Romania: Ana Aslan and "The Elixir of Youth" - Joint Issue w/ Armenia

 Stamps:

 Ana Aslan and "The Elixir of Youth" - Joint Issue w/ Armenia - Issued: 03-04-2023

Many thanks to Mihnea!

Slovenia: EUROPA 2010 "Children Books"

Stamps:

Europa 2010 "Children Books" (full set) - Issued: 28-05-2010

 

Many thanks to Slavica!

Germany: 90th Anniversary of the steam Ice-Breaker "Stettin" + Season-ending 2023

The "Stettin" is a steam icebreaker built by the shipyard "Stettiner Oderwerke" in 1933. The economy of the city of Stettin (now: "Szczecin") strongly depended on the free access of ships to and from the Baltic Sea. Therefore, icebreakers were used to keep the shipping channels free from ice during the winter. From 1933 to 1945, Stettin was used in German Navy ("Kriegsmarine") service on the Oder River between Stettin and Swinemünde, as well as on the Baltic Sea. From 1945 on, she was used by the waterway and navigation authorities in Hamburg on the river Elbe. In 1981, Stettin was slated to be scrapped due to uneconomic costs. However, with the establishment of a development association, thousands of working hours, and support by generous sponsors, the ship was saved. Today, she is a technical culture monument. Her homeport is the museum port of Oevelgoenne in Hamburg, Germany. During summertime, Stettin cruises with invited guests on occasions like "Hamburg port birthday," "Hansesail Rostock," and "Kieler Woche," and is also used as a charter vessel.  (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Stettin_(1933) 

On this cover you can see a special personalised stamp showing a picture of the ship, a special postmark from its 90th Anniversary and on left a cachet postmark for the season-ending of cruises in 2023.

 

Stamp:

Personalised stamp "Ice Breaker Stettin" - Issued: unknwon

 

Faroe Islands: EUROPA 2019 "National Birds"

This Cover was sent from the City of Saltangara. The birds on the stamp are black guillemot or tystie (Cepphus grylle).

 

Stamp:

EUROPA 2019 "National Birds" (from a set of 2) - Issued: 29-04-2019

Many thanks to Henrik!

France: The Route Napoléon

The Route Napoléon is the route taken by Napoléon in 1815 on his return from Elba. The route begins at Golfe-Juan, where Napoleon disembarked 1 March 1815, beginning the Hundred Days that ended at Waterloo. The road was inaugurated in 1932 and meanders from the French Riviera north-northwest along the foothills of the Alps. It is marked along the way by statues of the French Imperial Eagle.

Stamp:

The Route Napoléon (s/s) - Issued: 13-07-2023 w/ First Day Cancellation from Grenoble

Many thanks to Eric!

Japan: Greetings - "Autumn"

 

Stamps:

Greetings - "Autumn" (63 Y) (from a set of 10) - Issued: 09-08-2023

Many thanks to Mitsuhiko!

Spain: Spanish Antarctic Research Station "Gabriel de Castilla" + BIO Hesperides

Gabriel de Castilla Base is a Spanish research station located on Deception Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The station was constructed in late 1989. The station is named for Gabriel de Castilla, a 17th century Spanish navigator and according to some reports the first person to sight the mainland of Antarctica. BIO Hespérides (see my other cover) (A-33), is a Spanish polar research vessel. She was built in 1990, by Bazán Shipyards of Cartagena, Spain. Hespérides is used to service the research bases in Antarctica.

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of the Faculty of Computer Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid - Issued: 18-10-2021

South Korea: Honey Bees

 

Stamps:

Honey Bees (full set) - Issued: 19-05-2023 w/ Fist-Day Cancellation

Many thanks to Park Pyo Jun!

Gibraltar: Our Schools - "St. Anne’s School"

St. Anne’s School is a 500-place upper primary school for 7- to 11-year-old students. The school serves the northern district in Gibraltar. A new building was completed in September 2019 which can be seen on the stamp.

Our Schools - "St. Anne’s School" (from a set of 4) - Issued: 30-04-2020

The 50th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (from a set of 4) - Issued: 20-02-2003

Many thanks to Eric!

