Postal Administrations and Stamped Envelopes

Just finished reading an interesting article by Eric regarding receiving his philatelic order packaged in an envelope with real postage stamps. The order was placed with Guinness Post. As many of you come to realize nowadays, most postal administrations simply stopped using stamps on their philatelic orders, which is a real turn down to us collectors. It is like the farmer who sells apples does not eat his own apple. I remember years ago when I used to pick up my new issue bulletins in a stamped envelopes from Hong Kong Post, and religiously cut out the stamps for my collection. Some of the stamps from that period made a long lasting impression on me, such as the jasmine tea scented stamps, the water-drop shaped stamps, the film stars stamps and all the different varieties of pictorial cancellation . I think Hong Kong post had never realized that the stamps they put on the covers were actually an extended form of advertisement and spoke more about their products than just postage.

Of the postal administrations I know that still use stamps on their envelopes are: UNPA, Portugal, Sweden, Greenland, St. Helena and now Guinness Post. There might be others out there that I didn't know about, so I hope more people will write about their experiences with the postal administrations.

I came to know about the postal administration of St. Helena because of an article written by Jimmy, another prolific blogger about stamps. This really tells you how information has been flowing around when people speaks up about the hobby. He showed a cover that he received from St. Helena when he ordered some stamps from them. I was amazed by the stamps they used on the cover so I ordered some stamps from them to try it out. Indeed my envelope came with stamps on it.

The UNPA also likes to use stamps on their orders. Most of the time, they even apply FD cancellations. Sweden doesn’t really send their stuff with stamps, but on a few occasions, I’ve gotten envelopes from them with stamps. Hope someone will talk about their experience with Sweden.

Greenland uses beautiful stamps, I love the eagle stamps they used on their international mail.

I'll post some pictures when I come back from my trip to Canada!

New issues from UN

Just received my new issues bulletin from the UNPA today. In the forth coming months, we'll be seeing some really nice new issues from UN. The watercolor paintings for the “Peaceful Visions" stamps are particularly inspiring and dreamy in a way.



I especially liked the postmark because it's very artistic but simple and clean. The bulletin has mentioned a show cachet, but didn't show the image. I always liked show cachets because it's like a little enhancement to the overall presentation of the cover.

So, the Peaceful Visions stamps are in June, then what's in May? Well, it's the 2nd set of stamps from the coin and flag series. Honestly, I am not a big fan of this series because there were no creativity. I thought that the UNPA can play with it since so many countries will be represented. Oh well, you can't please everyone right? Hehe...

China's Pet dog stamps

Year 2006 was the year of dog. Dogs have traditionally been considered as human's best friends. So then, it was not surprising that China Post issued a set of 4 stamps to showcase some of the rarest and most popular pet dogs in China.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a large, powerful, and well built dog but with a noble and gentle appearance. The dogs are well adapted to the climates of the Himalayas and to the harsh high mountain living. For thousands of years, it has served as guardian and protector of live stocks, homes and traveling caravans of the Tibetan people. Very little was known about them until in recent years, when having them as pets have become popular in the Western world. Today, pure Tibetan Mastiff is hard to find, but dedicated and concerned breeders continue to promote awareness for the well being these impressive dogs.     Info: American Tibetan Mastiff Association

The Pekingese dog has been a companion dog of kings and queens for centuries. They were one of the purest and oldest breed of dogs in the world due to their exclusive function as royal pets. Their appearance has hardly changed at all. Because they look like miniature lions, their name in Chinese means "the lion dog". An interesting story I found in Wikipedia is that the Empress CiXi of China liked to present these dogs to her American friends. One of them was presented to the daughter of Ted Roosevelt.     
Info: Wikipedia

Below is an old photo of a Pekingese from 1912.

They certainly know how to take good pictures of dogs back then.

Pugs are really popular as pet dogs. They have a very wrinkly face and very large eyes. They are generally small with short but stout legs and very cheerful.

 


 
Chow Chow dogs are puffy looking dogs the I really like. Their name in Chinese means "puffy lion dog", which suits them alright. They probably originated from Mongolia but I am not sure. They are also very popular pet dogs and I see them on the street all the time.  I found an article online about Chow Chow。 It says "There is a beautiful and ancient fairy-tale that says that while God painted the sky blue, he was followed by a determined Chow Chow who licked up the drops that fell with his tongue." That is the reason why Chow Chows have blue tongues. Very imaginative indeed.  Info: The ChowChow Blog

Finally, here's a cover I received last year. Love and take care of your pets.

ShiWan Figurines

On Feb 3, China post has issued a set of 2 stamps depicting ShiWan Figurines, so maybe just a little bit of our rich ceramic making history today.   Cｒｅｄｉｔ：周俊容 2 MCs for the set of ShiWan figurines

The ShiWan Kiln in present day GuangDong province, has been in business since at least before the Song Dynasty (960-1279) . Although ceramic produced from ShiWan may not be as highly regarded as the other Kilns such as the Jun, Ding, Guan, Ge, and Ru kilns, which were official kilns for the royal family, it has made it’s mark as a major branch of practical and decorative ceramic art. 

