Postcard from Jan Mayen

I received this surprise postcard form Norwegian volcanic island Jan Mayen, situated in the Arctic Ocean. It is 55 km long and partly covered by glaciers. It lies 600 km northeast of Iceland, 500 km  east of central Greenland and 1,000 km west of the North Cape, Norway. The island is mountainous, the highest summit being the Beerenberg volcano in the north. This postcard is made by sender itself!

This beautiful cancellation shows same volcano, and stamp is from set EUROPA - Old Toys, issued on 05.06.2015.


Thank you very much Wolfgang!  

Greece: Ancient Theater in Limenas

The ancient theater was constructed in a natural cavity of the hill in Limenas. The very first excavation took place in 1921 by a French Archaeological School. At the beginning of the 3rd century the forefront of the scene was built by marble and the foreground was dedicated to Dionysus. In the 1st century A.D., the theater was used for duels. Nowadays, the ancient theater hosts the local festival of Thassos where concerts and performances take place over the year. It has a panoramic view with a capacity of 2000 viewers.

Stamp on postcard is Mikis Theodorakis (from set Members of the Lambrakis youth movement), issued on 08.07.2016.


Thank you Tajana, Kristijan & Vasilije!

Flags of the World Series: Malawi

My first postcard from Malawi is from Flags of the World Series. Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. Its capital is Lilongwe, which is also Malawi's largest city. The name Malawi comes from the Maravi, an old name of the Nyanja people that inhabit the area. The country is also nicknamed "The Warm Heart of Africa".

Stamps on postcard:
Butterflies - Euxanthe Wakefieldi, issued in 2007.
Malawi's First President, issued on 06.07.2014.


Thank you Mike and Emmanuel!

Greetings From The United Nations in Vienna

On 23 January 2015, UNPA issued a “Greetings from Vienna” personalized stamp sheet. The sheet is huge and is composed of ten € 0.80 denominated stamps which feature various images from the Vienna International Center and was designed by Rorie Katz (United Nations). It also includes 10 labels that can be personalized by visitors to the UNPA/Vienna post office.

Thank you Kristijan for this wonderful gift!

Flags of the World Series: Switzerland

Another flag postcard from Flags of the World Series, this time from Switzerland! Switzerland is a federal republic in Europe. It consists of 26 cantons, and the city of Bern is the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western-Central Europe, and is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland is a landlocked country geographically divided between the Alps, the Swiss Plateau and the Jura, spanning an area of 41,285 km2.

A lot of nice stamps on this postcard:
Flora - Mushrooms (from set of four), issued on 06.03.2014.
Swiss Railway Stations (from set of three), issued on 08.09.2016.


Thank you Mirek!

Greece: Pieria

Pieria is one of the regional units of Greece located in the southern part of the Region of Central Macedonia, within the historical province of Macedonia. Its capital is the town of Katerini. Pieria is the smallest regional unit within Macedonia. The name Pieria originates from the ancient Pieres tribe.

Stamp is Mikis Theodorakis (from set Members of the Lambrakis youth movement), issued on 08.07.2016.


Thank you Nikola!

Greece: Leptokaria

Leptokarya is a town in Pieria regional unit, Central Macedonia, Greece, former seat of East Olympos municipality, which is part of the municipality of Dio-Olympos. Lies on the coast of Aegean Sea, under the Mount Olympos. It is located near ancient Leivithra, allegedly the home of Orpheus, major figure in the Greek Mythology. Since the major events and customs in the town is the revival of division of Orpheus.The town also features the Olympus Geological History Museum.

Very bad job by local postal clerk. Stamp is ruined, and 3 postmarks on one stamp? And all 3 are badly applied. This ruined stamp is Mikis Theodorakis (from set Members of the Lambrakis youth movement), issued on 08.07.2016.


Thank you Nikola!

Vietnam: Gong Culture

The space of gong culture in the Vietnam Highlands is a region in Central Vietnam that is home to cultures that value gongs. It spreads in the Tây Nguyên provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, and Lâm Đồng. The UNESCO recognized it as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 25, 2005.

