Mail Ship S.S.Hindosthan

Date of Issue: December 15, 1997
Scott #: 1657C

She was launched on April 26, 1842 under the name Hindosthan, named after the Mohammedan name for the Mogul empire of Northern India, which was later generally adopted for the whole sub-continent. This is the first wooden paddle steamship specifically designed for the Indian mail service, from Calcutta to Suez and had a speed of 11 knots.

During her maiden voyage on September 24, 1842 from Southampton, she was given a tremendous send-off, for every ship in the port and roadstead was dressed with flags, and the warships manned their yards as she passed.

She sailed via Gibraltar, St. Vincent and Ascension to Cape Town, before arriving in Cape Town, she ran out of coal and made a call at St. Helena Bay and a message was sent overland to arrange coal. A local schooner was sent out with coal to her assistance.

On November 15, she arrived at Cape Town. After sailing from Cape Town she made calls at Mauritius and Point de Galle, Ceylon before arriving in Calcutta. Then used in the regular mail service between Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon, Aden and Suez. It also carried passengers from Calcutta to Suez and the fare being £40.

She was not always used in this service she visited at least two times the UK in her lifetime.

On June 16, 1849 she was visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Osborne in the Solent, Isle of Wight.

Source: Shipstamps.co.uk

ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2)

Date of Issue: October 05, 1996
Scott #: 1944

This is one of the four stamps in the series Port Belgrano Naval Base, the largest naval base of the Argentine Navy, situated about 700 km south of Buenos Aires.

It was an aircraft carrier in the Argentine Navy from 1969 to 1997. The English translation of the name "25 de Mayo" is the Twenty-fifth of May, which is the date of Argentina's May Revolution in 1810.

It could carry up to 24 aircraft.

It played an important role in the Falklands War fought in 1982.

Faroe Islands Postal service 25th Anniv.

Date of Issue: April 01, 2001
Scott #: 395

Thanks to blogger friend Mr. Milos Leng (his blog - my covers), Slovakia for sending this souvenir sheet of Faroe Islands on exchange.

This souvenir sheet is issued to commemorate 25 years of postal service (1976 - 2001) in Faroe Islands.

The first stamp shows a boat used for inter island mail transport. The second stamp shows the post office building of 1906 at Torshavn. The last stamp shows a 19th century mail carrier (postman).

Catamaran, INPEX 2008 Special Cover

Date of Issue: January 03, 2008

Issued by Tamilnadu Postal Circle, Chennai on the occasion of International Philatelic Exhibition held during January 02 - 06, 2008.

This special cover features fisherman in Catamaran and the Chennai Port in the background. The special cancellation is a catamaran.

Catamaran - (from Tamil language, kattu - "to tie" and maram - "wood") was the invention of the paravas, a fishing community in the southern coast of Tamilnadu, India. Catamarans were used by the ancient Tamil Chola dynasty as early as the 5th century AD for moving their fleets to invade Southeast Asian regions such as Burma, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Jersey-built sailing ships

(Click image to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: April 14, 1992
Scott #: 599a

During the nineteenth century Jersey enjoyed great economic expansion, largely due to the important influence of the shipbuilding industry. The seal at the top right corner was a square shield Coat of Arms originating from those granted to the Island of Jersey by Edward I in 1279.

The four ships in the souvenir sheet are fully built in Jersey during various periods.

16p - Tickler - a two-masted schooner built in Jersey in 1858. She plied the trade routes of northern Europe and the Mediterranean, with occasional voyages to Newfoundland. Due to some financial difficulties, the company that owned the schooner, sold it to France in 1888. She was last mentioned in the Lloyd’s List in 1864.

22p - Hebe - a two-masted brig was launched in January 1861. She plied her trade on the North Sea and the North Atlantic. She was also used to ferry emigrant workers from Europe to Canada. She was wrecked in October 1887 on Bryon Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

50p - Gemini - a three-masted barque launched on May 07, 1864, making voyages to China, South America, West Indies, and New York. She was eventually broken up in Singapore in 1880 after being declared unseaworthy.

57p - Percy Douglas - a three-masted ship named after Major General Sir Robert Percy Douglas, then Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. Launched on August 08, 1861, the Percy Douglas worked the China routes until December 14, 1871 when it was finally wrecked after running aground off Rangoon, then India.

Source: jerseycoins.com

Public Water Transport, Lisbon

Date of Issue: May 22, 1989
Scott #: 1781

Many thanks to Mr. Manuel Moreira from Silves, south of Portugal for sending me this beautiful souvenir sheet.

This souvenir sheet was issued along with a set of four stamps in the series - Public Transportation, Lisbon.

In this sheet is depicted Cacilheiros - boats that connect the two banks of the River Tagus.


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Once these boats shuttled from Lisbon to Cacilhas, Seixal, Montijo, and Trafaria. All these boats belonged to the company - Transtejo e a Soflusa. Until the construction of the bridge over the Tagus (inaugurated on August 06, 1966), these boats were the only link between the two shores of the River Tagus and are now replaced by modern catamarans.

Some of these old boats have been restored and reused for work, such as restaurant.