UK: The Lowry

The Lowry is a theatre and gallery complex situated on Pier 8 at Salford Quays, in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is named after the early 20th century painter, L. S. Lowry, known for his paintings of industrial scenes in North West England. The complex was officially opened on 12 October 2000 by Queen Elizabeth II.

Stamp:
Queen Elizabeth II - Issued: 03-01-2013

Malaysia: Cameron Highlands

The Cameron Highlands (Malay: Tanah Tinggi Cameron) is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. The size of Singapore, it occupies an area of 712 square kilometres (275 sq mi). To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak. Situated at the northwestern tip of Pahang, the “Camerons” is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala Lumpur. In 1885 it was discovered by Sir William Cameron.

Stamp:
Minisheet Protected Mammals of Malaysia - Issued: 28-05-1999


Thanks to David for this nice card!

Kuwait: Scenery Cards

Some days ago, I received my first cards from Kuwait. Kuwait is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it shares borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In summer, average daily high temperatures range from 42 to 48 °C (107.6 to 118.4 °F); the highest ever temperature recorded in Kuwait was 53.8 °C (128.8 °F) at Sulaibya on July 31, 2012 which is the highest recorded temperature in Asia and also the third highest in the world.

First Card:

Stamps:
left: Jerusalem - Capital of Arab Culture (from a set of two) - Issued:26-03-2010
right: Anti-landmine Campaign (from a set of three) - Issued: 02-08-1998


Second Card:

 

Stamps:
from the left:
Children's Drawings - International Autism Conference (from a set of eight) - Issued: 11-11-2014
Womens Sport (from a set of six) - Issued: 05-03-2008
Children's Drawings - International Autism Conference (from a set of eight) - Issued: 11-11-2014

Thanks to Huda for these great cards!

Germany: Bad Salzuflen

Bad Salzuflen is a town and thermal spa resort in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. At the end of 2013, it had 52,121 inhabitants. The municipal area is crossed by the river floodplains of the Werre, and Salze. Podzol and Stagnosol brown soils prevail as soil types. The podzolic soils are mainly found in layers from the Tertiary Period, which are crossed by fault block from the Mesozoic. Characteristic of Bad Salzuflen are the saline springs that emerge at these geological folds and which give the region the name of "Germany's healing garden".

Stamp:
Tourism - Germany's Most Beautiful Panoramas "Dresden" (from a set of two) - Issued: 03-04-2014

Thanks to my girlfriend Steffi for this great card :)

USA: University of Santa Clara

Santa Clara University is a private non-profit Jesuit university located in Santa Clara, California. It has 5,435 full-time undergraduate students, and 3,335 graduate students. Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University is the oldest operating institution of higher learning in California, and has remained in its original location for 162 years.

Stamps (from the left):
Music Icons - Elvis Presley (1935-1977) - Issued: 12-08-2015
Summer Harvest (from a set of four) - Issued: 11-07-2015
Penguins - Issued: 01-06-2015

with great cancellation ;)

Thanks to Kyoko for this nice card!

Germany: Wolfsburg

Today I received a nice card from Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg is the fifth largest city in the German state of Lower Saxony. Located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig (Brunswick), it lies about 75 km (47 mi) east of Hanover and 230 km (143 mi) west of Berlin. Wolfsburg is famous as the location of Volkswagen AG's headquarters and the biggest car plant in the world that covers an area as big as Gibraltar. Wolfsburg is one of the few German cities built during the first half of the 20th century. It was founded on 1 July 1938 as a home for workers producing the "KdF-Wagen".

On the card you can see from the upper left: St. Annen Church, Wolfsburg Town Hall, Volkswagen Plants, Wolfsburg Castle.

Stamp:
Comics - Felix the Rabbit (from a set of two) - Issued: 02-03-2015

Thanks to Dustin for this nice card!

The Netherlands: Heeswijk Castle

This card shows the Heeswijk Castle near s-Hertogenbosch in the Dutch province of North Brabant. Originally built in the 11th century, the castle was restored in 2005. Right now the castle is a museum.

Stamp:
Personal Stamp International "Cow"

Germany: Bad Doberan

This card I also received yesterday. The card shows the Doberan Minster. The Doberan Minster is the main Lutheran Church of Bad Doberan in Mecklenburg, Germany. Close to the Baltic Sea and the Hanseatic city of Rostock, it is the most important religious heritage of the European Route of Brick Gothic. It is the remaining part of the Ex-Cistercian Doberan Abbey, dedicated in 1368. It was built between 1294 and 1368.

Stamp:

Easter - Comics "Janosch" (from a set of two) - Issued: 01-03-2013

Thanks to Kerstin for this card!

Canada: Cover

Yesterday I received a nice cover from canada. The Cover was posted from Toronto's First Post Office.  The building was built between 1833 to 1834, with construction commencing before York became the City of Toronto. Therefore, the post office is known both as the "Fourth York Post Office" (as there had been three prior post offices in the settlement) and "Toronto's First Post Office" (as it was the first post office to serve the newly incorporated city). The building served as a post office until 1839. It was altered last in 1876. Located at 260 Adelaide Street East, the building now houses a museum and a full-service post office, run by the Town of York Historical Society.

