jueves, 13 de agosto de 2009

Up - VE 201 to Netherlands

Those who watched the last movie from Disney-Pixar Studios "Up" might recognize the setting!
Beautiful Tepuy in the south part of Venezuela, magical place full of energy!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela


If you havent seen the movie, go!
It is well spent money!
On popcorn and coke, not so much!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_(2009_film)


This beauty went out to Netherlans!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands


Happy Post X ing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postcrossing

VE - 200 a Lexington KY

La Sultana del Ávila!
Una ciudad llena de historias, aun con mucho verde pero también con muchos problemas!
Fundada en 1967 por Diego de Lozada.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracas

Sale para Lexington, Kentucky.
Una ciudad donde bien se ha podido cumplir uno de mis sueños!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexington,_Kentucky

Happy Post X ing

miércoles, 12 de agosto de 2009

Post Crossing / VE199

El Pico Bolivar salió para la Republica Popular de China

La belleza de nuestro pico más alto, puerta de Los Andes plasmado en una bella postal.

Pico Bolivar
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_Bolivar

jueves, 6 de agosto de 2009

The "best" inverted Jenny flies tomorrow!



El que supuestamente se considera el sello mejor conservado de Jenny invertida "volará" mañana 7 de Agosto en la subasta de la American Philatelic Society Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, PA
Este sello en particular no había estado disponible en 50 años y es probable que no vuelva a verse por otro largo periodo de tiempo.
Estas piezas (Inverted Jennys) normalmente se cotizan en las 6 cifras, pero esta en particular se considera la mejor conservada!

LA HISTORIA
En 1918 Estados Unidos estaba realizando las pruebas preliminares para lo que sería un avance inmenso en aquella época "El Correo Aéreo" para celebrar el magno acontecimiento se programó la salida de una estampilla con los colores patrios y el biplano Curtis JN-4 que seria el responsable de llevar el correo entre las ciudades de Washington, Filadelfia y Nueva York.
La exorbitante tasa de 24 centavos de dólar fue un escándalo considerando que la tasa para correo primera clase era de 3 centavos.
El 15 de Mayo de 1918 fue la fecha decidida para inaugurar dicho servicio y todo el proceso para la fabricación de la estampilla se hizo de manera apurada, como la estampilla tenia dos colores había que pasar la hoja de 100 sellos dos veces por los rodillos lo cual se prestaba para errores, se sabe de tres hojas con Jennys invertidas que fueron destruidas en ese proceso, pero como todos saben una se coló.
W.T Robey que al parecer era un avioncito le escribió a un amigo una semana antes de que Jenny saliera advirtiéndole que seria bueno estar pendientes de errores en dicha serie.
Según las propias palabras de Mr. Robey: "Me dirigí el 14 de Mayo a la oficina postal para comprar una hoja, cuando el encargado me la trajo pude ver que toda la hoja estaba invertida, mi corazón se paralizo por un momento, la pague y pedí ver mas pero el resto no tenían error.
Luego hay varias versiones sobre lo sucedido, estas incluyen visitas de inspectores postales solicitando la hoja escondida para entonces, ya que Robey le había escrito a vendedores, coleccionistas y editores de publicaciones filatélicas del hallazgo en su posesión.
Robey le vendió la hoja completa a Eugene Klein quien poseía una casa filatélica en Filadelfia por la bicoca (para aquel entonces) de $ 15.000 y este le subió $5.000 para vendérsela en $ 20.000 al Coronel H. R. Green (Por que será que siempre hay un militar metido en una movida.
Klein le dijo al Coronel que la hoja valdría mas dinero si se vendía por separado y este la dividió en un bloque de 8, varios de 4 y el resto eran individuales.
El Coronel se quedo con algunas incluyendo una que coloco dentro de un pendiente que le regalo a su esposa, ese pendiente fue a subasta en 2002 y se desconocen los detalles de la subasta privada!

DALLAS, TX - A splendid mint state “Inverted Jenny” stamp, the finest never hinged example of one of the world’s most famous collectibles, will be the centerpiece of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Signature Rare Stamps auction, Aug. 7, at the American Philatelic Society Annual Convention in Pittsburgh, PA.“This is the first time this stamp has been on the market in 50 years,” said Harvey Bennett, Director of Philately at Heritage Auction Galleries, the firm conducting the auction. Bennett is also well-known in the stamp collecting world as the longtime head of Matthew Bennett International. “In all likelihood it won’t come on the market again for at least another 50.”The 24c Carmine Rose & Blue, Center Inverted (C3a), or “The Inverted Jenny” as it’s known for the upside-down Jenny aircraft pictured on the stamp, is not only the most famous piece of philately in the world, it is easily one of the most famous collectibles on the planet, too. Its fame is equal to that of a Honus Wagner baseball card, or a Superman #1 Comic Book.

