Friday, November 18, 2011

FDC from Taiwan/FDC de Taïwan

Railway Branch Lines Postage Stamps/
Direction des chemins de fer Lignes timbres



Railway branch lines in Taiwan were originally built to serve specific industries, although they later also began to provide regular and economical passenger services for residents along the lines. After a century or so of operation, the branch lines went into decline due to economic transformation, the rise of highway transport, and the rapid development of cities. But in recent years, as people have demonstrated a greater demand for recreational opportunities, some of these branch lines reopened as heritage railways. Furthermore, in order to provide access to high-speed-rail stations, new branch lines have also been built.

In order to raise understanding about these railway branch lines, Chunghwa Post is issuing a set of five stamps, printed in the format of a vertical se-tenant strip, on November 12, 2011. The designs follow:

1. Shalun Branch Line (NT$5): This 6.52-kilometer branch line in Tainan runs between Zhongzhou Station and Shalun Station, where there is access to Taiwan High Speed Rail’s Tainan station. Aimed at better meeting the Tainan metropolitan area’s transportation needs by linking the high-speed rail line with traditional rail and the planned mass transit system, the building of the branch line required reconstructing the Zhongzhou Station and building two new elevated stations: the aforementioned Shalun Station and the Chang Jung Christian University Station. The line was completed and opened to traffic on January 2, 2011.

2. Jiji Branch Line (NT$5): This 29.7-kilometer branch line runs between Changhua’s Ershui Station and Nantou’s Checheng Station. Originally built for transporting building materials, the line would later carry regular passenger trains and freight trains. Today, it has been transformed into a tourist line. This branch line offers great scenic vistas. Its “green tunnels” is a tourist-worthy attraction. In April of 2010, the section between Longquan and Checheng was closed for tunnel renovations. On July 9, 2011, the project was completed, and the line was once again fully opened.

3. The Neiwan Branch Line (NT$12): This 29.9-kilometer branch line runs between Hsinchu Station and Neiwan Station. Originally built for the agriculture, logging, and mining industries, the line gradually shifted its focus to passenger service. There’s a plethora of natural beauty, cultural assets, and ecological resources along the way. In accordance with a plan to improve this line as well as the Liujia Branch Line, beginning in March of 2007, a section on the line between the Hsinchu and Zhudong stations was closed. It is scheduled to reopen on November 12, 2011.

4. Liujia Branch Line (NT$12): This 11.28-kilometer branch line runs between Hsinchu Station and Liujia Station. To meet the transportation needs in the area between Hsinchu and THSR’s Hsinchu Station in Liujia, the Taiwan Railways Administration has undertaken a project to connect its TRA system to the THSR. This project involves elevating the section between the Bei Hsinchu Station and Zhuzhong Station, a section to connect the Zhuzhong Station to the Liujia Station, and building five new stations. The line is expected to open on November 12, 2011.

5. Pingxi Branch Line (NT$15): This 12.9-kilometer branch line runs between Sandiaoling and Jingtong of New Taipei City. Originally a railroad built exclusively to ship coal, it was later for passenger and freight trains. The line boasts views of enchanting rural landscapes. The quaint old streets of the towns along the line, the old train stations, and folk customs such as the releasing of sky lanterns in Pingxi have all contributed to make this branch line a popular and unique tourist line.


Comic image picture of Hsinchu area in Liujia Sta., By Lai, Youxian, who a comic author from Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

FDC from Japan/FDC du Japon

Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Surtax Stamps/
Timbres de Surtaxe de Relief de Grand Séisme de Japon Est

Saturday, October 22, 2011

FDC from Latvia/FDC de la Lettonie

125th Anniversary of Latvian Cycling/
125e ​​anniversaire de la Lettonie à vélo

Latvian Ports-Freeport of Riga/
Ports lettonsPort franc de Riga.

Friday, October 14, 2011

FDC from Taiwan/FDC de Taïwan

100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic of China(TAIWAN)/
100e anniversaire de la fondation de la République de Chine (Taïwan)



To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Republic of China, Chunghwa Post will issue a set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet on the republic’s 100th birthday: October 10, 2011. The designs follow:

1. Each of the four stamps depicts a major stage in the development of the ROC:

(1) The Founding of the Republic (NT$5): The stamp features the national flag and a portrait of the founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen. In the background are a group of flying doves, symbols of peace, and lyrics to the national anthem. The stamp conveys Sun Yat-sen’s sacrifices and devotion to the revolution, which led to the establishment of the first republic in Asia.

(2) Agricultural and Economic Development (NT$5): Featuring a copy of the ROC constitution, the Presidential Office Building, and abundant agricultural produce, the stamp symbolizes agricultural development during the early days of the ROC in Taiwan.

(3) Transportation Infrastructure (NT$10): The stamp features Taoyuan International Airport’s newly renovated Terminal I building, a highway, an airplane, and a ship. These images demonstrate the country’s transportation infrastructure, economic development and trade growth, as well as its global vision.

(4) High Technology Development (NT$25): The foreground features a high-speed train and IC wafers. Fiber-optic cables, a parabolic dish for satellite or radar transmissions, and a globe with crisscrossing latitude and longitude lines can be seen in the background. The stamp conveys how this country is striving to raise its technological capabilities to be on a par with the most advanced nations of the world.

Also released is a souvenir sheet (NT$25). The color scheme of the sheet reflects the blue sky, white sun and red earth of the national flag. The design features the national flag, the Presidential Office Building and a portrait of Dr. Sun Yat-sen with the ROC constitution as the background.

2.  The stamps are printed in a se-tenant strip of four with special perforations of the numerals “1,” “0,” and “0” between the individual stamps. Each stamp has the design of “100” as background. As befitting a celebratory occasion, the logo of the centennial is placed on each stamp and souvenir sheet whereas the Chinese and English characters and the denominations are printed in gold color. Some special techniques are also adopted in printing the souvenir sheet, ex: the title printed with foil, the wordings “In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding” is hot stamped with optical variable film, and the Chinese for “the Republic of China Stamp”, as well as English words “REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN)” and the denomination are printed in gold color.

A stamp folio will be released along with the stamps. The folio includes a set of the commemorative issue and a souvenir sheet, a “2nd Print of the National Flower Postage Stamp”, a “Fireworks Display Postage Stamps” and a limited edition specimen of the commemorative souvenir sheet. Also included are five postal cards, four of which are affixed with a relative stamp from this issue, and pre-cancelled. Both the folio and the postal cards have a double cross design which resemble the Chinese character for ten to symbolize “Double Tenth Day”—i.e. the national day of the Republic of China on October 10. On an interleaf, the lyrics to the ROC national anthem are embossed while printing. The design of the folio, both of its inside and its cover, are very creative.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Maximum card from Japan/cartes-maximum du Japon

Anime - The Rose of Versailles/La Rose de Versailles