Steampunk insect: Aeshna juncea

Fantastic drawing of dragonfly Aeshna juncea in steampunk style by Maria Skorodumova. She used liner on cofee-toned paper. Aeshna juncea (The common hawker, moorland hawker or sedge darner) is one of the larger species of hawker dragonflies. It is native to Palearctic (from Ireland to Japan) and northern North America. The flight period is from June to early October.

Very nice Russian stamps:
The World Nature Heritage in Russia - West Caucasus (from set of four), issued on 22.09.2006.
Europa 2009. Astronomy, issued on 05.05.2009.
Fauna of Russia - Wild cats (from set of three): Amur leopard - Panthera pardus orientalis, issued on 07.11.2014.


Thank you very much Vlada!

Antonov An-2

The Antonov An-2 is a Soviet mass-produced single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed and manufactured by the Antonov Design Bureau since 1946.The An-2 is used as a light utility transport, parachute drop aircraft, agricultural work and many other tasks suited to this large slow-flying biplane. Its slow flight and good short field performance make it suited for short, unimproved fields, and some specialized variants have also been built for cold weather and other extreme environments.

Stamp is Wild Animals  (from set of five): Hare, issued on 10.12.2014.


Thank you Yana!

Croatia: Senj

Senj is an old town on the upper Adriatic coast in Croatia, in the foothills of the Mala Kapela and Velebit mountains.

The symbol of the town is the Nehaj Fortress which was completed in 1558. For a time this was the seat of the Uskoks, who were Christian refugees from Ottoman Bosnia resettled here to protect the Habsburg borderlands. The Republic of Venice accused the Uskoks of piracy and declared war on them which led to their expulsion following a truce in 1617.

Stamp is Croatian Ethnographic Heritage (from set of four): Posavina, issued on 15.03.2010.


Thank you Ivan!

Apolo XIII: Failure is not an option

What a beautiful postcard! I am big fan of space exploration :)

On April 11, 1970, the Apollo 13 lunar module launched into space on a routine mission; however, for the three astronauts on board, this mission would veer far from plan. While in flight, a explosion caused damage to the spacecraft and depleted the oxygen supply of the crew. Through the miraculous efforts of those at ground control and the strength and courage of the flight crew, all were safely returned to Earth. This bring them back alive attitude, as expressed in flight director Kranz's word to his staff, "Failure is not an option," is indicative spirit  of human achievement.

Stamp is Coastal Birds (from set of four): Frigatebird, issued on 01.06.2015.

Thank you Tina!

Turkey: Rumelian Castle, Troy and Pamukkale

This is postcard from Turkey with interesting mix in one picture.

Rumelian Castle is a fortress located in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, Turkey, on a hill at the European side of the Bosphorus. It gives the name of the quarter around it. It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II between 1451 and 1452, before his army's conquest of Constantinople.

Troy was a city situated in what is known from Classical sources as Asia Minor, now northwest Anatolia in modern Turkey, located south of the southwest end of the Dardanelles/Hellespont and northwest of Mount Ida at Hisarlık. It is the setting of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer.

Pamukkale is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year.

Stamp is Definitive - Tapestries (from set of five), issued on 06.08.2015.


Thank you Katarina!

Cover from Czech Republic

I have received cover from Czech Republic with two maxicards.

First maxicard is from set of two stamps Historical vehicles 2016. This is Locomotive “Slovenská strela/Slovak arrow”, issued on 17.02.2016.

Slovenská strela is the name of an express train famous for its fast speed, first operated in July 1936 on the route between the Czech capital Prague and the Slovak capital Bratislava. It originally ran with unique mid-1930s motor units M 290.0 (Tatra 68), which cut the travel time by more than an hour as compared to the then fastest train pulled by a steam engine. The regular travel time of 4 hours and 18 minutes was not overcome until the 21st century. The motor units were so fast that they earned their nickname “Slovenská strela” (Slovak for “Slovak Arrow”).

This cute maxicard is Czech National Breeds of Dogs - Czech Spotted Dog, issued on 03.02.2016.

The Czech Spotted Dog (formerly Horák’s Laboratory Dog), commonly known as a spotted dog or “strakáč” in Czech, is a medium-sized breed of sociable dogs of Czech origin. The breed is not recognised by the World Canine Organization FCI. Although the dogs had nearly become extinct, careful breeding has been increasing their numbers.

Awesome stamps on cover! Bob and Bobek (from set of two), issued on 29.04.2015,  and Večerníček, issued on 18.02.2015.


Thank you very much Pavla!

Greta Garbo as Mata Hari

Espionage and contre espionage are dealt with effectively in "Mata Hari," a glamourous and romantic conception of the latter days of the life of the Dutch dancer and courtesan who was shot as a spy by the French in 1917. Commercially, Mata Hari was Garbo's most successful film and MGM's biggest hit of the year, netting a profit of nearly one million dollars.It was a sensation in the US, and overseas rentals, especially in Continental Europe, matched those in the US. These combined grosses amounted to $2,227,000 or $31,601,862, adjusted for inflation.

Stamps are Glücksburg Castle (built 1582-1587), issued on 02.01.2013.


Thank you Stefanie.

Netherlands: Heineken

Nice retro ad for Heineken. Heineken International is a Dutch brewing company, founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken in Amsterdam. As of 2015, Heineken owns over 165 breweries in more than 70 countries and employs approximately 76,000 people. Besides Heineken Lager Beer, it brews and sells more than 250 other international premium, regional, local and specialty beers.

This stamps are horrible! This is Business Stamp, Numeral 1, issued on 02.01.2014.


Thank you Romina.

Taiwan: Anping Fort - Fort Zeelandia

Fort Zeelandia was a fortress built over ten years from 1624 to 1634 by the Dutch East India Company, in the town of Anping on the island of Formosa (present-day Taiwan), during their 38-year rule over the western part of that island. Although the site was previously named Orange City,  Anping City, and Taiwan City, the current name of the site in Chinese is Anping Fort.

This postcard from Taiwan sent me Taiwanese student from Moscow, and stamps are Russian Kremlins from 2009.


Thank you Chun-ya!

USA: Old Town Albuquerque

Old Town is a historic district in Albuquerque, New Mexico, dating back to the founding of the city by the Spanish in 1706. Today it is a popular shopping and tourist destination. Old Town comprises about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings grouped around a central plaza. Many of the buildings in Old Town are houses that have been converted into restaurants and small art and souvenir shops.

Stamps:
Quilled Paper Heart, issued on 12.01.2016.
Butterflies - Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, issued on 01.06.2015.


Thank you Ruth!

Illustration from Russia

Adorable illustration from Russia! This is Russian blue cat.

Stamps:
Decorative-Aplied Arts of Dagestan (from set of four), issued on 12.12.2006.
Happy New Year!, issued on 12.12.2006.
Moscow Kremlin (from set of twelve), issued on 01.10.2009.


Thank you Lira!

Ukrainian Cows 2015

Nice first day cover with Ukrainian cows. Stamps are issued on 14.08.2015. Other stamps are definitives: Juglans regia - Walnut, issued on 14.01.2012, and Tilia cordata - Small leaved Lime, issued on 24.01.2012.

Thank you Lis!

Shalom from Jerusalem

What a nice postcard from Israel! Camels are common only in south part of  Israel, where is desert. They are domesticated around 930 BC. This is the dromedary camel , also called the Arabian camel, with one hump on its back. Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to describe the species, and the animal was given its current binomial name by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish zoologist.

Stamps are Flowers - Red Gerbera, issued on 11.02.2014.

Thank you Nir!

Shoes may change life. Ask Cinderella.

I have received this fancy German postcard on Facebook lottery :)

Stamps:

Tagetes, issued on 07.07.2005.
The 200th Anniversary of the Birth of Ernst Litfaß, 1816-1874, issued on 11.02.2016.

Thank you Anna!

Fauna of Belarus: Eurasian red squirrel

Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia.
Red squirrels occupy boreal, coniferous woods in northern Europe and Siberia, preferring Scots pine, Norway spruce and Siberian pine. In western and southern Europe they are found in broad-leaved woods where the mixture of tree and shrub species provides a better year round source of food.

Stamp is Edible Mushrooms (from set of four): Hydnum repandum, issued on 10.09.2013.


Thank you Lena!

USA: National Postal Museum in Smithsonian

This is postcard from National Postal Museum in Smithsonian, for exhibition A Portrait Through Stamp Art. The National Postal Museum, located opposite Union Station in Washington, was established through joint agreement between the United States Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institution and opened in 1993. The museum is located across the street from Union Station, in the building that once served as the Main Post Office of Washington, D.C. from 1914, when it was constructed, until 1986.

This is one of the best American stamps for me, it's simply beautiful! Stamp name is Global: The Moon, issued on 22.02.2016.


Thank you James!

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and the most abundant wild member of the Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia. It is listed as least concern by the IUCN. Its range has increased alongside human expansion, having been introduced to Australia, where it is considered harmful to native mammals and bird populations. Due to its presence in Australia, it is included among the list of the "world's 100 worst invasive species".

Stamp is Dutch icons (from set of fove): Amsterdam House, issued on 03.01.2014.


Thank you Brenda!

Germany: Drachenfels Railway

The Drachenfels Railway or Drachenfelsbahn is a rack railway line in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. The line runs from Königswinter to the summit of the Drachenfels mountain at an altitude of 289 m. Besides the two terminal stations, an intermediate station serves the Schloss Drachenburg.

The Drachenfels Railway is one of only four rack railways still operational in Germany.

What a nice matching stamp! Definitely one of my favorite German stamps! This is Youth Philately - Historical Steam Locomotives (from set of three): Steam Locomotive PTL 2/2, issued on 09.08.2012.


Thank you very much Marco!

Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England in late June or early July; the event is scheduled to avoid clashing with the Formula One season, enabling fans to see F1 machines as well as cars and motorbikes from motor racing history climb the hill.

In the early years of the Festival, tens of thousands attended over the weekend; it currently attracts crowds of around 100,000 on each of the three days it is now held. A record crowd of 158,000 attended in 2003, before an advance-ticket-only admission policy came into force; attendance is now capped at 150,000.

Flowers - European Centaury, issued on 03.07.2014.
Numeral 2, issued on 02.11.2013.
Pellworm lighthouse, issued on 03.07.2014.


Thank you Günther!

Illustration from The Steampunk Sourcebook

I have always loved steampunk, and i am finally got one steampunk postcard. This is illustration by Daniela Grillo, from Steampunk Sourcebook.

Stamps:
Tagetes, issued on 07.07.2005.
Classic Cars: Ford Capri 1, issued on 02.01.2016.


Thank you Uwe!

China: Just living like a cat

Cats are my favorite creatures and i always welcome postcards with them :) This one is from China.

Couple of nice stamps:
Peach Blossom (from set of six), issued on 16.03.2013.
Special-use stamp for Greeting Card (from set of four): A Family Letter, issued on 08.08.2013.


Thank you Caroline!

Cover from Argentina

I have received first mail from Argentina! Inside cover was two postcards and few stamps.

Puerto Madero is a barrio (district) of the Argentine capital at Buenos Aires CBD, occupying a significant portion of the Río de la Plata riverbank and representing the latest architectural trends in the city of Buenos Aires.

Iguazu Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the city of Curitiba. For most of its course, the river flows through Brazil, however, most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the boundary between Argentina and Brazil.

Mint stamps from cover:

National Park Campo de los Alisos - Puna Tinamou, issued on 22.03.2003.

Dog Breeds: Springer Spaniel, issued on 20.05.2006.
Dog Breeds: Yorkshire Terrier, issued on 20.05.2006.

Vietnam-Argentina Joint Issue: Palo Borracho, issued on 25.10.2008.
Mollusk Shells: Patagonian Red Snail, issued on 23.08.2008.

And stamps on cover:
UP Stamps: Educación Creación de Universidades, issued on 20.01.2014.
UP Stamps: Asignación universal por hijo, issued on 20.01.2014.
UP Stamps: Ley 26.774 Derecho a votar a los 16 años, issued on 20.01.2014.


Thank you very much Julio!

Czech Republic: Krtek

I have received this very cool postcard with Krtek from Czech Republic. Krtek is an animated character in a series of cartoons, created by Czech animator Zdeněk Miler in 1956. Since its inception, the cartoon won itself an enormous popularity in many Central European countries, as well as India, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iraq and Japan, due its distinct lack of dialogue.

Stamp on cover is Folk architecture (from set of two), issue date is 23.02.2011.


Thank you Jana!