Liechtenstein: EUROPA - "Think Green" Official First Day Cover

Europa stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations/ enterprises under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme. EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals. As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world. Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation and in 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps. Over the years, EUROPA stamp has gained more interest within the Postal community as well as with philatelist, and reflects the engagement from the members in diligently participating in the competition.

This year EUROPA Stamps is celebrating its 60th Anniversary with a common design: Ecology in Europe - "Think Green". I ordered this official FDC and the stamps from the Liechtenstein Post Shop.

Stamps:
EUROPA - "Think Green" (whole set) - Issued: 07-03-2016 with special first day of Issue Postmark

Switzerland: 75 Years of the Swiss Merchant Fleet

Switzerland as a seafaring country maybe sounds strange, but this landlocked country is on the high seas. Swiss merchant ships are operated not by the Swiss Confederation, but by private shipowners. They remain under the protection of Switzerland, whose flag they fly. In return, the government is entitled to commandeer the ships at times of crisis or emergency to ensure the country’s economic needs are met. Thus the flag is motivated not by competition or prestige; rather, Switzerland owes its flag solely to the desire to ensure economic supplies for the nation at times of crisis or in emergencies.

Stamp:
75 Years of the Swiss Merchant Fleet "Lausanne" (from a set of four) - Issued: 03-03-2016

Stamp:
left: 75 Years of the Swiss Merchant Fleet "Lavaux" (from a set of four) - Issued: 03-03-2016
right: 75 Years of the Swiss Merchant Fleet "Lugano" (from a set of four) - Issued: 03-03-2016

UPDATE: 07-07-2016

Today I received the the missing stamp from this series on a cover.

Stamp:
75 Years of the Swiss Merchant Fleet "Stockhorn" (from a set of four) - Issued: 03-03-2016


Many thanks to Hansjürg for these great covers!

Germany: The 500th Anniversary of the German Beer Purity Law

The Reinheitsgebot ( literally "purity order"), sometimes called the "German Beer Purity Law" in English, is the collective name for a series of regulations limiting the ingredients in beer in Germany and its predecessor states. The most well-known version of the law was adopted in Bavaria in 1516, but similar regulations predate the Bavarian order, and modern regulations also significantly differ from the 1516 Bavarian version.

Stamp:
The 500th Anniversary of the German Beer Purity Law - Issued: 07-04-2016 with special first day of issue postmark

Germany: The Moselle

The Moselle (German: Mosel) is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, which it joins at Koblenz, Germany. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Moselle through the Sauer and the Our. It flows through a region that has been influenced by mankind since it was first cultivated by the Romans. Today, its hillsides are covered by terraced vineyards where some of the best Rieslings grow and numerous ruined castles dominate the hilltops above wine villages and towns that line the riverbanks.

Stamps:
Tourism - Germany's Most Beautiful Panoramas 'Moselle' (whole set) - Issued: 07-04-2016 with special first day of issue postmark

Greenland: Pituffik

Pituffik is a former settlement in northern Greenland, located at the eastern end of Bylot Sound by a tombolo known as Uummannaq, near the current site of the American Thule Air Base. In 1951 the United States was given permission to build Thule Air Base at the site of the settlement. Between 1952 and May 1953, all residents of Pituffik and nearby Dundas (Uummannaq) were forcibly relocated 130 km (81 mi) north to the new town of Qaanaaq, commonly known at the time as "New Qaanaaq" or "New Thule", where people were forced to live in tents from May 1953 until November of the same year, well into the polar winter, while the 27 new houses were constructed for them.

Too bad a poor cancellation was applied on this cover, but if your read carefully you can still see the name Pituffik und the postmark.

Stamps (left to right):
Queen Margrethe II (0,50 DKK) - Issued: 22-10-2012
Queen Margrethe II (1,00 DKK) - Issued: 22-10-2012
Queen Margrethe II (5,00 DKK) - Issued: 13-05-2015
Queen Margrethe II (10.00 DKK) - Issued: 21-10-2013



♁ 76° 32′N 68° 45′W

Germany: The 100th Anniversary of the Death of Franz Marc

Franz Marc (February 8, 1880 – March 4, 1916) was a German painter and printmaker, one of the key figures of the German Expressionist movement. He was a founding member of "Der Blaue Reiter" (The Blue Rider), a journal whose name later became synonymous with the circle of artists collaborating in it. With the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Marc was drafted in the German Army as a cavalryman. After mobilization of the German Army, the government identified notable artists to be withdrawn from combat for their own safety. Marc was on the list but was struck in the head and killed instantly by a shell splinter during the Battle of Verdun in 1916 before orders for reassignment could reach him.

