Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. and Zubeida Agha

Zubeida Agha (1922-1997)Zubeida Agha, born in Faisalabad, was a woman with the courage of her convictions. She lived her life for art, creating paintings that will enable future generations to share her extraordinary vision. Zubeida graduated in Philosophy from Kinniard College and cast about for explanations for her wildly coloured dreams about painting. She began her study of art with Sanyal in Lahore. In her early work, she attempted to explore the theme in the medium of sculpture, also surrealistic paintings, done in somber colours with titles "Wisdom, "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Deserted Street" and so on. She was offered an art scholarship in 1950,  and was enrolled at St. Martin's School of Arts, London but six months later transferred to the Ecole des Beau Arts, Paris and there, she began her serious study of art.Zubeida thoroughly explored the possibilities of colour, returning to Pakistan in 1953, with an intense, vigorously imaginative style of painting. Her opinions on modern art developments were definite. "What is the point of painting problems, does it solve anything. Galleries, are more interested in sales than standards and the artists are complicit in this. Without sincerity there is no true art", she once said. In 1965, Zubeida was Awarded the President\'s Award for the Pride of Performance. She died in 1997.

Ali Imam

Ali Imam (1924-2002)Ali Imam started painting in 1941 when he joined the evening classes of the Nagpur School of Art. He held his first one-man show at Rawalpindi in 1952. Included in this exhibition were watercolour street scenes of Lahore of pastoral activity, such as winnowing, threshing by village women. After graduating from Gordon College, Rawalpindi, in 1949; he worked with peasants in villages as a Communist party worker till 1951. His observation of village life was projected in his paintings, like Punjabi village women at their homely tasks, churning curd to make butter, grinding corn and pounding spices with mortar, the women sat on low high-backed chairs, typical of rural Punjab. In his work figures are utterly simplified and are heavily swathed in loose garments.Ali Imam went to London in 1956 where he lived till 1967. On his return, he developed a simple yet sophisticated style in which human figures, horses and other objects were shown in his paintings with soft subdued greys, blues, browns and yellows and neutral colours. Later his design quality became less but great emphasis given on the text of the paint. For this he laid pigment on pigment in related hues in such dots and patches so that the lower layers glimmered through and certain colours vibrations were created.Ali Imam was of the first generation of Pakistan artists and promoter. From 1970 till 2002 he was running the Indus Gallery Karachi where many notable artists have held their first shows. His sole aim was to promote artist, create a public awareness and educate art collectors, May 23, 2002, was the day, when a very important chapter of Pakistan art history closed. He was awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and President's Award for the Pride of Performance.

Tintin And Aircraft for Success

So if you want success in your life you can get this sheet.

Shakir Ali postage stamp

Shakir Ali (1916-1975)

Shakir Ali, born in Rampur of undivided India in 1916 received his early art education at the J.J. School of Art Bombay and later at the Slade School of Art, London, in France with Andre L 'Hote, and in Prague, before he came to Pakistan. He began by painting in the style of Braque, making bulls' heads and still life in a Cubist manner. Later, found his own style in which human figures, horses and cattle in a few bold, powerful lines. There was masterly economy in his style and tremendous force in his line. The distortion of the natural form was based on a close study of nature. Shaker Ali is acknowledged as the founder of Modern art in Pakistan, and he introduced the philosophy and developments in art to generation of young artist. His position as teacher gave him a special opportunity to influence the young artists of Lahore. Moreover, his friendly nature brought him in touch with a large section of the cultural world, his persuasive and sincere manner of talking helped him to bring round the young artists to his manner of thinking.Once a discussion with artists and art critics Shakir Ali said, "I am not totally abstract. This is a period of symbolism. Every artist passes through this period and I think I am also passing through this period. Similarly the moon and flowers which shine equally all over the world, symbolized universality". He was also of the opinion that "Each one of us is born with a bird, free unfettered, reaching out for the infinite. But owing to the prejudices of our civilization, the restriction of our families and the superimposition of convention, that bird is caged and loss its notes of freedom. I am trying to find that bird in men. And if I do, I will pass it on. That bird will go right from me to you".Shakir Ali was one of the first artists to explore calligraphy in a painterly style. He died on January 27, 1975, few days after he attended the funeral of Abdur Rahman Chughtai. He was awarded President's Award for the Pride of Performance in 1967 and Sitara-e-lmtiaz in 1971.

