Christmas postcard from Finland

Cute Christmas postcard from Finland!

Stamps:

Birch leaf, issued on 2011-01-24
Christmas stamp (from set of two), issued on 2015-11-06

Thank You Kirsi!

Coffe card from Germany

Another fine coffee postcard for coffee addicts, but this time form Kiel, Germany.

Stamps:
Tagetes, issued on 2005-07-07
The 600th Anniversary of the Council of Constance, issued on 2014-07-03


Thank You Christian!

Coffe card from USA

Nice postcard for coffee lovers, sent from Orlando, USA.

Stamps are Charlie Brown Christmas (from set of ten) , issued on 2015-10-01.

Thank You Barry!

Israel: Jerusalem

My first mail from Israel! I have received postcard of Jerusalem and nice New Year card in envelope.

Jerusalem is located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Israelis and Palestinians both claim Jerusalem as their capital, as Israel maintains its primary governmental institutions there and the State of Palestine ultimately foresees it as its seat of power; however, neither claim is widely recognized internationally.

During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE. In 1538, walls were built around Jerusalem under Suleiman the Magnificent. Today those walls define the Old City, which has been traditionally divided into four quarters—known since the early 19th century as the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters. The Old City became a World Heritage Site in 1981, and is on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Very nice embossed New Year card

Stamps:
Israel's National Heritage Landmarks: City of David, Jerusalem, issued on 2014-02-11
Tel Aviv - Global City, issued on 2014-09-09


Thank You Amir!

European polecat

The European polecat (Mustela putorius) is a species of mustelid native to western Eurasia and North Africa. It is of a generally dark brown colour, with a pale underbelly and a dark mask across the face.
It is much less territorial than other mustelids, with animals of the same sex frequently sharing home ranges. Like other mustelids, the European polecat is polygamous, though pregnancy occurs directly after mating, with no induced ovulation. It usually gives birth in early summer to litters consisting of five to 10 kits, which become independent at the age of two to three months. The European polecat feeds on small rodents, birds, amphibians and reptiles. It occasionally cripples its prey by piercing its brain with its teeth and stores it, still living, in its burrow for future consumption.

Stamp is The Belarus ornament (from set of two), issued on 2012-01-27.


Thank You Yulia!

Netherlands: Ir.D.F. Woudagemaal

The ir. D.F. Woudagemaal is a pumping station in the Netherlands, and the largest still operational steam-powered pumping station in the world. On October 7, 1920 Queen Wilhelmina opened the pumping station. It was built to pump excess water out of Friesland, a province in the north of the Netherlands.

In 1967, after running on coal for 47 years, the boilers were converted to run on heavy fuel oil. It has a pumping capacity of 4,000 m³ per minute. The pumping station is currently used to supplement the existing pumping capacity of the J.L. Hooglandgemaal in case of exceptionally high water levels in Friesland; this usually happens a few days per year.

Since 1998 the ir. D.F. Woudagemaal has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Stamp is The 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo: A portrait of the Prince of Orange, the future King Willem I, issued on 2015-06-22.

Thank You Siene!

Darth Vader

This beautiful postcard from British Royal Mail depicts one of twelve Star Wars stamps issued on 2015-10-20. Darth Vader, born Anakin Skywalker, is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. Vader appears in the original trilogy as a pivotal figure, and his past as Anakin Skywalker is central to the prequel trilogy.

The character was created by George Lucas and has been portrayed by numerous actors. His appearances span the first six Star Wars films, and he is an important character in the Star Wars expanded universe of television series, video games, novels, literature and comic books. Originally a Jedi prophesied to bring balance to the Force, he falls to the dark side of the Force and serves the evil Galactic Empire at the right hand of his Sith master, Palpatine (also known as Darth Sidious). He is also the father of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, and secret husband of Padmé Amidala.

Stamps:
Christmas (from set of eight), issued on 2015-11-03
Star Wars: Darth Vader (from set of twelve), issued on 2015-10-20


Thank You very much Alan!

Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven

The Philips Sport Vereniging, abbreviated as PSV and internationally known as PSV Eindhoven is a sports club from Eindhoven, Netherlands. It is best known for its professional football department, which plays in the Eredivisie, the Dutch football top division, since its inception in 1956 and, along with Ajax and Feyenoord, it is one of the country's "big three" clubs that have dominated that competition.

