USA: Total Solar Eclipse of August 21st 2017

Today, on the 21st of August 2017, a total solar eclipse crosses the USA from Oregon to South Carolina. On this day, the Moon completely obscures the Sun.  The day instantly turns to deep twilight and the Sun's corona becomes visible for a precious two minutes. As you can see on the card the total eclipse is only visible within a 110-km (70-mile) wide path that crosses the USA. In other countries it will only be visible as a partial eclipse.

I'm very happy to receive this special card for this lifetime event with also a special stamp. The stamp looks black, but if you press your finger on it the moon will appear.

Stamp:
Total Solar Eclipse - Issued: 20-06-2017


Many thanks to Nancy for this great Card!

Germany: Search and Rescue Vessels of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS)

The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (German: Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger - DGzRS) is responsible for Search and Rescue in German territorial waters in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including the Exclusive Economic Zone. The headquarters and the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of the Society are located in Bremen, Germany. It was founded in Kiel on 29 May 1865. It owns 61 lifeboats at 54 stations which are operated by 185 employed crew members and 800 volunteers.

The DGzRS operates 59 vessels on 54 stations in the North Sea and Baltic. 20 of which are seagoing cruisers (German: Seenotrettungskreuzer) between 20 m and 46 m of length and 39 vessels are classified as inshore lifeboats (German: Seenotrettungsboote). A feature of the cruisers is that all but the 20-m class carry a fully equipped small lifeboat on deck which can quickly be released through a gate in the aft for conducting operations in shallow waters.

In this Post I'd like to show you some Covers from my collection with Ship-Cancellations and/or Cachets of these Cruisers and Lifeboats.


1. SK Bernhard Gruben

This is a 23.1-m class Cruiser. It's homeport is Norderney, which is one of the seven East Frisian Islands off the North Sea coast of Germany. As you can see from the Cachet this Cruiser got a small but fully equipped lifeboat on Deck. The Cruiser was built in 1997 and was named after Bernhard Gruben, a foreman, who died in accident in 1st January 1995.

2. SK Anneliese Kramer

This is a 28-m class Cruiser. It's homeport is Cuxhaven. This is a very new Cruiser, which was built in 2017 and it also got a lifeboat on Deck. The Cruiser was named after Anneliese Kramer, who donated much of her fortune to DGzRS after she died.

3. SRB Secretarius

This is a small 9,5/10,1-m class Boat and also one of the newest. It's homeport is the East Frisian Island Langeoog. The Ship Commissioning Ceremony was held on 12th August 2017 in Berne, Germany. On the Cover you can see the Cachet for this Ceremony. The Boat was named after the Organisator of the so-called "Bremer Eiswette", which is an annual bet since 1829 if the River Weser in Bremen is frozen on the 6th of January or not.

USA: Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014)

Óscar Arístides Renta Fiallo (22 July 1932 – 20 October 2014), known professionally as Oscar de la Renta, was a Dominican fashion designer. De la Renta became internationally known in the 1960s as one of the couturiers who dressed Jacqueline Kennedy. An award-winning designer, he worked for Lanvin and Balmain. US Postal Service honored him with a Stamps Set including 11 images - an evocative black-and-white portrait of de la Renta and 10 details from some of his most exquisite gowns.

Stamps:
Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014) (from a Set of 11) - Issued: 16-02-2017


Many thanks to A.W. Welch for this nice Cover!

Greenland: Princess Mary & Prince Fred of Denmark Copper Wedding Anniversary

In Denmark there are three major Marriage Milestones: Gold is 50 years, Silver is 25 and Cooper is 12½ years. Prince Frederik of Denmark wed Princess Mary, formerly Mary Donaldson, in May 2004 after meeting four years earlier at the Sydney Olympics. In November 2016 they now celebrated their Copper Wedding. For this special Occasion Greenland Post issued a special Sheet. This sheet contains a nice family portrait of the Royal Family. I used this sheet to send this cover from the International Stamp Fair in Essen.

Stamp:
Copper Wedding Anniversary, Frederik/Mary - Issued: 17-10-2016

Falkland Islands: Whale & Dolphin Definitives

This is my first Cover from Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about 300 miles (483 kilometres) east of South America's southern Patagonian coast, at a latitude of about 52°S. As a British overseas territory, the Falklands have internal self-governance, and the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. The islands' total population is about 3400, the capital is Stanley.

On the Cover you see two stamps from the Whale and Dolphin Definitives Set. The left one is the Long-finned Pilot and the right one are "Killer Whales"

Stamps:
Marine Life - Whales and Dolphins (from a Set of 12) - Issued: 09-11-2012

Germany: Zugspitze (Schneefernerhaus) - Germany's Highest Post Office

The Zugspitze at 2,962 m (9,718 ft) above sea level, is the highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains as well as the highest mountain in Germany. It lies south of the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the Austria–Germany border runs over its western summit. This nice Cover was cancelled at Germany's highest Post Office. On the Postmark you can see the Schneefernerhaus.  It is a former hotel in the Alps, that is now used as an environmental research station. It lies immediately below the summit of the Zugspitze at a height of 2,650 m and was opened on 20 June 1931.

Stamp:
The 200th Anniversary of the Invention of the Bicycle - Issued: 13-07-2017


Many thanks to Alexander for this nice Cover!