Mar 31, 2011

Algeria FDC on "Reptiles"


First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Algeria

Reptiles

Date of Issue : 13 March 2011

A really nice Algeria FDC. Thank You very much !

Mar 30, 2011

Australia Aerogramme


Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Mar 29, 2011

China FDC on "The Scholars, a Masterpiece in Classical Chinese Literature"








First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


The Scholars "儒林外史", a Masterpiece in Classical Chinese Literature

Date of Issue : 21 March 2011

(Top FDC)
6-1 : Lotus Painter Wang Mian
Wang Mian was a talented person. He was born into a poor family. He grew up teaching himself how to read and draw and finally acquired considerable fame for his mastery of history and astronomy and excellence in painting lotus. Despite his admirable talent and profound learning, Wang despised wealth and power, and refused to be an official.

(2nd FDC)
6-2 : Fan Jin Succeeding in the Imperial Exam
A 54-year-old scholar who had participated in the imperial exam more than 20 times, but failed in all of them. The unsuccessful attempts led him to poverty and forced him to endure jeers of others. When he eventually passed the exam, the scholar was extremely excited but soon fell into madness, acting like a fool. His father-in-law heavily slapped his face, bringing him back to normality.

(3rd FDC)
6-3 : Two Lamps Wicks
Yan Jiansheng is a wealthy but stingy landlord. On his deathbed, the miser couldn't stop his breath peacefully, with two fingers stretched out, worrying about the two wicks in the oil lamp. His concubine understood what he was trying to convey and removed the extra wick. Yan finally breathed his last.

(4th FDC)
6-4 : Mr Ma Er Visiting West Lake
A story about a scholar who is obsessed with stereotyped eight-party essay. When visiting West Lake, Ma Er was not attracted by the beautiful natural scenery, but instead paid homage with the fan in hand to an inscription by Emperor Renzong.

(5th FDC)
6-5 : Du Shaoqing and His Wife on a Mountain Tour
Du cast off the bondage of feudal ethics and toured a mountain hand in hand with his wife, despite the gaze of others.

(6th FDC)
6-6 : Shen Qiongzhi selling Poetry on Lishe Bridge
Shen Qiongzhi was forced to become the concubine of a rich salt merchant named Song Weifu. After running away to Nanjing, she supported herself by selling poetry on Lishe Bridge. When Du Shaoqing and Wu Shu met Shen at the bridge and heard her story, they highly praised the woman.

Rulin Waishi, literally translated as Unoffical History of the Scholars, or simply as The Scholars, was created in the Qing Dynasty by Wu Jingzi (1701 - 1754). The classic while reflecting the author's praise and recognition towards the good characters, depicts the lives and minds of Chinese feudal scholar-bureaucrats, ironically satirizes the fatuity and incompetence of feudal officals, and exposes the corruption of imperial examination system as well as the abominable ethics as a whole.

Mar 28, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - Australian Butterflies


Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Another nice Australian aerogramme features Australian Butterflies. Thank You very much !

Australia Aerogramme - Christmas 2009


Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

An Australian aerogramme for Christmas in 2009. Thank You very much !

Mar 25, 2011

Singapore Aerogramme - Scenes of Singapore



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Singapore

One of the "Scenes of Singapore" series aerogrammes from Singapore. Very nice ! Thank You very much !

Mar 23, 2011

Singapore FDC on "100 Years of Aviation"



First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Singapore

100 Years of Aviation

Date of Issue : 16 March 2011

Nice FDC with both the offical special cancellation and the Singapore Changi Airport cancellation. Thank You very much !

Mar 22, 2011

Cuba Aerogramme - Visit of Pope John Paul II to Cuba



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Cuba

A very nice aerogramme from Cuba features the Visitation of the Pope John Paul II to Cuba at 21 to 25 January 1998. I like the Pope and I especially like this aerogramme. Thank You very much !

Mar 21, 2011

Estonia FDC on "Villem Reiman 150"



First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Estonia

Villem Reiman 150

Date of Issue : 9 March 2011

Villem Reiman (1861-1917) was an outstanding Estonian public figure – historian, journalist, ardent speaker for the idea of independence, promoter of temperance and the establishment of societies, honorary alumnus of the Estonian Student Society, originator of the fundamental principles of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, paver of the way to independence and its cultural development. As member of the Estonian Student Society, Reiman took part in the consecration of the blue, black and white flag on 4 June in St Mary’s of Otepää and in 1886 became chairman of the society. In 1887 he graduated from Tartu University as a candidate of divinity and began working as clergyman at Kolga-Jaani in 1989, and from late 1890 as minister. When the Estonian national movement fell to its nadir, Reiman along with persons who shared his ideas (Oskar Kallas, Heinrich (Henrik) Koppel) bought the newspaper Postimees and asked Jaan Tõnisson to become its editor-in-chief. Reiman also had an important role as a hobby historian, writing the first more or less scholarly overview of the history of Estonia; until that time only foreigners had published their visions of the situation in the country.

