Posts Tagged ‘philately’

Stamp collecting is considered to be one of the most popular hobbies in the world. This is despite the fact that there is not that much money that can be made from it even if the person has some of the oldest stamps dating back to the 19th century.

Even if there isn’t that much money that can be made, there are individuals who take advantage of it and buy a lot of stamps then sell it to people who want it for a little profit. It has made these people both collector and dealers of stamps.

Just like the regular hobbyist, the dealer has to be careful in handling these. Should any dirt, oil or any damage happen to the inventory, it will be difficult for the person to sell it at the desired price.

The dealer will need the proper tools to handle it. This includes the tweezers to transport the stamps from one place to another. It will really come in handy when the person passes it to the hobbyist who will pay some money so that it can be added to the collection.

Since the dealer has to get stamps from other people to be able to sell it again, this person also needs a magnifying glass so the true value of the stamp can be assessed and proper pricing for those want it can be made.

Storing the stamps till people come and buy it must be stored in an album. The dealer can get this from a variety of places and the nearest are those sold in the local bookstore and at some specialty shops. Since the contents inside are fragile, this should be stored in room temperature and away from direct sunlight.

Dealers need to practice how to use these instruments. Using an old letter with a stamp on it is a good exercise similar to the real thing. By practicing the proper way of handling it, the dealer can make a profit by selling these in good condition.

This begins by putting it the part of the envelope with the stamp in water. When the two begin to separate, the dealer should use the tongs to pick up the stamp. This should be dried using the air and no water must be present anymore when it is placed into the album.

Another place where the dealer can get stamps is at the post office. Since these are sold in rolls and some people are too lazy to go there, the person can buy it then deliver it to the collector with a little profit.

The collector and dealer of stamps can also be found at auctions and exhibits of these small goods. These people can sell a set or in bulk to those who are willing to buy it at the right price.

Another way to get customers will be to advertise in the newspaper by leaving some details and contact numbers. Since there is a demand for stamp collecting, calls will start coming in and deals can be made.

The internet is another venue where the dealer and collector can advertise to hobbyists.

By using everything at the person’s disposal to get in touch with those who want to expand the existing stamp collections, the individual will be making a good income that will be used to buy more stamps and make this cycle continue.

The dealer must have a price catalogue at all times. This will make it easy to get it from other suppliers and give the person an idea how much to sell it to the hobbyist. This can be bought at the local specialty store which gives its standard value in the market.

Stamps are easier to acquire now compared to how it was years ago. By knowing what the hobbyists want regardless if it is old or new and finding the means to get it, money can be made.

Stamp collecting will continue to flourish as long as people need to send parcels and documents to different places in the country and in the world. This will provide the dealer with something to buy and sell with and in the process make some money.

Philately can be described as the collecting and arranging of postal material i.e. postage stamps, postal routes, letters, covers and other material. This collection, be it stamps, covers etc. are usually documented to trace major historical events and other events.

It cannot be established when philately first started as a hobby as there is no known documentation. However, it can be ascertained that philately only started after the introduction of the postage stamp in 1840.

Collection of stamps adapted an approach with the introduction of stamps album. The first album was produced in England in 1852. Thus, when more postage stamps became available, the hobby of collecting stamps became quite common. More people began to take an interest in stamp collecting and philately began to develop. Many serious collectors emerged and one of the world’s largest and oldest stamp collections is owned by the Queen of England. DYTM Raja Muda of Selangor is also reputed to have a good collection.

The word “philately” is said to have been coined in France in 1864 by Georges Herpin. It is from two Greek words: “philos” meaning loving and “llateleiall” meaning free of payment. Originally philately was more confined to the study of labels, representing payment for postal services. From here its area was widened to include the study of the systematic collection of postage stamps, postcards, postal covers, postmarks and other postal material.

Canada Post is taking Canadians on a cross-country journey celebrating four great Canadian Roadside Attractions along the way.

Canada Post issue set of 4 stamps feature Roadside Attractions, denominated 55c each.

Discription of the stamps:

* Mr. PG is an eight-metre high log man raised in 1960 in Prince George to recognize forestry’s important role in the city’s history.

