Åland Islands

My first postcard from Åland Islands! The Åland Islands is a region of Finland that consists of an archipelago lying at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. It is autonomous, demilitarized and is the only monolingual Swedish-speaking region in Finland. The Åland Islands formed part of the territory ceded to Russia by Sweden under the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in September 1809. As a result, along with all other parts of Finland, they became part of the semi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland, and they stayed a part of Finland to this day.

As you can see, some bastard from Serbian post has again stole my stamps! Only one stamp survived, Ermine (Mustela erminea), issued on 2004-02-02.


Thank You very much Nina!

Russia: Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge

This is a 1919 lithographic Soviet propaganda poster by artist Lazar Markovich Lissitzky better known as El Lissitzky. In the poster, the intrusive red wedge symbolises the bolsheviks, who are penetrating and defeating their opponents, the White movement, during the Russian Civil War.

Stamp:
Ladies' Riding (two from set of three), issued on 2004-07-15
The 70th Anniversary of Victory in World War II (from set of three) - Medal "For the Liberation of Warsaw", issued on 2015-04-02. Medal on this awesome stamp is embossed.


Thank You Olga!

Paul Gauguin - Rupe Rupe (The Fruit Harvest)

This is painting Rupe Rupe, by famous French painter Paul Gauguin. This stunning turn of the century painting depicts Tahitian Women picking fruit.

This two definitive stamps are Zaraysk Kremlin, issued on 2009-10-01, and Bear 25r, issued on 2008-08-29.


Thank You Kate!

Leonardo da Vinci

We have received four nice postcards of Leonardo da Vinci in envelope. I and Nina are big admirers of this inventor, painter, sculptor, scientist, engineer, anatomist, geologist, astronomer and overall great mind.

This is Vitruvian man. The drawing, which is in pen and ink on paper, depicts a man in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and inscribed in a circle and square.

 This is Aerial Screw. Though the first actual helicopter wasn’t built until the 1940s, it is believed that Leonardo da Vinci’s sketches from the late fifteenth century were the predecessor to the modern day flying machine. As with many of da Vinci’s ideas, he never actually built and tested it – but his notes and drawings mapped out exactly how the device would operate.

This is Mechanical Wing (Circa 1490). He designed a number of man powered flying machines with mechanical wings that flapped.

This is Giant Crossbow. Designed for pure intimidation, da Vinci’s crossbow was to measure 27 yards across. The idea behind the impressive weapon was to terrify enemies into fleeing rather than fighting.

This is complete set Excellence of Knowledge, issued on 2015-10-31.


Thank You very much Giuseppe!

Latvian Ethnographic Open-air Museum

This is maxicard The 70th Anniversary of Latvian Ethnological Museum. Stamp is issued on 1994-04-30.

The Latvian Open-Air Ethnographic Museum is one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe. 118 old buildings from all historical districts of Latvia – Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale – built from the end of the 17th century up to the second half of the 1930s have been relocated, reconstructed and furnished. The museum was established in 1924.

Stamp on backside is Birds of Latvia: Oriolus oriolus, issued on 2015-06-26

Thank You Agnese!

Belarus: Grodno

Grodno or Hrodna is a city in western Belarus, near Poland and Lithuania. The modern city of Hrodna originated as a small fortress and a fortified trading outpost maintained by the Rurikid princes on the border with the lands of the Baltic tribal union of the Yotvingians. The first reference to Grodno dates to 1005.

This stamp is Central Botanical Garden: Syringa 'Vera Khoruzhaya', issued on 2015-05-29.


Thank You Olga!

Serbia: The European Champions in basketball for women 2015

Serbian post has released this stamp to celebrate Serbian gold medal in European Women Basketball Championship 2015. Serbia won first title by defeating France 76–68 in the final.

 Release date is 2015-11-27

Serbia: The World Champions in water polo Kazan 2015

Serbian post has released this stamp to celebrate Serbian gold medal in water polo tournament in Kazan 2015.

Release date is 2015-11-24

In final match for gold metal, Serbia has beaten Croatia 11 : 4!

USA: Greetings from Richmond

Nice square shaped card from Richmond, Virginia. Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. While it was incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city since 1871. In 2014, the population was estimated to be 217,853. The Richmond Metropolitan Area has a population of 1,260,029.

Stamps:
Global Ocean Surface Temperatures, issued on 2014-04-22
Penguins, issued on 2015-06-01

Thank You Julie!

Zentangle drawing from Germany

Nice surprise from Germany, a zentangle drawing! Very nice work by Inge.

Stamps:
Flowers Definitive: Tulip, issued on 2005-09-08
Flowers Definitive: Elves Krokus, issued on 2005-08-11
Additional value: Numeral 3, issued on 2012-11-02
Comics - Asterix: Obelix, issued on 2015-09-01

Thank You Inge!

Russia: The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of A.I. Pokryshkin

This is monument in Novosibirsk, dedicated to Alexander Ivanovich Pokryshkin. He was a top Soviet flying ace and a Marshal of the Soviet Air Force. He was made a Hero of the Soviet Union on three separate occasions (24 May 1943, 24 August 1943, and 19 August 1944). Stamp is issued on 2013-02-22. There is also special postmark, but from this year, and it is dedicated to Soviet victory in World War II.

