China FDC on "Guangji Bridge"

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China


Guangji Bridge (广济桥)

Date of Issue : 16 November 2009

Guangji Bridge, also known as Xiangzi Bridge, first built in 1171, spans over a river in the east of Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province. An outstanding model in combining beam bridge, floating bridge and arch bridge, the structure features 24 piers at the eastern and western section, which support pavilions varying from one another. The central part of the bridge is formed by 18 shuttle-shaped boats connected appearance, characterized by an integration of girders and boats as well as an array of elegant pavilions in traditional styles

Another very nice stamp issues.

Estonia FDC on "Christmas"

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Estonia

Christmas

Date of Issue : 19 November 2009

The first postage stamp dedicated to Christmas was issued in Canada in 1898, and Estonia got its first Christmas stamp in 1992.

My first 2 Christmas FDCs in the year 2009. Very nice.

China FDC on "Ancient Academies (2nd Series)"

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China


Ancient Academies (2nd Series)

Date of Issue : 15 November 2009

(On the top FDC)
4-1 (1.20 yuan) : Shigu Academy & Han Yu (石鼓书院 & 韩愈)
Shigu Academy was named after its location on the Shigu Mountain north to Hengyang City, Hunan Province. It was originally the place where Li Kuanzhong, a scholar in the Tang Dynasty, Built a studio, and later it became, in the Song Dynasty, an academy, attracting many famous scholars and followers. Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty bestowed the land and the tablet bearing Shigu Academy on it, making the Academy highly reputed throughout the country

(On the top FDC)
4-2 (1.20 yuan) : Anding Academy & Hu Yuan (安定书院 & 胡瑗)
Anding Academy lies in the Taizhou Middle School in Jiangsu Province. Hu Yuan, a renowned educator in the Northern Song Dynasty, once taught here, and developed the educational thought of combining both theory and practice, and implementing the education by subjects. The Academy was built by Chen Gai, the then governor of Taizhou in the Southern Song Dynasty, on the former site where Hu Yuan gave lectures. As one of the earliest academies of classical learning in Jiangsu Province, it had cultivated a large number of outstanding talents.

(On the lower FDC)
4-3 (1.20 yuan) : Ehu Academy & Zhu Xi, Lu Jiuyuan (鹅湖书院 & 朱熹, 陆九渊)
Located north of the Ehu Mountain in Qianshan County, Jiangxi Province, Ehu Academy was built by Cai Kang, a judicial official in the Song Dynasty, to mark the Ehu Meeting of such philosophers as Zhu Xi, Lv Zuqian, Lu Jiuyuan and Lu Jiuling. Now, the major architectures of the Academy have been well preserved with an integral layout after several times of destruction, rebuilding and renovation during the ups and downs over the past 800 years

(On the lower FDC)
4-4 (1.20 yuan) : Dongpo Academy & Su Dongpo (东坡书院 & 苏东坡)
Dongpo Academy, situated in Danzhou, Hainan Province, was first built in the Song Dynasty with the original name of Zaijiutang. It gradually evolved from a venue where Su Dongpo, a great scholar in the song Dynasty, assembled with local scholars during his exile in Danzhou to an academy with sacrificial and educational functions. Dongpo Academy, the supreme academy in Danzhou for all the following dynasties, is an important cultural site in Hainan Province.

The stamps are very beautiful. Very nice FDCs.

Indonesia FDC on "Provincial Flora & Fauna"

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Indonesia


Provincial Flora & Fauna

Date of Issue : 5 November 2009

These 2 Indonesian FDCs are both very nice and beautiful.

South Africa Postcard

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

South Africa

A really lovely cartoon card from my friend in South Africa.

Morocco Postcard - Casablanca

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Morocco

A nice nightview card of Casablanca from Morocco. The stamps on the card are beautiful.

Chile Postcard - Cathedral of Chillán

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Chile

A beautiful postcard from Chile. I very much like the colorful and nice stamps affixed on the card.

Estonia FDC on "Saku Hall"

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Estonia

Saku Hall

Date of Issue : 5 November 2009

Saku Hall is the most outstanding architectural monument in the small town of Saku on the middle reaches of the Vääna River close to Tallinn, one of the most beautiful examples of Classical architecture in Estonia. The first reports of the manor go back to 1489 when the manor seat was situated a few kilometres to the south from the present location. It moved to where it stands today in the 17th century. It had a number of earlier owners but in 1765 Otto Magnus von Rehbinder bought the estate. His grandson Paul Eduard started to build up the mansion in a grand style. The manor hall has a portico with rich decor supporting on four beautiful columns and large “Venetian” windows. The architect has remained unidentified (the famous Carlo Rossi of St. Petersburg has been suggested as one of the possible authors). Stucco décor and stencilled paintings enhance the interior. In the 20th century the manor hall housed a domestic economy school and then a specialised secondary school. It has also served as the seat of the local government. Today Saku Hall functions as a holiday and seminar centre.

Again, a very nice FDC from Estonia. You can see a new type Estonian registration mail label.

Hong Kong FDC on "Hong Kong, China - Brazil Joint Issue on Football"

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong, China - Brazil Joint Issue on Football

Date of Issue : 5 November 2009

$1.40 : Header by Striker
$2.40 : Defense by Goalkeeper
$3 : Long Pass by Skipper
$5 (NOT affixed on the FDC above) : Tackle by Defender

India FDC on "Rare Fauna of The North East"

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India

Rare Fauna of The North East

Date of issue : 1 October 2009

500p (Left) : Red Panda
It has a rounded head ,large erct pointed ears ,a stumpy muzzle and short hairy soled legs which protect it from cold. found in Himalayan regions above 5000 feet.

