France: Personalities - "Charles Aznavour (1924-2018)"

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Charles Aznavour’s birth, the French postal service, La Poste, issued a special stamp. This tribute celebrates the legendary singer-songwriter, who is cherished worldwide for his contributions to French and international music. The stamp was unveiled on February 27, 2024, and officially launched during the Paris Philex 2024 in May. To note on this cover a signature of Vietnamese-French artist Hom Nguyen, the designer of this stamp.

 Stamp:

"Personalities" - Charles Aznavour (1924-2018) - Issued: 03-06-2024

Many thanks for this nice Cover Eric!

Vietnam: The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

 

Stamps:

4x The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Issued: 09-10-2024

Many thanks for this nice FDC Andrei!

Norway: EUROPA 2024 - "Underwater Flora and Fauna"

 

Stamp:

EUROPA 2024 - "Underwater Flora and Fauna" - Issued: 31-05-2024

Many thanks to Rune!

Austria: The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

To note the yellow 'Priority' stamp on the left of this cover, indicating that it was sent via Priority Mail. This service is more expensive but faster than regular delivery, costing €1.40 for a 20g international letter compared to €1.20 for the Economic option.

Stamp:

The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Issued: 23-10-2024

Indonesia: The 2024 Asian International Stamp Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia

The 2024 Asian International Stamp Exhibition took place from 3rd to 7th July 2024 in the capital of Indonesia Jakarta. The Cover below was mailed from there on the first day. Besides a special cancellation "Heritage Day" you can also see a postmark of the Logo of the Exhibition. 

 Stamps:

2x The 34th Asia International Stamp Exhibition and Competition BANDUNG 2017 (from a sheet of 4) - Issued: 02-11-2015

Many thanks to Xu Wei!

Latvia: The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

In 2024, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) celebrates its 150th anniversary. On 9 October 1874, 22 countries gathered to sign the Treaty of Bern, creating the General Postal Union, which would later become known as the Universal Postal Union. A century and a half later, the UPU now unites the postal networks of 192 member countries, having realized its founders’ vision of establishing a single postal territory to serve people everywhere. 

Stamp:

The 150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Issued: 09-10-2024

Many thanks to Vera!

Greenland: Ilulissat - "on board of the MS Roald Amundsen"

In late August of this year a friend of mine went on a spectacular trip on the "Hurtigruten" Ship MS Roald Amundsen. The Cruise went trought the legandary Northwest Passage starting from Nome, Alaska to Halifax, Nova Scotia. During this cruise they called at various ports. This Cover for example was mailed during the visit in Ilulissat, Greenland. To note the small grey ship cancellation of the MS Roald Amudsen.

Stamps:

EUROPA 2023 - "Peace - the highest value of humanity" - Issued: 30-05-2023

The Environment in Greenland (from a  set of 2) - Issued: 27-10-2017

 

 

 

Picture of the Ship:

 

 

By Wolfgang Fricke - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=109275816

Canada: Watson Lake - Yukon Territory (YT)

Watson Lake is a town in Yukon, Canada, located at mile 635 on the Alaska Highway close to the British Columbia border. It had a population of 1,133 in 2021. The town is named for Frank Watson, an American-born trapper and prospector, who settled in the area at the end of the 19th century. The town is famous for its Sign Post Forest (as can be seen by the cancellation). It was started by a homesick GI in 1942. He was assigned light duty while recovering from an injury and erected the signpost for his hometown: Danville, Ill. 2835 miles. Visitors may add their own signs to the more than 100,000 already present. 

Stamps:

Parliament Building - From Booklet - Issued: 30-03-1987

Maple Leaf - Issued: 28-12-1998

Tourism - From Far and Wide (from a set of 11) - Issued: 14-01-2019 

University of Manitoba - Issued: 28-02-2002

Canadian Paintings (from a set of 2) - Issued: 22-05-1981

Many thanks again to Linda!

