Battle of the Falkland Islands - 50th Anniversary - 1914 - 1964

The Battle of the Falkland Islands was a naval action between the British Royal Navy and Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914, during the First World War in the South Atlantic. The British, after a defeat at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November, sent a large force to track down and destroy the victorious German cruiser squadron. The battle is commemorated every year on 8 December in the Falkland Islands as a public holiday.

I have the mint set already in my collection. The above FDC (private) is recent addition to my collection - issued in 1964 - to commemorate 50 Years of the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

The details of 3 ships depicted in other three stamps

HMS Invincible - HMS Invincible was the lead ship of her class of three battlecruisers built for the Royal Navy during the first decade of the twentieth century and the first battlecruiser to be built by any country in the world. During the First World War she participated in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in a minor role as she was the oldest and slowest of the British battlecruisers present. The ship engaged the German light cruiser Cöln, but did not hit her before Cöln was sunk by the battlecruiser Lion. During the Battle of the Falkland Islands, Invincible and her sister Inflexible sank the armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau almost without loss to themselves, despite numerous hits by the German ships.

HMS Kent - HMS Kent was one of 10 Monmouth-class armoured cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was placed in reserve when completed in 1903, but was recommissioned for the China Station in 1906. She remained there until she returned home in 1913 for a lengthy refit.

HMS Glasgow - HMS Glasgow, the sixth ship of that name, was a Town-class light cruiser built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

Click Here to know more about the battle.

Text Source: shipstamps.co.uk

Polish Navy - ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki

Date of Issue: August 14, 2013

Polish Post issued a set of 3 stamps on Modern Polish Army Weapons, among them is one stamp that depicts ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki, a multitask logistical support ship of the Polish Navy.

She was named after Xawery Czernicki - a Polish engineer, military commander and one of the highest-ranking officers of the Polish Navy, considered one of the founders of Polish Navy's logistical services.

She was designed as a logistical support vessel, to transport troops and supplies for the NATO forces worldwide, and to cooperate with air transport and Polish vessels in distant seas. She can carry up to 140 troops with vehicles, food and equipment, and can conduct offensive landing operations using landing ships, helicopters and armored personnel carriers, as well as evacuating of troops and civilians. The ship can transport containers, fresh water, food and other supplies, and repair other vessels at open seas.

Czernicki took part in the Afghan and Iraq wars. During operation Enduring Freedom she joined the United States Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean. After change of crew, she took part in the Iraq invasion, patrolling the Euphrates estuary and serving as a floating base for commando operations.

After the conclusion of the invasion she returned to home port in Poland for refit and upgrades.

I am thankful to my friend, The Right Honourble Shri Nansey of Jamnagar, for helping me add this cover to my collection.

Source: Wikipedia

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

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

Swedish Warship Wasa

Date of Issue: September 03, 1969
Scott: 830a

All the stamps in this booklet were engraved by Sweden's master engraver Czeslaw Slania.

Many thanks to my dear friend, Laura Termes for sending these wonderful materials to my collection.

Portugal-Korea Diplomatic Relations - 50th Anniv

Date of Issue: April 15, 2011

Portugal issued two stamps to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relationship with Korea. The first stamp shows The Turtle Ship of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and the other stamp shows The Portuguese Nau.

Many thanks to my friends Luis Melo and Manuel Moreira for sending me the stamp set, First Day Cover, and brochure with stamps and first day cancellation.

Click here to see the Korean stamps of same issue.

Spice Race: Jakarta - Amsterdam

Date of Issue:
Set of three stamps: March 12, 1980 (Scott: 1067 - 1069)
Souvenir Sheet 300r: March 12, 1980 (Scott: 1069A)
Souvenir Sheet 500r: May 06, 1980 for London 1980 Stamp Exhibition. (Scott: 1069B)

postmark in FDC: cloves with leaves

60r  -  Penisi: Penisi sailing ships were used by sailors from South Sulawesi in their sea voyages for transportation of agricultural produce.

125r -  Ship made of cloves.

150r -  Madurese boat: used by sailors from Madura

Souvenir Sheet 500r: world map showing spice trade routes and London 1980 logo.

In tracing the navigation of spice transportation from Indonesia, the Nedlloyd Shipping Company - organized a shipping race from Jakarta to Amsterdam. Sailing ships from Australia, France, Singapore, U.K., and The Netherlands participated in the race.

