Israel Christmas ATM FDC

Israel ATM FDC
Name: Christmas
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009

2009 Christmas FDCs:
Estonia, Israel, Lithuania.

2008 Christmas FDCs:
Canada: The Nativity, Canada: Winter Fun, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania.

2007 Christmas FDCs:
Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Vatican.

China Stamp: 2009-31

China Stamps
Name: 80th Anniversary of Gutian Conference (古田会议八十周年)
Number: 2009-31
Date of Issue: 28 December 2009
Value: 1 stamp/set

Gutian Conference, officially known as the Ninth Congress of the Fourth Front Army of the CPC Red Army, took place on December 28, 1929, in Gutian Town of Shanghang County, Fujian Province. The meeting deliberated and approved Gutian Conference Resolution, a guideline document for the construction of the Party and the Red Army, drafted by Mao Zedong. The meeting established fundamental principles and mechanisms for the construction of people's army under the leadership of the CPC, settled the issue of building a new-type people's army, and laid a foundation for the political work of the people's army. It is a milestone in the history of the CPC and the Chinese army. Over the past 80 years, Gutian Conference has played a guiding role in the efforts to make Chinese People's Liberation Army more revolutionary, modernized, and standardized.

Israel Lighthouses FDC

Israel FDC
Name: Lighthouses in Israel
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: 832

The Hebrew word for lighthouse - "migdalor" – is comprised of two words: "migdal" (tower) and "or" (light), indicating structures that are usually tall and equipped with devices that emit light, either steadily or cyclically.

Lighthouses serve as navigational aides for ships sailing near the shoreline. Some are built at hazardous locations, adjacent to rocky cliffs or sandbars, in order to warn ships against approaching too closely. Others are built near ports to mark the way for ships coming in to dock.

In olden times lighthouses were lit by burning wood, oil or coal but since the late 19th century most have been refitted to work on gas and electricity.

Although the use of advanced navigational tools has made most lighthouses obsolete, many continue to serve as tourist attractions and landmarks.

The stamps in the series depict three of the lighthouses built along Israel's southern Mediterranean coastline:

Denominations:
4.60 שח: Jaffa
This 29-meter high lighthouse is built on a hilltop poised above the Jaffa Port. The Jaffa lighthouse was initially erected in 1865 as part of operations carried out by Turkish authorities to improve the port facilities. The structure appearing on the stamp was built by the British in 1936. The lighthouse's identifying mark was four white flashes, emitted every 14 seconds. The rocks along the Jaffa shore did not allow ships to enter the port, thus passengers and cargo were offloaded at sea and transported to shore in small row boats, such as that appearing on the stamp to the right of the lighthouse.

6.70 שח: Tel-Aviv
This lighthouse was built in the 1930's on the beach to the north of Tel-Aviv, adjacent to the Yarkon Estuary in order to warn ships against approaching the shore, where sandbars were located. The 20-meter high lighthouse served the Tel-Aviv Port as well as the adjacent electricity plant harbor.
The lighthouse's identifying mark was two flashes (one long and one short), emitted every seven seconds.

On 15 May, 1936 approval was received to operate a Hebrew port in Tel-Aviv. Four days later the first cargo ship to arrive at the makeshift port was unloaded. Sacks of cement were offloaded at sea and transported to shore in small boats. The porters, excited to be taking part in this historic event, expressed their joy by dancing a rousing Hora.

8.80 שח: Ashdod
This 76-meter high lighthouse is built atop Tel Yona, near the Ashdod Port. It was erected in the 1960's as part of the construction of the port facilities. The lighthouse's identifying mark was three white flashes, emitted every 20 seconds.

Ashdod Port is Israel's largest sea port. It is a modern facility, equipped with huge cranes and is capable of handling large cargo ships quickly and efficiently.

Description of the Stamps and the First Day Cover
Jaffa stamp – photograph of rowers in a boat, Tel-Aviv Municipal Archives
Tel-Aviv stamp – photograph of porters dancing, Jewish National Fund Archives
Ashdod stamp – photograph of a docked ship, Ashdod Port Company
Tabs – photographs by Dreamstime
Envelope – photograph of the Tel-Aviv lighthouse and its surroundings, Israel Electric Corporation Archives

Israel Archeology FDCs

Israel FDCs
Name: Maritime Archeology in Israel
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: 831

Remains from ancient cultures are abundant along the coastline of Eretz Israel. These remains are material evidence of the activity of the diverse civilizations which inhabited these shores over thousands of years. They are part of Israel's cultural maritime legacy as well as an important source of knowledge of its history. Submerged archeological maritime remains that were hidden from human view for thousands of years have been exposed in recent years as the result of human intervention at the shoreline (construction of ports and marinas and sand quarrying) and the development of scuba diving. Unsupervised exposure of the remains and the subsequent unavoidable damage has led to the danger that these treasures may be lost.

