China Minisheet: 2008-1

China Minisheet
Name: Year of the Rat (Wu Zi Year)
Number: 2008-1
Issue date: 2008 January 5th
Value: 6 stamps/sheet

Rat corresponds to "Zi" in the Chinese Earthly Branch.Its legendary contribution to the creation of heaven and earth ranked the rat first on the Chinese zodiac. In folk culture, rat is the symbol of bumper harvest, auspiciousness and prosperity.There are many folklores related to it, such as the creation of heaven by a bite of the rat and the rat's marrying its daughter to a cat.These stories reflect the humor of Chinese culture.Besides Chinese cultrue, the clever animal aslo has presence in many other languages and literatures worldwide.

2008 China Year of the Rat Stamp Minisheet Booklet
2008 Hong Kong Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC Imperf. S/S FDC
2008 Indonesia Year of the Rat FDC S/S FDC
2008 Japan Year of the Rat Lottery S/S FDC
2008 Singapore Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 Taiwan Year of the Rat FDCs Pre-stamped Postcards
2008 Thailand Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 USA Year of the Rat FDC
2008 Vietnam Year of the Rat FDC

China Booklet: SB34

China Booklet
Name: Year of the Rat (Wu Zi Year)
Number: SB34
Issue date: 2008 January 5th
Value: 10 stamps/booklet

Rat corresponds to "Zi" in the Chinese Earthly Branch.Its legendary contribution to the creation of heaven and earth ranked the rat first on the Chinese zodiac. In folk culture, rat is the symbol of bumper harvest, auspiciousness and prosperity.There are many folklores related to it, such as the creation of heaven by a bite of the rat and the rat's marrying its daughter to a cat.These stories reflect the humor of Chinese culture.Besides Chinese cultrue, the clever animal aslo has presence in many other languages and literatures worldwide.

2008 China Year of the Rat Stamp Minisheet Booklet
2008 Hong Kong Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC Imperf. S/S FDC
2008 Indonesia Year of the Rat FDC S/S FDC
2008 Japan Year of the Rat Lottery S/S FDC
2008 Singapore Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 Taiwan Year of the Rat FDCs Pre-stamped Postcards
2008 Thailand Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 USA Year of the Rat FDC
2008 Vietnam Year of the Rat FDC

Ukraine Euro 2012 FDC

Ukraine FDC
Name: Towards EURO 2012
Issue date: 2007 December 22nd

Neighbours Poland and Ukraine will stage UEFA EURO 2012™ following a decision taken by the UEFA Executive Committee at its meeting in Cardiff, Wales in April 2007.

The tournament will be played at four venues in Poland (Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw and Wroclaw) and four in Ukraine (Dneprpetrovsk, Donetsk, Kiev and Lvov).

Indonesia Djuanda Declaration FDC

Indonesia FDC
Name: The 50th Anniversary of Djuanda Declaration
Issue date: 2007 December 13th

Designs:
1/3 Unity in Diversity
2/3 Djuanda Declaration
3/3 Ir. H. Djuanda

Djuanda Declaration is the beginning of struggle to recognize the whole lands and seas between islands of Indonesia as a definite jurisdiction of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. According to the declaration stated by Prime Minister Djuanda Kartadiwidjaja on 13th December 1957 , Indonesia adopted a principle of Archipelagic State . As a consequence, Indonesia's territory widened from 2,027,087km square to 5,193,250km square with sea border line along 196 nautical miles straight from each outer island. Previously, Indonesia's territory referred to Teritoriale Zee en Maritieme Kringen Ordonatntie 1939 which stated Indonesia's region consists of islands with sear border along 3 nautical miles straight from baseline of coastal state. As stated by this act, some territorial sea between those islands fall into international jurisdiction.

