Mosset, Hop! and Frankfurt

   Blog # 1663 --- Day 1296 ( That's One Thousand Two Hundred and  Ninety Six Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .                                                                     

       

                                                                   GLORY TO UKRAINE

Howdy again folks. Here's a couple of cards to have a look at this time. First up is this card showing Mosset, a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. It has a small population of just 313 or so. 

 Josep and Assumpta used 2 stamps on this card. The left stamp highlights the commune of Lagrasse and was issued in 2024. The right stamp, from this current year, show the commune of Collioure. 

 

Next up is a favourite type card for me -- an Airline / Aircraft card. 

Here we have an ATR42, from Hop! registered as F-GPYL.    HOP!, is a French regional airline operating flights on behalf of its parent company Air France. The airline was founded on 21 December 2012 after the merger of Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional brands. Its head office is at Nantes Atlantique Airport. F-GPYL is 28.5 years old, it started service with Air Littoral in 1997. In 2004 it saw service with Airlinair, 2016 with Hop! and finally 2018 with Sky Exxpress Greece, 

Jean Pierre used a Stamp Day 1988 semi-postal stamp on this card. 

Today's 3rd card is from Frankfurt. It was issued on the occasion of a special flight by Lufthansa. 

The first Lufthansa Airbus A330 flight from Frankfurt (FRA) to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) was on Jun 6, 2024, operating as flight LH409. This flight was part of Lufthansa's new nonstop service to RDU, which began on the same date and offers service five times a week. 

The stamp used was issued in 2008. It shows an Airbus 380, not a 330 as the card commemorates. 

The aircraft on the stamp has 4 engines while the aircraft on the postmark commemoration has just 2 engines. 

 

So ends another blog update. Thanks for today's cards go to Josep and Assumpta, Jean Pierre and Yvonne from Austria. 

Big Thanks all around.  

Labour Day 2025 and Telc

    Blog # 1662 --- Day 1284 ( That's One Thousand Two Hundred and  Eighty Four Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .        

                                                                

       

                                                                   GLORY TO UKRAINE

Hello once again. It's September 1st , Labour Day here in Canada. 

                                               

Labour Day is an annual day of celebration of the labour movement and its achievements. It has its origins in the labour union movement, specifically the eight-hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

It is a statutory Holiday in Canada providing most workers with a day off with regular pay. So the Post office is closed and that means no mail today. 

Now on to postcards. 

First card today is from Telc, Czech Republic. The town has approximately 5,100 inhabitants.It is well known for its historic town centre which is protected and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.Telc is said to date from 1099, but the first written mention is from 1335. 

Meelis' card is a partial aerial view .  

Lots of stamps on this card. Top left - issued in 2004 , 1 of 2 Trees stamps. Middle stamp - from 1995, a rock formation  from the Beauty of Our Homeland set. Right stamp - issued in 2023 to mark the 250th Anniversary of the Birth of Czech linguist and poet Josef Jungmann. The 2 stamps on the bottom are Butterfly definitives from 2021 and 2023. 

Just a short update today. I'm off to a Labour Day BBQ . 

Thank you Meelis for your card today. 

Nagorno-Karabakh Cards, WHS, Chateau d'If, Queen Maxima and The Skelligs

   Blog # 1661 --- Day 1278 ( That's One Thousand Two Hundred and  Seventy Eight Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .        

                                                                

       

                                                             GLORY TO UKRAINE

It's blog update time again. This one may be long , at least that's my intent here now.  I am starting with 4 cards I received from David . Three of them are from Azerbaijan and the other is from Ireland. 

This first card is from Baku, the capital . Baku is 28 metres (92 Ft) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world below sea level. The card shows Shirvanshah Palace. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th-century palace built by the Shirvanshahs and described by UNESCO as "one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture"

David used a long stamp from this year.  It depicts the ancient rock carvings at the Gobustan Reserve,  a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

The next 2 cards are from Shusha and Khankendi, both of which are located in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Now there is a lot of history here, I'll try and give the Cole's Notes version and hope I don't mess up and cause another war.  Most of Nagorno-Karabakh was governed by ethnic Armenians under the breakaway Republic of Artsakh – also known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) – from the end of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1994 to the announcement of the dissolution of the republic in September 2023. 

On 27 September 2020, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War broke out with an Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories.  Azerbaijan made significant gains during the war, regaining all of the occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh and capturing one-third of Nagorno-Karabakh, including Shusha and Hadrut. The war ended on 10 November 2020 when a trilateral ceasefire agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, under which all the remaining occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh were formally returned to Azerbaijani control.

On 19 September 2023, after a blockade lasting several months, Azerbaijan launched a fresh large-scale military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.The Artsakh forces collapsed rapidly, resulting in an Azerbaijani victory, the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh, the exodus of almost the entire Armenian population from the region, and the entry of Azerbaijani security forces into the former Artsakh capital of Stepanakert, known as Khankendi by Azerbaijan. On 1 January 2024, the Republic of Artsakh was formally dissolved, marking the end of a millennia-old Armenian presence in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The end result is that Nagorno-Karabakh was part of and controlled by Armenia, but is now part of and controlled by Azerbaijan. It only took a couple of wars for the change to take place. 

