France: Belfort - "Host City of the 20th Stage of the 2023 Tour de France"

Belfort is a city in northeastern France, situated approximately 25 km (16 mi) from the Swiss border. Belfort hosted the Tour de France on more than a dozen occasions, mostly as a starting venue. The stage started on July 22nd 2023 and after traversing several mountains the finish after 133,5 km was situated in Le Markstein, a ski station 8 kilometres after the Platzerwasel. I'm very happy to receive this nice Cover including a great Maxi-Card with help of my friend Eric!

Stamp:

Belfort - "Host City of the 20th Stage of the 2023 Tour de France" Personalized stamp

 

Maxicard - "Carte Postale Souvenir Philatélique"

 

Ukraine: Tribute to Railway Workers

 

Stamp:

Tribute to Railway Workers (from a set of two) - Issued: 02-11-2023 - send from the City of Odessa

Many thanks to Alex!

Serbia: EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity"

 

Stamps:

EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity" (full set) - Issued: 09-05-2023

Many thanks to Antea!

India: The 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Vietnam - Joint Issue w/ Vietnam

1. cover with First Day Cancellation:

 

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Vietnam - Joint Issue w/ Vietnam (m/s) - Issued: 17-10-2023

 

2. Cover with Pictorial Postmark from Mumbai GPO

Stamp:

The 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Vietnam - Joint Issue w/ Vietnam (m/s) - Issued: 17-10-2023 

 

Many thanks to Mahadev M. and Piyush!

Monaco: EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity"

 

Stamps:

EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity" - Issued: 09-05-2023

National Species - Issued: 02-05-2017

Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean (0.10 €) - Issued: 01-01-2002

Flora and Fauna of the Mediterranean (0.01 €) - Issued: 01-01-2002

 

Sent from a little Post Office in Monaco-Condamine

 

 

Many thanks to Jerome!

Switzerland: Day of the Stamp - Eschenbach, Luzern

 

Stamps:

Day of the Stamp - Eschenbach, Luzern (m/s) - Issued: 09-11-2023

Pro Patria - Culture and Landscapes (from a set of 5) - Issued: 12-05-1998 

 

Many thanks to Hansjürg!

Norway: Svalbard - Longyearbyen

This great Cover arrived from the far north. Many thanks to Henrik, who send this cover from his latest trip to Svalbard. There are two points to mention on this cover. First the stamp seems to be a personalised issue from Svalbard (from the offical 'Postal Norge'). The second point is the cancel. Its not from the local post office (you can see it here). As I'm told you can ask for the cancel at the local Radisson Blue Hotel. You can try to make your own cover and send a prepared letter to: Radisson Blue Polar Hotel, Box 554, NO-9171, Longyearbyen.

Stamp:

Personalised Issue "Svalbard" - Issued: unknown

♁ 78° 12′ N, 15° 38′ O

Taiwan: Mandarin Phonetic Symbols Part II - FDC

 

Stamps:

Mandarin Phonetic Symbols Part II (Bloc of 10) - Issued: 16-11-2023

Many thanks to Su Wu-Chang!

Brazil: The 100th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Estonia - Joint Issue w/ Estonia

In 2021 Estonia and Brazil were jointly issuing stamps to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The stamp features the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília which was designed by the world-famous architect Oscar Niemeyer and houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, as well as the building of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tallinn, designed by the architects Mart Port, Raine Karp, Uno Tölpus, and Olga Kontšajeva.

 

Brazilian Stamp:

Stamps:

The 100th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Etonia - Joint Issue w/ Estonia - Issued: 10-11-2021

Combat Corona Campaign (from a set of 6) - Issued: 08-07-2020

 

 

Estonian Stamp:

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Brazil - Joint Issue w/ Brazil - Issued: 10-11-2021

Many thanks to Joao and Simone!

Thailand: The 140th Anniversary of Thai Postage Stamps

 

Stamps:

The 140th Anniversary of Thai Postage Stamps (from a set 4) - Issued: 20-09-2023

 

Stamps:

The 140th Anniversary of Thai Postage Stamps (full set) - Issued: 20-09-2023

Many thanks to Xu Wei and Hydryne!

Cyprus: First foreign Mission of the german frigate "Baden-Württemberg" - "UNIFIL" (October 23 - Janaury 24)

On Friday, 20 October 2023, the german navy frigate "Baden-Württemberg" left her home port of Wilhelmshaven, Germany with the crew "Delta" to take part in the mandated foreign mission "UNIFIL" (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) off the Lebanese coast. Blue helmets from the UNIFIL mission have been working for peace between Lebanon and Israel since 1978. This makes the mission one of the oldest peacekeeping operations of the United Nations (UN). In January 2024 the mission ended. I'm very happy to receive the cover below sent from Limassol, Cyprus with a nice Cachet from the mission. 

Stamps:

Football - FIFA World Cup 2018 - Issued: 28-03-2018

Refugee Fund Tax Stamp 2018

Picture of the Ship:

Source: www.bundeswehr.de

 

Philippines: National Teachers' Month 2023

 

Stamps:

National Teachers' Month 2023 (full set) - Issued: 05-09-2023

Many thanks to Vanessa!

Tunisia: Renewable Energies

 

Stamps:

Renewable Energies (full set) - Issued: 12-10-2023

Many thanks Mourad!

Bulgaria: The 100th Anniversary of Veterinary Medical Education in Bulgaria

 

Stamps:

The 100th Anniversary of Veterinary Medical Education in Bulgaria - Issued: 13-10-2023

Many thanks to Emil!

