#10 Cover and Postcard - Croatia (2010-10-04)

Josip has sent me a beautiful cover from Croatia. This cover has a religious theme and it's one of my favorite covers in my collection. I really love the stamps and how neat the postmarks were applied.

Nice postcard of his hometown in Slavonija.

#11 Postcard - Myanmar (from Chinajika) (2010-09-27)

Thanks CJ for the nice personalized postcard about his travel experiences :). The postcard was sent in Myanmar.

#9 Cover and Postcard - Brazil (2010-09-23)

A postcrosser sent me a letter with a postcard inside showing the "Maria Fumaca" train from the historical city of Sao Joao del-Rei. Thanks Stephanie!

The cover has 3 types of stamps. The first one was issued last October 2009 and describes the pouch postal service, it shows a pouch being delivered, that scene signals the dynamism of the service the post office, a symbol of the postal activity. The second and third stamps are part of the 3 stamp set of Professions series, issued last December 2005. The Cobblers (sapateiro), tailors (costureira) and shoeshine boys (engraxate) are entrepreneurs with roots in the past.

#8 Cover and Postcard - Netherlands (2010-09-30)

A postcrosser from Netherlands has sent me a nice postcard inside an envelope.
The cover has a 95 euro cent priority sticker stamp issued last 2009.

The postcard shows famous sites in Limburg, the southernmost province of Holland.

With it, special 2009 Christmas stamps!

#7 Cover and Postcard - Indonesia (2010-09-23)

Thanks Agung for the nice postcards (and some stamps too).

The cover has 2 stamps, the first one depicts flowers and was issued last 2001 and part of the Greeting Stamps series, the second one is the 3rd issue of the Save the Energy stamps issued last 2005.

Inside the letter are beautiful postcards from Bali, Indonesia.

Other 2001 Greeting series stamps inside:

#6 Cover and Postcard - Australia (2010-09-17)

A postcrosser has sent me a beautiful postcard inside an envelope. I am lucky because stamps were also included inside! Thanks so much!

On the cover, the first stamp on the front side depicts David Malouf, an acclaimed Australian writer. He was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 2000, his 1993 novel Remembering Babylon won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 1996, he won the inaugural Australia-Asia Literary Award in 2008, and he was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. This stamp was issued last January 21, 2010 as part of the Australian Legend series.
The second stamp at the back was issued last 1981 and it depicts the work of Frederick McCubbin titled "On the Wallaby Track" - 1896.

The postcard is one of my favorites (because I am a commercial aviation, and very interested in A380). This Airbus A380 performed a certification test for wet landing. It was performed in Istres Air Force Base.

Lucky to have these stamps inside! :) An addition to my Australian stamps collection :)

Sources:

1. David Malouf -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Malouf

2. Frederick McCubbin - On the Wallaby Track - http://thematicstampcollection.blogspot.com/2010/02/frank-mccubbin-on-wallaby-track.html

#4 Cover - Singapore (2010-09-29)

I received a cover with beautiful miniature sheet from Singapore. Thanks Edmund!
The miniature sheet is about National Monuments of Singapore August 4, 2010, commemorating its National Day.

#18 Cover and Stamps - Russia (2010-10-06)

My first nice cover and stamps from Russia, thanks a lot Dmitry!

The theme of the cover is about 150 years of Vladivostok. The stamp was issued last July 02, 2010. 

Vladivostok was founded in 1860. His story begins with the signing of the Aigun contract "between the Russian and Tai-Tsing (China), states of" 16 days in 1858. The initiator of the contract was governor-general of Eastern Siberia, Nikolai Muraviev-Amur. As a result, Russia has acquired a maritime territory in the Far East State. The future of the city was preceded by a military outpost on the shore of Golden Horn Bay. NN Ant-Amur called post Vladivostok from the words "master" and "East". In 1860, the Sea of Japan raised the national flag of the Russian Empire. In 1871, the Vladivostok office transferred to the residence of the military governor and the main base of the Siberian military flotilla. In 1880, Vladivostok officially declared a city.

On a postage stamp depicts a panorama of the bay "the Golden Horn", Tokarevskaya lighthouse emblem of the city of Vladivostok.