Fifty years of underwater archeological research has uncovered many important sites, each with its own character and finds. The uniqueness of the finds lies in their generally good state of preservation and their rarity relative to archeological excavations on land. Every sunken ship preserves the moment of disaster as a sort of "time capsule", and contains much evidence regarding the technology of the vessel, the crew's lifestyle and the ship's cargo and sailing route.

This series of stamps illustrates some of the finds from sunken ships found along Israel's shoreline and reflect the seafarers' commercial ties and beliefs:

Denominations:
2.40 שח: Figurines
The power of the sea aroused the seafarers' need to seek heavenly protection and shelter. Greek and Roman sailors customarily carried talismans and figurines and held religious rituals while at sea. Three figurines of the patrons of sailing and trade were found in a Roman ship discovered near Haifa: the god Serapis, the goddess Minerva and the god Mercury.

2.40 שח: Earthenware Jugs
The bustling ports were the scene of import and export of raw materials, tools, foodstuffs and luxuries. Olive oil and wine were in great demand around the Mediterranean, and Eretz Israel was rich in both. These wares were transported in earthenware jugs called amphoras, various types of which were suited to specific types of goods.

3.60 שח: Weapons
The location of Eretz Israel at an important strategic crossroad and its significance for Christianity and Islam resulted in its being a battleground between great naval powers throughout history. Fleets landing on its shores left various weapons, including bronze axes, swords and daggers, bronze helmets, clay grenades used for "Greek Fire" and cannons.

5 שח: Anchors
The role of the anchor is to hold a ship safely in place, thus it is one of the most important and common tools used by sailing vessels. Ancient ships carried several anchors, as they were easily lost. Others sank with ships which were wrecked in storms. The variety of types discovered along our shores demonstrates the complete development of these anchors: stone anchors from the Bronze Age, anchors of wood and stone, or wood and lead, from the Persian, Hellenistic and Ancient Roman Periods, iron anchors from the Roman and Byzantine Periods and four-pronged grapnel anchors from the Middle Ages.

Comment: I'm so lucky because my Israeli friend got the designer's autograph on my FDC. His name is Eliezer Weishoff in English, but you can see his autograhp is Hebrew (אליעזר ויסהוף). Frankly Speaking, it's very hard to recognize it.

Israel Theater FDC

Israel FDC
Name: The Yiddish Theater 1876, Iasi (Israel - Romania Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: 830

This joint Israel - Romania stamp issue commemorates the establishment of the Yiddish Theatre in Iasi, Romania in 1876 and the accomplishments of the founder of Jewish theatre, Abraham Goldfaden.

Abraham Goldfaden (1840 - 1908), a poet and father of the Jewish theater, was born in the town of Starokostiantyniv in the Volyn region, one of the centers of Jewish Enlightenment in southern Russia. His first book of Hebrew poems, "Zizim u-Ferahim" (Buds and Flowers), was published in 1875, after which he went on to publish poems in Yiddish. Goldfaden set some of his poems to folk melodies and they achieved such great popularity that some are even sung to this day, including the most well-known of his songs, "Raisins and Almonds".

Goldfaden arrived in Iasi, Romania in 1876 in order to publish a newspaper representing the Jewish Enlightenment. There he put on the first play improvised in Yiddish, integrating his already well-known songs and featuring two wandering actor-singers. Overnight he became the founder of the modern Jewish theater, a title he justifiably awarded himself. Up to that point, theater productions in the Jewish community were mainly held as part of the Purim holiday festivities (“Purim Spiel”), while plays written by followers of the Enlightenment were meant only to be read. The Orthodox Jewish community rejected the theater institution but Goldfaden was not deterred and dedicated himself to the theater he had founded, turning it into a legitimate part of Jewish culture. His theater merged the folkloristic roots of Jewish culture with the ideas of the Enlightenment and was influenced by the Russian-European melodrama and operetta. His troupe gave rise to many other theater troupes, which frequently made use of his repertoire, including plays such as: "The Witch", "The Two Kuni-Lemls" and "Shmendrik" (The Comical Wedding).

