Israel FDC on "150 Anniversary of Alliance Israelite Universelle"

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Israel

150 Anniversary of Alliance Israelite Universelle

Date of Issue : 27 January 2010

The Stamp:
- Synagogue at the “Mikveh Israel” Agricultural School, founded in 1894.
- A group of gymnasts and “scouts”, students at the Alliance school in Teheran, at a sporting event held in May 1936 in honor of the Iranian Royal Prince and Heir.
- The top section of the entry gate to the old Alliance Israelite Universelle school in Jerusalem – “Torah Umelachah”. The gate was preserved and is currently located at the entrance to the “Clal” building in Jerusalem.

The FDC Cover:
- An Alliance pupil in Tunisia by a chalkboard displaying text in the three studied languages: Hebrew, Arabic and French.
- The original “Kol Israel Haverim” symbol, emphasizing the organization’s obligation to mutual commitment.

Alliance Isralite Universelle is an international Jewish organization founded by prominent Jews in Paris in 1860. Following anti-Semitic events, organization members wished to provide Jewish leadership for Jews everywhere. Alliance operated in the diplomatic realm to achieve emancipation and improve the position of Jews around the world as well as in the educational realm, through the founding of a network of hundreds of Jewish schools.

In Israel, Alliance established "Mikveh Israel", the first Jewish agricultural school, as well as schools in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Tiberius and Safed.

Twelve schools currently operate under the auspices of Alliance: one in Belgium, two in Spain, two in Canada, three in Morocco and four in France. A school for Torah study, an institute for Jewish studies and one of the largest library and book archives in Europe were also established in France.

The Israeli branch of the organization, called “Kol Israel Haverim”, operates in the realm of Jewish education and equal opportunity. The Israeli organization supports the Kerem Institute for Teacher Training for a Humanistic-Jewish Education; “Memizrach LaShemesh” – a Center for Social Jewish Leadership; “Morasha” – a School Network for Jewish Heritage and Community Involvement; “Sha'ar” – a School Network which focuses on disadvantaged youth and includes the Historical Schools of Alliance and “Hashayara” – a program that builds educational ties between educators in Israel and in the Diaspora.

Germany Postcard

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Bilhete Postal

Germany

I very much like the cute stamp on the card.

Estonia FDC on "Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010"

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Estonia

Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010

Date of Issue : 04 February 2010

The 21st Olympic Winter Games will run from 12th to 28th February in Vancouver, Canada. Estonian sportsmen first took part in Olympic Winter Games in 1928 in Sankt Moritz. Since 1964 five sportsmen have brought back eight medals (5-1-2) from the Winter Games: Ants Antson gold (1964), Allar Levandi bronze (1988), Jaak Mae bronze (2002), Andrus Veerpalu gold and silver (2002) and gold (2006) and Kristina ©migun two gold medals (2006).

Korea FDC on "XXI Olympic Winter Games - Vancouver 2010"
Slovakia FDC on "Winter Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver"

I like the Estonia Winter Olympic Games stamp very much.

United Nations Postcard - New York Headquarters

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

United Nations

A nice postcard of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. There are total 5 stamps on the postcard. I very much like the hologram stamp.

Indonesia FDC on "Year of the Tiger

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Indonesia


Year of the Tiger

Date of Issue : 6 Feb 2010

Hong Kong "Year of the Tiger" FDC
Macau "Lunar Year of Tiger" FDC
Vietnam "Year of Tiger" FDC
Korea "Year of Tiger" FDC
China "Year of Tiger" FDC

Korea FDC on "XXI Olympic Winter Games - Vancouver 2010"

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South Korea

XXI Olympic Winter Games - Vancouver 2010

Date of Issue : 12 Feb 2010

The 21th Olympic Winter Games will be held from February 12 to 28, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada.

It is the third Olympic Games to be held in Canada, under the slogan of “With Glowing Hearts,” after the 1976 Montreal Olympic Summer Games and the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games.

The Commemorative Stamps for the 21st Vancouver Olympic Winter Games show scenes from figure skating and short track speed skating.

Slovakia FDC on "Winter Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver"

China FDC on "Liangping New Year Woodprints"

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China


Liangping New Year Woodprints (梁平木版年画)

Date of Issue : 6 Feb 2010

(3rd FDC from top)
4-1 : Gate God (门神)
4-2 : Stealing the Immortal Grass (盗仙草)

(2nd FDC from top)
4-3 : Peace Leads to Happiness (和气致祥)
4-4 : Exiting the Pass with a Stolen Token (盗令出关)

The Liangping New Year Woodprints, originated in Liangping County, Chongqing Municipality, and sold throughout the nation, was in full flourish during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). The subjects range from auspicious blessings to theatrical dramas and mythological legends. It was included on the first National Intangible Cultural Heritage List by China's State Council in 2006.

