Collectors Focus Today: Iran - Belarus Joint Stamp Issue 2011, Mir Castle, Kharimkhan Citadel

On September 28, 2001 The Belarus Post and Iranian Post jointly issued a postage stamp.This joint stamp miniature issue sheet features the famous Mir castle of Belarus and Karimkhani Citadel of Shiraz.

The Mirsky Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus located in the town of Mir in the Karelichy District of the Hrodna voblast. 

The Arg of Karim Khan is a citadel located in the north-east of Shiraz, southern Iran. It was built as part of a complex during the Zand dynasty and is named after Karim Khan, and served as his living quarters.

Today's Collectors Focus: Indian-Iranian 2004 Joint Issue Kabir and Hafiz Poets Stamps  

A joint issue is the release of stamps or postal stationery by two or more countries to commemorate the same topic, event or person of relevance to both countries. Joint issues typically have the same first day of issue and their design is often similar or identical, except for the identification of country and value.

This joint issue release features two of the most influenced poets in India and  Iran.

 Kabir (1440–1518) was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement. The name Kabir comes from Arabic al-Kabīr which means 'The Great' - the 37th name of God in Islam. Today, there are several allusions to Kabir's poetry in mainstream Indian film music.

 Hafiz (1326-1390) was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry (Divan) that are to be found in the homes of many Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day. His life and poems have been the subject of much analysis, commentary and interpretation, influencing post-Fourteenth Century Persian writing more than any other author.