Over the course of thirty years, Goldfaden wrote more than 50 plays, which he directed, set to music and produced, even building and designing the sets and costumes. His productions allowed actors to hone their craft and developed an audience of theater proponents. He travelled throughout Europe, Russia, the Ukraine and America with his troupe. His plays were fraught with scathing criticism of the religious establishment and spoke out against inconsistencies within Jewish society, which was straddling the line between tradition and progress on the eve of the 20th century. His plays were received enthusiastically and he gave the Jewish stage eternal characters such as Bubbeh Yachneh, Miraleh the Orphan, Hotzmich, Shmendrik and Kuni-Leml.

At the height of his activities in Russia, Goldfaden's troupe numbered 40 actors and actresses and he began writing historical melodramas: "Shulamith", "Dr. Almasada", "Judah the Maccabean" and "Bar Kochva". Always attentive to his audience and to the goings on around him, Goldfaden wrote "Bar Kochva" in order to awaken awareness and national pride within his audience in reaction to the wave of pogroms that washed over Russia.

In 1883, the troupe disbanded after the Czar issued a proclamation banning the production of Yiddish plays within the realms of the Russian empire. Goldfaden continued to wander through Europe and America on his own. Upon arriving in America in 1887, he discovered that his former actors were performing his old repertoire but his theatrical endeavors in the New World were rejected. Although unable to rekindle his days of glory in the theater, he continued to pen new plays, such as "Lo Tachmod" (The Tenth Commandment or Though Shalt Not Covet), "Days of the Messiah?!" and "The Binding of Isaac", which he produced them with various troupes in many places. He wrote and produced his Hebrew-language play "David in War" featuring a group of youths in a Zionist club in New York. Thus he also considered himself to be the father of the Hebrew Theatre.

Abraham Goldfaden died on January 9, 1908 and tens of thousands of mourners accompanied him on his final journey. The original theater he created filled the community's needs and impacted the artistic development of the Jewish and Hebrew theaters as they came into being. Many of his plays continue to be produced in Israel and in Jewish theaters throughout the world.

Description of the Stamp & the First Day Cover
The stamp features an adapted illustration, based on the original poster for the play Two Kuni-Lemls.

The First Day Cover features two quotes from the play Two Kuni-Lemls, both in the original Yiddish and translated into Hebrew.

China Stamps: 2009-30

China Stamps
Name: 10th Anniversary of Macao's Return to the Motherland (澳门回归祖国十周年)
Number: 2009-30
Date of Issue: 20 December 2009
Value: 3 stamps/set

Denominations:
1.20元 (3-1): Celebration (欢庆)
1.20元 (3-2): Cooperation (合作)
1.50元 (3-3): Prosperity (繁荣)

December 20, 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. Macao has taken on a brand new look since its return to the motherland. With the support of the Central Government, Macao Special Administrative Region, drawing together and leading the people from all walks of life, has earnestly carried out the policies of "one country, two systems", "Macao people governing Macao" and "enjoying a high degree of autonomy", and has energetically coped with all kinds of challenges to maintain a good situation in which economy sees a sustained growth, society maintains harmonious and stable, and people's livelihood gets better and better step by step. Over the past 10 years, Macao has developed a closer tie with mainland China, and has had more external contacts each passing day; meanwhile its trade cooperation has expanded continuously. Macao is marching forward with vigor and vitality after its return to the motherland, and has opened up a successful practice of and bright prospects for the "one country, two systems" policy.

Thailand Medical FDC

Thailand FDC
Name: 110 Years Medical Department, RTA
Date of Issue: 25 November 2009
Number: 888

Purpose: To commemorate 110th anniversary of establishment of Medical Department, Royal Thai Army, as well as to disseminate its missions to the public.

Designs: Mor-Oum is performing the missions of Medical Department, RTA.
3 บาท BAHT: Medical Department, RTA., in 1900 and Mission "To Conserve the Fighting Strength"
3 บาท BAHT: Mor-Oum and Aero Medical Evacuation
3 บาท BAHT: Mor-Oum and Field Surgery
3 บาท BAHT: Mor-Oum and Medical Department, RTA., in 2010