To commemorate this event, Indonesian Postal Administration issued a set of three stamps and a souvenir sheet of the sailing ships that were used in long distance sailing.

Spices launched the Age of Exploration and drove the European explorers to the Spice Islands of Eastern Indonesia in the 16th century. This led to the great Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and British Empires of the East. Which spices and why were they so important? Click here to read entire history.

Source: Scott stamp catalog, information brochure inside FDC, murnis.com

Kruzenshtern - Circumnavigation - 2006

Date of Issue: March 24, 2006

Many thanks to friend Mr. Vitaly Rymkevich of St. Petersburg, Russia for sending me this FDC.

This stamp was issued to commemorate circumnavigation of the sail ship Kruzenshtern in 2006.

Kruzenshtern is a Russian four masted barque and tall ship that was built in 1926 in Germany, under the name Padua (named after the eponymous Italian city). She was given to the USSR in 1946 as war reparation and renamed after the early 19th century Baltic German explorer in Russian service, Adam Johann Krusenstern (1770-1846).

In 1995/96 she made a trip around the world in the trail of her namesake. She again circumnavigated the globe in 2005-06 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Krustenstern's circumnavigation.

Source: Wikipedia

Dirk Hartog's Landing - 350th Anniversary

Date of Issue: October 24, 1966
Scott:  423

Dirk Hartog (1580  –  1621) was a 17th century Dutch sailor and explorer. Dirk Hartog's expedition was the second European group to land on Australian soil. He left behind an artifact to record his visit, the Hartog plate (depicted on cachet design on FDC).  He made landfall at an island on  1616, off the coast of Shark Bay, Western Australia, which is now called Dirk Hartog Island, named after him. His was the second recorded European expedition to land on the Australian continent, but the first to do so on the western coastline.

Dirk gained employment with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1616, and was appointed master of a ship (the Eendracht, meaning "Concord" or "Unity") in a fleet voyaging from the Netherlands to the Dutch East Indies. The Eendracht is a 17th century Dutch wooden hulled sailing ship.

Fate of the ship, Eendracht: She apparently remained in the East Indies, until 13 May 1622, where on a local trading voyage she is recorded as having been wrecked and lost off the western coast of Ambon Island in the central Moluccas. She had aboard a cargo of coins, and her wreck has not been recovered.

The Dirk Hartog plate may now be seen in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

In 1985, Australia Post issued a set of four stamps commemorating 200 years of colonization and on one stamp, the ship Eendracht is depicted (see image on right). Scott #: 950

Source: Wikipedia

Captain Cook Bicentenary - Exploring Alaska's Coast

Date of Issue: June 01, 1978

Scott#: for Captain Cook stamp - 1732, issued - Jan 20, 1978

This First Day Cover was issued to commemorate 200 years of exploration of Alaska's coast by Captain James Cook. The cancellation was made at Captain Cook Station at Anchorage, Alaska and a pictorial cancellation showing the Cook Inlet, named after him. The second picture is a postcard that was issued along with this cover with the following information, which is very interesting....

The statue of Captain James Cook overlooking Cook Inlet from Resolution Park at the foot of "L" Street and West Third Avenue was presented to the Municipality of Anchorage by British Petroleum Ltd., in 1976 as its contribution to the nation's bicentennial celebration. It is the only statue of the famed British navigator-explorer in the United States.

Under orders from the Royal Navy, Capt. Cook, in command of the ships, RESOLUTION and DISCOVERY, set out to explore the Pacific Ocean and to find the fabled "Northwest Passage," a sea link between that body of water and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1778, after having sailed north along the American coast on his Third Voyage of Discovery, Cook entered a long channel which looked like a promising lead and finally anchored in a large bay off the site of the present city of Anchorage. The date was June 01, 1778.

Having charted the waters and shore of the main channel, Capt. Cook dispatched two boats to examine the arm leading toward the East where, finally, towering mountains closed off any further hope of passage. Convinced that no link to the Atlantic Ocean existed here, Cook ordered a landing party ashore to claim possession of the land in the name of the King. The arm which at first had promised to be the passage, but then proved to be the end of the quest, was named "River Turnagain". The majestic waterway, stretching from the open sea 150 miles to present-day Anchorage, was chosen by the Admiralty to pay tribute to the memory of England's greatest navigator; hence it bears the name Cook Inlet.

