Sunday, September 25, 2011

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands






South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Slowly,another gap in my collection is filled. Finally, I got a cover from South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. I really thought that this would never arrived.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote and inhospitable collection of islands, consisting of South Georgia and a chain of smaller islands, known as the South Sandwich Islands. South Georgia is 167.4 kilometres (104 mi) long and 1.4 to 37 km (0.9 to 23.0 miles) wide[1] and is by far the largest island in the territory. The South Sandwich Islands lie about 520 kilometres (320 mi) southeast of South Georgia.[1] The total land area of the territory is 3,903 square kilometres (1,507 sq mi).[2]
There is no native population on the islands; the present inhabitants are the British Government Officer, Deputy Postmaster, scientists, and support staff from the British Antarctic Survey who maintain scientific bases at Bird Island and at the capital, King Edward Point, as well as museum staff at nearby Grytviken.
The United Kingdom claimed sovereignty over South Georgia in 1775 and the South Sandwich Islands in 1908. In 1908 the United Kingdom annexed both South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The territory of "South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands" was formed in 1985; previously it had been governed as part of the Falkland Islands Dependencies. Argentina claimed South Georgia in 1927 and claimed the South Sandwich Islands in 1938.
Argentina maintained a naval station, Corbeta Uruguay on Thule Island in the South Sandwich Islands from 1976 until 1982 when it was closed by the Royal Navy. The Argentine claim over South Georgia contributed to the 1982 Falklands War, during which Argentine forces briefly occupied the island. Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

To learn more about their stamps. You can visit

http://www.sgisland.gs/index.php/%28g%29stamps

This a cover that I sent to their Philatelic Bureau. I requested them to mail it and had it postmarked. I mailed this last April and I just got it last Friday (it's really a long journey which I thought that that wouldn't reached me, considering that King Edward Point is very remote). Wow!, Finally,...I now have a cover from South Georgia and the South Sandwich Island. 

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Caribbean Netherlands (Caribisch Nederland)


Caribisch Nederland is a new stamp issuing entity since the dissolution of Netherland Antillen last October 2010. JP had a chance again to visit there and I am very thankful to receive my very first cover Caribisch Nederland. Thanks a lot!!! Another gap in my collection has been filled.

The Caribbean Netherlands (Dutch: Caribisch Nederland, Papiamento: Hulanda Karibe) collectively refers to the three special municipalities (officially public bodies) of the Netherlands that are located overseas, in the Caribbean: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The territorial grouping is alternately known as Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba or the BES islands. Although part of the country of the Netherlands, the special municipalities remain overseas territories of the European Union at least until 2015.
Bonaire (including the islet of Klein Bonaire) is located east of Aruba and Curaçao, close to the coast of Venezuela. Sint Eustatius and Saba are located south of Sint Maarten and northwest of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The three islands gained their current status following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, while the islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The BES islands have a collective population of 18,000 and a total area of 328 square kilometres (127 sq mi).

Hutt River Principality

 
                                front view


                                reverse side


This is something I didn't expect, a cover from Hutt River Principality. The Principality is not a recognized nation nor their stamps are recognized by UPU. That's why the stamps were affixed on the reverse side. I am happy to have a cover from this so-called micronation.

Bhutan


It is such a delight to received a cover from your wantlist. I've done many attempts to have a cover from Bhutan, finally I got this! Thanks a lot to Mukol.

Iran


I am happy to have a better cover from Iran.Thanks a lot! Hossein told me that the postage rate in Iran is very expensive.

Russian Territories


                                               Touva


 
                                              Dagestan


                                                   Altai


                                             Abkhazia

The following are so-called "covers' from Russia territories. Since the breakaway of Soviet Union many Russian territories were issuing stamps, overprints and cover. It is quite difficult to say if these covers are fake eventhought it looks real. Most philatelists say that those are "cinderellas", in spite of that, I love these covers. They are unique addition to my collection. Thanks a lot to Holger for these. Many thanks.

Anguilla


Thanks to JP another gap in my collection has been filled. This is my first cover from Anguilla. Thanks!!!

Lundy
















Hello! It's been awhile since I had my last update.
Today, I wasn't expecting to receive a cover from Lundy. This is something which I never thought I could receive a cover.  This cover very special.

Lundy is an island three miles long and half a mile wide situated ten miles off the coast of Devon U.K. A genuine local post from 1929 to the present day. There is a small resident population on the island plus thousands of tourists visit each year by boat from Devon. There are even rooms for rent at Lundy's Marisco Castle built by King Henry III in 1244 ! The tourists mail thousands of postcards and other mail each year from Lundy using Lundy stamps with Great Britain stamps attached also for the onward journey from Bideford, Devon.

Lundy stamps are for local use only. As you noticed the stamps were affixed on the lower left corner of the envelope (where local stamps should be affixed or if not on the reverse side of the envelope) not on the upper right .

