Italy Postcard - Udine

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Italy

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

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

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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.

Austria Postcard - Vienna

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Austria

A very nice card of Vienna with a clear postmark.

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.

Japan Postcard - Rainbow Bridge

Postcard
明信片
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.

Malaysia FDC on "Unique Birds"

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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"

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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.

Estonia FDC on "Paju Battle, 90th anniversary"

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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

Brazil Postcard - Iguassu Falls

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Brazil

A beautiful card of Iguassu Falls of Brazil received last year. The stamp is nice and the postmark is very clear

Malaysia Postcard

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Malaysia

A very nice multview map card from Malaysia with a beautiful triangle stamp. The postmark on the card is very clear.

China Souvenir Cover

Souvenir Cover
紀念封
Envelope Comemorativo

China


Commemorate Chinese Zodiac Sign Transition

The Year of the Rat ends on 25 Jan 2009 and the Year of the Ox begins on 26 Jan 2009. The souvenir cover shown above was issued by the Shanghai Philatelic Corporation to commemorate the transition of Chinese Zodiac Sign from Rat to Ox. On the cover, the 1.20 yuan "Year of the Rat" stamp and the 0.10 yuan definitive stamp was cancelled at 24:00 of 25 Jan 2009, while the 1.20 yuan "Year of the Ox" stamp was cancelled at 00:00 of 26 Jan 2009 (the postmark is a little bit unclear, but I could still able to see the time and date on it)

Vietnam FDC on "Vietnam - Singapore Joint stamp issue"

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Vietnam

Vietnam - Singapore Joint stamp issue

Date of Issue : 18 Nov 2008

Value (2-1), denomination of 2,000d: Durian fruit - Durio zibethinus Muray
The Durian, native to Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, is the fruit of trees from the genus Durio belonging Malvaceae family. It is mostly planted in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, India and Australia. The fruit can grow up to 30 centimetres long and 15 centimetres in diameter, typically weighs one to four kilograms and formidable thorn-covered husk. The shell splits into five segments when ripe, exposing the creamy whitish, yellowish or pinkish aril which surrounds large seeds. The taste is sweet and unique odour.
The durian is commonly known and revered in Southeast Asia as the "King of the Fruits".

Value (2-2), denomination of 8,000d: Dragon fruit - Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose
Dragon fruit, the fruit of several cactus species, is cultivated as a flowering ornamental tree or fruit-tree. It not known exactly where the dragon fruit originated, but it is thought to have come from Central and South America. The dragon fruits are also cultivated in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Growing red dragonfruit with red or pink skin and white flesh in Thailand, China, Taiwan, Philippines ... are collected seeds from Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit in Vietnam.
Vietnam Dragon Fruit is a spectacular night flowering cactus with highly ornamental pink skin & white flesh fruit containing numerous small black seeds. Fruit can be up to 1kg with a melon like flavour. Dragon fruits are valuable fruit export of Vietnam.

Vietnam FDC on "Vietnam - Argentina Joint stamp issue"

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Vietnam

Vietnam - Argentina Joint stamp issue

Date of Issue : 25 Oct 2008

Value (2-1), denomination of 800d: Floss Silk Tree
Considered one of the most beautiful trees in the world, the Floss Silk Tree is a species of deciduous tropical plant from Argentina and Brazil. It is resistant to drought and moderate cold. It grows fast in spurts when water is abundant, and sometimes reaches more than 25m in height. Silk Floss blooms in early Fall with abandon. The older the tree, the better the flower display. And with individual trees grown from seed there are variations in the flower colors; more pink, more rose, etc. The fruits are ligneous ovoid pods, 20 cm long, which contain bean-sized black seeds surrounded by a mass of fibrous, fluffy matter reminiscent of cotton or silk.
Silk Floss Tree is cultivated as a flowering specimen tree. The seedpod silk has been used to stuff cushions.

Value (2-2), denomination of 10,000d: Lotus
This is the typical Lotus flower in West Lake of Hanoi - Vietnam. Lotus flowers in West Lake are unique for both their color and fragrance; they are lighter pink and sweeter in fragrance.
In Viet Nam, Lotus is assigned to the set of four seasons "Tø QuÝ": Orchids, Lotus, Daisies, Apricot blossoms and is also the symbol of Summer. Lotus tree has a lot of use. The department lotus flowers are processed food featuring flavor tastes of Viet Nam such as lotus rootstock salad, sugar coats lotus seeds, lotus compote, lotus tea... Lotus tea is a common drink in Vietnam. Lotus tea made from West Lake's lotus flowers is well known with its own unique flavor.

Vietnam FDC on "Joint Stamps issue between Vietnam - France"

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Vietnam

Joint Stamps issue between Vietnam - France

Date of Issue : 15 Oct 2008

Value (2-1), denomination of 800d: Bouches de Bonifacio in France
Bonifacio is a commune at the southern tip of the island of Corsica, in theCorse-du-Sud department, SartÌne district (arrondissement), Bonifacio total (canton). Bouches de Bonifacio is located on the Mediterranean Sea with the roughly limestone and coastal further into cliffs. This is an attraction famous of France.

Value (2-2), denomination of 14,000d : Ha Long bay in Vietnam
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands with rich vegetation cover and many beautiful caves. This is not only one of the attractions famous in the world but also be introduced to nominate as World's 7 Natural Wonder.

Indonesia FDC on "Year of the Ox"

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Indonesia


Year of the Ox

Date of Issue : 10 Jan 2009

I very much like the deisgn of this stamp issue

China "Year of the Ox" FDC
Korea "New Year’s Greetings" FDC

Saudi Arabia Postcard - Al-Masmak Place

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Saudi Arabia

This card shows the Al-Masmak Place. The postmark on the card is very clear.

Taiwan FDC on Giant Panda

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Taiwan

Sp.528 Cute Animal Series Postage Stamps – Giant Panda

Date of Issue : 20 Jan 2009

NT$5 stamp : Tuan Tuan
NT$9 stamp : Yuan Yuan
Miniature Sheet : Giant Pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan

A very popular and nice stamp issue of Taiwan. My friend was very kind to sent me 2 FDCs with different special cancellations, Taipei Temporary Post office issuing ceremory postmark (stamp set FDC) and Keelung Temporary Post Office special cancellation (miniature sheet FDC).