The cachet for the souvenir cover in which this postcard is enclosed was reproduced from an original drawing by Janis Carty Neill of Eagle River, President of the Alaska Watercolor Society, and is sponsored by the Capt. Cook Bicentenary Committee, assisted by members of the Anchorage Philatelic Society.

KD TAR - First Malaysian Submarine

Date of Issue: September 03, 2009

POS Malaysia issued a set of three stamps to commemorate the First Malaysian Submarine - KD TAR, in short for Kapal Diraja Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Many thanks to my exchange partner, Mr. Ronny Wong, Malaysia for the set of stamps, brochure, and the FDC.

KD TAR is the first of the two Malaysian Scorpene class submarines. As a high technology strategic asset, the arrival of KD TAR in September 2009 is a historic milestone not only for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), but also for Malaysia as it is a great achievement in Malaysia's defence arena.

The 30 sen stamp shows the graphic sketch of KD TAR. The second stamp shows KD TAR equipped with the latest high technological navigation system, communication equipments, and fire control system appropriate with its role and responsibility to face the future modern warfare. The final stamp portrays KD TAR sailing in the oceans to begin her journey and its mission in protecting Malaysia's sovereignty. KD TAR is one of the sophisticated asset owned by the Royal Malaysian Navy since its inception 75 years ago.

Text source: POS Malaysia Information brochure.

QE2 Last Voyage FDC

Date of Issue: November 14, 2008

As a thematic philatelist, I am very proud to possess this limited edition [Qty - 3000] First Day Cover commemorating the Last Voyage of RMS Queen Elizabeth II, of Cunard Line.

After 40 years of cruising the oceans, this mammoth cruise ship began her final voyage on November 11, 2008 from Southampton, England and reached Dubai on November 27, 2008.

The FDC shows beautiful illustration of the QE2 leaving the Rock (of Gibraltar) for the last time on her way to retirement in Dubai.

At Dubai, she was refurbished as a floating hotel and on July 10, 2009 it was revealed that QE2 may sail to Cape Town, South Africa to become a floating hotel (for use primarily during the 2010 FIFA World Cup), in a Dubai World sponsored venture at the V&A Waterfront*.

* - Source: wikipedia

Europa 1992 - Jersey

Date of Issue: April 14, 1992
Scott #: 593 - 595

22p - John Bertram (1796-1882)
28p - Sir George Carteret (1610-1680)
39p - Sir Walter Ralegh (1554-1618)

This FDC with set of three stamps are issued by Jersey Post to commemorate 500 years of Discovery of Americas by Columbus.

Click here to see other stamps of Europa 1992.

Columbus 500th Anniv - Sri Lanka FDC

Date of Issue: December 01, 1992
Scott # for stamps: 1059 - 1062

Sri Lanka issued this set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet with these four stamps to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage and discovery of America.

The cachet shows portrait of Columbus and his flagship Santa Maria. Each of the stamps depict events in chronological order.

1.00 - Aug 1492 - The voyage begins
11.00 - Oct 1492 - First landing in the Americas
13.00 - Dec 1492 - Santa Maria is wrecked
15.00 - Apr 1493 - Return to Spain

The Navigators - 1992 Commemorative Issue New Zealand

Date of Issue: March 12, 1992
Scott #: 1089 - 1092

This set of four stamps are issued to commemorate 500th anniversary of discovery of America by Columbus as well as 350th anniversary of sighting of New Zealand by Abel Tasman.

Details given on the back of the FDC - The Navigators - In small, wooden sailing boats, European navigators explored the world's oceans using only the stars as a guide. During the long months at sea, food shortages, illness, mutinies, and battles took their toll on officers and crew alike. Despite such handicaps, seafaring explorers charted the oceans, discovering new lands, and opening up valuable trade routes.

The navigators stamp issue commemorates the sighting of New Zealand by Abel Tasman in 1642 and the sighting of the America by Christopher Columbus in 1492. The stamps depict Tasman's two ships, the flagship Heemskerck and the Zeehaen, and Columbus' three ships - the Santa Maria, captained by Columbus, the pinta, and the Nina.

The stamps and first day cover were designed by Geoff Fuller of Havelock North.

FDC China - Scenic views of Hong-Kong

Date of Issue: November 28, 1995
FDC Design by: Zhao Xing
Cancellation design by: Liu Chao

The FDC design shows a Chinese Junk with the Victoria Harbor, Hong-Kong, at the background.

