India FDC on "Sacred Heart Church"

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India

Sacred Heart Church

Date of issue : 19 June 2009

(The following information is from the website : http://www.sacredheartpondy.org/index.php)

In the year 1895, the then Archbishop Mgr.Gandhi consecrated the Archdiocese of Pondicherry to the Sacerd Heart of Jesus. He wishes to build a new church in devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Rev.Fr. Telesphore Welter, the parish priest of Nellithope had prepared the building plan and parish priest of Cathedral Rev.Fr.Fourcaud commenced the construction of the new Church in 1902 at the Southern side of the Pondicherry town.

The blessing of the church and the first mass was held at the western wing of the present church by Mgr. Gandhi on 17-12-1907 and the new parish surrounding this Church has been established on 27-01-1908.

This 100 years old historical Church is 50 mts. long 48 mts. wide and 18 mts. high with latin rite cross shape in ariel view is in Gothic style. 24 main columns hold the structure in which we seen the biblical word on the entrance written in Latin "I have consecrated this house, that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there forever." which reveals the presence of the Sacred Heart Jesus and Mother Mary carved in the entrance door welcome us. Inside the church we can see Glass pictures of 28 saints who were related to the devotion of Sacred Heart of Jesus.

India FDC on "Lifeline Express"

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India

Lifeline Express

Date of issue : 12 May 2009

The Life Line Express, in partnership with Indian Railways, is the world's first hospital on rails and has served 5,00,000 persons. It was launched by the Impact India Foundation in 1991. The main function of the Life Line Express is to provide medical and surgical treatment to the disabled in rural and tribal areas.

The Life Line Express comprises 2 operation theatres, post-operative recovery rooms, laboratory, x-ray facilities, an auditorium for workshops equipped with a TV and LCD projection facilities including a CCTV set-up connected to cameras in the main theatre, generators and other ancillary requirements.

Dominican Republic Postcard

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Dominican Republic

Very nice postcard from Dominican Republic. White beach and clear water, I really wish I would be there one day.

India FDC on "250 Years of the Madras Regiment (1758-2008)"

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India

250 Years of the Madras Regiment (1758-2008)

Date of issue : 28 May 2009

The Madras Regiment was formed by Major Stringer Lawrence, a veteran of action in Spain, in 1758. It is the oldest regiment in the Indian army. The regiment has been through many campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army.

Currently the regiment has a strength of 19 battalions.

China FDC on "11th National Games of the People's Republic of China"

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China


11th National Games of the People's Republic of China

Date of Issue : 16 October 2009

2-1 (1.20 yuan) : Emblem
2-2 (1.20 yuan) : Mascot
(The selling price of the Minisheet : 3.60 yuan)

The 11th National Games of the PRC was held from October 16 to 28, 2009, in Shandong Province, and athletes from around the country competed in 362 events in 33 sports, more than any previous such games. Of the events, 354 were competed in Shandong, while the rest in the cities of Beijing, Shenyang and Changchun.

Hong Kong also take part in the 11th National Games and has got 2 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 4 bronze medals.

You would probably found out, the offical cancellation on the minisheet is bigger than the offical cancellation on the stamp set.

Estonia FDC on "Bird of the year – Eurasian Tawny Owl"

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Estonia

Bird of the year – Eurasian Tawny Owl

Date of Issue : 8 October 2009

The Estonian Ornithological Society has chosen the tawny owl (Strix aluco) as the bird of the year 2009. The tawny owl, a bird in the order Strigiformes, is an age-old resident of Estonia, although it was relatively rare until the middle of the 19th century. The tawny owl prefers habitats close to humans – cemeteries, parks, broadleaved groves around farms or manor seats etc. The tawny is a nocturnal bird of prey who nests in large hollows and cracks in trees, but sometimes also in suitable holes in buildings. It willingly settles in nest boxes with a large entrance holes. There are from 1,000 to 2,00 nesting pairs of the tawny owl in Estonia at present. The tawny is about the size of a crow; it has large dark eyes and a brownish or grey plumage. The tawny starts nesting early in the year. Some couples lay their eggs already in February, although generally this activity occurs at the beginning or middle of March. The clutch, usually of three to four eggs, is incubated by the female alone in four weeks and it takes about as long for the young to fledge. The tawny’s wide diet includes almost any prey it can catch, mainly small rodents – particularly in rural areas – but birds, frogs, bats and earthworms will do as well. The tawny owl is a species in the third category of protected birds.

On 10 Sep 2009, Estonian Post issued a very lovely brown bear stamp. This time, on 8 Oct 2009, they issue another very nice stamp of tawny owl. I very much like it. Thank you very much to my friend in Estonia.

