Snapshot﹕World post day
【明報專訊】October 9 is World Post Day. The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the post's role in the daily lives of people and businesses, as well as its contribution to global social and economic development.
■Stamp products
Mint stamp (新郵票)
A set of definitive, special or commemorative stamps that has not been cancelled with a postmark.
First day cover(首日封)
An envelope bearing the theme of the definitive, commemorative or special stamps issue which can be affixed with a set of special stamps, a souvenir sheet or stamp sheetlet.(photo.1、2)
Souvenir sheet(小全張)
A sheetlet comprising a full set of special or commemorative stamps.(photo.3、4)
■Fun facts
First postage stamp
The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was issued in Great Britain on 1 May 1840. (photo.5)
Most expensive postage stamp
The world's most expensive stamp is called "Treskilling Yellow". It is believed to be the only surviving misprint of an 1855 three shilling stamp that was supposed to be green. It was sold for USD＄2.3 million on 8 November 1996. Although it was sold again in 2010 for an undisclosed sum, the auctioneer (拍賣商) disclosed that it had fetched at least the 1996 price, retained its status as the world's most expensive stamp. (photo.6)
The highest post office
Hikkim in Himachal Pradesh, India is the location of the highest post office in the world. The village of Hikkim is situated at an altitude of around 14,567 feet above sea level.
■Glossary
awareness (n) 意識
commemorative (adj) 紀念性的
adhesive (adj) 有黏性的
fetch (v) 售得
[Smarties' Power English 第193期]
