Farewell 2009 !

Farewell to 2009 ! 2010 New Year countdown is getting ready at most of the city squares and shopping centres where crowds will gather to celebrate the new year. Popular spots for new year countdowns in Malaysia are Dataran Merdeka ( Merdeka Square ), KLCC etc., I will NOT join the youngs to fire crackers and dance to the music at these countdown events, I will have this fire cracker MC to celebrate the NEW YEAR ... Happy 2010 .

Cheers ! A Happy New Year to All MC lovers.

Cheers to All. A Happy New Year 2010 . Regret to note that LONDON 2010 - the first international philatelic exhibition of the year fails to put up MAXIMAPHILY as a class of FIP exhibition. The organiser for the show needed to be condemned for this as it is NOT healthy for the promotion of philately in general. Maximaphilists should boycott the show at LONDON and giving supports to other shows of the year e.g PORTUGAL 2010. Maximaphilists should NOT be upset with the decision made by LONDON 2010, it is NOT a big deal really, Maximaphily exhibits displayed at CHINA 2009 at Luoyang attracted thousands of collectors , LONDON 2010 is losing on one hand . I shall be glad to see an international show purely with Maximaphily exhibits in the near future.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR ! 新年快乐!

Malaysia MCs on "China Maximaphily" issue No.4/2009 released on 22.12.2009

2009 is coming to an end, Yes, it is a fruitful year for me in terms of realisation of MCs, quite many stamps could be used on MCs. I have compiled the MCs and published them in the "China Maximaphiliy" Journal Vol.4/2009 which was just released in Nanjing, China. The joy of Maximaphily is able to share the beauty of the MCs with others. Yes, looking forward to 2010 to realise more MCs.

My 1-Malaysia MC appeared on the PSM Journal vol.2/2009 cover page

I did the Maximum Card on the theme "1-Malaysia". I am glad that this MC was adopted as the cover story for the Philatelic Society Malaysia Journal Vol.2/2009 which was published on the 19th December,2009.  This unique card is a postal stationery card issued by Singpost to celebrate its National Day in 2009. The picture shows different ethnic groups holding hands in hands which match correctly to the picture depicted on the stamp on 1-Malaysia.

Malaysia National Exhibition - MyStamp Show 2009 : 19-20 Dec.2009

Philatelic Society Malaysia has its National Exhibition i.e MyStamp Show 2009 held from 19-20 December, 2009 at MBPJ Library, Petaling Jaya. The exhibition attracted 18 exhibitors to participate - a maximaphily exhibit was submitted earlier, however, withdrawn at the last minute. Will like to see new maximaphily exhibits for the coming year show in 2010.

Childhood Hobby Game - Spider Fighting

Spider fighting is a popular childhood game, I remembered we used to hunt for the spiders among bushes and kept these pets in cigarette or match boxes. We fed the spiders with the heads of the small flies, and looked around for friends to challenge a fight with their pets. Those were the days, the children of today will NOT know what is Spider Fighting . It was real fun indeed with this cheap childhood hobby.

High Value MS on Maximum Card - Scorpion 13.12.2009

Asian Forest Scorpions are dark brown to black, with most species sporting a green or blue tint in certain lighting. They are hardy scorpions, in that way can be kept in groups of three or more.  Asian Forest Scorpions are found in rainforest habitat of peninsular Malaysia. The creatures are commonly packed as specimens in cases and exported as a Malaysian Souvenir item.

Postmark Cancellation : A related canceler from the 2009 Stamp week featuring a Scorpion dated 13.12.2009 ( Available from the Venue : Dataran Pahlawan, Melaka)

A "maxifoto" of the DYMM Sultan of Selangor

DYMM Sultan of Selangor (The Majesty was the Royal Prince then) visited Philatelic Society Malaysia's Booth during the 2000 Bukit Jalil Stamp Show, that was my first close encounter with the DYMM when I was introducing a philatelic exhibit to the Majesty. I took the opportunity to realise a "maxifoto" with the new stamp issue of the installation of the DYMM Sultan of Selangor.

DYMM Sultan Selangor - A Keen Philatelist

His Majesty DYMM Sultan of Selangor is the Royal Patron of the Philatelic Society Malaysia and a keen philatelist. The Majesty owns a fabulous collection of the SELANGOR. A Royal Exhibition was organised to mark the Royal Patronage  was held at the Palace Selangor, Kuala Lumpur in October, 2008. It was really an eye opener for me to be able to have a close glance at  the complete collection of the SELANGOR in leather bound albums. There are many GEMS in the Royal collection of the DYMM Sultan of Selangor. I was honoured to have an audience with the Majesty  at the Royal Office of the Sultan in Kuala Lumpur.

