Tuesday, 12 February 2008
A Cover from China
This is an official Lunar New Year greeting card carrying a printed cute rat stamp (RMB 1.20). The card was sent to me on 13 December 2007 from Wulumuqi (Xiang Chiang Province), China.
Dragonflies of Malaysia 10
Trithemis festiva is a medium size dark blue dragonflies commonly found at disturbed open area. The orange/yellow streaks on the end of the dorsal abdomen distinguish Trithemis festiva from other closely related species.
Diplacodes trivialis
Diplacodes trivialis is also another common dragonfly species found at open disturbed area. The mature male individuals have blue marking while the female and immature male individuals have yellow marking. In many ways the female and immature male of D. trivialis resemble Orthetrum sabina....... but the size of D. trivialis is much smaller than O. sabina.
Monday, 11 February 2008
Cover from Vietnam
I received this nice cover from Vietnam. The cover was hand-stamped on 26 January 2008. The stamps were released in 2006 commmerating Morzat. There is also a meter cancellation (in red ink) carrying a value of 6000d.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Lunar New Year - China
I received this fabulous cover from a correspondence in China (Yang Chou). The cover was postmarked on 22 January 2008 and framed with four zodiac stamps (the single stamp was released on 5 January 2008) and a definitive (regular) stamp showing paper cutting. The cover itself has a paper cutting showing an image of rat (Year of Rat). It is absolutely a gorgeous cover...... The Year of Rat starts on 7 February 2008 and ends on 25 January 2009.
Friday, 25 January 2008
Dragonflies of Malaysia 09
You may click here to see more dragonfly photos and information.
There are a few dragonfly species with blue abdomen. One of these is Aethriamanta gracilis. Aethriamanta gracilis can be distinguished from the other blue dragonfly species by having open venation on its wings. However, the dragonfly image shown in the stamp is not accurate in the characteristics of the wing venation (the venation looks very close), of which it could be misidentified as other blue dragonfly species such as Brachydiplax chalybea, Brachydiplax farinosa or Brachydiplax sobrina.
Lathrecista asiatica
Lathrecista asiatica is a medium size dragonfly species. The red abdomen and blue thorax are particular elegant. It is commonly found at forest margins. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
Malaysia - Stamp Issuing Programme 2008
Malaysia postal authority (Pos Malaysia) finally came out with the stamp issuing programme for 2008 a couple of days ago. It is a bit inefficient for Pos Malaysia to announce her issuing programme at this late stage (almost the end of January). For any good and well planned postal authority, the stamp issuing programme should be announced before the start of a new year. Anyway, here is the tentative stamp issuing programme for 2008 from Pos Malaysia:
Updated on 5 December, 2008
1. Historical Bridges - 28.2.2008
2. Nocturnal Animals - 13.3.2008
3. Astronaut - 25.3.2008 (changed to National Angkasawan Programme, and new date is 21.10.2008)
4. Royal Headgears - 9.4.2008 (date changed to 16.9.2008)
5. Butterflies - 24.4.2008
6. 100th Anniv. of St. John's Ambulance - 22.5.2008
7. Cultural Instruments and Artifacts - 10.6.2008
8. Literary Figures of Malaysia - 26.6.2008 (cancelled)
9. Birds of Malaysia - 8.7.2008 (cancelled)
10. 50th Anniv. of Sultan Kedah - 15.7.2008
11. Dragon Boat World Competition - 8.8.2008 (new date: 1.8.2008)
11a. 100 Years of Scout - August 2008 (new entry; confirmed date: 14.8.2008)
12. Visual Arts Heritage - 28.8.2008
13. Premier Schools - 23.9.2008 (cancelled) [reinstated; new issue date: 16.12.2008]
14. Cartoon - 9.10.2008 (new date: 11.11.2008; this issue is now listed as Malaysian Cartoon Series I - Lat [Stamp Week 2008]) [changed to another date - 1.12.2008]
15. Joint Issue with Iran - 30.10.2008 (cancelled)
16. Unique Flowers (Stamp Week 2008) - 11.11.2008 (new date: 9.10.2008; this issue is no longer an issue for Stamp Week 2008)
17. Razaksat - 2.12.2008 (cancelled)
18. Sea Shells - 23.12.2008 (new date: 27.11.2008) [changed to another date - 11.11.2008]
A total of 18 issues (15 issues only after some withdraws and new entries) are planned for year 2008. The first issue will only be out at the end of February...... a two-month gap.......The bird issue in July (this issue has been cancelled) should be interesting for many bird stamp collectors. The butterfly issue (in April) is nice too. The Malaysia-Iran joint (this issue has been cancelled) will also be interesting. I was just wondering what topic is going to be depicted in this joint issue. Another interesting issue is cartoon (in October). No detailed info for this issue so far, but many collectors in Malaysia anticipate the art work of Lat (well known Malaysian cartoonist) will appear in the issue. Sea shell issue is also exciting issue because it is the first time for Pos Malaysia to issue this theme. Hey, how about dragon boat issue (in August)........ well, I think this issue will definitely attract collectors from Far East Asia and Southeast Asia. Anyway, the above schedule is a tentative one, and Pos Malaysia is notoriously known for changing the schedule frequently. I shall update the release schedule from time to time.
