse side of the card -

Ngatokimatawhaorua (The Adzes which shaped it twice). This, the largest war canoe in the world was built for the 1940 centennial commemoration of the Treaty of Waitangi. Three massive kauri trees were felled in Puketi Forest and it is of the same design, materials, and construction methods used for smaller versions which carried raiding parties on long coastal voyages both before and following European settlements.

The 35 meter canoe carries a crew of 90 paddlers and is regularly launched for annual commemorations of the Treaty signings.

Cape Verde 100 Escudos - Sailship Madalan

Year of Issue: 1994
KM #: 40a
Type: Commemorative
Metal: Bi-metal (Copper-Nickel in center and Brass ring)
Edge: Reeded
Shape: 10-sided
Weight: 10 g
Diameter: 26.5 mm

Obverse: Sailship Madalan
Reverse: National Emblem

Madalan:
Dimensions: 147.6 x 30.2 x14.9ft (draught)
Tonnage: 357 gross. 242 net.
Power: One Cooper-Bessemer 6-cylinder diesel, 300 bhp.

Madalan was built as a yacht in 1928 by Marco U. Martinolich at Lussinpiccole, Italy for an American owner, Mr. Cornelius Crane of Ipswich Ma. She was launched with the name ILLYRIA. Apart from the captain's and crew's quarters she had four double cabins, a library, and a sitting room. Mr. Crane had made his fortune in bathroom fixtures. He made a South Sea expedition for the Field Museum of Natural History of Chicago.

Later, she was owned by George M. Moffett of New York who gave her the name MALAINA.

At the beginning of the second world war, the US Coast Guard bought her for USD 45 000 and spent another USD 44 500 to convert her, equipping her with 2 20mm AA machine guns, 2 depth charge launchers, range finders and gun platforms. She was renamed MADALAN (WYPc-345) and commissioned on 1 April 1943, assigned to the 3rd District based in Fort Tilden, NY. On 7th June 1945, she was decommissioned and transferred to War Shipping Administration.

In November 1946, John B. Pontes, a Boston Cape Verdean businessman, and his business associate Fortunato Gomes da Pina bought her for USD 35 000. Pontes kept the name Madalan, had her re-rigged as a brigantine and had the partitions below deck taken out for optimum cargo space. In 1948, a cattle pen was built under the forecastle in order to have fresh meat during the voyage.

Madalan left Providence on June 8, 1947 under Captain Sebastian Cruz with twenty passengers. It was a crossing with many a windless day. After 74 days, Madalan arrived in Cape Verde. She had a new engine, but Pontes would not allow it to be used because it was too expensive to operate. The return voyage to Providence was a good deal faster, taking only 39 days from Dakar. After staying in for Christmas and New Year she attempted a winter crossing in January 1948 from New England. Five days out of port, Madalan ran into the start of a week of gales that drove her 130 miles a day without sails. Yet apart from the three kerosene drums and a barrel of beef that were washed overboard, the brigantine came through without damage.

The Madalan was back in Providence on July 27, 1948, with forty-two passengers, after making a 48 day crossing from Dakar despite 17 windless days. The comfortable conditions aboard the Madalan had made her a popular ship, and so every year thereafter the Madalan returned to New England in July and left in autumn after the cranberry harvest, when many Cape Verdean cranberry pickers would book passage home to visit family and friends.

Madalan was eventually sold to Antonio Bento of Maio, who neglected her. In 1955 she broke loose in the harbor of Praia and was driven against the rocks. The Providence Journal reported in 1957 that "Antonio Bento can't or won't spend money for necessary repairs on leaks in her steel hull and on her sprung topsail." Sometime later, unattended, she developed a leak and sank.

Click here to see other coins with watercrafts, in my collection.

Source: numista.com and worldofcoins.eu

Titanic - Personalized stamp from Finland

Received this interesting cover last week, thanks to my friend, Kristiina from Finland.

The special postmark in the design of porthole window was issued during the event - Helsinki Stamp Fair 2012 conducted on October 28th.  It is the largest annual philatelic event in Finland. It attracts thousands of collectors. The Helsinki stamp fair 2010 is arranged by the largest stamp company in Finland; Suomen Filateliapalvelu oy – Philatelic service of Finland.

Finland Post offers its customers to print personalized stamp and one such stamp is on this envelope with image of Titanic to commemorate its century. The other stamp showing a passenger ferry (the design taken from the old posters inviting foreigners to the lake district Saimaa) is this year's Europa theme - Visit... to promote tourism.