Estonia Christmas FDCs

Estonia FDCs
Name: Christmas
Date of Issue: 19 November 2009

Already centuries ago our forefathers marked the winter solstice as the most important event of the year. It was the time of cleaning and decorating the house (with a spruce tree, so-called Christmas crowns and krõllid), straw on the floor, beer, baked pork, Christmas bread and black pudding. The word jõul (Christmas) has been borrowed into Estonian from Scandinavia about a thousand years ago. At Christmas the Christian world marks the birth of Christ. Traditional Christmas services are carried out in all the churches. The Pope ushering in Christmas at a midnight mass in St Peter's Basilica, with the Vatican Television Centre mediating it to the whole world, has acquired a global meaning. Christmas is reflected in the work of many great artists and composers. One of the best-known Christmas songs is Franz Xaver Gruber's Silent Night composed in 1818, which has been performed in about 300 languages and dialects. Over time the Christmas tree (15th century), the Advent crown (19th century), sending Christmas cards to friends and relatives (19th century), Santa Claus (20th century) and later also gingerbreads and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) have become part of Christmas traditions at different times. The first postage stamp dedicated to Christmas was issued in Canada in 1898, and Estonia got its first Christmas stamp in 1992. In today's rapidly changing world Christmas has become a mixture of forefathers' customs, the Christian tradition and commerce.

2009 Christmas FDCs:
Estonia, Israel, Lithuania.

2008 Christmas FDCs:
Canada: The Nativity, Canada: Winter Fun, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania.

2007 Christmas FDCs:
Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Ukraine, Vatican.

India Aquatic Animals FDC

India FDC
Name: Aquatic Animals (India - Philippines Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 16 November 2009

Denominations:
500: Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica)
The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) and Indus River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) are two sub-species of freshwater or river dolphins found in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The Ganges River Dolphin is primarily found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, while the Indus River Dolphin is found in the Indus River in Pakistan and its Beas and Sutlej tributaries. From the 1970s until 1998, they were regarded as separate species; however, in 1998, their classification was changed from two separate species to subspecies of a single species (see taxonomy below). The Ganges river dolphin has been recognized by the government of India as its National Aquatic Animal. More...

2000: Butanding (Rhincodon typus)
The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow moving filter feeding shark, the largest living fish species. In the Philippines, it is called "butanding". The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 metres (41.50 ft) and a weight of more than 21.5 tonnes (47,000 lb), but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks. This distinctively-marked fish is the only member of its genus Rhincodon and its family, Rhincodontidae (called Rhinodontes before 1984), which belongs to the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes. The shark is found in tropical and warm oceans, lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years. The species originated about 60 million years ago. Although whale sharks have very large mouths, they feed mainly, though not exclusively, on plankton, microscopic plants and animals, although the BBC program Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a school of small fish. More...

Thailand Flowers FDC

Thailand FDC
Name: New Year 2010
Date of Issue: 15 November 2009
Number: 878

Purpose: To be affixied on New Year greeting cards and to publicize rare wild flowers of Thailand.

Designs: Illustrating 4 kinds of rare wild flowers discovered in Thailand
3 บาท BAHT: Drosera peltata Sm.
3 บาท BAHT: Sonerila griffithii C. B. Clarke
3 บาท BAHT: Cyanotis arachnoidea Wight
3 บาท BAHT: Caulokaempferia saxicola K. Larsen

Taiwan Greetings FDCs

Taiwan FDCs
Name: Personal Greeting Stamps - Happy Times
Date of Issue: 12 November 2009
Number: Def. 131

To provide more design options, Chunghwa Post is issuing “Happy Times,” a new set of ten personal greeting stamps. All ten stamps have denominations of NT$3.50 and NT$5.00, distinguished by different background colors. Customers now have a chance to create a brand new set of personal greeting stamps using their prettiest or most memorable photos. The designs of the stamps follow:

1. Pearl (cherished love): Precious pearls are often used to express a love that is cherished above all. Giving pearls is a display of how much one values the recipient.

2. Present (surprise): Presents wrapped with a ribbon that is tied in a bow suggest that they are full of surprises and bring joy.

3. Bouquet (love): Beautiful flowers are the ideal choice for expressing affection to family members, as well as romantic love and friendship.

4. Candy (sweetness): A lollipop and some candies wrapped in colorful cellophane paper make one feel sweet, thus adding to the joy of happy times.

5. Balloon (joy): During celebrations and other happy occasions, colorful balloons floating in the air impart a joyous atmosphere.

6. Champagne (celebration): During romantic moments or celebrations, the clinking flutes that are filled with champagne can help to mark the occasion, freezing a beautiful moment in time.

7. Heart (warmth): Hearts represent mutual support and caring between family members, friends and lovers. This stamp features a big heart made of many smaller hearts to convey the warmest side of anyone’s heart.

