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.

Russia Empress FDC

Russia FDC
Name: History of Russian State: The 300th Anniversary of Birth of Elizaveta Petrovna, Russian Empress
Date of Issue: 06 November 2009

Elizaveta Petrovna (Russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т) Петро́вна) (29 December [O.S. 18 December] 1709 – 5 January 1762 [O.S. 25 December 1761] ), also known as Yelisavet and Elizabeth, was the Empress of Russia (1741–1762) who took the country into the War of Austrian Succession (1740–1748) and the Seven Years' War (1756 – 1763). On the eve of her death in 1762, the Russian empire spanned almost 4 billion acres[citation needed] (more than 16 million squared kilometres). More...

Singapore APEC FDC

Singapore FDC
Name: Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2009 Meetings
Date of Issue: 09 November 2009

Formed in 1989, the Asia - Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is the only inter-governmental grouping in the world operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Each year, the APEC meetings bring together 21 economies from the Asia - Pacific region and member economies take turns to host the meetings. Singapore is proud to host the APEC meetings for 2009. A year-long event from February to November, it will see more than 15,000 delegates from the 21 APEC member economies attend some 123 meetings and events in Singapore. This will culminate in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November where Leaders of the 21 APEC member economies will meet.

Singapore's hosting of APEC 2009 is significant as it is the first time the 21 APEC Economic Leaders will meet in Singapore. Singapore last chaired the APEC meetings in its second year in 1990, when the forum had only 12 members who met at the Ministerial level. This year also marks APEC's 20th anniversary as an inter-governmental grouping since its formation in 1989.

APEC's mission is to enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia - Pacific community. Over two decades, APEC has made positive contributions to businesses as well as individuals through the reduction of tariffs and trade barriers across the Asia - Pacific region, creating efficient domestic economies and in creasing exports.

As Chair of the APEC meetings for 2009, Singapore has chosen the theme "Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region" which reflects the continuing efforts of APEC to facilitate trade and investment in the Asia - Pacific region. Such efforts have gained greater importance in the face of a challenging global economic environment. The year-long APEC meetings will see representatives from the 21 APEC member economies convene to discuss measures to support economic growth; address the global economic crisis; support the multilateral trading system; accelerate regional economic integration; and explore avenues to strengthen APEC as an inter-governmental grouping.

With more than 15,000 participants in Singapore during the year-long event and up to 1,500 local and international media during the APEC Leaders' Week from 8 to 15 November itself, it is a golden opportunity for Singapore to play host to our foreign guests, and to showcase what Singapore has to offer - not just in terms of being an attractive business venue, but also to promote Singapore as an exciting place to work, live and play, with our vibrant multicultural heritage, efficient infrastructure, and thriving entertainment scene.

Lithuania Christmas FDC

Lithuania FDC
Name: Holy Christmas and New Year
Date of Issue: 07 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.

Estonia Manor Hall FDC

Estonia FDC
Name: Estonian Manor Halls - Saku Hall
Date of Issue: 05 November 2009

Saku Hall is the most outstanding architectural monument in the small town of Saku on the middle reaches of the Vääna River close to Tallinn, one of the most beautiful examples of Classical architecture in Estonia. The first reports of the manor go back to 1489 when the manor seat was situated a few kilometres to the south from the present location. It moved to where it stands today in the 17th century. It had a number of earlier owners but in 1765 Otto Magnus von Rehbinder bought the estate. His grandson Paul Eduard started to build up the mansion in a grand style. The manor hall has a portico with rich decor supporting on four beautiful columns and large “Venetian” windows. The architect has remained unidentified (the famous Carlo Rossi of St. Petersburg has been suggested as one of the possible authors). Stucco décor and stencilled paintings enhance the interior. In the 20th century the manor hall housed a domestic economy school and then a specialised secondary school. It has also served as the seat of the local government. Today Saku Hall functions as a holiday and seminar centre.

Hong Kong Football M/S FDC

Hong Kong Minisheet FDC
Name: Football (Brazil - Hong Kong Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 05 November 2009

Football, a popular sport all over the globe, has long been a favourite pastime for people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. In Brazil, it is a sport played and watched with a national pride and passion that is deeply ingrained in Brazilian culture. To share with philately lovers the worldwide enthusiasm for the sport, Hongkong Post and Brazil Post jointly release the “Football” special stamps. This is our tenth joint issue with an overseas postal administration.