Stamp used on this postcard is National Year of Tourism (from set of two), issued on 13.02.2017.


Thank you Mạnh!

UNESCO World Heritages in Vietnam

This multiview postcard shows seven World Heritages from Vietnam:
 - Hue Royal Court Music - recognized as World Oral History Treasure and Intangible Culture in 2003
- My Son Sanctuary - UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1999
- Hoi An Ancient Town - UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1999
- Halong Bay - UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1994
- Tay Nguyen Gong Music - recognized as masterpiece of the oral and intangible culture of humanity in 2005
- Phong Nha Ke Bang- UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 2003
- Hue Complex of Monuments- UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1993

Stamp used on cover is Year of the Rooster, issued on 20.12.2016.

Thank you Mạnh!

Serbia: Joy of Europe 2017 stamp and FDC

“Joy of Europe” is the largest and oldest international manifestation of children’s creativity, established back in 1969, on the occasion of the World Children’s Day. Serbian Post will issue one new stamp, but with eight different labels! They always use children's paintings for this series. Painting used for this stamp is done by 11-years old Serbian kid Uglješa Milenković. Young artists who painted pictures on labels are from China, Greece, India, Slovakia, Thailand, Bulgaria and Serbia.

Release date is 29.09.2017.

Registered cover and mint stamps from Croatia

I received a registered cover from Croatia, with beautiful mini sheet Bridges and viaducts, issued on 27.04.2017. On upper stamp is Kosinj Bridge and on lower is Limska Draga Viaduct.

Inside cover was this 3 stamp sets and one mini sheet:
WWF - Euroasian Griffon, issued on 23.01.2017.
Croatian Fauna - Bats, issued on 21.03.2017.
EUROPA Stamps - Palaces and Castles, issued on 09.05.2017.
The 300th Anniversary of the Birth of Maria Theresa, 1717-1780 - Joint Issue with Austria, Hungary, Slovenia & Ukraine , issued on 13.05.2017.


Thank you Tomislav!

Flags of the World Series: Luxembourg

My second postcard from Luxembourg is from the series Flags of the World. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a landlocked country in western Europe. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is, together with Brussels and Strasbourg, one of the three official capitals of the European Union and the seat of the European Court of Justice, the highest juridical authority in the EU. Its culture, people and languages are highly intertwined with its neighbors, making it essentially a mixture of French and Germanic cultures. This is emphasized by the three official languages, Luxembourgish, French, and German. The repeated invasions by its neighbor countries, especially in World War II, resulted in the country's strong will for mediation between France and Germany and, among other things, led to the foundation of the European Union.

Stamps:
SEPAC - The Four Seasons, issued on 13.09.2016.
Grand Duke Henri, issued on 07.12.2010.
Grand Duke Henri, issued on 01.10.2003.


Thank you Sascha!

Flags of the World Series: Trinidad and Tobago

My third postcard from Flags of the World Series is Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island country situated off the northern edge of the South American mainland, lying just 11 kilometers off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and 130 kilometers south of Grenada. Bordering other Caribbean nations to the north, it shares maritime boundaries with other nations including Barbados to the northeast, Grenada to the northwest, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west.

Behind this unusually big postmarks are two stamps, both from set Medicinal Herbs, issued on 18.05.2005.


Thank you Nalini!

Greece: Panagia

Panagia is a village on the island of Thasos in northern Greece. The village is located in the northwest of the island, east of the massif of Mount Ipsarion (1,204 m) at an elevation of 1,108 m. The village is a popular tourist spot due to its proximity to Potamia and the coastal resort of Skala Potamia and Skala Panagia, referred to in English as Golden Beach. Tourist sights include traditional Greek village buildings and water fountains from the freshwater stream with its source at Mount Ipsarion which run through the village.

Stamp on postcard is Mikis Theodorakis (from set Members of the Lambrakis youth movement), issued on 08.07.2016.


Thank you Lana!