The postcard about Vladivostok is also included inside. This postcard was actually posted within Russia.

The current emblem of the city of Vladivostok was adopted in November 2001 decision of the local City Council № 42. Served as the prototype of a historical version of the emblem, approved by Alexander III in 1883 and renovated in 1992, but without the depiction Maritime region in the freestyle part. In 2001, the coat of arms pereutverdili, removing all external elements outside of the shield (anchors, tower crown and ribbon). Now the heraldic description of the city of Vladivostok, says: "In a green field of the shield a gold tiger with dark red (red) eyes and tongue, running along the rocky slope silver left, lifting the front right paw."

The stamp at the back was used to complete the postage. It is about the coat of arms of Yarislovl, which was issued last August 27, 2010. It is an an image on a silver heraldic shield insurgent and deployed to the right of black bear, holding the left shoulder of the left front paw of a golden ax, over the heraldic shield - the image of "Monomakh". In this version, coat of arms was approved by the local municipality on Aug. 23, 1995, nevertheless, allowed to simulate the city emblem of Yaroslavl in an abridged form - without an image cap Monomakh, and in some cases and as a basic element of the emblem - a bear with an ax.

A modern coat of arms of Yaroslavl combines the social fabric and cultural heritage of the two eras. Pagan era embodies a bear, the medieval-Christian - Axe, which is the image of the newly-baptized people, the Christian symbol of statehood of Russia.

The stamps inside:

1. Commemorative mini sheet on the birth centenary of Mikhail Mil, released last July 10, 2009.

It shows the different Mi-series helicopter aircraft, including Mil Mi-8 (the world's most-produced helicopter).

1.1. Mi-1

1.2. Mi-4

1.3. Mi-8

1.4. Mi-34

1.5. Mi-28 "Havok"

2. Commemorative mini-sheet on the birth centenary of Alexander Yakovlev. The designer of the Yakovlev military aircraft and founded the Yakovlev Design Bureau. 

2.1. IR-1

2.2. Short-haul passenger jet Yak-42

2.3. The Yak-54 - Double aerobatic aircraft designed for training pilots, athletes, learning aerobatics in aviasportivnyh clubs and participate in competitions in sport airplane.

2.4. Combat training, training aircraft Yak-130 

2.5. Yak-141 - a supersonic carrier-based aircraft vertical takeoff and landing, an outstanding achievement domestic aircraft. This aircraft combines all the expertise in this area, and far ahead of his time.

These are the much older stamps with theme relating to art.

Source:

1. Vladivostok - http://rusmarka.ru/catalog/marka/position/20894.aspx

2. Yarislovl - http://rusmarka.ru/catalog/marka/position/21032.aspx

3. Mikhail Mil - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Mil, http://rusmarka.ru/catalog/marka/position/19511.aspx

4. Alexander Yakovlev - http://rusmarka.ru/catalog/marka/position/13286.aspx

#17 Cover and Stamps - Singapore (2010-09-29)

My friend Wang Lei from Singapore has sent me a beautiful FDC of Heritage Trail - Kent Ridge Park Trail. The stamps were issued last September 22, 2010.

The back of the FDC has 2 stamps to complete the registered mail postage. The stamp on the left is part of the 2009 Flora and Fauna Definitives set issued last May 6, 2009 which depicts the Pigeon Orchid flower. The second stamp is part of the 2007 Flora and Fauna Definitives set issued last June 6, 2007 which  depicts the Crimson Sunbird.

The stamps inside:

The brochure with information regarding Kent Ridge Park Trail:

#10 Postcard - Korea (2010-10-07)

Thank you again Choonjong for the nice postcard and postmarks!

The commemorative postcard has a built-in stamp of Callipogon Relictus, a species of longhorn beetle. This insect was already featured on a stamp issued by the Korean Post in 1966.

There were two additional definitive stamps used in front. The first one was issued last February 3, 2006. It depicts an orchid named Crinum (Crinum asiaticumvar. Japonicum Baker). The second one was issued last September 10, 2001 and illustrates wild grapes (Vitis amurensis Ruprecht).

There are 4 special postmarks issued on September 29, 2010. These are about different sites in Korea.

