Mar 20, 2009

Singapore Postcard - Central Business District



Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Singapore

A very nice postcard showing the Central Business District of Singapore. I very much like the colorful bird stamp affixed on the card. The postmark is also very clear too.

Mar 19, 2009

Algeria FDC on "Islamic Heritage in Algeria "



First Day Cover
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Algeria

Islamic Heritage in Algeria

Date of Issue : 25 Feb 2009

(I don't know French and I can't find much information about this issue. The information below is taken from the website : http://www.feedblitz.com/f/?previewfeed=494707#494707_4)

15 dinars : The Sidi-Abderrahmane Mausoleum, built in 1696 in the district of Bab El Oued in Algiers, the capital. Sidi Abderrahmane Ethaâlibi (1384-1471) was a thinker and founder of the Ethaâlibia School.

20 dinars : The Sidi-Ibrahim Mausoleum located in El Atteuf (Ghardaïa).
Sheikh Ibrahim ibn Manade, of Berber origin, was a scientist and author of great achievements in the field of social cohesion (12th century).

My first FDC from Algeria and the first registered mail from Africa. I like this nice FDC.

Mar 18, 2009

Philippines Postcard



Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Philippines

A nice postcard from Philippines. I just wish I was there. The three beautiful bird stamps seems better than the current Hong Kong bird definitive stamps

Mar 17, 2009

Luxembourg Postcard


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Bilhete Postal

Luxembourg

This time, there is a very nice postcard from Luxembourg, with two beautiful stamps

Mar 16, 2009

Slovakia Postcard



Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Slovakia

A very nice postcard from Slovakia !

Mar 13, 2009

India FDC on "Louis Braille Birth Bicentenary"



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India

Louis Braille Birth Bicentenary

Date of issue : 04 Jan 2009

Louis Braille (January 4, 1809 – January 6, 1852) was the inventor of braille, a world-wide system used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing

Korea FDC on "Bicentennial of Louis Braille's Birth"

Estonia FDC on "Estonia heads of state – Ants Piip"



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Estonia

Republic of Estonia heads of state – Ants Piip

Date of Issue : 26 Feb 2009

Prime Minister
26 Oct. 1920–20 Dec.1920
State Elder
20 Dec. 1920–25 Jan. 1921

Mar 11, 2009

Bosnia and Herzegovina Postcard - Prijedor



Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Bosnia and Herzegovina

A very nice view card of Prijedor with a very clear postmark. The 0.5KM Republic of Srpska stamp is a "European nature protection" stamp issued on 19 Sep 2006.

Prijedor is the third largest municipality in the Republic of Srpska (one of the two political entities in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina). It is located in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the banks of the Sana and Gomjenica rivers, and at the south-western hills of the Kozara mountain

Mar 10, 2009

India FDC on "Steel Authority of India (SAIL) 50 Years"



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India

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) 50 Years

Date of issue : 03 Feb 2009

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) is the largest steel producer in India and the 16th largest steel producer in the world. It is a public sector undertaking wholly owned by Government of India and acts like an operating company. Incorporated on 24 Jan 1973, SAIL has more than 131,910 employees.

Major plants owned by SAIL are located at Bhilai, Bokaro, Durgapur, Rourkela, Burnpur (near Asansol) and Salem.

Mar 9, 2009

Macau Maximum Card - Largo do Senado



Maximum Card
極限明信片
Bilhete Máximo

Macau

This card shows the view of Leal Senado building (It should be translated as "Loyal Senate", but not "Royal Senate" shown on the card) and the Largo do Senado (Senate Square), which is the city centre of Macau. The cancellation is from Macau Central Post Office. The word "ECAP" means "Estacao Central Para Atendimento do Publico". The stamp used is a "World Heritage" definitive stamp issued on 31 July 2008.

Mar 6, 2009

Korea FDC on "The 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Philippines"



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South Korea

The 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Korea and Philippines

Date of Issue : 03 Mar 2009

Stamp Design :

“Sonori (Cow Play) in Hangawi” : Hangawi (Chuseok) that falls on the 15th of August by the lunar calendar is one of the biggest national holidays in Korea, when people celebrate the year’s good harvest and observe worship service to family ancestors. At this time, the Sonori is performed.

Panagbenga Flower Festival in the Philippines, held for a month every February at Baguio

Mar 5, 2009

France Postcard - Saint-Raphaël



Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

France

Just a very beautiful scenery ! The stamps are nice too.

Mar 4, 2009

Cuba Postcards







Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Cuba

Three beautiful postcards from Cuba with nice stamps. Surprisingly, the cancellations could not cancel the stamps !

Mar 2, 2009

China FDC on "Power Grid Construction"



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China


Power Grid Construction

Date of Issue : 24 Feb 2009

3-1: Science and Technology Rejuvenate Power
3-2: Strong Power Grid
3-3: Power for All

Again, a very nice FDC. This time, the special cancellation of Shanghai looks better.

Feb 27, 2009

Italy Postcard - Udine



Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Italy

A beautiful nightview card of Udine. The stamp is also very nice.

Feb 24, 2009

China FDC on "The 24th World University Winter Games"



First Day Cover
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Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


The 24th World University Winter Games

Date of Issue : 18 Feb 2009

2-1: Logo
2-2: Mascot, named "Dong Dong"

The 24th Winter Universiade was held from February 18 through 28, 2009, in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Helongjiang Province. It was the first time for China to host such a comprehensive international winter games.

A very nice FDC. The stamp design are simple, but nice. The design of the offical special cancellation is very good too.

