Friday, September 30, 2011

Gandhi Khadi Stamp - Gandhi Khadi 2011 Indipex Folder value (presentation pack) . It sold under face value!! Is it not amazing.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

You all know that how much collectors were eager to buy Gandhi Khadi stamp + folder in Feb. 2011. There were very big lines during exhibition to just get it. Collectors were trying to grab this Khadi stamp + folder even online by using multiple id in order to make a quick bucks.


The stamp made out of khadi was available online at the Indipex 2011 website where an individual can only order upto a maximum of 10 stamps. There was a long queue even for the online bookings during the first day of the exhibition.

But look at it what going on after 7 months. It is selling below face value of 250 Rupees. (under $6) even though it was printed 100,000 only.

I know it's limited quantity but it's still enough for everyone's need. Also this stamp will not be used in regular mail stream because stamp value is only 100 Rupees where as you pay 250 Rupees for this. So this will be only collectors item which will stay for ever.


My opinion for this kind of low return on investment is because of  original high face value(you are buying at high price). Look at 1995 Gandhi MS of Rupees 8 currently selling for 300-400 Rupees in just 16 years which is almost 40 times it's face value and I will be happy if we all can see this kind of return on this Khadi stamps even after 50 years!!

 Also compare to 1995 in 2011 there are lot more dealer and collector has bought it. Where as in 1995 less dealer/collector got this in hand as certain dealer/collector grab all the stock because of low investment.!!

So again I think Indian Post (Gov. of India) did excellent decision by keeping this price high.  Also I think India is booming so all collectors can afford this price and because of this it will keep tab in price as lot of collector has multiple in their collection including me.!!

This is the lowest price in last 7 months. It usually sells around 290 rupees but I think now collectors are losing patience of holding this high value investment. I think it's better to invest in smaller amount Gandhi stamps than big one like this.

I don't think this is for investment at all.


If you want to know more about Gandhi Khadi 2011 stamps then please read following blog posts.



If you want to know more about Indipex 2011 Gandhi Khadi stamp, please read my other blog posts.

http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/search/label/Gandhi%20and%20%20Indipex%202011.


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
(My Son's blog http://usapostman.blogspot.com)
Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Bhutan Gandhi Stamp FDC with Plastic 3D Emboss Stamp of Churchill, Kennedy, Ghandi

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Today Bhutan Gandhi FDC issued in 1972 with Plastic 3D stamp was sold only $8. I think this is reasonable value when you compare that it has 3 famous people on it and there are lot of thematic collectors who collects particular person.

Also seller has 30000+ feedback so there is no chance of shill bidding (price increase on their own item or friends/families items) on this sale. This feedback is very important when you buy any Gandhi Philately material as you will have very less chance of getting cheated.


This is just FYI for new collectors so they don't overpay for this kind of item which is frequently selling on ebay. I know there is huge quantity of this Plastic 3D stamps in market so make sure before you buy.

Now look at following Bhutan FDC starting price for auction.  Seller's are waiting for some new collector to buy it.

Seller "allstamps4you"  from Germany is selling this on ebay at starting price of $45.!!! (Please buy me.!!!, Please new collector, Buy me and regret and quit this hobby!!).




Also you can see my previous blog post about Bhutan Gandhi stamp by clicking following link.
http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2011/08/bhutan-gandhi-stamp.html


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My 100th Blog post
My Son's Blog :http://usapostman.blogspot.com

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Guyana Gandhi Stamp - Why you will quit Gandhi Philately or Stamps Collections - Part-6

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Guyana is the third-smallest independent country on the mainland of South America (after Uruguay and Suriname). Its population is approximately 770,000, a majority (44%) of which are of East Indian descent. Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 26 May 1966, and became a Republic on 23 February 1970.



Now you understand why Guyana issued Gandhi stamps in 1969, 1993,1995 and 1998. Let's talk about 1969 stamp and FDC as this has some importance for Gandhi Philately as anything after 1975 does not make sense for collection as lot of stamps are popping after 1990 because of Mahatma Gandhi collectors.!!


In 1969 Guyana honored Mahatma Gandhi with 2 stamps with unique color combination. This stamp are 6 cents and 15 cents in value and  has Mahatma Gandhi picture and  "Charka" (spinning wheel).