Macau 1992 - 5 Patacas

Type: Circulation coin
Year: 1992
KM #: 56
Composition: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 10.100 g
12-sided planchet

Obverse: MACAU written across territorial emblem with date below

The reverse depicts a three-masted lorcha against the background of the facade of the Ruinas de Sao Paolo. The obverse depicts the territorial emblem. the ornate granite facade featured on the reverse is one of the hallmark architectures of Macau. The facade and 68 stone steps are all that remained of St. Paul's Church, the church of the Jesuit college of Madre de Deus, after a fire in 1835. The church was built by Chinese and Japanese Christian craftsmen between 1620 and 1630 according to a design by an Italian Jesuit, Carlo Spinola. In 1987 the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration was signed that set forth arrangements for Macao's handover to China in 1999. In consequence thereof Macau's circulation coins issued after 1987 use the territorial emblem, replacing the Portuguese coat-of-arms that was in use prior thereto.

Lorcha:  The lorcha is a type of sailing vessel having a Chinese junk rig on a Portuguese or European style hull. The vessel is faster and able to carry more cargo than the normal Chinese junk because of its hull structure. The vessel was developed around 1550 in Macau, then a Portuguese colony in China. This hybrid type of vessel sailed faster than traditional pirate ships and it began to be used by British traders after the First Opium War.

Source:
1. from Book - Watercraft on World Coins by Yossi Dotan, Volume II America and Asia, 1800 - 2008

2. Wikipedia

Click here to see other coins with watercrafts, in my collection.

25 Years of ICS in Sri Lanka

Date of Issue: February 09, 2012

The Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued to commemorate 25 years of Institute of chartered Ship Brokers, Sri Lanka Branch.

Being an island nation, SRI LANKA was heavily depended on her Shipping Industry for promotion of the export/import trade with her overseas trading partners and for the development of her economy. No wonder therefore, the local shipping industry was buzzing with activity day in/ day out.

Up to about the early 1980s, professionals in shipping were rarely found in the island. It was around this time and sensing the Lacuna, the management of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) - the National Carrier - formulated a policy decision which made it mandatory for its staff (clerical and middle management level) to qualify the examinations conducted by the “Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS) - UK” to be eligible for promotion in the hierarchy of the organization. In order to facilitate this process and also assist the aspirants who desired to qualify; the management of CSC provided a well-equipped library including study material required for these examinations. Having followed a traditionally set process of shipping practices that existed in the local industry which had evolved over the decades; this move by the CSC was to revolutionize the approach to many issues that emanated in the industry, come future. And it did as it subsequently turned out to be.

Many thanks to my swap friend, Prasanna Jayathillake (Jay Dew in Facebook) for the stamp and First Day Cover.

Text Source: srilankastamps.lk

Watercrafts on Banknotes #14 - Oman 1 Riyal

Issued By: Central Bank of Oman
Catalog #: KM 43
Year: 2005

This banknote is a commemorative issue on event of 35th National Day of Sultanate of Oman, in 2005. On the reverse, left side there is a three-masted ship, more information unavailable. anyone knows?

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

Commissioning of INS Sagardhwani (A 74)

This cover is latest addition to my collection. Special cover issued in July 30, 1994, on the event of Commissionong of INS Sagardhwani - Marine Acoustic Research Ship (MARS) of Indian Navy, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata.

The hull and machinery are very similar to the Sandhayak Class survey vessels, but there are marked superstructure differences with the bridge positioned amidships and a helicopter platform forward. The vessel has been configured as a research vessel for the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory, Kochi. The vessel is also based there. There are two large cranes and a gantry for deploying and recovering research equipment.

There are a total of eight labs to permit conducting acoustic, geological, meteorological, chemical and physical oceanography. Most of the laboratories are acoustically isolated from the ship's structure. Among the first vessels in the Indian Navy with accommodations for female personnel. Carries 116 tons fresh water. The vessel is painted white except for the lift equipment and two rescue boats which are painted in orange. The vessel was employed in advanced torpedo trials and missile range support.

Source: Bharat-Rakshak.com

NRP Sagres III

Received this postcard from a postcrossing user in Netherland, depicting the tall ship NRP Sagress III school ship of the Portuguese Navy since 1961. It is the third ship with this name in the Portuguese Navy, so she is also known as Sagres III. It is also depicted in a postage stamp issued by France in 1999. Click here to see the stamp.

