2013 EUROPA Stamps Competition !

 

2013 EUROPA Stamps Competition !

 

PostEurop presents the 2013 Europa stamps entries for the theme “Van of the Postman” in conjunction with PostEurop’s 20th Anniversary and declares the 2013 EUROPA stamps competition officially open!

Europa stamps emphasize the co-operation between postal operators, particularly in promoting philately to further contribute and raise public awareness on European common roots, culture and history as well as its common objectives.

From now till 31 August, it is now up to you (the voters) to vote for the most beautiful Europa stamp 2013.

For voting, Plz visit  : http://www.posteurop.org/europa2013

World Heritage – China

- Pradip Kumar Malik

On 11th April 2013, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued a set of six commemorative stamps on the theme "World Heritage - China". Since 1984, UNPA has been issuing stamps featuring World Heritage Sites and since 1997 this topic featured in the UN stamps every year. The World Heritage sites depicted on the stamps of the set issued this year are described hereunder.

First two stamps of this year’s set (images shown below) are issued from UNPA, New York in denominations of US$ 0.46 and US$ 1.10. UNPA has three offices located at New York, United States; Geneva, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria. New York office of UNPA issues stamps in denomination of US dollar, whereas the UNPA Geneva and Vienna issue stamps in the denominations of Swiss franc and Euro respectively.

    

The subject of first stamp of this commemorative set is Mogao Caves, situated at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as of religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning a thousand years of Buddhist art.

Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Beijing is depicted on the other stamp. This remarkable architectural edifice offers important historical testimony to the history of the Qing Dynasty and to the cultural traditions of the Manchu and other tribes in the north of China.

  

Potala Palace at Lhasa is depicted over the 1.40 Swiss franc stamp issued from UNPA, Geneva. The Potala Palace, an administrative, religious and political complex, is built on the Red Mountain in the centre of the Lhasa valley, at an altitude of 3700 m. The complex comprises the White Palace and the Red Palace, with their ancillary buildings. The Potala, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century AD, symbolises Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration in Tibet. The beauty and originality of its architecture, its ornate decoration and its harmonious integration in a striking landscape add to its historic and religious interest.

The other stamp features Mount Huangshan, known as "the loveliest mountain of China", was acclaimed through art and literature during a good part of Chinese history (the Shanshui "mountain and water" style of the mid-16th century). Today it holds the same fascination for visitors, poets, painters and photographers who come in pilgrimage to this enchanting site, renowned for its magnificent scenery made up of many granite peaks and rocks emerging out of a sea of clouds.

  

The stamps issued from UNPA, Vienna feature World Heritages namely – The Great Wall and Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor.

The Great Wall: In about 220 BC, under Qin Shin Huang, sections of fortifications which had been built earlier were joined together to form a united defence system against invasions from the north. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when the Great Wall became the world's largest military structure. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural value.

Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor: No doubt thousands of statues still remain to be unearthed on this archaeological site, not discovered until 1974. Qin, the first unifier of China, who died in 210 B.C., is buried, surrounded by the famous terracotta warriors, at the centre of a complex designed to mirror the urban plan of the capital, Xianyan. The small figures, all different, with their horses, chariots and weapons, are masterpieces of realism and also hold great historical interest.

:  Pradip Kumar Malik - email : mallikphila@gmail.com

 

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Chinatown Gates..

 

These 8 domestic-rate PERMANENT stamps are part of Canada Post’s creative new series dedicated to gates of Chinatown. Wooden or stone gates, known as paifang in Mandarin, were originally used to separate subdivisions in Chinese cities. Eventually, these gates lost that role, and their doors, remained but as monuments. In Canada today, these gates are often the most visible representation of Chinatown in the cities, symbolic of cooperation between various levels of Canadian and Chinese governments, businesses, and citizens.

Victoria’s Gate of Harmonious Interest, built in 1981, stands in the heart of Canada’s first Chinatown. The gate blends traditional and symbolic elements and features hand-carved stone lions from Victoria’s sister city, Suzhou. One pillar commemorates Chinese Canadians who fought and died in World War II.

Vancouver’s Millennium Gate, built in 2002, was inspired by the Inner City Gates of 19th-century and 20th-century Beijing. It combines Eastern and Western designs to represent the past and future of the community.

The Chinatown Gate in Edmonton benefited from the expertise of Chinese architects and craftsmanship from the sister city of Harbin. Built in 1987, the gate features traditional Chinese motifs, colours, decorative tiles and ornate lighting.

Founded in 1909, Winnipeg’s Chinatown is one of Canada’s older Chinese communities. The gate, built in 1987, is a pedestrian overpass that connects and complements the Dynasty and Mandarin buildings.

Located at the entrance to the Mississauga Chinese Centre, this city’s timber gate was constructed solely with traditional wooden studs. Cooperation between China and Canada is demonstrated in the government support and construction expertise that made this gate possible.

Toronto’s Zhong Hua Men Archway, standing at Gerrard East and Hamilton Streets in Toronto’s Chinatown East, was built. The gate honours Chinese Canadian settlers, particularly those who laboured on the transcontinental railway.

Built in 2010, the Ottawa Chinatown Gateway, featuring nine roofs, is a royal Chinese arch that can only be built in capital cities. The gate has good-luck symbols embedded within, including five Chinese coins, one of which is at least 1,000 years old!

Montreal’s Chinatown actually has four gates—North, South, East and West. The North and South gates span St. Laurent Boulevard, while the smaller East and West gates mark pedestrian walkways. The North Gate on the stamp was donated by the city of Shanghai in 1999.

For this series of stamps, 8 illustrators across the country took to their communities to create watercolour paintings of the gates. The artists highlighted the most important angle for the gate in their community, and gave each stamp a truly local feel.

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Chinese folklore on stamps..

 

 

    

   

The Chinese Post has issued a set of 4 stamps and a booklet dedicated to the character of Liu San Jie (Third Sister Liu) from the popular Chinese folklore story.

According to the local tale, Liu San Jie was born in a village along the Liujiang River of Guangxi in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). She was not only beautiful but also good at singing folk songs. At the age of 17, Liu San Jie fell in love with a handsome young man who was also a good folk singer. The two swore never separate in their lives. The peaceful happiness was, however, broken by a hooligan in the village who had been for a long time attracted by Liu's beauty. This evil man decided to take Liu San Jie by force. He got his chance on a moonlight night when Liu and her lover were sitting on a big rock at riverside to enjoy the beauty of the moon. Suddenly, a gang of hooligans surrounded them. Liu San Jie and her lover had no way to escape, with no hesitation, the couple jumped into the roaring Liujiang River, hand in hand.

Nowadays, local people gather annually along the riverside of the Liujiang River, organizing a folk-song competition to mourn Liu San Jie.

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