A Sunset Landing and Guyana Cards and Stamps

Hello again Postcard lovers. I'm back with another update, although this one will be shorter than usual. It'll be a couple of cards and a bunch of stamps. Staring off is a large card from the Netherlands. Adrienne sent this card of a jet landing at sunset. A nice picture for sure.

Adrienne used stamps from 2003 and 2004 on her card. The one on the left is from a 2004 Christmas Minisheet of 20 stamps ( 10 face different ) . The other two are from a 2003 sheet of 20 showing Queen Beatrix and family.

Since I don't have many cards from Guyana, a  short time ago I took advantage of The PostcardLocker's mailing service for postcards from Guyana. I just wanted to have increase my cards by a few and also to see what stamps were on the go, as I know they always use interesting , large and somewhat older stamps. My first card is a bird's eye view of St. George's Cathedral in Georgetown. It is one of the tallest wooded church structures in the world. It was completed in 1899 and reaches a height of 43.5 metres.    

Here are the stamps used on this card , and a few others not shown.

The last card for today is an aerial view of Georgetown , Guyana. This capital city is nicknamed The Garden City of the Caribbean.

The stamp used on this one celebrates the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, 1806.

To end off , here's a few of the Guyana stamps that have arrived lately.

All nice stamps I think, but that's not to say that one should collect Guyana. Collect what you like, that's certainly what I do. If I like it , I collect it, and if I don't like it, then I don't collect it. That has served me well over the years.

A I mentioned earlier, just a short update. I'll be back soon with another. Thanks for cards today go to Adrienne and the PostcardLocker. 

Time For An Update

Yes it certainly is time for a new update. I have lots of cards for today, we'll see how it goes. First up is a card from Top of the World, Nepal. Of course it's Mt. Everest ( 8848m.) and Mt. Nutpse (7879m.) as viewed from Kala Patthar.

Arun from Kathmandu sent this card along and used 2 nice stamps. On the left is one issued in 2012 to commemorate the Lions Club Prevent Blindness Campaign. The right stamp was issued in 2006 and commemorates the Golden Jubilee of Nepal - Russia Diplomatic Relations.

Arun, I have to say that I have lost your email contact so if you read this  , please leave me a comment with it or send me an email at glennemoores@gmail.com   .
I want to drop you a line of thanks.


The Space Shuttle is landing here next. It's a NASA photo of the Space Shuttle landing at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. I think that's a program that's missed already and most likely never to be seen again. Too bad, it was an exciting time.

Aimee from Ithaca, N.Y. sent this card, even though it's postmarked in Rochester, N.Y.  She used the now familiar round Global Forever stamp showing the Earth from space. A good choice of a stamp for a Space Shuttle postcard.
I'm sure you have all seen this one before so I won't show it here.


My next card is from Brussels and shows the European Parliament Building. It's a great card from Johan who used a new  Flower stamp . The stamp was issued on Jan 27, 2014 and Johan got the First Day of Issue Cancellation showing a flower on the stamp. He also sent another card the same day, showing Imperial Airways aircraft. I already received another copy of this card and showed it in my Jan 31st update. Johan's card though received another First Day of Issue Cancellation on 2  Faces of Dogs  stamps.  They too were issued Jan 27th.

Have a look . Check out the paw prints as part of the cancellation.

Be sure to check out Johan's postcard blog here .

Now for a view of Trakai, Lithuania. It is an historic town west of Vilnius that dates back to 1337. As can be seen on the card, there are as many as 200 lakes in the region.

Greta, a student in Lithuania, used a wonderful Aviation stamp on this one. It was issued in 2013 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Darius and Girenas Heroic Transatlantic Flight.
On July 15, 1933, Lithuanian-American pilots Steponas (Stephen) Darius and Stasys (Stanley) Girėnas took off from New York, on a transatlantic flight bound for Kaunas, Lithuania. Their Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker airplane, Lituanica, covered a distance of 3,984 miles (6,411 km)--the second longest and most navigational precise single flight of its time carrying the first transatlantic airmail consignment*--before crashing in what was then German territory, just 404 miles (650 km) short of its destination. The cause of the crash was never determined. A great stamp for my Aviation Stamp Collection. 