Following a number of international training voyages, the ship was used as a stationary office ship after the outbreak of World War II and was only put into ocean-going service again in 1944 in the Baltic Sea. On 14 November 1944 she hit a Soviet mine off Sassnitz and had to be towed to port in Swinemünde. Eventually transferred to Flensburg, she was taken over there by the Allies when the war ended and finally confiscated by the United States.

In 1948, the U.S. sold her to Brazil for a symbolic price of $5,000 USD.[1] She was towed to Rio de Janeiro, and for Brazil she sailed as a school ship for the Brazilian Navy under the name Guanabara. In 1961, the Portuguese Navy bought her to replace the old school ship Sagres II (which was transferred to Hamburg, where she is a museum ship under her original name Rickmer Rickmers). The Portuguese Navy renamed her Sagres (the third ship of that name), and she is still in service.

Source: Wikipedia

Postmark: Queen Mary 2 Flag Parade, Hamburg

A special postmark was issued on the occasion of Queen Mary 2 Flag Parade at Hamburg, on August 12, 2012. Thanks for my friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer for arranging this postmark.

Queen Mary 2 at Port of Hamburg  -

- The envelope 

Source: image from hafencity.com

Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) - June 16 - 24, 2012

Date of Issue: June 23, 2012

Kieler Woche (Kiel Week), the greatest annual sailing event in the world and the largest summer festival in northern Europe. A nine-day programme packed with over 2,000 events to entertain three million guests from all over the globe.

Kiel Week is held annually in the last complete week in June.  This year 2012, it was 130th Kiel Week.

One will see an endless forest of masts on the banks of the firth, with over one hundred windjammers and traditional sailing boats moored on the quayside. The fascination of tall ships will be at the forefront in the windjammer parade with more than 100 ships taking part on the second Saturday of Kieler Woche. Destroyers, frigates, corvettes, minesweepers and high-speed launches from a whole host of countries will come together in Tirpitz Harbour for the meeting of the navy fleets and "Open ship", while navy cutter regattas will be held in Kiel's inner-firth.

SY Star Flyer: Launched in 1991, a four-masted, yacht-size sailing ship, with a feeling of being on ones own private sailing yacht. The ship offers the ultimate in authentic sailing ship cruising. Click here to see the facts/technical specifications and facilities available in this luxury watercraft.

Click here to see postmark of Kieler Woche 2011

Thanks to my friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer for this envelope with special postmark.

Source: kieler-woche.de, wikipedia, thecruiselines.com

Hanseatic Days in Luneburg - special postmark

Date of Issue: June 30, 2012

32nd International Hanseatic Days was celebrated at Luneburg, Germany during June 28 - July 1, 2012. A special postmark was brought out by Luneburg Stamp Collectors Club, showing a cog (is a type of ship that first appeared in the 10th century, and was widely used from around the 12th century on. Cogs were generally built of oak, which was an abundant timber in the Baltic region of Prussia. This vessel was fitted with a single mast and a square-rigged single sail. These vessels were mostly associated with seagoing trade in medieval Europe, especially the Hanseatic League, particularly in the Baltic Sea region) and wooden barrels.

The Hanseatic City of Luneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about 45 km (28 mi) southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It lies on the river Ilmenau, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from its confluence with the Elbe. The river flows through the town; it was formerly traversed by cogs taking salt from the town to the other, larger ports of the Hanseatic League nearby.

Thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer for the envelope.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Arrival of Indian Laborers in South Africa - 150th Anniv

Date of Issue:
Sheet 1: October 21, 2011
Sheet 2: November 25, 2011

In partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture, the Department of Communications and the South African Post Office, two stamps have been launched, with a further two sets set for launch in 2012.

The stamps feature a sketch of the S.S. Truro, the ship that brought the first indentured laborers for the sugarcane plantations in Natal province from India in 1860, and photographs of passengers coming ashore at the Durban port.

There are also pictures of sugarcane cutters to serve as a poignant reminder of the extreme hardship and endurance of the early laborers from whom most of the 1.4 million South Africans of Indian origin are descended.

The Truro left Madras (now Chennai) and anchored in Port Natal on November 16, 1860 to start off the arrival of thousands of Indians until the last ship, the Umlazi, in 1911.

“This is in honor of those gallant Indian pioneers, our forefathers and mothers who, due in large part to economic hardship so many decades ago, made a difficult but conscious choice to depart the shores of India and set sail into the unknown, across treacherous and unpredictable oceans,” Minister for Public Service and Administration, Roy Padayachie, who launched the stamps said.

