Germany special Gandhi Postmark Cancel or Gandhi Rubber Stamp?

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Recently I saw one more Gandhi Special Postmark Cancel from Germany. Thank God this one don't have Emblem of India.

This postmark cancel is different than which was for sale on ebay with Gandhi picture & Emblem of India with CDS of 2nd October 2009. But there are some similarities between this 2 postmark cancel.
1) Picture of Gandhi on postmark cancel.
2) Address (Town) on cover.
3) And lot more..........

It's amazing.!!

Following is the cover which has GANDHI special postmark cancel with CDS of May 6-10, 2009. Seems to me that India is welcoming this stamp exhibition at IBRA(Internationale Briefmarken-Ausstellung) 2009 in ESSEN, Germany. Name & Address is white-out is from this cover by me. If you want to do more research on this I can provide full scan.


After looking in to details on this cover it has 5 Rupees Stamp from India. Which is not sufficient/correct postage required for International mail by Indian post in 2009.
I have following questions about above Gandhi Postmark cancel.

1) What to do with Gandhi and this exhibition(expo) in Germany?
2) Is this offical cancel from IBRA with cachet of stamp exhibition?
3) Which philatelic society of India is Greeting this Exposition?
4) Do Indian Postal Service or Indian Goverment greets this exhibition?
5) Do Indian Embassy in Germany knows about it?
6) It has orange barcode so do you think it is commerical used (with insufficent postage)?
7) If commerically used than how it is valid with Indian stamp or only Indian stamp on cover?
8) Why Indian stamp on German Expo (IBRA) cover? Not sure whether this cover is mailed from India or Germany?

After thinking answers for all above questions, Will you consider this as Special Postmark Cancel or Special Rubber stamp?

Unless I don't get sufficent proof of this cancel, I will call it as Special Rubber stamp.!! Like my kids play with rubber stamps of butterfly, flowers, rainbow, princesses, disney characters etc. This is my personal opinion for this Gandhi Special Rubber Stamp because it is very hard for me to think as Special Postmark Cancel.

After researching for previous Gandhi Postmark Cancel from Germany, I can do research on this myself so I did not contacted Deutsche Post. If someone has contact with IBRA I would like to get more info on this if possible.

This postmark cancel is not as per design guidelines of Deutsche(German) Post. Following are links from Deutsche Post for special cancellation requirements. Check it out for more information.

1) Postal stamp with self promotion used for special anniversary or memorial event.
2) Sonderstempel used for anniversary, festivals, fairs and exhibition.

There is a huge difference in design requirement of this cancel compare to 2nd October 2009 cancel where only POSTHORNS were missing in the postmark cancel.
I think artist/creator of this postmark cancel learned from previous mistakes and make neccesary improvement in next release (bug fix for computer industries) but still there are more bugs.!! Next time they need to fix Gandhi Photo on the cancel so it looks completely different.!!
Why Germany?
According to me something is going on like Germany's BLUM Forgery so Gandhi collectors need to be aware of this kind of activities as currently we see it from Germany than we might see from other countries like it happen in 1969. Also World is very small now compare to 1969 so it is easy to keep your eyes open and you will see something not only in Rubber stamps but also how philatelic material prices are increased by collectors, dealers and reseller.

Let us know if you have more information about this Rubber stamp so we can change it to Postmark cancel. But I think it is a Rubber stamp.!!!

And also Christian Sperber thinks so. You can read his comments by clicking following link.

http://stampsofindia.com/newssite/download/432.pdf

Again thanks for reading this blog post and  Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

It's very hard to find Genuine cancellation (special cancellation) as it is very easy to forged.!!! and sometimes there are NO GENUINE cancellation even exist.!!

Still cannot decide then read following blog post which might help you.

1) FAKE or Forged British India Cancellation

2) FAKE Indian Embassy of Nepal Cancellation

3) Even Gandhi Stamps are FAKE.!!

