China FDC on "Bank of China"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


Bank of China

Date of Issue : 5 February 2012

(Top FDC)
2-1 : Centennial Bank of China

(2nd FDC)
2-2 : A Century of Global Services

Bank of China was established in 1912 with the approval of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It is the only bank in China that has operated for one hundred years. From 1912 to 1949, Bank of China served consecutively as the country's central bank, international exchange bank, and specialist foreign trade bank. Since 1949, the Bank has functioned as the state-designated specialist foreign exchange bank to undertake foreign exchange administration and been transformed into a state-owned commercial bank in 1994. In 1994 and 1995, Bank of China started note-issuing in Hong Kong and Macau respectively. In August 2004, Bank of China was incorporated as Bank of China Limited. After a century's development, Bank of China has its institutions distributed in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and 32 overseas countries and regions around the world.

Korea FDC on "50th Anniversary of Korea - Mexico Diplomatic Relations"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

South Korea

50th Anniversary of Korea - Mexico Diplomatic Relations

Date of Issue : 26 January 2012

Stamp Design :
- Gray Whale

The year 2012 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Mexico.

Unlike other whales, only two different populations of the gray whale were reported: the West Pacific population that migrates between the Sea of Okhotsk and Korea’s East Sea and the East Pacific population that journey between Alaska and Mexico. The West Pacific gray whale was first reported to the academic circle in 1912 by Loy Andrew, the American explorer, under the name of “Korean gray whale.” Due to overhunting, they are now endangered, and currently it is reported that only 130 of the species are living in the sea of Okhotsk, Russia. The East Pacific gray whale, that mate and give birth in Baja California, Mexico, was once also endangered due to reckless hunting. Currently, however, thanks to the steadfast protection policy, there are 20,000 of them roaming the waters.

The stamp features a young gray whale and its adult version. The young gray whale shows the gray whale’s own, inherent skin pattern without any barnacles or whale lice attached to the skin. The adult gray whale, on the other hand, vividly shows both the adult gray whale’s unique characteristic covered with traces of barnacles once attached but now gone, as well as the gray whale’s own unique outer appearance of its thick lower jaw.

Estonia FDC on "Chinese New Year - Year of the Dragon"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Estonia

Chinese New Year - Year of the Dragon

Date of Issue : 23 January 2012

According to the Chinese zodiac calendar the New Year falls on January 23 when the Year of the Dragon begins.

Latvia FDC on "The Place Where Stories Are Born"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Latvia

The Place Where Stories Are Born

Date of Issue : 27 January 2012

"The Place Where Stories Are Born" is the winning entry of the first stamp design competition. The stamp depicting the lions of Vērmanes Garden and the nearby restaurant Library Nr.1, encircled by trees.

China Postcard - Canton Tower

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

China

During the Chinese New Year holiday, I spent 3 days in Guangzhou and visited the Canton Tower. The postage prepaid postcard above is actually the admission ticket of the Canton Tower (Really very expensive, cost RMB 120). Frankly speaking, it was not worth visiting the Tower on that day. The weather was very cloudy, so there was not much to see up there.

On the top floor of the Tower, there is an air-top post office (just a store selling expensive philatelic items). I dropped the postage prepaid postcard to the post box nearby. I did not expected the air-top post office cancellation on the postcard was so special and nice.

Singapore Cover - Chinese New Year

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Singapore

A very nice Singaporean cover sent on the first day of the Chinese New Year. Thank you very much to my friend !

Slovakia FDC on "Cultural Heritage of Slovakia: Piarist Church in Prievidza"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Slovakia

Cultural Heritage of Slovakia: Piarist Church in Prievidza

Date of Issue : 27 January 2012

Piarists came to Horná Nitra region in 1666 at the invitation of Mária Františka Pálffyová, widow of Hungarian palatine. With her support, they finished building of college in Prievidza in 1676, and building of church two years later.

In 1740, Piarists started a complex reconstruction of their monastery church, managed by father Hyacint Hangke, a college administrator. They dismantled the original church and started to build foundations for the new one according to the demanding late baroque concept.

The church was consecrated on August 19, 1753 by Pavol Révay, Esztergom canonist and titular bishop. However, overall interior decoration and equipment in the final form was still being complemented in the second half of the 18th century.

Indonesia FDC on " Year of the Dragon"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Indonesia


Year of the Dragon

Date of Issue : 15 January 2012

Designs :
1/3 : Dragon & Phoenix with background Hok Ceng Temple, Kemaro Island, Palembang
2/3 : A pair Dragon & Kylin (麒麟) with background Tri Dharma Raya Temple, Singkawang
3/3 : Dragon & Phoenix with background Watu Gong Pagoda, Semarang
Souvenir Sheet : A pair Dragon with background Sam Pao Kong Temple, Semarang

Indonesia FDC on "Flona 2011"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Indonesia


Flona 2011

Date of Issue : 5 November 2011

Monaco Cover

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Monaco

Another nice cover from Monaco. Thank You very much !

Maldives Postcard

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Maldives

Really very nice view postcard from Maldives. I just wish I was there. Thank You very much to my friend !