Bashir Mirza (1941 -2000) “The Lonely Girl

Bashir Mirza (1941 -2000)


Bashir Mirza, known as BM in the art world, was born in Amritsar. His father was a woodwork designer. He came to Pakistan on August 14, 1947. After graduating from National College of Arts with distinction in 1962. Bashir set off for Karachi to seek fame and fortune. On the strength of his work he was offered a job at the Pakistan Security Corporation in 1962. But he was impatient to explore other avenues and handed in his registration. Soon after leaving his first post, Bashir joined an advertising agency, where his creative ability outweighed his resistance to routine. His salary increased and he learned a lot about the business of advertising and public relations. Bashir planned to open an Art Gallery at the end of 1965, it was a milestone of an art event. Artists of Lahore and Karachi contributed work to the premiere exhibition and a select group of invitees, artists, the media, diplomats and VIPs attended the smart reception.During the gallery years Bashir painted a large body of work. He was above all a figurative painter; the human form and how it mirrored individual emotions fascinated him. As a device, he incorporated contrasting abstract elements in his work, very individual and very much of his own style. From 1969 to 1971, he visited Germany and on return painted two very striking series, which he called “The Lonely Girl” series and “Flower Flowers” series. This series heralded a major period in Bashir's creative maturity, highlighting the artist\'s superb manipulation of his medium and brilliant sense of composition. In the first, lightly clad females were shown in dramatic poses with billowing costumes of diaphanous material with bright colours. In the second, square canvases were filled with a woman\'s head and a magnified flower. In 1989 he painted on large canvases some of the faces he had drawn in pen and ink in his portfolio "People of Pakistan". From 1990 till death he had been painting in thick brush strokes vigorously applied, under the influence of the Indian artist F.N. Souza, but with brighter colours and more attractive forms, with great spontaneity. He was awarded President's Award for the Pride of Performance in 1994.

Laila Shahzada,Pakistan stamps

Painters of Pakistan,

Here are rare Stamps of Pakistan that you can get if you contact me.All are franked used stamps.

While every Pakistani deserves commendation for doing his bit for the progress and development of Pakistan, the artists and painters, beside other celebrities, painted endlessly to project the cultural aspirations of their dear country Pakistan. There is a long list of these great painters and calligraphers, but few definitely stand out above the rest. Recently on 14 August 2006, the Pakistan Post issued a set of ten commemorative stamps to honour these few. Herein under is a brief on each of the chosen ones, beside exclusive sites in Pakistan Paedia on some of them. In fact this is a posthumous tribute to ten great painters who helped to raise an awareness of art in Pakistan and established their names in universal art world.(A few great names like Chughtai, Ustad Allah Bakhsh, Haji Muhammad Sharif and Aftab Zafar are missing here for the reason that a set of commemorative stamps has already been issued by the Pakistan Post)These stamps have been designed by Adil Salahuddin, general manager Pakistan Post. A graduate from the National College of Art, Lahore, he is also designer of over 550 stamps for the Pakistan Post.

Laila Shahzada (1926-1994)

Laila Shahzada's early years of schooling were spent in England. Adolescence was spent in the family home in India, where she was surrounded by the traditions of the past. She spoke of silver furniture, bowls of pearls, iridescent ornaments cool to the touch that were intrinsic ingredients of this period in her life. Reality came with partition, when life itself became the only object to be considered. Her earliest paintings of the 1950s were delicate tentative, in marked contrast to the later forceful work executed as 'Drift Moods'. Initially trained in England in drawing and watercolour, Laila received early encouragement in Pakistan from Fyzee Rahamin and his musicologist wife, Attiya Begum. In those days, there were few women artists in Pakistan, and it was Nagi who taught her to use oils. She made a great impact on the media when the “Drift Moods” paintings were exhibited in 1964, a series inspired by pieces of driftwood battered into distorted forms by the power of the sea. These Laila compared to the human condition, forced into unnatural shapes by stronger powers.Later inspired by the artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization, she worked on a series titled “Moenjodaro”, shown in New York, where she was awarded a gold medal and the Key of the city of New York in 1975. Laila has painted seventy historical paintings, a substantial contribution to this genre. In 1995 her work was included in an exhibition of Paintings from Pakistan at the Pacific, Asia Museum, California where her landscape paintings were graded with those of Georgia O\'keefe. She was awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz in 1986, and in 1994 was posthumously awarded The Presidents Award for the Pride of Performance.

