Postcard from Russia

Thanks Kirill

Lndian_Solar Power and Flori Culture

This special cover was released on 4th April 2012 as continuation of MGM Group's efforts to earnestly and actively protect, promote and propagate Odihsa's natural beauty, rich architectural heritage, its green cover and diverse wild life habitats as a part of the group's social responsibilities.

MGM group, a diversified business house of Odisha, is dedicated to putting into best use Odisha's precious natural resources in a sustainable manner and adding value through forward integration.

In keeping with its commitment to ec0-friendly and responsible investments, the group has also made a foray into h-tech horticulture and renewable energy generation.

Lndian_La Martiniere Schools

La Martinere School,

Kolkota was established in 1836 along with two schools in Lucknow and one in Lyons at France.

The education system of La Martiniere is a fusion of global education with strong local roots.

The contribution of the schools to society has won accolade and all round appreciation.

La Martiniere has one of the most distinguished histories of any school in Kolkata, or in fact, India.

School has achieved an enviable reputation in the field of academics as well as extra-curricular activities.

It is without doubt one of the top schools in Kolkata

Việt Nam_The Summer Olympic Games 2012

FDC

The Post of Vietnam has issued a set of four stamps commemorating the coming Summer Olympic Games 2012 in London.

The 30th Summer Olympics will take place from 27/7 to 12/8/2012 in London (UK), bringing together nearly 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries, involving in 302 contents of 26 games, with the goal of building a peaceful and better world, through education for young people in sport irrespective of caste, rich and poor in the spirit of friendship and solidarity.

Vietnam sports delegation will participate in 10 sports competition in Olympic Games, such as weight lifting, gymnastics, fencing, taekwondo, swimming, athletics, badminton, shooting, etc.

 Weight lifting

Fencing

Gymnastics

 Taekwondo

Commemorative postmark

World Heritage_元上都遺址

Yuan on the history of China, an unprecedented unified orthodox imperial capital, from Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan the Great, the beginning of construction, city sites in this Beijing north Luan River. Riding in northern China this prairie capital of the nation was founded, has been identified is a wonderful combination of a product of the Central Plains farming culture and the nomadic culture, historians praise it can be comparable to the ancient city of Pompeii and Italy. Element on both sites was a square, standing on the platform outside, vaguely identify the housing pattern. On the north-west of the capital of an iron pole drainage, was built in the Yuan Dade years, which is the design of the Yuan Dynasty, the famous scientist GuoShouJing, the only complete of China's northern grasslands retain water conservancy project. Currently, the yuan on the site of the largest prairie urban sites in China, the highest level, to save the most complete ruins of a city.

Commemorative postmark

World Heritage_Xinjiang Tianshan

The nominated area, Xinjiang Tianshan, includes six National Nature Reserves and National Park, and the six districts have different scientific and aesthetic values. They include the geology and geography of the Tianshan Mountains, vertical natural biogeographic belts, habitats of wild plants and animals, the beauty of mountainous natural landscapes and so on. These districts and their various assets together form the special natural heritage value of Xinjiang Tianshan, six districts of which have different features and can not be replaced by each other. (1) Tomur Peak National Natural Reserves is the typical representative of the South Tianshan Mountains. It contains one of the largest concentrations of huge mountain glaciers in the world. It is one of the regions in the world where snow leopards and their prey are the most abundant. It represents the complete vertical series of natural landscape belts of South Tianshan, as well as the grand geography of the red Tertiary canyon landscape. (2) Kuerdeny National Nature Reserve is the typical representative of the middle Tianshan Mountains. It is the seedbed and the world's core area of Picea schrenkiana. It is also the distribution centre and seedbed of wild apples, wild walnuts, Prunus dornesticus etc. and it represents the complete vertical series of biogeographical belts of the middle Tianshan Mountains. (3) Tianshan Tianchi National Park is the typical representative of East Tianshan, a site of renowned beauty, and recognized as a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve. The glaciers in this region are the most sensitive indicators for climate change in the extremely arid zone. (4) Sayram National Park is the typical representative of the faulted basins of the Tianshan Mountains . The complete lacustrine sedimentation sequence has recorded the evolution of the climate and environment since the Quaternary. Sayram is the largest lake and alpine lake inflow lake in the Tianshan mountain ranges of Xinjiang. There are colorful flowers and grassland around the lake which represent the beauty of the alpine meadows on the Tianshan Mountains. It is probably the core area of Ranodon sibiricus, as well as ancient wild fruit forests. (5) Bayinbuluke National Nature Reserve represents Tianshan tectonic basins and typical wetlands, and is the southern margin of the breeding ground of Cygnus cygnus. (6) Nalaty National Park is the typical representative of Tianshan integrated natural beauty.