On the card you can see one of the most famous paintings of Franz Marc. Its called Blaues Pferd I, (or Blue Horse I) from 1911.

Stamp:
Centenary of World War I - Issued: 07-08-2014 with special postmark

Liechtenstein: Triesenberg

Triesenberg is a municipality in Liechtenstein with a population of 2,669 (as in 2013). Its area of 30 square kilometers makes it the largest municipality in Liechtenstein. The center of the municipality rests at an elevation of 884-1,000 meters.

Stamp:
EUROPA - Think Green (from a set of two) - Issued: 07-03-2016

Russia: Pavlovsk Palace

Pavlovsk Palace is an 18th-century Russian Imperial residence built by Catherine the Great for her son, Grand Duke Paul, in Pavlovsk, within Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг). After his death, it became the home of his widow, Maria Feodorovna. The palace and the large English garden surrounding it are now a Russian state museum and public park.

Stamp:
Happy New Year - Issued: 10-12-2015

Germany: Baby Animals

I received this two cards some days ago. On the cards you can see the new german Baby Animals stamps. The first one is the European hare (Lepus europaeus), also known as the brown hare, is a species of hare native to Europe and parts of Western Asia and Central Asia. It is related to and looks very similar to the European rabbit, which is in the same family but in a different genus. Hares are larger than the European rabbit, have longer ears and hind legs and breed on the ground rather than in a burrow. They rely on speed to escape from predators.

Stamp:
Baby Animals (from a set of two) - Issued: 01-03-2016 with a special first day of issue postmark


The second card is actually not showing the greylag goose (or Anser anser), because I couldn't find a matching card. But at least the stamps does. The greylag goose (Anser anser) is a bird in the waterfowl family Anatidae. It has mottled and barred grey and white plumage and an orange beak and legs. A large bird, it measures between 74 and 91 centimetres (29 and 36 in) in length, with an average weight of 3.3 kilograms (7.3 lb). Its distribution is widespread, with birds from the north of its range in Europe and Asia migrating southwards to spend the winter in warmer places.

Stamp:
Baby Animals (from a set of two) - Issued: 04-03-2016 with a special first day of issue postmark

Switzerland: Henri Nestlé

Henri Nestlé, born Heinrich Nestle (10 August 1814 – 7 July 1890), was a German-born Swiss confectioner and the founder of Nestlé, the world's largest food and beverage company, as well as one of the main creators of condensed milk. Henri Nestle made use of his family escutcheon, the "Nest", a graphic translation of his name, little nest, to personify the business. Evocative of security, maternity and affection, nature and nourishment, family and tradition, this symbol remains the central element in the Nestle corporate identity.

Stamps:
2x Henri Nestlé - Issued: 25-02-2016


Thanks again to Hansjürg for this nice Cover!

Iceland: Map-Card

Iceland  is a Nordic island country between the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. It has a population of 329,100 and an area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), making it the most sparsely populated country in Europe. The capital and largest city is Reykjavík. Reykjavík and the surrounding areas in the southwest of the country are home to over two-thirds of the population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active and runs almost completely on renewable energy.

Stamp:
Icelandic Contemporary Design – Architecture (from a set of four) - Issued: 27-03-2014

Germany: Sanssouci

Sanssouci is the former summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfill King Frederick's need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court. The palace's name emphasises this; it is a French phrase (sans souci), which translates as "without concerns", meaning "without worries" or "carefree", symbolising that the palace was a place for relaxation rather than a seat of power.

Stamps:
Castles - Sanssouci, Potsdam - Issued: 01-03-2016 with special postmark

USA: Odessa, TX

Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census making it the 29th-most populous city in Texas. Odessa is said to have been named after Odessa, Ukraine, because of the local shortgrass prairie's resemblance to Ukraine's steppe landscape.

Stamp:
Moon - Issued: 22-02-2016


Thanks to Arnold for this nice card and stamp!

Malaysia: Malaysian Primates (Year of the Monkey)

Some days ago I received this nice envelope from Malaysia. On the envelope I received the set of Malaysian Primates to celebrate The Years of the Monkey. The collection features illustrations of four primate species which could be found in the Malaysian forest, namely the Silvered Leaf Monkey, Macaque, White-handed Gibbon, and Agile Gibbon.

Stamps:
Malaysian Primates (Year of the Monkey) - Issued: 26-01-2016

With this nice envelope I received several other things. First of all is this nice card from Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is the national capital and most populous global city in Malaysia. The city covers an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 1.6 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, covering similar area as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.5 million people as of 2012. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in South-East Asia, in terms of population and economy. In the left background you can see the famous Petronas Twintowers of Kuala Lumpur.

I also received with this envelope the full mint set of Hong Kong's Year of the Monkey Issue:

And last but not least, also the full mint set of Singapore's Year of the Monkey Issue in a nice presentation pack:

Many Thanks for this great stuff to GK!