Tintin Astronaut !

Astronaut Stamp Band

Here is a band from an Astronaut Sheet.If you need let me know.

Animated Lobster and Starfish .

The Four bands of the Stamp sheet

Very often the stamp is displayed ignoring the  band that holds the stamps.This time, you can see the equally nice stamp band.On Display are the different sea creatures.

Crab with the Sea Creatures in Stamps

Sea Creatures in Stamps

Here  are some recently issued Sea creature stamps.Let me know if you find them attractive.
If you have a need of such stamps let me know.They glow in the dark.

Sea Creatures Sheet

Underwater marvels on a sheet

So you now can get this famous  glossy sheet if you so desire.However this sheet is costly and tough to get.

Tintin Museum

National Museum of Kuala Lumpur

Here is an image of the National Museum.This place is located along a highway.

This museum is near the city transit area of buses and trains.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Card

Panaromic View of the Airport

Probably the main gateway entrance via Air.There are several Airports in Malaysia..Kuala Lumpur International Airport  is  far from the city centre.There are bus services and fast train services.

Quaid Pakistan Air Force - BREAKING THE BARRIERS

Pakistan Air Force - BREAKING THE BARRIERS
	Date of Issue (March 23, 2005)
	SALIENT FEATURES Size of Stamp: 34 x 29 mmSize of Print: 30 x 25 mm Perforation: 13CDenomination: Rs. 5/- each designNo. of Stamps in each Sheet: 24 Stamps (6 x 4) each design Printing: Multi Colours Litho OffsetPrinting Inks: Cyan - Magenta - Yellow - Black by M/s. Sicpa Inks Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. Paper / Grammage: Special Anti-Counterfeit PVA Gum Paper 102 gsm Format: Three Horizontal and one Vertical Design Paper Security Features: Invisible Blue Fibers visible only under UV light Paper Manufacturer: Shanghai Kailum Paper (Group) Co. Ltd. CHINA Colour Separation Processed on: Crossfield Drum Scanner/ Processor Quantity: 0.5 Million Stamps each design Design: Supplied by the customer Printer: Post Office Foundation Press, (Security Division) Karachi. 1.The emergence of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and its evolution to the present status entails annals of heroic deeds, perseverance and devotion. Pakistan Air Force came into existence on 14 August 1947 as Royal Pakistan Air Force, inheriting only few aircraft, maintenance Units and Bases. On its inception, it had little to fly on and even fewer places to fly from.lt started of with only sixteen odd Tempest II planes with 220 officers and 2112 airmen. However, its gradual but steady growth in terms of men and material now makes it a distinguished Air Force. Today it is known as the hardest hitting Air Force of its size.2. PAF Academy Risalpur has the distinction of being the first training Institute visited by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Addressing a small band of intrepid ainnen on the inauguration of PAF; flying school at Risalpur, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, gave the clarion call which would forever be enshrined in the creed and culture of the Pakistan Air force."A country without a strong air force is at the mercy of any aggressor. Pakistan must build up her air force as quickly as possible. It must be an efficient air force, second to none".3 . Heading towards indigenous manufacture, the PAF has embarked upon a journey of independently producing Mushhaq and Super Mushhaq aircraft, which are presently being exported to Middle East and other countries as well. Co-production of aircraft in collaboration with China, K-8 (Jet Trainer) has