Macau Souvenir Cover - 13th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau SAR"

Souvenir Cover
紀念封
Envelope Comemorativo

Macau

13° Aniversário do Estabelecimento da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau

13th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region

Date : 20 December 2012

A very special date of 20.12.2012 on Macau datestamp postmark !

Latvia 12.12.12 Cover

Cover
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Latvia

A nice Latvian 12.12.12 cover. Thank You very much to my friend !

Israel FDC on "Wildlife Conservation"

First Day Cover
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Israel

Wildlife Conservation

Date of Issue : 12 December 2012

Stamps : The Mediterranean Spur-thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca), Mountain Gazelle Fawn (Gazella gazella gazella) and The Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

The Israeli Wildlife Hospital was co-founded by the Zoological Center Tel Aviv- Ramat Gan (Safari) Israel and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. To date, the hospital has cared for more than 10,000 animals, belonging to some 250 species.

Portugal Postcard - Pedro IV Square

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Portugal

A nice postcard sent on the very special date of 12.12.12. This Portuguese postcard shows the view of Pedro IV Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV, also known as Rossio Square). Thank You very much to my friend!

China FDC on "Audit of China"

First Day Cover
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China


Audit of China

Date of Issue : 30 November 2012

(Top FDC)
4-1 : Emergence of Audit
4-2 : Ancient Audit

(2nd FDC)
4-3 : Red Audit
4-4 : Contemporary Audit

Slovakia FDC on "Christmas 2012: Birth of Christ"

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Slovakia

Christmas 2012: Birth of Christ

Date of Issue : 16 November 2012

Sri Lanka 12.12.12 Postcard - Traditional Kandyan Dancers

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan postcard sent on the special date of 12.12.12. The postcard shows the traditional Kandyan dancers with drummers. Thank You very much to my friend !

Israel FDC on "The High Priest's Breastplate"

First Day Cover
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Israel

The High Priest's Breastplate

Date of Issue : 12 December 2012

The mini souvenir leaf features the High Priest against the background of the magnificent Holy Temple built by King Herod and the city of Jerusalem in the latter part of the Second Temple period. The image of Jerusalem is based on the model designed by the late Prof. Michael Avi-Yonah in the 1960’s which is now permanently displayed at the Israel Museum. To the right is the large area housing the Temple Mount and the Holy Temple and to the left, behind the image of the High Priest, is the lower city. The red roofs of the luxurious upper city houses can be seen clearly, located in the area where the Jewish Quarter of the Old City now stands.

Malaysia 12.12.12 Cover

Cover
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Malaysia

Really very clear Sarawak 12.12.12 datestamp cancellation. I very much like it! Thank you very much to my friend !

Hong Kong 12.12.12 Cover

Cover
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Hong Kong

Two Hong Kong 12.12.12 Covers, one with a postage label from Kowloon Bay Post Office. The other one with a "Year of Dragon" stamp.

Taiwan FDC on "Deep-Sea Creatures in Taiwan"

First Day Cover
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Taiwan

Deep-Sea Creatures in Taiwan

Date of Issue : 12 December 2012

(Top FDC)
Souvenir Sheet A : includes four stamps

Eurypharynx pelecanoides (NT10): This mesopelagic and bathyalpelagic fish lives at depths of 500-3,000 meters.

Argyropelecus aculeatus (NT12): Commonly known as the Atlantic silver hatchetfish, it lives at depths of 200-1,000 meters.

Bufoceratias shaoi (NT10): This species lives at depths of 500-1,200 meters.

Regalecus glesne (NT12): This mesopelagic fish is found at depths ranging from the surface to 1,000 meters. The world’s longest bony fish, it can grow up to 11 meters. It is nicknamed the “earthquake fish” in Taiwan because it is often spotted by fishermen after earthquakes.

The marginal inscription features Leptocephalus (upper left corner), Ctenophora (lower right corner) and Bobtail squid (lower left corner).

(2nd FDC)
Souvenir Sheet B: includes one stamp
Histioteuthis celetaria pacifica (NT25): This species lives at depths of 300-500 meters.

The marginal inscription features Pyrosoma sp.(upper left corner), Tomopteris sp. (right), Malacosteus niger (bottom) and Gnathophausia sp. (bottom left).

Russia FDC on "Emblems of Cities of the Russian Federation - Moscow"

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Russia

Emblems of Cities of the Russian Federation - Moscow

Date of Issue : 30 November 2012

The postage stamp features the emblem of Moscow depicts contemporary emblem of the city, on the margins of the souvenir sheet there are emblems of the following years: 1730, 1781, 1883,1924.

Latvia FDC on "Christmas"

First Day Cover
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Latvia

Christmas

Date of Issue : 1 December 2012

The design of the new stamps draws on traditional Christmas themes - a Christmas tree and gifts hidden under it. The first-day cover depicts a winter scene with a house surrounded by fir trees covered with snow and a snowman, while the cancellation depicts a decorated Christmas tree.