Thank you very!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Georgia


Many thanks to Khatuna for this wonderful cover from Georgia.

Lundy



This is a nice postcard from Lundy. It had nice stamps on it and with nice postmarks and cancellations. Thanks a lot to Richard.

Malaysia


Another visitor of my blog sent me this cover from Malaysia. Thanks a lot!

Norge


I am very happy to have a better cover from Norway. This is a nice one. Thanks a lot to Rolf.

Mauritius


David Onsiong sent me this nice cover from Mauritius. Thanks a lot!

Serbia


I loved to receiving covers from Balkan states. This is my second cover from Serbia. A friend of Rajko sent me this cover. Thanks a lot to them.

Thailand


Thanks a lots Tersak for this cover!

Slovakia


This is my second cover from Slovakia. All my covers from Slovakia were sent by Milos Leng. Thanks a lot, I wouldn't have covers from Slovakia if without you.

Canada


Thanks to the visitor of my blog for sending this cover! Thanks!

The Netherlands


This is a nice cover fro The Netherlands. Thanks a lot! Thanks for this cover and the postcard. As promised I will send you something in exchange, I am just busy right now.

Lundy



This envelope was sent by a friend. This is my friend's letter and he mailed it to me. Since it is a window envelope and then I made it addressed to it. I liked the clear postmark. Thanks!

The Netherlands


Another visitor in my blog sent me this. Thanks a lot!! I'll send you something in exchange but that would be at the end of September. I am really busy right now. Thanks a lot!

Germany


First of all, I would like to say thank you for the one who sent me this cover from Germany. He is a visitor of my blog. In his letter he told that he sent me this cover because my other German cover is not good, yeah he is right. This is my only second time to received a cover from this country. Thanks a lot!! I will send you a cover for sure but that would be at the end of September because I am really busy right now. Once again, thank you!

Poland


Mirek sent me this cover from Poland. This could have been better if all of the stamps were canceled. Anyway, Thanks!!

Belgium


Thanks Holger.

Croatia


Another cover from Croatia. Thanks Chen, I hope you've received what I've sent to you.

United States of America


JP have sent me really nice covers from USA. Eventhough the US is a common country which we received covers, I still like it especially if the postmark is clear like this one and it has no wavy  cancellation lines. Thanks JP!

Walles et Futuna,


JP sent this nice cover from Walles et  Futuna, Thanks a lot!

Algeria


A common friend in the philatelic world sent this cover. Thanks a lot!!!!!!!

India


A viewer of my blog sent me this cover India. I wasn't expecting this, anyway many thanks to the sender. I am not really a big fan of Indian Philately maybe because of the quality of their stamps are printed.

Mayotte


Another cover from Mayotte. Thanks a lot to JP!

Andorra (French Post)


JP sent him this nice cover from Andorra (French Post). Thanks!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

First Postage Stamps of Newest Country : Republic of South Sudan Released




New postage stamps have been launched for the new Republic of South Sudan. According to Brigadier General (Rtd) Elijah Biar Kuol, the Director General for Administration and Finance in the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services, 100,000 copies of the stamps have already been distributed to all the states of South Sudan.He said the focus will be in the rural areas where more than 80 percent of the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan live.

The pictures of the new stamps are shown here. The first stamp has a denomination of 1 South Sudan Pound (1 SSP) and displays a South Sudanese flag in vivid color. The second stamp, worth 2.5 SSP features the seal of the nation. The last stamp of value 3.5 South Sudanese Pounds shows and image of President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.


I WISH TO HAVE THESE STAMPS SOMEDAY IN MY COLLECTION AND WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO HAVE A COVER COMING FROM THIS NEW COUNTRY?
:-)

Friday, July 08, 2011

Barbados


Another gap in my collection has been filled, thanks to JP! This is a nice cover! JP, I ought you a lot!!! Thanks!!!!!!!!

Uruguay


Another first, this is my first cover from Uruguay. Thanks a lot Jorge! I seldom receive covers from latin American countries. This is such a wonderful addition!

Luxembourg


Thank you David for this wonderful cover from Luxembourg. I thought I could never have another cover from this country. This came to me as a surprise, thanks a lot!

United Kingdom



Another visitor of my blog sent me this cover. Thank you Nigel!

Egypt


It is better late than never. This cover from Egypt took 3 months to reached me. It's Ok! This is my first cover from Egypt. Thank you Dr. Rammy!

United Kingdom


A very special thanks to my elementary and high school classmate and a dear friend Maan Nitura, who is now working in UK for sending me this cover along with worldwide stamps (such a wonderful addition to my collection). THANK YOU MAAN! ma-ajo unta kung na-a pay sunud! hehehe :-)

Denmark


Thank you Peter for this cover from Denmark!

Italy


A visitor of my blog sent me this cover. Thanks a lot! Don't worry you'll hear from me soon, I'm just little bit busy but I will.