The card from Shusha shows Shusha Fortress. It was opened in 1752.

David used 2 stamps on this card. The left stamp is from 2020 and has quite the political message - Karabach Is Azerbaijan. The right stamp was issued in 2024 and celebrates Shusha - the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2024.

 

Here's the card from Khanikendi, showing an aerial view of the city. 

 

There are 3 stamps on this one, all from 2022. The stamp on the left shows Coins from Shusha. The other 2 stamps celebrate the City of Shusha. 

Before I move on to the next card, there is a comment or two that needs to be added. According to someone in the know, David, the card from Shusha was part of the first international mail sent from the city. Cards went to Ireland, Canada and the USA for the first time. 

 Next is the card from Ireland. I's a look at the Skelligs, The Skellig Islands are two small, steep, and rocky islands lying about 13 km (8 mi) west of Bolus Head in County Kerry, Ireland. The larger of the two is famous for an early Christian monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The stamp -- 1 of 2 in a set , issued in 2025 celebrating the 250th Anniversary of  the Birth of Daniel O'Connell . 

There is also a definitive stamp label ,from the series Art on a Stamp. This one shows art of Eileen Gray. 

This next card is from France. It's an evening 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 Alexandre Dumas  in The Count of Monte Cristo.

   

 Dominique used a stamp from 2006 on this card. It was issued by France's postal service to commemorate or support corporate foundations. It was printed on brown paper. 

Moving along now to the last card for today. It's from Germany. It's a lovely picture of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. However at the time this picture was taken , she was Princess Maxima. Máxima is Queen of the Netherlands as the wife of King Willem-Alexander. Argentine by birth, she worked in finance when she met Willem-Alexander, eldest son and heir apparent of Queen Beatrix, in 1999. They married in 2002, and became king and queen on the abdication of her mother-in-law on 30 April 2013. 

Isa used a couple of stamps on this card. The left stamp is 1 of 2 Classic car stamps issued in 2016, this one is a Porsche 911. The right stamp , from 2010, celebrates the 75th anniversary of Elly Beinhorn's record flight in 1935. She flew from Germany to Asia and back in 13.5 hours and covered 3470 km.

That's it for today. Thanks to David and Isa for today's cards. Drop by again soon. 

Ukraine at 24, Teena and Glenn at 51, and one Cozy Post Office.

   Blog # 1660 --- Day 1276 ( That's One Thousand Two Hundred and  Seventy Six Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .        

                                                                

                                                                    GLORY TO UKRAINE

Well today is INDEPENDENCE DAY in UKRAINE , a great day for Ukraine. It was on this date , August 24th  1991 , when Ukraine declared its Independence. Poland and Canada were the first countries to recognize Ukraine as an independent country , on December 2nd . Then later that same evening Boris Yeltsin of Russia did the same. 

But today is important for another reason. It is the 51st Anniversary of My Lovely Teena and I. She has been there with me for a long time and I couldn't be happier. We have been a lot of places , saw a lot of things together , lived a lot of places, 12 different addresses in fact. But most importantly we raised our family together. We have lived, loved , laughed and cried a little together during all that time. 

And as regards to postcards  Teena has even helped me there. She has mailed postcards to me from many locals , and visited more post offices with me than she cares to remember.  But it has been wonderful having her on this journey with me. 

Since this blog is about postcards I better post at least one postcard or risk losing any readers I might have. 

This card is a Postcrossing card from Melissa in Nashville, USA . It shows what a neighborhood post office should like like. I haven't been in one as cozy and inviting as this one but it would certainly be nice. 

Melissa used 2 definitives and 2 Forever stamps on her card. They were issued in 2017 and 2024. 

Well that's all for this time. Thanks to Melissa for her card.  And Big Thanks to Teena for putting up with me for all those years. Love You always. 

Christmas 2024, GB Airways, Hispania, Nuclear Power and a Vickers Viscount

  Blog # 1659 --- Day 1265 ( That's One Thousand Two Hundred and  Sixty Five Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .        

                                                                

                                                                    GLORY TO UKRAINE

Hello again folks. It`s been a little more than 2 weeks since my last update. It`s been quite busy around these parts , hard to find the time to blog. But cards keep arriving so I have lots of material for blogging on hand . So here we go . 

How`s this for a start a Christmas themed card. After all it is August already. I wonder am I early or late. The card is dated 17-12-24, so I guess I`m quite late. Is that a Charlie Brown Christmas tree , I think it might qualify.

Barbara used 2 Christmas stamps from 2024. They are from a set of 10 and each has a tiny robin in the design -- a sign of Hope.  

Next is an aircraft card from Gibraltar. It shows a Hispania Lineas Aereas Boeing 757 , registered as EC-EMU . It only flew with this airline a short time, from April 1989 to July 1989. From then to 2008 it saw service with Air 2000, Ansett Airlines and Fly Jet. Since 2008 it has been a workhorse for Federal Express.  

