USA: Fort McHenry with matching stamp

Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a historical American coastal pentagonal bastion fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy from the Chesapeake Bay September 13–14, 1814. It was first built in 1798 and was used continuously by the U.S. armed forces through World War I and by the Coast Guard in World War II. It was designated a national park in 1925, and in 1939 was redesignated a "National Monument and Historic Shrine".

Three nice stamps with two beautiful postmarks:
Soccerball (from set Have A Ball!), issued on 14.06.2017.
Superman (from set DC Comic Book Heroes), issued on 20.07.2006.
The War of 1812: Fort McHenry, issued on 13.09.2014.


Thank you Charlotte!

USA: The Carry by Andrew Wyeth with matching stamp

I always love to see postcards with matching stamps, and this is one of them. This is painting The Carry, by Andrew Wyeth. He was a visual artist, primarily a realist painter, working predominantly in a regionalist style. He was one of the best-known U.S. artists of the middle 20th century. This year is 100 years from his birth, and USPS issued a mini sheet with 12 stamps on 12th July. Of course, this painting is also featured on mini sheet.

On back of the postcard you can see two stamps from mentioned set, a one stamp from set Disney Villains, issued on 15.07.2017. This is first time i saw this interesting two-colored cancellation from USA. It reminds me on cancellations from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Hand cancellation is rare in USA, most of mail is cancelled by machine.


Thank you Charlotte!

Postcard from United Nations - Geneva

The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations. It is located in the Palais des Nations building constructed for the League of Nations between 1929 and 1938 at Geneva in Switzerland, and expanded in the early 1950s and late 1960s. This office have their own stamps and post, like UN offices in Vienna and New York.

This is complete set UNESCO World Heritage - Czech Republic, issued on 08.09.2016.


Thank you Rosmarie!

Registered Serbian FDC Joy of Europe 2017

About month ago i bought some stamps online, and sender surprised me when he sent me stamps in cover on first day of issue of Joy of Europe stamp. You can send FDC's on first day only from main post office in Belgrade. “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. They always use children's paintings for this series. Painting used for this stamp is done by 11-years old Serbian kid Uglješa Milenković.


Thank you Dragan!

Colombia: Santa Rosa de Viterbo - Boyaca

Santa Rosa de Viterbo is a town and municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia, part of the Tundama Province, a subregion of Boyacá. Santa Rosa de Viterbo was founded by the Spanish in 1689. In the year 1810, a meteorite fell in Santa Rosa, and it was discovered by a farmer of the town. The mayor decided to place it in the middle of the town, in front of the church. A hundred years later, the president Rafael Reyes decided to take it to Bogotá. There it was divided in two big parts; one of the parts stayed in Bogotá, and the other is actually in a museum in Chicago.

A lot of nice stamps on postcard:

The 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Korea, issued on 01.05.2012.
The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Julio Flórez Roa, issued on 26.05.2017.
Chestnut-bellied Flowerpiercer (from set Fauna - Endangered Species), issued on 14.07.2015.
Bangsia de Tatama (from set The 50th Anniversary of the Department of Risaralda), issued on 07.04.2017.
Frog Allobates juanii (from set Fauna - Endangered Species), issued on 14.07.2015.


Thank you Hernan!

Flags of the World Series: Haiti

Haiti is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea. It occupies the western three-eighths of the island, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. The region was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taíno people. Spain discovered the island on 5 December 1492 during the first voyage of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic. When Columbus initially landed in Haiti, he had thought he had found India or Asia.

Stamp on postcard is set Tourism, issued in 2001.

Thank you Valery!

Wooden stamp from Austria

I have new stamps from Austria in my collection. Traditionally, Austrian Post every year have one stamp from unusual materials. This year they issued this Oak tree stamp, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Österreichische Bundesforste, which were separated from the state budget in 1997 and newly formed as a share company. Stamp is in the form of an oak, and it's made from real oak tree.

Oaks are quite recognizable on their characteristic lobed leaves and on their fruits also for laymen. In Austria, the stalk and the grape oak are predominant. In the eastern areas of Austria, oaks are widespread and play a significant economic role. They can reach an altitude of up to 40 meters as well as an age of about 1,000 years.

Release date: 28.07.2017.
Circulation:  130.000
Printing:  Laser engraving / screen printing
Design:  David Gruber

Other new stamps in my collection:
EUROPA - Palaces and Castles, issued on 09.05.2017.
EUROPA - Think Green, issued on 14.05.2016.
Classic Cars - Puch XII Alpenwagen, 1919, issued on 20.05.2017.
Classic Cars  - Denzel WD Super 1300, issued on 26.08.2016.

The 60th Anniversary of the Birth of Falco, issued on 19.02.2017.
Austrians in Hollywood - Christoph Waltz, issued on 12.07.2017.
The 150th Anniversary of the Villach Carnival , issued on 07.01.2017.

Cover from Dominican Republic

About a month ago i received this cover from Dominican Republic. Cancellations are very pale, so i don't know what's on them, but it resembles the shape of perforated stamps. There are four stamps on cover: First one is  The 33rd Anniversary of United Nations, issued on 23.10.1978. Second is The 100th Anniversary of the Death of St. John Bosco (Founder of Salesian Brothers), 1815-1888, issued on 23.02.1988. And third and fourth stamps are The 50th Anniversary of Palace Museum Alcazar de Colon, tagged with year 2007, but is released on 18.04.2008.


Thank you Valery!

Guam: Talofoto Bay

Guam is an unincorporated and organized territory of the United States situated in Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean.The capital city of Guam is Hagåtña and the most populous city is Dededo.On this postcard you can see Talofoto Bay. Talofofo Bay is notable for being one of the most accessible brown sand beaches of Guam, and is the site of the World War II shipwreck of the Aratama Maru, a Japanese freighter.

Stamp on postcard is Green Succulent, issued on 28.04.2017.

Thank you Shang-Hong!

Postal History on cover from Singapore

I received another fine cover from Johnny Lowis - three stamps from set The 150th Anniversary of the First Postage Stamp Issued in Singapore, issued on 01.09.2017.  

2017 is a special year in remembering and appreciating the history of postage stamps of Singapore. On 1 September 1867, stamps of India overprinted with a crown and various rates of postage were released becoming the first postage stamps of the Straits Settlements. This stamp issue is released to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the First Postage Stamp Issued in Singapore.


Thank you Johnny!

Art Award cover from Finland and stamps from Åland Islands

I received a cover from Finland with whole stamp set Art Award, issued on 06.09.2017.

Posti’s first art award was handed over to sculptor Jasmin Anoschkin in March. In addition to EUR 10,000 of prize money, the award includes the publishing of stamps based on the artist’s works.
Three playful works were selected for the stamp series: ceramic kissing lips, a koala and a giraffe, and a reindeer made of wood. The sheet was designed by Paula Salviander and consists of 15 domestic no-value indicator stamps.

 Inside cover was 3 mini sheets from Åland Islands. First mini sheet is Nordic Mythology - Letesgubbar, issued on 29.03.2006. Second is also Nordic Mythology, but this time Drottningkleven, issued on 27.03.2008. Third mini sheet is Millennium - Peace Symbol, issued on 03.01.2000.

What a fantastic piece of art! So simple, but beautiful!

Thank you Kimmo!

Liechtenstein: Vaduz Castle

Vaduz Castle is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. The castle gave its name to the town of Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, which it overlooks from an adjacent hilltop. The Princely Family of Liechtenstein acquired Vaduz Castle in 1712 when it purchased the countship of Vaduz. At this time, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, combined the countship with the Lordship of Schellenberg, purchased by the Liechtensteins in 1699, to form the present Principality of Liechtenstein.

Beautiful matching cancellation and corn on stamp from set Crop plants, issued on 06.03.2017.


Thank you Jens!

Austria: Haus des Meeres in Vienna

The Haus des Meeres (House of the Sea) is a public aquarium in Vienna, Austria. It is located in Esterhazy Park in downtown Mariahilf district. The Haus des Meeres houses over ten thousand aquatic beings on an area of around 4,000 square meters inside a tall concrete flak tower built during World War II. In 2012 the Haus des Meeres attracted a record high of 436,500 visitors. We were there last year, it was really crowded and warm inside, but it's really worth of visit.

 Stamp on postcard is The 150th Anniversary of the Villach Carnival, issued on 07.01.2017.

Flags of the World Series: Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, and the Bristol Channel to the south.Welsh national identity emerged among the Celtic Britons after the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century, and Wales is regarded as one of the modern Celtic nations.

Stamp on postcard is from set Europa CEPT: Sounds of Britain, issued on 03.10.2006.


Thank you Kirsty!

Flags of the World Series: Cyprus

Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean and the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean. The earliest known human activity on the island dates to around the 10th millennium BC. Archaeological remains from this period include the well-preserved Neolithic village of Khirokitia, and Cyprus is home to some of the oldest water wells in the world. Cyprus was settled by Mycenaean Greeks in two waves in the 2nd millennium BC. As a strategic location in the Middle East, it was subsequently occupied by several major powers. North of Cyprus is occupied by Turkey in 1974.

Two stamps on postcard, again without cancellation:
EUROPA 2016 - Think Green, issued on 09.05.2016.
Refugge stamp, issued on 03.01.2013.


Thank you Sven!

New Star Wars stamps from UK

Royal mail yesterday again released wonderful Star Wars stamps. This time we can see Maz Kanata, Chewbacca, Supreme Leader Snoke, Porgs, BB-8, R2-D2, C-3PO and K-2SO. The stamps are illustrated by British artist Malcolm Tween who also designed the hugely popular Star Wars stamp set issued in 2015. The four ‘droid’ stamps include design features that become visible only under a UV light. I pre-ordered this stamps, and i was surprised when i received them, because they arrived few days before release date.

Monaco: Monte Carlo

I have received my first postcard from Monaco, sovereign city-state, country and microstate located on the French Riviera in Western Europe. With 19,009 inhabitants per km², it is the second-smallest and most densely populated sovereign state in the world. Monaco is host of famous street circuit motor race Monaco Grand Prix, one of the original Grands Prix of Formula One!

