'Mangalapex 2014' unravels the world of posts

The exhibition of stamps, first day covers, greeting envelops, pictorial cancellations at DK district-level philatelic exhibition — Mangalapex 2014, chronicled history of the country as well as that of the world.

A total of 15 persons had exhibited their philately possessions including 13 in junior category. Out of 13 in junior category, seven students were from St Aloysius High School, Kodialbail. 

Nehru Stamp Club Coordinator Sheryl Prabhu said that this was an opportunity for the students to showcase their collections. However, as the exams are going on not many could participate. In fact, the last Mangalapex was held in 2003.

Rynel D’Silva had exhibited stamps on the title ‘Christmas.’ It featured series of stamps on the birth of Jesus Christ, story of Bible, the ‘Three kings,’ ‘Angels,’ ‘the shepherd,’ ‘Mary and Jesus’ and ‘Christmas story.’ 

Prabhu said “D’Silva has keen interest in stamp collection. However, as he is writing SSLC exam shortly, he could not concentrate much for the competition.” 

Alston Vas from the same school had come out with stamps on Royal and political leaders’ from Spain, Netherland, UK and so on.

Other themes of the stamps displayed at the expo included ‘My fascination towards art and architectures,’ ‘My favourite sport—football,’ ‘wonders of nature, birds and butterfly,’ ‘From horse carriage to world of luxury cars,’ ‘athletics.’ There was special covers issued at Mangalapex on January 15, 2003.

The cover page was on Abbakka. Other special covers included special cover issued at Mappex on November 14, 1976 (cover page was on mother and daughter), special cover issued at Kerapex on February 28, 1976 (it had cover page on shipyard at Cochin).

There were exhibitions on Megadhoot post cards, first day cover of 1980s, picture post cards, greeting envelopes, stamps on Olympics games.  

In the invitee class expo, Daniel Monteiro had stamps on water birds, Vidya Kishore Bagalode’s permanent pictorial cancellation of Kerala State, postal cover of 1913, letter from weather department, South Kanara district postal directory of 1950 and so on.

There were stamps on alphabets, ‘Bharathada Veera mahileyaru’ by S Narayana Rao, ‘charity seals and stamps’ by Vittaldas Shanbagh, stamps on ‘track and field’ by U R Kiran Kumar, stamps of ‘light houses’ by K Sridhar, ‘maps on stamps’ by Joshwa J Prabhu, ‘Army postal covers’ by Satyashree Rao, ‘butterflies’ of Baikady Srinivas Rao among others were on display.