Taiwan FDC on "Traditional Taiwanese Residences Postage Stamps (II)"

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Taiwan

Traditional Taiwanese Residences Postage Stamps (II)

Date of Issue : 9 Feb 2010

NT$5 stamp : The Lin An-tai Historical Home in Taipei (臺北林安泰宅)
First built in 1783, this compound with two courtyards and several side wings is characteristic of the Anxi style of residential architecture in northern Taiwan. It is an outstanding example of a merchant’s home from that era. Due to a road widening project, the structure was taken apart in 1978 and then reassembled in Binjiang Park by the Taipei City Government in 1984.

NT$5 stamp : The Li Family Compound in Luzhou, Taipei County (臺北蘆洲李宅)
First built in 1857 and renovated in 1903, this compound has three courtyards and several side wings. It is representative of large traditional rural dwellings in northern Taiwan. The Li Family Compound has the simple, solid style of a farmer’s home and the stately spirit of a residence of an important official or member of the gentry. It is a historical abode with a strong cultural flavor

NT$5 stamp : The Lin Family Compound in Wufeng, Taichung County (臺中霧峰林宅)
First built in 1858, this house has several courtyards and side wings. It is the largest historical government official’s residence in Taiwan. Parts of the complex collapsed during the 921 Earthquake. They have largely been restored in the years since.

NT$12 stamp : Xiaoyun Villa in Shengang, Taichung County (臺中神岡筱雲山莊)
First built in 1866, this compound has two courtyards and several side wings. It is a home that is romantic, cultural and artistic at the same time. Several later additions to the compound are a mixture of Japanese and western architectural styles. The villa could serve as a museum to the history of residential architecture in Taiwan all by itself.

I very much like the design of this stamp issue.

Israel FDC on "Lions Israel’s 50th Anniversary"

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Israel

Lions Israel’s 50th Anniversary

Date of Issue : 27 January 2010

In March 1960, the late Prime Minister David Ben Gurion charged the Director General of his office, Mr. Teddy Kollek, with the task of establishing the Lions organization in Israel. The first club, established in Jerusalem and remaining active to this day, was subsequently followed by additional clubs in Tel-Aviv and Haifa. Clubs currently exist throughout the country, from Nazareth in the north to Arad in the south.

A lion, the largest volunteer organization in the world, is an international organization whose motto is “We Serve”. Lions’ 1,350,000 worldwide members, men and women, belong to 45,000 clubs in some 200 countries.

Some 900 volunteers are currently active in Israel, within the framework of 32 clubs. Lions Israel is involved in many areas, through its clubs throughout the country: aid to the visually impaired, organizing blood drives, scholarships to pupils and students, youth exchanges between Israel and other countries, the “Peace Poster” competition and music among children and youths, a painting competition for seniors, managing “Europe Cafe” – cafes for Holocaust survivors, fostering community volunteerism and more.

Finland Postcard - Harjavalta

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Finland

A very nice multiview postcard of Harjavalta, with three pictures: the old church, the Kyntäjä statue and the view of the Kokemäenjoki river by the the power station. I very much like the Finland national flag stamp affixed on the card.

Israel ATM FDC on "Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)"

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Israel

Bird Series : Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Date of Issue : 27 January 2010

This is a very nice ATM FDC.

Montenegro Postcard - Niksic

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Bilhete Postal

Montenegro

A nice postcard from Montenegro. I like the beautiful stamps on the card.

Hong Kong FDC on "Year of the Tiger"

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Hong Kong

Year of the Tiger

Date of Issue : 6 February 2010

This is the eleventh Lunar New Year special stamp issue in the third series released by Hongkong Post. The first and second sets of special stamps for the Year of the Tiger were issued in 1974 and 1998 respectively.

Each lunar year in China is named after an animal, running in twelve-year cycles. In traditional culture, the Tiger is a symbol of power and daring. It is believed that people born in the Year of the Tiger are independent and confident, passionate and playful. They act positively and bravely, displaying strong leadership.

