Phonecard Catalog Exceeds HALF A MILLION Phone Cards - The World's Biggest

As some of you may already know, Phonecards was the very first category on Colnect. It is the founding corner stone of our community. All other categories on Colnect have originated following the first footsteps made by the Phonecards category, community and most of all - coordinators, editors and contributors.

"A Sua Melhor Companhia No Vital" Brazilian Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

It is incredible to see how far it has gone since! Colnect now is very proud to announce that the Phonecards catalog now displays 500,005 phonecards, surpassing half a million cards.

"Jap. Writing" Japanese Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

"Igreja De Pedras - Vigia - PA - P5978" Brazilian Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

How was it done? It was done by the ceaseless quest of so many collectors to add more items, more information, make it more accurate and in general - make the Colnect Phonecards Great. It a long journey that aims for perfection. In the last 30 days alone, 2,701 Phonecards from 50 countries were added to the catalog.

"Goldcard" Japanese Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

And therefore we have to give credit, as we can, to the numerous wonderful collectors who have made it happen and are continuing to make it happen every day. Coordinators that manage the catalogs, keeping a keen eye for detail, country Editors that diversify, clean and correct the catalogs, Contributors that add new information and images every day.

"Jap. Writing" Japanese Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

The current Phonecards category coordinator is no other than the amazing Ignacio F López Vico [iflvico], Colnect's community manager and one of the original core team on Colnect. He has coordinated this category before as well, but there were more coordinators along the way who have helped bring the category to where it is today - Yury Yelensky [Landerstorm], Carlos Rodriguez, [venezuelanphonecards], Vadym Sulimenko [Dravec] and Trudy Hoogenboom [trudyh]. Important to note also Karl Heinz Degener [neizi], Hernan Bofill [hbofill12], Sombat Tamtirapong [kung1951], Graeme Kilpatrick [nzexchange] and Jorge Pablo Villegas [Jorgepablo2005].

"Jap. Writing" Japanese Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

It is not possible to properly thank the many many collectors who have each added to this accomplishment in a great way. As you see on the editors and contributors lists, they are too many to mention. Each of them taking much care in their treatment of the catalog, each responsible for different part of the catalog, sometimes even creating a whole section from scratch. Thank you all, for bringing all this beauty into the world's view.

"Jap. Writing" Japanese Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

Thank you very much to each and every one of you, for making the catalog beautiful for the hundreds of thousands visiting it every month from around the world.

"Paris s'eveille L'Arc de Triomphe" French Phonecard, newly added on Colnect

Want to join the Phonecards category team? Have Phonecards you would like to see on the Colnect catalog? Read more on our Catalog Contribution Guidelines help page and get started!

Colnect: Goodbye 2012 - Welcome 2013!

This past year has been a year of many additions, from collectible categories, through features to the very inner workings of the system for Colnect. Colnect has grown, both as a community and as a catalog, network and website, and with it it learned, improved and bettered itself. Just as 2012 begins and ends with the number 2 which symbolizes togetherness, Colnect began and is ending it's year peaking with it's greatest strength - cooperation.

Many collectible categories joined the Colnect ranks in 2012, to proudly represent and cater to all their collectors. Categories such as Pocket Calendars, Sugar Packets, Lego Sets, Stickers and Trading Card Games are each now holding their place with a respectable catalog of their own. All these categories were established by collectors and with collectors that initiated, maintained and contributed to make it all happen.

Year 2013 Pocket Calendar, from the Colnect Catalog

Some categories are in the works now, to be made public in this coming year of 2013, such as Drink Labels, Medals, Video Games and Functional Cards. All collectors interested are welcome to join and contribute to the new categories by contacting the respective category coordinators. We wish all these categories and their coordinators luck and success in the new year. All the process of construction of new categories has been available since this year on the new "New Categories" forum, where everyone cam follow new suggestions of categories and suggest some of their own.

Year 2013 Pocket Calendar, from the Colnect Catalog

The Colnect community itself has been increasing in size, as more and more collectors are discovering all the advantages it offers. Only last month Colnect marked it's latest milestone of 40004 collectors registered. The community members have also been reaching out to each other more on the personal level, and were afforded the comfortable opportunity to in the new Meetings and Events forum.

Year 2013 Pocket Calendar, from the Colnect Catalog

The expanding catalogs have been benefiting from the many generously active helping hands of collectors around the world, and have also marked milestones of their own. The Stamps category reached 300303 Stamps, the Coins category now superseded it's previous milestone of 30003 Coins, while the Phonecards category has achieved the number of 400004 items on it's catalog.