Only a single sheet of 100 Inverted Jenny stamps survived the initial mistaken printing and were bought for $24. When government officials demanded the stamps back, the original buyer wisely held his ground, and later sold the sheet of stamps, which were subsequently split apart and sold individually. Inverted Jenny’s regularly sell for six figures when they appear, but the quality of the present example is unmatched. Collectors of all stripes and sizes will be keeping an eye on this stamp when it crosses the block later this week.
If you are interested in consigning to an upcoming Internet or Signature Rare Stamps Auction, call Harvey Bennett at 1-800-872-6467 x 1156, email HarveyB@HA.com; or call Steve Crippe at (800) 872-6467, ext. 1777, or email StevenC@HA.com.Heritage Auction Galleries is the world’s third largest auction house, and by far the largest auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales more than $700 million, and 450,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage's auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.

miércoles, 5 de agosto de 2009

New 42 cents Disney


Real nice!
The way only Disney knows!
The Art of Disney "Imagination" Postage Stamps.
Sheet of 20 (only 4 different)
Cost $8.40.

Bad news!


Tal cual salió "posteado" en Yahoo.com

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The local post office long has been the center of many American communities, but with people turning increasingly to the Internet to send messages and pay bills, financial losses are forcing the Postal Service to consider consolidating or closing hundreds of local facilities.

The post office is facing a $7 billion loss this year despite a 2-cent rate increase. The agency has shed 150,000 workers since 2000, removed hundreds of mail collection boxes and taken other steps to save money.

Now the agency has sent a list of nearly 700 potential candidates for closing or consolidation to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission for review, and officials say more may be added.

Some of the offices could be closed while others might have some of their functions consolidated with other offices. For example, in some cases preparing mail for delivery may be shifted from Office A to nearby Office B, but the first office still might offer services such as selling stamps and mailing parcels and letters. In other cases one of the offices might be closed.

Postal Vice President Jordan Small told a congressional subcommittee that local managers will study activities of approximately 3,200 stations and branches across the country, considering factors such as customer access, service standards, cost savings, impact on employees, environmental impact, real estate values and long-term Postal Service needs.

No changes are expected before the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30.

There are 32,741 post offices across the country.

"We anticipate that out of these 3,200 stations and branches (being reviewed), under 1,000 offices could be considered as viable candidates to study further" for closing, Small said.

In addition to the switch of business to the Internet, the recession has hurt the post office by reducing advertising mail. Last year's high gas prices also siphoned millions of dollars from its coffers.

Just last week the Government Accountability Office added the Postal Service to its list of troubled agencies, saying there are serious and significant structural financial challenges currently facing the agency.

"Every major postal policy, from employee pay, to days of delivery, to the closing of postal facilities must be on the table. Without major change, the day will soon come when the Postal Service will be unable to pay its bills," the GAO said.

Congress is considering a bill to change the way the post office funds its retiree health benefits over the next two years that could save $2 billion annually.

In addition, Postmaster General John Potter has asked Congress for permission to reduce mail deliveries from six days a week to five.

Last year, mail volume fell by 9.5 billion pieces to a total of 203 billion pieces. It is expected to fall by 28 billion pieces this year to a total of 175 billion pieces.

At the same time population growth and new business mean the post office has to serve 1.2 million new addresses every year.

While Congress votes money for free mail delivery for the blind and to offer reduced rates to charities, the post office does not receive taxpayer funds for its operations.

List of postal stations: http://tinyurl.com/m5v32m

U.S. Postal Service: http://www.usps.com

lunes, 3 de agosto de 2009

Tampoco son conchas de ajo!



Lo mas probable es que no seas el afortunado poseedor de una "Inverted Jenny" pero si llegas a tener una sin error no solo tienes una bella estampilla, tambien posee un valor apreciable!

I´ll make a sure bet!
I bet you don´t have an inverted Jenny!

I will also admit that if you have a Jenny (flying the right way) you have a beautiful stamp and "she" ain´t cheap!
Congrats!

CURTISS JENNY
1918
Denomination: 24c
Color: Carmine rose & blue
VALUE:
Mint, Never Hinged $150.00
Unused, Hinged $105.00
Used $35.00