Stamp sold for 48,500 Australian dollars in America

Francis P. Gunasekera

American stamp collectors have been alerted for errors in watermark in some Australian stamps depicting Kangaroo and map. In February 2006 such a stamp was sold for Australian Dollars 48,500 which is a record price ever paid for an Australian watermark error.

The Kangaroo stamp reffered to here is of 6-penny denomination. No example of the error in postmark is recorded as being offered for sale in any part of the world for at least 60 years. An Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue states that only three examples of the inverted watermark existed.

One of them is in the Royal Collection in London. Most of the Kangaroo and map stamps have normal upright watermark and they are worth only a few. (U.S.) cents.

Forty wonders in U.S. stamps

America comes out with new stamps in large numbers every year. By these releases it demonstrates to the world that the tiny pieces of colourful paper can change the world into a place of super thoughts and deeds beneficial to all mankind.

They are just doing that when they brought out 40 pictorial stamps to commemorate the World Stamp Show “Washington 2006”.

On June 4 it came to an end with the participation of mammoth crowds.

By this show, stamp enthusiasts are made to think to what extent philatelic thoughts can travel to transform the stamp-collecting hobby to live and thrive for endless years to come.

Their latest theme popularly known as ‘superlative sights’ provide much interest in discovering what is hitherto unseen or unread of by the people at large.

As the 40 stamps cannot be given larger space here, we are giving 3 of them in enlarged format.

You will see in the illustration the tallest cactus, most active volcano and largest glacier (which is the Bering glacier as shown in 3 of the 40 stamps.

The golden lotus

The practice of feet-binding in which the feet of small girls are bound to prevent them from growing and to reduce them to a grotesquely small size was prevalent in China until the turn of the century. The custom had social approval but it crippled the womenfolk of well-to-do homes of rife.

The deformation process was started when the girl was 6-8 years. Her toes were bent inwards towards the sole and held in position by tight bandages secured behind the heel. Only the big toe was left out of the bandages.

After the bandages were tied, the feet were forced into tight shoes and the girl was made to walk. The feet hurt terribly but if the girl tried to remove the bandages or refused to walk, she was beaten. The bandages were tightened frequently so as to draw the toes towards the heel. The shoes were changed every fortnight with the size becoming progressively smaller.

By the time the girl reached marriageable age each foot was only about three inches long and was adoringly called The Golden Lotus. The small feet appealed to the men but caused great inconvenience and pain to the women concerned. They could barely walk and their physical activities were severely restricted as a result. How did such a cruel practice get started ?

According to one story it began with a beautiful empress named Tl Chin. She had the habit of wailing in her sleep and her husband, on her suggestion, had a surgeon trim her feet so that it became painful for her to walk.

It cured her of her somnambulism but then she found that her feet which were once more beautiful than those of any other woman in the palace were now small and ugly. Her husband, to console her, decreed that all women of aristocratic birth should have their feet shortened. Women began to bind their feet to shorten them, and in the course of time, small deformed feet became a mark of beauty.

Folk tales of Sri Lanka - 5

Andare looks after a coconut nursery

Retold by R. S. Karunaratne

Thieves had a field day even when Andare was serving the king. They did not spare even the king’s coconut nursery. The loss of coconut plants became a recurring problem for the king.

One day the king asked Andare to look after the coconut nursery throughout the day instead of entertaining him in the palace. For a man like Andare who led a carefree life looking after a coconut nursery became a headache. However, he knew he could not go against the king’s will. So he started looking after the young coconut plants in a novel way.

Andare spent his day time in the coconut nursery. However he did not want to spend the night like a watcher. So he took all the young coconut plants and put them into a room in the estate and locked the room. On the following day he would come and replant them once again.

This novel method of looking after the young coconut plants went on for some time.

However, somebody sneaked to the king what Andare was doing.

The king summoned his ministers and told them how to outsmart Andare. They dispersed promising to do what the king had ordered them to do.

Without knowing what the king and his ministers were doing, Andare came to the coconut nursery on the following morning and began to replant them. However, he was prevented from doing so by a severe stench that emanated from each hole dug up to plant coconuts.

At that time the king and his ministers visited the nursery. When the king asked Andare what happened to the plants, he came out with a stunning answer.

“Your majesty, I was about to replant the coconuts but I found that some dogs had used the holes as toilets. So I am unable to do so. The king looked at the ministers. They in turn looked at one another.

Andare won another day and the king ordered a watcher to look after the coconut nursery.

Young Scribes

Childhood

Old people say that childhood is the best part of life. They look back at their childhood and remember all its happy days; the fun they had at school. When they were children, their mothers gave them all they wanted. Their childish troubles, as they look back on them, seem very small and silly; they laugh over them now.

They had no great sorrows, no heavy burdens to carry, no dangers to face. The world to them, then was a very beautiful place and they did not know that men could be cruel and hard. They believed all that was told to them, and they did not know how false and dishonest people could be. They were simple and innocent and as happy as the day was long. So they sometimes wish they could be children again.

Omaya Nimanthi Rajapakse
Gr.10, Sailan International School, Negombo,

A role model in my life

Mrs. Selvadurai has been my role model since my younger days at Sailan International School. She is currently the vice-principal and the school’s oldest teacher. Being very much elder to me, she is very wise. For four years she has been my English teacher.

With her experience of teaching in a number of schools, she knows how to tackle any child. She is very strict with us in matters of teaching but underneath she is kind and quite amusing. In between each explanation she rolls a joke and we are amused. Therefore we understand quickly and learn rapidly.

She has a magical power of controlling even the wildest child in my school. Often she tells us stories of former students of hers who had bitter feelings against her, but later repented and came in search of her to obtain her forgiveness.

From my younger days, I took to reading as my hobby and it fascinated me. Mrs. Selvadurai encouraged my friends and me to read novels such as Famous Five and Secret Seven. I am very grateful to her for inducing me to read 7 years ago. my vocabulary has increased and I am able to read and pronounce tough words. Since English is my school’s first language I have to speak English all the time, but I speak fluently, thanks to Mrs. Selvadurai.

Occasionally, my classmates get a sharp scolding or warning from Mrs. Selvadurai. The very sound of her voice freezes all mischievous acts and even the naughtiest child sits quietly, doing her work, as good as gold.

She patiently corrects a child and takes a lot of effort to keep up the good name of our school. Although my school is not highly developed, she reminds us that we belong to it and must upgrade it.

Because of her fascinating personality, not only have our school students excelled inside the school but also at places away from the school too.

I shudder to think of the day when she would leave my school. She would no more be beside me to give advice, correct me, and guide me in the right path.

A wonderful teacher like her, is hard to leave behind. I salute her and thank her for everything she has done and is still doing. She shall be a treasured impression and a strong influence in my character.

G. Rehana Packeeran
Sailan International School, Negombo.