Portugal FDC on "175 Years of the School of Military"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Portugal

175 Anos da Escola do Exército

175 Years of the School of Military

Date of Issue : 12 January 2012

Estonia FDC on "Population and Housing Census"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Estonia

Population and Housing Census

Date of Issue : 12 January 2012

A population and housing census began on December 31 in Estonia for the 11th time and will last until March 31, 2012. The first census in Estonia took place in 1881, and the last one in 2000. In the census of 1959 the data were processed with a computer for the first time. On the initiative of the United Nations residents of most world countries were counted in 2010 and 2011, with no census organised in only six countries.

UAE Postcard

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

UAE

A nice postcard showing the city view of Dubai. I just like the octagonal bird stamp. Thank You very much to my friend !

Hong Kong FDC on "Year of the Dragon"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Hong Kong

Year of the Dragon

Date of Issue : 14 January 2012

2012 is the Year of the Dragon. In traditional Chinese culture, the Dragon is an auspicious, mythical creature incarnated as an emperor, representing supreme power and commanding great respect. It is believed that people born in the Year of the Dragon are confident, courageous and clever.

The four stamps depict the Dragon in various forms
$1.4 stamp : a fire dragon spiked with glowing joss sticks
$2.4 stamp : a glittering statue of a golden dragon
$3 stamp : a spirited dragon performing the traditional dragon dance
$5 stamp : a lifelike dragon engraved on a stone wall

Rendered in vibrant colours, the stamps are decorated with gold foiled auspicious clouds to convey an air of festivity.

(From Hong Kong Post : http://www.hongkongpoststamps.com/eng/stamps/latest_stamp_issues/2012/20120114a/introduction.htm)

China FDC on "Ren-Chen Year"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


Ren-Chen Year

Date of Issue : 5 January 2012

According to Chinese lunar calendar, 2012 marks Ren-Chen Year, or the Year of Dragon.

Portugal Postcard - Manuel de Arriaga

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Portugal

Centenário da República - Manuel de Arriaga

Centenary of the Republic - Manuel de Arriaga

Date of Issue : 17 March 2010

Manuel José de Arriaga Brum da Silveira (Horta, July 8, 1840 - Lisbon, March 5, 1917) was the first elected President (1911 - 1915) of the First Portuguese Republic.

Estonia FDC on "125th Birth Anniversary of Oskar Luts"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Estonia

125th Birth Anniversary of Oskar Luts

Date of Issue : 7 January 2012

7 January 2012 is the 125th birth anniversary of the author Oskar Luts. At just 25 years old Oskar Luts, who had earlier penned only a few lines of poetry, authored „Spring“, a book that made him famous all over the country overnight. Based on the memories of his school years Luts describes life at an Estonian village school at the end of the 19th century, peppered with humour and touching scenes of young love. It was a work that critics initially looked down upon but has survived through numerous editions and generations of enthusiasts have seen it in several stage versions and in a popular movie. The book has been translated into 13 languages. The school Oskar Luts once went to at Palamuse is now a museum of late 19th century school life, bringing it alive through the medium of Spring.

Lithuania FDC on "Lithuanian Folk Music Instruments"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Lithuania

Lithuanian Folk Music Instruments

Date of Issue : 7 January 2012

10 ct : Linear flute
20 ct : Clay whistles
35 ct : A musical bow with an inflated pig's bladder
1 Lt : Alder bark trumpet
1,35 Lt : Hammered dulcimer
2,15 Lt : Cow horn pipe

Latvia FDC on "Coats of Arms"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Latvia

Coats of Arms

Date of Issue : 7 January 2012

LVL 0.35 stamp (Right) : Coat of Arms of Riga

The stamps were printed in December, 2011, due to increased amount of letters mailed, however the demand for stamps evened out in the end of the year, allowing the first-day cancellation event to be held in the beginning of 2012.

Macau Cover

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Macau

This is a cover with postage meter franking from Macau.

Singapore FDC on "Zodiac Series - Dragon"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Singapore

Zodiac Series - Dragon

Date of Issue : 5 January 2012

The Year 2012 marks the reign of the legendary dragon and the fifth animal in the Zodiac series on the Chinese calendar.

The year 2012 is that of the Water Dragon, Water calms the Dragon's fire. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They know how to gain respect, and being in charge or giving orders comes naturally.

Myanmar Cover - Myanmar Musical Instruments

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Myanmar

Myanmar Musical Instruments

K5 : Xylophone
K20 : Rakhine Auspicious Drum
K30 : Myanmar Harp
K50 : Shan Pot Drum
K100 : Kachin Brass Gong

Macau FDC on "Lunar Year of the Dragon”

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Macau

Lunar Year of the Dragon

Ano Lunar do Dragão

Date of Issue : 5 January 2012

The conceptual design of the stamp is combined with the different forms of the Dragon and the distinguishing characteristics of “Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth”. This year, the dragon’s nature from the “Five Elements” is water, so the dragon portrays by the Chinese traditional ink painting becomes the main character of the five stamps. The lifelike ink painting dragon of the stamp applied with the hot foil stamping with holographic, together with the embossed image of dragon boat has highlighted the protagonist of its own. The sparkling silver foil symbolizes the dragon’s nobility, giving the festive spirit of Lunar New Year.