 

 

 

Watson Lake Sign Post Forest - (c) By Jadecolour at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9651101

 

Germany: 1300 years of the Monastic Island of Reichenau

In 2024, the Reichenau Monastery Island on Lake Constance marks 1300 years since its founding back in 724 by the monk Pirmin. This UNESCO World Heritage site has a rich legacy as a medieval center of learning, spirituality, and art. The Benedictine monks of Reichenau were renowned for their exquisite illuminated manuscripts and contributions to theology, science, and medicine. Today, visitors can explore three well-preserved Romanesque churches on the island, each showcasing remarkable frescoes and architectural details that illustrate Reichenau’s unique role in European monastic and cultural history. On this occasion the commemorative cover below was issued on the 1st of March 2024 by Deutsche Post. I'm happy to receive it mailed from the Reichenau Island Post Office.

Stamps:

World heritage of UNESCO - Monastic Island of Reichenau - Issued: 02-01-2008

ATM Stamp Value: 0,40 €

USA: The Alex Trebek Stamp

Alex Trebek was a beloved Canadian-American television personality best known as the host of the quiz show "Jeopardy!" for 36 years, from 1984 until his death in 2020. The stamp artwork evokes the style of the game in which a provided answer prompts contestants to respond with the corresponding question. 

Stamps:

2x The Alex Trebek Stamp  - Issued: 22-07-2024

Many thanks to Michael!

Japan: German frigate "Baden-Württemberg" (F 222) - Mission: "Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024" (May - December 2024)

For around six months, from May to December 2024, german frigate "Baden-Württemberg" and replenishment ship "Frankfurt am Main" will be traveling westwards around the globe. The voyage is formally a so-called foreign training cruise. Above all, this means that the naval vessels and crews will use the time for their own training – especially in cooperation with various partner navies in the Indo-Pacific region. The cover below was mailed during the port call to Tokyo from 20 to 25 August 2024 with the cachet of the Crew "Echo".

 

Stamp:

Definitive Stamp "Kerria japonica" - Issued: 02-02-2015

Picture of the Ship during the port call to Tokyo:

Picture: (c)Bundeswehr/Julia Kelm

 

Pakistan: Arshad Nadeem - Javelin Gold Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Arshad Nadeem, the Pakistani javelin thrower, made history at the 2024 Olympics by winning a gold medal, marking a historic milestone for both his career and his nation. In Paris, Nadeem delivered a stunning performance, launching his javelin over 90 meters to secure his gold. Its Pakistan first-ever Olympic gold medal in track and field.

 

Stamps:

3x Arshad Nadeem - Javelin Gold Medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics - Issued: 14-08-2024

Many thanks to Mohammad!

Latvia: Intangible Cultural Heritage - "Gauja rafters"

For a long time, the River Gauja was an important waterway for rafting timber to Rīga. The ancient rafting trade has been included in the Latvian intangible cultural heritage list and in the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list.

 

Stamp:

Intangible Cultural Heritage - "Gauja rafters" - Issued: 12-04-2024

Many thanks to Vera!

Belgium: Cycling - "Belgian Tour de France Winners"

 

Stamps:

Cycling - "Belgian Tour de France Winners" (from a set of 10) - Issued: 12-06-2017

Many thanks to Wesley!

Tunisia: Musical Instruments - "Gnaoua Instrument" - Joint Issue w/ Morocco

Stamp:

Musical Instruments - "Gnaoua Instrument" - Joint Issue w/ Morocco - Issued: 02-12-2021

Many thanks to Abida!

 

Liechtenstein: 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí (Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, Marquess of Dalí of Púbol), born 11 May 1904 died 23 January 1989, was a Spanish painter who became famous for the unusual images he used in his paintings. He was born in Figueres, Catalonia, Spain. His eccentric personality and surrealist masterpieces, like 'The Persistence of Memory', made him a household name in modern art. To celebrate his 120th birthday, the Principality of Liechtenstein issued a special commemorative Souvenir Sheet in June 2024 that can be seen on the Cover below, mailed from the city of Mauren in the north of Liechtenstein.

