Indonesia FDC on "150th Anniversary of International Red Cross"

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Indonesia


150th Anniversary of International Red Cross

Date of Issue : 8 May 2013

2-1 : The Face of J. Henry Dunant
2-2 : Humanitarian Action

Latvia FDC on "Birds of Latvia - the Long-tailed Duck and the European Bee-eater"

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Latvia

Birds of Latvia - the Long-tailed Duck and the European Bee-eater

Date of Issue : 7 June 2013

LVL 0.35 : The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) is an aquatic bird species of the duck family. The Baltic Sea is one of the most important overwintering locations of the Long-tailed Duck – approximately 4.5 million of the birds spend the winter there. In 2013, the Latvian Ornithological Society chose the Long-tailed Duck as the Bird of the Year in Latvia.

LVL 0.98 : The European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) is a beautiful bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. The European Bee-eater used to be a rare guest in Latvia, but since 2003 it has been nesting here every year, making it one of the latest bird species nesting in Latvia. The European Bee-eater eats mainly bees, wasps, hornets, dragonflies and various insects. The bird can eat as much as 250 bees in a day.

Slovakia FDC on "Joint Issue with Korea"

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Slovakia

Joint Issue with Korea

Date of Issue : 31 May 2013

Top FDC :
Pansori is a genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist and a drummer. During performances lasting up to eight hours, a male or female singer, accompanied by a single drum, improvises on texts that combine rural and erudite literary expressions. Pansori originated in south-west Korea in the seventeenth century. Since November 7, 2003 Pansori is a part of the world cultural heritage UNESCO as “Masterpiece of the Oral Tradition and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

Second FDC :
The Lúčnica art ensemble has a history of 65 years (first public appearances are dated as far as 1948). The Lúčnica art ensemble consists of three basic parts: 12-member orchestra, choir and dance ensemble which is managed since its beginning by the artistic director and choreographer prof. Štefan Nosáľ. A dancing young Slovak couple dressed in a ceremonial folk costume from the Central Slovakia area of Podpoľanie represents a motif of the stamp. The motif of a skirt constituting the imprint on FDC comes from the upper Liptov region.

China FDC on "Little Tadpoles Looking for Their Mother"

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China


Little Tadpoles Looking for Their Mother

Date of Issue : 1 June 2013

5-1 : Coming across Grandpa Shrimp
5-2 : Mother Goldfish with Big Eyes
5-3 : Mother Crab with White Belly
5-4 : Mother Tortoise with Four Legs
5-5 : Their Mother Finally Found

Written by Fang Huizhen and Sheng Lude, "Little Tadpoles Looking for their Mother" is a fairy tale and lively tells about the scientific law for tadpoles' development by metamorphosis. The fairy tale was filmed in 1960 by Shanghai Animation Film Studio and was adapted into a color ink painting cartoon, the very first one of China. The stamps show little tadpoles ask Grandpa Shrimp for information and mistake the goldfish, the crab and the tortoise as their mother before they finally find their mother.

Israel ATM FDC on "Spotted Rockrose"

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Israel

Spotted Rockrose ATM

Date of Issue : 26 May 2013

Korea FDC on "20th Anniversary of Korea - Slovakia Diplomatic Relations"

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South Korea

20th Anniversary of Korea - Slovakia Diplomatic Relations

Date of Issue : 31 May 2013

The year 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Slovakia. The set of joint issue stamps features the two countries' performance arts – Korea’s "Pansori" and Slovakia’s "Lucnica".

Presumed to have started from the Joseon Dynasty or even before, Pansori Epic Chant is an oral performance technique where a singer (sorikkun) sings a song composed of a story (chang), words (aniri) and body language (neoreumsae) to the tune of the drummer (gosu). UNESCO recognized Pansori’s uniqueness and designated it as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Lucnica has a 65-year-old tradition. Known around the world as the representative culture of Slovakia (Czechoslovakia before 1993), Lucnica is divided largely into three different parts: dance ensemble, chorus, and orchestra. The stamp features the dance by a man-woman couple in Slovakia’s traditional folk costumes.