Feb 19, 2009

Austria Postcard - Vienna



Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Austria

A very nice card of Vienna with a clear postmark.

Feb 18, 2009

Estonia FDC on "Gen. Johan Laidoner, 125th anniversary of birth"





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Estonia

Gen. Johan Laidoner, 125th anniversary of birth

Date of Issue : 12 Feb 2009

General Johan Laidoner (12 Feb. 1884 – 13 March 1953) Commander-in-Chief of the Estonian armed forces during the War of Independence Johan Laidoner was born in the Viiratsi commune, Viljandi County. He completed the course of a cadet school in Vilnius and of the Nicholas Military Academy in St. Petersburg. He served as staff officer in World War I and in the autumn of 1917 was asked to take the post of commander of the 1st Estonian division. In 1918 Laidoner was appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces and was promoted to lieutenant general for his services in the War of Independence. He retired from military service after the war ended in 1920 and was Member of Parliament in 1920–29. In 1924 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces for six months to head suppression of the coup attempt of December 1, 1924. As member of the Estonian delegation he took part in assemblies of the League of Nations, and in the autumn of 1925 headed a special committee of the League of Nations in the Mosul area of Iraq. In 1932–¬33 he was deputy chairman of the land forces committee and head of the technical subcommittee at the Geneva disarmament conference. In 1934–40 he once again served as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and was promoted to general in 1939. After the Soviet occupation of Estonia he was deported to Penza in July 1940, was arrested in June 1941 and died in the Vladimir Prison in Russia.

My friend has sent me 2 FDCs, one registered mail FDC from Viljandi (the birth place of Gen. Johan Laidoner) and another one from Tallinn. They are both very very nice as usual. Thank You very much to my friend.

Feb 17, 2009

Japan Postcard - Rainbow Bridge



Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Japan

A card of Rainbow Bridge at Tokyo. The stamps are very very nice.

Germany Postcard - Berlin



Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Germany

A very nice multiview card of Berlin.

Feb 11, 2009

Malaysia FDC on "Unique Birds"





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Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Malaysia

Unique Birds

Date of Issue : 21 Jan 2009

30 sen : Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron malacense)
50 sen : Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea)
50 sen : Malaysian Whistling Thrush (Myophonus robinsoni)
Miniature Sheet : Wreathed Hornbill (Aceros undulatus) and Plain-Pouched Hornbill (Aceros subruficollis)

A very nice stamp issue, especially the miniature sheet. "Ian's Collection" blog mentioned that there is a big mistake on the stamp of the minature sheet. The stamp of the minature sheet does not bear the name of the country "Malaysia", and thus violating the UPU rule. Pos Malaysia has withdrawn the sale of the minature sheet since 3 February, 2009.

Malaysia FDC on "National Angkasawan Programme"





First Day Cover
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Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Malaysia

National Angkasawan Programme (National Astronaut Programme)

Date of Issue : 21 Oct 2008

30sen: Soyuz TMA-11
Soyuz TMA Rocket was brought first Malaysian Angkasawan to the International Space Station on 10 October 2007.

50sen: Experimental Science of Microgravity
One of the objectives of the National Angkasawan Programmed is to send Malaysian Angkasawan to ISS and conduct beneficial activities to the country and its people especially in science and technology development for now and in the future. The major activity of national angkasawan in the ISS involves conducting microgravity science research. Some of the experiments that were conducted are regarding cell in space, microbe in space and protein in space.

50sen: International Space Station (ISS)
The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest international scientific project ever produced. It's an outcome of collaboration between countries such as the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, and other eleven European countries. This station is generated by solar power which will produce 110 kilowatts of power once it is equipped. Laboratory and habitation modules will support a permanent international crew of seven astronauts. ISS will act as a platform for Earth and space observation and the experiments conducted on board will help produce new materials and pharmaceutical products, which can only be carried out in a microgravity condition

Miniature Sheet : Launching
Malaysian Angkasawan, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Syukor Al-Masrie was launched to space at 9.21 pm (Malaysian time), 10 October 2007 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on board the Soyuz TMA-11 rocket. This marks a significant milestone in Malaysia's history where for the first time ever, a Malaysian was successfully able to go to the outer space and this is indeed a catalyst for future space exploration projects.

I very much like stamp issue on the topic of space. So, Thank You very much to my friend for sending such a nice stamp set and miniature sheet FDCs to me.

Feb 6, 2009

Estonia FDC on "Paju Battle, 90th anniversary"



First Day Cover
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Estonia

Paju Battle, 90th anniversary

Date of Issue : 29 Jan 2009

The battle against Red Latvian Riflemen for the Paju Manor near Valga in southern Estonia on 31 January 1919 was the most sanguinary encounter in the early stages in the Estonian War of Independence. On 30 January the partisan unit headed by Julius Kuperjanov occupied the manor along with the Tõlliste Stage. But during the night the manor again passed into the hands of the Reds. In a battle that lasted the whole following day Finnish volunteers together with the partisans managed to finally gain possession of the manor at the heavy toll of 42 men dead and 113 wounded. On 1 February the partisans and the Finns marched into Valga without meeting any resistance as the enemy had withdrawn from the Estonian-Latvian border town. This meant establishment of control over an important railway junction and pushing the front outside Estonian borders. In the Paju Battle the soldiers displayed death-defying courage against overwhelming enemy forces. Julius Kuperjanov, the head of the partisan unit, along with the other wounded, was taken to a hospital in Tartu where he died of wounds on 2 February 1919. A memorial was erected on the Paju Battlefield in 1994.

This is a very very nice FDC from Estonia