 Stamp:

 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Salvador Dalí (s/s) - Issued: 03-06-2024

Japan: Mount Fuji Summit Post Office

Mount Fuji (富士山) is Japan's highest mountain (3776,24 m) and the focal point of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Visible from Tokyo on a clear day, the mountain is to the west of Tokyo on the main island Honshu, straddling the border between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures. The Mount Fuji Summit Post Office opened its doors only for a limited period during summer to match the Mt. Fuji climbing season. 

Many thanks to Linda for making it possible to get this nice cover from there!

Stamps:

Philatelic Week - Details of Harunobu Suzuki's Illustrations of Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki (from a set of 2) - Issued: 20-04-1981

Mount Fuji (Personalized Stamp ?) - Issued: 00-00-0000

Singapore: Games of the XXXIII. Olympiad - Paris, France

 

Stamps:

Games of the XXXIII. Olympiad - Paris, France (from a set of 10) - Issued: 26-07-2024

Many thanks to Henrik!

Cyprus: German frigate "Brandenburg" (F 215) - Operation "UNIFIL" (March 24 - July 24)

Under the command of frigate captain Andreas Scheiba, the crew of the german frigate "Brandenburg" departed from Wilhelmshaven, Germany in March 2024 to support maritime surveillance off the Lebanese coast and train the Lebanese navy as part of the UNIFIL mission (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon). Numerous maneuvers took place with international partners. The covers below show port calls of the frigate in Limassol, Cyprus, in Spain (too bad no postmark on the cover) and from the arrival back in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

  

Stamps:

Euromed 2023 - "Mediterranean Festival" - Issued: 10-07-2023

Refugee Fund Tax Stamp 2023

 

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

Stamps:

Sights in Germany - "Der Brocken" - Issued: 01-03-2024

Definitives - "Flowers" - Issued: 18-12-2018

Picture of the Ship:

 

Source: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/einsaetze-bundeswehr/unifil-fregatte-mtf-5780552

 

China: Suzhou Industrial Park

The Suzhou Industrial Park is a development region in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. The industrial park was established in February 1994, as part of the reform and opening up campaign in the 1990s, and is unique in its joint governance by Chinese and Singaporean officials. The Suzhou Industrial Park spans an area of 278 square kilometres (107 sq mi), and has a population of 807,800 permanent residents, per a 2019 publication released by the industrial park.

Many thanks Xu Wei for another great cover, which came directly from Suzhou!

Stamps:

Sincerity - Issued: 20-08-2014  

4x Suzhou Industrial Park - Issued: 10-06-2024

Paraguay: America UPAEP 2012 - "Myths and Legends"

On this cover from Paraguay (my very first) you can see a stamp which is part of the 2012 UPAEP issue from Paraguay. The topic was Myths and Legends and the nice sheet from Paraguay shows different stamps of "Los Hijos de Tau y Kerana". The stamp on this cover shows "Teju Jagua", the first son of Tau and Kerana and one of the seven legendary monsters of Guaraní mythology. The Tupi-Guarani mythology is the set of narratives about the gods and spirits of the different Tupi-Guarani peoples, who are living in the south-central part of South America, especially in Paraguay and parts of the surrounding areas of Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia.

Stamp:

America UPAEP 2012 - "Myths and Legends"  (from a set of 7) - Issued: 07-06-2012

Many thanks to Gabriel!

Norway: Bjørnøya Meteo (Bear Island Weather Station), Svalbard

Bear Island (Norwegian: Bjørnøya) is the southernmost island of the Norwegian Svalbard archipelago. The island is located at the limits of the Norwegian and Barents seas, approximately halfway between Spitsbergen and the North Cape. Despite its remote location and barren nature, the island has seen commercial activities in past centuries, such as coal mining, fishing and whaling. However, no settlements have lasted more than a few years, and Bear Island is now uninhabited except for personnel working at the island's meteorological station. I'm very happy to show a cover I recently received from this particular weather station. To note: The cover also shows a Signature of the station leader Nils-Rune Hansson.