#16 Cover and Stamps - South Korea - (2010-10-07)

Thanks Choonjong for the nice cover and awesome minisheet from South Korea!

The cover has 2 kinds of stamps, the first one is part of the 4 stamps set about Old Maps of Korea, which was issued last February 28, 2007. The one depicted on the stamp is the Daedong Yeoji Jeon-do (Complete territorial map of the Great East (Korea)). Drawn on a scale of 1:920,000, Daedong Yeoji Jeon-do is a full map of Korea that condensed Kim Jung-Ho's Daedong Yeoji-do (Territorial map of the Great East (Korea), created in 1861) so that it can be seen at a glance. The mountain ranges were expressed as the continuing teeth of a saw, with the saw's thickness showing the size of a mountain range. Considering the contents of the map and the manner in which they are expressed, Daedongyeojijeondo is presumed to have also been created by Kim Jung-Ho. This map marks in detail both the locations of gun's and hyeon's, the two administrative districts during the Joseon Dynasty, as well as the road system.

The second stamp is about a species of birds (Euphona Migratoria) found in Korea issued last March 15, 2002. The Yellow-billed Grosbeak or Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria) is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family. It can be found in the following countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. It is found in these habitats: temperate forests.

Inside it is an awesome minisheet about the Age of Dinosaurs. This was issued last August 5, 2010 and it is the first release for the series. The minisheet describes dinosaurs in the epochal period (the Triassic period, the Jurassic period and the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era). The dinosaurs are Herrerasaurus, Coelophysis, Plateosaurus, Riojasaurus.

The brochure showing information about the stamp:

Source :
1. Old Maps of Korea - http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/html/woopyo/2007_04.jsp?contId=e1040104
2. Eophoana migratoria - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eophona_migratoria
3. Age of Dinosaurs - http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/html/woopyo/2010_14.jsp?contId=e1040101

#15 Cover and Stamps - Argentina (2010-10-22)

Thanks Agustin for the very nice cover and stamps from Argentina!

The cover has three kinds of stamps.

The first one on the left was issued last November 14, 2009 and the illustration is about National Children Drawing Contest on the theme “I Can Slow TB Down.”

The second set of stamps was issued last August 28. 2010 about Argentina’s Traditional Games -  Bowls and "Truco" – a very popular card game in the Americas. This issue has the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP) logo in it.

The third stamp that was issued this year talks about the 200 years (bicentenary) celebration of May Revolution - 200 years of National Library. The May Revolution (Spanish: Revolución de Mayo) was a week-long series of revolutionary events that took place from May 18 to May 25, 1810, in Buenos Aires, capital of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, a colony of the Spanish Empire which included the present-day nations of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Set of stamps are also included inside:

Sources:

1. May Revolution - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Revolution

2. Argentina Post Office - http://www.correoargentino.com.ar/filatelia/2010.php

#5 Cover and Postcard - South Korea (2010-09-27)

Thanks again Choonjong for the nice cover and postcard.

The cover has 2 different stamps on it. The first definitive stamp issued last May 03, 2007 depicts Luffa Cylindrica vine. The luffa, loofah, or lufah (from Arabic لوف) are tropical and subtropical vines comprising the genus Luffa, the only genus of the subtribe Luffinae. The fruit of at least two species, Luffa acutangula and Luffa aegyptiaca (Luffa cylindrica), is grown, harvested before maturity, and eaten as a vegetable, popular in Asia and Africa.

The second definitive stamp was issued last March 15, 2002. It depicts the Yellow-billed Grosbeak or Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria). It is part of species of finch in the Fringillidae family. It can be found in the following countries: China, Hong Kong, Japan, North and South Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. It is found in these habitats: temperate forests.

The special cancellation was issued last September 6, 2010 which commemorates the 2010 Korean Medicine Expo.

A postcard about the Korean Medicine Expo was also sent together with the cover with the same special cancellation. The additional definitive stamp used in front was issued last February 3, 2006. It depicts an orchid named Crinum (Crinum asiaticumvar. Japonicum Baker).

At the back, another definitive stamp was used to complete postage. This stamp was issued last September 10, 2001 and depicts wild grapes (Vitis amurensis Ruprecht).



