Sh Madan Middha of Gwalior has recently published a book “Year Book of Philately 2010 “. It is a reasonably priced publication @ Rs 200 per copy and has extensive articles , News , Data and Information on Stamps issued in 2010 , Postal Stationery 2010 , MS of 2010 , News & Coverage about International Exhibitions. A book worth keeping in your collection for ready reference.

The next edition of the year book will be for 2011. Mr Middha request the Editors / Publishers of the various philatelic publications in India or about India, to please send their 2011 volumes for the inclusion of the printed materials there-in in the Bibliography section of the year book. Their publications may be sent back to them after the job ; if required so.

Those desirous can contact Mr Madan Middha, Saket Vihar, Phalka Bazar, Gwalior-474001

madan_middha@yahoo.co.in

It has been our continuous endeavour to promote Philately and make it possible for more and more people from all walks of Life, Young and Old , Men and Women to take up this wonderful hobby.

Time out magazine of Delhi has carried information West Delhi Philatelic Club and on Philately in in its issue dated Sept 17-30 2010. This magazine has a circulation of  30,000 in Delhi.

A Article in INDIAN EXPRESS Newspaper was Published on International  Collectors’ Society of Rare Items  (ICSRI) . It was Founded in 1995 with Seven Members and now has 150 Life Members . Thirty of their members have found a mention in Limca Book of Records . The Secretary of the Society Mr Pratisad Neurgaonkar is a Collector of Postal Stationery of India printed since 1856 and has even written an excellent Book on Postal Stationery of British India 1856-1947.

Contributed By Mr Pratisad Neurgaonkar – Pune

Sh Madan Middha of Gwalior has recently published a book “Year Book of Philately 2009 “. It is a reasonably priced publication @ Rs 150 per copy and has extensive articles , News , Data and Information on Stamps issued in 2009 , Postal Stationery 2009 , MS of 2009 , News & Coverage about International Exhibitions. A book worth keeping in your collection for ready reference.

Those desirous can contact Mr Madan Middha

madan_middha@yahoo.co.in

Hockey is National Game of India . Most of Indians  Complain that Hockey does not get its due and always plays second Fiddle to Cricket – even Tennis and Golf get more attention than Hockey . But when opportunity comes our way to promote and popularise this game we falter.

2010 World Cup Hockey is being hosted by India at Delhi from 28th Feb 2010. India defeated Pakistan in a thrilling encounter on 28th Feb 2010 and all of us enjoyed a wonderful game and praised our team.

I wish INDIA POST had issued  one or two stamps to mark or commemorate this event . It is a World Level Tournament where we have to tell the World lot of things

Firstly – India is a Great Country capable of Hosting a World Class event

Secondly – India is still GOOD at Hockey and we love this game as a Nation

Thirdly – We can also host Commonwealth Games inspite of all adverse Publicity.

I think a Golden chance has been missed by INDIA POST to issue a stamp on an International Event about which we are  aware of  since the last 3 Years. It could have been easily included in 2010 Issue Programme.

Contributed by Joseph ,Karnataka

The next meeting of West Delhi Philatelic Club is scheduled to be held on 06 Dec 2009 at the same venue. All are our well wishers must be aware of our endeavour to move forward and do some constructive and Positive work for the development of Philately. Another article on Internet Philately has been published in the Prestigious newspaper The Hindustan Times. We are sure that all our readers and well wishers have been able to read this article . We are overwhelmed by the number of calls and messages received by the Office Bearers.

Here Is The Link For The Full Coverage:

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=22_11_2009_012_003&mode=1

News – Article on Philately – Dainik Jagran

An article on Philately in Delhi Edition of  leading Hindi Newspaper Dainik Jagran has been published in its Edition dated 28 Nov 2009.  Members of West Delhi Philatelic Club  will appreciate the efforts being put in to Popularise the hobby among the People of all age groups and all walks of life.