 

After an Aviation stamp , I'm sure it's time for an Airline/Airplane postcard or two. Here's a Southern Air B747 on the ramp at Hamburg.   Southern Air is the most experienced and fastest growing air cargo carrier in the world, specializing in (global) long-haul operations. More than sixty years after its founding in 1947, Southern Air has soared to the top of the aviation industry with world-class experience and customer-focused reliability.

It's certainly a great addition to my Airline postcard Collection. Michaela used 1 of 2 Castle stamps from a set issued last year, along with a couple of Flower definitives. The castle stamp shows Glucksburg Castle. 
Glücksburg Castle is a castle in the town of Glücksburg, Germany. It is one of the most important Renaissance castles in northern Europe. It is the seat of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and was also used by the Danish kings

 That concludes this update. Hopefully it won't be another week before I get another one ion. Take care.
See you soon.

Hello February

Yesterday was the last of January and today it's Hello February. Let's start this off with the Danish Royals. I have received a number of cards with these good folks on them, but they always arrive from another country, not Denmark. A short time ago I showed one from Finland and today's entry is from Germany. Flensburg in fact. I guess that's the key as to why this card is from Germany. Peggy wrote that she lives in Flensburg and it is the northern-most city directly at the edge of Denmark. Flensburg is a town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Now , I could tell you a great story about Schleswig-Holstein , but it would be at the expense of my English Literature teacher way back in grade 10, I think. I guess she thought that she couldn't be wrong, while a student ( Me ) couldn't be  right. Maybe I'll save it for another time but it has stayed with me for almost 50 years.
Oh yes, the card. I won't give the names here but they make a great group, dog included.

Peggy used a couple of the now familiar Flower definitives along with a nice 2011 stamp highlighting a Glider in the Wasserkuppe, the highest peak in the Rhon Mountains.

Postboxes are up next, lots of colors , sizes and shapes, and all from Norway.But again the card itself is from the Netherlands. Miranda came across this great display of postboxes on a recent trip to Norway.

 

Miranda used a couple of small Christmas stamps , one from 2013 and one from 2011.

Here now is George Washington,  the first President of the United States, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. In this 1772 portrait by Charles Willson Peale, he is dressed in the uniform of a British Colonial Colonel. I guess in 1772 that wasn't  so bad. Today, this painting hangs in the Chapel of Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

 Rich used 2 stamps from a set of 12 issued in 2011 showcasing Industrial Design. Not really my favourite designed stamps.

The main railway terminal of Lviv, Ukraine is featured on this next card. The station dates from 1904 and was designed by Polish architect Wladyslaw Sadlowski.  The city of Lviv itself dates from 1240.  Just a little older than me.

Oleg used an Europa stamp from 2013 , 1 of a set of 2 Postal Transports. 

A Vanity Fair cover from January 1922 makes up my next postcard. All I can say is "Thank God for tubeless tires ".   I don't think this dude is going to get a second date.

Karen from Detroit, who just happens to work at Ford, used a number of stamps here. Three American Toleware definitives from 2007, along with a 2008 Tiffany Lamp and a 2007 Navajo Jewelry definitive ,  both of which you can't see, then there's 2 great baseball stamps. Ted Williams and Joe Dimaggio from the 2012 set of 4. Perhaps I'll get the other 2 someday, Willie Stargell and Larry Doby. I did have the pleasure of seeing Willie Stargell play though in a game against the Montreal Expos in Montreal many years ago. 

That was to be my final card for this time, but let's do one more. A nice aviation related card with an aviation stamp. What more could one want ?
The card is from Russia and shows 5 different civilian and military aircraft circling the globe.

 

Yuliya used a 2012 aviation stamp. It commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Russian Air Force. 

So ends another update. Thanks for cards go out to Karen,  Yuliya, Rich, Oleg, Peggy and Miranda. 

Hope you have enjoyed looking at these cards and stamps. Come back again soon, and I'll have more of the same. Take care.