Year 2013 Pocket Calendar, from the Colnect Catalog

Possibly the most important and influential changes introduced to Colnect are in the added features and the improvement of the system. Colnect has been working to make itself smoother, more accessible, easier and friendlier to use. New features included the valuable Best Matches option, the Colnect Item Score for collectible items and the 5 Star Contribution system.

Year 2013 Pocket Calendar, from the Colnect Catalog

The most exciting part of this changing year is that 2013 is sure to bring with it much more revolutionary changes, improvements and many more very welcome additions. Already now we are expecting great potential from the results of the work on the Colnect API, the New Method to Add Items and Colnect Marketplace.

Year 2013 Pocket Calendar, from the Colnect Catalog

Thank you to all are continuously helping to realize such a wonderful, useful and effective tool for collectors of so many items around the world. There is no room to thank each one individually, but we hope this will be a great year for each one of you and for all of us together.

Happy New Year 2013 !

March 9, 1959: The First Barbie Doll - Today In History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

The first Barbie doll was presented at the american Toy Fair in New York March 9, 1959 by her creator Ruth Handler. The almost immediate success of this new kind of doll gave chance to her husband and another partner to create the Mattel Creations. The Barbie doll with its opulent breasts, its thin waist and long legs would, in fact, completely against the style of dolls and asexual round of the day.

Barbie is short of Barbara, the name of the daughter of Ruth Handler. Initially Barbie was a copy of an adult German doll named Lilli, Ruth Handler had given to her daughter Barbara after observing that children preferred playing with paper dolls representing adult women. Her measurements, initially hypertrophied, were reduced to normal proportions over the years.

From 1959 to 1960, Barbie was only black and white: its her was platinum blonde, the apple of its eye was white and it wore a striped shirt. The reason is that advertising Barbie mobilized a new medium at the time: Television. It had to be at its best on the small screen that does not yet broadcast in color. In addition, from 1959 to 1970, the Barbie looks slightly downwards and right. Since then gently bent the doll's head, it gave the false and mischievous eyes subjected women of the time.

In 1997 Malibu Barbie blonde heady tanning flawless' look straight ahead at last. The reason is that Barbie now drives its own car can no longer be doing so, it looks through. From that moment, Barbie had its multiply trades, professions and leisure in a perspective more explicit diversification role of women.


If since 1980 the ethnic type of Barbie has so much more diversified, it is not so much of its original companion Ken that he has changed little over the years. In 2005, Barbie has also severed its connection with Ken for Blaine, an Australian surfer; but Mattel relaunched Ken in February 2006 against the indifference of young buyers for Blaine.

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ PHONECARDS:
Several countries released Gift cards to commemorate and celebrate Barbie Doll:

Valentine's day 14, February : The day of Lovers - Today In History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

" Before the feast of St. Valentine became the event that we know today, its origin dates back to ancient times  that it is well to remember."

Let us remember Rome. Growing up Roman Empire should continue to ensure its security, it passed between the protection of other borders forced integration of its recalcitrant of other especially since they were Christians, a religious movement not very good for the central government. Making Empire “safe and secure” to make an unfortunate analogy with the leitmotif of rules current well-intentioned required that from time to Decapitate time some heads “wrong” thinking.
It is here that Valentinus, the father was valentinus a Christian priest in Rome in the third century JC. The Emperor Claudius II, so did imprison thousands of Christians whose father Valentinus. During his imprisonment, Valentine performs a miracle: he gave sight to the blind daughter of his jailer! His Passat feat does not go unnoticed and he was beheaded on ... 14 February of the year 268.

Why Valentine's Day is the patron of engaged couples?

The legend says that before his arrest, in contrast Valentinus with Roman law was the blessing of youth engaged in secret. Then before his execution he sent to his daughter keeper of the heart-shaped leaves. ... And the legend crossed the centuries ... In the Middle Ages, a girl was accompanied by his "Valentine" on first Sunday of Lent. But it was not until 1496 that St. Valentine was canonized by decision Pope Alexander VI.

Why February 14?