Still not decided then my opinion is AVOID it all the cost.!! and have peace of mind instead of worrying you are buying Genuine material.!!!

To me all Gandhi Philatelic material available ( specially before 1950) looks FAKE or Forgery as it is very hard to find Genuine stuff and as new collectors (like me) wants to collect, so some greedy experienced collectors/dealers will provide  all of us as well as experienced collectors.!!

Still want to do research  then please read my other blog post and have fun.!!

1) 1948 Stamps False hope of Riches?
2) 1948 Gandhi Stamps: Are False hope of Riches - Part II ?
3) 1948 Gandhi Mourning Private FDC : Are False hope of Riches - Part III?
4) 1948 Expensive Gandhi FDC : Are False hope of Riches - Part IV?
5) 1948 Gandhi Stamps Early Usage cover :  Gandhi Stamps Are False hope of Riches - Part V?
6) Maxi Card sold for $5100 with 1948 Gandhi Stamps - False hope of Riches - Part VI?
7) Indian Philately Exposed 
8) Indian Philately Exposed - Part II

By reading this blog post with all think link, will  you ever trust this postmark cancellation even it is sold to me by some known person also ?

Don't you think Gandhi Philatelic material is very easy to FORGED or FAKED.?

Thanks

Gandhi Stamps Club

THE STATE EMBLEM OF INDIA & GANDHI Postcards and Postmark Cancel.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Recently I saw in philately world there is a great demand of official material and to supply this demand philatelic organisation all around world started using official/emblem of that counrty after getting permission from authorized countries. Today I am writing about "Emblem of India".

http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/STATE_EMBLEM_ACT2005.pdf

Above link will explain why it is ILLEGAL to use EMBLEM OF INDIA without permission of Goverment of India. Also it explain about penalty and fine for using illegally.!!

WHAT IS STATE EMBLEM OF INDIA:

The State Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Emporer Ashoka, who ruled from 272 BC to 232 BC. It is preserved in the Sarnath Museum, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Lion Capital has four lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus. The frieze of the abacus is adorned with sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening Dharma Chakra (Wheels of Law). The abacus rests on a bell-shaped lotus.

The State Emblem is the official seal of India. As such, use of the State Emblem for official seal is restricted to the President, the Vice President, Union Ministers, Ministers and others Officers of the Central Government including diplomatic missions abroad, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Commissioners and Administrators of Union Territories and Ministers and departments and offices of the State governments and of Union Territory governments and administrations who have adopted the State Emblem. Offices of Central Government permitted to use distinct emblems of their own may, however, use the same in their seals.

The State Emblem, on demi-official stationery used by Ministers, when printed or embossed should appear on the top left hand corner in blue colour,. The lettering like "Home Minister" or "Ministry of Home Affairs" should appear on the top right hand corner. The demi-official stationery used by officers should be embossed or printed in red colour except when an officer is specifically authorised to use such stationery in some other colour. Names of officers, however, should not be printed on such stationery.

The Members of Parliament may have the State Emblem embossed or printed on their stationery. The colour to be used for the purpose in the case of the Members of the Lok Sabha is green and red for the Members of the Rajya Sabha. Such stationery when supplied by the Chief Controller of Printing and Stationery, does not contain the names or addresses of the Members. But the Members may, at their discretion get such stationery, with their names and addresses printed at private presses approved for this purpose by the Government of India in the Ministry of Urban Development.

Where the stationery used by the Members of Parliament, contains the State Emblem it should not bear words like "Advocate, Supreme Court/High Court" and "Editor…..Journal", below their names in the letter-heads.

The Members of Legislative Assemblies of Union Territfories and the Members of Metropolitan Council of Delhi may have the State Emblem embossed or printed on their stationery. The stationery containing the State Emblem, however, should not bear words like "Advocate, Supreme Court/High Court" and "Editor…..Journal", below their names in the letter-heads.

The State Emblem shall not be used for any trade or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Governments under Section 3 of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Unauthorised use of the Emblem for such purposes is an offence under the Act.

