New Serbian stamps - 50th Anniversary of BITEF

Serbian Post have new issue dedicated to 50th Anniversary of BITEF. The Belgrade International Theatre Festival (BITEF) is a theatre festival that takes place annually in Belgrade, Serbia. They will issued two stamps, one FDC and two maxicards.

Stamps are dedicated to founders of this festival Mira Trailović and Jovan Ćirilov. Founded in 1967, BITEF has continually followed and supported the latest theatre trends. It has become one of the most significant culture festivals of Serbia.

In the 1980s, BITEF showed Belgrade the highest reaches of the art of theatre, thus becoming one of the few festivals comprising both experimental forms and significant classic achievements. In spite of political-economic crisis and embargo, in the final decade of the 20th century, BITEF, thanks to the help of international culture centres, government and non-government organizations, managed to keep abreast with the rest of world, through promotion of new theatre trends and ultimate theatre values.

In 1999, BITEF was awarded a Special Prize Premio Europa Per Il Teatro, Taormina arte. BITEF was the first international theatre festival to receive an award from Premio Europa.

Mira Trailović  was a Serbian dramaturg, theatre director and founder of Atelje 212 Theatre. he lived in Paris and worked in Theatre of Nations. She received the most prominent French award: Légion d'honneur. In 1988, she was awarded the Statuette of Joakim Vujić.

Sovan Ćirilov was a Serbian theater expert, philosopher, writer, theatre selector, poet, and significant contributor to Serbian culture.

Release date for this stamps is 1st September 2016.

Brunei: The Istana Nurul Iman

The Istana Nurul Iman is the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, and the seat of the Brunei government.The name "Istana Nurul Iman" means Palace of the Light of Faith. Istana Nurul Iman is the largest residential palace in the world and the largest single family residence ever built. The palace contains 1,788 rooms, which includes 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall that can be expanded to accommodate up to 5,000 guests, a mosque accommodating 1,500 people. The palace also includes a 110-car garage, an air conditioned stable for the Sultan's 200 polo ponies, and 5 swimming pools. In total, Istana Nurul Iman contains 200,000 m² of floorspace.

Stamps:
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, issued on 23.02.2007.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, issued on 09.10.1996.


Thank you Alicia!

Brunei: Usongan Diraja - The Royal Chariot

On this postcard you can see Usongan Diraja or The Royal Chariot. Gold-leafed winged chariot was used for the parade carrying the Sultan through the streets of the city on the occasion of his 1992 silver jubilee celebration of coronation in 1968. This chariot is today in The Royal Regalia Building.

Stamps:
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, issued on 23.02.2007.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, issued on 09.10.1996.


Thank you Alicia!

Brunei: The Royal Regalia Building

I have received my first mail from Brunei, 3 very nice postcards, and this is first of them.

The building, originally "Churchill's Museum", which had been established by the father of present Sultan of Brunei as he admired Winston Churchill, was replaced in late 1992 by the Royal Regalia Exhibition Hall. It was established to celebrate the 1992 Silver Jubilee of the Sultan's coronation as the king of Brunei. A historical review of the present Sultan's life is narrated through family pictures with detailed narrative texts in which the Sultan is highlighted through many of his portraits and a hologram.

Stamps:
Large Scale Rice Planting, issued on 11.01.2011.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, issued on 09.10.1996.


Thank you Alicia!

The Island of Jersey

I have received my first postcard from Jersey!  Jersey is a Crown dependency of the United Kingdom, ruled by the Crown in right of Jersey, off the coast of Normandy, France. Jersey was part of the Duchy of Normandy, whose dukes went on to become kings of England from 1066. After Normandy was lost by the kings of England in the 13th century, and the ducal title surrendered to France, Jersey and the other Channel Islands remained attached to the English crown.

On this postcard you can see Elizabeth Castle on upper picture. Construction was started in the 16th century when the power of cannon meant that the existing stronghold at Mont Orgueil was insufficient to defend the Island and the port of St. Helier was vulnerable to attack by ships armed with cannon.
It is named after Elizabeth I who was the queen of England around the time the castle was built.

On second picture is Grosnez Castle, ruined 14th-century castle in Saint Ouen, situated in Grosnez in the north-west corner of the island of Jersey in the Channel Islands. Philippe de Carteret held it against the French when they held half of Jersey between 1461 and 1467, but it has been a ruin since the mid-16th century.

On third picture is Tesson Mill. Within its walls lies evidence of a large steam engine, which was used to supplement the power required to run the substantial double-width wheel. Although the first recorded mill dates from 1274, when it was the property of the Pinel family, there has probably been a mill on the site since the 11th century.

And on last picture is World War II German tower. During World War II Nazi Germany constructed a considerable number of fortifications in the Channel Islands which form part of the Atlantic Wall. This is one of them.

This beautiful stamp is Mixed Freight, from set of six EUROPA Stamps - Old Toys, issued on 24.03.2015.


Thank you very much Axel!

Cover from Macedonia

My friend Predrag from Macedonia sent me cover with nice Macedonian stamps with vegetables.

Here you can see three stamps from complete set Vegetables 2016, onion, beetroot and paprika, issued on 13.05.2016.Other stamps are carrots, issued on 02.07.2015, and cabbage, issued on 28.05.2014.

He also sent me two postcards in this cover. First is nice ad card for biking in Macedonia. 

Second postcard is from Greenpeace campaign "The future of the Arctic?" This postcard doesn't need description. This picture says it all.


Thank you Predrag!

23rd International Congress of Byzantine Studies - Belgrade 2016

New edition from Serbian Post - 8 stamps and 4 First day covers dedicated to 23rd International Congress of Byzantine Studies - Belgrade 2016!

This eight stamps comes in nice booklet. All stamps are designed by academic painters Marina Kalezić and Nadežda Skočajić.

Inside booklet you can find elaborate explanations for every stamp, and for man on front side of this booklet - Georgije Aleksandrovič Ostrogorski, one of the founders of Modern Byzantinology in Serbia and worlwide.

Here you can see stamps with Sava, the first Serbian archbishop (painted before 1227) and Mother of God of Sokolica, a marble sculpture. (around 1315).

On second FDC you can see stamp with The initial "V" from 14th century. A skillful miniaturist created a letter V from an eagle and a lion who attack a rabbit. The initial is in the manuscript with sermons of Isaac Sirin, on a verso 200 sheet. The manuscript is still kept today in the collection of the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. Second stamp is painting Mother of God from the Annunciation, from Mileševa monastery (before 1227).

On third FDC you can see stamp with Gračanica monastery (around 1315), one of the masterpieces of the Serbian medieval art.Second stamp is The sarcophagus of Saint Stefan Dečanski (1343).

On fourth FDC you can see painting of Emperor Uroš and King Vukašin (fourteenth century), and second stamp with Kalenić Monastery (around 1420).

Issue date for this stamps and covers is 22.08.2016.

Cover from Ghana

I have received my first cover from Ghana! Inside cover was postcard and banknote.

Ghana is located along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean, in the subregion of West Africa.  Ghana is bordered by the Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, Togo in the east and the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean in the south. The word Ghana means "Warrior King" in the Soninke language.

On this postcard you can see Paga crocodile pond. The crocodiles at Paga are very friendly. Visitors can sit, touch and take photographs with these live crocodiles. The crocodiles roam freely throughout the ponds and it is unthinkable that anyone should harm them or they harm anyone.

You can also see Wechiau hippopotamus sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a community effort that continues to shine brightly as a success story for conservation that protects one of only two hippo pods that live in the Volta River,  Ghana.

I have received this nice banknote of one Ghanaian cedi, issued on 01.07.2015.

 Stamps on cover are Carrots, from set  Fruits & Vegetables, issued on 28.02.2012.


Thank you very much Samuel!

Postcard from Hungary

This is my first postcard from my north neighbor Hungary. Hungary is a parliamentary constitutional republic in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Romania to the east, Serbia to the south, Croatia to the southwest, Slovenia to the west, Austria to the northwest, and Ukraine to the northeast. The country's capital and largest city is Budapest

Following centuries of successive habitation by Celts, Romans, Huns, Slavs, Gepids and Avars, the foundation of Hungary was laid in the late 9th-century by the Hungarian grand prince Árpád in the homeland-conquest. His great-grandson Stephen I ascended to the throne in 1000 CE, converting the country to a Christian kingdom. By the 12th century, Hungary became a middle power within the Western world, reaching a golden age by the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 and about 150 years of partial Ottoman occupation (1541–1699), Hungary came under Habsburg rule, and later formed a significant part of the Austro–Hungarian Empire (1867–1918).

Hungary's current borders were first established by the Treaty of Trianon (1920) after World War I, when the country lost 71% of its territory, 58% of its population, and 32% of ethnic Hungarians. Following the interwar period, Hungary joined the Axis Powers in World War II, suffering significant damage and casualties. Hungary came under the influence of the Soviet Union, which contributed to the establishment of a four-decade-long communist dictatorship (1947–1989).

Stamps:
Antique Furniture - Chair by Pál Eszterházy, 1916, issued on 09.02.2001
EUROPA - Think Green, issued on 06.05.2016.


Thank you Andrea!

Cover from Macedonia

I have received cover from Macedonia with two postcards inside and nice stamp set on cover.

On first postcard you can see Macedonian cuisine. Macedonian cuisine reflects Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences and shares characteristics of other Balkan cuisines. The relatively warm climate of the country provides excellent growth conditions for a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits. Macedonian cuisine is also noted for the diversity and quality of its dairy products, wines, and local alcoholic beverages, such as rakija.Tavče-gravče and mastika are considered the national dish and drink of the Republic of Macedonia.

Second postcard shows Macedonian humor.

Beautiful stamps on cover. This is complete set World Wildlife Foundation - Eastern Imperial Eagle, issued on 01.02.2001. The eastern imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca) is a large species of bird of prey that breeds from southeastern Europe to western and central Asia. Most populations are migratory and winter in northeastern Africa and southern and eastern Asia.The eastern imperial eagle is a large eagle with a length of 72–90 cm, a wingspan of 1.8–2.16 m and a weight of 2.45–4.55 kilograms. Females are about a quarter larger than males.

Thank you Predrag!