Sunday, December 17, 2023

Austria: Mail from a different World

In a "world premiere" Austrian Post issued this stamp minisheet in 2006 which contains 0.03 grams of star dust. The powder comes from a 19-kilogram meteorite found in Morocco that was crushed through a special process and put on these stamps by hand. 600.000 pieces of this sheet were put into circulation.

 
Stamp:

Post from another World (m/s) - Issued: 24-03-2006

Friday, December 15, 2023

Germany: 100th Anniversary of the "Ernemannturm"

The Ernemann-Werke is a historic complex of production and administration buildings for the optical industry in Dresden-Striesen. The iconic "Ernemannturm" is part of it and celebrated its 100th Anniverary in 2023. Its named after the former owner of this facility Heinrich Ernemann. The covers below were created for this event. The covers are both transported to "Weißer Hirsch" by funicular railway and to "Oberloschwitz" by suspension railway as seen on the special cachets. 

Stamp:

ATM "Brandenburger Tor" 


Stamp:

ATM "Brandenburger Tor"

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Vatican: The 250th Anniversary of the Pontifical Lateran University + EUROPA 2022

The Pontifical Lateran University (Italian: Pontificia Università Lateranense), also known as Lateranum, is a pontifical university based in Rome. The university is known as "The Pope's University". Its Grand Chancellor is the Vicar General to the Holy Father for the Diocese of Rome. As of 2014 the Pontifical Lateran university had students from more than a hundred countries.

Stamps:

The 250th Anniversary of the Pontifical Lateran University - Issued: 21-09-2023
EUROPA 2022 - "Stories & Myths” - Issued: 16-05-2022



Sunday, December 10, 2023

Switzerland: 100 years Disney

 

Stamps:

2x 100 years Disney "Minnie" (from a set of 2) - Issued: 09-11-2023


Many thanks to Hansjürg for sending this cover on first day from Zermatt!

Saturday, December 09, 2023

Monday, December 04, 2023

Estonia: Litwinsky House - Joint Issue w/ Israel

The Litwinsky House is an outstanding architectural monument in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was built by Yaakov Elhanan Litwinsky (1852-1916), a well-known businessman who immigrated from Odessa. The house he built with his family at 22 Achad Ha’am Street was one of the most impressive houses in this new neighborhood. Today it is a famous tourist sight.

 

Stamps:

Litwinsky House - Joint Issue w/ Israel - Issued: 28-08-2018
4x Definitives - Post Horn - "2017" Imprint - Issued: 18-01-2017


Many thanks to Simone!





Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Albania: UEFA EURO-2020 European Football Championships


Stamps:

UEFA EURO-2020 European Football Championships (full set) - Issued: 11-06-2021



Many thanks to Sabri!

Monday, November 27, 2023

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

 

Stamps:

EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity" (full set) - issued: 09-05-2023
Refugee Fund Tax Stamp 2023

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Belgium: Albert Hustin - Conservation of Blood

 

Stamp:

Albert Hustin - Conservation of Blood - Issued: 12-06-2017


Many thanks to Wesley!

Friday, November 24, 2023

Argentina: Argentina in Antarctica

Many thanks to Julio for this fantastic cover from Argentina. To match the exact postage he added a few more stamps on the back of the cover. In total the postage seems to be 6500 Argentine Pesos for this letter which is around 16-17 Euros. So a big thank you Julio for sending me this cover and also for adding some mint stamp with it.

Stamp:

Argentina in Antarctica (m/s) - Issued: 16-08-2022


Stamps:

11x Definitives - National Parks ($500) - Issued: 15-05-2022
1x Definitives - National Parks ($200) - Issued: 22-07-2019


Thursday, November 23, 2023

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

China: Leshan Giant Buddha

The Leshan Giant Buddha (Chinese: 乐山大佛) is a 71-metre (233 ft) tall stone statue, built between 713 and 803 (during the Tang dynasty). It is carved out of a cliff face of Cretaceous red bed sandstones that lies at the confluence of the Min River and Dadu River in the southern part of Sichuan Province in China, near the city of Leshan. It is the largest and tallest stone Buddha statue in the world and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.

