Christmas stamps from Royal Mail

 

Date of Issue : 4 November 2014

Here is a beautiful miniature sheet  issued by  Royal mail for this year;s Christmas. This festive Miniature Sheet features all seven Special Stamps on a snowy background illustrated by Andrew Bannecker, bearing the words : Christmas 2014.

The Mint Stamps feature five tableaux: Collecting the Christmas Tree, Posting Christmas Cards, Building a Snowman, Carol Singing and Ice Skating. The first two tableaux also feature on the Large stamps, enabling a full range of seven values to be offered.

Collecting the Christmas Tree Second Class A father and his son (son and daughter in the Large version) trudge contentedly home in the snow, having picked up their tree in the run-up to Christmas.

Posting Christmas Cards First Class A robin, cheekily perched on top of a post box, watches as a girl and little boy (accompanied by another child in the Large version) pop in their Christmas cards.

Building a Snowman £1.28 Already sporting a carrot nose and hat and scarf in traditional Christmas colours red and green, a snowman is completed when a boy adds a twig arm.

  

Carol Singing £1.47 In the shimmering glow of a classic street lamp, a family sing a round of festive songs as the snow tumbles gently down.

 

Ice Skating £2.15 In the final stamp, a mother and daughter skate together hand in hand on a frozen pond with a suitably festive backdrop of pine trees.

Christmas 2014 Stamp Cards

The images on Christmas 2014 stamps really are incredibly festive, so they look even more Christmassy when enlarged in postcard size. 8 in set.

New stamps from Sri Lanka

 

Christmas 2014

Date of Issue : 30 November 2014

Here are new stamps issued by Sri Lanka Post. Two stamps and a Miniature sheet was issued for this year’s Christmas on 30th November 2014. A beautiful stamp was issued on World Children’s day with a theme “ We have right to Leisure ”.On World Post Day a special stamp was also issued  featuring different services of Sri Lanka Post.

World Children’s day

Date of Issue : 1 October 2014

World Post Day

Date of Issue : 9 October 2014

- Pradip Jain – Patna

Club News

Teacher joins crusade with a stamp

Prakash Vaithyanathan, a science teacher, is attempting to create awareness of the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign with a stamp

The message behind the ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign may be huge, but Prakash Vaithyanathan, a science teacher, is attempting to capture it all in a stamp. This Adyar resident, who has been a cleanliness crusader for some years, has decided to design a stamp to reach out to more people.

“I chose to design the stamp with the charming Taj Mahal and ‘Swachh Bharat’ written in the tri-colour backdrop. Stamps are an easy way to constantly remind people of their duty towards keeping the environment clean,” said Mr. Vaithyanathan. He had a small collection published under the ‘My Stamp’ scheme.“I have requested postal officials and the Central government to bring out stamps to carry the campaign forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, the department of posts too is considering introducing slogans in electronic franking impressions of stamps. Mervin Alexander, postmaster general (Chennai city region), said, “Electronic franking is used for bulk dispatch of letters. We are considering printing slogans on clean environment.”

On suggestions to release stamps with social messages, he said, every year, 40 commemorative stamps are released. A philatelic advisory committee decides the themes for postage stamps of various denominations. “We will scrutinise the requests,” he said.

Read More ….. The Hindu  - 15 December 2014

- Mahesh Parekh , Chennai

New Christmas stamps

 

Date of Issue : 10 November 2014

Here are Christmas 2014 stamps from Norway issued on 10 November 2014.This year’s two Christmas stamps depict Sølvguttene boys’ choir and Per Asplin’s popular play, «Putti Plutti Pott and Santa’s Beard». Beautiful Maxi cards were also issued with this issue.