already been inducted in PAF. JF- 17 Thunder is another joint venture with China in the domain of high tech multi role fighter aircarft for the service. This aircraft has already flown its maiden flight in China last year. Moreover, PAF aeronautical engineers have developed and invented sophisticated Avionics gadgetry and weapon systems, which are not only in use in PAF but also being sought by the allied countries.4. The Pakistan Air Force is a galaxy of professionals, who discharge specialized services in their respective areas, classified as branches. These are: General Duty Pilot GD (P), Engineering, Air Defence, Admin and Special Duties, Education, Meteorology, Information -Technology, Legal and Accounts. Medical officers are seconded to the PAIF from Pak Army.5. PAF bases are located all along the frontiers of Pakistan in such a way that PAF is able to immediately respond to any escalating peace or war time situation. Major operational bases are located at Rafiqui (Shorkot), Masroor (Karachi), Samungli (Quetta), Minhas (Kamra), Peshawar and PAF Base Mushaf (Sargodha), in the name of ACM. Mushaf Ali Mir, Shaheed. Over the years, the PAF has developed an array of training facilities. Notable among these are PAF Academy, Risalpur; PAF Air War College; Combat Commanders' School; Air Defence Traning School; Air Defence System School; Transport Conversion School; Helicopter Training School; Para Training School; Survival Training School; School of Intelligence; Pre-trade Training School; Administrative Trade Training School and School of logistics; (Kohat), School of Aeronautics and School of Electronics (Korangi). PAF has a tradition of training Officers/ Cadets & Airmen from other countries across the globe, particularly from the States of Africa and Asia (particularly Middle East).6. The PAF emblem symbolizes a Muslim flyer. The most striking element is the spread eagle perched in the centre of the roundel. Referred to as "Shaheen" the eagle is a bird of heraldry in eastern tradition The poet-philosopher of the east, Allama lqbal, has visualized a true believer in the grace and majesty of the bird Shaheen. A man imbued with the love and devotion of his Maker (Allah) would, in the spirit of the bird eagle, be capable of high flight and supremacy over the enemy.'ln the emblem, there is a verse line from lqbal's poetry over the bird "Shaheen". Translated, into English, it would read "Be it land or sea, all is beneath my wings". In the same spirit, PAF is honour-bound to play its crucial role in the defence of Pakistan.7. PAF is self-sufficient as far as the maintenance and manpower training is concerned. All air and ground crew training is conducted indigenously. For specialization in technical fields and professional familiarization, PAF personnel also undertake regular visits to friendly air forces. Today, PAF stands as one of the best air forces of the world because it strongly relies on "Excellence through Training" and for the same reason, PAF has trained officers and airmen of approximately 42 friendly countries of the world.8. There is no doubt that the personnel of the Pakistan Air Force march in tandem with the latest technological developments and live up to the most strenuous standards of modern air forces. Different branches, in harmony with each other, have made possible the Quaid's dream of PAF becoming "second to none." The great responsibility to defend the borders of the country has very rightfully been bestowed upon these men who, over the years, have ensured that no enemy is daring enough to enter the frontiers of Pakistan and believe that "no border is too far to defend".

