Sunday, July 24, 2011

Pakistan's Sweetest Fruit - Mango

As the summer season is at full bloom these days in Pakistan, Mangoes are automatically at full swing. Belonging to the Anacardiaceae family and is known as Mangifera Indica, mangoes hold a prominent place in the commercial fruits of Pakistan. Mango fruit is enriched with 10-20% sugar, vitamins A, B and C, some proteins, calcium, phosphorus and iron.
Primarily loved for their taste, different varieties are also famous for their color, smell and nutritious value.

Ripe fruit is better than anything when chilled at the best temperature and is eaten fresh, while unripe fruit is also utilized in making pickles.

As per the FAO production 2001 year book, Pakistan stands FIFTH among mango growing countries of the World. A limited supply of mangoes is produced every year and even if all of this production reaches to the consumers, per head per day availability of fruit is meager 114 grams. I believe that is the reason that mango prices are so high that its availability is limited to a couple of days in a month instead of everyone eating it daily ;)

Different varieties of Pakistani mango is exported around the globe fetching valuable foreign exchange. Some of the most-loved mango varieties include Langra, Dusehri, Samar Behisht, Chaunsa, Anwar Ratol, Sindhri, Bagan Pali, Suwarneka, Neelum and Gulab Khas.

The 4 varieties shown on the stamps include Anwar Ratol, Dusehri, Chaunsa and Sindhri. You can see the differences in their size, color and shape but unfortunately you can not experience their taste online. You will have to come to Pakistan to do that or ask a Pakistani friend to help you get them where you are.

The set of stamps and First Day Cover (FDC) were issued on 18 June 2002.
Have you ever eaten a mango? Which variety is your favorite? Feel free to share in comments below.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Pakistan Lawrence College Coin celebrating 150 Years


To mark the 150 years of Lawrence College, State Bank of Pakistan has issued another commemorative coin on 28 May 2011
(image from eBay seller fdc4-all)
History of Lawrence College, Ghora Gali, Murree
L.C.G.G. Murree is one of the elite institutions of Pakistan. Its pupils are popularly known as ‘Gallians’
Established in 1860 after Sir Henery Lawrence, the oldest residential institution of its type in Pakistan, Lawrence College started as an asylum with the object to provide practical education to the orphans and the children of the British soldiers in India. It had 82 children in its care initially. The number rose to 204 boys and 101 girls in 1914 when it was taken over by the Government of the Punjab as the Lawrence Memorial School, and 356 boys and 124 girls, when it became the Lawrence College in 1927, with the construction of the Lower Estate. The Girls Section was transferred to Saint Denny's School Murree in 1949. The college was handed over to the Board of Governors in 1962 (Grant of Autonomy by the Punjab Government) effective todate. Today there are about 706 boys on the roll of the three schools. The number is expected to rise further, as the time passes. Started in 1860 as an unpretentious barracks, housing about 80 students, it developed into its present state over the period.
The Motto of the college is "Never Give In".

A commemorative Postage Stamp was also issued on the 125 Years Celebrations of Lawrence College by Pakistan Post in 1985. You can see the image of the stamp below:-


Front Side of Coin
The front of the coin shows the waxing crescent and a five pointed star facing north-west in rising position. On the top are the word "Islami Jamhoria Pakistan" in Urdu script which means "Islamic Republic of Pakistan". Under the crescent, in the center and at the top of two springs of wheat with arms curved upward, the issuance year is mentioned as 2011.

The coin denomination is written as Rupees 20 in bold letters in Urdu writing. A circle of sixty small beads is all along the edge of the coin.
Reverse Side of Coin
On the reverse side, monogram of Lawrence College is shown in the center.

The inscription 150 Years Celebrations, Lawrence College Ghora gali Murree  in English is written on the top of coin. 


Lawrence College Murree Poem

To set the cause above renown.
To love the game beyond the prize.

To honour, while you strike him down;
The foe that comes with fearless eyes.

