COVER N. 625 - INDIA  

Postmark: Illegible - 26.07.2025

Posted on the 26th July; Received on the 5th August 2025

_________________________________________________________________________________

Sometimes I receive covers, like the one I'm posting here, all covered in stamps, something which is always motif for great enthusiasm and joy. Sadly, I cannot reciprocate in kind, since the days of small denomination stamps are gone and we now only have typically 4 stamps rates, that are combined in each new set that CTT, the Portuguese postal operator, issues: Domestic 20g; Europe 20 g; blue mail (next day, domestic, 20 g) and International 20g.

Further to that, CTT, always keen on emptying collector's pockets, very often includes in any new set a souvenir sheet with a face value equal to the tariff of a registered domestic 20g letter.

In the light of this, it is quite impossible to send fellow collectors envelopes all covered in stamps, although I do try to use 2 stamps most of the time, even it the face value of both stamps combined slightly exceeds the Europe or International tariff, because I know what a joy it is to see more than one stamp on  a cover. 

Another strategy I use to try to compensate is to send out covers with First Day postmarks (and in this case I may use a single stamp, of course), because of the element of added interest the pictorial First Day Postmark always imparts on the cover.

Anyway, all this said, I have to thank P.A. for  his very nice cover with no less than 7 stamps on it, all relating to themes that I fancy, and for which I am quite thankful. Many Thanks P.A.

Stamps, left to right; top to bottom:

- Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers, such is the message inscribed at the bottom of each of the two 5 Rupee stamps issued on 19DEC2009.

The two stamps, one illustrated with a polar bear and the other with penguins, constitute the contribution  of India's postal operator to a campaign led by the postal administrations of  Finland and Chile, initiated  in 2007, on the occasion of the International Polar Year 2007-2009. More than 30 countries would join the campaign whose logo  (a "protected" ice crystal) is also featured on the stamps.

- Wild orchids, some the most beautiful flowers that exist... and a theme that has been fairly covered in stamps.

The 5 Rupee Orchid stamp on the cover, is part of a six stamp (2 x 5; 2 x 25; 2 x 25 Rupees)  mini-sheet issued on 08JUN2016 dedicated to these beautiful flowers.

The orchid on the cover stamp is a Paphiopedilum villosum, native to Southeast Asia.

- In 2016, India Post with the aim of raising awareness amidst students to nature preservation, held a country wide stamp design competition, subject to this theme.

The beautiful painting of a tiger and a peacock in a forest, on the  5 Rupee stamp was one of the winning entries in the contest, which originated a 6 x 5 Rupee stamps included in a  mini-sheet issued on 17JAN2017.

- Protected natural areas of World Heritage Site status was the theme for a mini-sheet issued on 16MAR2020, which included  5 stamps (2 x 5; 3 x 12 Rupees).

Two of the 5 rupee stamps can be seen on the cover, one featuring what I believe is a snow leopard, a western Tragopan (a pheasant species) and probably an ibex, all characteristic of the Great Himalayan National park, and the other, dedicated to Manas Wildlife Sanctuary, featuring a Golden lagur (an endangered monkey species) up front, while on the background a rhino and a buffalo can also be seen.

- To complete postage P. A. used a  5 Rupee stamp issued on 13APR2017 as part of the Creators of India series, featuring Gopinath Bordoloi (1890 –1950) an Indian politician and independence activist and a follower of Gandhi’s non violence principle, who was the head of the Government of the State of Assam between 1946 and 1950.

The Postmark being illegible I cannot identify the place of posting.