Private persons, bodies of persons and sports associations are not permitted to use the State Emblem on their letter-heads, seats, crests, badges, house flags or for any other purpose except with the permission of the Government.(PIB Features)

Above Postcard is from Croatia with GANDHI postmark cancel issued on Oct 2nd 2009 has "EMBLEM OF INDIA". This is legal as it was issued in presence of Indian Consulate Officer from Embassy of India in Croatia. Also he attended this stamp exhibition.

This was issued during philatelic exhibition tribute to Gandhi from 30.9. to 30.10.2009. in Zagreb at HT Museum. It was exhibit of Mr. Ole-Fredrik Olsen from Norway. Above photo is from opening ceremony ( from left to right : Ivan Libric, president of Croatian Philatelic Federation; Mrs Dunja Radosevic, Director of Museum; Mr. Suresh C. Khurana, Embassy of India; Interpreter; Mr. Ole-Fredrik Olsen philatelist from Norway). This makes that this postcard was issued officially with STATE EMBLEM OF INDIA.


Don't you think famous collectors needs to EXPOSE all activities instead of getting involved in making forgery items such as First day Independence "Jai Hind" cancellation or cover mailed to Gandhi or others.!

Don't you think they need to expose in exhibit by mentioning this might be BOGUS or FAKE philatelic material instead of glorifying it through exhibit.

(Do we have any proof like above for following Gandhi 2009 Germany Winnenden Special Cancellation with Emblem of India.)

On the postcards are coats of arms of the Croatian Philatelic Federation, OFFICAL EMBLEM OF INDIA provided by Embassy of India and Association Lotos Zagreb. Text on postcard is in Croatian language: Days of Mahatma Gandhi - and "My life - my message".

So to all my fellow collectors if you are buying any postcards, postmark cancellation or any other philatelic material make sure it is offically issued by Indian Goverment or Indian Goverment has given Permission to use that.

Please beware of greedy dealer/reseller who are trying to abuse Gandhi Philatelic collection by creating unbelievable philatelic material.

Let me know if any quesitons or concerns. Any comments or further research on this topic is most welcome.

Want to know more about FAKE and FORGERY stamps then checkout other blog post click one of the following link and you will be surprised.!!!

1) Philatelic FAKE and FORGERIES.
2) FAKE AERO PHILATELY Covers.
3) Stamp collection CHEATING.
4) Stamp Collection Value
5) Stamp Collecting Facts
6) China stamp collection value.
7) First AirMail Post
8) World First Flight Cover
9) Greatest Stamp Collection Scandal 
10) Biggest stamp collection SCAM
11) SCANDAL in stamp collection 
12) How to increase stamp collection value

Now does it make sense to collect stamps ?

Thanks
Gandhi Stamps Club

Great Britain Gandhi stamps : 1969 Gandhi FDC with British Force Post Office (BFPO) Postmark Cancellation

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Daily you are seeing 1969 Gandhi FDC from UK on Ebay, Delcampe or other stamp shows but today I am going to blog about UK Gandhi FDC with a very different CDS.

Following FDC has Cancellation from British Force/Field Post Office (BFPO) 318, which makes this very unique in my collection. FPO 318 is postoffice on HMS Kent which is part of Allied Regiment. HMS Kent (D12) was a County-class destroyer ship of the Royal Navy from 1960 to 1998. So this is a Naval Cover and I have not seen any FDC which has CDS from Sea (ship).


What is BFPO: The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) provides a postal service to HM Forces, separate from that provided by Royal Mail in the United Kingdom. BFPO addresses are used for the delivery of mail in the UK and around the world.BFPO is based at RAF Northolt in North West London

What is a BFPO Number?

British Forces Post Office Numbers (Static) are for a given location, and/or group of isolated detachments.

British Forces Post Offices Numbers (Ships) refers to a specific ship, regardless of its location, although it may refer to some land based naval establishments.