Philippines: The 100th Anniversary of the University of the Philippines College of Business Administration (UPCBA)

The University of the Philippines is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university. Widely regarded and often cited as the Philippines' top university system, its alumni include a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, 7 of 17 Philippine presidents, 14 of 26 chief justices, 36 of 42 national scientists, and 40 of 57 national artists, the most of any university. The College of Business Administrationwas established in 1916, initially as a school within the university. It has since been the leader in management education in the Philippines, not because it is the oldest academic institution in management but because of its continuing pursuit of academic excellence. 

To note: Stamp inscriptions are misleading in that it appears to be the centennial of the Alumni Association of UPCBA, when in fact the Alumni Association is just the sponsor of the issue, not the celebrant (see: Source).

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the University of the Philippines College of Business Administration (UPCBA) - Issued: 04-12-2016

Many thanks to Ani!

Indonesia: "The 25th World Scout Jamboree" - Sae Man-Geum, South Korea

"The 25th World Scout Jamboree" was held from 1–12 August 2023 at Saemangeum, North Jeolla, South Korea, hosted by Korea Scout Association with the theme, "Draw Your Dream". About 43,000 participants from 158 countries attended.

 Stamps:

"The 25th World Scout Jamboree" - Sae Man-Geum, South Korea - Issued: 25-07-2023

Germany: Special Postcard - "75 years of Norderney Town Charter"

Norderney is one of the seven populated East Frisian Islands off the North Sea coast of Germany. The island is 14 by 2.5 kilometres, having a total area of about 26.3 square kilometres and is therefore Germany's ninth-largest island. Norderney's population amounts to about 5,850 people. In 1948 Norderney offically granted city rights and this year they celebrated the 75 Anniversary of this pivotal moment. For this event a speical postcard, special personalized stamp and postmark was put into circulation as you can see below.

To note the small postmark on the left which is the offical postmark of the city administration. As on the special cancellation on the right side too you can see the coat of Arms of Norderney.

Many thanks to Sarah for this great card!

Austria: The 100th Anniversary of Bambi

"Bambi" is a classic coming-of-age novel written by Felix Salten (left picture on the cover) in 1923. It tells the story of a young deer named Bambi and his adventures in the forest as he grows from a fawn into a mature stag. The book explores themes of nature, survival, and the circle of life. "Bambi" has been adapted into various films and is beloved for its timeless portrayal of the natural world and its impact on a young deer's life.

 

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of Bambi  - Issued: 16-09-2023 with First Day Cancellation

Fiji: Birds - "Peregrine Falcon"

Fiji, Officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about 110 are permanently inhabited—and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The most outlying island group is Ono-i-Lau. About 87% of the total population of 924,610 live on the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

I'm very happy to recieve my very first cover from there sent from the capital of Fiji, Suva.

Stamps:

2x Birds - "Peregrine Falcon" - Issued: 25-07-1995

Åland: Special Exhibition Stamp IBRA 2023 - "Peace"

Åland Post Stamps took part at this year's Internationale Briefmarken Ausstellung (IBRA) ("International stamp exhibition") in Essen, Germany and issued a special designed stamp which was sold exclusively at this exhibition. 

Stamp:

Special Exhibition Stamp IBRA 2023 - "Peace" - Issued: 25-05-2023

Germany: 70th Anniversary of East German uprising of 1953

The East German uprising of 1953, also known as the East German Uprising or the June 17th Uprising, was a significant event in the history of post-World War II Europe. It was a spontaneous and widespread protest against the oppressive policies of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), which was under Soviet influence and control. This uprising, though ultimately crushed, marked a crucial moment in the fight for freedom and democracy in East Germany. In 2023 now 70 years have passed since this pivotal moment in the history of post-World War II Germany and the Deutsche Post commemorated this with a special postmark as seen below.

Stamps:

1x 50th Anniversary of East German uprising - issued: 12-06-2003

3x Definitves Stamps "Flowers - Eranthis hyemalis" - Issued: 08-06-2017

China: Modern Bridge Construction

Stamps:

Modern Bridge Construction (full set of 3) - Issued: 30-06-2023

Stamp:

Modern Bridge Construction m/s - Issued: 30-06-2023

 

Many thanks Xu Wei!