The archipelagic state concept advanced by Djuanda Declaration has put a strategic significance for Indonesian as it has brought a concept of Wawasan Nusantara. Wawasan nusantara is Indonesia's point of view toward people, nation and country of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia consisting of its territorial land, sea, and air as a unity of politics, economics, social, culture, and security defense. In line with this doctrine, territorial sea is no more a separator but a unifier of Indonesia and treated as a sole territory of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Started by Djuanda Declaration, Indonesia's diplomatic struggle achievement was indicated by the international recognition of archipelagic state concept in the 3 rd united Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 later known as the Law of Sea 1982. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia ratified the Law of Sea 1982 through the Law Number 17 the Year of 1985.

China Stamp: 2008-1

China Stamp
Name: Year of the Rat
Number: 2008-1
Issue date: 2008 January 5th

The Rat (鼠) was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is an animal associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities. In the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子.

2008 China Year of the Rat Stamp Minisheet Booklet
2008 Hong Kong Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC Imperf. S/S FDC
2008 Indonesia Year of the Rat FDC S/S FDC
2008 Japan Year of the Rat Lottery S/S FDC
2008 Singapore Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 Taiwan Year of the Rat FDCs Pre-stamped Postcards
2008 Thailand Year of the Rat FDC Minisheet FDC
2008 USA Year of the Rat FDC
2008 Vietnam Year of the Rat FDC

China Pre-stamped Envelope JF89

China Pre-stamped Envelope
Name: The 60th Anniversary of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK)
Number: JF89
Issue date: 2008 January 1st

The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK) was founded on January 1, 1948 in Hong Kong, by the democrats of Kuomintang and other democratic and patriotic personages. RCCK is a political party devoting to building socialism with Chinese characteristics and the reunification of the motherland. It is one of eight democratic parties participating in government and political affairs, in the political system of the multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Its former chairmen are Li Jishen, He Xiangning, Zhu Yunshan, Wang Kunlun, Qu Wu, Zhu Xuefan, Li Peiyao, He Luli; The current chairman is Zhou Tienong. Up to now, the RCCK has set up local committees in 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, with a total membership over 81,000.

India New Year FDC

India FDC
Name: Greetings Happy New Year
Issue date: 2007 December 15th

Festivities and celebrations with thier panoramic hues and shades pass the Indian landscape in a never ending procession. A vast theatre of contrasting seasons, a rainbow of customs and traditions, a colourful garland of languages and costumes, India is a world in itself. After the monsoon clouds retreat filling the rivers, ponds and fields and the hearts of peasants and farmers with hope, joy and anticipation of a good harvest, the entire country gets into blossoming of joyous raptures to greet the new year.

While 1st of January is the New Year's Day in many parts of the world, different cultures have different interpretations of the new year depending upon the respective calendar system. India still looks at the rain bearing clouds, the solar and lunar movements, the ancient ballads and mythologies and above all the ripening of grains in the fields.

The Assamese New Yeasr is Bihu, the Bengali Nabo Varsho is 1st of Vaishakh, Gudipadava is the first day of new year in Maharashtra, Ugadi is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, Puthandu is the new year in Tamil Nadu, Pooram Vishu in Kerala and, all more or less coincide with the Vaishakh or Chaitra months in March/April. The new year is in fact one of the longest surviving festival traditions in the human history.

The ancient Babylonians observed this approximately 4000 years ago. The human tendency to greet the onset of the year can perhaps be traced to the primal joy of experiencing the first rain drops of the season, seeing the first leaves germinating from the seeds, hearing the first song of the bird that greets a new dawn, or watching a new rivulet borne out of the melting icicles.

The colourful stamps on Season's Greetings and Happy New Year have been designed to represent different elements of nature, and their synchronic interplay that sustains like on earth. This set of 5 stamps is being released to carry the good wishes for a Happy And Prosperous New Year.

India Wilson College FDC

India FDC
Name: Wilson College
Issue date: 2007 December 11th

Wilson College has a continuous history as an educational institution going back to 1832. It began as Ambrolie School in Girgaum, later seeing several changes of sites and names, eventually being called Wilson School. A collegiate section from which Wilson College developed was added in 1836.