Addressing format for BFPO mail:

Service No Rank Name
Unit/Regt
Operation Name
BFPO No

Please be advised that the Town and Country must not be included in the address. 

Do you think this FDC is unique or rare?

If you have any some what similar FDC than please share with all of us and make it an interesting topic to read. So please check your collection or refresh your memory and start sharing.

Any questions, concerns or comments are welcome.

Thanks
GSC
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!
(My Son's blog http://usapostman.blogspot.com)

My favorite Blog post:- My experience of Gandhi collection.

Gandhi FDC with British Force Post Office (BFPO) Postmark Cancellation

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Daily you are seeing 1969 Gandhi FDC from UK on Ebay, Delcampe or other stamp shows but today I am going to blog about UK Gandhi FDC with a very different CDS.

Following FDC has Cancellation from British Force/Field Post Office (BFPO) 318, which makes this very unique in my collection. FPO 318 is postoffice on HMS Kent which is part of Allied Regiment. HMS Kent (D12) was a County-class destroyer ship of the Royal Navy from 1960 to 1998. So this is a Naval Cover and I have not seen any FDC which has CDS from Sea (ship).


What is BFPO: The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) provides a postal service to HM Forces, separate from that provided by Royal Mail in the United Kingdom. BFPO addresses are used for the delivery of mail in the UK and around the world.
BFPO is based at RAF Northolt in North West London

What is a BFPO Number?

British Forces Post Office Numbers (Static) are for a given location, and/or group of isolated detachments.

British Forces Post Offices Numbers (Ships) refers to a specific ship, regardless of its location, although it may refer to some land based naval establishments.

Addressing format for BFPO mail:

Service No Rank Name
Unit/Regt
Operation Name
BFPO No

Please be advised that the Town and Country must not be included in the address.

Do you think this FDC is unique or rare?

If you have any some what similar FDC than please share with all of us and make it an interesting topic to read. So please check your collection or refresh your memory and start sharing.

Any questions, concerns or comments are welcome.

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.

US Gandhi cover from US Embassy travelled through US Navy (Naval cover).

As I mentioned in my previous blog post about Naval cover are covers that are from or to Navy personnel stationed overseas or offical purpose for Navy office. Above cover is is not from or to Navy personnel or Office but still carries US Navy FPO, AP 96515 postmark cancel.!!!



From Address is

XXXXX
PSC500-26
DPO, AP, 96515
USA


By looking to this address if you are aware of USA states abbreviations that there is no AP state. Also city name is also weird as never heard about DPO.

I did some research and found out that that this cover is from Embassy of United Sates in Manila, Philippines and send to Venezuela.

This is Diplomatic mail as it was send from US Embassy so it was not carried out by Philippines Postal Service but it was handle by United States MPSA division.

Name: XXXXX
Street Name: PSC500-26
City: DPO (Diplomatic Post Office)
State: AP (Armed Force Pacific)
Zip: 96515


Following will explain how I found out all this.!!



Until 1980, each of the U.S. military Services managed their own mail program. In 1980, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) created Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) to perform this task with USPS and has a jointly-staffed headquarters located in the National Capital Region. MPSA is required to adhere to United States Postal Service (USPS) rules, federal laws, and various international laws and agreements for movement of military mail into over 85 countries.

USPS and MPSA has addressing scheme so US Military/Navy/Airforce receive mail from family,realtives and friends. Also now a days online retailer ships directly to US Military personnel stationed overseas.

DPO : [Diplomatic Post Office ] : Used by U.S. Embassy.

Following link is US Embassy address in Manila, Philippines.

http://manila.usembassy.gov/wwwh3029.html

So by looking all above mentioned things I had concluded that this Gandhi used cover is from US Embassy and travels through Sea from Philippines to Venezuela. It might have also travelled through Air otherwise it will take long time to reach there.

Thanks for reading and you are welcomed to leave any comments about any questions or concerns.



Thanks

BTW: I had never seen Gandhi Stamp on Embassy covers of any countries so this is a very unique cover for me.