Germany: "Marvel Superheroes" series - "Spider-Man", "Black Panther", "Iron Man" & "Captain Marvel"

In 2022 Deutsche Post started to issue a new series called "Marvel Superheroes". Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the property of The Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009. The first issue of this series was the "Spiderman" stamp and second was "Black Panther". In 2023 "Ironman" and "Captain Marvel" were issued. The series will be continued in 2024 and also in 2025.  

Stamps:

 

"Marvel Superheroes - Spiderman" - Issued: 07-07-2022

"Marvel Superheroes - Black Panther" - Issued: 06-10-2022

"Marvel Superheroes - Ironman" - Issued:  07-09-2023

"Marvel Superheroes - Captain Marvel" - Issued:02-11-2023

Greece: The 350th Anniversary of the Petraki Monastery + Children and Stamps

 

Stamps:

The 350th Anniversary of the Petraki Monastery (from a set of 4) - Issued: 28-09-2023

Children and Stamps (from a set of 4) - Issued: 03-12-2020

Many thanks to Rune!

Kazakhstan: The 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Temirbek Zhurgenov (1898-1938)

February 25, 2023 marked the 125th anniversary of the birth of Temirbek Zhurgenov, a prominent statesman and public figure, teacher and journalist who made an invaluable contribution to the development of education, culture and literature in Kazakhstan. Today, The Kazakh National Academy of Arts, several schools and colleges in the Kyzylorda Region, as well as streets in Astana and Almaty are named after him.

Stamps:

2x The 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Temirbek Zhurgenov (1898-1938) - Issued: 00-00-2023

Thanks a lot Pyotr!

Portugal: Winner of the UEFA European Football Championship 2016 - "Registered Cover"

This year the 2024 UEFA European Football Championships will take place in my homeland Germany. Back in 2016 Portugal won the tournament for the first time, following a 1–0 victory after extra time over the host team, France, in the final played at the Stade de France. This victory was commemorated on this nice minisheet which can be seen below on a great registered Cover from Portugal.

Stamp:

Portugal - Winner of the UEFA European Football Championship 2016 (m/s) - Issued: 12-07-2016

 

Many thanks Jose!

South Korea: Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024 - Gangwon

The Winter Youth Olympic Games and commonly known as Gangwon 2024 (Korean: 강원 2024), is a winter multi-sport event, cultural festival, and fourth edition of the Winter Youth Olympics currently being held between 19 January and 1 February 2024 in Gangwon Province, South Korea.

Stamp:

Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024 - Gangwon  - Issued: 12-12-2023

 

Many thanks to Wonsik Kang for this nice FDC!

Sweden: Swedish Football

Stamps:

Swedish Football (from a set of 6) - Issued: 26-03-2004

Many thanks to Henrik!

Oman: 53rd National Day - Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik

Stamps:

53rd National Day - Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik (stamp + m/s) - Issued: 00-11-2023

Many thanks to Alexander, its my first cover from Oman!

Austria: Standing Together for Peace - Help for the People of Ukraine

This cover was cancelled on 24th August - Independence Day of Ukraine

 

Stamp:

Standing Together for Peace - Help for the People of Ukraine  - Issued: 31-03-2022

Macedonia: Skopje Postcard

Stamp:

The 75th Anniversary of Macedonia Philharmonic Orchestra  - Issued: 17-10-2019

Many thanks to Eric for this great Card!

Japan: The 150th Anniversary of Railway in Japan

 

Stamps:

The 150th Anniversary of Railway in Japan (from a set of 10) - Issued: 21-09-2022

Mauritius: Birds - "Extinct Species"

 

Stamps:

Birds - "Extinct Species" (full set) - Issued: 09-10-2023

Many thanks to Patrik for this Cover - my first from Mauritius!

Belgium: The 100th Anniversary of the World Cycling Championships

 

Stamp:

The 100th Anniversary of the World Cycling Championships  - Issued: 30-08-2021

Many thanks to Wesley!

Spain: The 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of Spain

 

Stamps:

3x The 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of Spain  - Issued: 14-11-2022

Philippines: The 150th Anniversary of the Province of Tarlac

 

Stamps:

The 150th Anniversary of the Province of Tarlac (full set) - Issued: 29-05-2023

Many thanks to Ani!

Germany: Research Vessel Polarstern on Expedition PS136

The Polarstern expedition PS136 started on 22 May 2023 in Bremerhaven, Grmany and led to the Fram Strait between Greenland and the Svalbard archipelago. The expedition wanted to contribute to various large national and international research and infrastructure projects (FRAM, MUSE, iFOODis, HiAOOS, ICOS-D, SIOS) as well as to the new research programme „Changing Earth – Sustaining our Future” („Erde im Wandel – Unsere Zukunft nachhaltig gestalten”) of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz-Center for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). The cruise ended on 19 June 2023 in Tromsø, Norway.

Source: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/57718/1/Expeditionsprogramme_PS136.pdf 

To note, the Alfred Wegener Institute will no longer process collectors mail send to the Polarstern due to the "ever-increasing workload". This is very sad news for any Polarmail collector.

Stamp:

Definitive Issue - "Flowers" - Issued: 03-01-2005

Gibraltar: "Ships - Visit of HMS Queen Elizabeth"

 

Stamp:

Ships - Visit of HMS Queen Elizabeth (m/s) - Issued: 10-05-2018

Many thanks Alexander for this great Cover!