(1) According to Geological World Heritage: a Global Framework (2005) and the newly- inscribed World Natural Heritages from 2006 to 2009, There are 12 properties have been inscribed on the World Heritage List for outstanding universal value for the mountains, and 5 properties with significant mountains values, but which are inscribed on the World Heritage List for other reasons. Comparison with those 17 properties, Tianshan possesses the prominent mountain geology, biology and aesthetic values in background of temperate arid zone, which are incomparable. Comparison with 15 properties with significant glacier values, the nominated area is the prominent representative for outstanding glacier value in the Central Asia arid area. Tomur Peak is a concentration of Tianshan mountain glaciers, which is across China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, is the biggest glaciation center in the Tianshan Mountains. Within China, the nominated heritage accounts for 81% of the total ice area and 71.3% of the total volume respectively, that is incomparable for three neighboring countries. (2) Compared with the four Tianshan nominated heritage of neighboring countries, Xinjiang Tianshan accounts for 2/3 of the total Tianshan, which represents the characteristics of natural geography and biodiversity and ecology evolution in East and Central Tianshan. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan account only for the remaining 1/3, which represents the system characteristics only of the Western Tianshan. (3)As far as 34 biodivetsity hotspots are concerned, there is no World Natural Heritage in the Mountains of Central Asia. Compared with neighboring countries which are located in the same "Pamir-Tian-Shan Highlands" biogeographical provinces, the nominated area has great resemblance in ecosystem and plant-animal succession, but Xinjiang Tianshan is the most important habitat for Picea schrenkiana, Uncia uncia, Cygnus cygnus,and Ranodon sibiricus etc., which can not be replaced by the nominated area of neighboring countries

The Tianshan Mountains extend across China, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan from east to west. The whole length from east to west is 2,500 km and the width from south to north is 100-400 km. The length of the segment within China reaches 1,700 km, or 2/3 of the entire mountain range. The average elevation of the mountains is 4,000 m. The Tianshan Mountains are the natural division between the mid-temperate and warm temperate zones of Xinjiang. Since the Precambrian Era some 600 million years ago, the Tianshan Mountains have undergone an evolutionary sequence from an ancient continent to ancient Tethys Sea，rising to mountains, erosion to a peneplain and uplifting into major mountain ranges. Neo-tectonic movements have played a decisive role in the configuration of the modern mountainous features of the Tianshan Mountains. The multiple tectonic movements have formed huge mountain chains and basins among the mountains, as well as frontal faults and terraces. Intensively affected by neo-tectonic movements and other processes, enormously thick red Tertiary sediments have accumulated in sunken frontal basins. These have since been eroded into canyons and steep cliffs which are now extensive and form grand red Tertiary canyons landscapes.

There are 15,953 glaciers in the whole Tianshan Mountains range with a total area of 15,416.41 km² and an ice volume of 1,048.247 km³ . Within China's part, there are 9,081 glaciers with an area of 9,235.96 km² and an ice volume of 1,011.748 km³, accounting for 57%, 59.9% and 96.5% respectively of that of the whole Tianshan Mountains. The total number of glaciers of Xinjiang Tianshan is the largest in China and the ice volume is the second largest in China. Tomur Peak, which is the highest in the Tianshan Mountains, has a large number and area of glaciers. There are 629 glaciers in Tomur Peak region with an area of 3,849.47 km² and, within China, they account for 81% and 71.3% of the total, respectively. There are 15 glaciers with an area over 300 km² in the middle and low latitude zones of the world and three of them, i.e. 20% of the global total, are located at the junction of Tomur Peak-Hantengri. Numerous rivers originate from the glaciers of Xinjiang Tianshan. Between 20-50% of the run-off in Xinjiang is glacial melt-water from Tianshan and, in some cases, it is as high as 70%. All these rivers support the oasis ecosystems on which human societies depend.