Algeria Cover - 09.09.09

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Algeria

The postal deliverly between Algeria and Hong Kong is really slow. After a long wait, I finally got this Algeria 09.09.09 registered cover. The 09.09.09 Draria datestamp cancellation is very clear. Besides the 2 flower definitive stamps, you can also find one very beautiful stamp. It is one of the 3v stamps of "Fishing Ports" issued on 2 Sep 2009. Unluckily, there is no cancellation on it.

China FDC on "Military Parade on the National Day for the 60th Anniversary of the PRC"

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China


Military Parade on the National Day for the 60th Anniversary of the PRC

Date of Issue : 1 October 2009

4-1 : Military Phalanx
4-2 : Land Force and Second Artillery Corps Formation
4-3 : Naval Equipment Formation
4-4 : Air Force Formation

China FDC on "60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China"

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China


60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China

Date of Issue : 1 October 2009

4-1 : Founding Ceremony
On October 1, 1949, during the founding ceremony held on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Chairman Mao Zedong stood on the Tiananmen Rostrum and solemnly declared to the world the establishment of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China.

4-2 : Reform and Opening-Up
On December 18, 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC was held in Beijing. The session re-established the guideline of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, and decided to shift the Party's and the state's working focus to the construction of socialist modernization and implement the strategic policy of reform and opening-up.

4-3 : The Return of Hong Kong and Macao
On July 1, 1997, the handover ceremony between Chinese and British governments was held in Hong Kong, proclaiming China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and the founding of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of PRC.
On December 20, 1999, China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Macao.

4-4 : Olympic Pageant
On August 8, 2008, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, kicked off at the National Stadium in Beijing, with the Olympic flame ignited for the first time in China. Eventually, China led the world in the Olympic gold medal tally with 51 golds.

Souvenir Sheet : Motherland in My Heart

Hong Kong FDC on "60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China"

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Hong Kong

60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China

Date of Issue : 1 October 2009

(The stamps on the Souvenir Sheet of the 2nd FDC)
$1.40 : Victoria Harbour and Tiananmen Square depicted on two interlocking cogwheels
$1.80 : The five-star national flag flying by the side of the "Forever Blooming Bauhinia", symbolise the intimate and inseparable bond between Hong Kong and our Motherland.
$2.40 : The Bird's Nest reminds us of the country's first hosting of the Olympic Games.
$2.5 : The successful launch of China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 marks China's rapid technological advancement and development.
$3 : The Temple of Heaven against the backdrop of an illuminated globe.
$5 : A golden dragon soaring above the Great Wall signify the nation's rising economic and international status.

On the 1st FDC, the stamp sheetlet with two $5 stamps in Chinese red captures the excitement of the special occasion. The National Emblem and the dazzling Tiananmen Square on the left and the Regional Emblem above the splendid night view of Hong Kong on the right underline the close and harmonious tie between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

A very popular stamp issue in Hong Kong. There was long queue outside every philatelic post office on that day. The queue at GPO extended all the way to the opposite of the IFC building. I started queue up at around 11am and left GPO after 5pm without lunch. The design of the souvenir sheet is rather good, especially the $5 and the $2.5 stamp, but the stamp sheetlet is poor.

China FDC on "The Grand Canal of China"

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China


The Grand Canal of China

Date of Issue : 26 September 2009

(2nd FDC)
6-1 : Lantern Lighting Pagoda

(3rd FDC)
6-2 : Palace of the Goddess of the Sea

(4th FDC)
6-3 : Shanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall

(5th FDC)
6-4 : Qingjiang Water Gate

(6th FDC)
6-5 : Wenfeng Pagoda

(7th FDC)
6-6 : Gongchen Bridge

(1st FDC)
Souvenir Sheet : A Thousand-li Thoroughfare

The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, stretching 1794km from Beijing to Hangzhou, is the longest manmade water course in the world. It passes through Beijing and Tianjin Municipalities and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, connecting the Haihe, Huanghe (Yellow), Huaihe, Changjiang (Yangtze), and Qiantang Rivers.

A very nice stamp issue. I very much like its stamp design. Although this stamp issue do not have any special effect, I think it is one of the best Chinese stamp issues in 2009. THANK YOU VERY MUCH to my friend for all his nice FDCs.

Estonia FDC on "Hara Lighthouse"

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Estonia

Hara Lighthouse

Date of Issue : 24 September 2009

The small Hara Island near the western shore of Hara or Papilaht Bay (earlier Paponvik) is mainly covered with spruce forest. In 1909 an iron framework lighthouse 15.2 meters high was erected at the highest point (12 metres above sea level) of the island.

In 1954 major rebuilding of the lighthouse was carried out as the navigation mark was to be connected with a new military port. The hight of the tower was increased to 23.7 meters with the red light visible to seven nautical miles.

Its present hight is 24 metres and it consists of a cylinder with a conical red roof over a metal framework. The tip of the sea mark is clearly visible over the forest. The Hara Lightouse will be one hundred this year.