Guess what, currently this stamps are selling some where between 15-75 cents (for both stamps).  And recently FDC of this stamps was sold under $5.!! Can you believe it. !!


As per following stats, if you pay  more than 75cents  for Guyana Gandhi stamps(for 2 stamps) or $5 for Guyana Gandhi FDC then I think in future you will Quit Gandhi Philately.




Detail of Gandhi Guyana FDC Sale.
Date:- Sep 4 , 2011
Seller:- numberonegear
Sold for:- $4.20 



Also same buyer bought another Guyana FDC for $21.


Date:- June  16 , 2011
Seller:- gdstamps 
Sold for:- $21


Also same seller sold 2 more similar FDC for $25 and $11. Check out my previous blog.

I only bought Upper Volta Gandhi FDC from "gdstamps" but after that I don't buy  it from him. 


Now if you pay  more than 75cents  for Guyana Gandhi stamps or $5 for Guyana Gandhi FDC then I think in future you will Quit Gandhi Philately.

I hope this information will help you to make your future purchases for Guyana as well as other Gandhi Philatelic material.

If you like this post then you will also like following  blog posts about Why you will quit Gandhi Philately.!!


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My 100th Blog post
My Son's Blog :http://usapostman.blogspot.com

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Gandhi stamp on International Day of Peace 30th Anniversary cover and Mahatma Gandhi Peace Quotes.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,


I recently made 5 covers and sent them to my friends and my son to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of International Day of Peace, with philatelic point of view. This postal used cover has a1961 Mahatma Gandhi stamp( 4 cents) and 2011 Love stamp (44 cents) on it. (Love and Peace go together!!) Mahatma Gandhi peace quotes are also on the cover. Also hand postmark cancel from Fremont and Automatic machine cancel from Oakland, both on same date.

Don't you think Mahatma Gandhi and Peace goes together, same way like International Day of Non-Violence.

By making this cover it's my way to "Think Different" in philatelic world.!! I am not sure what is importance of this kind of covers to other philatelist, but for me it's fun to celebrate certain special events and remember it. If you are stamp collector then please let me know your thoughts about this cover.

http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. In 2001, the General Assembly by unanimous vote adopted resolution 55/282, which established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire. The UN invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

Also there were 2 events near by where I live. One in Fremont and other in Oakland. Luckily above cover has cancellation from both places and same date (21 Sept. 2011). In Fremont it was organised by Interfaith Women of Peace & in Oakland it was organised by Listen for Life.

http://www.listenforlife.org/ListenForLife_PeaceDay.html


“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” Mahatma Gandhi.


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My 100th Blog post
My Son's Blog :http://usapostman.blogspot.com

Sunday, September 18, 2011

9/11 Memorial Cover

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

On 12th September I was lucky enough to visit 9/11 Memorial in New York on First day of opening  for General Public. I paid tribute  to the thousands who died on 9/11/2001. After visiting this place I truly understand and respect value of life and sacrifice of people.

Above cover has Mahatma Gandhi  USA stamps along with 33 cents of USA Flag over City & Liberty 29 cents stamps. Also this cover has Mahatma Gandhi Label with his quotes " Be the change that you want to see in the world" & "You must be the change you wish to see in the world.". Also postmark cancellation date is Monday, September 12, 2011 is from biggest post office in USA located near Penn Station and opens everyday of the week including Sunday.
.

The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center site, near Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon, as well as the six people killed in the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993.

The Memorial’s twin reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size and feature the largest manmade waterfalls in the North America. The pools sit within the footprints where the Twin Towers once stood. Architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker created the Memorial design selected from a global design competition that included more than 5,200 entries from 63 nations.

The names of every person who died in the 2001 and 1993 attacks are inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools, a powerful reminder of the largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil and the greatest single loss of rescue personnel in American history.

THE 9/11 MEMORIAL is located at the site of the former World Trade Center complex, and occupies approximately half of the 16-acre site. The 9/11 Memorial features two enormous waterfalls and reflecting pools, each about an acre in size, set within the footprints of the original twin towers. The Memorial Plaza is one of the most eco-friendly plazas ever constructed. More than 400 trees are planned for the plaza, surrounding the Memorial's two massive reflecting pools. Its design conveys a spirit of hope and renewal, and creates a contemplative space separate from the usual sights and sounds of a bustling metropolis.