The nominated area possesses the most complete vertical series of botanic distribution belts in Tianshan, including desert zone, desert steppe, shrubbery, river valley forest, wild fruit forest, mixed forest of spruce and broadleaved trees, pure Picea schrenkiana, cypress and shrubs, alpine meadows, and glaciers and snow-covered peaks. The nominated area includes the major ecological formations of Tianshan, such as Form. Picea schrenkiana, Form. Malus sieversii+Armenica vulgris, Form. Betula tianschanica, Form. Populus tremula, Form. Juniperus sabina, Form. Sabina pseudosabina, Form. Tamarix ramosissima, Form. Haloxylon ammodendron, Form. Bothriochloa ischaemum, and Form. Thylacospermum caespitosum,etc. The nominated area contains over 1800 plant species, for example, endangered plant Goodyera repens (CITES 2007)and endemic plants Saussurea involucrata and Tulipa sinkiangensi. The nominated area has more than 400 animal species, including representative endangered animals, such as Uncia uncia (IUCN 2009；CITES 2007), Cygnus cygnus (IUCN 2009; CITES 2007), Cervus elaphus (IUCN 2009), Podoces biddulphi (IUCN 2009), Ovis ammon (IUCN 2009), Ibex sibiricus (IUCN 2009) etc.

The nominated area contains important wildlife habitats. (1) Picea schrenkiana is an ancient tree species dating back to the Tertiary, and its global distribution is confined to the Tianshan Mountains. The nominated Kuerdening National Nature Reserve is most abundant in trees with the height of 70m, the DBH of 1.7m, and the wood volume of 50 m³. (2) The wild fruit forests of Central Asia mainly occur in Tianshan mountainous river valleys at an elevation of 1,200-1,500 m. The total area of these wild fruit forests in the world is about 17,000 km², and the area within China is about 8,000 km². There are abundant botanical resources of wild fruit trees in the nominated sites including apple, plum, peach and apricot and so on. (3) Habitats for snow leopards. Snow leopards have been identified by IUCN as being endangered. They only inhabit Central and Southern Asia. The number of snow leopards in the world is estimated at about 2,500 and there are more than 1,650 snow leopards living within Xinjiang. Around the Tianshan Tomur Peak, the number of the snow leopards is over 600 and good populations of prey species argali and ibex remain. (4) Habitats for Ranodon sibiricus, they have been identified by IUCN as being endangered and requiring protection. They are the most primitive species of amphibians and this kind of species only inhabit springs along the border Alatau Mountain between China and Kazakstan. Four isolated habitats have been discovered recently and they are all located within Wenquan county of Xinjiang. The number of this animal has been estimated at less than 6,000. (5) Breeding ground of swans. Bayinbuluke National Nature Reserve includes the largest breeding ground and habitat of swans in China, with an area of 1,368 km². There are, in total, 128 kinds of birds including Cygnus cygnus, Cygnus columbianus, Cygnus olor, wild geese etc. The number of these birds reaches over 100,000 and the number of Cygnus cygnus is the largest, totaling 3,000-7,000.

U.A.E._Camel Mazayina

Camel Mazayina is divided into two categories:

 Asayel and Majahim.

Asayel camels were referred to as Humr Al-Niaam in the tradition of the noble Prophet (Peace Be upon Him).

They were also known as Red Nouq (Camels).

They were mentioned in history when Antar abin Shaddad (the legendary warrior and poet) went to the west of the Arabian Peninsula to fetch them as dowry for his beloved Abla.

Their origin and places of presence are the UAE and Oman.

-Majahim's origins were in Najed, in Saudi Arabia

Việt Nam_Birth Centenary of Nguyễn Văn Cừ

FDC

Nguyễn Văn Cừ (09-07-1912 - 28-08-1941) was descended from an intellectual family, Phù Khê commune, Từ Sơn district, Bắc Ninh province.