A link is given below for the benefit of our readers.

http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/epaper/index.php?location=2&edition=2009-11-28&pageno=20

2010 is likely to be Year of International Events like Commonwealth Games , World Cup Football, World Cup Hockey in India in Feb – Mar 2010 and Maybe an International Philatelic Exhibition in Dec 2010 or Jan -Feb 2011. Next meeting shall have lot of things to discuss namely

- Plans for 2010

- Identification of Thrust Areas

- Set Aims for 2010 and Identify Key Result Areas.

- Participation in Philatelic Events

We invite all Philatelists to join us and help us with their valuable and constructive suggestions to make this Club  a force to reckon with in the Philatelic World and among the Philatelists Fraternity. Let’s be better than the Best. We invite all Philatelists  from NCR region and Satellite towns of Delhi to join us. It is a Great Opportunity so- do not miss it

Venue:-M-1, First Floor,

Dewan House, Ajay Enclave,

Near Ajanta Cinema, Subash Nagar Metro Station

Subash Nagar,New Delhi

Date:- 06.12.2009.

Time:- 11.30A.M to 01.30P.M.

Contact person:-

1.Mr.Vinod Sabharwal, 9312601414,President

Sh Gautam Arora has very kindly consented to provide and arrange for Tea,snacks and Lunch for the meeting . Mr VK Sabharwal has taken on the mantle of arranging the Hall .

Tags: West Delhi Philatelic Club -Monthly Meeting

India Post releases different types of Philatelic material through its Philatelic Bureaus in the country. It is estimated that there are about 40 lakhs (4.0 Million) collectors in India. This article is a result of interaction with a large number of Philatelists whom I have come across at various forums during my visits and tours all across the country. After discussing with the Philatelists from all age groups, all stratas of Society , Beginners to Advanced collectors etc it was decided to write this article to bring forth the view points of Philatelists. I am sure people at the helm of affairs on this issue shall take it as  constructive suggestions.

The article shall cover all Philatelic materials being presently marketed by India Post.

Stamps,Brochures,Postal Stationery, Presentation Packs, Booklets

Stamps

Commemorative

Stamp, Se tenant, First Day Cover , Miniature sheet,set of Stamps,Sheet let, Sheet, Quantity

Definitive

Size ,Quantity

Stamps  :Commemorative

The commemorative stamps are being issued in various sizes and  shapes , this has resulted in storage problems for Philatelists. It is recommended that  all commemorative stamps must be issued in 2-3 standard sizes and the designer has the liberty to design the stamp  and of any shape within this size only. It will go a long way in promoting this hobby. This standard size can be decided by Department of Posts. This is also linked to the FDC size. The number of stamps in a sheet of all types of sizes must be 30 only.

Se Tenants

As of late we have se-tenants of different types namely standard se-tenants, se-tenants in block of four, se –tenants in horizontal and vertical strips of three/four. This has created confusion in minds of collectors specially beginners. It is recommended that a limited number say 4-5 Se-tenants must be issued per year and restricted to pair / block of Four. Se-tenants must also conform to the standard stamp size.

First day Cover

The first cover must be of 2-3 standard sizes based on standard stamp sizes, some of covers released are too big to store or keep. If possible all FDC’s must be numbered.

Set of stamps on Themes

The set of stamps to released on any thematic themes must be 4/6 as otherwise the FDC / Sheet size becomes too large. It is also recommended that a maximum of four sets per year only must be released.

Miniature Sheets

A large number of miniature sheets released  can not be put on FDC’s and hence no cancelled FDC’s could be made. The miniature sheets should be of 2 sizes and conform to FDC sizes. A maximum of six miniature sheets must be issued per year to keep the interest and value in the item. All miniature sheets be serially numbered.

Sheet let

A large number of sheet lets have been issued in various sizes which has created problems of storage, packing , use and dispatching in mails. The sheet lets should contain only 16 stamps in pure sheet let form and in case it  mixed sheet let for set of stamps where set size is 4/6 stamps per set then the mixed sheet let should contain 16/18 stamps only (Four sets of four stamp sets or three sets of six stamp sets). The mixed sheet lets should be on themes and pure sheet lets should be on National / International events and organizations.

