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HongKong, China – Romania Joint Issue on Handicraft

srmodh — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:48 +0000

Handicraft is the art of creating decorative and utility items completely by hand or with simple tools. The emphasis is on craftsmanship. The cultural significance of handicraft is the preservation of heritage and traditional techniques. Hongkong Post and Romfilatelia jointly issue a set of two stamps on handicrafts to showcase masterpieces from the two places, highlighting the vitality of the art form. This marks the eleventh joint stamp issue between Hongkong Post and other postal administrations.

Handicraft from Hong Kong, China – Dough Figurines
Dough figurine making has a long history in China and is an enchanting Chinese folk art. The major ingredient of the dough is wheat flour. Figurine makers, with superb skills and creative talents, turn the dough into lifelike figurines and paint them to make them more vivid. Simple tools such as a pair of small scissors, a comb, some bamboo splints and a bone needle are used to add details to the dough. The sophistication lies in the manual stretching, rolling, cutting and assembling. Legendary heroes and mythical beasts are finely crafted to be loved by many, old and young alike. Among different designs and themes of dough making is the lion’s head, the choice to symbolise luck and blessings on festive occasions.

Handicraft from Romania – Painted Eggs
Easter is the most important Christian festival for Romanians. Starting on Holy Thursday, women and children gather to spend all day painting eggs in a multitude of colours. This custom is very old in Romania and is a symbol of spring and the rebirth of nature. In old times, a painted egg was believed to have magic powers. Each colour or pattern used to decorate the egg was meant to combat a certain form of evil. Even today, Romanians still believe that painted eggs can bring good luck and protection for their homes. Painted eggs remain a highly recognisable example of Romanian art. The stamp shows egg painting with melted wax and a pencil-like tool called the “chi?i??”.

Title: HongKong, China – Romania Joint Issue on Handicraft
Date of Issue: 24 November 2011
Country: Hongkong
Denominations: $5 x 2

Source: http://www.hongkongpoststamps.com

Joint Stamp Issue Romania – Hong Kong, China: Handicraft

srmodh — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:40:32 +0000

Assuming its role of national and international cultural values and traditions promoter, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the joint stamp issue Romania – Hong Kong, China: Handicraft (Painted eggs and rice flour figurines).

Painted eggs
Kept from ancient times in the Romanian tradition – eggs painting represents a testimony of the continuation of the customs encountered in the Romanian regions and dedicated to the Holy Easter. The visible symbols on the surface of the painted eggs (sun, moon, cross etc.), the images reproducing elements of nature (plants, animals), motifs of the folk art used for fabrics and carpets (the leaf, the ear, the sun) are carefully chosen and harmonized in order to turn the common egg into an art object.

Eggs are painted using either the colored wax method or the dyes. In another variant, the eggs’ surface may be adorned with colored beads (glued in adhesive). The white egg, emptied of its content, is covered in wax on the areas that will finally remain white. It is sank in the selected paint (the brightest colour), taken out and after drying, wax is applied again on the spots that are not supposed to get the next paint. The procedure is repeated, ending with the darkest colour.

According to a legend, red eggs symbolize the blood of Our Lord’s supreme sacrifice. The eggs, beautifully ornamented or painted, express the joy for Christ’s Resurrection, the optimism and hope of nature’s rebirth in the spring of the Holy Easter.

Rice flour figurines
The rice flour figurines belong to an old highly appreciated Chinese trade, dating back to the period of Tang Dynasty (6th-10thcenturies A.D.). During this dynasty, the Chinese culture thrived, the greatest poets of this country and numerous painting schools emerging in this period. At the same time, the Chinese traditional art developed rapidly all over the region.

With special skill and talent, the Chinese craftsmen revive from dough the image of the legendary heroes or dragons, by colouring them in hues that make them look like real-life characters. A comb, a pair of small scissors, several bamboo splints and a bone needle are the tools usually used in the execution of these figurines. The art of this handicraft combines the manually kneading, the cutting and assembling each dough piece.