Swamp white oak trees create a rustling canopy of leaves over the plaza. This grove of trees bring green rebirth in the spring, provide cooling shade in the summer and show seasonal color in fall. A small clearing in the grove, known as the Memorial Glade, designates a space for gatherings and special ceremonies.

Following are pictures of names of some Indian Origin People inscribed into bronze panels edging the Memorial pools who died during the attack.























Also some pictures from outside 911 Memorial.







Want to see more of this kind of my creation then click following links.

Martin Luther Memorial  Dedication Cover in Washington DC. (coming soon)

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


Other nice blog about 9/11 from rainbowstampclub.


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My 100th Blog post
My Son's Blog :http://usapostman.blogspot.com
Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation









Photographs, Contents and Style Copyright Ketankumar Patel © 2009 - 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

Gandhi Stamp Suriname - Why you will quit Gandhi Philately or Stamp Collections - Part-5

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Suriname is a country in northern South America. At just under 64,000 sq mi Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in South America. It has an estimated population of approximately 490,000, most of whom live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located.

In 1969 Suriname honored Mahatma Gandhi by issuing stamp of him. Stamp is very nice design in Red, Black and White.  As you know from Nikhil's blog post there are also 10 FDC of this stamp.

Now about pricing of this stamp and FDC it is very low price because of # of quanties available. You can find this stamp easily under 50 cents and FDC under $1. You can see following screen shot for recently selling price.





Now if you buy without research you will pay high price like following.  If you see ebay seller "michel-stamp" from Germay is selling $14 then I think you will quit hobby.!! Because it does not make sense to buy it at this price.!!




Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My 100th Blog post
My Son's Blog :http://usapostman.blogspot.com
Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation






Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Mahatma Gandhi in One of the largest bronze sculpture. "Remember Them : Champions For Humanity" Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony Cover

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Today I was present during Unveiling Ceremony of  "Remember Them: Champions For Humanity" Sculpture in Oakland, California.


This is the largest cast bronze representational sculpture west of the Mississippi, which is four-piece sculpture, weigh more than 60,000 pounds of bronze, cover more than 1,000 square feet and measure 21 feet tall and 52 feet wide, which is sculpted by Mario Chiodo.  Following are the 25 Humanitarians featured in the Monument in Oakland, CA.

Ralph David Abernathy       Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Maya Angelou                    Abraham Lincoln
Susan B. Anthony               Nelson Mandela
Ruby Bridges                      Harvey Milk
Cesar Chavez                     Mother Teresa
Chief Joseph                      Rosa Parks
Sir Winston Churchill Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Frederick Douglass             Oskar Schindler
Shirin Ebadi                       Thich Nhat Hanh
Mahatma Gandhi                Rigoberta Menchu Tum
Helen Keller                      The Unknown Rebel of Tiananmen Square
Coretta Scott King             Elie Wiesel
                                        Malcolm X

Unveiling Ceremony Program and
Unveling Cermony Cover with Gandhi stamps and
autograph of Ruby Bridges & Mario Chiodo.
I made very limited covers with different combination of  Mother Teresa, MLK, Lincoln and FDR stamps with Gandhi stamps. Each cover has Gandhi stamps. Also this has cancellation from Oakland USPS Post Office dated September 6th 2011. Few covers were mailed through postal stream and few were cancelled and taken personally by me so it looks good and stay longer.Cool!!

Consider this as Genuine Cover with Cancellation from USPS. I take full responsibility of this covers.

Following are some pictures taken by me during ceremony.



Ruby Bridges, an African-American woman depicted in the sculpture for her pioneering integration into an all-white Louisiana elementary school in 1960 spoke during the ceremony along with a handful of the memorialized humanitarians' family members. I was lucky enough to meet with Ruby Bridges and got her autograph on "Unveiling Cover " (only 2 covers) with Mahatma Gandhi stamps. She also mentioned about Mahatma Gandhi during her speech.
Ruby Bridges
Also this cover has autograph of sculptor Mario Chiodo on this cover.

Mario Chiodo
Thanks for reading this and start dreaming to do something like this in your town. I already did.!! Let's work together and do it.!!