Sources:
1. Information on Flowers -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

#9 Postcard - Singapore (2010-09-27)

A close friend of mine sent me a postcard when she visited Singapore. Thanks Pochnix!
This is a postcard showing Theatres at the Bay from Singapore River.

The stamp was issued on June 06, 2007 as part of the Definitives - Flora and Fauna series.  The stamp depicts a Stork-billed Kingfisher.

The Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis (formerly Halcyon capensis), is a tree kingfisher which is widely but sparsely distributed in tropical south Asia from India and Sri Lanka to Indonesia. This kingfisher is essentially resident throughout its range.

Source:
1. Definitives - Flora and Fauna : http://www.singpost.com.sg/
2. Stork-billed Kingfisher : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stork-billed_Kingfisher

#14 Cover and Stamps - India - (2010-09-20)

Thanks Dr. Biju for the nice stamps from India!

The cover has 2 kinds of stamps, the first one is Christmas Stamps set, issued last November 2008. The second set of stamps depicts the different animals for International Year of biodiversity, issued last June 5, 2010.

The stamps inside:

1. 2009 India - Philippines Joint Issue souvenir sheet
The Ganges River Dolphin is from India, and the Butanding (Whale Shark), is from the Philippines.

WHALE SHARK (Rhincodon typus).  A slow moving filter feeding shark, the largest living fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 12.65 meters (41.50 ft) and a weight of more than 21.5 tons (47,000 lb), but unconfirmed claims report considerably larger whale sharks. This distinctively-marked fish is the only member of its genus Rhincodon and its family, Rhincodontidae (called Rhinodontes before 1984), which belongs to the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes. The shark is found in tropical and warm oceans, lives in the open sea with a lifespan of about 70 years. The species originated about 60 million years ago. Although whale sharks have very large mouths, they feed mainly, though not exclusively, on plankton, microscopic plants and animals, although the BBC programme Planet Earth filmed a whale shark feeding on a school of small fish.

GANGETIC DOLPHIN (Platanista gangetica).  Also known as The Ganges River Dolphin.  A freshwater dolphin that is found primarily in the River Ganges. Known to fishermen for centuries and the subject of myth and legend, the Ganges River Dolphin is an endangered species.  It is estimated that there are around 2000 Ganges River Dolphins in the rivers of the Indian Subcontinent.  It grows to a length of 5 to 8 feet and can weigh up to 90 Kg. It has a long snout, big flippers and a stocky but streamlined body. It was believed to be blind, and reliant purely on echolocation, however, its eyes have been found to provide some vision. It is a good swimmer and maneuvers its way through the murky water with its tail and flippers.

2. 2009 Pigeon and Sparrow souvenir sheet

3. 2006 Endangered Birds of India souvenir sheet
- Greater Adjutant Stork
The Greater Adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) is a large wading bird found in Asia that is closely related to the African Marabou Stork and belongs to the stork family Ciconiidae. It formerly bred in southern Asia, mainly in India with a range extending east to Borneo, but is now restricted to two small breeding populations; in India, mainly Assam and Cambodia. Populations disperse widely after the breeding season. This large stork has a massive wedge-shaped bill, a bare head and distinctive neck pouch. During the day, they soar in thermals along with vultures, sharing with them the habit of scavenging. Although feeding mainly on carrion and offal, they sometimes prey on vertebrates. They are named for their stiff "military" gait when walking on the ground. Large numbers once lived in Asia but have declined greatly, possibly due to improved sanitation, to the point of being endangered. The total population in 2008 was estimated at around a thousand. In the 19th Century, they were especially common in the city of Calcutta, where they were referred to as the "Calcutta Adjutant". Valued as scavengers, they were once used in the logo of the city's municipal corporation. Known locally as Hargila ("bone-swallower") and considered as unclean birds, they were largely left undisturbed but were sometimes hunted for use in folk medicine.
- Nigiri Laughing Thrush
The Rufous-breasted, Black-chinned or Nilgiri Laughingthrush, Trochalopteron cachinnans, is a species of Laughingthrush endemic to Peninsular India.
- Manipur Bush Quail
The Manipur Bush Quail (Perdicula manipurensis) is a species of quail found in India, inhabiting damp grassland, particularly stands of tall grass, in West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya.  BBC News quoted the conservation director of the Wildlife Trust of India, Rahul Kaul, as saying, "This creature has almost literally returned from the dead."
- Lesser Florican
The Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus), also known as the Likh, is a large bird in the bustard family and the only member of the genus Sypheotides. It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent where it is found in tall grasslands and is best known for the leaping breeding displays made by the males during the Monsoon season. The male has a contrasting black and white breeding plumage and distinctive elongated head feathers that extend behind the neck. These bustards are found mainly in northwestern and central India during the summer but are found more widely distributed across India in winter. The species is highly endangered and has been extirpated in some parts of its range such as Pakistan. It is threatened both by hunting and habitat degradation. The only similar species is the Bengal Florican (Houbarobsis bengalensis) which is larger and lacks the white throat, collar and elongated plumes.