Title: Joint Stamp Issue Romania – Hong Kong, China: Handicraft
Date of Issue: 24 November 2011
Country: Romania
Denominations: 2L x 2

Source: http://www.romfilatelia.ro

Joint Issue Australia-Korea

srmodh — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:10:29 +0000

Following a visit to Australia by President Lee Myung-bak in March 2009, this year has been declared a Year of Friendship between Australia and South Korea to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The 2011 Year of Friendship builds on the professional, community and institutional links between Australia and Korea to enhance mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill. It also helps to project a well-informed, contemporary image of Australia in Korea.

60c Haegeum musician
This stamp features a woman shown playing a haegeum, a traditional Korean musical instrument. This two-stringed vertical instrument dates back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392).

$1.65 Didgeridoo musician
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument that originated in northern Australia at least 1,500 years ago. It is composed of a eucalyptus hardwood branch hollowed out by termites over time.

Title: Joint Issue Australia-Korea
Date of Issue: 30 October 2011
Country: Australia
Denominations: 60c, $1.65

Source: www.auspost.com.au

The 50th Anniversary of Korea-Australia Diplomatic Ties

srmodh — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:03:49 +0000

The year 2011 is a meaningful year that marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Australia. Australia participated in the Korean War in 1950 as a member of the UN forces. During the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1961, the two countries have solidified their friendship and amity through active exchanges in various areas such as politics, economy, culture, society, etc. In celebration and commemoration of this 50th anniversary, Korea Post and Australia Post are issuing a joint stamp featuring traditional musical instruments of the two countries – the Haegeum of Korea and Didgeridoo of Australia.

Being a string-rubbing instrument, Haegeum produces its sound by rubbing the bow on two strings. On the bamboo-made resonance box, a long bamboo stick is attached and over this bamboo stick, two strings made of silk thread are tied. Resin is administered onto the bow made of horsehair, and the bow is put between the two strings. When the bow is rubbed against the strings, the sound is produced. Haegeum has no fixed clef: the pitch of the sound is determined by the position of the hand on the strings and the intensity of string-pulling. Due to its clarity and generally high pitch, the Haegeum is also called “Ggang ggang i” and characterized by its poignant tone. Widely used in court music and folk music, it has recently made a comeback in fusion music, gaining huge popularity among the public.

The Didgeridoo, a wind instrument, was created about 1,500 years ago by the aboriginal people in Northern Australia. It is made primarily from eucalyptus trees growing in Australia with its surface decorated with various patterns and wax being administered on the instrumental part where the player’s mouth is placed. The longer the instrument is, the lower the tone it produces. The most commonly used Didgeridoo is 1.2 meters long. Didgeridoo produces its sounds through the player’s breath and lip vibration. Since ancient times, it has been played during ceremonies either together with dances and songs or as a solo. Today, it is being widely played not only in Australia but also around the world.

Title: The 50th Anniversary of Korea-Australia Diplomatic Ties
Date of Issue: 28 October 2011
Country: South Korea
Denominations: 270 won

Source: http://www.koreapost.go.kr

Joint issue : Republic of Belarus and Islamic Republic of Iran

srmodh — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 23:07:41 +0000

The Mir Castle is a unique monument of Belarusian architecture of the 16th century. Its construction was initiated by the Belarusian magnate Yuri Ilinich in 1520-ies. Being one of the best examples of the Belarusian fortress building engineering of the 16th century the Mir Castle had for many centuries been used as a residence for Belarusian magnates. Now the Mir Castle is a branch of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus. In 2000 the Mir Castle was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Karimkhani Citadel in Shiraz is one of the most prominent architectural monuments of Iran. It was built in 1766 under Karim Khan Zend the ruler of Iran at that time. For its construction Karim Khan invited the most skilful architects, masons and painters. They used the best building materials. The fortress served as a royal palace and a military garrison. From 2008 the historical monuments of the Zends epoch in Shiraz are among the candidates for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Title: Joint issue : Republic of Belarus and Islamic Republic of Iran
Date of Issue: 28 September 2011
Country: Belarus
Denominations: P

Source: www.belpost.by

Malta – Iceland Joint issue

srmodh — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:55:59 +0000

Malta Post issued a Joint Stamp Issue with Iceland featuring ‘Fishing Villages’ as a common theme between the two islands.