The four stamps come in denominations of $1.40, $2.40, $3.00 and $5.00. The stamps vividly portray four different breeds of tigers in motion or at rest, each with a distinct kingly air. Five-colour printing is used to capture the gradation of light and shade, accentuating the three-dimensional effect by enhancing the image details of the tigers against a background of pasture and hills delineated in silver.

Macau "Lunar Year of Tiger" FDC
Vietnam "Year of Tiger" FDC
Korea "Year of Tiger" FDC
China "Year of Tiger" FDC
Hong Kong Year of Tiger stamps is the first stamp issue of Hong Kong in 2010. I rather like the stamp design. As you can seen above, there is autograph of Mr Bon Kwan (關信剛), the stamp designer of both the Year of Tiger and the 2006 Bird definitive stamps, on the FDC.

Its about the time of the Chinese New Year. May I wish you all :
Happy Chinese New Year

農曆新年快樂

Bom Ano Novo Lunar

Sri Lanka Postcard

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

Another very nice postcard from Sri Lanka with clear cancellation. Also, the long stamp is really beautiful.

Slovakia FDC on "President of Slovak Republic"

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Slovakia

President of Slovak Republic

Date of Issue : 29 January 2010

Ivan Gašparovič (born on March 27, 1941 in Poltár) is a Slovak politician and law professor who has been the President of Slovakia since June 15, 2004. He defended his repeated candidature for the position of the President in the presidential election on April 4th,2009. He was inaugurated into the second electoral term on June 15th, 2009

A nice FDC from Slovakia. My friend was so nice to affix also the Slovak president stamp issued last year.

Israel FDC on "'Past and Future in our Hands' - International Holocaust Remembrance Day"

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Israel

'Past and Future in our Hands' - International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Date of Issue : 27 January 2010

The stamp and stamp sheet designs are based on a photo by Karen Gillerman-Harel - "Past and Future in our Hands". The photo won the "My Flag" photo contest marking Israel's 60th anniversary.

On 1 November 2005, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7, designating 27 January as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

By the end of the 1960's about half a million Holocaust survivors had immigrated to Israel. Most of the immigrants were young, energetic, educated and imbued with Zionism that could be defined as instinctive Zionism. The contribution of these immigrants to Israeli society and country was imcomparable and made profound impact on the economy, politics, medicine, settlement, culture and in the military field particularly during the War of Independence. From the moment they arrived in Israel, the Holocaust survivor immigrants were dedicated to two objectives: preserving the memory of the Holocaust and passing it on to Israeli society, and actively shaping the Israeli national identity. A main section was reserved for Holocaust survivors during the legislation of the Holocaust Remembrance Day Law (1959).

Its a very nice FDC with a silver colored special cancellation.

Estonia FDC on "90th anniversary of Tartu Peace Treaty"

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Estonia

90th anniversary of Tartu Peace Treaty

Date of Issue : 02 February 2010

The Tartu Peace Treaty was signed on 2 February 1920 after two months of talks between delegations of the Republic of Estonia and Soviet Russia. The treaty ended the Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920) and officially confirmed the independence won on battlefields. By the treaty Russia voluntarily and for all time gave up “all rights of sovereignty that Russia had over the people and land of Estonia”. Jaan Poska, head of the Estonian delegation at the peace talks, had great services in negotiating favourable terms for his country.

My First Estonia FDC in 2010. The special cancellation looks very nice.

Israel FDC on "Birds of Israel"

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Israel

Birds of Israel

Date of Issue : 27 January 2010

(from left to right)
Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
The Goldfinch is one of the most colorful birds in Israel. It is resident in Israel and common along the Mediterranean Sea coast, spreading to the Negev and Arava areas as well. The Goldfinch population has decreased significantly during recent decades as they are hunted and caged with canaries as songbirds and due to thorn fields which are destroyed in residential areas.

Hoopoe - (Upupa epops) : The National Bird of Israel
The Hoopoe is a beautiful bird noted for its orange "crown" of feathers. It is orange in color, with shades of black and white on its wings and tail. The Hoopoe population is resident in Israel and it nests in holes in tree tucks and vertical walls of homes. Its monotone song, "hood, hood" instilled its Arabic name.

Graceful prinia (Prinia gracilis)
This is one of the tiniest birds in Israel, weighing only 6.5 to 7.5 grams. The Graceful Prinia is extremely common in gardens throughout Israel. These birds live in pairs within their habitat and their Hebrew name, "Pashosh" has become a popular nickname for people who are small and cute. A Graceful Prinia egg weighs less than one gram!

A very very nice bird stamp issue.