Malaysia 330, Bologna, Avignon, Knysna and the Chinese Pavilion in Brussels

                                                            BLOG # 1686

- Day 1524 ( That's One Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty Four Days ) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second )   Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .   

                                                            GLORY TO UKRAINE 

Hello once again. Here we go with another bunch of cards. All good cards by the way. I will start

off today with an Aircraft card. Here we have a Malaysia Airbus 330. The A330 is a great aircraft, I have flown on it a couple of times with no complaints. 

Isa set this card from Germany.  The Peacock Definitive is from 2024. The Larger stamp on the right was issued last year, 2025, and shows Bernhard Lichtenberg, a German Catholic priest known for his outspoken opposition to the Nazi regime .

Card # 2 for today arrived from Bologna, Italy. Here is a great view of the San Petronio Basilica, built in 1389 with a capacity of 28,000. It is one of the holiest churches in Christendom and dedicated to the martyrdom of Saint Peter. 

Dominique used a stamp from this year, commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Brera Academy.

Here is another card sent by Dominique, this time from Avignon, France. Avignon, a city in southeastern France’s Provence region, is set on the Rhône River. From 1309 to 1377, it was the seat of the Catholic popes. It remained under papal rule until becoming part of France in 1791. This legacy can be seen in the massive Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace) in the city center, which is surrounded by medieval stone ramparts.

The stamp this time was issued in 2008 and features Richelieu. Most people have heard of this guy so I will leave it at that.

Now on to the next card which is from Knysna, South Africa. Knysna is a coastal town with 76,150 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is one of the destinations in the lush Garden Route region. Knysna is situated 60 kilometres east of the city of George. Knysna is famous for its oysters and its seahorses.

David sent this card showing a number of views of the city and area. 

 

David used a stamp from a 2026 Endangered Vultures mini-sheet of 5.

Well I have come to that time once again - time for the last card for today. The card arrived from Watermael, Belgium.  Watermael-Boitsfort or Watermaal-Bosvoorde, often simply called Boitsfort in French or Bosvoorde in Dutch, is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. 

The card from Meelis shows the Chinese Pavilion in Brussels. 

The Chinese Pavilion, situated amidst the green surroundings of the royal estate at Laeken, together with the nearby Japanese Tower, form a remarkable exotic ensemble built at the beginning of the 20th century on the initiative of King Leopold II. The Pavilion houses a remarkable collection of Chinese porcelain, silverware, furniture and European paintings dating from the 17th to 19th century.

The Chinese pavilion is part of the site of the Museums of the Far East together with the Japanese Tower and the Museum of Japanese Art. 

Meelis used 3 different Bird stamp along with a 2016 stamp featuring the New NATO Headquarters.

So as Bugs Bunny used to say, That is all folks. This update is just about over. Thanks for the great cards go out to Isa, Dominique, Dominique again, David, and Meelis. 

Take care. Be back soon. 

  

A Bridge, A Jet, A Hare and Stamps

  BLOG # 1685

- Day 1521 ( That's One Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty One Days ) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second )   Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .   

                                                                              GLORY TO UKRAINE 

Thanks for checking out The Blog, I have a couple of cards for you to peruse. I have been away from The Blog, but not away anywhere. Just very busy with life.

So hoping to make the best of it today. So let me start with a card from Estonia. It shows a Swiss Airbus A320. The scuttlebutt says planes in Europe might soon run out of jet fuel if things do not change soon. Flights are getting cancelled already for the summer and fares are increasing. So as the Ghostbusters used to say ( who are you going to call ). I know who I would like to call. 

Meelis used three stamps on this card. The top left stamp was issued in 2025 showing Culture for Minorities. The right stamp was issued in 2922 and is 1 of 2 of a Europa Myths and Legends issue. The small green stamp is a Definitive from 2025. 

Just my opinion but I think the Europa stamp is a pretty nice stamp. Just something about it. 

Card number 2 is from Germany. As a long time stamp collector or some might say philatelist, what could be better than receiving a postcard showing only stamps. In this case they are all stamps from the Netherlands with many showing former Dutch Queen Beatrix. The card is kinda old , it dates back to 1991. 

Isa used 2 stamps here. The large stamp on top is from this year and celebrates the 800th Anniversary of the city of Hamm. The other stamp is from 2024 and is a Peacock Definitive. 

The third card is from Gaborone, Botswana. It  gives us a look at part of the $260 million Kasungula Bridge which links Botswana and Zambia. It was opened in 2021 and is 923 meters long.

Jean Pierre used a 2023 stamp, 1 of 16 in a set highlighting the Diamond Industry.  The card arrived with a plain, circular postmark, but a superb one, the kind every postcard should receive. 

ow a card from Germany, a picture of a Hare by German sculptor Winfried Becker. 

It is cast iron and 58 cm high. 

Dominique used a 2025 stamp Mallorca. Why Mallorca , you may ask .  Mallorca is often nicknamed the 17th federal state of Germany due to its immense popularity among German tourists and residents. Roughly 4–5 million Germans visit annually, with a large, permanent German expat community (about 13% of foreign residents) living on the Spanish island .

