Jan 19, 2004, 4:10 PM

Philately Course to Open at Schools and Universities

TEHRAN Jan. 19 (Mehr News Agency) –- Philately courses will be offered at schools and universities within the next few years, said the advisor of the Public Relations Office of the Post Ministry, Fuzi Ghaffari, adding that the course will be added to school courses from the second grade of elementary school up to university.

“The books are prepared now and the University of Jihad has also agreed on the idea, pending the agreement of the Ministry of Education the lessons will begin at schools,” he added.

Ghaffari, the first Iranian with a Ph.D. in philately, stated the value of Iranian stamps in foreign countries are much higher than inside the country, the most expensive Iranian stamp selling for 10m pounds. Almost 80 percent of world’s stamps belong to Iran but precious stamps are being illicitly transferred to foreign countries.

“There are a number of expert philatelists in the country, emphasizing the fact stamps represent the traditions and customs of a nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the first stamp exhibition of Yazd was opened on Sunday at the Yazd Art Bureau. A total of 600 stamps published in the post-Islamic Revolution era are on display.

Collected by Seyyed Ala’eddin Al-e Davud, most of the stamps commemorating the victory of the Islamic Revolution showcase Iranian cultural heritage, toward familiarizing youth with stamps.

Al-e Davud has so far held two exhibitions in Sweden and Switzerland. His collection includes different kinds of stamps belonging to Qajar era.

RM/DWN/IS
END
MNA

News ID 4258