Agricus bisporous Mushrooms

	Mushrooms
	Date of Issue (October 01, 2005)
	An edible mushroom is a delicacy relished as popular but costly food. In the developed countries, mushrooms have become one of the most important of all the horticultural crops. The production of mushrooms is increasing rapidly throughout the world, which is available all the year round and is used in many kinds of table dishes. There are about 6,000 different species of which at least 1,290 are reported to the edible. Mushrooms are used as food as well as medicine since time immemorial. The edible variety contains a high percentage of protein, all indispensable amino acids, and vitamins B-complex and other biochemical compounds. The protein value of mushroom is double that cabbage, potatoes and asparagus four times to that of tomatoes and carrot and six times to that of oranges. Mushrooms are source of niacin (0.4g) and riboflavin (0.4 mg). They serve as a good source of trypsin enzyme, and are rich in iron, copper, calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and folic acid. They have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine to promote good health and vitality and increasing body's adaptive abilities. Mushrooms can be grown by almost anyone and anywhere. However, cultivation of this edible fungus also consumes agricultural and industrial wastes and produces such as straw and molasses, which is an excellent fertilizer and soil conditioner. Mushrooms have no colouring matter and so do not need sunlight to obtain the requisite nutrients for survival. They can grow in darkness where no other crop would easily flourish. A crop of mushroom can be produced in boxes beneath the kitchen sinks and in garden sheds. For large-scale cultivation of mushroom, properly designer rooms/paces are needed, which should provide suitable temperature, humidity and darkness. Mushrooms are fleshy fungi, which are generally used as delicacy from the time immemorial. It is very tough and an umbrella like fruiting body. It produces microscopic spores, which serve as a means of reproduction, but is not same as that of plant seed. Mushrooms constitute an ideal source for reducing body weight. Its cultivation in Pakistan is in its teething stage and its pace of development is very slow because of the insufficient public and private sector support. Their cultivation has tremendous potential although, at present time only some wild types are eaten by rural folk, modern technology however, has made it possible to grow them under control and semi-control conditions. Nature has gifted us with variety of environmental conditions suitable for their cultivation from sea level to high mountains, where different types can easily be grown round the year. A simple and economical methodology for cultivation of some known mushrooms has been evolved. The cultivable varieties are; (i) Oyster mushrooms grown in a moderate temperature; (ii) Paddy straw mushrooms; (iii) Button mushroom, a variety which grows on a specially prepared compost and has a distant taste aroma; (iv) Oak-tree mushroom grown on wood logs of oak tree. It can also be cultivated on compost material made from sawdust, rice and wheat barn. It has been assumed that the different agriculture and industrial wastes may be used as source of food for mushroom cultivation. The cultivation needs, (i) preparation of substrate and compost; (ii) preparation of spawn; (iii) substrate for mycelium growth and production of fruiting bodies. The species Agaricus rodmani, Phellorina inguinence, podoxis pistillaris, Lepiota procera, Inocybe ceophylla, Crepidous sp, and Amanita nano are grown in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and NWFP of mountainous Swat valley and Murree hilly areas. It is commonly grown in areas having natural high humidity and low temperature. These areas are suitable for growing white button mushroom. Chinese mushroom is perhaps the easiest and simplest in its cultural requirements and is more suited to conditions in Pakistan, especially in the plains. Its cultivation can be profitable as a cottage industry which can be marketed in fresh, canned, dried or made into powder or in a soup conditions. Drying of mushroom is essential for its market from one city to another or for export purposes. Profitable cultivation on a large scale requires closer attention, experience and skill. If it is developed as a cottage industry in villages and on business lines, near towns and cities, the delicacy can become a common diet item to provide cheap source of proteins, vitamins and other nutrients. A khumbhi mushroom is very common in the rural areas of Sindh, a white umbrella type known as khamiri is also consumed by the local inhabitants of Balochistan, Sindh and the Punjab. The common edible mushroom (Agricus bisporous) accounts for about 80n percent of the one million ton of mushroom in the world each year, the remainder includes the Japanese forest mushroom. It is necessary to take proper steps to popularize and use of edible mushroom as the items of food and export. An edible mushroom is a delicacy relished as popular but Costly food. In the developed Countries, mushrooms have become one of the most important of all the horticultural crops. The production of mushrooms is increasing rapidly throughout the world, which is available all the year round and is used in many kinds of table dishes. There are about 6,000 different species of which at least 1,290 are reported to be edible. Mushrooms are used as food as well as medicine since time immemorial. The edible variety contains a high percentage of protein, all