Stamps Collecting Hobbies, Ceylon – Sri Lanka, Pen Friends.

THE JOY OF STAMP COLLECTING – PART 1

 Ceylon Under British Rule / Dominion

Stamps bearing the pictures of;

King George V (Reign from 1910-1936) and

King George VI (Reign from 1936 – 1952)

Stamp collecting is not the same as philately, which is the study of stamps. A philatelist may, but does not have to, collect stamps.  There are specific terms which refer to some specialized areas of stamp-collecting; for example, the collection and study of airmail stamps is called 'aerophilately'.

Many casual stamp collectors accumulate stamps for sheer enjoyment and relaxation without worrying about the tiny details. Stamp collecting is a joyous pastime. With each stamp lies a story behind. The historical, geographical, political, economics, events, religion etc of a nation - recorded on the small piece of stamp! Those days none would ever imagine these hobbies one day can generate into some form of profit? 

 

Leaders and personalities,

Religion; Buddhist, Hindu and Islam,

Mile’s last letter with a Sri Lanka stamp

 Rice planting, tea and coconut

Different types of animals in Ceylon/Sri Lanka

When I was young I had pen friends from many countries and was fortunate as my pen pals collect stamps too.  Those days we don’t buy, we rely on exchanges; “you give me a 1950 dated stamp or one with a picture of the Queen, I will give you same from my country” - that childish kind of bargaining we had back then. LOL.

One of my pen pal was from Ratnapura, Ceylon (Now Sri Lanka) and lives in a Tea Plantation. He was from mixed families, British father married a local Sinhanese lady. His last letter to me with a Sri Lanka (new name) stamp came in 1972 when Ceylon became a Republic; changing its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.

A lot of things happened in Ceylon/Sri Lanka during those period, we lost contact since. To my dearest pen pal Miles, wherever you may be today, these stamps of Ceylon (over 100 pieces in my collection) came from you, “thank you”.