The club was founded in 1913 as a team for Philips employees. PSV’s history contains two golden eras revolving around the UEFA Cup victory in 1978 and the 1987–88 European Cup victory as part of the seasonal treble in 1988. The team has won the Eredivisie 22 times, the KNVB Cup nine times and the Johan Cruijff Schaal nine times. Currently, PSV is 28th on the UEFA club coefficients ranking. Throughout the years, PSV established itself as a stepping stone for future world class players like Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Romário, Ronaldo, Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben.

Stamp is Dutch Icons: Tulip (from set of ten), issued on 2014-01-02.


Thank You Adisa!

Christmas postcard from Italy

My friend Giuseppe sent me a nice Christmas postcard with awesome matching stamps!

This is complete set of Christmas stamps 2015. First stamp is painting by Polidoro da Lanciano "Madonna and Child with Saints Joseph and Catherine of Alexandria" kept at the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo. Second stamp is stylized Christmas tree, made of large and small stars, whose base is formed by the words "Merry Christmas". Set is issued on 2015-11-21.


Thank You very much Giuseppe!

Star Wars: Battle droid

Battle droid is one of the characters from Star Wars franchise. Rather than use flesh-and-blood warriors, the Separatists prefer mindlessly loyal soldiers that are easily controlled. The soulless ranks of their armies are dominated by tall, thin B1 battle droids built as mechanical imitations of their Geonosian designers. Battle droids can be controlled by centralized command centers such as the Trade Federation’s enormous Droid Control Ships, or programmed for independent action. They often suffer programming glitches that manifest as personality quirks. Battle droids are dim-witted and no match for clone troopers or Jedi, but they weren’t designed to be smart – they were designed to overwhelm Republic civilians through sheer numbers, something they do very effectively.

Stamps:
Tagetes, issued on 2005-07-07
Germany - Football World Champions 2014 , issued on 2014-07-17

Thank You very much Wolfgang!

Christmas postcard from Poland

Very nice typographic Christmas tree by Ewa Slocinska.

Stamp is Christmas: Adoration of the Magi, issued on 2015-11-16.

Thank You Radosław!

The Screech-Owl by Albrecht Dürer

Celebrated as the greatest German Renaissance artist, Albrecht Dürer’s impressive body of work is characterized by sensitivity to nature, figurative perceptions, fantastical and religious art, and graphic design elements. Born in 1471 in Nuremberg, Dürer was a goldsmith’s apprentice to his father. He was also an accomplished printmaker, engraver and theoretician, all affecting his superb sense of observation, proportion and realistic detail. His art is further characterized by his travels through Italy and an appreciation of the Italian art such as Mantegna and Bellini

 Stamp is Drumstick primrose (Primula denticulata), issued on 2014-12-04

Thank You Marisa!

Scops owl

Scops owls are typical owls mostly belonging to the genus Otus. Approximately 45 living species are known, but new ones are frequently recognized and unknown ones are still being discovered every few years or so, especially in Indonesia. Otus is the largest genus of owls in terms of number of species.

Stamps:
Barn Owl - (Tyto alba), issued on 2015-10-23 (with embossed eyes)
Paintings By Disabled Artists: Amanda Zejmis, issued on 2002-04-07
Organ Transplantation, issued on 2015-03-20

Thank You very much Gosia!

Germany: Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical triumphal arch in Berlin, and one of the best-known landmarks of Germany. It is built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel.

It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. Having suffered considerable damage in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was fully restored from 2000 to 2002 by the Berlin Monument Conservation Foundation.

During the post-war Partition of Germany, the gate was isolated and inaccessible immediately next to the Berlin Wall. The area around the gate was featured most prominently in the media coverage of the tearing down of the wall in 1989, and the subsequent German reunification in 1990.

Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a site for major historical events and is today considered a symbol of the tumultuous history of Europe and Germany, but also of European unity and peace.

Stamps:
Tulip, issued on 2005-09-08
Carnation, issued on 2008-10-09
The 800th Anniversary of the City of Dessau, issued on 2013-07-01

Thank You Matthias!

6 maxicards from Åland Islands

I bought online very cheaply this 6 maxicards from Åland Islands. Three of them are same, but with different stamps and different postmarks dedicated to three philatelic exhibitions: Oslo 15-10.10.1985, Chicago 22.5-1.6.1985 and Paris 6-11.11.1986.