Sølvguttene dates back to 1940, when the choir was founded by Torstein Grythe. He led and conducted the choir for 64 years. In 1968 Sølvguttene joined forces with NRK’s boys’ choir, and for those  who witnessed the early days of television, the annual Sølvguttene concert was an important part of the Christmas tradition. Per Asplin wrote and composed «Putti Plutti Pott and Santa’s Beard» in 1969. It was first published as a book, and then had its debut as a TV show in 1970. In 1987 a more extensive musical version was created for the stage, and it has been there since. For many  «Putti Plutti Pott» is also a natural part of the Christmas tradition.

Maxi cards

 

Christmas decorations

 

Niue

 

Date of Issue : 10 December 2014

Here are new stamps featuring Christmas decorations. The new set of stamps from Niue   consists of four stamps Each stamp features different traditional Christmas tree baubles overlaid with motifs found on Niuean hiapo (tapa cloth) as well as the Niuean phrase ‘Monuina e Kilisimasi’ (‘Merry Christmas’).

Weaving is a traditional art form in Niue, with the knowledge of weaving being passed down through elders and family members to the younger generation. The 2014 Niue Christmas stamp issue features Niuean weaving designs incorporated into traditional Christmas decorations.

Hungary

Date of Issue : 18 November 2014

Here is  a beautiful  stamp from Hungary  featuring decorated Christmas tree. Christmas tree is an important part of Christmas festival. It is decorated in various ways using small beautiful objects.

In pre-Christian times evergreen plants and trees held special significance for ancient peoples in winter, and they were revered in the traditions of Germanic, Roman, Egyptian and Celtic culture. Just as people set up Christmas trees today, these peoples adorned the doors and windows of their homes with evergreen branches because they believed that this warded off witches, ghosts and evil spirits, and protected the household from illness.

The tradition of putting up a tree at Christmas spread in Germany in the 16th century. The first Christmas tree in Budapest was probably erected by Therese Countess von Brunsvik in 1824 but the Podmaniczky and Bezerédy families played a major role in the custom becoming widespread. The new fashion was quickly adopted in the cities. During Advent in the 1860s fir tree sales were held in Budapest.

New Stamp from India

 

Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati

Date of Issue : 4 December 2014

Centenary celebration of Daivee Sampad Mandal held at Mainpuri from 25^th November to 6^th December 2014 at Sri Ekrasanand Aashram, Mainpuri. A Commemorative Stamp on Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati was released by India Post on the occasion of Centenary celebration of Daivee Sampad Mandal on 4^thDecember 2014.

Swami Ekrasanand Saraswati was a saint of common man. He always cared for the upliftment of poor and needy. Daivee Sampad Mandal was founded by Swami Ekrasanand Saraswatiji at Sri Ekrasanand Aashram, Mainpuri, UP. Daivee Sampad Mandal is a Socio-Spiritual organisation committed to the revival and upliftment of Vanvasis and Tribals. "Sarva Bhoot Hite Ratah" meaning welfare of all is its motto. Swami Ekrasanand ji left for heavenly abode on 10th September 1938.

Courtesy : Prashant Pandya – Vadodara

 

My recent Cover

Christmas 2014 Cover from Latvia

 

Received this beautiful  Christmas First Day cover from Riga, Latvia, so kindly  sent by Mr EN Limanski , Thanks to Mr Limanski for this wonderful cover with lovely cancellation of Christmas tree.

 

New stamps from Germany

 

Christmas 2014

Date of Issue : 3 November 2014

1. Star of Bethlehem - stamp from  sheetlet with perforation  2. Star of Bethlehem -stamp  from booklet : imperf.

German Post issued new stamps on 3rd November 2014 featuring Star of Bethlehem and a beautiful Snowman stamp for winter festive season.These stamps are available in perforate and imperforate self sticking forms.

 

Winter Holiday stamps 

3. Snowman – stamp from sheetlet with perforation  4. Snowman – stamp  from booklet : Imperf.

Courtesy -  Shrikant Parikh , Ahmedabad

Sea Trout

Date of Issue : 4 December 2014

Here is another new postage issued by German Post under the name “Sea Trout”. The stamp contains image of sea trout – one of the most popular fish species in Europe. The issue was released on the 4^th of December.