Any questions or concerns let me know. More Reading:  'Remember Them' Oakland sculpture to be unveiled


Want to see more of this kind of my creation then click following links.

Martin Luther Memorial  Dedication Cover in Washington DC. (coming soon)

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


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My 100th Blog post
My Son's Blog :http://usapostman.blogspot.com
Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation











Photographs, Contents and Style Copyright Ketankumar Patel © 2009 - 2011

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

My 100th Gandhi Blog Post.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Can't believe it.  This is my own 100th blog post on Gandhi Philately Study Circle.

Also read Gandhi Philately 100

I think this is only possible because all of you who read this blog (20000+ page views) which keeps  me motivating me to write more and more.  Thanks to all followers who are actively following this blog, all comments you wrote and all other philatelic blog who made us in their favorite blog list. It's has been great experience. I got some good compliments and I got some angry comments about my blog posts which usually happens in this world.

I still can't believe that what this hobby did it to me in less then 3 years.!!!

Back in November 2008 I was just looking some world stamps on eBay  so my son can learn some world geography, history, culture etc and I found Mahatma Gandhi Stamp of USA. Before that I only saw/know about  Mahatma Gandhi stamp only from India. I have no idea about 1948 Gandhi stamp and even 1969 Gandhi stamp.!!

And while researching more about Gandhi Stamp I came to know about Maulik 1948 exhibit and his blog gandhiphilately.blogpost.com ( Gandhi Philately Study Circle aka Gandhi Stamps) and  I requested Maulik Thakkar to join with him to write on his blog and here you go. It was first blog specially dedicated to Gandhi Philately and he was writing about some intersting topics which some of us will not even know.

I wrote my first blog on October 13 2009, "Gandhi and Paquebot - Part III"  (copying Maulik!!) and now I am writing my 100th blog post.!!

In November 2009 I wrote about my 1st year experience of collecting Gandhi Philatelic Material which was the worst time for my collection as I was not aware of what's going in Gandhi Philatelic world  as there was not material available about pricing or current trends going in Gandhi Philately and I felt cheated by some greedy dealers/collectors.

I can't find what is the right value of Gandhi stamps on internet and what is the right price of the philatelic items and what are the things going in such as Shill Bidding, Inflated prices, FAKE Gandhi Philately items, FAKE bidders, FAKE addresses, FAKE sellers, FAKE buyers etc.  I went through all this stuff and I learned myself  by putting all this pieces together and I came to conclusion that it's bad out there and I decided to spread this word and make everyone aware about this. So I wrote my 1st year of experience on the blog.!!

At one point I was thinking that I jumped in a bad hobby and thinking to quit. But as I am Patel it was not in my blood and I don't want to be quitter and I can't remain silence so I decided to be in this hobby but slowly slowly I started exposing what's going on.

While accumulating philatelic materials I paid high price for some of the stamps and philatelic material because of greed of some collectors. Also I  paid  high price for some items from China "asdaasdaasda" and from Israel "sedin01" for Somalia and Yemen Gandhi Stamps. I think I was cheated here too.!!

One of the example where I was cheated by a Gandhi collector(dealer) with same first name (Ketan) from UK !!

I was very upset after my finding even though I told him about his activities of selling and bidding with multiple id and also doing shill bidding on his friends id (BTW: his own id). . He tried to overbid me when I was trying to buy Cameroun FDC and eventually did not pay to seller.!!!  He wants to increase value of Cameroun FDC as he has 3-4 Cameroun FDC which he bought it at very low price and want to make a big bucks.!!

But after studying other Ketan and his activities I  can tell that "I am self proclaimed Expert of finding every thing FAKE in Philatelic.!!!" I was amazed by his activities on ebay, delcampe and even on some Gandhi philatelic items.!! Go back and look your collection and you will start feeling his presence and you will feel cheated too.!!

On October 2nd 2009,  United Nations issued $1 stamp of Mahatma Gandhi India issued 25 Rupees stamp and Croatia issued Mahatma Gandhi special cancellation  to celebrate to celebrate International Day of Non-Violence(IDNV).

As a daily routine to check on ebay what are new items in Gandhi Philatelic I saw a special Cancellation from Germany with  Gandhi Picture and Emblem of India which was selling for $100.!!! I was surprised by the price of this item as other 3 items related to IDNV was available very cheap(under $5). So I thought there  is something wrong  going on in this and I did my research. This was my turning point and I was surprised, shocked, amazed that upto what extend this hobby takes.!!! You can read this by clicking following link.