First maxicard for Oslo exhibition have stamp Nordic orienteering championships, issued on 1986-01-02.

Second maxicard for Paris exhibition have stamp Midsummer Pole, issued on 1985-01-02.

Third maxicard for Chicago exhibition have stamp Landscapes (from set of three), issued on 1985-09-16.

This is maxicard The 100th Anniversary of Agricultural Education, issued on 1988-03-29.

Last two maxicards are from set Ducks. This one is Eider (Somateria mollissima), issued on 1987-01-02.

And this one is Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca), issued on 1987-01-02.

Portugal: Lisboa

Very nice illustration of Lisboa! Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with a population of 552,700 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km². Its urban area extends beyond the city's administrative limits with a population of around 2.7 million people, being the 11th-most populous urban area in the European Union. It is continental Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. The westernmost areas of its metro area is the westernmost point of Continental Europe.

Stamp is The Lusitano Horse, issued on 2014-07-21

Thank You Madalena!

Tunisia: Carthage

My first postcard from Tunisia!

The city of Carthage is a city in Tunisia that was once the center of the ancient Carthaginian civilization. The city developed from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC into the capital of an ancient empire. The area of Carthage was inhabited by Berber people who also became the bulk of Carthage's population and constituted a significant part of its army, economy and administration. Native Berbers and settling Phoenicians in Carthage mixed in different ways including religion and language, creating the Punic language and culture.

Stamp is Famous Tunesians: Taher Cheriaa, issued on 2013-12-27

Thanm You very much Xiaomin!

Macau: The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel

My first postcard from Macau and it's beautiful!

Colonized by the Portuguese in 1557, Macao was the oldest European outpost in China. In 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macao to Chinese rule on Dec. 20, 1999. They agreed on provisions that ensured the autonomy of Macao, including its right to elect local leaders, the right of its residents to travel freely, and the right to maintain its way of life for 50 years after the start of Chinese rule

On postcard you can see  The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. The Venetian is a 39-story, $2.4 billion anchor for the seven hotels on the Cotai Strip in Macau. The 980,000 m2 Venetian Macao is modeled on its sister casino resort The Venetian Las Vegas, and is the seventh-largest building in the world by floor area. The Venetian Macao is also the largest casino in the world, and the largest single structure hotel building in Asia.

This nice stamps are:

Board Games (from set of four), issued on 2000-06-08
Environmental Protection (from set of nine), issued on 2002-06-05

Thank You very much Leong San!

Serbia: Stamp Day 2015

Every year Serbian Post have new stamp dedicated to Stamp day. In year 2015 this series is dedicated to one hundred year old stamp set King Peter on the battlefield 1914. Print shows Petar I, King of Serbia, sitting, looking over a battlefield, with advisors standing behind him.

 There is also nice FDC with this stamp. Day of issue is 2015-12-10.

British Heroines of the First World War in Serbia

Serbia have six new stamps dedicated to British Heroines of the First World War in Serbia. Stamps are issued in nice booklet with detailed information. Date of issue is 2015-12-08.

Serbia: 150 years of the Gymnasium in Kruševac

This stamps is dedecated to 150 years of the Gymnasium in Kruševac. 150 years ago, the residents of Kruševac and the surroundings managed to bring to life their vision of the opening of the first Gymnasium in this region. At that time, Serbia had just three secondary schools and one seminary. On 9 June 1865, the Kruševac Gymnasium is opened.

Stamp is issued on 2015-12-03.

Two Centuries of the Serbia's Army Tradition

Second Serbian Uprising, who led the final end of the Turkish government, began on 23 April 1815  and it's led by Milos Obrenovic. After two months of fighting, the Turks retained only in Belgrade and several fortified towns.

The second Serbian uprising in a certain way, according to the historians, is the basis for the creation of the Serbian state and the Serbian army, so that the Army April 23 is celebrated as the day of his.

As a product of independence of the Serbian state was followed by the creation of standing armies and the establishment of the Guard, a young man of 76, "the stature and reputation of" the best village houses. Introduced the first recruits, who stayed in the army for ten years, bearing in mind that their tour has not been determined.

A standing army lived in barracks and receiving a salary, and have been established and uniforms, or "mundirs".

Serbian Army was formed from the insurgent armies, from the people who took up arms to fight for that freedom and that, according to the chroniclers, lay down roots deep connection between people and the army.

 Stamp is issued on 2015-12-02.