 

The Last of January

Well it is the last of January, so with any luck I'll get this one in before tomorrow. My first card is from Belgium. On it are cut away designs of four Imperial Airways aircraft,  The Greatest Air Service in the World, at least that's what is written on the card. From looking at these planes and flying boats, air travel looked like a lot more fun than it does today.

Meelis used 2 stamps from 2012. They are 2 of 10 in a self adhesive booklet of Autumn Tree Leaves.

This next card comes from Russia and features the Smolny Cathedral in Saint Petersburg. It was built between 1748 and 1764.

The card is from a Russian Postcrosser who used a 2012 Sochi Winter Olympic Games stamp . It is 1 of 4 in the set. This one shows Orekhovsky Waterfall , one of the highest and most powerful falls on the Black Sea coast. .

 

I remember when the Sochi Games were 100 days away, now they are just a week. GO CANADA GO. 

Here's a card with a typical winter scene in Tampere , Finland. 

Another card from a Postcrosser. The stamp used is from a set of 5 self adhesives issued in 2013 featuring Autumn scenes. 

Today's last card is a 1993 photo of Jerry Garcia taken in Indianapolis. Mr Garcia ( 1942-1995) is best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead. 

Yu from China, but studying now in the U.S used a bunch of stamps on this one. We have the 2004 Chippendale Chair, the 2008 Tiffany Lamp, the 2003 American Clock and the 2007 American Toleware. Top right is the 2010 Nevada State Flag stamp and bottom right is the 2013 Battle of Lake Erie Forever stamp.

That's it for this time and for January. See you in February.  Thanks to all whose cards I have featured here today.

Yes, Easter Island,,,,,, No , Not Really

Well, I have to say I was certainly fooled by my first card, at least for a moment. I was pleasantly excited when I pulled it out of my post box. Here's what I saw.

Easter Island at last, I thought, but it was not to be. After admiring the 15 moais , I turned the card over and discovered it was "just from Chile ".  99 times out of a hundred , that would be wonderful. But it is a really nice card. Ahu Tongariki is the biggest ceremonial center of all Ahu on Rapa Nui, with 15 moais .  Moai, or mo‘ai, are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people from rock on the Chilean Polynesian island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500.

This card is from my brother Dale, who has been a frequent visitor to South America the past couple of years. This card was written in Santiago on New Year's Eve and postmarked on Jan 3rd. Dale used a couple of older stamps here. On the left is a 1993 Christmas stamp, 1 of 2 in a set. The large stamp on the right was issued in 2001 to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of A.H. Cruchaga or Padre Hurtado as he was known in Chile.

Thanks Dale for fooling me so well and for a great card.


My next card is a picture of a prizewinning contest poster for The Century Magazine of 1897.  The Century Magazine was a monthly magazine from 1881 until 1930. This card arrived from Australia.

Louise used 2 stamps on her card. The Bird stamp is from a 2013 set of 4. The Airbus A380 stamp is also from a set of 4 issued in 2008. This is a beautiful set , especially the 50 cent Supper Connie.

Now for a card showing the Abbesses in Paris.
Abbesses is a station on the Paris Métro Line 12, in the Montmartre district . Abbesses is one of the few deep stations of the Paris Métro, at 36 metres below ground, as it is located on the western side of the butte of Montmartre.

This is a card from Dominique and he used a 2013 stamp commemorating the 100 th running of the Tour de France. It is 1 of 8 stamps in a beautiful souvenir sheet.

A new addition to my Airlines/Aircraft on Postcards Collection is featured next. It's  a  Korean Air B747.

 It might be a Korean Air plane but the card arrived from Kiev, Ukraine. Alex used 3 Flowers and Plants definitives on his card.

Speaking of the Ukraine, I'm sure all readers are aware of the protests and demonstrations  currently going on in that country. I certainly hope Alex and all are safe and their president comes to his senses soon so the good folks in Ukraine can go back to a normal and democratic life .


Today's final card  comes from Anna , a university student in Jackson , Mississippi, U.S.A. She sent this smaller than average card showing just the wing of a  jet aircraft. A unique view, nonetheless.