Greece: Thasos

Thasos is a Greek island, geographically part of the North Aegean Sea, but administratively part of the Kavala regional unit. It is the northernmost Greek island, and 12th largest by area. Thasos is also the name of the largest town of the island, situated at the northern side, opposite the mainland and about 10 kilometers from Keramoti. Thassos island is known from ancient times for its termae making it a climatic and balneoclimateric resort area.Thasos' economy relies on timber (it is rich in forests), marble quarries, olive oil, honey and tourism.

Stamp on postcard is The 2400th Anniversary of the Birth of Aristotle, 384-322 BC, issued on 23.05.2016.


Thank you, Lana!

Flags of the World Series: Finland

Finland is my second postcard from Flags of the World Series. Most mail from Finland nowadays comes without any cancellation, but this postcard is cancelled, and on the wrong side!

 Stamps:
Water (from set of four), issued on 24.01.2008.
Birds - Arctic (from set of four), issued on 09.05.2017.
Christmas (from set of two), issued on 02.11.2007.
The 50th Anniversary of Finnish TV-Broadcasting, issued on 24.01.2007.
Last stamp is printed on silver foil, but you can't see that on my scan.

Thank you Nina!

Greece: Archaeological stamp pack

I received this Archaeological stamp pack from Greece. It contains Greek stamps from various era, all dedicated to archaeology and sculptures in Greece.

Stamps:
Gods against the Giants, issued on 26.06.1972.
New Acropolis Museum, The Parthenon Gallery, issued on 21.06.2010.
Hercules and the golden apples of Hesperide, issued on 16.03.1970.
The 100th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Greece & Japan, issued on 28.06.1999.
Homer's Epics - The Wooden Horse, issued on 19.12.1983.
Sculpture of Dionysos, issued on 15.03.1984.
Alexander at Achilles' tomb, issued on 23.07.1977.
Athenian Cultural Heritage, issued on 03.11.2010.
Goddess Athena defeating Alkyoneys, Pergamos, issued on 27.04.1968.
Hercules and the bull of Crete, issued on 16.03.1970.
Greek Sculptors- John Cossos (1822-1875), issued on 28.02.1967.
Return of the Dedokanes Islands to Greece, issued on 10.04.1951.
Health - European Gastroenterology Week, issued on 22.05.1992.
Mythological Figures - Iris, issued in year 1911.
Ancient Greek Art - Urn bearers, issued on 03.01.1959.


Thank you Lana!

The first Moldova-Romania Postcrossing Meetup

The meetup was held on 29.07.2017. (Constitution Day) in Central Post Office of Moldova in Chişinău, and also is organized a collaborative exhibition of postcards from around the world.

 Moldavian Post designed nice special postmark for this meetup, and it fits quite well with this stamps dedicated to symbols of Moldova and capital city Chișinău. First stamp is Coat of Arms of the Municipality of Chişinău, issued on 07.03.2015, and second is Flag of Moldova, issued on 03.11.2010.

This is picture of Postcrossers from this meetup, and one of them is Mihnea, who sent me this nice postcard. Thank you Mihnea!

Angry Birds on cover from Finland

I received a cover with minisheet Angry Birds, issued by Finland Post on 09.09.2013. This was one of my favorites games on Facebook. Angry Birds is a video game franchise created by Finnish company Rovio Entertainment.


Value: 6 × 1st class
Number issued: 500,000 miniature sheets
Designer: Toni Kysenius
Size: sheet 91 mm × 140 mm, stamps 34 mm × 25.8 mm
Paper: self-adhesive stamp paper
Perforation: die cut
Printer: Joh. Enschedé Stamps, the Netherlands
Printing method: web offset + varnish + UV varnish
First day cover and cachet: Toni Kysenius


Thank you Anna!

Stamp cards and postcards from South Africa

Recently i received some covers from South Africa, and this stamp cards and postcards are one of the received items.

These are 3 different stamp cards dedicate to same stamp. They all have different cancellations.

Stamp used on cards is King protea (Protea cynaroides), issued on 27.05.1977.

This are 3 prepaid postcards, but with different fruit illustrations by Barry E. Jackson.


Thank you Willy!