8. Cake (bliss): A cake decorated with chocolate and a strawberry offers a taste of happiness and sweetness. It’s a desert that can’t be passed up during happy times.

9. Sparkler (celebration): By lighting up sparklers or setting off fireworks in the night sky, the flickering light brings the festivities to a high point.

10. Clover (luck): It is said that four-leaf clovers bring good luck, but their rarity makes them especially precious. Let flying four-leave clovers on stamps spread good luck and best wishes.

Comment: This is the first time my daughter's photos appear on the real posted FDC. Thanks to my Taiwanese friend.

Poland Writer FDC

Poland FDC
Name: 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Paweł Jasienica
Date of Issue: 10 November 2009

10th November 2009 is the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Paweł Jasienica, one of the most widely-read Polish historical writers of the 20th century. The ease of translating his thoughts into words, the skill of expressing them and presenting historical facts and profiles of significant personalities of the ages under study, all rendered his books much sought-after. Among the most well-known works of Jasienica there is the essayistic historical synthesis of pre-partition Poland entitled "Polska Piastów" (1960), "Polska Jagiellonów" (1963) and "Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów" (1967-1972) which was reissued on numerous occasions. Following its first edition Jasienica came under criticism for promoting what was called a personalised approach to history (the belief that individuals have the power to influence history) which stood in contradiction with the Marxist philosophy of history of those days. The then authorities never stopped looking for a reason to prohibit the publishing of Jasienica's books in hope that he would be erased not only from people's memory, but also history. The readers, however, didn't fail him.

There are very few things in life as contagious as freedom
Paweł Jasienica was an advocate of freedom both in its literal sense and its figurative meaning, and he fought for it both with his pen and his sword. He was born to a family of long patriotic traditions - his grandfather took part in the January Uprising, and his great grandfather was a soldier in the November Uprising. The writer was born in Symbirsk at the Volga river and his real name was Leon Lech Beynar (he adopted a different name following the war in order to protect his wife from the NKVD as she, as a widow, remained in Vilnius which was then occupied by the Russians). He stayed in Russia until 1920. Between 1928 and 1932 he studied history at the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius and later worked as a teacher in Hrodna where he published a number of historical essays. Following the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939 he fought in the September campaign and actively conspired against the occupants as a member of the AK . When his squad was broken up in August 1944 he was taken captive and transported to Białystok where he endured interrogation and imprisonment by the NKVD. He was then drafted to a unit of the People's Army of Poland, but managed to escape and reach the 5th AK brigade in Vilnius. In July 1945 he was appointed the adjutant of the brigade commander Zugmunt Szyndzielarz a.k.a. "Łupaszka." Wounded on the night between 8 and 9 July, he left his brigade avoiding arrest and execution and took refuge in the parish house in the village of Jasienica.

Only slaves remain passive, but he who has tasted freedom wants ever more of it
In 1946 following the war he started working in Kraków as editor for "Tygodnik Powszechny" using an adopted name Paweł Jasienica. Having been arrested by the secret police (UB - Urząd Bezpieczeństwa) in 1948 and subsequently released, he joined the PAX association. Between the late 1959 and 1962 he presided over the Association of Polish Writers (Związek Literatów Polskich, ZLP) and between 1966 and 1970 he was Vice-Chairman of the Pen Club. In 1964 he signed the protest of 34 intellectuals campaigning against press censorship, and in March 1968 he supported the students' protest for which he was expelled from the ZLP. The pro-establishment press called him a mason and a man of unpleasant past. In 1968 Władysław Gomułka publicly suggested Jasienica was double-faced in an attempt to discredit the writer and provide a reason for prohibiting the publication of his books and articles. Jasienica felt the painful burden of those unfair accusations until the end of his life. He died in 1970 and was buried at the Powązki cemetery in Warsaw.

New stamp and First Day Cover
In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Paweł Jasienica Poczta Polska introduced a stamp featuring a black and white photograph of the writer on the background of books. The FDC presents a stack of books and one page of typescript with the author's handwritten corrections. The issue is accompanied with an occasional date stamp in the shape of an open book, in use in the Warsaw 1 Post Office.

Russia Transport FDC

Russia FDC
Name: The 200th Anniversary of the Transport Department of Russia
Date of Issue: 09 November 2009

In 2009, the Ministry of Transport of Russia celebrates its 200th anniversary. On November 20, 1809 Emperor Alexander I signed the manifesto entitled "Establishment of management of water and land communications". This date marked the beginning of the establishment of administrative structures in the transport sector of Russia, and rightly became the starting point of managing development of nation-wide transport system of the country.