FAKE Gandhi postmark cancel from Germany on 2nd October 2009 ???

On April 3rd 2010 I created my own cover "Think Different : Gandhi and Apple" to celebrate First day of iPad.!!  Even though it was genuine cover and known owner, someone don't like what I am doing and started blaming me that this is insult to a great men, don't know how to affix stamps, how to cancel stamps etc. You can read this blog and comment by clicking following link. (Please make sure to read comment.!!)

"Think Different : Gandhi and Apple"

I am satisfied that my blog is helpings others. That was my mail goal to prevent this fradulent activities. It's ok I lost some money on my purchase of some stamps from Yemen, Somalia, Mauritius etc, lost huge money on Cameroun FDC , Nepal Indian Embassy Gandhi FDC etc and prevented other buyers from buying  some FAKE philatelic materials such as FFC, Special Cancellation, FAKE SPECIMEN etc.

Another interesting thing I noticed is that there are even FAKE comments on this blog.!! Readers are so afraid that they don't want to identified themselves  and they are requesting to do me research for them, write about special philatelic items, etc.!!!. They even open new gmail/google account in order to hide their identity. I am not sure why they are hiding it.!! I asked one of the comment writer to provide me his details such as address, phone #, etc so I can authenticate them ( I should know who are that people as from email I can't assume that they are real people) before I start my research on their questions or concerns about particular Gandhi  philatelic items. It's like giving your information to seller from you buy it from eBay. I can't write or work for someone if I don't know.!! Think what they never provided me their information. Is it not amazing.!!

I can write a lot about my experience, but you have my other 99 posts which will give you some idea and you will start thinking what are possibilities in Philatelic world and specially in Gandhi Philately.!!

But I achieved my main goal to get my son in philately world and now he is in.!! He saw my enthusiasm in collecting Gandhi philatelic material and writing me blog. He started collecting covers and postcards from different countries mail to his address (no buying, so no cheating.!!) and sending back them some interesting philatelic material to their address. He started even writing his own philatelic blog (usapostman.blogspot.com) and also he made his own website. (www.usapostman.com).!! Recently I mailed him one interesting cover with Gandhi stamps.!! It's worth seeing it.

Again thanks for reading and  please share your thoughts in the comments section or you can email me at ketankumar@gmail.com.


Thanks


Monday, September 5, 2011

Gandhi Stamp 1969 India Postcard SPECIMEN - Why you will quit Gandhi Philately or Stamps Collections - Part-4


Hello Gandhi Collectors,

This is my part-4 blog post about "Why you will Quit Gandhi Philately"

(THINK HOW EASY IS TO PRINT and you decide.)


Recently I saw "SPECIMEN" 1969 India Gandhi Postcard (PS). If you want to make your collection unique and add some value to it this is great item because SPECIMEN are made very limited numbers.

Now looking to this "SPECIMEN" rubber stamp it looks like me it's very easy to make one and stamped it on any 1969 Gandhi postcard and you will get  a "Gandhi SPECIMEN" postcard. Cool!! Same way you can find it on FAKE cyprus Gandhi Specimen Stamp.

Please click to see FAKE Cyprus Gandhi  SPECIMEN stamp!!


Now according to me if you buy this kind of philatelic material without  "Certificate Of Authenticity" and paying  more than 10$ then YOU WILL QUIT GANDHI PHILATELY.!!!

(Click this link to read blog post by Maulik Thakkar more about how to Authenticate your philatelic material )

Reason for this is that you are paying high price of commonly available under $1 which will not justify your investment or when you will know this that this is FAKE you will start loosing interest.

Please look at following  link by  Howard Courtney and think what about this and you decide.

http://friends.peoria.lib.il.us/community/howardcourtney/indianpostalstationeryerrors.html





Let us know what do you think about this SPECIMEN and Does it make sense to collect.!!

I know some of you already know about this are aware of this kind of items but some new collectors or future collectors will be not aware of this past activities so I am documenting this which might help to them instead of just me.

If you have more information then please share with us.


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

http://usapostman.blogspot.com
Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation