Cover from Monastic Republic of Mount Athos

The Monastic Republic of Mount Athos is a region of northern Greece around the Mount Athos peninsula, in Chalkidiki, enjoying a status of autonomy comparable to the peripheries (Greek administrative regions). It brings together twenty monasteries and the different villages and houses that depend on them. They house around 2,000 Eastern Orthodox Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Russian  and other monks who lead a life of seclusion, introspection and prayer. The small village of Karyes is the administrative center and the seat of the synod.

This was my last missing territory from Europe. It was very hard to get this cover because you need permit to go there, and they admit only hundred people per day, only men and mostly Orthodox Christians. But i had luck, cause i find priest of Serbian Orthodox Church from my city who went there. So i prepared blank cover with my address, postal clerk added this stamp from set Paintings by Vladimir Davidoff and he sent me cover from Karyes.


Thank you, Neša!

Shaped postcard from Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a disputed territory on the northwest coast and in the Maghreb region of North and West Africa, partially controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and partially occupied by neighboring Morocco. Its surface area amounts to 266,000 square kilometres. It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly consisting of desert flatlands. The population is estimated at just over 500000, of which nearly 40% live in Laayoune, the largest city in Western Sahara.  Occupied by Spain until the late 20th century, Western Sahara has been on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories since 1963 after a Moroccan demand. In 1975, Spain relinquished the administrative control of the territory to a joint administration by Morocco and Mauritania. A war erupted between those countries and a Sahrawi nationalist movement, the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with a government in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. Mauritania withdrew its claims in 1979, and Morocco eventually secured de facto control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources. The United Nations considers the Polisario Front to be the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, and maintains that the Sahrawis have a right to self-determination.

Of course, there's only Moroccan postal system there and Moroccan stamps are used for mail.


Thank you, Stanislav!

Another nice big registered cover from Canada

Here's another fine Canadian cover with a lot of stamps from recent years, and also sent by my friend Trevor. For this one he used stamps from this sets: Sharks (2018), 100th Anniv. of the Sinking of the RMS Empress of Ireland, Prehistoric Canada (5th series), Haunted Canada, Lunar Year, Endangered Turtles, Vancouver Asahi Baseball Team, Eid, Diwali, Black History Month, 150 years of Canadian photography... And on the bottom you can see flip over sticker. On second picture you can see postage meter sticker for additional postage.

Thanks, Trevor!

Registered jumbo cover from Canada

I received another beautiful big registered cover from Canada last year, with a lot of beautiful Canadian stamps from various sets, mostly from last couple of years. My friend Trevor used stamps from sets: Emergency Responders, Chinese New Year - Year of the Pig, Canada Post Community Foundation, From Far and Wide, Canadians in Flight and few from other sets.


Thanks, mate!

Flags of the World Series: Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. The island was previously called Iyonola, the name given to the island by the native Amerindians and later, Hewanorra, the name given by the native Caribs. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 and reported a population of 165,595 in the 2010 census. Its capital is Castries.

The French were the island's first European settlers. They signed a treaty with the native Island Caribs in 1660. England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667. In ensuing years, it was at war with France fourteen times, and the rule of the island changed frequently (it was ruled seven times each by the French and British). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West Indies" after the Greek mythological character, Helen of Troy.

Two big postmark on stamps showing Vermillion Saddlebags (8.4.2013.) and Hog plum (5.12.2005.)


Thank you, Camille!

Blue Whale on registered cover from Canada

I received last year Canadian registered cover with Blue whale stamp on it, the biggest stamp and highest stamp denomination Canada Post has ever produced. Stamp is part of long running Canadian Wildlife series and this one is issued on 4.10.2010.

Size, power and speed, the majestic blue whale (Balænoptera musculus), king of the animal kingdom, has it all. Weighing in at between 80 and 180 metric tonnes and reaching lengths of more than 30 m, our planet has never—even in the age of dinosaurs—seen another creature this big. It can travel at speeds of 33 km/hr, accelerating to 48 km/hr when chased, making it among the fastest whale species. This fascinating giant of the deep is also unmatched in the projection of its voice, emitting low-frequency sounds that can travel hundreds of kilometers (and possibly entire oceans) under water.

There is also one more stamp from Canadian Wildlife series on this cover among other stamps. This is Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), issued on 15.10.1997, and this stamp is first one in this series.


Thanks a lot, Trevor!

Field flowers on cover from Netherlands

Dutch post issued stamp set dedicated to field flowers on 9.4.2018. On this cover you can see two flowers from set, briza and cuckooflower.

Briza is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the grass family, native to northern temperate regions of Eurasia, North Africa, and certain islands in the Atlantic. The group is generally referred to as the quaking grasses because the flowers and seedheads shake on their stalks in the slightest breeze. Some of its members are grown as ornamental plants.

Cardamine pratensis (cuckooflower, lady's smock, mayflower, or milkmaids), is a flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native throughout most of Europe and Western Asia. The specific name pratensis is Latin for "meadow." 

Thank you, Albert!

Military Working Dogs on cover sent from US military base

US Post issued stamps set dedicated to military working dogs. On this cover you can see two stamps with German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever. 

The German Shepherd is a breed of medium to large-sized working dog that originated in Germany. Despite its primitive, wolf-like appearance the German Shepherd is a relatively modern breed of dog, with their origin dating to 1899. As a herding dog, German Shepherds are working dogs developed originally for herding sheep. Since that time, however, because of their strength, intelligence, trainability, and obedience, German Shepherds around the world are often the preferred breed for many types of work, including disability assistance, search-and-rescue, police and military roles and acting.

The Labrador Retriever is a medium-large breed of retriever-gun dog. A favourite disability assistance breed in many countries, Labradors are frequently trained to aid those with blindness or autism, act as a therapy dog, or perform screening and detection work for law enforcement and other official agencies. The breed is best known for their obedience, loyalty, and playful composure. Additionally, they are prized as sporting and hunting dogs.


Thank you, Kathy!

Postcard from Dildo community in Canada

Dildo is a community on the island of Newfoundland, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is located on the southeastern Dildo Arm of Trinity Bay about 60 kilometres west of St. John's. South Dildo is a neighboring community of 250 residents. The place name "Dildo" is attested in this area since at least 1711, though how this came to be is unknown. The name, then written as "Dildoe", was first applied to Dildo Island, located offshore from the present-day community of Dildo. This use was recorded in 1711 and 1775, and the name was thereafter applied to the Dildo Arm of Trinity Bay and other local physical features. Social scientist William Baillie Hamilton notes that Captain James Cook and his assistant Michael Lane, who mapped Newfoundland in the 1760s, often displayed a sense of humour in the place names they chose, and were not above selecting names that might offend over-sensitive readers. Regardless of the origin, the name has brought the town of Dildo a measure of notoriety.

 Very nice and clear postmark from Dildo post office on stamp from set From Far And Wide, issued on 14.1.2019.


Thank you very much, Trevor!

Black guillemot on cover from Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands issued two stamps for this year Europa CEPT theme National birds, both with black guillemot. I received cover with first stamp from set, issued on 29.4.2019. The black guillemot or tystie (Cepphus grylle) is a medium-sized seabird of the alcid family, Alcidae, native throughout northern Atlantic coasts and eastern North American coasts. It is resident in much of its range, but large populations from the high arctic migrate southwards in winter. The bird can be seen in and around its breeding habitat of rocky shores, cliffs and islands in single or smalls groups of pairs. They feed mainly by diving towards the sea floor feeding on fish, crustaceans or other benthic invertebrates. They are listed on the IUCN red list as a species of least concern.


Thank you, Henrik!