It was on the 16^th November 2010 following a great deal of public speculation that an announcement was made by Clarence House confirming that Prince William, oldest son of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales had become engaged to his long time girl friend Miss Catherine (Kate) Middleton.

William and Catherine were both 28 years old when the announcement was made and met whilst students at the University of St Andrews. Until the announcement, Catherine, a Fine Arts Graduate worked for her parents company whilst William graduated as a Helicopter Pilot in 2010. As Flight Lieutenant Wales he has joined RAF Search and Rescue which celebrates its 70^th Anniversary in 2011 and will co-pilot Sea King helicopters as part of a four-man crew based at RAF Valley in Anglesey on the north-west coast of Wales.

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published June 25th, 2011

Did you know that more than 1.6 billion of the world’s people depend on forests for their livelihood? Or that worldwide, the forest industry is responsible for $270 billion in trade, annually? In Canada, forests are among the largest and most diverse in the world—and have long been central to their economy.

Canadian forests cover 41% of the country’s land mass, which amount to roughly 10% of the world’s forest. In addition to moderating climate and filtering the air we breathe, they also provide a home for countless wildlife species.

Given the importance of forests to their economy, their environment and their well-being, the essential role they play in countries around the world and the way in which issues surrounding the future of the forest unite us globally, it comes as no surprise that the United Nations has declared 2011 as International Year of Forests. This global initiative, launched in February during the 9th session of the United Nation’s forum on forests, seeks to “raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.”

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published June 25th, 2011

The World Online Philatelic Agency “WOPA” has had the latest addition to their state of the art website. Denmark stamps are now available at FACE VALUE from their site.

WOPA is the only site worldwide where collectors can purchase stamps and collectibles from a choice of countries in one website, with one payment, paying the FACE VALUE of stamps or collectibles.The WOPA website has been designed to be user-friendly, informative and enjoyable. Above all, the aim is to offer stamp collectors a pleasant online experience.

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published June 24th, 2011

WOPA has launched the thematic section of their website this week. Collectors are now able to view stamps of the different countries participating in the World Online Philatelic Agency website by thematic in the different languages. The thematic section is very user friendly and displays the thematic stamp results in country order.

The World Online Philatelic Agency, commonly known in the philatelic business as WOPA continues to grow the number of countries and continues to improve the offers available to collectors of new issues on its website.

Denmark is the latest country to have joined the site although informed sources have said that several more major countries are ready to join the website shortly and therefore offer their stamps at FACE VALUE direct to collectors through WOPA.

We have heard from collectors that they are pleased to be able to buy stamps at FACE VALUE from several countries (read more)

published June 23rd, 2011

The African nation of Liberia will issue two sheets of chocolate themed postage stamps commemorating one of their leading exports, cocoa. Postage stamps on the first sheet are designed to appear as blocks of chocolate in an unwrapped candy bar, while the second sheet portrays a box of truffles–each stamp depicting a different gourmet confection. Both sheets are cocoa scented. Liberia’s climate being so favorable to agriculture allows the country to be an exporter of products such as rubber, coffee, rice, cassava (tapioca),palm oil, sugarcane, bananas, timber, and cocoa.

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published June 22nd, 2011

This month’s Royal Mail’s special issue features the famous tank engine. We find out how he sprang from Reverend Awdry’s mind to physical reality

It all started as an attempt to keep a poorly child amused. As Christopher Awdry recounts: ‘In the autumn or 1942, I caught measles, and my father tried to enliven my bed-bound quarantine with a rhyme he remembered from his own childhood: “Early in the morning, down by the station. See the littlie engines all in a r0w’, Along comes the driver, pulls a little lever. Peep, peep, chuff’, chuff, off we go.” He drew me a picture to illustrate the verse, giving each engine a different facial expression, which prompted me to ask questions about the unhappy-looking engine: “what’s his name’” and “why is he sad?” Explanations were given – the sad – faced engine was called Edward. And so stories incorporating the many facets or the engines began to form, but because each time he told the stories the details would always be that little bit different, I began to criticise the changes. So, my father, perhaps in self-defence, decided to write down the three stories he had created, “That,” he may have thought, “might keep the boy quiet!’”  (read more)

published June 21st, 2011

Given Canada’s sometimes daunting landscapes and often extreme weather, delivering the mail has, at times, required a little ingenuity. This se-tenant stamp issue, issued in time for the 2011 Royal Philatelic Show, depicts two of the more unusual methods of mail delivery.