Year ends and year begins

Time flies, it is another new year round the corner, 2009 is coming to an end, and 2010 is approaching ,  it is a year ends and another new year begins. I remembered a year ago, I had this unique card 2008-2009 ( an ad card of course!) duly postmarked with a X'mas theme stamp on the last day of the year 2008 and a Chinese New Year theme stamp on the first day of the year 2009. The stamps had been carefully chosen to match with the subject, as X'mas normally falls during the end of the year in December, and the Chinese New Year in 2009 falls during the first 2 months of the year. Many will deny that this is a maximum card as it violates to the FIP rules. However, I realised the card to treasure as the 2008/2009 card will NOT be able to be realised as a maximum card forever, as the time passed is past. I would think instead of keeping the postcard bare, it is more meaningful to have appropriate stamps affixed on them and datestamped to make it more like a MAXIMUM CARD! I do NOT know whether all the friends around will like my card. Kindly comment and a Happy NEW YEAR to all.

Maximum Cards are ideal Gifts to Friends

Yes, maximum cards can be ideal gifts to friends. Maximum cards created by you have a personal touch in them. Your friends will be touched by receiving your special gifts. Your maximaphily friends will love to receive them, keep and treasure them. Xmas and the New Year is around the corner, will like to wish all of you in the Maximaphily World - a fruitful year in creating wonderful maximum cards.

Endorse your personal SEAL on Maximum Card

A Chinese Seal, is  an imprinted stamp replacing a hand written signature in documents, pieces of artwork and in commercial bank cheques . Chinese seals are inscripted on stones, ivory, jade and bamboo or plastic, and usually applied with a RED ink ( known as zhusha  朱砂 in chinese ). The Seal used by the Chinese Emperors are usually larger in size and they are known with a different name called xǐ (璽),

Chinese emperor would applied "xi" (Royal Seal) on all the official documents from the Palace. The commoners e.g poets, artists, calligraphists, scholars will apply their respective SEALS on the masterpieces they produced such as paintings, poetries, books, calligraphy, arts etc., usually noticeable with a RED Square impressions with typical Chinese Characters.  Above is a  Malaysian maximum card showing a typical Chinese Seal . ( A stamp depicting a Chinese Seal is uncommon so does the Maximum Card )

Yes, In maximaphily, one can practise the similar way as the old ancient Chinese to apply a unique personal SEAL at the rear of the Maximum Card to record the ownership who has made effort to have the particular maximum card possible.

I Have made for myself a Chinese SEAL and I have applied with this traditional Seal on all my Maximum Cards, Yes, a small squarish SEAL with my name in Chinese Characters inscribed within.

Connecting the World - Realising Maximum cards Abroad

Maximum cards need to be created by individual collectors ( unless the MCs are official produced by the postal administrations) utilising postcards available in the market. MCs require the postage stamp to be postmarked at a place of concordant with the subject of the stamp, hence, there is no other way out for an MC to be created elsewhere where the place of concordant is unique. The activity of realising MCs is NOT limited to the country where the collector resides BUT has extended worldwide across the globe with the assistance of the fellow maximaphilists deligently realising MCs for others. Internet with emails play an important part in disseminating information on the new stamp issue and the immediate exchange of mails on the procedure on how to get the MCs done within the shortest time possible. Maximaphilists in PR China are actively playing their roles in realising MCs for other members all over the country at a designated place of concordant. Realising MCs is a joint effort by the members, without the link, many wonderful MCs will NOT be realised. Establish a link today and start to create MCs abroad. The above is an MC created with the assistance of a keen maximaphilist in Taiwan. 

1 Singapore introduced well before 1 Malaysia ?

A Maximum Card on the theme "One People, One Nation, One Singapore"

"1 Malaysia" is a prevailing slogan carried everywhere throughout Malaysia - A truly harmonious spirit emphasized for all the major races in Malaysia promoted by the present Malaysian government led by the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak. A set of stamps with the theme " 1 Malaysia" was issued on 31st August, 2009 to celebrate the country's independence day. Going through the Singapore Stamps, I am surprised to note Singpost issued a set of stamps " Fabric of the nation" in celebration of the country's 40th anniversary in 2007, one of the 40 stamps depicted a slogan " One people, One Nation, One Singapore" which is rather similar to the "1 Malaysia" slogan as widely promoted by the Malaysian Government in 2009. I further discovered an advertisement card issued to celebrate the National Day of Singapore in 2003 also carried the similar slogan " One people, One Nation, One Singapore", I find the stamp and the ad card match well with the theme, and Hence, I realised an MC on the theme " 1 Singapore ".  By looking at the MC, I will have to say that " 1 Singapore " existed before " 1 Malaysia ".