Title: Malta – Iceland Joint issue
Date of Issue: 15 September 2011
Country: Malta
Denominations: €2.07

Source: www.maltapost.com

Iceland – Malta Joint Issue

srmodh — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:47:03 +0000

Iceland and Malta are the northernmost and southernmost islands in Europe. Fishing has been the main source of revenue for centuries on these two islands. Iceland Post and Malta Post are now collaborating on a joint stamp issue occasioned by this relationship with fishing towns as the motif. The town of Húsavík is the motif of the Icelandic minisheet while the Maltese one depicts the town of Mgarr, Gozo.

The Republic of Malta is a small and densely populated country on an island by the same name and some smaller islands in the Mediterranean. The islands are located between Italy in the north and the northcoast of Africa. The official languages are English and Maltese. Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and is now the smallest EU country both as regards size and population. Only three of the biggest islands are populated: Malta, Gozo and Comino.

Title: Iceland – Malta Joint Issue
Date of Issue: 15 September 2011
Country: Island
Denominations: 50g

Source: www.postur.is

150th anniversary of Mariehamn – Russia

srmodh — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 07:59:04 +0000

In 2011, the joint launch of the Russian Federation and the Aland Islands (Finland) is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the founding of Mariehamn – the main town of the Aland Islands.
It is the smallest of all the Scandinavian capitals, but the third largest port in Finland. The city is the Cabinet and Parliament of Åland. It is home to more than half of the total population of the archipelago.
History of Mariehamn (translated from Swedish – “Mary’s Harbour”) is connected with the Crimean War, which determined the fate of a demilitarized Åland Islands. After the war, the locals turned to Alexander II on the basis of a petition on the main island port city, which is suggested to name in honor of the Emperor’s wife Maria Alexandrovna.

Tsar’s manifesto of February 4, 1859 permitted the foundation Mariehamn, a certificate signed on Feb. 20, 1861, establishes the status of the city. On the mail box on a map of Mariehamn is a portrait of Empress Maria Alexandrovna (1857) Brush FK Winterhalter from the Hermitage collection.

Title: 150th anniversary of Mariehamn – Russia
Date of Issue: 21 February 2011
Country: Russia
Denominations: 40.00p

Source: www.rusmarka.ru

Mariehamn 150 years – Aland

srmodh — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 07:51:37 +0000

Åland Post celebrates the anniversary by issuing a miniature sheet featuring Empress Maria Alexandrovna as well as part of the first town plan for Mariehamn. The issue is a joint issue with the Russian Post.

In 1859, Tsar Alexander II of Russia recommended that a town be established in Åland close to the Svibyviken bay. Two years later, he issued a charter of foundation and the town was named after Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Maria Alexandrovna was born in 1824 in Darmstadt, Germany, and Empress Consort of Tsar Alexander II of Russia from 1855 until her death in 1880. Mariehamn was founded around the village of Övernäs in the parish of Jomala. County architect Georg Theodor von Chiewitz prepared a four-part town plan with grid-based street network.

Title: Mariehamn 150 years – Aland
Date of Issue: 21 February 2011
Country: Aland
Denominations: €1.00

Source: www.posten.ax

20th anniversary of the Visegrad Group – Hungary

srmodh — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 07:59:34 +0000

Hungary post issued a stamp to commemorate the 20th anniversary of establishment of this alliance of four Central European countries, i.e. Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

The idea of the V4 alliance derives from a meeting of the Czech, Polish and Hungarian rulers in Visegrad, Hungary in 1335. Charles I of Hungary, Czech king John of Luxembourg, and Casimir III of Poland entered into an agreement of a close cooperation in political and commercial affairs, and of eternal friendship. This agreement inspired the next successful Central European initiative established 656 years later.

Title: 20th anniversary of the Visegrad Group – Hungary
Date of Issue: 15 February 2011
Country: Hungary
Denominations: 240 Ft

Source: www.posta.hu