indispensable amino acids, and vitamins B-complex and other biochemical compounds. The protein value of mushroom is double to that of cabbage, potatoes and asparagus four times to that of tomatoes and carrot and six times to that of oranges. Mushrooms are source of niacin (0.4 g) and riboflavin (0.4 mg).They serve as a good source of trypsin enzyme, and are rich in iron, copper, calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and folic acid. They have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine to promote good health and vitality, and increasing body’s adaptive abilities. Mushroom can be grown by almost anyone and anywhere. However, cultivation of this edible fungus also consumes agricultural and industrial wastes and produces such as straw and molasses, which is an excellent fertilizer and soil conditioner. Mushrooms have no colouring matter and so do not need sunlight to obtain the requisite nutrients for survival. They can grow in darkness, where no other crop would easily flourish. A crop of mushroom can be produced in boxes beneath the kitchen sinks and in garden sheds. For large-scale cultivation of mushroom, properly designed rooms/spaces are needed, which should provide suitable temperature, humidity and darkness. Mushrooms are fleshy fungi, which are generally used as delicacy from the time immemorial. It is very tough and an umbrella like fruiting body. It produces microscopic spores, which serve as a means of reproduction, but is not same as that of plant seed. Mushrooms constitute an ideal source for reducing body weight. Its cultivation in Pakistan is in its teething stage and its pace of development is very slow because of the insufficient public and private sector support. Their cultivation has tremendous potential although, at present time only some wild types are eaten by rural folk, modern technology however, has made it possible to grow them under control and semi-control conditions. Nature has gifted us with variety of environmental conditions suitable for their cultivation from sea level to high mountains, where different types can easily be grown round the year. A simple and economical methodology for cultivation of some known mushrooms has been evolved. The cultivable varieties are ; ( i ) Oyster mushrooms grown in a moderate temperature; (ii) Paddy straw mushrooms; (iii) Button mushroom, a variety which grows on specially prepared compost and has a distant taste and aroma; (iv) Oak-tree mushroom, generally grown on wood logs of oak trees. It can also be cultivated on compost material made from sawdust, rice and wheat barn. It has been assumed that the different agriculture and industrial wastes may be used as source of food for mushroom cultivation The cultivation needs, (i) preparation of substrate and compost; (ii) preparation of spawn; (iii) substrate for mycelium growth and production of fruiting bodies. The species Agaricus rodmani, Phellorina inguinence, Podoxis pistillaris, Lepiota procera, lnocybe ceophylla, Crepidous sp, and Amanita nano are grown in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and NWFP of mountainous Swat valley and Murree hilly areas. It is commonly grown in many areas having natural high humidity and low temperature. These areas are suitable for growing white button mushroom. Chinese mushroom is perhaps the easiest and simplest in its cultural requirements and is more suited to conditions in Pakistan, especially in the plains. Its cultivation can be profitable as a cottage industry which can be marketed in fresh, canned, dried or made into powder or in a soup condition. Drying of mushroom is essential for its market from one city to another or for export purposes. Profitable cultivation on a large scale requires close attention, experience and skill. If it is developed as a cottage industry in villages and on business lines near towns and cities, the delicacy can become a common diet item to provide cheap source of proteins, vitamins and other nutrients. A khumbhi mushroom is very common in the rural areas of Sindh, a white umbrella type known as khamiri is also consumed by the local inhabitants of Balochistan, Sindh and the Punjab. The common edible mushroom (Agaricus bisporous) accounts for about 80 percent of the one million ton of mushroom in the world each year, the remainder includes the Japanese forest mushroom. It is necessary to take proper steps to popularize and use of edible mushroom as the items of food and export. With the Courtesy of Daily Dawn Karachi. To focus on the importance of medicinal value of Plants, Pakistanpost office is issuing ten different special postage stamps of Rs. 5/- each denomination on October 1, 2005.	SALIENT FEATURES Size of Stamps: 29 x 34 mm each design Size of Print: 29 x 34 mm each design Format: Se-tenant Illustrations of Mushrooms: 10 different species Perforation: 13C Denomination: Rs. 5/- No. of Stamps in each Sheet: 30 Stamps (3 Stamps each of the following designs) 1) Agraricus arvensis 2) Amanita caesarea 3) Amanita vaginata 4) Boletus luridus 5) Cantharellus cibarius 6) Clitocybe geotropa 7) Coprinus comatus 8) Lepiota procera 9) Morchella cibarius 10) Tricholoma gambosum Printing: Multi Colours Litho Offset Paper / Grammage: Special Anti-Counterfeit PVA Gum Paper 102 gsm Paper Security Features: Invisible Blue Fibers (visible only under UV light) Paper Manufacturer: Shanghai Kailum Paper (Group) Co. Ltd. CHINA Colour Separation Processed on: Crossfield Drum Scanner/ Processor Quantity: 0.25 Million Stamps each design Designer: Adil Salahuddin Printer: Post Office Foundation Press, (Security Division) Karachi.