Sheet

All personalities stamps should be in sheets and all sheets to contain 30 stamps only. It will also ease accounting problems for staff at Philatelic bureaus.

Definitive Stamps

Size

All definitive stamps of a particular series must be of same size. The denominations in a particular series must conform to prevalent postage rates for example as on date definitive stamps should be of   25p, 200p , 500p, 1000p and 5000p only.

Quantity per Die Plate

The quantity per die plate must be fixed and known to the Philatelists by means of Brochure/ Circular to Philatelic Bureau.

Quantity per sheet

There could be two types of sheets, one containing 50 stamps for Philatelists and for sale through Bureaus and second containing 100 stamps per sheet for sale through normal counters at all Post offices.

First Day Cover and Cancellation

A philatelic event without day and date stamp/ cancellation is incomplete. No study or historical records can be kept. Hence all definitive issues should be released with FDC, First Day Cancellation and Brochures.

Brochures

All Brochures released alongwith the commemorative and definitive stamps should be of same size containing all the technical details and details about design on FDC also.

Postal Stationery

Commemorative Stationery

Apart from the normal  Postal stationery with advertisements , some Commemorative stationery must also be issued but restricted to 10 per year on various themes like art, sports, cultural heritage, wild life ,fauna & Flora, tourism etc. The print quantity of such stationery items could be 5.0 lakhs or 0.5 million for all issues.

First Day Cancellation and cover

All Postal stationery must be provided with First day Issue cancellation and cover.

Meghdoot Post Cards

These post cards have lost their charm as no records of issue are available /known

And have been released in such large numbers that it is humanly impossible for any Philatelist to procure or possess all of them. Hence only a limited number  may be up to 48 per year @ scale of 4 per month should be only issued and should be broadly on social themes on which stamps are not possible .

Presentation Packs

As on date the issue of Presentation packs suffers from lack of information. No Publicity/ date of issue/ quantity issued  etc is known to Philatelists or the Public. This can be made attractive for collectors in the following manner

Issue on International Themes/ Sports/ Wild Life Conservation

Standard Contents  ( MS + Brochure + Cancelled FDC)

Standard Pricing

Only for Miniature sheet issues.

Booklets

The issue of Booklets by the Regional Postal Circles is the biggest sore point. It is resulting in malpractices and unfair trade practices. Some of the smaller Postal Circles are issuing Booklets on various themes in liaison with local dealers as commercial ventures resulting in unfair pricing , hoarding , black marketing and cheating the philatelists. A small quantity is being printed and issued and that too is being issued and procured by a handful of  people and thus denying large number of Philatelists a chance to procure them. India Post must immediately issue instructions to all Postal Circles that the minimum acceptable Print quantity of any Booklet should be 20000, keeping in view the size of Country , No of Postal Circles and No of Collectors . Each of the booklets must be serially numbered to give them Philatelic value as also transparency in its distribution. The Booklets issued by all Postal Circles should be available at all Philatelic Bureaus of the Country.

Visit to Philatelic Bureau

A Visit to Philatelic Bureau is not a pleasant experience because of the uncertainty involved. A philatelist does not know – What will he get- a sheet or sheet let or MS or FDC? What will it be its size, does he have the right kind of packing material to carry this material?. In today’s World of High –Tech environment we are still groping in dark on many such issues.

Conclusion

These articles are written with a view to make this Hobby attractive to the Youth and prevent those collecting from getting disgruntled and disheartened. It is hoped that it shall provide a inside view to India Post  about wants, requirements and difficulties of common average  Philatelists of the country who travel  a long distance , spend lot of time , energy , money and resources to make a visit to the Philatelic Bureau and yet  return from the Bureau unable to get what they wish to collect. The aim is not to criticize any individual/ organization but a request to all like minded people to help us in Promoting and saving this hobby.

Contributed by: Vinod Sabharwal, New Delhi