The founder of these institutions was the Rev. John Wilson D.D., F.R.S of the Scottish Missionary Society. John and his wife Margaret arrived in Bombay on February 14, 1829, learnt the local language and with great zeal set up schools for boys and girls of all castes and classes.

John Wilson was a linguist, and orientalist, and author. In recognition of his service to the cause of education, social awakening and scholarship, the Department of Archives, Government of Maharashtra, in 2000, honoured Dr. John Wilson as one of the Seven founders of Modern Bombay.
Here in Wilson's institutions were made the first efforts to frame academic courses, to write text books in the sciences, arts and religion, to conduct public examinations and award its own certificates. It is in these institutions that the portals of education were opened for the first time to girls and boys of lower and lower and upper castes, the socially disadvantaged and deprived and the first lessons in human equality and dignity were taught.

This pioneering work in higher education began a quarter of a century later, before the establishment of any official body of this purpose. The vision and foresight of Dr. Wilson saw the establishment of the University of Bombay in 1857. On 4th December, 1861, the collegiate section of Wilson's institution under the name of Free General Assembly's Institution became the first privately owned, non-government institution to get affiliated to the University.

For many years both the school and college sections were housed in one building, but largely through the efforts of Dr. Mackichan, a site for the college was secured at Chowpatty and the present college building was opened on 14th March 1889. Thereafter the institute was called Wilson College.

The high intellectual rigour and moral excellence of the people who guided the college, saw three of it first four Principals as Vice Chancellors of the university of Bombay followed by many distinguished alumni holding the same position.

Fostering a tradition of liberalism and freedom, the Scottish Principals inspired many students to be at the centre stage of the freedom struggle, Usha Mehta, Acharya Kriplani, S.A. Dange, Aloo Dastoor, B.G. Kher to mention a few.

Wilson College gave India its only Prime Minister from Bombay-Morarji Desai, and the Bharat Ratna recipients P.V.Kane and D.K,Karve are also proud alumni of the institution. In 1952, the Management of college came under an autonomous Board of Governors in India. Since 1963, the college is under the John Wilson Education Society.

Today Wilson college is one of the few colleges in Mumbai which offer a very wide variety of subjects in the Arts, Science and Vocational stream, alongwith undergraduate courses in Management Studies and Mass Media.

The aim and guiding principle remains "to produce intellectually well trained, morally upright, socially conscious and spiritually oriented men and women."

India Post is pleased to issue a postage stamp to commemorate 175 glorious years of Wilson College.

Indonesia SEA Games FDC

Indonesia FDC
Name: 24th SEA Games, Nakhon Ratchasima 2007
Issue date: 2007 December 6th

The 24th South East Asian Games, also known as SEA Games, was held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand 6th to 18th December 2007. Initially, this multi event sport games in south-east Asia was scheduled to be hosted by Singapore, but the latest country gave up for reason of reconstruction of its national sport facilities. Thailand hosts the games for the sixth time. Since its inauguration in 1959, 1967, 1975, 1985 and 1995. This is the second time for Thailand holding the event outside its capital city of Bangkok, after the first in Chiang Mai 1995. The games take a theme of "Spirit, Friendship and Celebrations".

The organizing of the 24th SEA Games this year coincides with the commemoration of 80th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. The events will be centered in a newly built sport complex named His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary in northeast province of Thailand. The games was competing not less than 436 events of 43 spots and demonstrating two sports, i.e. Go and Kempo. All eleven countries of this region participated for the games, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia , Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Viet Nam, Timor Leste and Thailand.

Indonesia's participation in this regional sports tournament had started in SEA Games 1977 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since then, Indonesia dominated the games over a long period. However, Indonesia achievement began to fall in recent times. Even, in the last SEA Games 2005 in Manila, Indonesia stayed only in the fourth place of the medal winner list.