Updated on 5 December, 2008
1. Historical Bridges - 28.2.2008
2. Nocturnal Animals - 13.3.2008
3. Astronaut - 25.3.2008 (changed to National Angkasawan Programme, and new date is 21.10.2008)
4. Royal Headgears - 9.4.2008 (date changed to 16.9.2008)
5. Butterflies - 24.4.2008
6. 100th Anniv. of St. John's Ambulance - 22.5.2008
7. Cultural Instruments and Artifacts - 10.6.2008
8. Literary Figures of Malaysia - 26.6.2008 (cancelled)
9. Birds of Malaysia - 8.7.2008 (cancelled)
10. 50th Anniv. of Sultan Kedah - 15.7.2008
11. Dragon Boat World Competition - 8.8.2008 (new date: 1.8.2008)
11a. 100 Years of Scout - August 2008 (new entry; confirmed date: 14.8.2008)
12. Visual Arts Heritage - 28.8.2008
13. Premier Schools - 23.9.2008 (cancelled) [reinstated; new issue date: 16.12.2008]
14. Cartoon - 9.10.2008 (new date: 11.11.2008; this issue is now listed as Malaysian Cartoon Series I - Lat [Stamp Week 2008]) [changed to another date - 1.12.2008]
15. Joint Issue with Iran - 30.10.2008 (cancelled)
16. Unique Flowers (Stamp Week 2008) - 11.11.2008 (new date: 9.10.2008; this issue is no longer an issue for Stamp Week 2008)
17. Razaksat - 2.12.2008 (cancelled)
18. Sea Shells - 23.12.2008 (new date: 27.11.2008) [changed to another date - 11.11.2008]
A total of 18 issues (15 issues only after some withdraws and new entries) are planned for year 2008. The first issue will only be out at the end of February...... a two-month gap.......The bird issue in July (this issue has been cancelled) should be interesting for many bird stamp collectors. The butterfly issue (in April) is nice too. The Malaysia-Iran joint (this issue has been cancelled) will also be interesting. I was just wondering what topic is going to be depicted in this joint issue. Another interesting issue is cartoon (in October). No detailed info for this issue so far, but many collectors in Malaysia anticipate the art work of Lat (well known Malaysian cartoonist) will appear in the issue. Sea shell issue is also exciting issue because it is the first time for Pos Malaysia to issue this theme. Hey, how about dragon boat issue (in August)........ well, I think this issue will definitely attract collectors from Far East Asia and Southeast Asia. Anyway, the above schedule is a tentative one, and Pos Malaysia is notoriously known for changing the schedule frequently. I shall update the release schedule from time to time.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
State Definitives - Lotus Flower
The latest state definitive stamps of Malaysia released on 31 December 2007 are beautiful and elegant. A total of 84 stamps were issued - 6 different values for each of the 14 states/territories. There are some changes on the head of state and emblem of state on these stamps. Two states (Perlis and Selangor) have seen the newly crowned heads of state appeared on the stamps while the emblem of Sabah state has been reverted to the old version (two hands holding a flag). Also on this definitive series, Negeri Sembilan state definitives look a bit different from the traditional ones. The head of state of Negeri Sembilan for the very first time appears on the state definitives. The previous few series of state definitives for Negeri Sembilan only showed the state emblem (without the head of state).
The smallest denomination of these stamps is 5 sen with an image of lotus. The scientific name of lotus inscribed in the stamps is Nelumbium nelumbo. However, the scientific name Nelumbium nelumbo (L.) Druce (1913) is a synonym to Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner (1788). According to rules in botanical nomenclature, the current correct name for lotus should be Nelumbo nucifera because this name was introduced earlier than Nelumbium nelumbo (Nelumbo nucifera was introduced in 1788 while Nelumbium nelumbo was in 1913).
Johor; Kedah; Kelantan
Melaka; Negeri Sembilan; Pahang
Perak; Perlis; Pulau Pinang
Sabah; Sarawak; Selangor
Terengganu; Wilayah Persekutuan
Dragonflies of Malaysia 08
You may click here to see more dragonfly photos and information.
Ictinogomphus decoratus is a large dragonfly species in the family of Gomphidae. It is the most common Gomphidae species in Malaysia. This dragonfly species has strong wings and you can hear the wing beats when it flies passing you. It is normally found at slow flowing muddy stream. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
Orthetrum sabina
Orthetrum sabina is a medium size dragonfly species. It is normally found at degraded open habitats. The male and female individuals have similar marking on their bodies.
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