Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

  "Her crown is composed of rows of pearls, interspersed with alternating turquoises and corals. The necklace consists of coral beads and large yellow amber balls. The charm box attached to it is set with rubies, lapis lazuli, and turquoise. The portrait was painted by Damodar Dutt, a Bengali artist, in 1893." The Postcard named " Oil Portrait of the Late Queen of Sikkim " was issued by FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, CHICAGO, U.S.A.

It surprises me that this was for the second time that a special cover was released from Sikkim and no body knew about it. This time around Special Cover on Queen’s Baton Relay was released at Gangtok but nothing more was knew and the release function was not highlighted enough.

I was just surfing an eBay auction website, and there I came across some material related to Hope Cook, the former queen of Sikkim on sale. There is an autographed photograph of former queen Hope Cook, her letter and an envelope in which it was sent to the USA. The three materials cost you 300 dollars. The heading of the items says: HOPE COOKE NAMGYAL AUTOGRAPH, Queen consort of SIKKIM ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE, VERY RARE, THIS COUNTRY IS GONE! Just read the last line that says...."This country is gone". Sikkim is no longer an independent country now so it is more often referred as a dead country. The further description says: PHOTOGRAPH: 4-1/2" X 6" MEASUREMENTS, BLACK AND WHITE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND SIGNED IN BLUE INK PEN, "HOPE NAMGYAL" LETTERHEAD: 8-1/4" X 6" THE PALACE, GANGTOK, SIKKIM, DATED 15TH SEPTEMBER 1969 AND SIGNED SINCERELY HOPE NAMGYAL, "GYALMO OF SIKKIM ENVELOPE: 8-1/4" X 6-3/8" WITH 13 STAMPS FROM INDIA...

source: Life & times of a plantsman from Sikkim Author: K C Pradhan Price: Rs.750.00 ISBN: 9788190614108 Published: 2008