The sea trout, also widely known as ‘white trout’ or ‘Breac Geal’ in Gaelic, can be found in rivers, loughs and estuaries throughout Ireland. Sea trout are, in fact, brown trout that have developed a taste for going to sea because of the increased availability of food. Adult sea trout are hard fighting sporting fish which can be caught by all methods in rivers and in loughs, but give particularly exciting sport to the fly fisher.

They range in size from small fish of three quarters of a pound known locally as ‘finnock’, to specimens weighing six pounds and over. They are popular with anglers because of their strong fighting qualities and the fact that they fight tenaciously all the way to the landing net. In most fisheries the first sea trout of the season are the larger individual fish which arrive in April. As the season progresses they are followed by shoals of smaller fish.

New Christmas stamps

 

Estonia

Date of Issue : 20 November 2014

For this year’s Christmas here are new stamps issued recently. Estonia Post introduced two Christmas stamps on the 20^th of November. The items depict gorgeous Christmas decorations.

Christmas time is still the most important holiday celebrated in Estonia. For Estonians, Christmas is a mixture of the traditional, the modern, the secular, and the religious. Like in other Nordic states, Estonia’s celebration of Christmas mostly falls on Christmas Eve, however Christmas season starts in Advent with people buying Advent calendars or lighting Advent candles.

Poland

Date of issue : 14 November 2014

Polish Post has already issued its annual Christmas stamps on the 14^th of November . Christmas in Poland is a major annual celebration, as in most countries of the Christian world. The observance of Christmas developed gradually over the centuries, beginning in ancient times; combining old pagan customs with the religious ones introduced after the Christianization of Poland by the Catholic Church.

Later influences include mutual permeating of local traditions and various folk cultures. Christmas trees are decorated and lit in family rooms on the day of Christmas Eve. Other trees are placed in most public areas and outside churches. Christmas is called “Boże Narodzenie” in Polish (literally ‘God’s Birth’).

 

Finland

Date of issue : 17 November 2014

Finnish Post issued a Santa Claus special stamp for this year’s Christmas  on the 17^th of November.

The Joulun taika (The Magic of Christmas) stamp's based on Antti Kurola’s impressive photograph. In the magical picture, Santa Claus is throwing snow into the air with both hands, and behind the snow-covered spruce tree forest is revealed the city of Rovaniemi. The Santa Claus stamp is a great way to show to the rest of the world where the real Father Christmas is from.

Holiday stamps from USPS

 

Date of Issue : 6 November , 2014

Here are new Holiday stamps from USPS. These beautiful stamps feature characters from ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’. These are wonderful stamps for the Christmas greetings. Children  would love these stamps depicting Rudolph and his friends.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

On the evening of December 6, 1964, families sat down to watch a new TV show for the first time: an animated special called Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It featured the voice of Burl Ives as Sam, a singing snowman, who narrates the tale of a misfit reindeer who finds his own special way to shine. The hour-long show went on to become not only the longest-running and highest-rated Christmas special in TV history, but also a beloved holiday tradition.

Rudolph and his friends now bring their own brand of joy and nostalgia to four holiday stamps. The stamp artwork features still frames from the special, which was produced by Rankin/Bass using stop-motion animation. In this type of production, moveable models are photographed against backgrounds, giving the images their distinctive look. Rudolph, Santa, and the Abominable Snow Monster all star on stamps of their own, while a fourth stamp features Hermey, the elf who dreams of becoming a dentist, touching Rudolph’s glowing red nose.
In order to create the special, new characters (including the Abominable Snow Monster and Hermey) were added to those featured in the poem written by Robert L. May and the song written by Johnny Marks.
In addition to the Rudolph song, the special also contains five of composer Johnny Marks’s previous songs and seven new songs that include “A Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Silver and Gold,” “Jingle, Jingle, Jingle,” “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year,” “There’s Always Tomorrow” and “We’re a Couple of Misfits.”
And as for Rudolph, the star of the show? As the millions of fans of the classic animated special know, he went down in history!Art director Greg Breeding designed the stamps. The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stamps are being issued as Forever® stamps. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price.