That is The Blog update for this time. 

Thanks for cards go out to Dominique, Jean Pierre, Isa and Meelis.

Four lads from Mexico, Signagi City Hall, Wallis & Futuna and Tromso

 BLOG # 1684

- Day 1500 ( That's One Thousand Five Hundred Days) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second )   Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .   

Howdy folks, it's time for another update of The Blog. I have a number of great cards, with great stamps all from  great people. So sit back , relax , sip your coffee or tea and enjoy what you are about to see and read. 

First up is this card from Mata Utu , the capital city of Wallis and Futuna, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located on the island of Uvéa, Jean Pierre's card is a look at a very tranquil scene on Mahina at sunset. I can just imagine stringing a hammock between those two trees and passing away a day.

The stamp shows a local making kava. Kava is a traditional South Pacific drink made by kneading or blending dried root powder with water, then straining it to create a calming , earthy beverage. 

Next up is a card from Georgia, the country not the state. Here we see the city Hall of Signagi. Signagi or Sighnaghi is a town in Georgia's easternmost region of Kakheti and the administrative center of the Signagi Municipality. Although it is one of Georgia's smallest towns,Signagi serves as a popular tourist destination due to its location at the heart of Georgia's wine-growing regions. 

Alena used two large stamps on this card. The left stamp was issued in 2017, 1 of 2 in a Europa set of Castles. The right stamp, from 2025, was issued to commemorate the Battle of Martkopi.

Here now is a card from Niwot, Colorado, USA. Niwot has a population of 3,719. The town is recognized for being  the former headquarters of footwear company Crocs, Inc, for more than a decade prior to June 2020. Niwot is a suburb of Denver and one of the best places to live in Colorado. I like to  receive cards from small towns like Niwot , with their own postmarks. Sooner or later Niwot will be gobbled up by Denver and the Niwot name will be gone, no more cards will have a Niwot postmark, they will all read Denver. 

Getting back to the card , it shows a photo from 1910. Here we see four armed hombres or desperadoes arriving on a locomotive to the Mexican state of Morelos. No doubt looking for a fight.

A Postcrosser named Suz sent this card to me. She used a Washington stamp from 2003, an Eid stamp from 2001 and 2 Love stamps from 1999.

It`s time now for the Last Card for today. It arrived from Tromso, Norway. On the front is written `` Hilsen Fra Tromso `` which means Greetings from Tromso. The city is the northern most city in Norway and is the capital of the Arctic. It is a premier destination for viewing the Northern Lights in winter and experiencing the Midnight Sun in summer. 

 David used a stamp from 2025 which celebrated 200 years of Emigration to North America. 

There you have it, another update to The Blog. Thanks for the fine cards today go to Jean Pierre, Alena, Suz and David. 

Take care and we`ll do it again soon. 

Mayotte, Chateau d'If and A Palace in Serbia

BLOG # 1683

- Day 1490 ( That's One Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety Days ) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second )   Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .   

   Please note - I had to make a small correction to the number of days since the invasion. As of today it is 1490. Seems I was 2 days over. I never was very good at Math.

Now here is a few more cards for your perusal. This first one arrival from Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. Mayotte is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique. It’s a department and region of France, though traditional Mayotte culture is most closely related to that of the neighboring Comoros islands. The Mayotte archipelago is surrounded by a coral barrier reef, which shelters a lagoon and marine reserve that are popular diving destinations. Jean Pierre sent this card showing a number of locals boarding a ferry to somewhere. 

 

He used a stamp from 2011. It highlights The Madjiliss, a traditional and religious ceremony  on Mayotte that serves as a public, and highly ritualized introduction of the groom, marking his transition into adulthood and increased social responsibility within the community.

 

My next card is from France and offers a bird's eye view of Chateau d ' If.  

The Château d'If is a fortress located on the Île d'If, the smallest island in the Frioul archipelago, situated about 1.5 kilometres offshore from Marseille in southeastern France. Built in the 16th century, it later served as a prison until the end of the 19th century. Château d'If is world-famous for being immortalised by Alexandra Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo.

The stamp on this card was issued in 2011 on the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of former French President Georges Pompidou.

Card # 3 arrived from Subotica, Serbia. The Raichle's Palace is a historic building in Subotica in northern Serbia. The palace was designed in 1903 by architect Ferenc Raichle as a family residence, with space for his architectural office and additional rental apartments. Completed in 1904, the building is considered Raichle’s masterpiece and one of the most well known examples of Hungarian Secessionist Art Nouveau architecture in the region. The building houses the Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Alena used 2 definitives on her card, one from 2025 and one from 2024.

That is all for today. Thanks for the cards go out to Jean Pierre, Dominique and Alena. 

Eswatini, U.N. Geneva, Nudes in the Mist and Notre Dame des Doms

  BLOG # 1682

- Day 1491 ( That's One Thousand Four Hundred and Ninety One Days ) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second )   Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .   

                                                                              GLORY TO UKRAINE 

Well hello once again. The Hiatus is over. I was away for 23 days ,  jet-lagged for a couple on the return and then it took a week or so to catch up and get back in the normal flow of things. Of course postcards continued to arrive during that period. There were 25 in my mailbox on my return. So here we go.