With this maxicard i have also received minisheet 100 Years of the Trans-Siberian Railway, issued on 2002-01-30.

There is also this FDC: I love postcrossing, issued on 2015-01-27.

 Beautiful stamps on cover:
150 years since the birth of Patriarch Tikhon, issued on 2015-11-05
Decorative-Applied Arts of Dagestan (from set of four), issued on 2008-12-18

Thank You very much Ira!

Belarus: Hemiechinus auritus - Long-eared hedgehog

Beautiful maxicard from Belarus. This is The long-eared hedgehog, or Hemiechinus auritus. Stamp is released on 2012-06-20. This stamps is from set of two, and it's joint issue with Kazakhstan.

The long-eared hedgehog is a species of hedgehog native to Central Asian countries and some countries of the Middle East. This hedgehog lives in burrows that it either makes or finds, and is distinguished by its long ears. It is considered one of the smallest middle eastern hedgehogs.This hedgehog is insectivorous, but may also feed on small vertebrates and plants.


Thank You very much Ira!

Postcards from China

I have received four postcards from China in cover.

This is very nice shaped card with map of Jiangxi. Jiangxi is Chinese province with 45,200,000 people. The name Jiangxi literally means “West of the (Yangtze) River,” although the entire province lies south of it.

 Cute postcard for animated movie My Neighbor Totoro, from year 1988. This movie is number 128 on iMDb Top 250 movies list.

This is official trailer for My Neighbor Totoro, with original Japanese audio.

Ma first postcard from famous Greetings from... series from Postallove. Many people frantically collect these cards, but I'm not such fan. They are OK, but they need better design, less typos, and better informations. Unofficial GF cards are much better, like Nebula, Black Hole or Mordor and similar stuff :)

And for the end this nice yummy postcard :)

I have received all this in nice prepaid cover with additional stamps: New Years Celebrations, issued on 2013-02-28.


Thank You Houyun Sun!

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

I have received this awesome Darth Vader from Canada. Once a heroic Jedi Knight, Darth Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force, became a Sith Lord, and led the Empire’s eradication of the Jedi Order. He remained in service of the Emperor, the evil Darth Sidious, for decades, enforcing his Master’s will and seeking to crush the fledgling Rebel Alliance.

Star Wars is one of my favorite movie franchises, and this is trailer for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Stamps:
NHL Goalies: Tony Esposito, issued on 2015-10-02
Baby Wildlife: Puffin, issued on 2014-03-31

Thank You Tam!

Cover from Finland

I have received cover from Finland with various mint and some used stamps from different countries.

First is Monaco.

This is Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean:  Artica caja, issued on 2002-01-01

 Submarine Reserve of Larvotto, issued on 2010-04-29

Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean: Anthias anthias, issued on 2002-01-01
Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean: Parus major, issued on 2002-01-01
Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean: Thunbergia grandiflora, issued on 2002-01-01
Flora and Fauna: Mercantour National Park - Aquilegia bertolonii, issued on 2011-04-20

This is complete set Legendary F1 drivers: Ayrton Senna & Gilles Villeneuve, issued on 2014-03-05

I have received another stamp with legendary F1 driver, but this mini sheet is from Finland

This is minisheet Mika Häkkinen - Formula 1 Champion 1998, issued on 1999-01-15

Next stamps are from Åland

Mushrooms: Cantharellus cibarius, issued on 2003-01-02
Mushrooms: Boletus edulis, issued on 2003-01-02
Nature protection: Coronella austriaca , issued on 2002-01-02
Predators: Mustela erminea, issued on 2004-02-02

Next stamps are used stamps from Vietnam (Vietcong), Hungary & Cuba.

Vietcong:

Paintings by Vietcong Fighters: In the Face of the Enemy, issued on 1968-10-15

10th Anniversary of the PLAF: Fighters and Workers, issued on 1971-02-15

Hungary:

World Savings Day, issued on 1979-10-29
The 19th Anniversary of the Reopening of the Jewish Museum, Budapest: Chalice, Moscow, issued on 1984-12-21

Cuba:

Orchids: Encyclia fucata, issued on 1980-05-20
The 40th Anniversary of the Death of Jose Capablanca, issued on 1982-12-29

Stamps from cover:

Meteorology: Water & Archipelago, issued on 2008-01-24
Birch leaf, issued on 2011-01-24
Art Post, issued on 2015-09-11

Thank You very much Nina!

Netherlands: Zeeuwse Kap by Maarten Schets

This is photography by Maarten Schets. This is modern take on traditional costume of Zeeland, Netherlands.

Stamps:
Dutch DJ's: Dash Berlin (from set of five), issued on 2015-03-02
Westerlichttoren Lighthouse, Nieuw - Haamstede, issued on 2014-02-24

Second stamp is officially released personal stamp, from set of 25!


Thank You Carla!

Germany: Autostadt Wolfsburg

The Autostadt is a visitor attraction adjacent to the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, with a prime focus on automobiles. The idea for Autostadt was started in 1994 when the concept of documenting the stages of production of Volkswagen vehicles and how the company's operations were showcased at Expo 2000 in Hanover. The main pavilion opened in May 2000.

Stamps:

Felix, the rabbit (from set of two), issued on 2015-03-02
50th anniversary of the competition 'Youth in Science', issued on 2015-06-11


Thank You Dustin!