Tuesday, December 13, 2016

It's Time

It's Time

It's time, really it is. It's been almost a month so I just hope there are a few readers out there who still remember GemsWorldPostcards. Teena and I are back from our 3 week trip to the far side of the world , at least for us. We visited Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam. There'll be more about all that later, with another installment of Cruising Thru Postcards after  all the postcards find their way home. For now though it's postcards from others that have found their way here to Canada.

 First up is a large card from London showing Canada House. , a little bit of Canada in the center of London. Currently the home of the High Commission of Canada, this building was started in 1824 with construction completed in 1827. In the early days it served as the home of the Royal College of Physicians, as evident on the right side of the postcard.


This is a card from Johan who recently visited Canada House , taking in an exhibition of Nunavut art called Floe Edge. The exhibit brought together the work of 18 Nunavut artists , all in one place.

Johan used a Universal Mail International Postcard stamp featuring Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks.




Today's second card is an Aviation Card from the Netherlands. It's a Bat FK 24 Bantam from 1918, built by British Aerial Transport Company.  A total of 12 of these single -seat fighter biplanes were built.



Jobbo used a 2014 International Windmill stamp on this one.




Jobbo used a 2014 International Windmill stamp on this one.




Next is a card of many of Manhattan's buildings shown from above.



My son Stephen and his wife Sara recently spent 4 nights , back in November, in New York City.  They enjoyed the food, touring, the people, the sights and sounds and the many characters they encountered. They even took the time to send this card , using the 2016 circular Global Forever Stamp. Thanks guys.



Now it's a helicopter card. This one is a KFOR chopper operated by SWISSINT - the Swiss Armed Forces for foreign missions. KFOR is the Kosovo Force , a NATO led peacekeeping force operating in Kosovo since 1999.



Meelis sent this card from rainy and cloudy Prague, at least it was on Oct 26th. The large stamp was issued in 2013, 1 of a set of 3 Paintings.





G'day from Australia. This is one of Jorg Heumuller's Koala Bear photos.




Bruce recently sent this card and used a 2016 stamp showing a Monotreme. It is from a set of 2. Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. There are only five living monotreme species : the duck-billed platypus and four species of echidna or spiny anteaters.




My next card is postmarked from the New Caledonia Philatelic Center. The card shows a ATR-42 in the livery of Air Caledonia landing at Toulouse in 2006. The aircraft F-OIPI had its first flight on June 23, 2006. It has been stored in Toulouse since November 16 of this year. Another addition to my Airline/Aircraft on Postcards Collection.




Jean Pierre used a 2016 stamp showing Prison Art, from between 1890 and 1910. 



Here's a card from Michael of cddstamps. It's a look at the Taiwan Blue Magpie. This species of bird has many names - Formosan blue magpie, Taiwan magpie, and long-tailed mountain lady are a few.   You can certainly see their long tails on Michael's card.



Well that's the front of the card, the reverse is a little more tricky. And confusing to me. It has a Taiwan ATM stamp with a First Day of Issue Taipei Temporary Post Office cancellation. This is from PhilaTaipei 2016 World Stamp Championship. Then on the right is a 2016  stamp from Portugal , 1 of 2 in a set celebrating their First Military Flight. This stamp is also cancelled at the world Stamp Championship , but by Japan Post.




Perhaps Michael will read this and leave a comment that might explain how this all came about.


I have couple of cards from Dominique to show now. First is this card of the village of La Roque Gageau, one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. Nestled on the north bank of the Dordogne River and backed by a step hill / cliffs, there is little to suggest that much has changed there in the last 300 years.




Dominique used a 2015 stamp , 1 of 2 in a set, celebrating the Belgian Government in Exile 1914-1918.



The second card from Dominique shows us Strasbourg Cathedral. It is the sixth tallest church in the world. Construction started in 1015 and was completed in 1439.




The large stamp on this one is rather old. It is an Art stamp from 1971.




My next 2 cards are both from Taiwan. Both originated from Philataipei, the 2016 World Stamp Championship Exhibition.
This first card shows us Juguang Tower in Kinmen County, Republic of China. The construction of the tower started in 1952 and was completed in the fall of 1953. It is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of Kinmen.



Ravindra , who attended Philataipei, used 2 ATM stamps. His card received a nice cancellation and a handstamp celebrating 120 years of the Chunghwa Post. 



Ravindra`s second card is a look at the Gaomei Wetlands of Taichung. In August 2015, Typhoon Soudelor destroyed 6 out of 18 wind turbines in the area.




Ravindra used a Plant and Fruit stamp this time. Again his card received the Chunghwa Post handstamp and another different cancellation from Philataipei.




Just one card left for this time. Since we started with a card sent by Johan from London, let`s end with a card from London sent by Johan.  On this one we see Piccadilly Circus, the meeting place of some of London`s most famous streets. Piccadilly, Regent Street, Shaftesbury Avenue all lead off from Piccadilly Circus.




Johan used a recent stamp highlighting the Great Fire of London of September 3rd, 1666.




There is is , the first update in a month. Feels good to get this one out of the way. I have lots of great cards , all of which came while I was away, so I`m hoping it won`t be another month before I get back here. Take care, leave a comment if you have one.  Thanks for today`s cards go out to Jobbo, Stephen & Sara, Meelis, Bruce, Jean Pierre, Michael, Dominique, Ravindra and Johan.

Sorry about the poor layout today. Obviously I hit the wrong button or buttons somewhere along the way. Better luck next time Glenn.

1 comment:

michaelatcddstamps said...

Glen Hi.. yes it was an interesting card with interesting Postal Cancels and I am so pleased it got to you will no damage to the cancels.

The card itself was special because it was the design of a new issue. The postal cancels were special because they were from the Exhibition and could only be obtained there and re Japan because many countries Postal Authorities were present and you could get their postal cancel on a stamp of your choosing, so of course I chose one with an aviation them for you. Still a bit unclear?? I hope not but glad you spotted the "anomalies" :-)

On my blog some weeks or more now I also showed some miniature sheets from Portugal / Azzores - items I picked up at the exhibition in Taipei- beautiful aviation stamps Hope you saw them cddstamps.wordpress.com

Keep up the interesting writings. Best wishes and Merry Christmas Michael