Professional football in Hong Kong dates back to 1968. The British style dominated at the beginning. From late 1990s onwards, however, more and more Brazilian footballers joined in, particularly the First Division clubs, bringing their unique style of play to the Hong Kong pitch. The Hong Kong Football Representative Team, which represents Hong Kong in international football tournaments, competed for the first time in World Cup qualification in 1973 and further advanced to the knockout stage in 1977 and 1985. To promote the sport locally, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) organises various programmes to nurture young players. Talented footballers have the opportunity to join clubs in the HKFA leagues or represent Hong Kong in international competitions.

Football made its first touch down on Brazilian soil over a hundred years ago. It has now captured the energy and imagination of the whole nation from the streets to the leagues. Brazilian football emphasises aggressive attacks, passing skills and swift movements. What sets Brazilian football apart is its stylistic footwork with rhythm and choreography. Brazil appeared at the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 and hosted the World Cup in 1950. The Brazil National Football Team is considered one of the most successful national football teams in World Cup history with its record five victories in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

In 2005, the Brazil National Football Team made its first visit to Hong Kong to play a friendly match against the Hong Kong Football Representative Team. With top-notch players from the five-time champion team, the event was exhilarating for football fans in Hong Kong.

The joint issue depicts players in action from both the Brazil and Hong Kong teams in comic strip style. The four stamps feature Header by Striker ($1.40), Defense by Goalkeeper ($2.40), Long Pass by Skipper ($3) and Tackle by Defender ($5). In the design, quarters of the football positioned in different corners of the stamps come together at the centre to form a complete picture, symbolising the team spirit of this popular sport.

China Sheetlet: 2009-27

China Sheetlet II
Name: Ancient Academies (2nd Series) 古代书院 (二)
Number: 2009-27
Date of Issue: 15 November 2009
Value: 8 stamps/sheet

Denominations:
1.20元 (4-1): Shigu Academy & Han Yu (石鼓书院 & 韩愈)
Shigu Academy was named after its location on the Shigu Mountain north to Hengyang City, Hunan Province. It was originally the place where Li Kuanzhong, a scholar in the Tang Dynasty, Built a studio, and later it became, in the Song Dynasty, an academy, attracting many famous scholars and followers. Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty bestowed the land and the tablet bearing Shigu Academy on it, making the Academy highly reputed throughout the country.

1.20元 (4-2): Anding Academy & Hu Yuan (安定书院 & 胡瑗)
Anding Academy lies in the Taizhou Middle School in Jiangsu Province. Hu Yuan, a renowned educator in the Northern Song Dynasty, once taught here, and developed the educational thought of combining both theory and practice, and implementing the education by subjects. The Academy was built by Chen Gai, the then governor of Taizhou in the Southern Song Dynasty, on the former site where Hu Yuan gave lectures. As one of the earliest academies of classical learning in Jiangsu Province, it had cultivated a large number of outstanding talents.

1.20元 (4-3): Ehu Academy & Zhu Xi, Lu Jiuyuan (鹅湖书院 & 朱熹, 陆九渊)
Located north of the Ehu Mountain in Qianshan County, Jiangxi Province, Ehu Academy was built by Cai Kang, a judicial official in the Song Dynasty, to mark the Ehu Meeting of such philosophers as Zhu Xi, Lv Zuqian, Lu Jiuyuan and Lu Jiuling. Now, the major architectures of the Academy have been well preserved with an integral layout after several times of destruction, rebuilding and renovation during the ups and downs over the past 800 years.

1.20元 (4-4): Dongpo Academy & Su Dongpo (东坡书院 & 苏东坡)
Dongpo Academy, situated in Danzhou, Hainan Province, was first built in the Song Dynasty with the original name of Zaijiutang. It gradually evolved from a venue where Su Dongpo, a great scholar in the song Dynasty, assembled with local scholars during his exile in Danzhou to an academy with sacrificial and educational functions. Dongpo Academy, the supreme academy in Danzhou for all the following dynasties, is an important cultural site in Hainan Province.

Hong Kong Football FDCs

Hong Kong FDCs
Name: Football (Brazil - Hong Kong Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 05 November 2009

Football, a popular sport all over the globe, has long been a favourite pastime for people from all walks of life in Hong Kong. In Brazil, it is a sport played and watched with a national pride and passion that is deeply ingrained in Brazilian culture. To share with philately lovers the worldwide enthusiasm for the sport, Hongkong Post and Brazil Post jointly release the “Football” special stamps. This is our tenth joint issue with an overseas postal administration.