The 20 fen stamp shows Victoria Harbor and the 290 fen stamp shows Repulse Bay.

Port of Hong Kong - Past and Present

(Click Image to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: January 12, 1982

The theme of this special stamp issue is illustrated in the four stamps issued by scenes of bygone years and one of more modern times.

Hong Kong was a regular port of call for vessels of many flags even before Captain Charles Elliot took formal possession of the island early in 1841.

For over a century, the port of Hong Kong was principally engaged in entrepot activities - a warehouse for other peoples' products. After the Second World War, this changed and Hong Kong has now become one of the world's largest exporters.

The Port of Hong Kong, located by the South China Sea, is a deepwater seaport dominated by trade in containerised manufactured products, and to a lesser extent raw materials and passengers. A key factor in the economic development of Hong Kong, the natural shelter and deep waters of Victoria Harbour provide ideal conditions for berthing and handling all types of vessels. It is one of the busiest ports in the world, in the three categories of shipping movements, cargo handled and passengers carried


View Larger Map

Designer: Mr. Redge Solley
Printer: Questa Colour Security Printers Ltd.
Process: Lithographic
Denominations: 20c, $1, $1.30, $2.00

Scott: A75 380-383

Navy Ships - New Zealand

(Click image to view larger picture)

Date of Issue: November 06, 1985

This FDC with neat cancellation with the Souvenir Sheet showing ships that served over years for The Royal New Zealand Navy with its emblem on the cover and the souvenir sheet with map showing the route in which the ANZCAN (abbreviation for Australia-New Zealand-Canada) Cable laid.

Denom. - Name of Ship - Period of service in Navy
25c - HMNZS Philomel - 1914 - 1947
45c - HMNZS Achilles - 1936 - 1946
60c - HMNZS Rotoiti - 1949 - 1965
75c - HMNZS Canterbury - 1971 - 2005 (source: wikipedia)

The ship found in the Souvenir Sheet was HMNZS Monowai 1978 - 1997 (Source: Wikipedia)

Note: HMNZS - Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship

Scott catalogue number for this Souvenir Sheet: 842 a

Click here for more details on ANZCAN Cable.

HMNZS Rotoiti (F425) was a Loch class frigate of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Interesting Facts:

HMNZS Achilles
Achilles was originally built for the Royal Navy, and was commissioned as HMS Achilles on 10 October 1933. She served with the Royal Navy's New Zealand Division from 31 March 1937 up to the creation of the Royal New Zealand Navy, into which she was transferred in September 1941, renamed as HMNZS Achilles.

Achilles was returned to the Royal Navy at Sheerness, Kent, England on 17 September 1946. She was then sold to the Indian Navy and recommissioned on 5 July 1948 as INS Delhi. She remained in service until decommissioned for scrap at Bombay on 30 June 1978. As part of the scrapping, her Y turret was removed and presented as a gift to the New Zealand Government. It is now on display at the entrance of Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

HMNZS Monowai
HMNZS Monowai (A06) was a hydrographic survey vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

During her naval service she was known as the "ghost of the coast", as she quietly remapped most of the New Zealand coastline including the Chatham, Cambell, and Auckland Islands, as well as the many sub-Antarctic islands in New Zealand's responsibility. She also acted as a resupply vessel to Campbell and other sub-Antarctic island, served as an "official residence" for VIPs and dignitaries at Pacific Island conferences, monitored Chinese missile splashdown tests, stood by Fiji after military coups with a platoon of naval gunners to assist in possible NZ civilian evacuations, participated in the ANZCAN cable route survey and in international searches for sea mounts and shoals. She carried a helicopter and undertook rescue or aid missions, saving the lives of eight people during the New Zealand to Tonga Yacht Regatta.

The Coral Sea Battle

(Click Image to view larger picture)

This FDC was issued by Australia on May o4, 1955, to commemorate The Coral Sea Battle and friendship of two countries Australia and USA.

The drawing on the left side of this cover (the fragment of waves and the ship, its mast, the words R.A.N. and U.S.N. etc.,) are printed in embossed format, so one can feel with touch.

R.A.N stands for Royal Australian Navy
U.S.N stands for United States Navy

The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought between May 4 – May 8, 1942, with most of the action occurring on May 7 and May 8, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Allied forces of the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. It was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged each other. It was also the first naval battle in history in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other.

To know more about the Coral Sea Battle, click here.