#6 Cover - Korea - (2012-05-07)

I received this cover last May 7, 2012, however this letter was posted in Korea last March 26, 2012. Apparently, the additional label in front explains the delay, this letter was missent to Thailand.

The cover has 2 stamps commemorating the Nuclear Security Summit held in Seoul, Korea for 2 days, March 26-27, 2012. This summit was participated by the heads of approximately 50 countries around the world including the U.S., China, Japan, France and Russia, as well as the heads of such international bodies as the UN.

2010 Marine Biodiversity Definitive Series Error!

Notice the 2 stamps below, they have the same drawing and Scientific name. The 5p Sacoglossan Sea Slug is a reprint of the 5p April 16, 2010 issue which was erroneously inscribed "Sea Hare."
I have both of these in my collection :)

Philippine Marine Biodiversity 2011 - Complete!

The continuation of the Philippine Marine Biodiversity series from 2010, here is the complete set of 2011 definitive.

Philippine Marine Biodiversity 2010 - Complete!

Here is the complete set of Philippine Definitive Stamps for 2010, with theme: Marine Biodiversity

The Philippines forms an ocean region that has long been recognized as the world’s center of marine biodiversity. With the Malay archipelago, Papua New Guinea and Australia, the country forms the ‘Coral Triangle,’ so-called because of the abundance of its coral reef life. Some 400-500 species in 90 genera of reef-forming corals are believed to exist in this region. Sulu-Sulawesi Sea, a 900,000-square-kilometer marine eco-region that lies at the apex of the Coral Triangle (70% in the Philippines, 20% Indonesia, 10% Malaysia), is home to some 2,500 species of fish.

The Philippine center of diversity was found to have the highest species richness for all distributions combined as well as when shore fish distributions were treated separately.

#5 Cover - Poland (05/20/2011)

I received a private swap / letter from one of my dear postcrossers from Poland. She sent me an Easter Card as well as a present that I would cherish, set of Poland coins. Thanks a million Agnieszka, hope you enjoyed the Easter celebration this year.

Finally, returning back to stamp collecting and blogging

I really miss collecting, exchanging and blogging about stamps. My work has not been good to me lately but things are beginning to lighten up, so I do have time now for philately, really miss it and excited to have exchanges once again. My mailbox has been empty for quite sometime and hope to fill them up again!

#19 Cover and Stamps - Australia - (2010-11-15)

Thank you Martinho for the nice stamps from Australia. The letter was sent November 4, 2010 in Canberra MC and arrived in November 15, 2010 at Paranaque City PO.

The cover has stamps about Christmas and featuring Maria Island in Tasmania.

Platypus stamps:

Fishes of the reef (self-adhesive stamps)

#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/