Designs:
1/4: Bowling
Bowling is sport which played with a bowling ball and ten pins. Players role the ball over a flat surface to knock down the pins. The point is scored by counting the fallen pins. Form of ten-pins bowling known by now comes from the games developed in North America.

2/4: Futsal
Derived from the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol sala/de salón which means "indoor football", Futsal is an indoor version of football or soccer. Futsal is played between two teams of five players, one of whom is a goalkeeper. Unlike some other forms of indoor football, the field is delimited by lines. The game uses a football size 4 which enabled faster play.

3/4: Kempo
Nippon Kempo is a Japanese martial art that engages in full-contact bouts using a full range of techniques wearing specially developed protective gear. It was developed in 1932 by Muneomi Sawayama the art places an equal emphasis on striking techniques using hands and feet, immobilization and controls, projections and take-downs. Nippon Kempo is a defensive art that does not restrict students in methodology. It has gradually developed through the years and has become widely known and popular – especially in Japan and Europe.

4/4: Hammer Throw
Traditionally played by Scottish, the modern Hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object to be thrown is a heavy steel ball attached with a maximum length 1.22m of wire to handle. Like other throwing events, the competition is decided by the farthest throwing of the ball from three or four turns. The men's hammer weighs 7.257kg and the women's hammer weighs 4kg.

Malaysia Horse Show FDC

Malaysia FDC
Name: The Fei***** KL Grand Prix 2007
Issue date: 2007 December 13th

First conceptualized in 1998 to bring the very first top international equestrian event to Asian, the FEI 5 Star KL Grand Prix made its debut as an annual event in 2003 at Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The only five-star international showjumping event in the Asia-Pacific region, the KL Grand Prix has carved an important milestone in the history of world equestrian sports. 5 Star is the highest possible rating for an equestrian event.

The KL Grand Prix brings together each year the world's top-ranked riders including Olympic gold medalists, World Cup Champions and World Champions and their prized horses to Kuala Lumpur where they vie for the coveted title and one of the world’s richest purses.

The 2007 event will see the introduction of the FEI Nations Cup, the world's oldest and most prestigious team event where teams from Asian countries will be fighting tooth and nail for honour for their countries. The Pony Club Mounted Games Challenge is also making its first appearance at the KL Grand Prix. Visitors will enjoy watching the skill, dexterity and bravado of the Pony Clubbers scoring points for their teams.

Spectacular horse acts, riveting performances, Malaysia's top artistes and carnival fun and games are organized each year for visitors to enjoy.

Designs: (from left to right)
30sen: Oldenburger
Another breed originating from Germany, the Oldenburg is the heaviest of the German Warmbloods and the most powerfully built of all Warmbloods. Big, powerful and impressive, the Oldenburg is most popular in showjumping and dressage as it is reliable in temperament and has regular paces.

Established in the 1600s initially as a carriage horse, the breed was later developed into an all-purpose riding horse and now it is bred specifically as a sport horse. However this breed still retains its ability as a powerful harness horse. The Oldenburg is known for its athletic ability, calm temperament and strength.

Standing between 16.1 and 17.2 hands (horses are measured in hands which is approximately 4 inches) in height, the Oldenburg is mostly found in brown, black and bay.

50sen: Dutch Warmblood
The Dutch Warmblood is the product of Holland's two indigenous breeds – the Gelderlander and the heavier Groningen. The breed is a proven performer is the millionaire horse Milton known for its famous leap in the air that has brought crowds to a standing ovation. Milton and his illustrious partner, British Olympian John Whitaker have shared many victories in international events. John Whitaker is one of the riders competing at the 2007 FEI 5 Star KL Grand Prix from 23-25 November.