Indonesia FDC on "100 Years of Ki Hadjar Dewantara's Article 'If I were a Dutchman'"

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Indonesia


100 Years of Ki Hadjar Dewantara's Article 'If I were a Dutchman'

Date of Issue : 2 May 2013

Ki Hadjar Dewantara actually named Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat, was born in Yogyakarta on 2 May 1889. As a writer and journalist, Ki Hadjar Dewantara often-scathing criticism to the Dutch government. Many writings published in the local newspaper. One of the article which contains scathing crirism of the Dutch titled "Als lk een Nederlander was" which means "If I were a Dutchman".

As a result of Ki Hadjar Dewantara's article in the local media that contains critism of the Dutch government, he evently arrested and exciled to the island of Bangka. In 1913, Ki Hadjar Dewantara was transferred to Holland along with Douwes Dekker, and Dr. Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo. These three figures effluent was then dubbed "Tiga Serangkai" (Three as Ones).

Benin Postcard - Cotonou

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Bilhete Postal

Benin

My first postcard from Benin. It shows a view of Cotonou which is the largest city of Benin. Thank You very much to my friend !

Israel FDC on "Israel National Trail"

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Israel

Israel National Trail

Date of Issue : 26 May 2013

The Israel National Trail is a hiking route stretching along the length of Israel from the Dan River in the north to Eilat in the south. It is approximately 1000km (620miles) long.

The sheet features select sites along the Israel National Trail : Tel Hai, Ein Hod, Mount Tabor, Yad Kennedy (JFK Memorial), Antipatris fortress, Tel Afek, Beit Guvrin caves, Mount Carbolet, Ovdat, ramon Crater, Solomon's Pillars, Timna Park and the Underwater Observatory in Eilat.

Bahamas Postcard

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Bilhete Postal

Bahamas

Very beautiful map postcard from the Bahamas. Thank You very much to my friend !

Estonia FDC on "Heads of State of the Republic of Estonia - Kaarel Eenpalu"

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Estonia

Heads of State of the Republic of Estonia - Kaarel Eenpalu

Date of Issue : 28 May 2013

Kaarel Eenpalu (until 1935 named Karl August Einbund) (28 May 1888 in Paju talu, Vesneri Parish, Tartu County, Estonia, Russian Empire – 27 January or 28 January 1942, Kirov Oblast, Russia, USSR). From 19 July to 1 November 1932 he was the head of state (Riigivanem, literally "Elder of State"). In 1934–1938 he was again Minister of Internal Affairs, and in 1938–1939 he was the Prime Minister of Estonia.

After the Soviet Union occupied Estonia on 17 June 1940, Eenpalu, along with a number of other leading Estonian politicians, was arrested in July 1940 and subsequently deported to Russia. He died in 1942 in a Soviet prison camp in Vyatka (Vyatlag), Kirov (Vyatka) Oblast.

Israel ATM FDC on "65 Years of Israel - Tel Aviv"

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Israel

65 Years of Israel - Tel Aviv ATM

Date of Issue : 26 May 2013

Russia FDC on "Weapon of the Victory - Warships"

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Russia

Weapon of the Victory - Warships

Date of Issue : 8 May 2013

10p stamp : Red Banner mine sweeper “Mina”
Mine sweeper “Mina” took part in the landing operations in 1942 in Alushta, in 1943 in South Ozereika and other combat operations. The mine sweeper was awarded the title of Red Banner.

12p stamp : Guard escort ship “Metel”
The escort ship “Metel” maintained a patrol on the approaches to the main base of fleet, convoyed landing and transport ships, launched an assault into enemy’s bases and ports. On August 26, 1945 the Escort ship “Metel” was awarded the title “Guard”.

15p stamp : Guard armored boat BKA-75
In 1942 the armored boat BKA-75 participated in battles for Stalingrad. In spring and in summer of 1943 BKA-75 convoyed caravans of transport and at the end of the year it took part in a famous Kerch-Eltigen landing operation.