Switzerland: 150th Anniversary of the Swiss Red Cross (SRC)

On 17 July 1866, General Henri Dufour, Federal Councillor Jakob Dubs and other prominent figures met in Bern with the goal of founding the Swiss Red Cross (SRC). This new organisation was initially called the 'Aid organisation for Swiss soldiers and their families' and reflected the organisation's purpose at that time of supporting the Armed Forces medical services in times of war through voluntary workers. This was also one of Henry Dunant's basic ideas. The aid organisation's first major effort came with the internment of the Army of the East, commanded by General Bourbaki, in 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War. The SRC's activity during both world wars consolidated the aid organisation's position and enhanced its reputation at both national and international level. After World War II, its focus shifted increasingly to the civilian sector, with numerous new tasks. The Swiss Red Cross is currently Switzerland's largest humanitarian organisation. Further information is available at www.redcross.ch.

Stamps:
2x 150th Anniversary of the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) - Issued: 03-03-2016


Many thanks to Hansjürg for this nice Cover!

France: Nancy

Nancy is the capital of the north-eastern French department of Meurthe-et-Moselle. The metropolitan area of Nancy had a population of 410,509 inhabitants at the 1999 census, 103,602 of whom lived in the city of Nancy proper. On the card you can see the Place Stanislas, a large square built between March 1752 and November 1755 by Stanislaus I of Poland. Since 1983, the architectural ensemble comprising the Place Stanislas, the extension of its axis, the Place de la Carrière, and the Place d'Alliance, has been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Stamps:
left: Stamp Day - Issued: 06-03-1993
right: EUROPA "Holidays" - Issued: 10-05-2004


Thanks to Sylvie for this nice card!

Germany: Happy Easter

Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

Or as in german: Frohe Ostern!

Stamp:

Cartoons by Peter Gaymann (from a set of two) - Issued: 01-03-2014 with special cancellation from the Easter Bunny Bureau in Ostereistedt

Macedonia: Skopje

Today I also received my first card from Macedonia. Officially the Republic of Macedonia is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. The capital and largest city  of the Republic of Macedonia is Skopje. It is also the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic center. As in 2012 the population of Skopje was about 536,000.

Stamps (from the left):
Macedonian Stamps: Definitives - Cities (from a set of 5) - Issued: 04-12-2008
Macedonian Stamps: Definitives - Art Works (from a set of 5) - Issued: 08-06-2005
First Car and Airplane (from a set of two) - Issued: 15-06-2005


UPDATE: 31-03-2016

Ana was so kind to send me another card. I received it some days ago. The card shows some famous locations in Macedonia including traditional costumes and the macedonian flag.

Stamps:
left:  The 20th Anniversary of Independence - Issued: 05-09-2011
right: EU & Macedonia (from a set of two) - Issued: 09-05-2009



Many thanks to Ana for the cards!

USA: University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a public research university and the flagship institution of The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883 as "The University of Texas," its campus is located in Austin, TX—approximately 1 mile (1,600 m) from the Texas State Capitol. The institution has the fifth-largest single-campus enrollment in the USA, with over 50,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 24,000 faculty and staff.

On the card you can see the main Building of the University (known colloquially as "The Tower"). It was completed in 1937 and got a hight of 307-foot (94 m) makes it is one of the most recognizable symbols of the university and the city of Austin.

Stamps:
left: Vintage Flowers (from a set of two) - Issued: 14-02-2015
right: Civil War: 1864 (from a set of two) - Issued: 30-07-2014


Thanks to Pam for this nice card!

Luxembourg: New University of Luxembourg Campus

Some days ago, I received this nice cover from Luxemburg. Luxemburg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital Luxembourg City is together with Brussels and Strasbourg one of the three official capitals of the European Union and seat of the European Court of Justice, highest juridical instance in the EU. Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in Europe, and ranked 179th in size of all the 194 independent countries of the world.

On the cover you can see on the right a new issued stamp. Unfortunately, I don't get it scanned properly, because its reflecting, but it shows the New University of Luxembourg Campus in Belval. The University of Luxembourg was founded in 2003. Since 2015 the new headquarter of the University is in Belval. Belval was formerly the beating heart of Luxembourg’s steel industry and now takes on a new role as a place to live and to innovate. Now,  25,000 people, including 7,000 students and 3,000 scientists, will eventually live, work, and study in this area which is the size of 120 football pitches.

Stamps:
left: Vegetables of Yesteryear (from a set of 3) - Issued: 22-09-2015
right: New University of Luxembourg Campus - Issued: 03-03-2016


Many thanks to Jean-Marc for this nice Cover!