Canal Zone 1965 Prepaid Postcard

Issue Date: August 12, 1965

Prepaid postcard of 4c showing a ship being towed by a tug locomotive at the Panama Canal Lock.

The Panama Canal Locks, which lift ships up 25.9 m (85 ft) to the main elevation of the Panama Canal, were one of the greatest engineering works ever to be undertaken at the time. The total length of the lock structures, including the approach walls, is over 3 Kilometers (nearly two miles).

The locks, which have a total of six steps, limit the maximum size of ships which can transit the canal, known as Panamax. Each of these steps has two lock chambers, doubling the amount of traffic that can be handled; together they raise ships from sea level to a height of 25.9 m (85 ft)

Text Source: Wikipedia

Canal Zone 1964 Prepaid Postcard

Issue Date: December 1964

Prepaid postcard of 4c showing a cargo ship passing through the Panama Canal.

First Day of Issue postmark at Cristobal - is a port in the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. It is located on the western edge of Manzanillo Island and is part of the Panamanian city and province of Colón. Cristóbal Colón is the Spanish translation for Christopher Columbus, an explorer from Italy for whom these places were named.

Text Source: Wikipedia

President's Fleet Review, Mumbai 2011

Date of Issue: December 19, 2011

Fleet Review: A fleet review is a traditional gathering of ships from a particular navy to be observed by the reigning monarch or his or her viceroy, a practice allegedly dating back to the 15th century. Such an event is not held at regular intervals and originally only occurred when the fleet was mobilized for war or for a show of strength to discourage potential enemies.

However, since the 19th century they have often been held for the coronation or for special royal jubilees (indeed, since Edward VIII it has been regularly held at each coronation, though the one scheduled in the United Kingdom for Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee was cancelled due to costs. Also, since the 19th century, fleet reviews increasingly often include delegates from other national navies.

President's Fleet Review, India:  The President of India is entitled to inspect his/her fleet, as he/she is the supreme commander of the Indian Armed Forces. The first President's fleet review by India was hosted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad on October 10, 1953. President's reviews usually take place once in the President's term. In all, ten fleet reviews have taken place, including in February 2006, when former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam took the review. The latest, on December 20, 2011, when President Pratibha Patil set sail in a warship INS Subhadra (P51) to take the 10th Fleet Review.

Presidents Dr Zakir Hussain, N Sanjiva Reddy and Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma did not review the fleet during their tenure.

India Post issued a set of four stamps and a First Day Cover to commemorate this historic event. I would like to thank my friend Mr. Amit Surana, Mumbai for helping me to get the FDC with Mumbai postmark, where the event held.

The first stamp shows, I think an Indian Coast Guard boat. (blog readers are welcome if they know more details).

The other stamps show MiG-29 fixed-wing aircraft, INS Shivalik (F47), and INS Sindhuvijay (?) (S62)

Text Source: Wikipedia

Postcard from Russia - Monument of Peter the Great, Moscow

Lyudmila from Movomoskovsk, Russia sent this card showing the monument for Peter the Great or Peter I at Moscow.

This was designed by Zurab Tsereteli (Georgian-Russian painter, sculptor, and architect) to commemorate 300 years (1696 - 1996) of the first Russian Navy, which was started by Peter I of Russia. At 94 meters, it is the eighth tallest statue in the world. The symbols of the Russian Navy, the St. Andrew's flag and ensign, and most of its traditions were established personally by Peter I.

Popular legend states that the Statue was initially of Christopher Columbus, but that after being rejected by the U.S. Government, its head was replaced, and it was sold to the Russian government as a nautical statue of Peter the Great. In November 2008, it was voted the tenth ugliest building in the world by Virtual Tourist.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Port of Tianjin, Binhai Area, China

Date of Issue: October 21, 2011

China Philatelic National Corporation issued a set of three stamps and a souvenir sheet (shown above), wherein, the stamp sheet shows a container ship at terminal in the Port of Tianjin / Tianjin Gang, with satellite view of the port on the background image. It is one big stamp sheet measuring 7.5 x 14.8 cm, the shape of stamp is unusual and with one elliptical perforation at the middle of the perforation in the left and right side of the stamp.

Port of Tianjin:  Formerly known as the Port of Tanggu, is the largest port in Northern China and the main maritime gateway to Beijing. It is located on the western shore of the Bohai Bay, centered on the estuary of the Haihe River. It is the largest man-made port in mainland China, and one of the largest in the world. The port trades with more than 600 ports in 180 countries and territories around the world. It is served by over 115 regular container lines run by 60 liner companies, including all the top 20 liners.

The port is part of the Binhai New Area district of Tianjin Municipality, the main special economic zone of Northern China. The Port of Tianjin is at the core of the ambitious development program of the Binhai New Area.

Many thanks to my friend in Facebook, Deng Yong Chun from Beijing, China for sending this stamp sheet on envelope.

Text Source: Wikipedia.