The launch incorporated an inter-faith prayer as well as the unveiling of two memorial slabs at the suburb of Belvedere, about 30 km north of Durban, so named after the second ship that brought laborers from India.

The memorial peace slabs bear the names of anti-apartheid icons such as John Langalibalele Dube, the first President of the ANC, Ahmed Timol, Shanti Naidoo, Kader Asmal, Walter and Albertina Sisulu.

Mr. Padayachie said that these slabs were a tribute “to the sacrifices of the indentured Indian laborers and liberation fighters for their immense contribution to build a democratic South Africa we have today.”

He appreciated the indigenous African people for accepting the Indian laborers so that they could stay and make the new country their home for themselves and the generations that followed.

The Minister said that over the decades, the Indian community had made significant contributions to the cultural, social and political life of South Africa, adding to the country's diverse cultures.

Source: The Hindu, dated Nov 29, 2011

The Gondolas of Venice

Thanks to postcrossing user -  Dall'Acqua Sergio from Italy for this nice card showing the famous Gondolas of Venice.

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. They are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. The gondola is propelled like punting, except an oar is used instead of a pole. Their primary role today, however, is to carry tourists on rides at fixed rates.

CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent

Date of Issue: January 16, 2012

Many thanks for my friends, Emilia Moon De-Kemp for the postage paid card and Mr. Jack Dawn for the miniature sheet on First Day Cover.

Canada Post introduced set of five new definitive stamps on theme - Canadian Pride. On one stamp is depicted Canadian Coast Guard Ship and icebreaker - Louis S. St.Laurent. The year 2012 also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Coast Guard, which was formed on January 26, 1962.

Named after the 12th Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honorable Louis St. Laurent, PC CC QC LLD DCL LLL BA. The vessel is classed a "Heavy Arctic Icebreaker" and is the largest icebreaker and flagship of the CCG.

Built in 1969 by Canadian Vickers Limited in Montreal, Quebec, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent underwent an extensive and costly modernization at Halifax Shipyard Ltd. in Halifax, Nova Scotia between 1988-1993.

She was based at CCG Base Dartmouth in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for a large majority of her career, but has recently been transferred to St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador.

On August 22, 1994, Louis S. St-Laurent and USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB-11) became the first North American surface vessels to reach the North Pole.

The vessel was originally scheduled to be decommissioned in 2000 however a refit extended the decommissioning date to 2017.

Source: Wikipedia

Tin Hau Festival - Prepaid Postcard

Date of Issue: May 22, 2012

Thanks to my Facebook friend - Tracy Chen from Hong Kong sent me this postage-paid postcard issued by Hong Kong Post on May 22, 2012, posted on issue date with special postmark.

This card design shows one from the set of four stamps issued on title 'Hong Kong Festivals'.

A predominantly Chinese community, Hong Kong maintains many of the customs of traditional Chinese festivals. Hongkong Post issues “Hong Kong Festivals” special stamps to present five traditional festivals and the way people celebrate them, highlighting the distinctive culture and social customs of the city. Tin Hau Festival ($1.40) – Tin Hau Festival falls on the 23rd day of the third month in the lunar calendar. Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea, is regarded by fishermen and seafarers as their protector. Every year, festive celebrations such as parades and lion dance performances are held in various districts in Hong Kong. The stamp shows a statue of Tin Hau and the fishing boats on parade to pay homage to Tin Hau.

Source: ShopThruPost.hk

Sailing Dhow on Yemen, P.D.R. Coin

Year of Issue: 1979
KM#: 6
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Diameter: 27.8 mm
Denomination: 50 Fils
Reverse: Sailing Dhow

Kolkata Port Trust

Date of Issue: October 17, 2003

This cover was recent addition to my collection.

The cover was issued on occasion of 133 years of the Kolkata Port Trust, in 2003. (1870 - 2003). The concept for this special cover was by Mr. Dipok Dey, and designed by Mr. Sankhajit Jana.

Port of Kolkata:  The Port of Kolkata is a riverine port in the city of Kolkata, India. It is the oldest operating port in India, having originally been constructed by the British East India Company, after the company received trading rights from the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb.

Following the shift of power from the company to the British crown, a port commission was set up in 1870. Though the port was conceived to be a commercial port and gateway of eastern India, the port played a very important role in the Second World War. It was bombed twice by the Japanese forces. After the independence, the Commissioners for the Port of Kolkata was in responsibility of the port till January 1975 when Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, came into force.

