Liechtenstein: Year of the Dog

Chinese new year started on Friday, February 16, 2018. The Dog (狗) is the eleventh of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. A Dog’s most defining characteristic is their loyalty. They will never abandon their friends, family or work. Famous people born in a year of the dog include:  Issac Newton (1643 – 1727), Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790) or Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965).

Like the years before, Liechtenstein Post issued a very nice stamp dedicated to Chinese New Year. It can be seen on this cover from Liechtenstein sent from the City of Triesen.

Stamp:
Chinese New Year "Year of the Dog" - Issued: 13-11-2017

Hong Kong: Weather Phenomena - "Registered Cover"

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Observatory, Hongkong Post issued a set of special stamps with the theme of "Weather Phenomena", introducing seven common weather phenomena in Hong Kong, namely rainbows, frost, clouds, lightning, fog, rain and typhoons. The stamp issue will help the public understand the changes in our weather. I'm very happy to receive this nice cover with almost the full set. Only the $ 5 "Rain" stamp is missing. The postage is completed with two stamps from the 2014 issued Definitives Series.

Stamps:
Weather Phenomena (5 from a set of 6) - Issued: 27-03-2014
Definitives Landscape of Hong Kong (from a set of 12) - Issued: 24-07-2014


Many thanks to Edward for this great Cover!

Luxembourg: Cycling Stamps

This Cover is all about Cycling. Both stamps used to frank this cover from Luxembourg are related to Cycling.

The right one was issued because in 2017 two stages of the Tour de France led trough Luxembourg.  On 3 July, the riders came across Luxembourg from north to south over 115 km. On 4 July the fourth stage started from Mondorf-les-Bains along the Mosel up to the French city of Vittel in the Vosges region.

The left one commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the foundation of the "Fédération des Sociétés Cyclistes Luxembourgeoises (FSCL)" (Luxembourgish Cycling Federation) in 1917. Today, Luxembourg is widely associated with cycling, not only, but because of the "Schleck Brothers", Andy and Fränk Schleck.

Stamps:
left: 100 years of the Fédération du Sport Cycliste Luxembourgeois (FSCL) - Issued: 04-07-2017
right: The 2017 Tour de France's starting stage in Mondorf-les-Bains - Issued: 04-07-2017

Slovakia: EUROPA - "Castles"

The stamp for the 2017 EUROPA Series of Slovakia depicting the Lietava castle in Northern Slovakia. The castle was built after 1241, most likely as an administrative and military centre. In the 16th century when the Thurzó family gained it, it was reconstructed and fortified, and given its own military garrison. After the death of Imre Thurzó in 1621, it was divided between his heirs. After the ownership disputes in 1641, they lost interest in it. The castle report in 1698 said that the castle was uninhabited and there was only an archive, which was moved to the Orava Castle (Hungarian: Árva) in the 1760s. After that, the castle was abandoned and not used any more. Today the castle is in the hands of the non-profit organisation Združenie na záchranu Lietavského hradu, which takes care of the castle and oversees it's conservation.

As you can see by the postmark on the left, this cover was sent during the International Stamp Fair in Sindelfingen 2017.

Stamp:
EUROPA - Castles - Issued: 05-05-2017

Germany: The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation - Joint Issue with Brazil

October 31, 2017 was the date of the 500th anniversary of the so-called "Reformation". On this date back in 1517, Martin Luther (1483-1546) pinned his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, which brought a series of reforms not only within the Christian religion, but also in all areas of life. Because of this special Occasion the German and the Brazilian Post jointly issued a stamp showing Martin Luther. I'm happy to receive not only the german stamp but also the brazilian one.  

German Version:

- with special First-Day of Issue Postmark

Stamp:

The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation - Issued: 13-04-2017

Brazilian Version:

Stamp:
The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation - Issued: 13-04-2017


Many thanks to Helio for sending me this nice Cover!


On this card you can see an Illustration of Martin Luther pinned his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. The stamp on this card commemorates the the so-called "Luther-Bible".

Stamp:
Luther-Bible - Issued: 02-01-2017