500p (Top Right) : Barbe's Leaf Monkey
These are colored greyish to black with brow ,hands and Feet being black and the upper arms , legs and tail ,a silvery grey. Found in Tripura ,Cachar and Karinganj districts of Assam , and Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.

500p (Lower Right) : Marbled Cat
The Cat is about the size of a domestic cat .Its Head and body length is 45-62 cm ( 18-24 “) and it weighs 2-5 Kg . Its tail is extremely long and bushy . Apart from Northern India also found in Nepal , Guangxi and Yunnan (China ) , Cambodia ,Laos, Myanamar, Thailand ,Vietnam , Malaysia , Sumatra etc.

A very nice India FDC. I very much like the stamp design.

Slovakia FDC on "Preservation of Nature - European Pond Terrapin"

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Slovakia

Preservation of Nature - European Pond Terrapin

Date of Issue : 23 October 2009

The European Pond Turtle is the only original representative of turtles in Slovakia. Like other water turtle species, it has a slightly curved shell. The upper part of the shell (the carapace) is up to 30 centimetres long, and is brown-black with many small whitish or yellow spots. The lower shell (the plastron) is yellow-white to light-brown and has variably dark (usually black) markings. The turtle’s skin on its limbs, tail, neck and the greater part of head is covered by scutes. It has five digits on the front feet, and four digits fused into paddles for swimming with sharp claws on its back feet.
European Pond Turtles usually occur in still water or muddy and overgrown streams in lower altitudes. Their activity begins at the end of March, depending on the climate. During the day they search for food, hide by water areas, and sun themselves on shores or on top of objects floating in water. The turtles can remain submerged for long periods due to their strong breathing apparatus which consists of anal gland and oral cavity mucosa that can absorb oxygen from the water. Turtles usually mate in the water in the early spring, then in late spring or early summer the females lay eggs around ponds into shallow dug holes. In warmer areas the young hatch in autumn. In Slovakia they usually hatch the following year in spring. The young mature at the age of 15 years and live for about 70 years or more. European Pond Turtles are mostly carnivorous, usually feeding on insects, fish, crustaceans, earthworms, and amphibians, sometimes also dead animals, and their diet also includes vegetation. They usually hibernate buried at the bottom of water biotopes from the end of October.
In Slovakia, European Pond Turtles only occur within a few isolated areas of the Eastern and Western lowlands.

A very nice FDC from Slovakia. The datestamp postmark is very clear. Thank You very much to my friend in Slovakia.

Lithuania FDC on "The World heritage Objects - Struve Geodetic Arc"

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Lithuania

The World Heritage Objects - Struve Geodetic Arc

Date of Issue : 24 October 2009

537 (2 Lt) : TRIANGULATION CHAIN OF STRUVE ARC
538 (2 Lt) : POINT IN MEŠKONYS OF STRUVE’S ARC

Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve (1793–1864), the professor of University of Tartu in Estonia developed methodology for measuring the arc of the meridian of the earth. He composed a triangulation chain of 258 triangles with special markings firmed on top. This chain was later named Struve Geodetic Arc in honour of the professor.
The establishment of Struve Geodetic Arc in 1816–1852 is one of the greatest and most impressive attempts to determine the exact size and shape of the earth. The triangulation chain passed through territories of ten countries – from the northernmost European city Hammerfest in Norway to Ismail in Ukraine at the Black Sea. The Arc crosses Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russian Federation, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. The fragments of this triangulation chain, which extended through the mentioned countries 2822 kilometres, were used for the calculation of the arc of meridian.
In the territory of Lithuania 3 points of Geodetic Arc out of 18 present in the country are marked: one in Rokiškis district (Gireišiai village) and two in Vilnius district (Paliepiukai and Meškonys villages).
From 2005 the Struve Geodetic Arc was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List. The Struve Geodetic Arc is the first trans-national nomination in the World Heritage List, introduced by ten states.
On June 16 2006 the geodetic point in Meškonys was introduced to the public.

My second real posted FDC from Lithuania. It is really a great surprise to me. The stamp design are nice. As you can seen, the FDC was sent on 26 Oct, 2 days after the first day of issue and I got it on 31 Oct. It only took 5 days for postal delivery. Inside the FDC, my friend has enclosed the First Day Sheet (FDS) of that issue. Thank You very much to my friend.

Estonia FDC on "Estonian Mills. Angla Windmill"

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Estonia

Estonian Mills. Angla Windmill

Date of Issue : 22 October 2009

The Angla windmills lie in Angla Village at the Upa-Leisi road, one of the main traffic and tourist routes of Estonia's western Saaremaa Island. The group of windmills is a Saaremaa must, being a symbol of the island and one of the best surviving groups of windmills in Estonia, standing at its original location on Angla Windmill Hill. The group consists of five windmills – four post windmills with rotatory bodies, the fifth being an octagonal wooden Dutch windmill with a rotatory boat-shaped roof and gallery. The Reinu windmill, dating back to the beginning of the 19th century, is the oldest in the group. Lause windmill (1880) probably has older parts in its structure. The third windmill in the complex is that of Viita. The Vilidu windmill (1913) was thoroughly restored in 2008 and has the original function of grinding flour with a miller working as a guide there in the summer. The Tedre Dutch windmill (1927) is currently under restoration.