Germany: Hans-Dietrich Genscher (1927 - 2016)

Hans-Dietrich Genscher (21 March 1927 – 31 March 2016) was a German statesman and a member of the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), who served as Minister of the Interior from 1969 to 1974, and as Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1974 to 1992 (except for a two-week break in 1982), making him the longest-serving occupant of either post. In 1991 he was chairman of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). He is widely regarded as a principal "architect of German Reunification." In 1991, he played a pivotal role in the breakup of Yugoslavia by successfully pushing for international recognition of Croatia, Slovenia and other republics declaring independence, in an effort to halt "a trend towards a Greater Serbia.

Genscher died at his home outside Bonn in Wachtberg on 31 March 2016 from heart failure, one week and three days after his 89th birthday.

Stamps (left to right):
Numeral Stamp - Issued: 05-12-2013
Numeral Stamp - Issued: 03-12-2015
Mourning Stamp - Issued: 05-12-2013 with special postmark commemorating his day of death

Lithuania: Klaipėda

Klaipėda, historically also known as Memel, is a city in Lithuania on the Baltic Sea coast. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County. The city has a complex recorded history, partially due to the combined regional importance of the usually ice-free Port of Klaipėda at the mouth of the Akmena-Danė River. The population shrank from 207,100 in 1992 to 157,350 in 2014. Besides others, the city is twinned with Mannheim, Germany.

Stamp:
Traditional Crafts in Lithuania - Issued: 07-11-2015


Many thanks to Raimonda for this card!

Ukraine: The 400th Anniversary of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) (Ukrainian: Національний університет) is a national, coeducational research university located in Kiev, Ukraine. The Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the school's predecessor, was established in 1615. The NaUKMA is located on the Academy's grounds in the ancient Podil neighborhood. In 1991, it was re-organized, and teaching began the following year. NaUKMA has the highest level of accreditation as outlined by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and is one of the thirteen educational institutions in Ukraine having a status of a research and autonomous university. With around 3000 students, NaUKMA is one of the smallest universities in Ukraine. Alumni of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy played a formative role in the intellectual and church life of Ukraine and Russia in 17th and 18th centuries.Among the most notable alumni were hetman Ivan Mazepa and philosopher Hryhori Skovoroda.

Stamp:

The 400th Anniversary of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy - Issued: 18-09-2015 with special first day of Issued postmark

Many thanks to Brane who send this nice Maxicard from Serbia.

France: UEFA EURO 2016 Stamp

Today I received a nice cover with a stamp I was looking for. The 2016 UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 or simply Euro 2016, will be the 15th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Europe organized by UEFA. It is scheduled to be held in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016. For the first time, the European Championship final tournament will be contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format used since 1996. Spain are two-time defending champions.

Stamp:
UEFA European Football Championship 2016 (France) - Issued: 25-03-2016 with special cancellation from Le Carré d'encre


Thanks to Roland for this nice cover!

Switzerland: Rhine Falls

The Rhine Falls (german: Rheinfall) is the largest plain waterfall in Europe. The falls are located on the High Rhine between the municipalities of Neuhausen am Rheinfall and Laufen-Uhwiesen, near the town of Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland, between the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zürich. They are 150 m (450 ft) wide and 23 m (75 ft) high. In the winter months, the average water flow is 250 m³/s, while in the summer, the average water flow is 700 m³/s. The highest flow ever measured was 1,250 m³/s in 1965; and the lowest, 95 m³/s in 1921.

Stamps:

Rhine Falls (whole set) - Issued: 05-03-2015 with matching postmark

Many thanks to Hansjürg for sending me these nice stamps!

Thailand: Greetings from...

Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country at the centre of the Indochinese peninsula in Mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The capital city is Bangkok.

Stamp:
The 48th Anniversary of ASEAN - Joint Community Issue - Issued: 08-08-2015


Many thanks to Akira for the great card and the special postmarks!

Portugal: Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with a population of 552,700. It is continental Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. Lisbon lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the River Tagus. The westernmost areas of its metro area is the westernmost point of Continental Europe. Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and the oldest in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by centuries.

,

Stamp:

Extreme Sports (from a set of three) - Issued: 12-02-2015

Thanks to Vanessa for this nice card!

Germany: The 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Nelly Sachs

Born as Leonie Sachs (10 December 1891 – 12 May 1970) Nelly Sachs was a Jewish German poet and playwright whose experiences resulting from the rise of the Nazis in World War II Europe transformed her into a poignant spokeswoman for the grief and yearnings of her fellow Jews. With Shmuel Yosef Agnon, she was awarded the 1966 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Stamps:
2x The 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Nelly Sachs - Issued: 07-04-2016 with special first day of Issue postmark

USA: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX) is the largest and busiest airport in the Greater Los Angeles Area and the state of California, and it is one of the most important international airports in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually. In 2015, LAX handled 74,936,256 passengers, an increase of 6 percent from the previous year, making it the seventh busiest airport by passenger traffic in the world. As the largest international airport on the U.S. West Coast, LAX is a major gateway to and from Europe, Latin America, Asia and Oceania. With its deep connections to Asia and Latin America in particular, LAX is considered to be the premier "Gateway to the Pacific Rim."

Stamps (from the left):
American Design - American Clock - Issued: 24-01-2003
American Toleware Definitve - Issued: 25-06-2004
Patriotic Waves - Issued: 12-01-2015


Many thanks to Shanna for this card!

Poland: National Stadium, Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It stands on the Vistula River in east-central Poland, about 260 kilometres (160 mi) from the Baltic Sea and 300 kilometres (190 mi) from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population is estimated at 1.740 million within a greater metropolitan area of 2.666 million residents, which makes Warsaw the 9th most-populous capital city in the European Union. Besides others, Warsaw is twinned with Berlin and St. Petersburg.

On the card you can see the National Stadium located in Warsaw. It is used mostly for football matches and it is the home stadium of Poland national football team. The stadium has a seating capacity of 58,145 which makes it the largest association football arena in Poland. Its construction started in 2008 and finished in November 2011.

Stamps (left to right):
2x Poland - Winner of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championships (from a set of 16) - Issued: 18-10-2014
Contemporary Aircraft in Poland (from a set of two) - Issued: 31-03-2008


Thanks to Aleksandra for this card!

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!