The stamp presents the coat of arms of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and the Russian flag.

India Personality FDC

India FDC
Name: Danmal Mathur
Date of Issue: 06 November 2009

Shri Danmal was born on 14th March 1904 in a modest home in 'Bhata Gavari' in Kayastha Mohalla, Aimer. His father, Munshi Kanmal Mathur, employed by the Kotah State in 1894 as 'Motamid' (Housemaster) of Kotah House in Mayo College. And he was a disciplinarian! Without doubt Danmalji's formative years and personality were greatly influenced by his father.

On 25th Feb., 1916 (when he was only 12) Danmalji was married to Roop Kanwar, daughter of Shri Devi Dayal Mathur of Kharwa. The adage 'Behind every successful man is a woman' is exemplified in its entirety by the support Shri Danmal received from his wife who managed the house-hold and brought up a large family, allowing her husband time to give to the innumerable professional, philanthropic, societal and other commitments he was destined to be a part of.

He passed his B.Sc. examination from Government College, Ajmer in 1927 where he was appointed 'Demonstrator' in Physics. He was HOD and Vice Principal Mayo College.

In 1952 Shri Danmal was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to the USA where he impressed the various forums he addressed, by his views on Education and his expositions on Indian culture and religion.

In the same year Shri Danmal was awarded the 'International Service Star' for his valuable services by Lord Mountbatten of Burma and Chief Scout of India.

In 1947 Shri Danmal accompanied the Indian Scouts contingent as a senior member to Paris at the international Scouts Jamboree.

Shri Danmal started scouting in the Railways at the Mt. Abu camp in 1948.

In his quest to spread the message of scouting, dynamic Shri Danmal also took a contingent of scouts to Japan in 1953.

When Ajmer was merged with Rajasthan in 1956 Shri Danmal was appointed Divisional Secretary and later Commissioner of Rajasthan State Scouts and Guides. It was because of his efforts in persuading the Government that a 17 acre permanent scouts campsite was set up at Pushkar Ghati, and land was allotted for setting up the Divisional Headquarters for Scouts in 'Tope Dara' in Ajmer. For his contribution to Scouting the National Headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides honoured him by decorating him first with the 'Silver Star' and subsequently, in 1970, with the 'Silver Elephant' the highest award in Scouting in India.

Subsequently, he played cricket for Rajputana and was in the team which played against the M.C.C. when it toured India and Australia in the thirties.

Comment: Do you find? the additional definitive stamps were not cancelled, interesting.

Spain JUVENIA FDC

Spain FDC
Name: JUVENIA 2009
Date of Issue: 06 November 2009

The National Exhibition of Youth Philately (Juvenia 2009) is an important philatelic event for youth stamp collecting. It has been taking place every two years and in 2009 will be held in Mieres (Asturias). From the 6 to the 14 November, exhibitions, workshops, lectures and other commemorative events will take place in this XXI edition of JUVENIA. The challenge of this edition, as in previous ones is to widespread the exciting, formative and varied world of philately amongst the young ones. This XXI edition is organised by the Club Filatélico Mierense who celebrates its 50th anniversary. There will be collections on exhibition from France, Portugal and Spain. Within the programme of Juvenia there will be many activities taking place: Seminars, visits, lectures, stamp presentations etc. these events will be hosted in the hall of the main building of the University Campus of Barredo in Mieres.

Mieres borders on Ribera de Arriba, Oviedo and Langreo to the north; to the south on Lena and Aller : to the east on Langreo, San Martín del Rey Aurelio and Laviana; and to the west on Morcín and Riosa. There are remains of Celtic fortifications and mounds which evidence the existence of pre Roman inhabitants. From the Roman times there remain vestiges and inscriptions, though the importance of this municipality begins in the IX century when a number of monarchs from Asturias make important donations to its churches and jurisdictions. Mieres was part of the Jacobean Path thus its name, Mieres-on-the path. From the XIX century, the region had a buoyant coal mining industry which is nowadays in decline and up until 1970 it also had a prosperous metal industry.

The stamp depicts a view of the Requejo square with a statue of a man pouring cider in a glass and in the background there features the typical glass window galleries of this region besides the logo and text allusive to Mieres and Juvenia.

Comment: This FDC is a surprise from my Spanish friend. Francisco, please email me if you see this post.