Aviation started everything

Early Aviation and flight

Those early days, aviation started the concept of being punctual amidst crossing mighty stretches of water.These days everything travels by plane.So letters and postcards travel by air.For such a speedy service we pay using postage stamps.See how these items are connected?

Olympic Airline Card

Olympic 

Here is a rare unwritten card.

Olympic Airlines (Greek: Ολυμπιακές Αερογραμμές, Olympiakés Aerogrammés - OA) was the flag carrier airline of Greece, with their head office in Athens.^[2] It operated services to 37 domestic destinations and to 32 destinations world-wide. Their main base was at Athens International Airport, with hubs at Thessaloniki International Airport, "Macedonia", Heraklion International Airport, "Nikos Kazantzakis" and Rhodes International Airport, "Diagoras".^[3] Olympic Airlines also owned a base at London Heathrow International Airport. By December 2007, the airline employed about 8,500 staff.^[4]

The origin of Olympic Airways was in 1930, when the first predecessor airline was established. The airline was called Icarus but after just a few months went bankrupt due to financial problems and limited Greek interest in air transport. G.C.A.T./Ε.Ε.Ε.Σ. (Greek Company for Air Transport/Ελληνική Εταιρεία Εναέριων Συγκοινωνιών) took its place

Logo

The first logo of the airline was a white eagle, bearing a resemblance to a propeller, featuring five rings and the name Olympic. Just two years after the first flight, Onassis asked his associates to design a new logo and the coloured rings were created. Onassis wanted to copy the five coloured rings of the Olympic emblem, but the International Olympic Committee claimed the rights to the emblem, so a new, six ring logo was introduced. The first five rings stand for the five continents, while the sixth stands for Greece.^[21] Colours used were yellow, red, blue and white.

The new logo for Olympic air has been selected among three proposals by an online vote which was open until July 5, 2009 onoalogo.gr. All proposals were expected to keep the six circles and were called to modernise the look of the existing logo. The logo that was finally selected is a bevel version of the existing logo and font, with the only exception that green has replaced the light blue on some circles. Green along with blue is one of MIG's corporate colours (as seen on Marfin Egnatia bank's logo for example) and was thus also used per request by MIG on the new uniforms too.

Helvetic Card Airplane Card

Helvetic Airways was established in the autumn of 2003 as a rebranding and extension of the existing airline Odette Airways to serve destinations in South-Eastern Europe. Switzerland's first budget carrier began operating in November with a Fokker 100 airliner flying to three destinations. By 2004, the fleet had grown to seven aircraft. The route network has been continually expanded since then.

In the context of financially restructuring the airline, in March 2006 the investment company Patinex AG, owned by Martin and Rosemarie Ebner, acquired all the shares of Helvetic Airways AG.

Helvetic.com


Here is a nice Airline card.If you want some let me know.












Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 in new livery

LARGE PIN-TAILED SANDGROUSE and other birds

Four types of Birds

Wildlife Series Depicting "Birds"

Date of Issue (November 26, 2001)