The Port has two distinct dock systems - Kolkata Docks at Kolkata and a deep water dock at Haldia Dock Complex, Haldia.

In the 19th century, Kolkata Port was the premier port in British India. After independence its importance decreased because of factors including the Partition of Bengal (1947), reduction in size of the port hinterland and economic stagnation in eastern India. In the 21st century due to the east Indian economic recovery and infrastructure improvements, the port grew swiftly to become the nation's third largest container port. It was one of India's fastest growing ports in 2004-05.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Paquete Funchal

Date of Issue: May 09, 2012

Maxi card with stamp issued by Azores on Europa 2012 theme - "Visit...", postmarked at Ponta Delgada - one of the Capital cities and an autonomous region of Portugal.

Paquete Funchal:  a Portuguese steam ship built in 1961 and is considered one of the most iconic ships of the merchant marine of the country, and one of the few ships that since its inception to the present day, retaining the same name. Repaired in 1995, was completely rebuilt and put back to service.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Paquete Santa Maria

Date of Issue: May 09, 2012

Maxi Card with stamp issued by Madeira on Europa 2012 theme - "Visit...", postmarked at Funchal - Capital of Madeira.

Paquete Santa Maria:  Built between 1952 - 1953 in the shipyards of the Societe Anonyme John Cockerill, in Belgium. Its maiden voyage took place in November 1953, linking Portugal to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It was the only Portuguese liner with regular connections to ports of the United States. In 1973, though still relatively new, it was sold to be dismantled in the Republic of China.

Text Source: Wikipedia.

SS Principe Perfeito

Date of Issue: May 09, 2012

Thanks to my friend from Silves in Portugal, Manuel Inacio Felicia Moreira for sending me this Maxi card as well as Maxi cards of Azores and Madeira, and the First Day Cover comprising all three stamps.

These stamps were issued on Europa - CEPT theme of 2012, "Visit..."

SS Principe Perfeito:  was a passenger ship built in 1961 by Swan Hunter on the River Tyne. She first entered service for the Companhia Nacional de Navegacao, often abbreviated as CNN.

The first voyage of Principe Perfeito, which began in Lisbon to Africa with calls at nine different ports and then ended at Beira Harbour in Mozambique, was a run that would become her usual voyage.

Due to political instability in the Portuguese African colonies, Principe Perfeito was laid up at Lisbon in 1976. That April she was sold and then changed owners at various intervals and by 2001 she was scraped at Alang, India.

Text Source: Wikipedia

El Dorado - The Legend

Date of Issue: March 10, 2004
Scott #:  1221

El Dorado: is the name of a Muisca tribal chief who covered himself with gold dust and, as an initiation rite, dove into Lake Guatavita, a highland lake. Later it became the name of a legendary "Lost City of Gold", which fascinated explorers since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors. No evidence for its existence has been found.

Imagined as a place, El Dorado became a kingdom, an empire, and the city of this legendary golden king. In pursuit of the legend, Francisco Orellana and Gonzalo Pizarro departed from Quito in 1541 in a famous and disastrous expedition towards the Amazon Basin, as a result of which Orellana became the first person known to navigate the Amazon River all the way to its mouth.

The Ceremony: The Zipa (King or chief priest) used to cover his body in gold dust and, from his raft, he offered treasures to the Guatavita goddess in the middle of the sacred lake. This old Muisca tradition became the origin of El Dorado legend. The model of the raft in gold (as shown in stamp sheet) is on display in the Gold Museum, Bogotá, Colombia.

Many thanks to my swap friend from Colombia, Mr. Alejandro Restrepo, for sending me this stamp sheet for my collection.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Steamship K.K.Priv of First Danube Steampship Company

Received this postcard from my Facebook friend, Cees Prins from Netherlands.

The card shows steamship K.K.Priv of the First Danube Steamship Company. The Erste Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft, or Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft (DDSG) (the word means Danube Steamboat Shipping Company) was a shipping company founded in 1829 by the Austrian government for transporting passengers and cargo on the Danube. In 1880, the DDSG was the world's largest river shipping company with more than 200 steamboat ships and about 1000 cargo tubs.

In 1991 the company was split into a passenger transportation enterprise and a cargo transport company. The company was sold to a private owner in 1993. Today the DDSG exists in the form of the two private companies DDSG-Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH (passenger transport) and the DDSG-Cargo GmbH.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Titanic - Personalized Stamp - Netherland

My facebook friend, Cees Prins from Netherlands sent me a postcard with this beautiful personalized stamp featuring Titanic, issued by PostNL.

