The Year Of Ox Stamp

The upcoming Year of the Ox falls on January 26 th, 2009 until February 13th, 2010. This is the second year in sequence and recurring in twelve years cycle. According to Chinese astrology, the year 2560 wil be The Year of the Earth Ox.
As stated by one of most popular myths, the Lord Buddha called all the animals to come to him before departing this earth. Only 12 animals came after crossing the final river in the race, and as a reward the named a lunar year after each according to the order of its arrival. The Ox was the second to get there after the Rat which rode over his back intelligently jump ahead to reach the first place. The rest followed them were the Tigger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Ram, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and the Pig.
According to Chinese astrology, people have to work harder and need stability in doing their job in the Year of the Ox. This year will be a hard time to get succeed. Patience and dicipline have to be maintained as well as intuition and rationality balancing. The Ox symbolization that holds nature harmony teaches not to set activities causing nature disorder. This upcoming year will be a prosperous year of those hard thinkers and active planners who believe in and relay on a teamwork, running own business or work independently.
The Ox is the sign of prosperity through strength and hard work. The Ox people are born leader, being quite dependable and determined to achieve great things.They are reliable, calm and modest. The Ox is patient, tireless in their work, and capable of performing endurance without complaint. Ox people need peace and quiet circumstance to work. Once they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and his extremely systematic in whatever they do, even without imagination.These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. People born under the influence of the Ox are kond caring souls, positive and filled with common sense. Their feet are firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life. They are prepared to sweat in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Stubborn and individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals hard to be told what to do.

Stamps : Type and Size

Type

Initially, stamps published on rectangle, which Picture of King as a simple pattern. In progress, some country has published own stamps in another type. At first, Square Stamps type has been published by Bavaria Post on 1849. Then Triangle Stamps type have been used by Cape of Good Hope on 1853. Whereas, on 1898 Greek Government used Octagon Stamp Type for Mailing Cost Payment.

Size

At first, Stamps is made on very simple size, not too big and small enough. The first stamp size about 25 X 18 mm. Then some of governments has modified stamp, both of bigger and smaller size. The smallest stamps is published in Germany on 1856, well known as Mecklenberg Scwein Stamps. It size 9 X 9 mm. In the mean time, United States has published biggest stamps on 1865, that size 53 X 97 mm.

Kinds of Stamp

Generally, the purpose of publishing stamps can be differentiate onto four kinds :

Definitive Stamps

Most of publishing stamps aims to sufficient mailing cost everyday, it isn't related with one event or moment. Selling and using periods is unlimited, it depends on State Regulation. Usually about 5 years.

Celebration Stamps

Publishing Celebration Stamps is connected with an event, which is held nationally or internationally.

Special Stamps

International and national activities must be know by every citizens. One of way to make attention, by publishing stamps.

Charity Stamps

The Charity Stamps isn't sold by nominal price. Every piece of stamp has been printed with addition price, which would be contribute to charity agent.

Philately as a hobby

As a hobby, unwittingly could make a stamps collector have wide knowledge. It because of stamps which has published by countries, has presented his own wealth, like history, economics, politics, culture, habits, nature, flora, fauna etc. Almost all of aspect of life every country was ilustrated on his stamps.

If we collect stamp seriously, we can build our positive character automatically, like :

• Excite
• Patient
• Diligent
• Careful
• Tak care
• Frugal
• Creative
• Honest and understanding

Stamps as collectible items

Initially, stamps was used as settlement sign of sending mails. But, gradually it develop as collectible items, which have a big appeal.

Doctor Gray, one of museum officials in UK, has spearheaded as first stamps collector in the world. He find and add his collection by The London Times Newspaper in in 1841. Then, on of geography's teacher in France, teaches his student use a stamp as props. It has made changes student interest of geography.

Philately has become an epidemic among students quickly. They compete each other to complete their stamps collection. They wanted to be a best and complete collector. In order to complete their collection, they exchange stamps each other.

First stamps catalog in the world, has been released in France in 1861, whereas first stamps album published by Lallier in France in 1862.

First Indonesia Stamp

Issuance of stamps in UK, has affected another countries to publish his own country stamps. Some countries has published stamp, eg: Switzerland, Mauritius, France, Bavaria, United States and Brazil.

Dutch East Indies Government, as a colonizer of Indonesia Region, published first stamp on 1 April 1864. It coloured red wine and has nominal price 10 cent. First Indonesia Stamp illustrated face of Third King Willem.

What is stamp ?

Stamp (Prangko = Indonesian Language) derived from Latin Language "franco". It means sign settlement for paying mailing costs. In others word, the cost will not be payed by recipients, but should be payed by sender with stamp before sending mails.

Intrinsically, stamp is a piece of pictorial paper that is published by Government, which have glue in backside. In another side, we can find a particular image, name of publisher state, price and published year.

By attaching a stamp on envelope, postal company has an obligations to deliver mail to recipients, event in another country.