LARGE PIN-TAILED SANDGROUSE (Pterocies alchata) 'An over all sandy coloured terrestrial Pigeon like bird with a long pointed tail', is the only Sandgrouse in the region. The breast and belly of the bird is pure white with a broad pinkish chestnut breast band narrowly bordered by black in both sexes. The wing coverts are chocolate chestnut on the shoulder, each rounded feather margined with white the mantle and wing coverts are greenish yellow with Grey tips. The rump and tail are sandy yellow cross-barred black and the pintails are tipped.This is a rather locally restricted Sandrgrouse, which is the winter visitor and passage migrant in autumn and spring to the small areas of N.W. Baluchistan, Northern Sindh and N.E. NWFP with a small number probably remaining to breed in the extreme S.W. corner of Baluchistan and on the Afghan Border around Chaman.It feeds on green leaves, small seeds, pulse and grains. Breeds from May to July, lays normally 2-3 eggs on dry open flat ground without any sort of nest. This Sandgrouse is scarce in Pakistan. BLUE THROAT (Luscima svecica) In general it looks like a typical chat with a long-legged and slender body. The head, neck and back are greyish brown with a prominent creamy white supercilium. Its most conspicuous feature is the tail, which when fanned is russet chestnut with the central pair and a terminal band dark brown. Males have a striking pattern on the breast and throat and an iridescent blue patch on upper breast which is generally framed in a circlet at the mid-breast region. Females lack the blue throat patch but this area instead is noticeably white. The upper tail coverts are chestnut in both sexes.A wide spread winter visitor throughout the Indus Plains from Punjab to Sindh. It also occurs in Baluchistan and NWFP during passage migration in spring and autumn. They obtain food by picking it off the ground and from low vegetation. Their diet comprises of mostly insects, small coleoptera, ants, and worms. They breed in alpine meadows in the north. The nest is a cup shaped structure concealed in a clump of grass or hollow in the ground, lay 4-6 eggs pale sage green to olive green colour mottled with reddish brown. Egg laying start in May with an incubation period varies from 13-14 days. Status Frequent in Winter. HOOPOE (Upupaepops) A medium sized bird but more slender in build with down curved black bill adapted for probing in the ground.Its most conspicuous feature is the erectile crest of long narrow feathers down the Centre of the crown. Its head and body are orange-brown with black wings and tail prominently barred with a white on the wing coverts and the base of the black tipped flight feathers. The whole of the upper surface of the wings bears transverse black and white bars. The tail has a one broad white band in an inverted "V" pattern surrounded by black. The Iris is brown and feet are slaty brown, sexes are alike. The lower belly is whitish and the nape mantle is often ashy fawn colour.Hoopoe breeds in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent, China, lndo-Chinese Region, Malaysia and Indonesia. It inhabits areas which are lightly wooded and preferably where is some grass covering the ground. In Pakistan they are locally migrant but largely resident population, some which winters but not breed in Sindh and also a population which migrate to Himalaya and extralimitally in Central Asia for breed. Hoopoe is a pair bond and monogamous bird. During nesting they make cracks and holes in old trees comprises of a pad of straw, animal hair and feathers, lay 4-7 eggs of skim milk blue rapidly becoming stained brown. Only female incubates from 15-17 days and males bring food for her and nestling.Status common INDIAN MAGPIE ROBIN "DHYAL" (Copsychus Sanlaris) It is a very large chat with relatively stout bill and long tail. The male is metallic blue black all over the head, neck, back and wings, with outer tail feathers and belly pure white. The female is of similar pattern but blue black is replaced by dark iron Grey or unglossy. In both sexes legs and feet are black. It is found throughout the year with sedentary habit and well known bird, wide spread in India and South East Asia. In Pakistan it is uncommon but resident in the outer foot hills of the Murree hills extending down to lslamabad. These large chat forage solitarily expect for during the nesting season and run forward in hopping spurts like typical chats raising their tail over the back as they pause, often fanning open the tail and drooping the wings. Their food includes a wide variety of soil born crustacean, mollusca, spiders, millipedes and insects. They make nests in tree holes and use drain pipes and eaves of buildings as nest boxes. The bird from April to July lay 3 to 5 eggs pale green in colour densely spotted and splotched with reddish brown. Incubation take 12-13 days, males help in bringing food to the nestling, in close attendance or escorting the female during incubating and rearing the chicks. Males sing throughout the nesting season and often in post monsoon and autumn season. Status very local and scarce.

Cermai Phyllanthus acidus

A glance at fruits

The postal service has been able to depict these fruits on stamps.Some of my contacts are going to be lucky to get these stamps.

Bears the scientific name Phyllanthus acidus is the only tree in the family Phyllanthaceae edible.

Bears fruit usually eaten raw with salt or made ​​into pickles (salty / sour or sweet). Young fruit can be used as a side dish with shrimp paste with pounded and eaten with rice. Shoot raw or blanched or boiled shrimp paste dicecah together, pickled, or pencecah cencaluk others. Fruit taste sour and tangy and a little hand shoots chelate. There is a single hard seed in the middle.

Malaysia Terang Asam Band stamp

Terang Asam

Here are two stamps with the band