Celebrations rhythm to our way of life. The change of seasons is celebrated since the dawn of humanity on our planet. A Christmas is the winter solstice, ie when the days are getting longer. Mid-February is the return of spring. In ancient Rome this time corresponds to the Lupercalia, which were annual festivals celebrated on February 15 in honor of Lupercus, the god of fertility. Even if not in astronomical terms, the return of spring is often marked by the return of migratory birds. Yet precisely February 14, if a young girl who goes to see "if The rose is blooming "sees a robin, she will marry a sailor, a sparrow means a happy marriage with a poor man, a Chardonnet marrying a rich man (but it does not say if it's a happy marriage).
In conclusion, ladies if you leave the tip of your nose pretty day of valentine and you see a pigeon ... you get married ... with whom?

The 18th century to today ... The tradition of Valentine's Day is perpetuating the name of "Valentines" was given to letters that were sent to beloved. Decorated in subtle Victorian, they are industrially produced in the United States in early twentieth and now have millions of "eCards" which are sent daily.

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ PHONECARDS:
Several countries released phonecards to commemorate and celebrate Valentine's day:





➢ STAMPS:
Several countries released stamps to commemorate and celebrate Valentine's day:

Croatian Football Club HNK Hajduk Split Has Its 100th Birthday - February 13, 1911 / Today In History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

Croatian football club HNK Hajduk Split was founded on February the 13th 1911. It is one of the most famous and most popular clubs in Croatia and its region. Club has a nicknames „Bili“ (The Whites) and „Majstori s mora“ (Masters form the sea). The clubs traditional home colors are white shirts alongside with blue shorts and socks. Since 1979. the club plays its home matches in Split's football stadium Poljud.


An interesting thing about the club is that it was founded in today's capital of Czech Republic Prague in its famous and centuries-old pub Flek. The club was founded by group of students from Split: Fabijan Kaliterna, Lucijan Stella, Ivan Šakić and Vjekoslav Ivanišević.




The club's name originates from hajduks, fighters that fought against Ottomans. In its 100 years old history club has never changed its name. During that period it played in the championships of several different countries that existed during that time, and won 17 national champion titles, 14 national cup titles and 5 national super cups.

Credits for this post go to Kresimir Kljaic [kljaja], a 2-star contributor to Colnect.

Release of Nelson Mandela - February 11, 1990 / Today In History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

" After 27 years of prison, Nelson Mandela, The leader of the movement to end South African apartheid, is released on February 11, 1990. "

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Madiba ", his tribal name), born in July 18, 1918 at Mvezo in South Africa. He was a politician and head of state of South Africa and one of the historic leaders of the struggle against the political system of apartheid before becoming president of the Republic of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, following the first non-racial national elections in the history of the country.

Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 to fight against the political domination of the white minority and racial segregation led by it. Became a lawyer, he participated in the nonviolent struggle against the apartheid laws, which begin to be implemented by the National Party government in 1948. The ANC was banned in 1960, and the peaceful struggle does not yield any tangible results, Mandela founded and directed the military wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe, in 1961, leading a campaign of sabotage against government facilities and military . Arrested by the South African government, in collaboration with the CIA, he was sentenced at the Rivonia trial in prison and hard labor for life. He becomes a celebrity over the years supported international symbol of the struggle for racial equality.

After twenty-seven years in prison in conditions often harsh, Mandela was released on February 11, 1990, and supports reconciliation and negotiation with the government of President Frederik de Klerk. In 1993 he received the latter in conjunction with the Nobel Prize for Peace for their shares in favor of the peaceful end of apartheid and for laying the foundations for a new South Africa démocratique.

After a difficult transition when De Klerk and him avoid a civil war between supporters of apartheid, those of the ANC and those of the predominantly Zulu Inkatha, Nelson Mandela became the first black president of South Africa in 1994 . He leads a successful policy of national reconciliation between whites and blacks and fight against economic inequality, but neglects the fight against AIDS, expanding in South Africa. After a single term, he retired from active politics but continues to publicly support the African National Congress while condemning its excesses.

He continued the fight against poverty but also the fight against AIDS through several associations, especially after the death of his son from the disease. It is a world personality played about human rights and is hailed as the father of a multiracial South Africa and fully democratic, described as rainbow nation heaven, even though the country still faces serious problems of economic inequality, social diversity and community declines.

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ PHONECARDS:
Several countries released phonecards to commemorate and celebrate Mandela's life:

Gandhi Assassinated - January 30, 1948 - Today In History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement, is assassinated on this day in New Delhi by a Hindu fanatic.

Born in Porbandar, Gujarat October 2, 1869, and died in Delhi on January 30, 1948. He was a political and an important spiritual leader of India's independence movement in this country. He was commonly known and called in India and the world as Mahatma Gandhi (from Sanskrit, Mahatma: Great Soul) - "Mahatma" is a title all his life he refused to associate himself.