 


Stamp:

Leshan Giant Buddha (s/s) - Issued: 28-04-2003


Many thanks to Xu Wei!

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Croatia: World Post Day 2022

 

Stamp:

World Post Day 2022 - Issued: 09-10-2022



I sent this Cover to myself during my visit at the International Stamp Fair in Ulm 2022.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

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

 

Stamp:

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


Many thanks to Jerome!

Thursday, November 16, 2023

South Georgia: Bird Island Research Station

Bird Island Research Station is an important centre for research into bird and seal biology. Lying off the north-west tip of South Georgia, Bird Island is one of the richest wildlife sites in the world. The research station, active since 1957, was completely redeveloped in 2005 and today provides accommodation for 10 staff.

To note the second postmark on the cover showing a nice cachet of "RRS Sir David Attenborough". It is a research vessel owned by the Natural Environment Research Council and operated by the British Antarctic Survey for the purposes of both research and logistic support. The vessel is named after broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough


Stamp:

Queen Elizabeth 90th Birthday s/s - Issued: 21-04-2016


Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Italy: Products of Italy with Protected Designation of Origin

 

Stamps:

Products of Italy with Protected Designation of Origin (from a set of 15) - Issued: 20-11-2021

Monday, November 13, 2023

Germany: International Stamp Fair "Ulm 2023"

The International Stamp Fair (Internationale Briefmarken-Börse) in Ulm, Germany took place from Thursday, 26. October to Saturday, 28. October 2023. I sent this cover below to myself during my visit. On the back you can see some postmarks of postal administrations that participated.


Stamp:

Postal stationery "International Stamp Fair Ulm 2023" - Issued: 05-10-2023
Backside: Definitves Stamps "Flowers - Eranthis hyemalis" - Issued: 08-06-2017


Sunday, November 12, 2023

Thursday, November 09, 2023

Germany: Lufthansa Inaugural Flights Frankfurt a.M. -> Asturias (Oviedo) -> Munich

On April 23, 2023 Lufthansa expanded its operations in Spain with the start of a new non-stop service between Frankfurt am Main (FRA) and Asturias (OVD). The Cover below shows the Flight LH 1552 on Airbus A319 from Frankfurt a. M. to Ovideo on April 23, 2023 with a arrival postmark of April 24, 2023 (Oviedo Post Office). 


Stamps:

Diversity in Germany - Issued: 02-11-2022
2x Hyacinthoides non-scripta (20 ct.) - Issued: 08-06-2017
World of Letters (05 ct.) - Issued: 02-12-2021


This second cover shows another new operating Lufthansa route. This time Flight LH 1793 on Airbus A319 on April 29, 2023 from Ovideo to Munich Airport. With a arrival postmark of "Briefzentrum 85" (= Freising, Munich Airport) on May 2, 2023 (cover was processed this late maybe because of May the 1st, a day off in Germany).

Stamp:

Spain with Ukraine - Issued: 30-05-2022


Saturday, November 04, 2023

UK: 100 Years since the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb

In 1922, a team led by British Egyptologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings excavated Tutankhamun's tomb, in an effort that was funded by British aristocrat George Herbert. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb received worldwide press coverage; with over 5,000 artifacts, it gave rise to renewed public interest in ancient Egypt, for which Tutankhamun's mask, now preserved at the Egyptian Museum, remains a popular symbol.

This cover was sent from Edinburgh, Scotland. Many thnaks to Jerome!

Stamps:

2x Tutankhamun (from a set of 8) - Issued: 24-11-2022

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

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!

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Slovenia: EUROPA 2010 "Children Books"

Stamps:

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


 

Many thanks to Slavica!

Monday, October 23, 2023

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

 


Thursday, October 19, 2023

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!

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

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!


Monday, October 16, 2023

Japan: Greetings - "Autumn"

 

Stamps:

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


Many thanks to Mitsuhiko!

Sunday, October 15, 2023

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


Saturday, October 14, 2023

South Korea: Honey Bees

 

Stamps:

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


Many thanks to Park Pyo Jun!