Stamps (from the left):
Baby Wildlife "Beaver" - Issued: 31-03-2014
Wait for Me Daddy - Issued: 04-10-2014
Canada’s flag, 50th anniversary - Issued: 15-02-2015

Thanks again to Tristan for this nice cover!

Germany: 175 Years of the First Postage Stamp - One Penny Black

With a special issue in September 2015 the German Post is commemorating 175 years of postage stamps by showcasing the world’s first: Great Britain’s 1840 Penny Black. It was issued in Great Britain on 1 May 1840, for official use from 6 May of that year. It features a profile of Queen Victoria.

The card I choosed for this stamp shows the "Post Office Counter", a lithography of Eberhard Stammel from 1854.

Stamp:
The 175th Anniversary of the first postage Stamp - Issued: 01-09-2015 with special first day of issue postmark

Germany: Youth Stamps - Fish

Every year the German Post issues a set of stamps with a special donation "For the Youth". This year's issue features different species of fish. The upper stamp shows Thymallus thymallus, the stamp on the bottom left Barbus barbus and right one Acipenser studio.

Stamps:
Youth Stamps - Fish (whole Set) - Issued: 06-08-2015 with special first day of issue postmark

Canada: Franklin Expedition First Day Cover

In 2014, Parks Canada and its partners located the wreck of HMS Erebus, one of two ships from Sir John Franklin’s 1840’s journey in search of the Northwest Passage (so called Franklin Expedition). In the main image, the probable route of that ill-fated expedition is marked by a red dotted line through the icy Arctic waters. Franklin's voyage ended in tragedy when his ships became trapped in ice and the surviving sailors eventually died.

Stamps:
Franklin Expedition (whole set) - Issued: 06-08-2015 with special first day of issue postmark


Thanks Tristian for sending me this nice FDC!

Russia: Svetlogorsk

I also received a nice card from Russia. Svetlogorsk is a coastal resort town and the administrative center of Svetlogorsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia with a population of about 11,000. Its my first card from Kaliningrad Oblast. It's "special" because Kaliningrad Oblast is an exclave, with no land connection to the rest of Russia.

Stamp:
The 175th Anniversary of the World's First Postage Stamp - One Penny Black - Issued: 23-04-2015

Germany: 125 Years Heligoland to Germany

Yesterday I received a special cover. 125 years ago, Britain gave up the North Sea archipelago Heligoland to Germany. The change of flags took place on August 10, 1890. From August 5-10 2015, the inhabitants of Heligoland will commemorate this with a cultural and historical week. The program includes a ceremony on Saturday, an exhibition, an evening with the traditional costumes from the last 200 years, a regatta of traditional boats and the pier festival on the last day of the festival.

Stamp:
International Windjammerfestival Bremerhaven, Germany - Issued: 06-08-2015 with special postmark

Lithuania: Kaunas

Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris, and near the Kaunas Reservoir, the largest body of water entirely in Lithuania. The Population of the city is about 300,000. On the center picture of the card you can see a famous landmark: The Town Hall of Kaunas.

Stamp:
Coat of Arms of Lithuanian Towns "Ignalina" - Issued: 30-07-2011

Hong Kong: Shopping Street

Hong Kong is also famous for its shopping mall's, street markets and shopping streets. In so-called shopping streets similar business are put together in one street. For nearly everything there is a street: goldfish, birds, clothes, electronics and shoes – if it’s worth shopping, it has a street.

Stamp:
Children Stamps – Chinese and Foreign Folklore (from a set of six) - Issued: 16-07-2015

Spain: Toledo

Toledo is a municipality located in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. It is the capital of the province of Toledo and the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures.

Stamp:
EUROPA Stamps - Musical Instruments (Paco de Lucía) - Issued: 23-04-2014


Thanks to Edit for this nice card!

USA: Washington, D.C.

Today, I received another card from Washington, D.C. It arrived in a beautiful decorated envelope with nice stamps on it. On the card you can see from the top left:
The Jefferson Memorial, The Supreme Court, The White House, The Smithsonian Institute, The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, The US Capitol, The Pentagon, The Marine Corps War Memorial, Washington's National Cathedral, The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Ford's Theatre, The Tomb of the Unknown Solider, The Washington Monument, Mount Vernon and The Lincoln Memorial.

Stamps:
left: Costal Birds (from a set of four) "Fregata magnificent" - Issued: 01-06-2015
mid & right: Art by Martin Ramirez (from a set of five) - Issued: 26-03-2015

Thanks to Kristin for this nice card and envelope!

Russia: Nizhny Novgorod

Today I received a card from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Its a city with a population of 1,250,619, the fifth largest city in Russia and the administrative center of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. From 1932 to 1990, it was known as Gorky after the writer Maxim Gorky who was born there. The city is an important economic, transportation and cultural center of Russia and the vast Volga-Vyatka economic region. It is located about 400 km east of Moscow.