A fairly modern breed, the Dutch Warmblood was developed in the 1960s to combine the best characteristics of both the native breeds and was further refined with the introduction of Thoroughbred blood. This resulted in an athletic horse with much improved scope and stamina. Reliable and intelligent, the Dutch Warmblood makes a good competition horse. As with all Warmbloods, the Dutch Warmblood continues to evolve and the breeding goes through a very strict selection process to ensure good conformation, action and temperament.

50sen: Hanoverian
The Hanoverian is probably the most successful and one of the oldest of the Warmbloods and today it is one of the most prominent riding horses in the world. It has worldwide reputation as a showjumper. Many Hanoverians have won gold medals at competitions including the Olympic Games.

This breed was founded in 1735 in Celle Stud in Germany by King George II of England who wanted a coach horse that could also be used for agriculture. Through the years with the changes of the function of the Hanoverian, the breed has been further refined with Thoroughbred infusion to make it lighter and more agile. Together with its wonderful temperament and powerful body, the Hanoverian has and added edge in competition.

The Hanoverian's height varies from 15.3-17.2 hands. This breed has no predominant colour and solid colours like chestnut, bay, brown, black and grey are common.

Official Website of The Fei***** KL Grand Prix 2007

2007 Malaysia Horse Show FDC
2007 Russia Horse Breeds FDC
2007 Russia Horse Breeds Minisheet FDC

India Daly College FDC

India FDC
Name: The Daly College
Issue date: 2007 December 8th

The history of education in modern India is as full of interesting and inspiring chapters as the history itself. Some of the pioneering educational institutions contributing to the democratic and egalitarian fabric of the society, no less than any other modern educational institution had actually started as exclusive schools for the scions of the princely states of India. Many of these schools came up with the active participation of the British ruling establishment as well as the princely states.

Story of the Daly College Indore is one such glimpse into the efforts to impart modern education to the Indian royals.

The Daly College was founded in 1882. However, the story started in 1869 when General Sir Henry Daly was appointed Agent to the Governor General in Central India. Those days, the Indore Residency School which was hitherto running in the building of the East of the Indore Residency Post Office. This in 1867 was to be called the Indore Residency College with Mr.Aberigh-Macay, as the Principal.

Henry Daly retired in 1881, and it was decided to develop the separate classes for the princes into a full-fledged school and name it "The Daly College" with an independent building. For sometime it was called the Indore Residency Rajkumar College and had a separate identity from the Indore Residency College, even though they had one Principal. However, in 1906, the Principal severed his connection with the Indore Residency College.

The building was constructed by the Military Works Department. On 14th November, 1885, it was inaugurated by Viceroy Lord Dufferin.

In 1903, a decision was taken to educate the royal princes of Central India at Mayo College, Ajmer. The decision was reversed in 1905, when Major Hugh Daly became Agent to the Governor General in Central India.

In 1905-1906 plans for the new building were prepared by Colonel Sir Swinton Jacob, RE. In 1912 the new building was formerly opened by Lord Hardinge.

In 1918 the grounds and buildings of the Daly College were taken by the Government of India as training school for Indian cadets but it was restored in 1919. On 1st February, 1922, the Prince of Wales held a Durbar in the Daly College. In 1922 itself the constitution of the school was altered with a view to associating the princely states more closely with the working of the school. In October, 1924, the Holkar Maharaja gave Rs.50000/- to the school to build a science laboratory. It came into being in 1929.

The first prince to pass the matriculation examination of Indian University was Sardar Madho Rao Kibe of Indore. He was also the first prince from the Daly College to take a university degree (B.A.,1899, M.A.,1904)

In 1940 the school underwent a major change of policy and was converted in a full-fledged public school open to all irrespective of social status.

In 1956 Mr. R. N. Zutshi became its first Indian Principal.

The Daly College aims at turning out educated, well groomed and patriotic citizens of India. The school offers a rich variety of activities and opportunities for many-sided growth and draws students from various parts of the country.

The Daly College is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, and trains students to appear for the All India Secondary and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations under the 10+2 scheme.