To count the life of battle good.
And dear the land that gave you Birth.

And dearer yet the brother-hood;
That binds the brave of all the earth.

To-day and here the fight's begun.
Of the great fellowship you're free.

Hence forth the school and you are one.
And what you are, the race shall be.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

60 Years of Pakistan China Friendship Coin 2011

To mark the 60 years of warm and strong friendship between Pakistan and China, State Bank of Pakistan issued a commemorative coin on 21 May 2011. More specifically, the coin was issued to mark the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan and China.
(image from eBay seller fdc4-all)
Pakistan Government also announced that the year 2011 will be celebrated as Pakistan-China Friendship Year.


The front of the coin shows the waxing crescent and a five pointed star facing north-west in rising position. On the top are the word "Islami Jamhoria Pakistan" in Urdu script which means "Islamic Republic of Pakistan". Under the crescent, in the center and at the top of two springs of wheat with arms curved upward, the issuance year is mentioned as 2011.

The coin denomination is written as Rupees 20 in bold letters in Urdu writing. A circle of sixty small beads is all along the edge of the coin.

On the reverse side, 60th (depicting the number of years of friendship) is inscribed in numeral wording in bold letters.

The wording 2011 YEAR OF PAK-CHINA FRIENDSHIP in English is written on the top of coin. Wording in numeral 1951-2011 at the bottom of the coin and above it, a handshake is depicted with the flags of Pakistan and China.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Stamps Issued to Celebrate Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Being a lover and collector of Philatelic Material from World Wide, I wondered which countries have issued the postal stamps on the eve of the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Here are some of the stamps and miniature sheets from around the globe, which have been issued to celebrate the event.
Royal Wedding Stamps from Australia

Royal Wedding Stamps from Canada

Royal Wedding Stamps from Falkland Islands
 
Royal Wedding Stamps from Guine Bissau

Royal Wedding Stamps from Niue - A Pacific Nation

Royal Wedding Stamps from England/ UK

Royal Wedding Stamps

Royal Wedding Stamps from Niue - Most talked about stamps on the event as the two stamps split the Royal couple if they are to be used alone.
 And here are some stamps issued on the event of the Royal Engagement of the William and Kate:-.
Royal Engagement Stamps from St. Kitts 

Royal Engagement Stamps from Cook Islands

Royal Engagement Stamps from Gibraltar
Which one did you like the best? 
Here you can also see some other collectibles to mark the event:-

Coins Issued to Celebrate Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

While the World celebrates the Royal Wedding, it is repeatedly being compared with the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. I Googled to find some coins issued on the event by different countries and found quite a number of them. I do not know whether they are real coins or fake ones but still I found them interesting to share with my readers. Here are Royal Wedding Coins from England, USA, Canada, Australia and some other countries.
You can also see some other collectible/ memorabilia here which include:-



So here you can see a variety of royal wedding coins from different countries and states:-












Which one did you like the most? And do you have any idea whether they are real or fake coins?

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Scouting 2007 Centenary Stamps and FDC from Luxembourg

A magnificent First Day Cover from Luxembourg is here to recharge your collecting and scouting senses.
This FDC from Luxembourg was issued to mark the Centenary of Scouting in 2007. The Scouting 2007 Centenary included celebrations around the globe and festivities took place in a scouting way.
You can read more details from here: Scouting 2007 Centenary

The FDC was issued with two stamps, The first stamp on the right-hand side depicts a world globe and children of different races holding hands. The stamp also depicts a reef-knot which is the symbol of scouting around the planet. It is an EUROPA Stamp and is of 0.70 denomination.
The second stamp on the left-hand side is of 0.50 face value and depicts a scouting camp and a camp fire. It seems to be a painting made by a kid. It is also an EUROPA Stamp from Luxembourg.
I love this FDC. Can anyone tell me why this hat is on the cover? Is it a scouting symbol in Luxembourg or there is some other story behind it???

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