Mar 20, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - Black-tailed Godwit



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Another nice Australian aerogramme showing the Black-tailed Godwit. Thank You very much !

Mar 19, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - Wandering Whistling-Duck



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Nice Australian aerogramme showing the Wandering Whistling-Duck. Thank You very much !

Mar 18, 2011

Indonesia FDC on "Traditional Ceremonies"



First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Indonesia


Traditional Ceremonies

Date of Issue : 24 February 2011

Mar 17, 2011

China FDC on "Liangzhu Jade Artifacts"



First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


Liangzhu Jade Artifacts

Date of Issue : 8 March 2011

2-1 : Jade Cong
2-2 : Jade Bi

The Liangzhu Culture was a Neolithic culture based in Liangzhu, Zhejiang Province, with an area of influence extending around Taihu Lake in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It is world-renowned for a plethora of unearthed jade artifacts, the most prominent of which are jade Cong (cylinders) and jade Bi (discs). Jade Cong, considered the most innovative of the Liangzhu jade culture, had a wider influence than any of its counterparts of its time. Such an object is square outside but cylindrical inside and features a design of a deity with an animal face carved with stunningly exquisite techniques that were rivaled by none in the following ages. Jade Bi, a kind with the largest quantity of excavation among Liangzhu jade artifacts, historically symbolized its owner's identity, social status and power. Objects of this kind generally have a smooth surface and rarely bear carvings or symbols, conveying certain sacred connotations.

Mar 16, 2011

Brunei Darussalam Aerogramme



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Brunei Darussalam

Mar 15, 2011

Taiwan Aerogramme - TaiChung Park



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Taiwan

Very nice aerogramme from Taiwan showing the TaiChung Park. I like also the clear Taiwan Chinese datestamp cancellation. Thank You very much !

Mar 14, 2011

Slovakia FDC on "Easter 2011: Folk Style"



First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Slovakia

Easter 2011: Folk Style

Date of Issue : 4 March 2011

The stamp shows the Lamb of God – Agnus Dei with topping of whipped egg whites. FDC pictures the Easter chicks of egg whites with chocolate-butter cream decorated with marzipan, which also fall within the broader framework of folk art.

A very nice FDC from Slovak, with the Slovakia Easter stamp of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Thank You very much !

Mar 13, 2011

Estonia FDC on "Friedebert Tuglas"



First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Estonia

Friedebert Tuglas

Date of Issue : 2 March 2011

Friedebert Tuglas (2 March 1886 at Ahja - 15 April 1971 in Tallinn) was a writer, critic and translator, who had a leading role in the literary life of the country. He took part in the Russian Revolution of 1905 and since 1906 lived as a political refugee in Finland, Paris, St. Petersburg, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland; since 1917 in Tartu and from 1944 in Tallinn. He was founder of the Siuru literary society, instituted the journals Odamees, Ilo, Tarapita and Looming, was chairman of the Estonian Literary Society and member of several foreign literary and cultural societies and councils. He wrote psychologically tense impressionistic and neo-Romanticist prose, and thanks to his critical writings was one of the most influential trendsetters of new prose. In 1970 he established the Estonian Union of Writers’ short story prize. His house-museum in Tallinn (est. 1971) is now, since 1993, the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre.

Mar 12, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - Pied Heron



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Another very nice Australian aerogramme features the Pied Heron, also known as the Pied Egret. Thank You very much !

Mar 11, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - Great Barred Frog



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Another Australian aerogramme features the Great Barred Frog. Thank You very much !

Mar 10, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - White-lipped Tree Frog



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Another Australian aerogramme features the White-lipped Tree Frog. Thank You very much !

Mar 9, 2011

Australia Aerogramme - Beijing 2008 Olympic Games



Aerogramme
航空郵簡
Bilhete Carta-Avião

Australia

Glad to get this aerogramme which features the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Thank You very much !

Mar 8, 2011

Belize Postcard



Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Belize

Very nice postcard from Belize. I especially like the beautiful stamp. Thank You very much !

Mar 7, 2011

Jordan Postcard - Aqaba



Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Jordan

A very nice Jordan postcard showing the marine life in Aqaba, a coastal town in the far south of Jordan. Thank You very much !