Christmas 2014 stamps from Sweden

 

Date of Issue : 13 November 2014

Here are new stamps issued by Swedish Post for this year’s Christmas. The stamps are so beautiful and tempting featuring a  variety of Christmas sweets. This set of stamps is one of the most beautiful sets issued on Christmas this year. The other philatelic items issued with this set are magnificent and have been shown below.

Popular sweets on the Christmas table and the Christmas tree 

“The ‘lussebulle’ is a bun that, as everyone knows, gets its yellow color from saffron. As far back as the Middle Ages this expensive spice was popular among the aristocracy. It was first used in a Swedish cookbook in the 1700s, but it was not until the end of the 1800s when so many of the Christmas traditions were established in our country that buns and other baked goods with the yellow coloring became common in Swedish kitchens and were linked in particular to Christ-mas,” says Lena Kättström Höök.

Spiking oranges with aromatic cloves is a relatively late tradition. The combination of the clove and orange scents was considered to be refreshing and pleasant.

“The Christmas apple, which was picked and kept fresh by wrapping it in a newspaper, is an early tradition. In the first record of a Swedish Christmas tree from the mid-18th century, Christmas apples, among other decorations, hung from the tree branches.”

Marzipan was also found on the holiday tables of the elite in the 17th century. Marzipan figures often depicted people in fine clothing; the marzipan pig came much later. Sugar used to be expensive, and marzipan, like saffron, was a status symbol.

Stamp Booklet

“Gingerbread cookies, which are spiced with ginger, cinnamon and cardamom, could be bought in the large cities as early as during the 16th century and were at that time viewed as a luxury. They were baked in the monasteries during the Middle Ages and were considered to be a cure-all remedy. Gingerbread houses were first mentioned in Sweden in 1883. The story about Hansel and Gretel by Brothers Grimm was mostly like the source,” says Lena Kättström Höök.

Originally, mulled wine was used as a medicine and drunk throughout the year to promote good health. Toward the end of the 19th century, mulled wine started to become a common Christmas drink in our country. 

 

 

Sheetlet

Maximum cards

Club News

July-August 2014 issue of Stamps Today edited and published by Mr Vijay Seth by has been released. To get the copy of this issue, Please contact : Mr Vijay Seth email : stampstodayindia@gmail.com

New stamps on Christmas

 

 

Date of Issue : 9 October 2014

Hi !

I am sharing here some most beautiful stamps issued for this year’s Christmas.  The first stamp shown above is from Aland . Its gutter pair sheet is extraordinarily beautiful with extra images between the gutter pairs. Second issue from Brazil is full of Christmas fun and party time. Children will love these stamps  so much. Third issue from Finland is full of Christmas dreams ..snow and decorated reindeer ..bell etc. These stamps will add colors with warm love to the Christmas greetings..

Aland

Emma’s Little Christmas dream

The 2014 Christmas stamp is almost a fairy tale image of Little Christmas. The Christmas atmosphere comes to life with white snow, welcoming and warming lights and rosy cheeks. A parent holding a child’s hand visits the Jan Karlsgården Christmas fair. Emelie Hage’s image of Little Christmas has the shimmer of nostalgia.

 

Brazil

Date of Issue : 5 November 2014

The first stamp reproduces typical ornaments of the Christmas period. In the lower right corner, a lighted candle represents the warm peace of Christmas. The picture with the image of Jesus symbolizes the messenger of hope and gathering around a bountiful table, where a happy family is having supper.

The second stamp reproduces the scene of exchanging gifts. At the left bottom, is a boy with open arms, wearing a Santa hat. Just behind him a girl holds a beautiful gift box. In the background, two family scenes, showing the excitement and joy of giving and receiving gifts.

Finland

Date of Issue : 23 October 2014