* A second stamp features the Signpost Forest, in Watson Lake, Yukon. The first signs were raised in 1942, by a homesick US G.I. to point his way home. Today, more than 64,000 signs are posted.

* The stunning inukshuk outside Hay River in the Northwest Territories illustrates the stone giants’ purpose in guiding travellers in Canada’s north.

* Finally there is the Pysanka, the largest Easter egg in the world, created to honour Vegreville, Alberta’s large Ukrainian-Canadian community. Beautifully decorated Easter eggs are a tradition among Ukrainians worldwide.

The set is the first in Canada Post’s Roadside Attractions series, which will run over three years.

Australia Post issues set of 5 stamps with denomination of 55 cents each, which feature five of Australia’s most beautiful city parks on 14 July, 2009.

1. Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne: Melbourne’s Fitzroy Gardens was reserved in 1848, although it was not laid out until 1859. Today it ranks as one of the city’s premier parks.

2. Roma St Parkland, Brisbane: Brisbane’s Roma Street Parkland is renowned for its subtropical plantings. This park was the result of a major redevelopment of former railway yards completed in 2000.

3. St David’s Park, Hobart: St David’s Park in Hobart was opened in 1926, its two hectares occupying the site of Hobart’s first burial ground (1804-72).

4. Commonwealth Park, Canberra: There are many parks in the national capital, including Commonwealth Park on the foreshore of Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin. Since 1965, the master plan prepared by British Landscape architect Sylvia Crowe the park’s development.

5. Hyde Park, Sydney: Sydney’s Hyde Park, Australia’s first public park, was reserved on 11 February 1810. Its present layout is a result of a design competition held in 1926.

Australians have a great love and appreciation for these parks and enjoy visiting them to either engage in a variety of activities or to simply savour a tranquil environment.

This issue features a limited edition (15,000) prestige first day cover with a foiled postmark accompanied by a 100% recycled paper gift card containing lemon scented bottlebrush (Callistemon citrius) seeds. Also available is a prestige booklet with exclusive blocks of four.

Rwanda had become a republic while still under trusteeship, and stayed thus until independence on 1 July 1962.

The majority Hutu population rebelled against the feudal Tutsi rule in 1959-62, leading to the massacre of thousands of Tutsis. Large numbers fled to Uganda. The first President of the republic was deposed in 1973 and was replaced by a military government under general Habyasima, who established a one-party state.

Armed Tutsi exiles repeatedly attempted to invade Rwanda in the 1960s and 70s but were always defeated by the Hutu army. Continued Hutu-Tutsi conflict left thousands dead over a period of 30 years.

In October 1990, Rwanda was invaded by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) of exiled Tutsis and some moderate Hutus, who were against the one party system. The invaders forced the one-party Government to introduce a multi-party Constitution in 1991. When the Government refused to honour the 1992 Peace Agreement, the RPF advanced on Kigali and forced the Government to begin negotiations again. This resulted in a peace accord in August 1993, known as the Arusha accord. This accord provided for a transitional period under a broad-based government including the RPF until the 1995 elections and a presence of United Nations forces in the country during this period.

President Habyarima who had retained the presidency during this period, died on 6 April 1994 in a plane crash, probably caused by a rocket attack by extremists of the Hutu army. This army and militia then carried out a pre-planned act of genocide against the Tutsi minority and moderate Hutus. 500,000 preople were massacred in three months. The civil war began again and the RPF gradually re-established control over the country and forced the defeated government troops and 2 million Hutu refugees out of the country. Finally, on 18 July 1994, the RPF declared victory and established a government of National Unity.

Between 50,000 and 60,000 Hutu refugees died of disease in refugee camps in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in the summer of 1994. French troops with drew from their ‘safe zone’ in the south-west of the country in September 1994 and were replaced by RPF forces that gradually returned most of the refugees in the zone to their homes. UN forces (UNAMIR II), which included British troops, were also deployed to deter revenge attacks by either side.
After November 1994, there was a gradual return of the refugees to Rwanda. It is estimated that 200,000 returnd from Uganda, but by December 1995, 500,000 refugees remained in Tanzania and over a million in Zaire. UN forces left the country in March 1996 and the killings by both sides continued and Hutu attacks in central and western Rwanda were frequent in the first half of 1998.