First up is this card from Eswatini.  Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where it shares a border with Mozambique. On 19 April 2018, Mswati III announced that the Kingdom of Swaziland had been renamed as the Kingdom of Eswatini, reflecting the extant Swazi name for the state eSwatini, to mark the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence. The name Eswatini means "land of the Swazis" in the Swazi language . Pictured on the card are lodgings in Shewulamountain Camp.

David used 2 stamps from 2018. They are from a set of 4 marking Independence. 

 

Now here is the question of the day. Do I call this a new country in my collection or not. I think not , even though this is my first card with Eswatini stamps on it. I am very glad to have it though. My first card from a renamed country. 

My next card is again  from a new place for me but not a new country. It is from the United Nations Post Office in Geneva. I have cards from the Un in New York but this is a first for me from Geneva. There is lots of information about the United Nation n the front of the card. 

Olga sent this card along. She used 2 stamps. The left stamp is from 1982 and issued to show the Un is against apartheid. The right stam was issued in 2010 as a definitive. 

 

This 3rd card arrived from Japan. It is a reproduction of a photo in a book called Love Doll by Kishin Shinoyama. 

It is a rather strange picture , eleven young women standing or sitting , drinking tea, all nude, in the mist. Someone wrote this about the book :  Love dolls, photographed by Kishin Shinoyama, are lifelike which is actually unnerving. They also resemble stuffed animals. They are humanlike, but are not humans. They look alive, but they are not. We doubt our eyes as we are almost deceived. What is more, photographs can depict something fake as real, and depict something real as fake. Photographic truth is not the same as reality. This mysterious property of photography is what Kishin Shinoyama continues to explore. And he is amazed, thrilled and moved each time he does so. Through the lens of his camera, we are taken on an extraordinary journey. From bewilderment to enchantment,  from life to non-life, we are taken on a roller coaster ride . Ok, back to the card. 

Satoe used a 2024 stamp issued for International Letter Writing Week and 1 other which I have not identified.

Here is my last card for this time. It is from France and arrived yesterday. It is a look at the Metropole Notre-Dame des Dome. Notre-Dame-des-Doms Cathedral, located near the Palace of the Popes and the Rocher des Doms, is a Catholic church in Provençal Romanesque style, erected in the 12th century and a minor basilica since 1854. It houses the mausoleum of Pope John XXII and is famous for the golden statue of the Virgin Mary at the top of its bell tower. The bell tower collapsed in 1405 and was rebuilt in 1425. 

Dominique used a stamp issued in 2010 to honor Abbe Pierre. He was a French Catholic priest. He was a member of the Resistance during World War II and deputy of the Popular Republican Movement. In 1949, he founded the Emmaus movement, with the goal of helping poor and homeless people. For several decades, he was one of the most popular public figures in France.

That is all for this time. If you are reading this, Big Thanks for returning to The Blog.

Thanks today go out to Dominique, David, Olga and Satoe. Take care All.

GemsWorldPostcards is on Hiatus

 Hello all your blog readers out there. 

This is to advise that this blog, GemsWorldPostcards is going on a

hiatus. Do not expect any updates until at least March 17th or 18th.

Take care

A Puzzle Postcard, Ile Maurice and Winter Holly Fae.

  BLOG # 1681

- Day 1441 ( That's One Thousand Four Hundred and Forty One Days ) Since the Start of the  Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .   

                                                                              GLORY TO UKRAINE 

Howdy folks, here  I am back here with a few cards to have a look at. I am starting with a couple of late arriving cards with Christmas wishes and New Year wishes. Certainly late due to postal operations. 

The first one is from the Netherlands. It is a pencil drawing by Barbara entitled Winter Holly Fae. Holly is a symbol of protection against evil and a bringer of love, hope and peace. It also brought Christmas and New Year wishes. 

Barbara used 2 Christmas stamps from a set of 10 issued last year. The stamps are part of a collaboration with the Dutch theme park Efteling. 

 

This second card , from France, also brought New Year wishes. Interesting thing about this card is that it is a puzzle. Cool idea. I am not sure if there are other puzzle postcards, but they would make a cool little collection. 

I have included two scans  so you can see the puzzle with a piece missing at the bottom.  

Dominique used a 2025 stamp featuring Alexandre Grothendieck  a German-born French mathematician who became the leading figure in the creation of modern algebraic geometry.

 Card 3 shows a few of the fine beaches on Mauritius Island, the main island of the Republic of Mauritius. Located in the Indian Ocean,  the island was home to the dodo , an endemic species that became extinct less than a century after its discovery, mainly a victim of man. They disappeared around the end of the 17th century.

Jean Pierre used 3 stamps on this card. On the left is a stamp issued in 2025 for World Expo 2025 in Osaka. The middle stamp, from 2017, shows a map of the Chagos Archipelago. The right stamp, from 2018, is 1 of 2 in an Art & Science set. This one highlights Joseph Nicephore Niepce, the Inventor of Photography. 

 Well that is the update for this time. Thanks go to Barbara, Dominique and Jean Pierre. 

Drop in again soon.  Take care.