China Sheetlet: 2010-1

China Sheetlet II
Name: Year of the Tiger - Geng Yin Year (虎年-庚寅年)
Number: 2010-1
Date of Issue: 05 January 2010
Value: 6 stamps/sheet

According to Chinese lunar calendar, 2010 is Geng-Yin Year, or the Year of the Tiger. Traditionally in China the tiger is crowned with the titles "King of All Beasts" and "Mountain Monarch", and the mysterious tiger totem represents people's worship for the animal in primitive society. The tiger is also a symbol of power and might, and its image was widely used as the design of military commander's tally in ancient times. In traditional Chinese culture, the tiger is often mentioned alongside the dragon to imply strength and prosperity. The Chinese people view the tiger as a holy animal, and use its image on various occasions to drive away evil spirits and bring peace. Today, the traditional custom of having children wear tiger-design hat and clothes still prevails in many places of the country. Symbolizing vigor and vitality, the tiger is expected to bring life and hope to a new year.

China Stamp: 2010-1

China Stamp
Name: Year of the Tiger - Geng Yin Year (虎年-庚寅年)
Number: 2010-1
Date of Issue: 05 January 2010
Value: 1 stamp/set

According to Chinese lunar calendar, 2010 is Geng-Yin Year, or the Year of the Tiger. Traditionally in China the tiger is crowned with the titles "King of All Beasts" and "Mountain Monarch", and the mysterious tiger totem represents people's worship for the animal in primitive society. The tiger is also a symbol of power and might, and its image was widely used as the design of military commander's tally in ancient times. In traditional Chinese culture, the tiger is often mentioned alongside the dragon to imply strength and prosperity. The Chinese people view the tiger as a holy animal, and use its image on various occasions to drive away evil spirits and bring peace. Today, the traditional custom of having children wear tiger-design hat and clothes still prevails in many places of the country. Symbolizing vigor and vitality, the tiger is expected to bring life and hope to a new year.

Taiwan Ferns FDCs

Taiwan FDCs
Name: Ferns
Date of Issue: 26 November 2009
Number: Sp. 536

Taiwan has among the highest density of ferns in the world and has been touted as the Kingdom of Ferns. To introduce the beauty of ferns, Chunghwa Post is issuing a set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet featuring Asplenium nidus, Cyathea spinulosa, Cyathea lepifera, and Cibotium taiwanense.

Denominations:
NT$5.00: Asplenium nidus (臺灣巢蕨)
Commonly known as the bird's-nest fern in English, its long slender fronds are layered and form a nest-like clump at its short fat rhizome. It is a large epiphytic fern and can usually be found growing on tree trunks. It is a common ornamental garden plant.

NT$9.00: Cyathea spinulosa (臺灣桫欏)
The plant is commonly known as the Taiwan tree fern in English. Its trunk is about five meters high, and its fronds are oval-shaped. New green fronds are upright and radiate from the crown, while the old fronds bend downward to form a leave skirt. This shade tolerant tree is common in mid- and low-elevation regions of the island.

NT$12.00: Cyathea lepifera (筆筒樹)
This fern is known as the common tree fern in English. It usually produces a single straight trunk up to a height of eight meters. Its fronds are large and form a clump at the crown. When an old frond falls, it will leave an obvious mark on the trunk where it once attached. It is a representative tree species in the subtropical areas of Taiwan.

NT$25.00: Cibotium taiwanense (臺灣金狗毛蕨)
This fern’s short, thick rhizome is densely covered with golden hairs and bears a crown of fronds. The base of its pinna is asymmetrical, and there are two to three pinnules less on the side closer to the ground. This terrestrial plant can only be found in Taiwan.

This set of stamps is printed in intaglio in combination with offset, and the effect is simply exquisite.

China Stamps: 2010-5

China Stamps
Name: Chinese Ballet - Red Detachment of Women (中国芭蕾-红色娘子军)
Number: 2010-5
Date of Issue: 01 January 2010
Value: 2 stamps/set

Denominations:
1.20元 (2-1): Belief (信念)
1.20元 (2-2): Happiness (快乐)

"Red Detachment of Women" is a famous Chinese ballet adapted and premiered by the Central Ballet from the film of the same name in 1964. The drama represents a Red Army's detachment of women in Hainan Island fighting against local reactionary forces under the leadership of the Communist Party of China during the second civil war period, successfully portraying such revolutionary figures as Wu Qinghua and Hong Changqing. A perfect blending of the Western ballet art with traditional Chinese folk dance, the dance drama has enjoyed wide popularity as a jewel in the world of ballet for 45 years since its debut.

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.