 He was general secretary of the Communist Party of Indochina (1938-1940).

He was a revolutionary activist, a steadfast communist, a leader in the promotion of spiritual struggle frank criticism and self-criticism to improve the Party's power expressed through his "Self criticism".

 

He was arrested, sentenced to hard labour, sent to Con Dao and sentenced to death by French colonists on the 28th of August 1941 in Hóc Môn (Hồ Chí Minh city).

Commemorative postmark

Việt Nam_Birth Centenary of Phạm Hùng

FDCs

Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung birth name is Pham Van Thien, born on 11-06-1912, in a peasant family in the village of Long Thieng, the village of Long Lake, total Long Binh, Vinh Binh, Vinh Long, now moved to the hamlet of Long Thuan A, Long Phuoc, Long Ho District, Vinh Long Province.

He joined the revolution when he was a student. In 1930, he joined the Communist Party of Indochina, the secretaries of the school. In 1931, he was appointed as Secretary of My Tho.

October 06-1931, he was arrested by the French, sentenced to 3 years in prison, three years probation. In prison, he continued to hold prisoners struggle against colonialism and feudalism.

On 20-09-1932, the French Open felony trial in My Tho Province, sentenced to death and his bringing of detention in solitary confinement guillotine Care Big Saigon. Before the intense struggle of our people, of the people of France, the French Communist Party and the Communist International, the French forced to reduce the death penalty for a number of communist soldiers in Vietnam.

Pham Hung is reduced sentenced to hard labor and sent to Con Dao from the date of 17-01-1934.

In 1934, Pham Hung added expenditure committee Con Dao prison, then was appointed Party Secretary.

August Revolution broke out, he has led the prisoners to flash a time of liberation Con Dao prison for the first time (in 1945).

Maximum card postcard

Designer : Vũ Kim Liên
Printing process : Ofset multicoloured
Paper : Gummed standar paper
Printer : Postal Stamps Printing Company (INTEVINA)

Commemorative postmark

KOREA_50 Years of KOTRA & Korean Trade



The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) has played a pivotal role in the growth of Korea’s trade and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012.

In the 1950s, Korea suffered from the devastation left by the Korean War. Amidst the desolation emerged the importance of exports as the means of rebuilding the nation’s war-torn economy. As a result, the first five-year economic development plan was drawn, with KOTRA being established in June 1962. KOTRA, founded against this background, served as front line commandos in the export competition in the 1960s, and in the 1970s to 1980s, as vanguard pioneers exploring the Eastern European markets. After the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, KOTRA expanded its aim to attract foreign direct investment into Korea as well.

Growing in export volume from $55 million in 1962 to $10 billion in 1977, Korea achieved what has been dubbed the “Miracle on the Han River.” The country hit another milestone in 2011 by becoming the 9th country in the world to reach $1 trillion in trade volume. Of course, KOTRA has played in integral part in Korea’s trade growth throughout the decades.

Currently, KOTRA provides infrastructure and support for the globalization and overseas entry of Korean businesses through 119 branch offices in 81 countries. In hoping that KOTRA continue to overcome the challenges of penetrating larger markets and head toward a brighter future, two commemorative stamps are issued, featuring the “KOTRA 50th anniversary emblem” and the “KOTRA’s headquarters.”

Postcard from Netherlands

Thanks irenemaria

Postcard from Finland

Thanks mircky

Postcard from Malaysia

Thanks feltroneu

INDIA _ M/S Jawaharlal Nehru & Talkatora Stadium

natural cover

Queen’s Baton Relay- Agra – By National Chamber Of Industries & Commerce, UP, Agra

Queen’s Baton Relay Commonwealth Games 2010  on 20-09-2010. from Agra depicts Taj Mahal, Agra Fort  & Other Monuments ,  Agra

PS:Thanks Mr. Shubhrajyoti Behera

INDIA FDC_Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow

Isabella Thoburn College, lucknow started its journey in the year 1886 under the initiative of the famous American missionary Isabella Thoburn.

From its humble days of just a one single building, the college has gradually developed over 32 acres of sprawling campus area.

