Villages of Liechtenstein

Here's another nice mail from Vaduz.  He used two stamps from the 1996 and 1999 'Villages' series, illustrating the villages of Eschen (CHF 10) and Ruggell (CHF 80) respectively, both in the north of the Principality.

Vural completed his postage with another stamp from the WWF set issued in 2011 to mark the 50th anniversary of the organisation.  So after the Hobby, here comes the Wryneck (Jynx torquilla).  This bird got its English name from its ability to turn its head almost 180° when it feels itself threatened. This odd behaviour lead to it being used in witchcraft to put a "jinx" on someone.

Thanks Vural! :) 

Mailing date: 22 NOV 2011

Delivery date: 09 DEC 2011

Native Animals in Germany

Deutsche Post issued on 8 June 2006 a set of 5 postage stamps, designed by Gerhard Lienemeyer and depicting Native Animals of Germany. The Pine marten (Martes martes) and the Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) are illustrated on the above mail.

Thank you very much Martin! :) Again another nice cover from Hessisch Lichtenau.

Mailing date: 23 November 2011

Delivery date: 30 November 2011

50th Anniversary of the UN in Denmark

Lars sent me this cover with perfect cancellations from Sydjyllands Postcenter, Fredericia, Denmark.  Thank you! :)  It took this cover 8 months to reach my address!

The first stamp, on the left, was released in 1995 to celebrate the 50 years of the United Nations Organisation (1945-1955). It portrays the logo of this milestone and the letters FN, which stand for Forenede Nationer - United Nations in Danish.

The stamp on the right (face value: 5.50 DKK) is from the "Winter Tales" series issued on 26 October 2010. It depicts a girl on a bench with two ducks in front of her and snow all around.

Mailing date: 30 March 2011

Delivery date: 09 November 2011 (yeah!)

The Endangered Hobby in Liechtenstein

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the WWF, Philatelie Liechtenstein issued on 9 September 2011, eight se-tenant hexagonal stamps (face value CHF 1.00) each depicitng an endangered bird species of Liechtenstein.  Vural franked his cover with the stamp depicting the Hobby (Falco subbuteo), a fast-flyer bird of prey.  It has long sharply-pointed wings, blue-black upper parts and feeds on other birds and large insects, especially dragonflies (the hobby eats the insects on the wing).

Vural also used a stamp (CHF 0.20) of the 'Brand Liechtenstein' definitive set, showing the Community Lifestyle Museum and released in 2009, and another one (CHF 0.70) of the 'Views of Villages' set issued in 2001, showing the village of Schellenberg, northern Liechtenstein.

Thank you Vural for this cover mailed from Vaduz, the capital city of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Mailing date:  19 OCT 2011

Delivery date: 25 OCT 2011

My First Mail from Denmark!

Thank you Lars for this cover posted from Sydjyllands Postcenter. :)  If I'm not mistaken, the postmark indicates that the stamps were canceled at midnight!

The 70 øre stamp was issued in 1973 and depicts the 'Crowned with Thorns, and carrying the Cross', a fresco in Biersted Church, Jutland, painted around 1400.

The 160 øre stamp illustrates the childhood home of Kaj Munk, a Danish priest and resistance man during Second World War, killed by the Nazis in 1944.   His home is situated in Opager, the island of Lolland.

Finally, the 12.50 kr stamp was issued on 15 May 2002 along with three other stamps, each showcasing a landscape photograph by Kirsten Klein.  Here its the district of Thy which is depicted.

Mailing date: 20 September 2011

Delivery date: 05 October 2011

Nocturnal Summer Birds from Finland

Finland Post issued on May 18, 1999 the splendid miniature sheet above.  It consists of  five 3mk stamps each depicting a nocturnal summer bird, namely the:

- Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia (upper left)
- European Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus (lower left)
- Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (upper middle)
- Corncrake, Crex crex (lower middle)
- Eurasian Bittern, Botaurus stellaris (upper right)

Thanks a lot Seppo for this very nice cover from Raahe! :P

Mailing date: 16 September 2011

Delivery date: 28 September 2011

My First Cover from Mexico

Thx a lot Pablo for sending me my first cover from your country. :-)  He first used two 50c stamps released in 2010 to mark the centennial of aviation in Mexico.  The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor (left) is a propeller-driven and single-engined military trainer aircraft.  The Douglas DC-3 (right) on the other hand is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s.  Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made.  Many DC-3s are still used in all parts of the world.

Mexico hosted from 18 June to 10 July 2011 the FIFA U-17 World Cup (Copa Mundial Sub-17 de la FIFA México 2011 in Spanish).  Mexico won the cup, being the first team to achieve it as hosts defeating Uruguay 2-0 and managing their second title in the category.  Correos de México hence issued a nice set of 3 stamps (above) on June 15, 2011 to mark this event.

Conserva set

The last stamp portrays Daniel Cosío Villegas (1898-1976) who was a prominent Mexican economist, essayist, historian and diplomat. This stamp was issued in 2001 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his death.

Special thx again to Pablo for that nice cover and the awesome stamps enclosed! :)

Mailing date - 5 July 2011

Delivery date - 12 August 2011

Cover from Turkey

Another mail from Turkey, but this time it's from Vural.  Thx a lot! :)  The 65 kurus stamp represents a single handle pitcher made of bronze while the 110 kurus stamp portrays a Saltanat Kayigi (barge in English).  This traditional Turkish barge forms part of the collection of the Istanbul Naval Museum.

50th Anniversary of the 'Fondation pour le Cheval' in Switzerland

The 'Fondation pour le Cheval' (Foundation for the Horse) is a retirement home for horses, ponies and donkeys, which is located on 3 sites: le Roselet, Maison Rouge aux Bois and le Jeanbrenain.  Founded in 1958 by Hans Schwarz, le Roselet is the first home to have emerged.  The 2 se-tenant stamps, issued in 2008, feature the sunset and the jura track enjoyed by the numerous horses of this Foundation.

The last stamp was released in 1980 to mark the centenary of the Swiss Institute of Meteorology.  Thank you very much Vural for this nice cover!