Titanic Postage paid Postcard - Canada

Apart from the stamps, Canada Post also issued set of 2 prepaid (postage paid) postcards with the same design as of the stamps. The above is one such postcard sent by Postcrossing.com user, Carole.

Titanic MS from Bulgaria

Date of Issue: April 10, 2012

Received a registered envelope from Bulgaria with the recently issued Titanic miniature sheet to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the disaster.

So, what is the connection of Bulgaria issuing stamp on Titanic? I googled and found that, when the Titanic sank, there were about 50 Bulgarians among the total of 2228 people on board, and few survived too.. There was also a monument erected to the victims of this disaster in the village of Goumoshtnik, near the town of Troyan.

Text Source: http://www.omda.bg/engl/news/titan.htm

Turtle Ship - Special Pictorial Postmark

Recently received an envelope from my friend, Mr. Choonjong Park, South Korea. The envelope shows illustration of an ancient Korean Turtle ship. A special pictorial postmark was issued on April 23, 2012, not sure of the occasion. The postmark matches with the stamp and the illustration.

The details about the turtle ship is already given in one of my earlier post. Click here to see the complete set of stamps and information.

Titanic Postcard with Titanic Stamp from Canada

Picture collage showing postcard to commemorate Centenary of RMS Titanic; stern view and the recently issued stamp of Canada. The card was posted on same day of issue of the stamp, on April 05, 2012.

The details about this stamp on miniature sheet is already available in another post. Click here to read.

Thanks again to my friend in Toronto, Canada - Emilia Moon-De Kemp.

Postcard from U.S.A. - Titanic and Captain Edward J. Smith

Received this postcard from my friend in U.S.A., Natalie Gordon, showing R.M.S. Titanic and Captain Edward J. Smith and on the right is seen the musical notes of the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee!" - played by the Bandsmen on board as she sank on April 15, 2012.

9th Asian Sailing Championship (1999)

Date of Issue: September 28, 1999
Scott #:  929

The Asian Sailing Championship launched in 1981, is held every alternate year. Pakistan had the privilege to host the 9th Asian Sailing Championship from September 24-30.

Five major international classes have extensively sailed in Pakistan.

Enterprise: a British design boat which is famous for having Blue sails. Two persons are required to sail the boat. It is a national class.

470 A: a French boat which is 470 CM long. It has three sails and require two persons to sail. It is an Olympic class.

Laser: a single handed British boat. It is an Olympic class.

Mistral: An extremely difficult to handle Olympic class, the boat comes under the category of surfing boards.

Optimist: An international boat being the most popular class amongst children. The class was started in 1988 by Pakistan Sailing Federation. This is a boat for children under 15 years of age.

Many thanks to my swap friend, Mr. Patrick Liang, Pakistan for this nice stamp strip on envelope.

Text Source: pakpost.gov.pk

Titanic Special Postmark from Germany

A special pictorial postmark was issued by Deutsche Post on April 15, 2012 at Hamburg, International Maritime Museum to commemorate Centenary of R.M.S. Titanic's collision with an iceberg.

Many thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer for the envelope with this special postmark.

Significant Rivers - Singapore and Nile

Date of Issue:
Stamps of Singapore: October 17, 2011
Stamps of Egypt: December 06, 2011

Singapore and Egypt postal administrations jointly issued stamps to showcase their long bilateral diplomatic relationship since 1966.

This stamp issue interestingly depicts the two Significant Rivers (Nile and Singapore Rivers) of Egypt and Singapore.

On the stamps we see an ancient Egyptian Galley in Nile River and a modern passenger ferry in River Singapore.

China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) 50th Anniv.

Date of Issue: August 08, 2011

China Post issued a set of two stamps to commemorate COSCO's (China Ocean Shipping Company) 50th Anniversary.

Adopting the design of images of a container ship and a bulk carrier, the stamps embody the themes of container shipping and bulk shipping respectively.  

In the backdrop of China's Shanghai port, the container ship themed stamp displays a design from the MV.COSCO Asia, a sixth generation container ship that represents the future boom and continued prosperity of China's maritime industry.

The bulk ship themed stamp adopts the image of MV. Xinshenghai sailing at the Sydney Harbor. The presence of a COSCO bulk carrier at a key overseas bulk shipping port symbolizes the growing international reputation of China's shipping community and the globalization of China's shipping industry.

Many thanks to my friend, Xu Wei from Suzhou, China for sending me the set of stamps on envelope.

Text Source: Cosco.com