20p stamp : Red Banner gun vessel “Usyskin”
Gun vessel “Usyskin” was included into the Volga fleet. It was awarded the title of Red Banner for the participation in the defense of Stalingrad.

Indonesia FDC on "50 Years of Liberation of West Irian"

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Indonesia


50 Years of Liberation of West Irian

Date of Issue : 1 May 2013

3-1 : Education for the citizens of Pupua
3-2 : The Beauty of Seabed of Pupua
3-3 : Pupua's Natural and Cultural Riches

Sri Lanka Postcard

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Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan postcard which shows the view of betel nut palms and paddy field. Thank You very much to my friend !

Papua New Guinea Postcard - Port Moresby

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Bilhete Postal

Papua New Guinea

My first postcard from Papua New Guinea. It shows the view of Fairfax Harbour and Royal Papuan Yacht Club. My friend is so kind to affix so many beautiful stamps, including an odd shaped spider stamp, on the card. Thank You very much to my friend !

China FDC on "Ancient Towns of China (I)"

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China


Ancient Towns of China (I)

Date of Issue : 19 May 2013

8-1 : Qiantong Town in Ninghai, Zhejiang
8-2 : Laitan Town in Hechuan, Chongqing
8-3 : Heping Town in Shaowu, Fujian
8-4 : Jingziguan Town in Xichuan, Henan
8-5 : Heshun Town in Tengchong, Yunnan
8-6 : Tangjiawan Town in Zhuhai, Guangdong
8-7 : Lizhuang Town in Yibin, Sichuan
8-8 : Jingsheng Town in Lingshi, Shanxi

Estonia FDC on "450th Anniversary the City of Kuressaare"

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Estonia

450th Anniversary the City of Kuressaare

Date of Issue : 8 May 2013

On 8 May 1563, Bishop Magnus of Oesel-Wiek and Courland granted the Riga civic charter to Arensburg, today’s Kuressaare, at his Piltene residence. Magnus’s privilege granted to the citizens the right to set up leading bodies of the city, to administer civilian and criminal law and carry out local government functions. The charter protected monetary rights of the citizens, regulated terms of trading and issues of welfare of the city. The day of granting the charter is marked as the birthday of Kuressaare, although the settlement was mentioned for the first time as early as in 1424.

China FDC on "Thanks Mom"

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China


Thanks Mom

Date of Issue : 11 May 2013

Thailand Cover

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Thailand

A very nice cover from Thailand. Thank You very much to my friend !

Estonia FDC on "EUROPA – The Postman Van"

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Estonia

EUROPA – The Postman Van

Date of Issue : 2 May 2013

On Estonian and Livonian roads mail was carried on horseback until the middle of the 18th century. Constant growth in the carriage of mail and passengers caused the need that open-top carriages and covered wagons, called kibitkas, were taken into use. A new period in the carriage of passengers began in the 1820 to 1840s in connection with the introduction of stage coaches. According to the requirements a stage coach had to have iron axles, good appearance and built in accordance with drawings endorsed by the chief of the mail routes. One of the illustrations features a government stage coach dating from 1840 and the other a modern mail carriage vehicle. Today there are more than 350 mail carriage vehicles in Estonia, covering about 40,000 kilometres daily.

Slovakia FDC on "EUROPA 2013: Postal Vehicle"

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Slovakia

EUROPA 2013: Postal Vehicle

Date of Issue : 9 May 2013

The bus depicted on the postage stamp was manufactured with chassis of Škoda 125 and four-stroke petrol water-cooled four-cylinder engine with capacity of 1,944 cm3 and power of 30 hp.

A postman wearing a period postal uniform with a leaving bus Škoda 125 in the background is depicted on FDC.

Italy FDC on "Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis"

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Italy

Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Francis

Date of Issue : 2 May 2013

The stamp shows a photograph of His Holiness Pope Francis, chosen as the Bishop of Rome and Head of the Catholic Church on 13 March 2013.

There is also a Beatification of Pope John Paul II stamp (issued on 29 April 2011) on the left. Very nice. Thank You very much to my friend.