Professional football in Hong Kong dates back to 1968. The British style dominated at the beginning. From late 1990s onwards, however, more and more Brazilian footballers joined in, particularly the First Division clubs, bringing their unique style of play to the Hong Kong pitch. The Hong Kong Football Representative Team, which represents Hong Kong in international football tournaments, competed for the first time in World Cup qualification in 1973 and further advanced to the knockout stage in 1977 and 1985. To promote the sport locally, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) organises various programmes to nurture young players. Talented footballers have the opportunity to join clubs in the HKFA leagues or represent Hong Kong in international competitions.

Football made its first touch down on Brazilian soil over a hundred years ago. It has now captured the energy and imagination of the whole nation from the streets to the leagues. Brazilian football emphasises aggressive attacks, passing skills and swift movements. What sets Brazilian football apart is its stylistic footwork with rhythm and choreography. Brazil appeared at the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930 and hosted the World Cup in 1950. The Brazil National Football Team is considered one of the most successful national football teams in World Cup history with its record five victories in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

In 2005, the Brazil National Football Team made its first visit to Hong Kong to play a friendly match against the Hong Kong Football Representative Team. With top-notch players from the five-time champion team, the event was exhilarating for football fans in Hong Kong.

The joint issue depicts players in action from both the Brazil and Hong Kong teams in comic strip style. The four stamps feature Header by Striker ($1.40), Defense by Goalkeeper ($2.40), Long Pass by Skipper ($3) and Tackle by Defender ($5). In the design, quarters of the football positioned in different corners of the stamps come together at the centre to form a complete picture, symbolising the team spirit of this popular sport.

Russia Rank FDC

Russia FDC
Name: The 75th Anniversary of a Rank of the Hero of Soviet Union
Date of Issue: 29 October 2009

The title Hero of the Soviet Union (Russian: Герой Советского Союза, Geroy Sovyetskogo Soyuza) was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.

The award was established on April 16, 1934. The first recipients of the title originally received only the Order of Lenin, the highest Soviet award, along with certificate (грамота, gramota) describing the heroic deed from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Because the Order of Lenin could be awarded for deeds not qualifying for the title of hero, and to distinguish heroes from other Order of Lenin holders, the Gold Star medal was introduced on August 1, 1939. Earlier heroes were retroactively eligible for these items. More...

Singapore Attractions JI FDC

Singapore Joint Issue FDC
Name: Tourist Attractions (Indonesia - Singapore Joint Issue)
Date of Issue: 28 October 2009

Singapore and Indonesia enjoy warm and friendly ties. Both countries are close neighbours and each other's major trading partners. Ministers and officials from both countries work closely together bilaterally, as well at international fora such as ASEAN to advance common interests. In this stamp issue, selected attractions of both countries are featured.

Denominations:
1ST LOCAL: Singa Ambara Raja Statue
Singa Ambara Raja statue is the landmark of Singaraja City on the northern part of Bali. Adapted from Buleleng regency symbol, this statue uniquely depicts a winged lion holding a big corn in one of its front leg. The statue was officially inaugurated on 30 March 1971 to signify the historical struggle of Singaraja people against Dutch colony.

65c: Merlion
The iconic Merlion is Singapore's most enduring symbol. The name of the half-lion, half-fish creature is a combination of both Singapore's ancient name "Temasek" (meaning "sea town") and original name "Singapura" (meaning "Lion City").

80c: Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesian Miniature Park)
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah or "Beautiful Indonesian Miniature Park" is a recreational spot with splendid cultural highlights of the grandeur of Indonesia. Officially opened on 20 April 1975, it covers nearly 250 acres of area at the eastern side of Jakarta. The park is a summary of Indonesian culture, with virtually all aspects of daily life of each provinces of Indonesia encapsulated in separate pavilions with collection of architectures, clothing, dances and traditions.

$1.10: Sentosa
Sentosa was a British military fortress until 1967 when it was handed back to the newly independent Singapore Government. In 1968, the Government decided to develop the island into a holiday resort for local visitors and tourists. The public was invited to suggest names for the island and "Sentosa" - meaning peace & tranquility in Malay - was eventually chosen for the island resort in 1972.