In the winter of 1910, a snapped telegraphic cable severed communications between the people the Magdalen Islands north of Cape Breton and the mainland. Faced with isolation, the leaders of the community rigged a ponchon—a large barrel used for transporting molasses—with a rudder and sail, marked with the inscription “WINTER MAGDELEN MAIL.”

After testing to ensure their jerry-rigged vessel was watertight, they piled in steel boxes filled with letters, including one explaining the situation and imploring the finder to mail the letters. Launched on February 2nd, the ponchon was found at Port Hastings, Nova Scotia, more than a week later, by Murdoch McIssac—who forwarded the letters as requested.  (read more)

published June 21st, 2011

The Stammersdorf local railway, today also known as the Weinviertel Regional Railway, is a single-track, non-electrified branch line operated by the Austrian Federal Railways in the Weinviertel of Lower Austria. Originally, it ran from Stammersdorf to Dobermannsdorf via Auersthal, but today only the section from Obersdorf to Bad Pirawarth is in operation.
The Stephaniebrücke – Stammersdorf steam tramway line was opened on 7 June 1884. Two years later, on 15 June 1886, Dampftramway Krauss & Comp.commenced freight operations over the entire route. On 2 December 1897, the Lower Austrian Provincial Committee for the first time recommended the Diet to construct a local railway from Stammersdorf to Auersthal. Only one year later, on 4 September 1898, the technical report for the project for a standard gauge local railway from Stammersdorf to Auersthal had been completed. On the basis of the authorisation deed dated 16 November 2, 1901, work was begun on the construction of the line, which was approved by the technical authorities on 15 April 1903 and opened on 26 April of the same year.

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published June 20th, 2011

The land crabs of Christmas Island are remarkable for their abundance and the role they play in the ecology of the island’s rainforest.

Through their scavenging activities they recycle utrients locked in fallen leaves. Their burrowing tills the soil and their browsing on tree fruits and shoots is probably an important factor in determining forest composition.

Twenty-three land or freshwater crabs have been identified on the island.

Red crab Gecarcoidea natalis (60c)
The sight of the red crabs on their annual breeding migration is one of the outstanding natural spectacles of the world.

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published June 20th, 2011

Royal Mail launches interactive post with digital watermarking technology. Landmark deal means companies can link consumers to websites and videos through the post. Customers use their 3G phone to scan digitally-enhanced mail.

Royal Mail has become the world’s first postal company to help businesses make their post interactive using digital watermarking technology.

Combining state-of-the-art technology with history and heritage enables people to link from their post to a company’s online content, such as a website, video or Facebook page, in seconds.

People receiving the digitally-enhanced post simply scan the mail with their 3G phone to start an online journey.
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published June 19th, 2011

Emerging in France between the two world wars, Art Deco was a creative response to the dull austerity of the First World War that permeated the design of furniture, household goods and textiles. Still, the movement made its most lasting contribution to early 20th century architecture. Beginning between 1908 and 1912, Art Deco gained mainstream exposure at the exposition from which it took its name: the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Moderne in Paris, France in 1925, and the period continued well into the Great Depression. In fact, several prominent Canadian Art Deco buildings were constructed as a result of federal employment initiatives.

According to designer Ivan Novotny of Taylor | Sprules, “Many of the great (Art) Deco buildings across this country have very distinct silhouettes that were defined by the principles of the movement. It’s the commonly overlooked extraordinary details that adorn these great spires that demand a closer look.”

In addition to dramatic black and white photo-graphy, Novotny adds that the stamp design “uses bold geometric forms and vibrant colours, to capture each building’s unique character.”  (read more)

published June 19th, 2011