The college is sponsored by the Women’s Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church to India and follows the ideal of “We receive to Give”.

The ten pillars of the college signify the objectives of the college as it has excelled as one of the pioneers of women empowerment education in the continent.

The students are encouraged to achieve academic excellence and also make full use of their capabilities and experiences for service in future.

The college now has strength of approximately 3000 students.

The campus and the halls of Isabella Thoburn College have been witness to the process of the evolution of the modern Indian woman.

Commemorative postmark

INDIA FDC _ R Venkataraman



R. Venkataraman (4 December 1910 – 27 January 2009) was an Indian lawyer, Indian independence activist and politician who served as the eighth President of India.

Venkataraman was born in Rajamadam village in Madras Presidency.

He studied law and practised in the Madras High Court  and the Supreme Court of India.

In his young age, he was an activist of the Indian independence movement  and participated in the Quit India Movement.

He was appointed member of the Constituent Assembly and the provisional cabinet.

He was elected to Lok Sabha four times and served as Union Finance Minister and Defence Minister. In 1984, he was elected the seventh Vice President of India  and in 1987, he became the 8th President of India and served from 1987 to 1992.

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil releasing the Commemorative Postage Stamp on Late Shri R. Venkataraman, the former President of India, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on April 18, 2012.
The Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal is also seen.

Commemorative postmark



INDIA FDC _ Godiji Temple Mumbai

Godiji  temple is situated in the Payadhuni / Pydhonie area of Mumbai .

Unique indeed is the greatness of this Jain temple that is 199 years old and considered to be the best in the Jain temples in Mumbai.

The idol of Bhagavan Parshvanath of renowned greatness is miraculous.

Devotees in thousands have experience of the miracles.

The first flag (Dhwaj) of the temple was installed by Shri Motishah Sheth, the best amongst those who are leaders of the Jain religious order.

His contribution towards the construction of this temple was very much vital as his presence was for Jain Religion.

The idol of Shri Godiji Parshvanath Bhagavan is a major source of attraction. Initially the temple was made of wood.

It has been renovated recently with marble.

Stamps of India – Godiji Temple, Mumbai – By India Post
Hon.Min.of State for Comm. & IT Milind Deora released special postage stamp on occasion of 200 yrs of Shri Godi Ji Parswanath Temple, Mumbai.

Commemorative Postmark

Postcard from Netherlands

Thanks leeuwjan_ "bisteo Pisa"  Postcard

CHINA_Good Fortune, Wealth, Longevity and Happiness(福.祿.壽.喜)

根據2012年紀特郵票發行排程和中國郵政集團公司提供的訊息，中國郵政定於2012年4月27日發行《福祿壽喜》特種郵票1套4枚。

"Shou," the Chinese word for "longevity," implies old age and prolonged life. Since it ranks first among the "Five Blessings," longevity is also considered good fortune.

        　　　　版　　別：膠印（採用局部全息燙印、壓凸印制工藝）

     防偽方式：防偽紙張

　　　　　　　防偽油墨

　　　　　　　異形齒孔

　　　　　　　熒光噴碼

　　　　資料提供：蘇州桃花塢木刻年畫社、天津楊柳青畫社、高春明、李秉吉

　　責任編輯：佟立英

　　Designer: Wang Huming
Printer: Henan Post & Telecommunication Printing Works

 

"Fu," the Chinese word for "good fortune" or "blessing," was coined to imply good luck and long life. According to the ancient Chinese classic Shangshu (Book of History), there are "Five Blessings," which refer to longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and the luck to die a natural death in old age.

"Shou," the Chinese word for "longevity," implies old age and prolonged life. Since it ranks first among the "Five Blessings," longevity is also considered good fortune.

"Xi," the Chinese word for "happiness" or "joy," refers to delightful feelings or cheerful things. As early as thousands of years ago, the character already appeared in such classics as The Book of Songs and Rituals of Zhou.

"Lu," the Chinese word for "wealth," originally meant the reward received. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties (some 3,000 years ago), people considered a promotion in official rank as "Fu," and regarded an award from the monarch as "Lu."