China FDC on "Confucius Institute"

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China


Confucius Institute

Date of Issue : 1 December 2012

2-1 (Left) : Exchanging.
2-2 (Right) : Teaching

The Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters) established Confucius Institutes overseas since 2004. Confucius Institutes are non-profit organizations that aim to teach the Chinese language and spread Chinese culture. By 2012, a total of 400 Confucius Institutes and over 500 Confucius Classrooms have been set up in 108 countries.

Hong Kong FDC on "150th Anniversary of Stamp Issuance in Hong Kong"

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Hong Kong

150th Anniversary of Stamp Issuance in Hong Kong

Date of Issue : 8 December 2012

As early as 1841, a postal bureau was established locally to handle mail items for the British Army and postal matters for the public. In its early days, the Post Office (now also known as Hongkong Post) did not issue stamps but focused on postal service, and mail items were postmarked as a proof of postage payment. It was not until 1862 that Hong Kong had its first stamp issue.

The first set of stamps was released on 8 December 1862 when Hong Kong was under British rule. The stamps came in a set of seven and featured Queen Victoria in profile.

$1.4 stamp : The two-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the left. The Chinese term "先時" is the then transliteration of "cents".
$1.8 stamp : The eight-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the right.
$2.4 stamp : The 12-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the right.
$2.5 stamp : The 18-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the left.
$3 stamp : The 24-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the left.
$5 stamp : The 48-cent stamp from our first stamp set appears on the right and is accompanied by a QR Code. One can scan the QR Code on the stamp to gain instant access to the webpage of "The 150th Anniversary of Stamp Issuance in Hong Kong" and browse the stamp information.
$10 Stamp Sheetlet : The 96-cent stamp (highest denomination) from our first issue at the centre of the stamp portion.

(From Hong Kong Post : http://www.hongkongpoststamps.hk/eng/stamps/latest_stamp_issues/2012/20121208b/introduction.htm)

Bolivia Postcard - The Andes

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Bolivia

My first postcard from Bolivia. A beautiful postcard showing the view of the Andes and a Condor. Thank You very much to my friend !

Estonia FDC on "Christmas"

First Day Cover
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Estonia

Christmas

Date of Issue : 22 November 2012

Slovakia FDC on "ART: Viera Žilinčanová (1932 – 2008)"

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Slovakia

ART: Viera Žilinčanová (1932 – 2008)

Date of Issue : 23 November 2012

A significant representative of the Slovak contemporary fine arts, she followed the tradition of magic realism and surrealism in European and global art.

She represented our fine arts at numerous exhibitions and painting festivals in Bratislava, Košice, Trenčín, Prague, Brno and other cities in Europe and overseas. She was awarded the National Prize and the Jury Prize for her works at the International Painting Festivals in Cannes sur Mer; the Prize of Cyprián Majerník and the Main Prize at the International Biennale of Painting in Košice

Korea FDC on "New Year’s Greetings"

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South Korea

New Year’s Greetings

Date of Issue : 3 December 2012

The year 2013 is the year of the snake.

The “New Year’s Greetings” stamp for this year consists of two stamps: the “snake” stamp and the “Jaegichagi” stamp that features “Jaegichagi,” one of the folk games played on New Year’s Day. In the “New Year’s Greetings” stamp for this year, glow-in-the dark ink was applied to the snake’s body shown as white and the snow particles (in the “snake” stamp), the snow particles (in the “Jaegichagi” stamp), and the three snakes and the snow particles (in the souvenir sheet).

Taiwan FDC on "New Year’s Greeting Stamps (Issue of 2012)"

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Taiwan

New Year’s Greeting Stamps (Issue of 2012)

Date of Issue : 3 December 2012

2013 marks the Chinese New Year of the Snake. Each of the stamps features an artistically papercutted snake or a pair of snakes colored in bright yellow and royal purple against a pale-orange background with random yellow splatters. The bright color scheme spotlights the joyous atmosphere of the Year of the Snake.

NT$3.50 Stamp: The long bodies curled against each other in symmetry and the heads pointing to opposite directions, this pair of snakes represents the spirit of “one mind” and symbolizes “warmth and all one’s wishes will come true.”

NT$13.00 Stamp: The snake’s head surges forward, with the plump, curved body curling behind. The snake looks spirited and ready to spring into action. This image represents “courage” and symbolizes “marching ahead bravely.”

NT$12.00 Souvenir Sheet: With its upper body standing erect and the head tilting to one side to face its curved tail, this snake signifies “mettle,” and reflects the spirit of “sprightliness and “everything goes according to one’s wishes.”

Mexico Postcard - Orizaba

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Mexico

A Mexican postcard showing a view of Orizaba. Thank You very much to my friend !

Russia FDC on "Decorative and Applied Arts of Russia – Kasli Iron Castings"

First Day Cover
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Russia

Decorative and Applied Arts of Russia – Kasli Iron Castings

Date of Issue : 15 November 2012

Very special triangular stamps. Thank You very much !