He was a pioneer and theorist of satyagraha, resistance to oppression by using the mass civil disobedience, all based on ahimsa (total non-violent), who helped lead the India to independence. Gandhi has inspired many liberation movements and civil rights around the world and many other personalities such as Albert Schweitzer, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi. His major criticisms against modern Western, forms of authority and oppression (including the state), also earned him a reputation as a critic of development whose ideas have influenced many political thinkers. Gandhi was known as the Father of the Nation in India, his birthday is a national holiday. This date was declared International Day of Non-Violent by the UN General Assembly.

Lawyer who studied law in England, Gandhi developed a method of nonviolent civil disobedience in South Africa, by organizing the Indian community's struggle for civil rights. Upon his return to India, Gandhi encouraged the farmers and poor workers to protest against taxes as too high and the widespread discrimination and put on the national struggle against colonial laws created by the British. Became the leader of Indian National Congress, Gandhi led a nationwide campaign to help the poor, for the liberation of Indian women, for brotherhood between communities of different religions or ethnicities, for an end to untouchability and discrimination caste, and economic self-sufficiency of the nation, but especially for Swaraj - the independence of India from foreign domination.

Gandhi led the Salt March, the famous opposition to the tax on salt. It was he who also launched the Quit India movement appealed to August 8, 1942. He was imprisoned several times in South Africa and India for his activities, he spent a total of six years of his life in prison.

Follower of Indian philosophy, Gandhi lived simply, organizing an ashram that was self-sufficient. He made his own clothes - the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, with cotton yarn with a charkha (spinning wheel) - and was a vegetarian. He practiced rigorous fasts for long periods, for self-purification as well as a means of protest.

In an effort to end India's religious strife, he resorted to fasts and visits to the troubled areas. He was on one such vigil in New Delhi when Nathuram Godse, a Hindu extremist who objected to Gandhi's tolerance for the Muslims, fatally shot him.

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ PHONECARDS:

These are a few of the phonecards issued by different countries to commemorate Gandhi's life:

➢ STAMPS: Several countries released stamps to commemorate and celebrate Gandhi's great achievement:

17 December - THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLEW THE FIRST PLANE - Today in History Through Collectibles

Many of the items that collectors on Colnect collect are in fact associated with certain historical events that have taken place over time. This applies especially to Stamps, Phone Cards, Coins and Banknotes. To commemorate these special historical events, countries release special issues of these items that depict images and information relevant to these events.

Through our “Today in History Through Collectibles” Blog we will highlight special events in history by featuring Collectible items from our Colnect Catalogs that are associated with historical events that took place on specific days in history.

17 DECEMBER 1903: THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FLEW THE FIRST PLANE
The Wright brothers, Orville (b. 19.8.1871 - 31.1.1948) and Wilbur (16.4.1867 – 30.5.1912), were two Americans who invented and built the world’s first successful self-propelled, heavier-than-air aircraft and they made the first flight with it on 17th December 1903.

The petrol-powered, propeller driven biplane stayed airborne for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet on its inaugural flight and it was piloted by Orville.

Orville and Wilbur Wright gained their mechanical skills required for their success by working in their shop with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and other machinery. From 1900 until their first powered flights in late 1903, they conducted extensive glider tests that also developed their skills as pilots.
The Wright brothers were also the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed-wing powered flight possible. Their invention of three-axis control, which enabled the pilot to steer the aircraft effectively and to maintain its equilibrium was a fundamental breakthrough in flight. This method became standard and remains standard on fixed-wing aircrafts of all kinds.

From the beginning of their aeronautical work, the Wright brothers focused on unlocking the secrets of control to conquer "the flying problem", rather than developing more powerful engines as some other experimenters did. Their careful wind tunnel tests produced better aeronautical data than any before, enabling them to design and build wings and propellers more effective than had ever been done.
In 1909, the U.S. Army's Signal Corps purchased a specially constructed plane, and the brothers founded the Wright Company to build and market their aircraft.

Wilbur Wright died in 1912 of typhoid fever while Orville lived until 1948.
The historic Wright brothers' aircraft of 1903 is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Collectibles on Colnect that Commemmorate This Day in History:

➢ PHONECARDS:
These are a few of the phonecards issued by different countries to commemorate the historic first flight by the Wright brothers:

          

➢ STAMPS:
Several countries released stamps to commemorate and celebrate the Wright brothers' great achievement:

                

HAPPY COLLECTING!!! :)