The Longest stamp of Sri Lanka

The Philatelic Bureau of Posts issued five stamps including the longest stamp of Sri Lanka throughout the postal history. This was issued in 2011 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Viceroy Special Train. It has a value of Rs.45(LKR)

This stamp is 123mm long and 30mm wide was launched at the ceremony which was held under the patronage of Minister of Postal Services Jeewan Kumarathunga and Transport Minister Kumara Welgama.

'Viceroy Special' is owned by Sri Lanka railway and managed by JF Tours. This is a coal powered steam train. It is the only steam train still in operation in Sri Lanka. This train has two air-conditioned observation saloons with 64 plush reclining seats.

The Sri Lankan Railway came into operation in 19th century during the British era. It was introduced to transport tea and coffee from up country. Later it was used to transport passengers also. Nowadays it is the major transportation method in Sri Lanka. Tourists love to have a journey from a train. They never forget to get a true experience by this.

While come across with an another article, So much, Good Luck..!!!

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Process of printing stamps

                                      I thought that you have a great desire to know how postage stamps are printed. So I decided to write this article.

                                      Postage stamps were printed by single color in earl(As example, US did not print multicolored stamps until 1869). With the development of technology it became to multicolored stamps.

There are number of various patterns of printing postage stamps as,

• Intaglio stamp printing method
• Letterpress stamp printing method
• Rotogravure stamp printing method

                                      I found a video from you-tube. This is a video created in 1993 for the Postal Museum's Stamps and Stories Gallery. It shows the way of printing stamps. Watch it...!!!

                                      Now I think that you got a better idea about printing postage stamps and the various patterns of printing postage stamps. While come across with an another article, So much, Good Luck..!!!

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World Most Valuable Postage Stamps

                           After creating Penny Black in 19th century, the postal system was gradually changed. Then the appearance of stamps also changed while the old stamps destructing gradually. And those rare stamps became more valuable and people allured to collect them.

Abraham Lincon

                          The stamp which demonstrate Abraham Lincon's profile, is one of rare stamps in world. It was issued in 1867 in US. And also Andrew Jackson's profile viewed stamp also brought forward with this stamp. However, it cost as much as 15 cents, five times the value of most other US stamps of that period. Now this stamp is valued at $200,000.

The declaration of Independence

                         In 1869, United States issued a stamp to commemorate the declaration of independence. This stamp was printed in two colors as green and violet. This stamp had a 24 cents face value. But now it is valued at about $275,000.

Landing of Columbus

                         Stamp which demonstrate the landing of Columbus is a copy of a famous painting by John Vanderlyn that depicts the historical arrival of the Italian expedition to the shores of the New World. This stamp also printed from brown and blue. This stamp had 15 cents face value. But nowadays, an unused inverted sample goes for $275,000.

                         This is only few details about rare stamps. There are so many rare stamps which are most valuable. If you are a lucky owner of such stamp, you can be rich within a moment.

While come across with an another article,

So much, Good Luck..!!!

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Postal History of Sri Lanka

First stamp of Sri Lanka
(Ceylon)

                                    The first stamp of Ceylon(Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon before 1972) was issued on 1 April 1857. It has a portrait of Queen Victoria and it brown in colour. The value of the stamp is 6 pence and it can be used to send a half ounce letter from Ceylon to England. And also eight more stamps were issued in year 1857  featuring the portrait of Queen Victoria.

Dull Rose 4p stamp

                However, one of the 5 stamps that were issued on 23 April 1859 is considered as most valuable stamp in Sri Lanka. It had a value of 4 pence with a dark pink colour known as the "Dull Rose".

                             The day, 22 May 1972 was the conclusive day because Ceylon was named as Sri Lanka and stamps were marked Sri Lanka were issued from that day. However Sri Lanka is the only country which demostrate the country name on the stamp from 3 languages as Sinhala, Tamil and English.

                             Later, Sri Lanka has been get started to issuing souvenir sheets since 1966. The souvenir sheet was on the topic of "Typical Birds of Sri Lanka". And also it is imperforate. Now, Sri Lanka issues several souvenirs annually. They are very attractive. So many stamp collectors try to collect those souvenirs also.

                             Until come across from an important article about stamps, So much, Good Luck..!!!

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Components of a stamp

          If you read the previous blog posts in this blog, now you have a idea about postage stamp. By studying this post you can understand the major components of the postage stamp.

            You know that postage stamp is a small piece of paper which is pasted on the top-right corner of the envelope when sending a letter or something. This stamp is consist with four major components. They are,

1. Image or the picture
2. Perforations
3. Denomination
4. Country name

             When considering image or the picture which are printed on the stamp, it always gives the purpose or the idea brought out by the stamp.

           "Perforations" are the small holes around the stamp. These are used to separate the stamps. Number of perforations around the stamp are different from one kind of stamp to another kind of stamp. It is represent in first day cover of the each stamp.

          Every stamp has a face value. It is represent in the stamp. This face value represent in the stamp is known as "Denomination". As an example, if you buy a stamp of $1, it is represent on the stamp that the face value is $1.

         The country name which stamp belongs to is printed in the stamp in most stamps. Some countries doesn't mention their country name on the stamp. Great Britain is one of the countries that doesn't mention the country name on the stamp, because United Kingdom was the country in the world which start to use postage stamps.

            I think that you were learned and understand the major components of the stamp. Be in alert! As soon as I will present another valuable post about a topic based on stamps. So much Good Luck to all...!!!

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World First Postage Stamp

          Before 1840, the British Postal system was highly complex and very expensive. Letters were charged considering two main matters as,

• The distance
• The sheets of paper, letter contained

Penny Black stamp

          As a solution to this problem, Sir Rowland Hill published his pamphlet Post Office Reform: Its Importance & practicability. His solution was pre-payment for the letters & the charge should be low and uniform. As a result Penny Black, world's first postage stamp was manufactured.

Sir Rowland Hill and
his signature.

       Penny Black is the world's first postage stamp used in public postal system. It was manufactured in London, United Kingdom on 1st of May 1840 and it was valid for postage from May 6, 1840. This stamp showed the Queen Victoria's profile. This stamp had a face value of One Penny.

          The Penny Black was in use for only a little over a year. It was found that re cancellation was hard to see on a black background and the red ink was easy to remove, making it possible to re-use stamps after they had been cancelled. In 1841, the Treasury switched to the Penny Red and issued cancellation devices with black ink, much more effective as a cancellation and harder to remove. In 1864, the stars in the top corners were replaced by the check letters as they appeared in the lower coroners, but in reverse order.

          Today also United Kingdom, doesn't their country name on postage stamps because it is the country which introduced the first postage stamp to the world.

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Introduction to Philately

                If you asked someone what is meant by "Philately", sometimes he/she can say that philately is collecting stamps as a hobby. As in Wikipedia, Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items.

                We know that philately is a very popular hobby in the world. But many of those who doing philately as a hobby, don't know the history of philately. Many casual stamp collectors accumulate stamps for sheer enjoyment and relaxation without worrying about the tiny details.The first postage stamps collector was John Bourke. He was the Receiver-General of Stamp Duties in Ireland in 1774. 

                The word "philately" is the English version of the French word "philatélie", coined by Georges Herpin in 1864. Herpin stated that stamps had been collected and studied for the previous six or seven years and a better name was required for the new hobby than timbromanie, which was disliked. (The alternative terms "timbromania", "timbrophily" and "timbrology" gradually fell out of use as philately gained acceptance during the 1860s)

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