Rackcards disappearing from the Malaysian Scene

An MC created from a Malaysian RackCard ( Hotlink Mobile advertisement card)

I still remember years ago, there were rackcards (ad cards) available at various locations in Kuala Lumpur e.g Fastfood chain outlets, cinemas, shopping centres . During the last 3 years, these cards disappeared completely from the scene. Rackcards used to be a good source of card supply for my creation of maximum cards, without them, the opportunity of realising good MCs is deprived. Rackcards advertising may NOT be popular and accepted by the local business sector, I can see, on the other side of the causeway in Singapore, rackcards are produced in millions in a year - many subjects are depicted on these wonderful rackcards which are most suitable for the creation of variety of MCs. I will like to see in the future, perhaps, rackcards coming back in the Malaysian scene.

A world Maximaphilist Mr.Nicos Rangos stepped down from the FIP Maximaphily Commission Chairmanship

Nicos Rangos at Luoyang, China - 2009

Mr. Nicos Rangos gloriously stepped down from the FIP Commission Chairmanship on 30th November, 2009 

Nicosia, November 30, 2009

To Mr Jos Wolff, FIP President, RDP

To FIP Vice Presidents and Directors

To FIP Secretary General

To FIP Commissions Chairmen

To All Continental and National Federations Presidents and Bureau Members

To All FIP Maximaphily Commission Bureau Members and Delegates

Dear President,

       With reference to the World Specialised (Maximaphily, Traditional and Literature) Exhibition “CYPRUS 2010” that Cyprus Postal Services together with the Cyprus Philatelic Society planned two years ago for March 2010, I would like to confirm officially what I told you on October 20, in Rome. So far, we have not had the final positive official reply.

        Cyprus Postal Services continue to have a positive attitude on the matter, in spite of the worldwide financial crisis. However, as the time to next March is very short, we are now looking at 18 -25 November 2010.

       For the same reason, as it was decided in Rome, I will manage to hand over chairman’s duties to my very good Canadian friend and highly awarded maximaphilist George Constantourakis starting from December 1, 2009. I’m sure that my proposal to FIP Board for this eminent personality, since 2008, was the best choice.  I will do all my best and give all my support to the new Chairman so that continuity of progress and innovations and increasing trend of Worldwide Maximaphily popularity, as well, will be ensured.

 National Federations’ delegates to FIP Commission for Maximaphily

38	42	45	47	50	51	52	54	57	61
2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009

Participating countries in our worldwide Maximaphily activity report

18	18	21	30	36	43	46	49
2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008

Our idea to establish the Best Maximum Card World Competition turned out to be a successful philatelic innovation.

In a period of seven years worldwide participations increased by well over 100%. 

18	26	31	34	37	40	45
2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009

       

      Furthermore, I would like to express my cordial thanks to you for all 9 years excellent cooperation and relationship which led to the outstanding worldwide progress of this popular class of philately. Your diligent example together with your encouragement played a decisive role to the above mentioned results related to the worldwide spreading of philately. 

       To my friends, former FIP Presidents Knud Mohr and Koh Seow Chuan, former and present Vice Presidents and Directors of FIP Board, FIP Commissions’ Chairmen and all FIP Maximaphily Commission tireless Board members and delegates, I extend my sincere thanks for their cooperation, their interest, their support and their friendly approach.

        Many thanks go, as well, to the former FIP Secretary General Marie Louise Heiri and to the present FIP Secretary General Andrée Trommer for their special support and perfect cooperation with me.

        My heartfelt thanks are extended also to the Continental and all National Federations’ Presidents, Vice Presidents and Bureau Directors and all maximum card exhibitors, collectors and creators for their continuous, fertile, creative and friendly cooperation.  

Sincerely yours

Nicos Rangos

Advertisement Cards are excellent for Maxicards

Many collectors dislike advertisement cards (Rack Cards or Ad cards) and are NOT keen of utilising them to realise maximum cards. In fact, many subjects are found on Ad cards and many a times when come to realisation of MCs, the subjects found on post cards are limited, you have no choice BUT to adopt Ad cards. I find Ad cards compliment to my realisation of Maximum Cards, without the Ad cards, many of my wonderful MCs are impossible to be realised. Lately, I had realised a dozen of Taiwan MCs with the "Blessings" stamps on Ad cards, I particularly like the following LOLIPOP MC which I had been hunting high and low for a normal postcard, eventually, Ad Cards complimented to the success realisation of the MC.