Rwanda has supported a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (qv) led by the Congolese Democratic Rally, a Congolese Tutsi Group. Rwandese troops have also been deployed in the Congo.

Local elections took place on 29-31 March 1999, the first for nine years and the transitional National Assembly was extended for four further years in June 1999.

On 1 January 1914 all the Nigerian territories came under one administration (British Crown Colony and protectorate). The federation became independent within the Commonwealth 1 October 1960. Northern Cameroons were joined to it in 1961 and a republic was declared on 1 October 1963. After two military coups in 1966, the eastern states seceded as the Republic of Biafra (see below). The rebellion collapsed in 1970, but further military coups took place in 1975.
In 1979, civil rule was restored after elections at national and state level. The military again took power in December 1983, though this regime was itself ousted from power in August 1985. The Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) was sworn in and governed the country until it was replaced by a National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) in January 1993. A subsequent Presidential election was declared invalid, and the military government resigned in August, handing over power toa Transitional Council.

A continuation of political instability led the Defence Minister, General Sanni Abacha, to launch a further military coup on 17 November 1993. A Military Provisional Ruling Council and a civilian Federal Executive Council were formed to govern the country, but pro-democracy demonstrations continued.

The National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was convened by the President in June 1994 and it was announced, in the following January, that General Abacha should have an unlimited term of office. An attempted coup was defeated in March 1995 and political activity was restored in June, when the NCC presented a draft constitution to the President. In June 1998, General Abacha died of a heart attack and was replecaed by General Abubakar. A continuation of the return to civilian rule was promised and the release of political prisoners began.

It was expected that Chief Abiola would be released, but in July 1998, he died of a heart attack while still in prison. News of his death led to widespread rioting throughout the country and the President announced that all elections held under General Abacha’s rule were considered to be null and void. A general election was held on 20 February 1999 and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) won a majority in both houses of parliament. A presidential election followed and the PDP candidate, General Obasanjo, was elected. The civilian administration assumed power on 29 May 1999.

During the period of General Abacha’s rule, Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth on 11 November 1995, following the execution of nine Human Rights activists. It was readmitted to membership on 29 May 1999 when the democratically elected government took over the control of the country.

French influence brought by explorer Faidherbe from the River Senegal to the Upper Niger was extended by conquest to the area of Tombouctou (1883) and stretched (without boundaries) as far as that influence could be maintained. The region was given the name Soudan Francais in 1891 with its capital at Kayes.
It was shrunk in 1899 by transferring 11 of the southern provinces to French Guinea, Ivory Coast and Dahomey (though two provinces were returned in 1900). The remainder was broken up into three military districts based on Tombouctou, Bobo Dioulasso and Zinder (Niger). The other territories became Upper Senegal and Middle Niger.

In 1902 the non-military zone became Senegambia and Niger and in 1904 Upper Senegal and Niger. The capital was moved to Bamako.

In 1911 Niger became the only military district and began to separate from the main colony. It became an independent colony in 1922.

Prior to that, in 1919, the colony of Upper Volta had been created by detaching six of the southern provinces from Upper Senegal and Niger and, in 1920, the remainder returned to the original name of French Sudan. When Upper Volta was abolished in 1933, parts of the original provinces reverted to French Sudan. On 4 April 1954, French Sudan joined Senegal to make the Mali Federation.

Upper Senegal and Middle Niger did not issue stamps. Stamps of French Sudan were used until 1903 when they were replaced by the stamps of Senegambia and Niger (q.v.).

In 1920 stamps of Upper Senegal and Niger (q .v.) were overprinted for use in French Sudan when it was reconstituted.

Used stamps of French West Africa 1944-59. Then became part of the Mali Federation.

Mauritania and Morocco occupied the Western Sahara Territory in February 1976 when Spain Formally relinquished control. After a three year war against POLISARIO, Mauritania gave up her claim to the southern sector of the former Spanish Territory.

There was a military coup in 1978 and Mauritania was ruled by a Military Committeeof National Salvation. In April 1991, President ould Tagu announced a politicalamnesty, followed by multi-party elections. The constitution was approved in July 1991. Since that date the country has remained stable.

