Card #3 from Croatia - Royal Clipper

Thanks to my friend, Josip Mikolcic, Croatia, through MyPhilately for this wonderful postcard featuring Royal Clipper, which sails in the Mediterranean as a luxury cruise ship.

She is a gigantic five-masted ship with 142 sails and with state-of-the-art navigation systems and all the comfort of today. She offers guests the ultimate sea-going experience balancing the grandeur, adventure and tradition of sailing with the superb service, amenities and accommodations of the finest modern yacht. Royal Clipper carries just 227 guests in luxurious style

Source: royal-clipper.cruises-croatia.com

Navy Day, Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran Post issued four stamps and Maxi Cards on November 18, 2001, on Navy Day. Navy Day in Iran is celebrated on November 11 since 1988 to commemorate the major Iranian naval victory over Iraq during the Iran Iraq war.

The stamps were issued in vertical pairs. Scott No. for stamps - 2830 a, b and 2381 a, b.

Tabarzin (P232) - Kaman Class Missile Craft

 

Alvand (71) - launched in July 25, 1968 as the SAAM (DE 12) the first unit of the Saam Class of which 4 were built. In 1985, after the Islamic Revolution, renamed as ALVAND (71), named after a mountain in Iran.

BH7 Hovercraft - The hovercraft / air-cushion landing craft depict on this stamp is one of six built by the British Hovercraft Corporation, Cowes, U.K., for Iranian Navy, all were commissioned between 1970-1975.

Kilo Class Submarine - It is not sure which submarine is depict on this stamp, but Iran had only three submarines during this stamp issue period, it must be one of the Kilo Class submarines, all built by the United Admiralty Shipyard, St Petersburg, Russia for the Russian Navy. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991 the three submarines were bought by Iran.

Many thanks to my swap friend, Mr. Hamid Reza Ebrahimi for sending me these valuable Maxi Cards for my collection.

Source: Wikipedia, shipstamps.co.uk

30 Years of Indian Naval Aviation (1953 - 83)

Date of Issue: December 04, 1983

I added this cover to my collection recently.

This special cover was issued on Navy Day (December 4th), 1983 and also to commemorate 30 years of Naval Aviation in India. The Naval aviation formally took birth with the commissioning of INS Garuda, a Naval Air Station at Kochi/Cochin on May 11, 1953.

The cachet shows INS Vikrant (R11) (formerly HMS Hercules), the first aircraft carrier in Indian Navy, commissioned on March 04, 1961, and was decommissioned on January 31, 1997, after nearly 36 years of service to the country. The name Vikrant was taken from Sanskrit vikrānta meaning "stepped beyond", i.e. "courageous", "victorious". The crest of the carrier (as seen on right side) showed a combination of bows and arrows portraying the fighter planes taking off the carrier to strike the enemy. The motto "Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah" was taken from Rig Veda which means ‘I completely defeat those who dare to fight with me’.

Source: Wikipedia, indiannavy.nic.in, militaryphotos.net

Battle of Hastings 900th anniversary (1066 - 1966)

Date of Issue: June 04, 1966
Scott: 1160

Stamp design showing William - the conqueror, castle, and Norman ships.

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock. Their identity emerged initially in the first half of the tenth century, and gradually evolved over succeeding centuries. The name "Normans" derives from Nortmanni (Northmen), after the Vikings who founded Normandy.

The Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October 1066. It was the decisive Norman victory in the Norman Conquest of England, fought between the Norman army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army of King Harold II. The battle took place at Senlac Hill, approximately 6 miles northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex.

The Norman army was not powerful enough, so nobles as far as Southern Italy were called to convene at Caen, in Normandy. There, William promised land and titles to his followers and claimed that the voyage was secured by the Pope. William assembled a fleet said to number 696 ships—if accurate this would imply an army of over 20,000 men.

The Battle of Hastings had a tremendous influence on the English language. The Normans were French-speaking, and as a result of their rule, they introduced many French words that started in the nobility and eventually became part of the English language itself.

Click here to read in detail about the battle and its aftermath.

Source: Wikipedia

Paper Boat

Date of Issue: November 14, 2010

This beautiful and colorful FDC with stamps were issued by India Post on Children's Day, celebrated every  year on November 14, to honor the memory of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary, and who never failed to express his love for children.

I am happy to present this FDC here as it brings nostalgic moments. I too have made a paper boat myself as a child, while at my grandma's home during the annual school holidays, making paper boats with cousins, enjoying the rain and leaving the boat in the small stream from rain water, nearby the house.

This also makes me remember the poem "Paper Boat" by India's noted poet, Rabindranath Tagore, (1861 - 1941) which I read sometime somewhere. I like to share the poem today with my readers.

The translated English version, from the original Bengali language:

"Day by day I float my paper boats one by one down the running stream.
In big black letters I write my name on them and the name of the village where I live.
I hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know who I am.
I load my little boats with shiuli flowers from our garden, and hope that these blooms of the dawn will be carried safely to land in the night.
I launch my paper boats and look up into the sky and see the little clouds setting their white bulging sails.
I know not what playmate of mine in the sky sends them down the air to race with my boats!
When night comes I bury my face in my arms and dream that my paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars.
The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.

INS Netaji Subhas - Golden Jubilee (2004)

Date of Issue: December 04, 2004

I am happy and proud to display this cover here today, December 04, celebrated as Navy Day in India. This was the day when the Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of Karachi harbor in the 1971 war. The name given to the attack was Operation Trident which was launched on December 4. Owing to its success, the day of the attack has been celebrated as Navy Day ever since.

I take this opportunity to salute the heroes of war and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the war.

INS Netaji Subhas - "INS Netaji Subhas is situated on the bank of river Hoogly, Kolkata, close to Fort William in Hastings area. The point of reference are Hastings Chapel, Ordnance Club and Marine House.

The Indian Navy and the Royal Indian Marine had their offices in Kolkata from the days of the East Indian Company. Certainly, the Hydrographic branch were employed there, and commissioned the voyages of discovery in the Bay of Bengal.

INS Hoogly was renamed INS Netaji Subhas on the 05th July 1974.

INS Netaji Subhas is the depot ship at Kolkata and she provides logistics and administrative support to all units, visiting ships and ships under construction. In addition to this the establishment also provides support to Andaman Nicobar Island." - Source: Indian Navy Information Resource & Facilitation Center

The stamp on the cover is INS Tarangini with cancellation of Indian Navy Ensign and the cachet displays the Crest of INS Netaji Subhas.