During the Ming and Ching dynasty (1368-1911), ShiWan ceramic has reached it’s prime due to the robust international trade in GuangDong. I believe GuangDong was one of a few commercial ports opened to foreign trade in China under the Ching Government. You may notice that many of the Chinese export ceramics sitting at various European museums nowadays were either made in GuangDong and or were once in the trade junks leaving the port of Canton.

In terms of its artis tic style, ShiWan has always had its deep roots in creating and producing ceramics for and by the ordinary commoners. The famed ShiWan ceramic figurines, a major representative kind of the kiln’s style, often depict daily routines and activities of the locals. You may see scenes of old men playing chess, people smoking pipe or drinking tea, fishermen fishing in a boat and so on. 

-Ｍａｎ　ｗｉｔｈ　a ｄｒｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ｈｕｌｕ．

To add to the artistic value of the figurines, many mythical and historical figures were produced. They are often meticulously crafted, with great attention to the smallest detail, use of thick and colorful glazes, striking contrasts and looking realistic. The fact that it’s not an official kiln for the royal family may have contributed to ShiWan ceramic’s great flexibility as an art form and the wide range of topics it could mold itself to．　

ShiWan ceramic making is a treasure that the Chinese should continue to develope for future generations. Oh, by the way, this is also a joint issue between Macau and China.

The Stamps - China

Left: An elderly man and a young child looking for plum flowers out in the snow.

Right: Princess Zhao Jun leaving the Han Court and journeyed to the outer skirts of the country for her marriage with the XiongNu tribe leader. 







Check out - Fundamentals of Philately from Amazon
 

HK-Butterfly FDC by Registered mail

According to the HK Leisure and Cultural Services website, there are about 16 000 recorded species of butterflies in the world. Among them, 1 300 species can be found in China and 235 species in Hong Kong. 

In urban parks of Hong Kong, a total of 48 species of butterflies can be found. They are Skippers (Family Hesperiidae), Swallowtails (Family Papilionidae), Whites and Yellows (Family Pieridae), Blues (Family Lycaenidae), Nymphs (Family Nymphalidae) and Browns (Family Satyridae).

What really triggered my interest in covers is this beautiful registered butterfly FDC from Hong Kong. The water color? Art work on the left side of the cover is just fantastic. Sorry image is not good enough to reflect the true beauty of the cover. 

I rarely see FDCs mailed by register mail nowadays. I would love to send my covers by register mail if not for the maddening $7.90 fee of USPS.

 

Another outstanding stamp blog

Another outstanding stamp blog which I really enjoy reading is by Eric from France. He's also a fellow CCCC member. I will have to say he's a more active trader than I am. What I like about his blog is that his posts have content. Not only he's showing nice covers but he give you his opinions and research behind the materials he's talking about. A lot of philatelic blogs out there showed many pictures but little words. I am not complaining though because I am aways happy to see collectors from other parts of the world. I don't recall ever trading with him before. He likes a lot of things but most notably, frogs.

Hope he'll enjoy this cover.

HK-Chan Clan School and Ancestral Home

Not a while ago, a stamp collector to me was strictly someone who collects only stamps.
I myself did not collect anything except stamps until recently. With the exponential growth of the internet community, I was given the opportunity to see what others are collecting and what they are doing with their collections. This opens many doors for me to decide what to do with my collecting interests.

About a year ago, I came across a forum about stamps. A collector from HK was willing to send covers to collectors who are interested on the first day of new issuance for a minimal fee to cover material and postage. I gave it a try and received some amazing covers from him. This is an official first day cover sent to me by register mail. The s/s depicts school and ancestral home built for and by the Chan clans in Canton, China.

The building was built in the 1800s and is renowned for its exquisite and lively stone carvings, woodcarvings, colorful Shi Wan pottery figurines, statues and iron plate paintings. I will sure visit the place one day.

In Search of Stamps

So happy to see other collectors out there!!! :)
I've just visited the site, and I think I am going to visit often, because it's interesting and fun to read. I was even pleasantly surprised that the St.Helena post office sends their mail orders with stamps on the envelope. Nice!

In Search of Stamps

For CCCC members

Hey friends from CCCC. I receive many circuits within a very short period, so I really need to keep track of stuff. If I am returning circuits late, that's because I am a little unorganized and busy with my work. Promise don't sue me and I will return covers asap with only nice stamps on as a punishment. Hehehe.... Please bear with me.Oh, by the way, come look around. Your visits and comments are always welcomed.
A small update: I've met 2 CCCC members personally at the Washington 2006 show. I was very happy to meet them.

UK USA Joint Issues - Children's Stories

OH...Sorry, I forgot all about this blog for some reason, but I am coming back to it and will write more regularly. Ok..hehe..
Now, one of the biggest issues coming up for US collectors or ok, maybe just me, is the joint issue with UK's Royal Mail for a set of 8 stamps featuring favorite characters from children's literature in America and the UK. Oh...my...how I love children's books and illustrations. A pure joy seeing them. Let me show you the stamps..

US

UK