From Indonesia

Two beautiful covers that I recieved from Indonesia.
The first day cover was inside the outer cover.

Thank You,Irene

From Singapore

The four stamps at the top were released by Singapore Post as the biennale festivals stamps on 20 October 2010. These stamps depict the festivals celebrated by the 4 main races in Singapore - Chinese New Year for the Chinese, Hari Raya Haji/Puasa for the Malays, Deepavali or Diwali for the Indians and for the Eurasians who are mostly Christians, Christmas. There are 2 stamps for each festival, the 1st local one for local addressee and the 55-cent postcard rate for posting overseas.
The green stamp at the corner was released on 13 April 2011as a part of a new low value definitive stamp series of 10 stamps depicting the amazing diversity and beauty of a pond ecosystem. This new low value definitive stamp series completed the "Pond Life" definitive collection. The high value definitive "Pond Life" stamp set was issued on 16 February this year.
Surprisingly the stamps used are 1st local for the cover sent overseas to India!!!

Thank You Edmund Ong for this lovely cover.Yesterday, I have already posted a cover for you

India's Presidential Palace - Rashtrapati Bhavan

A set of four stamps and a miniature sheet has been issued today by India Post to commemorate one of the oldest and most splendid architectural landmarks of the country that is also the official residence of India's President - Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential House/Palace)

The erstwhile Viceregal Lodge, designed by Edwin Lutyens as a symbol of the imperial empire, has been the official residence of the Head of the State since 1950, when Rajendra Prasad became the first President.
At present, it is the largest residence of any Chief of the State in the world.The construction of the building was planned for 4 years, but World War I intervened and construction required 19 years to complete. Its first occupant, Lord Irwin, began occupation on Jan. 23, 1931

From Kabul

Recently I got this cover which was sent from Afghanistan to India in the year 1987.

We hear so much about this country but rarely we get anything related to philately.This is my first philatelic item related to Afghanistan.

Beautiful Covers from France

I got these covers from Saturday's auction.They are just awesome!!!!

From Cyprus

This aerogramme was sent from Limassol ,Cyprus to Kolkata on 26th May 1965.

The aerogramme contains a request from M/s Michaelides in Limassol for getting some samples of Galvanised Hex. Bolts and Nuts from M/s Shree Krishna P.L.

It arrived in Calcutta on 1st May 1965.

Today in the year 2011 when all the correspondence happen through emails specially business' this aergramme is an example of the time when life moved bit slower than what it is today,50 years later.

I acquired this cover from a dealer and charged nothing for it.He said he was about to throw it away.I liked the cover the moment I put my eyes on it though it was folded and wrinkled at many places.

I tried enquiring about the stamps but couldn't find anything.Can any one help me on this???

A cover from Vienna ,Austria

I found a very well preserved cover from a local dealer.The cover is from Austria having two very beautiful stamps.I thought of getting some details of the stamp over the net but mostly they were not in English but still I managed some information.

The red stamp with golden border contains the picture of Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II.
The stamps were issued in October 25,1996 to commemorate Austria's first official naming 1000 years ago.The Austrian Post and Telecom honoured the occassion with issuance of a ten-part commemorative series.The stamp is the sixth stamp of the series dedicated to two great reformers Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II.With their reforms they established a more effective administration and economy and secure the monarchy's continuation.

The second or the smaller stamp portrays the city of Vienna commemorating the German Order.The German Order has an interesting history.During the days of Crusades,hospital orders were established in the Middle East to treat the wounded or sick soldiers and pilgrims.The Brothers of the German House of the Virgin Mary of Jerusalem was founded in 1190 AD.Initially it had its headquarter at Akkon in Palestine and then shifted to Venice in 1291 AD after the fall of Akkon.Since 1805 AD ,however,Vienna has been its headquarter.

At last I found one-La Martiniere Schools -175 Years of great service

After a long search and a long wait I was able to get hold of this cover.I tried my luck with the GPO and with numerous dealers but I couldn't get one until yesterday at the weekly philately bazaar I found one piece tucked under many other Indian FDCs.It took quite a lot of convincing with the dealer to part with it because he himself wanted to keep it for his personal collection.

To mark the 175 years of La Martiniere Schools' establishment on 01/03/2011 India Post has released the stamp and FDC to pay rich tribute to the school.

The Rs 05 denomination stamp depicts the beautiful school building in the back ground and in the insight it potrays a bust of Major General Claude Martin.

Major General Claude Martin was an officer in French and later with the British East India acquired his fortune while serving Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula. Martin ,in his will left the major part of his estate for the estatblishment of three schools to be named La Martiniere in his memory.

The schools were to be located at Calcutta,Lucknow and Lyon.