Bruce sent this card and he used a single Gibraltar stamp. It is from a set of 10 Coat of Arms definitives issued in 2020.

Here is a card showing the nuclear power plant in Cattenon, France. The card reads `it`s not science fiction, it`s just science. Construction of the plant took place between 1979 and 1991 with some commercial operation starting in 1987. 

Dominique used a a really attractive stamp from 1969. It celebrated D-Day June 6, 1944. As a long time stamp collector I know there are nice stamps, attractive stamps, not so nice stamps , junk stamps and those I wouldn`t even have in my collection. I am happy to say this is a very collectable stamp at least for me. I like the vertical shape and I like the color. Here it is . 

Well here`s another aircraft card. This time it`s GB Airways Vickers Viscount G-BBVH in a March 1985 picture at Gibraltar. GB Airways was a British airline headquartered in `The Beehive `at London Gatwick Airport. It operated from January 1989 until March 2008.   

Aircraft G-BBVH also saw service with New Zealand National Airways from 1958 - 1973 and British European Airways in 1973.  On 23 November 1988, Vickers Viscount G-BBVH was damaged beyond economic repair in a landing accident at Boukhalef Airport in Tangier. No injuries were sustained by the 74 passengers and 4 crew members. The aircraft had flown 40,632 hours. 

Jean Pierre used 2011 Europa Year of the Forests stamp.

 

Well that is 4 cards and my limit for this update. Thanks for today`s cards go out to Barbara, Bruce, Jean Pierre , and Dominique. Come back soon. 

Rabati Castle, Tarte Flambee, Palace on the Dam, Postcrossing`s 20, German Airports

  Blog # 1658 --- Day 1248 ( That's One Thousand Two Hundred and  Forty Eight Days ) Since the Start of the Current ( Second ) Russian Invasion of UKRAINE .        

                                                                

                                                                    GLORY TO UKRAINE 

Hey there, thanks for dropping in. I`m back with another plethora of wonderful postcards to show-off . First up is a card from Georgia , the country not the state. It`s a look at Rabati Castle. Akhaltsikhe or Rabati Castle is a medieval fortress built in the 9th century under the name "Lomsia Castle" in the city of Akhaltsikhe in southern Georgia, recently reconstructed. 

Alena used 2 stamps on her card. The first stamp was issued in 2023 , 1 of 3 in a set, showing Edmond Kalandadze paintings. The second, from 2024, is from a set of 2 showing Actors. 

My next card is from France. I guess I could say it`s part 2 of a card in my last update. In my July 20th update Dominique`s card showed a few food items from the Alsace area. He mentioned that his favourite was not among the food shown. Well here it is on his latest card -- Tarte Flambee. 

  

We have a 2012 stamp on this one. It showcases Camp des Milles , a French internment camp, opened in September 1939, in a former tile factory near the village of Les Milles, part of the commune of Aix-en-Provence. 

Now here`s a card showing the Palace on the Dam in Amsterdam.  It is situated on the west side of Dam Square in the centre of the city,  opposite the War Memorial and next to the Nieuwe Kerk. It was constructed between 1648 and 1665.   

Barbara used 2 shaped stamps from this current year. The  stamp on the left is 1 of 6 in a mini sheet showing Camping the the Netherlands. The right stamp is 1 of 5 in a mini sheet commemorating the 750th Anniversary of the City of Amsterdam on the 27th of October. 

Postcrossing celebrated its 20th Anniversary on July 14th. Isabelle sent this celebratory card  to highlight this event. 20 years -- that`s  a lot of postcards going here, there and everywhere. 

  

The irst stamp is from 2018 , an Europa issua, and shows the Rheinkniebrucke, a bridge over the Rhine. The stamp on the right was issued in 2010 for Harvest Festival.

As any regular reader may know , I often show airline or aircraft cards. Well these next three cards are all showing airports. And they are all located in Germany. First up is DUS - Dusseldorf Airport. It opened on April 19, 1927. 

Yvonne used 3 stamps here.   The top stamp was issued this year.  It highlights Chemnitz ( Karl Marx  Stadt ) Airport. The two bottom stamps are both definitives. The Peacock one was issued last year. 

This next card shows FRA -- Frankfurt Main Airport, Germany`s busiest international airport. FRA opened on April 8, 1936.  Jean Pierre`s card shows what the airport looked like in 1952. Times have surely changed. 

The three stamps are all definitives from the years 2022 and 2024, showing a Message in a Bottle, a Fish and  Balloons. 

Here is the third airport  TXL -- Berlin Tegel Airport . It opened on April 1, 1974 and closed on May4, 2021. It saw its last flight on November 8, 2020. 

On this one we have 2 definitives along with a 2025 stamp. It shows the Rakotz Bridge , a delicately arched devil`s bridge which was specifically built to create a circle when it is reflected in the waters beneath it. It is  known as a devil`s bridge , due to the idea that such bridges were so dangerous that they must have been built by Satan himself.

This is the end for today. Thanks today go out to Alena, Dominique, Barbara, Isabelle, Yvonne and Jean Pierre. 

Take care All .  Later