Fiji, Wallis & Futuna, Tonga, The Concorde and Sabena

Well, it's Thursday and my last update was Sunday, so I figure it's time for another . I think I'll start with a couple of cards from the South Pacific region, all compliments of David. It's a card showing Levuka, the old capital of the Fiji Islands. Levuka is located on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June of this year. The town served as the capital from 1874-1882.

 David used a rather large insect stamp here. It is 1 of 2 Insect stamps issued in 2010.

Here's a card from Wallis & Futuna. One doesn't received mail from Wallis & Futuna everyday, so when you find a card in the mailbox from there, it's a special day. Not only is this card from a great place but it shows an Aircalin aircraft in flight. Aircalin or Air Caledonie International is the international airline of New Caledonia. This is my first Aircalin postcard.

  The stamp on the left was issued in 2012 and is entitled Poets of the Sea. The otherstamp was issued this current year and celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Mata-Utu Tribunal or the Court of First Instance.

 

David's third and final card for this time provides us with a look at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alopa, Kingdom of Tonga. Another place you don't get a lot of mail from. The current Monarch is King Tupou VI. 

 

Now all good stamp collectors know that the stamps of Tonga include some strange shapes, so it's not a big surprise to see stamps shaped like bananas and coconuts used here.  The large regular shaped stamp was issued in 2003 , it's 1 of 4 in a set showing Beaches. Fafa Beach looks like a nice place to spend a day. The Banana and Coconut stamps are from a souvenir sheet of 5 Fruits issued in 2001. 

 

David's blog and trip updates are found here . 

A wonderful British Airways Concorde postcard is flying in next. I really don't need to say anything, it speaks for itself. A fine addition to my Airlines/Aircraft on Postcards Collection.  

This Concorde flew in from Finland as it has a 2012 self-adhesive stamp featuring Bottenhavets National Park. The park , in southwest Finland consists of 98 % water. 

This next card , from Johan, is a great Aviation card . It looks like an old poster of Belgian Air Lines, with the slogan " With SABENA, You're in good hands. " 

Johan used 2 Europa stamps from 1969 on this one. He was in Brussels and had this card cancelled with a special cancellation celebrating the 20th Anniversary of  Post Europ. 

You can find Johan's blog right here.

So ends another update. Thanks to David, Sanna and Johan for their cards. This blog wouldn't be much without people like you. Be sure to check in again soon. Take care.