 

Anna used two stamps from 2013. A Ginger Bread House Forever stamp and a definitive Apple stamp. Not the greatest of stamp themes for sure. I find it rather bizarre  that a country would issue such stamps when there are hundreds of better things, people, inventions, organizations, events, anniversaries, places, buildings   and hundreds of others that should be showcased on a country's stamps  to give the world a look at that country. A ginger bread house and an apple , it just boggles my mind. ( And I'm not just referring to the USA , it 's all countries, Canada included ) . What do you think ? Let me know by leaving a comment. 

Oh yes, the stamps. 

 So ends another update. Thanks for cards go to Alex, Dominique, Louise, Anna and Dale. Drop by again soon. Take care.
 

Cards From All Over

Hello again. Here we go with another update of Gem's World Postcards. Today's cards are from all over. And where might all over be ? How about Madagascar, Wallis & Futuna, Zimbabwe, Finland, USA, Russia, and France. I think that qualifies as all over.

Let's start with the card from Madagascar. It's not everyday that you find a card from Madagascar in your mailbox. It's even better when it's a complete surprise, as this one was. The front of the card  shows a flower market , I believe , perhaps in Antananarivo.

Tsilavina R sent this card along. Perhaps a new follower of this blog, I really don't know. Tsilavina if you want, please drop me an email at glennemoores@gmail.com so I can properly thank you for this card. The stamp was issued in 2012 and that's all I have been able to find out about it. It does have something though, to do with Jean Laborde 1805-1878. He was an adventurer and early industrialist in Madagascar, having been shipwrecked ther in 1831 .

My next card shows Faioa Island, an uninhabited island , part of Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific.
Looks like a nice little place to get away from it all and take in a little sun, sand and water for a few days.

Jean Pierre used 2 large stamps on this one. Postmarked Mata-Utu, the capital. The one on the left was issued in 2013 and celebrates 20 Years of the State School. The other stamp is from a 2011 set of 3 Bird stamp.

 

Today's 3rd card comes from Zimbabwe, but the garden featured on the card is the Denzhe Mukula Garden Project in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa. Limpopo borders Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Members of the Limpopo community shared the dream of unearthing wealth from the earth. They formed the Denzhe Mukula Project , planting cabbages, spinach, beetroot and carrots.Pictured on the front are a few of the locals working in their garden.

 

Bruce used a 2005 R rate Bird definitive stamp on this one. It is from a set of 10.

Near the bottom , on the back of this card there is a nice slogan, quite appropriate for us postcarders.
It reads : Spread the Word. Send a postcard. Reconnect and Inspire. Doesn't that sound good for postcarders ?


Royalty is up next. It's Danish Royalty but the postcard is from Finland.  On the card we see HRH Mary the Crown Princess and HRH Frederik the Crown Prince and heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. They make a lovely couple unlike some other Royals around the world.

Minna used 1 of the Finnish Postcrossing stamps on this card. They were issued as a set of 4 back in 2013. As a stamp collector I am glad to have this stamp, I'm glad to receive any stamp , but personally I do not like this stamp issue. I made that quite clear back in May of 2013 on the Postcrossing site when their design was announced. It seemed to me that many Postcrossers just jumped on the band wagon because they were Postcrossing stamps. I guess I'm no bandwagoneer   , here is what I wrote on Postcrossing back last May.

"I applaud the idea of the stamps, I applaud the Finnish Post Office for issuing Postcrossing stamps, but not wanting to rain on anyone's parade, I have to say the stamps themselves are anything but nice. Reminds me of amateur hour, they are so like children's stickers, very childish in design, and no where near what a real stamp should look like. Another wasted opportunity for a beautiful stamp for a beautiful purpose."

 

 

What do you think, Ugly or not ?  Leave a comment , vote or whatever.  

Of note: The Netherlands issued the first Postcrossing stamps, followed by Finland and now , just a few days ago, Belarus.

 

I'm not going to get to all the cards planned for this time, four cards is good though. Thanks to Tsilavina, Jean Pierre, Bruce and Minna. I'm hoping for a little feedback today. Don't be shy. 

See you back here soon.