Error in 2007 orchid stamps from Nepal

Interesting set of mini sheets were issued on April 12th, 2007 by the Government of Nepal. This is the 3rd issue on Orchids from Nepalese Postal Authorities. This mini sheet has 16 species found in the Himalayan region of Nepal. Though it is commendable that Nepal is issuing such type of commemorative stamps bringing joy to the thematic collectors on orchid stamps from around the world, there are two concerns that I would like to point out regarding this issue:
1. The nomenclature (Scientific name or Latin name) is incorrect for one of the orchid stamp. See the circled stamp. The picture is of Aerides multiflora but it is written Rhynostylis retusa on the bottom of the stamp. The flowers, shapes, and number of flowers are completely different in two species even though from faraway both the flowers look very much alike. Rhynostylis retusa in its inflorescence has many flowers clustered closely together whereas in Aerides multiflora, flowers are larger and distinctly apart. Even the shape of labellum or lips and the color differ in both orchids when the flowers are placed next to each other.
2. It is just my personal view but the whole design not good. Thanks to the computers nowadays, it is easy for the designer to use Photoshop or any other software to play around with the pictures and lo and behold, the designing is complete. It has become easier and simpler to design the stamps now. They should have added extra effort in making the stamps look better.
I have been able to tell the different since I have been involved with orchids from Nepal for last 16 years and I have had lots of these orchids in my personal collection as well as in photographic collection.

My interest on Stamps

When I was a child I had a knack of collecting everything. Everything and anything small or big that interested me, I collected. I even cut out pictures from Newspapers and pasted them neatly in a piece of paper. I remember collecting bus local tickets at one time. Once it got to the point that my room was cluttered with lots of collectible materials but my family considered them junk.

As I wrote in my previous blog, I had special interest in stamps since my father collected them. He was not a professional collector but he always bought mints and first day covers on the first day of issue and kept them neatly. I also remember helping him taking stamps out of envelopes, and drying them in a cloth to dry.

I remember going to a stamp exhibition around 1980 or 1981 in Kathmandu, and getting impressed by the collection and the exhibits there. I even received small packets of used stamps from the Philatelic Society.

Stamps have always fascinated me but nowadays due to technological advancements, their usage has become limited. We used our emails and do internet shopping more than writing a note in a piece of paper. I love writing letters, but I like using a nice fountain pen on crisp plain ivory bonded paper with watermark. Though the writing style may not have changed but the art of writing has definitely changed. And licking stamps to affix them on the envelopes? That kind of charm is there no more. We have premade stamps readily available in our computers and use pre cancelled stamps. No more of stamp licking in the future I assume……

But it is definitely interesting since this hobby is evolving with time and heading towards new direction.