Stamp on postcard is Ship Yersin, issued on 20.03.2017.

Thank you Ricardo!

Serbia: Stamp Day 2017

Every year Serbian Post have new stamp dedicated to Stamp day. Topic for this year is little bit unusual - IRC or international reply coupon. An international reply coupon is a coupon that can be exchanged for one or more postage stamps representing the minimum postage for an unregistered priority airmail letter of up to twenty grams sent to another Universal Postal Union member country. IRCs are accepted by all UPU member countries.UPU member postal services are obliged to exchange an IRC for postage, but are not obliged to sell them.

Stamp and FDC are released on 09. 10.2017.

Registered cover: 180 years since the establishment of official diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Serbia

I received a registered Serbian cover: 80 years since the establishment of official diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Serbia. Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Serbia began in 1837, due to the fact that, among other things, Prince of Serbia Miloš Obrenović (left on stamp) understood that Serbia should develop relations not only with the East, but also with the West. Colonel George Lloyd Hodge (right person on stamp) was appointed the first British consul to Serbia: he handed his credentials to Prince Miloš in Kragujevac, the capital of Serbia, an autonomous principality in Ottoman Empire.

Serbia: 800 years since the coronation of Stefan the First-Crowned as the first-crowned King of Serbia

Stefan Nemanjić or Stefan the First-Crowned; around 1165 – 24 September 1228) was Grand Prince of Serbia from 1196, and the King of Serbia from 1217 until his death in 1228. He was the first crowned Rascian king, and through his promotion of the Serbian Grand Principality into a kingdom and helping his brother Saint Sava in establishing the Serbian Church, he is regarded one of the most important of the long lasting Nemanjić dynasty.

Having long wanted to call himself king, Stefan set about procuring a royal crown from the papacy. It is not clear what Stefan promised in regard to the status of the Catholic Church, which had numerous adherents in the western and coastal parts of his realm, but a papal legate finally arrived in 1217 and crowned Stefan. The advance of the Catholic Church in Serbia did not last long but angered Serbian clergy. Many opposed Stefan's coronation, with Sava protesting by leaving Serbia and returning to Mount Athos.

Later Serbian churchmen were also bothered by Stefan's relations with the papacy; while Stefan and Sava's contemporary Domentian wrote that the coronation was performed by a papal legate, a century later Theodosius the Hilandarian claimed that Stefan was crowned by Sava. The contradiction led some Serbian historians to conclude that Stefan underwent two coronations, first by the legate and in 1219 by Sava, but modern scholars tend to agree that only the former took place.

Indonesia: First Asian Postcrossing stamps!

Indonesia is first Asian country which released Postcrossing stamps! Set of 3 nice stamps are released on 14.07.2017. in celebration of 12th birthday of Postcrossing! Postcrossing is an online project that allows its members to send and receive postcards from all over the world. The project's tag line is "send a postcard and receive a postcard back from a random person somewhere in the world!” Its members, also known as postcrossers, send postcards to other members and receive postcards back from other random postcrossers. Where the postcards come from is always a surprise.


Thank you very much Jopi!

New Serbian Christmas stamps

Serbian Post traditionally release two Christmas stamps in this time of year. They finally abandoned conservative designs with icons and frescoes, and we finally have some very pretty Christmas stamps this year. Release date is 02.10.2017, and there is also nice First day cover.

Cabo Verde Map

Republic of Cabo Verde is an island country spanning an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. Located 570 kilometers west of the Cape Verde Peninsula in West Africa, the islands cover a combined area of slightly over 4,000 square kilometers. Incorporated as an overseas department of Portugal in 1951, the islands continued to agitate for independence, which was peacefully achieved in 1975.

Stamp on postcard is Cesaria Evora in Bataclan, issued on 16.11.2016.

Thank you Juraj!

Postcrossing cover from Switzerland

Switzerland is a another country that has released Postcrossing stamps this year, and they are wonderful! Set of three stamps is issued on 07.09.2017.

Technical Details:

Issue Date: 07.09.2017.
Designer: Max Spring, Bern
Printer: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
Process: Offset
Colours: 4 Colours
Size: Stamps: 33 × 28mm

This registered cover arrived with two more stamps:
Traditional Handicrafts (from set of two), issued on 04.11.2010.
Swiss Railway Stations (from set of four), issued on 08.09.2016.


Thank you Mirek!

Cover from Israel

Occasionally  i do used stamp swaps, and this time i exchanged stamps with stamp collector from Israel. I received stamps in this cover with stamp Voice Over Internet Protocol (from set Virtual Communication), issued on 08.09.2009.


Thank you Kasirer!

FInland: The Moomins time travel

The Moomins' time travel booklet of stamps celebrates the opening of the new Moomin museum in Tampere. Tove Jansson's original Moomins from various decades depict the development of the characters over the course of time. The booklet of five international stamps was designed by Ari Lakaniemi and Susanna Rumpu. Issue date: 24.05.2017.

 This is backside of this wonderful booklet.

I received stamps in this cover with two stamps:

Birds - Arktika (from set of four), issued on 09.05.2017.
Friendship stamp, issued in 08.02.1993.

Thank you very much Nina!