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”.