The city is located ant the confluence of two great rivers, the Oka and the Volga. On the card you can see the place where the Oka falls into the Volga. It's called 'Strelka'. In the background you can see Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral.

The stamps are matching to the city!

Stamps:
left: Russian Kremlins - Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin - Issued: 01-10-2009
mid: The 400th Anniversary of the Reunification of the Russian State (Minin & Pozharsky Monument) - Issued: 14-06-2012
right: Coat of Arms - City of Nizhny Novgorod - Issued: 16-06-2015

Thanks Julia for this card and choosing the nice stamps!

France: Laval

Laval is a town in western France, about 300 km (190 mi) southwest of Paris, and the capital of the Mayenne department. The town has a population of about 51,182 inhabitants. Laval is notably the birthplace of Henri Rousseau, a major Naïve painter. The town has a museum dedicated to him and other Naïve artists.

Stamp:
National Monument of the Hartmannswillerkopf - Issued: 19-06-2015

Thanks to Aline for this nice card!

Denmark: Copenhagen

Copenhagen (danish: København) is the capital and most populated city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,263,698 (as of 1 January 2015).  It is situated on the eastern coast of Zealand, 164 km (102 mi) east of Odense and 28 km (17 mi) northwest of Malmö, Sweden. 

The large picture in the middle of the card shows the "Little Mermaid". The statue of the Little Mermaid is an icon of the city and a popular tourist attraction. 

Copenhagen also has over 94,000 students enrolled in its largest universities and institutions. The largest one is the University of Copenhagen (38,867 students). 

Stamp:

Queen Margrethe II (14.00 Kr) - Issued: 02-01-2012


Thanks to my friends Michael and Sabrina for this card!

Australia: FDC & Maxicards

Yesterday, I received a great cover from Australia with very nice Maxicards and First-Day-Cover.

The Early Years
A Detail from a watercolor based on a sketch by convict artist Thomas Watling showing the Sydney end of the Parramatta Road.

Stamp:
The 200th Anniversary of the Colonization of Australia - The Early Years (from a set of five) - Issued: 13-04-1988

Australia Bicentennial Collection - Joint Issued with the UK
Superimposed on the part of the Australian flag featuring the Southern Cross, parliamentary democracy is symbolized by the Palace of Westminster, the new Australian Parliament House, and the Queen, Head of State in Australia and the UK.

Stamp:
The 200th Anniversary of the Colonization of Australia (from a set of four) - Issued: 21-06-1988


Year of the Horse 2014
The Chinese Zodiac is made up of a recurring 12-years cycle with each years represented by an animal sign. The seventh sigh in the Chinese zodiac, the Horse symbolizes perception and power. Those born in the Year of the Horse are intuitive and practical, intelligent and quick-witted, independent and likable. Horses make excellent teachers, journalists, politicians and performers.

With Minisheet: Christmas Islands - Chinese New Year - Year of the Horse - Issued: 07-01-2014

Year of the Goat 2015
2015 is the year of the Goat. The Goat is the eighth animal in the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes independence. Those born in the Years of the Goat are very creative, reserved and quiet, with a great capacity for deep affection. Goats make excellent actors, writers, doctors, teachers, designers and musicians.

With Minisheet: Christmas Islands - Chinese New Year - Year of the Ram/Goat - Issued: 08-01-2015


Many thanks to Isaac for this great cover!!

Finland: Ilmajoki

Ilmajoki is a city located in the province of Western Finland and it is part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region. The population of Ilmajoki is 12,181 (30 June 2015). Some notable person originally from Ilmajoki is javelin thrower and former world champion Tero Pitkämäki.

Stamp:
Comics - Moomin Favorites (from a set of six) - Issued: 06-05-2013
The cancellation advertises the "Duudsonit Activity Park" in Seinäjoki

Germany: "Sail Bremerhaven"

Again a card from Bremerhaven. The city hosted this year's International Windjammer Festival from 12th - 16th August 2015. This year more than 1.2 Million visitors came to the "Sail Bremerhaven". The city is traditionally and historically closely connected with ships and sail. More than 250 great ocean-going sailing vessels were built between 1840 and 1927 at the Rickmers and the Joh. C. Tecklenborg shipyards.

Stamp:
International Windjammerfestival Bremerhaven, Germany - Issued: 06-08-2015 with special first day of issue postmark

USA: La Jolla

La Jolla is an affluent neighborhood in San Diego, California. It is surrounded on three sides by ocean bluffs and beaches and is located 12 miles (19 km) north of Downtown San Diego. La Jolla is home to a variety of businesses in the areas of lodging, dining, shopping, software, finance, real estate, bio-engineering, medical practice and scientific research

Stamps:

from the left:

1x American Design "Silver Coffeepot" (from a set of two) - Issued: 16-03-2007

2x American Toleware Definitve - Issued: 25-06-2004

1x American Design - "American Clock" - Issued: 24-01-2003

1x From me to you - Issued: 01-04-2015

1x Farmer's Markets (from a set of four) - Issued: 07-08-2014