Stamps:

Norway Memories (from a set of 6) - Issued: 21-04-2023 

"Posthorn" - Issued: 15-11-2010

 

 

 

South Korea: "King Sejong Station, Antarctic" - International Polar Year 2007/2008

The King Sejong Station (Korean: 세종과학기지) is a research station for the Korea Antarctic Research Program that is named after King Sejong the Great of Joseon (1397–1450). Not actually a cover from the Antarctic Research Station itself but a nice souvenir sheet issued in 2008 for the International Polar Year. 

Stamp:

"King Sejong Station, Antarctic" - International Polar Year 2007/2008 (s/s) - Issued: 15-02-2008

 

Many thanks to Choonjong Park!

Portugal: Ethnobotany

Ethnobotany is the study of the cultural interactions between plants and humans, a relationship which began at the dawn of our history and took on progressively more sophisticated forms as human societies evolved into civilisations. It was agriculture that made this evolution possible, providing the steady supply of food that was indispensable for stability and social cohesion.

Stamps:

Ethnobotany (from a set of 6) - Issued: 28-08-2023

 

Many thanks to Eric!

Bulgaria: EUROPA 2024 - "Underwater Flora and Fauna"

 

Stamps:

EUROPA 2024 - "Underwater Flora and Fauna" (from a set of 2) - Issued: 17-05-2024

Stamp:

EUROPA 2024 - "Underwater Flora and Fauna" (from a set of 2) - Issued: 17-05-2024

 

Thanks a lot to Emil!

Serbia: 170 Years of Vocational Education in Serbia

By the Decree of Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević in March 1854, the first vocational school in Serbia was founded – the First Vocational School, for the planned and systematic preparation of personnel necessary for the new military factory (Topolivnica). It was the first institution of its kind in Serbia. On the stamp you can see the portrait of Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević.

Stamps:

2x 170 Years of Vocational Education in Serbia - Issued: 12-06-2024

 

Many thanks to Jelena!
 

France: Pokémon

In June 2024, La Poste issued a book of twelve postage stamps based on the iconic Pokémon. The Pokémon phenomenon appeared in Japan on February 27, 1996 with the first video games released on Game Boy, then expanded into playing and collecting card games, TV series, mobile applications, and derivative products. Pokémon is today one of the most popular entertainments among young and old all over the world. To note, Eric was so kind to send me the first cover from the Philex Paris 2024 Stamp Exhibition. On the left you can see the signature of the stamp Designer. The postmark says May 30th 2024, but the official start of selling seems to be June 17 2024.

 

Stamps:

Pokémon (from a set of 12) - Issued: 17-06-2024

Stamps:

Pokémon (from a set of 12) - Issued: 17-06-2024

Euro - Issued: 01-01-1999

Greetings Stamp - Issued: 10-06-2001 

Thanks a lot Steve!

Philippines: National Children's Month 2023

National Children’s Month is celebrated in November in the Philippines every year. This month-long celebration aims to give Filipino children access to a healthy environment, good education, and healthcare. Each year there is also a special stamp issue. On the cover below you can see four stamps from the 8-stamp-issue from 2023. To note: This cover was mailed from Romblon, an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region.

Stamps:

National Children's Month 2023 (from a set of 8) - Issued: 15-11-2023

Papua New Guinea: Provincial Flags + Local Hairdresses

A new country in my collection. Many thanks to Eric! Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia (a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia). It shares its only land border with Indonesia. For this Cover Eric used stamps from two issues of 2004. The cover was mailed from the city of Ukarumpa, located in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. The current population is approximately 600.

Stamps:

Provincial Flags (from a set of 6) - Issued: 20-10-2004

Local Hairdresses (from a set of 6) - Issued: 02-06-2004

 

 

 

Malaysia: Traditional Dances of Malaysia 2024

Stamps:

Traditional Dances of Malaysia (stamps and m/s) - Issued: 26-03-2024

Many thanks to Henry!