The Daly College has produced eminent persons who made a mark in different walks of life.

The Department of Posts is happy to release a postage stamp to commemorate 125 glorious years of The Daly College.

Lithuania Crosses Aerogramme

Lithuania Aerogramme
Name: Hill of Crosses
Issue date: 2007 December 8th

The Hill of Crosses (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnas) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The exact origins are unknown, but it is considered that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising Over the centuries, not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 50000. More...

Russia New Year FDC

Russia FDC
Name: Happy New Year!
Issue date: 2007 December 7th

2007 Estonia Christmas FDCs
2007 Finland Christmas FDC
2007 Hong Kong Christmas FDC
2007 Japan Christmas FDCs
2007 Lithuania Christmas FDC
2007 Ukraine Christmas FDC

Russia Arctic Expedition FDC

Russia FDC
Name: Arctic High-Latitude Deep Water Expedition
Issue date: 2007 December 7th

Designs:
8.00: Manned underwater bathyscaphe "MIR-1"
8.00: The North Pole

Arktika 2007 (Russian: Российская полярная экспедиция "Арктика-2007") was a 2007 expedition in which Russia performed the first ever crewed descent to the ocean bottom at the North Pole, as part of research related to the 2001 Russian territorial claim, one of many territorial claims in the Arctic, made possible, in part, because of Arctic shrinkage. As well as dropping a titanium tube containing the Russian flag, the submersibles collected specimens of Arctic flora and fauna and apparently recorded video of the dives.

Descents were carried out on August 2, 2007 in both MIR Deep Submergence Vehicles. The MIR-1's crew consisted of pilot Anatoly Sagalevich (head of the Oceanology Institute), the Russian polar explorer Arthur Chilingarov and businessman Vladimir Gruzdev. The MIR-2's crew comprised pilot Yevgeny Chernyaev of Russia, the Australian adventurer Mike McDowell, and Swede Frederik Paulsen Jr., head of Ferring Pharmaceuticals)

MIR-1 began its dive at 9:28 Moscow Time and at 12:08 reached the seabed 4,261 metres (14,061 feet) below the North Pole . MIR-2 began its dive at 9:47 and at 12:35 reached the seabed 4,302 metres (14,196 feet) down. At 12:35 the bathyscaphes were 500 metres (1,650 feet) apart and MIR-1 moved near MIR-2. At 13:46 both submersibles began to ascend, with MIR-1 surfacing at 18:08 and MIR-2 at 19:15. MIR-1 began its dive at 9:28 Moscow Time and at 12:08 reached the seabed 4,261 metres (14,061 feet) below the North Pole. MIR-2 began its dive at 9:47 and at 12:35 reached the seabed 4302 metres (14,196 feet) down. At 12:35 the bathyscaphes were 500 metres (1650 feet) apart and MIR-1 moved near MIR-2. At 13:46 both submersibles began to ascend, with MIR-1 surfacing at 18:08 and MIR-2 at 19:15.

On the seabed, 4,261 metres below the Polar ice, MIR-1 planted a one metre tall titanium Russian flag , made at Kaliningrad's "Fakel" 'design bureau.' It also left a time capsule , containing a message for future generations and a flag of the pro-President Vladimir Putin United Russia party. Soil and water samples of the seabed were taken during the mission. On the seabed, 4,261 metres below the Polar ice, MIR-1 planted a one metre tall titanium Russian flag, made at Kaliningrad 's "Fakel"' design bureau. ' It also left a time capsule, containing a message for future generations and a flag of the pro-President Vladimir Putin United Russia party Soil and water samples of the seabed were taken during the mission. More...

Indonesia Exhibition FDC

Indonesia FDC
Name: Bandung Filex (Philatelic Exhibition) 2007
Issue date: 2007 November 21st

I haven't more information for this overprinte issue. This Philatelic Exhibition was held in Bandung on Nov. 21st - 25th, 2007.

Details of this betterflies original issue