Traders from Dieppe had trading posts from 1826, but the earliest French settlement, at St Louis, dated from 1659. In the 18th century the Senegal settlements were disputed between France and Britain, but were restored to France in 1817; Goree Island had remained French throughout. In 1854 penetration inland began and by 1891 Senegal was exercising control over a large area of West Africa from St Louis to Dakar.
The Vichy regime survived an abortive Allied attempt to take Dakar (23-25 September 1940) until November 1942 when it became Free French. On 25 November 1958 Senegal accepted independence within the French Community, but joined with French Sudan on 4 April 1959 to form the Mali Federation. Senegal withdrew from this federation on 22 August 1960 and on 5 September became a republic within the French Community.

In 1842 Goree was given the first postal service in French West Africa; it was not an integral part of Senegal until 1859. The first mainland PO was at St Louis (c.1856). By 19.15, there were 55 POs in operation.

Senegal issues were also used in the region known as Rivieres du Sud (after 1892, part of French Guinea) where known POs include Conakry, Benty, Boffa, Boke, Dubreka and Victoria; also at Kaedi and Rosso (after 1906 part of Mauritania), and at Kita and Kayes (later in French Sudan). Used stamps of French West Africa from 1944-59.

President Diouf was re-elected in the first round of Presidential elections in February 1993. In August 1998, the National Assembly voted to remove the restriction that limited the President to only two 7 year terms and Diouf who was originally installed in 1981 has remained President ever since.

Angola became independent in the midst of a civil war. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) took control early in 1976 with Soviet-Cuban assistance, but remained under pressure from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). After a cease fire in 1988, a peace agreement was signed between the two parties in 1991 and all foreign forces were withdrawn. Elections took place in 1992 which were won by the MPLA. Howver, UNITA refused to accept the result and the civil war was resumed in 1993 when, at one point, UNITA controlled 75% of the country.

The United Nations were asked to mediate and the two parties signed a further peace agreement in 1994. A Government on National Reconstruction was formed in April 1997. But when President Mobutu of Zaire, one of UNITA’s supporters, fell from power, fighting resumed in May 1997.

On 30 October 1997, the UN Security Council ordered sanctions against UNITA for failing to fulfil its obligations under the previous protocol and UNITA was obliged to return much of the territory it had gained to government control in the following months.

In March 1998 UNITA became a legitimate political party, although fighting still continued. The UN adopted a resolution in September 1998 that urged the rejection of military force by all parties and named UNITA as the primary cause of the crisis in Angola.

During all this period, the MPLA had continued to issue stamps, partly as means of obtaining hard currency. At one stage an issue appeared from UNITA for much the same purpose. The situation of the mails is unknown and it unlikely that the recent issues have served any postal purpose.

Letters from Europeans in Algiers are known at least from 1690, and a postal mark was used in Spanish-occupied Oran from 1749. But no regular service existed until 1830, when the military postal organization (Tresor et Postes) was introduced in Algiers. It was opened to civilians in 1835. Gradually the posts were separated from the paymaster branch and in 1860 they became autonomous. From 18 POs in 1845, the service grew to 97 offices in 1860 and 295 in 1880.

Postal services were initially by courier and by coastal steamboat service operated by the French navy. The coastal service passed to Messageries Maritimes in 1866, and from 1862 railways slowly pushed forward (Algiers-Oran opened 1871; Constantine-Philippeville 1870).

Military handstamps were used in 1830-9; datestamps bearing town names and dates were issued to POs after 1839.

Used stamps of France from 1 January 1849.

Oblit. 16 January 1849 – 31 December 1851 by dumb grille: stamps are identifiably from Algeria only on cover. After 1852 cancellation was by lozenge of dots with small figures (3710 – 4448) and after 1863 by similar lozenge with large figures (5000 – 5171). N.B. Most of these numbers, but not all, were issued to Algeria. Datestamps were used to cancel stamps from April 1876.

Used stamps of France 22 July 1958 – 27 June 1962.

Used locally overprinted stamps c. 4 July 1962 – 31 October 1962 until independence stamps were available.

There were 862 POs in 1969.