4. 2010 International Year of Biodiversity souvenir sheet
I love this souvenir sheet and even if I already have 2 sheets, it's fine with me.

Sources:
1. Butanding or Whale Shark : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark
2. Ganges River Dolphin : http://www.wildlifeindiatravel.com/wild-species-in-india/the-ganges-river-dolphin.html
3. Greater Adjutant Stork : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Adjutant
4. Rufous-breasted Laughingthrush : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilgiri_Laughing_Thrush
5. Manipur Bush Quail : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipur_Bush_Quail
6. Lesser Florian : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_Florican

#13 Cover and Stamps - India - (2010-09-22)

Thanks Pearl for the beautiful stamps from India!

The cover is shown below:

The first stamp (upper right, police force) commemorates the Tamil Nadu Police, issued last November 2009. it is the law enforcing agency / department of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is over 150 years old and is the fifth largest state police force in India.

The second set of stamps depict Christmas celebrations on India and were issued last December 2008.

The third stamp (airplane) depicts the planes of the 16 Squadron Air Force, issued last December 27, 2005.

The forth stamp (two soldiers standing at attention) depicts one of the oldest regiment of Indian army, The 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal). The stamp was issued last July 21, 2008. The Punjab Regiment was formed out of irregular forces maintained by the ruler of Nabha. These irregular forces fought with distinction against Mughal armies to help the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh at Muktsar and Sirhind in October 1708.

The fifth stamp (saluting soldier) depicts the Madras Regiment, 250 years of selfless sacrifice and courage, it was issued last May 28, 2009. The Madras Regiment is the oldest regiment in the Indian army formed in the 1750s. The regiment has been through many campaigns with both the British Indian Army and the Indian Army.

The sixth stamp (Indian Post cargo plane) issued last October 12, 2009 depicts the India Post Freighter.

The seventh stamp illustrates Rajiv Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India (7th Prime Minister).

The two remaining stamps depict birds of India.

The stamps inside are shown below:

1. Beijing 2008 minisheet

2. 2008 Indian Coast Guard

3. 2009 Spices of India (Clove, Cardamom, Coriander Chily, Cinnamon, Black Pepper)

4. 2008 Jasmine (Actually, it is scented, the stamps smell good!)

5. Rampur Raza Library

It is a repository of Indo-Islamic cultural heritage and a treasure-house of knowledge established in last decades 18th century, and built up by successive Nawabs of Rampur and now managed by Government of India.

It contains very rare and valuable collection of manuscripts, historical documents, specimens of Islamic calligraphy, miniature paintings, astronomical instruments and rare illustrated works in Arabic and Persian. Rampur's Raza Library also contains printed works in Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, Pashto (having the original manuscript of the first translation of the Qur'an in addition to other important books/documents), Tamil and Turkish, and approximately 30,000 printed books (including periodicals) in various other languages.

6. 2008 India - China Joint Issue

7. 2008 Third Commonwealth Youth Games

8. Brahmos Cruise  Missile of India

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. It is a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroeyenia who have together formed BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited.

9.  2010 International Year of Biodiversity

10. Stamps:

10.1. 2009 Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers

10.2. 2009 Indian Post Freighter

10.3. 2008 Aldabra Giant Tortoise

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Geochelone gigantea), from the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoises in the world.