INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier special cover

Special cover for INS Vikramaditya,indian navy new aircraft carrier ex Admiral Gorshkov class Russian Aircraft carrier on the occasion of 25th anniversary of the ship launching.

I was surprise to see the cover has a stamp released on 1st November 1953 depicting telegraph poles and canceled Garden Island 17 Sydney New South Wales Australia.

History of  INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier :

INS Vikramaditya is the new name for the former Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov, which has been procured by India, and is estimated to enter service in the Indian Navy after 2012.

"Vikramāditya" is Sanskrit for "Brave as the Sun" and was the title of some of the most famous kings in Indian history, such as the Vikramaditya of Ujjain, famed as a noble ruler and a mighty warrior. It is also a title that was used by the Indian king Chandragupta II who ruled between 375-413/15 AD.

The Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier built in 1978-1982 at Black Sea Shipyard, Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The ship is presently being extensively refitted at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It is projected to replace India's only currently serving aircraft carrier, INS Viraat.

Source: wikipedia

Australia: HMAS Bungaree

History :

HMAS Bungaree was an auxiliary minelayer of Royal Australian Navy (RAN), serving during World War II. The ship was built as a cargo vessel for the Adelaide Steamship Company by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company at Dundee, and launched in 1937. The ship operated in Australian waters and was requisitioned by the RAN in October 1940. Decommissioned on 7 August 1946 and returned to her owners on 5 November 1947, she was sold in 1957 and renamed Dampier. She was then sold in 1960 and renamed Eastern Mariner and while operating in South Vietnamese waters she struck a mine on the Saigon River and was sunk on 26 May 1966.

If anybody has this for sale or exchange let me know.

USA - Tribute To Four Chaplains On A Postage Stamp

              

The Four Chaplains, also sometimes referred to as the "Immortal Chaplains," were four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other soldiers during the sinking of the troop ship USAT Dorchester during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.

     

The chaplains, who all held the rank of lieutenant, were the George L. Fox,Alexander D. Goode, John P. Washington and Clark V. Poling.

The chaplains were also honored with a commemorative stamp that was issued in 1948. This stamp is highly unusual, in that U.S. stamps were not normally issued in someone's honor until at least 10 years after their death.

Brief History :

On February 3, 1943, a converted luxury ocean liner called the United States Army Transport – Dorchester was crossing the North Atlantic.  More than 900 American troops were aboard the ship which was based in Greenland. At around 1:00 a.m., the transport ship was delivered a devastating blow when it was struck but a deadly torpedo that was fired by a German U-boat.

As soldiers rushed to lifeboats, the four chaplains that were assigned to the ship spread out to help direct people to safety and help the wounded.  The chaplains could be heard praying with the injured and preaching courage and strength to the soldiers.  The chaplains also handed out life jackets to everyone that needed them.  At some point, when the life jackets ran out, each of the four chaplains removed the one that they were wearing and selflessly gave it to a young soldier so that their life could be spared.

As the Dorchester sank, reports are that the four chaplains were last seen with their arms linked together, praying.

Faroes Franking Labels 2010

On 20th September 2010, four new Faroese franking labels will be issued. This is the third issue of Faroese franking labels. 

The motifs on this year’s franking labels have been taken from the Faroese national sport, boat racing, and artist Jóannes Lamhauge drew them. Jóannes Lamhauge’s intention with his drawings was to capture the soul of Faroese boat racing and he therefore chose the motifs that he felt best represented the spirit of the sport. 

The first franking label depicts a training session in a rowing boat. We are inclined to forget how much intensive training is necessary to compete in the sport. There are often training sessions up to six times a week during the season – from February to the end of July – so this aspect should not be underrated. And boat-racing competitions must naturally also be included. All of the boats are lined up stem to stem and it’s almost possible to hear Faroese sports reporter Jógvan Arge commentating. The third franking label provides an impression of the atmosphere in the boat.

The expressions on the crew’s faces bear witness to the pain and the unrelenting will necessary to win. The white knuckles, the power, the sweat and all the drama. This motif is seen from the cox’s point of view as he sits in the stern exhorting the crew to row harder. The winner boat must also be given a place. This franking label shows the crew, rapturous after coming in first, the result of and reward for all their rigorous training. Mint and cancelled franking labels can be ordered and first day cancellations or ordinary day cancellations are available. First day covers with all four franking labels are also available. As a customer and stamp collector you can decide the value of the franking labels. However, the face value cannot be lower than DKK 6.00 or higher than DKK 100.00.

Technical Details

Issue Date: 20.09.2010
Designer: Jóannes Lamhauge
Printer: Flexoprint - Printer:
Process: Offset Self Adhesive
Colours: 4 Colours
Size: 22,5 x 55 mm
Values: Between 6.00DKK to 100DKK

Source: www.wopa-stamps.com

Premier's Flood Relief Appeal -Charity Stamp Australia

Did you know that Australia Post has released it’s first ever charity stamps! 

Yes they have.

Australia Post has released a set of stamps featuring graphic pictures of the Queensland floods.

Featuring five images from the Queensland floods, the 60 cent stamps will be available in a sheet of 10 that will be sold for $8, with $2 from the sale of each sheet to be donated to the Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

Australia Post has printed an initial run of 250,000 Charity Stamp sheets but will print as many stamps as required to meet demand said Australia Post Managing Director and CEO Ahmed Fahour.

Mr Fahour said Australia Post hopes the initiative will generate substantial additional support from around the nation for the Premier's Appeal and importantly maintain awareness of the plight of so many Queenslanders over coming months.

The Premier's Flood Relief Appeal is an endorsed DGR on the Register of Cultural Organisations under Subdivision 30-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 for a public fund it operates. The fund's name is the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal. Donations to this fund of $2 or more are tax deductible. 

Technical details

Issue date: 27 January 2011
Issue withdrawal date: tba

Denominations: 5 x 60c
Stamp design: Lynette Traynor
Sheetlet design: Simone Sakinovsky
Printer: Pemara
Paper: Avery Dennison WLK1 B100 Self Adhesive Stamp Paper
Printing process: Flexographic
Stamp size: 23mm x 37.5mm
Sheetlet size:
Perforations: Simulated perf shape
Sheet layout: Self-adhesive sheetlet of 10 stamps
National postmark: GPO Brisbane, QLD 4000

You can purchase them directly online