Sri Lanka Cover

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Sri Lanka

A nice cover with "Colonial Buildings of Sri Lanka" stamps (issued on 11 Sep 2012). Thank You very much to my friend !

Indonesia FDC on "100th Anniversary of Indonesian Scout Movement"

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Indonesia


100th Anniversary of Indonesian Scout Movement

Date of Issue : 14 August 2012

Israel FDC on "Visit Israel"

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Israel

Visit Israel

Date of Issue : 4 September 2012

Rosh Hanikra
Rosh Hanikra is located at the northern edge of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline. A cable car provides visitors with breathtaking views en route to the grottos and the beach is one of Israel’s most beautiful beaches.

Jaffa
Jaffa is a key city in the eastern Mediterranean Basin and the western entryway into the Land of Israel. Monasteries, churches and mosques co-exist peacefully along the city’s streets and the flea market is always full of good cheer.

Timna
Timna Park is located approximately 25 kms north of Eilat. The park provides a geological window of landscape formations sculpted by the forces of Nature. Timna Park offers a new bicycle trail, hiking trails, visits to historical sites and various educational activities.

China FDC on "Qin Slips from Liye"

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China


Qin Slips from Liye

Date of Issue : 13 September 2012

2-1 : Multiplication
2-2 : Qin Calendar

The Qin slips from Liye are official archives of the government of Qianling County in Dongting Prefecture, ruled by the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). In June 2002, some 37,000 slips were unearthed from the ruins of Liye Ancient Town in Longshan County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province. All bearing characters written by writing brushes, they are mostly government decrees and documents, covering many aspects from household registration to land reclamation and agricultural taxation. A 23cm x 4.5cm wooden slip was found to carry the multiplication table as well as characters on both sides. The slip inscription on the Qin Calendar is an offical letter from the government of Yangling County to Dongting Prefecture.

Slovakia FDC on "Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Šaštín"

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Slovakia

Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Šaštín

Date of Issue : 14 September 2012

A wooden statue of Pieta was the gift donated by countess Czobor in 1564 and this statue became an object of folk worship. The Pauline order was asked to take care of the modest chapel with the statue and later they built a monumental cathedral in the Late Baroque style and adjoining monastery with the support of noble donors.

The tradition of the pilgrimage lasted even after the cancellation of the Pauline order in 1786. The importance of Šaštín as a pilgrim site was enhanced when the Virgin Mary of Seven Grievances was proclaimed the Patron of Slovakia by decree of the Holy See on 22nd April 1927. Besides the ecclesiastic, religious and cultural importance of Šaštín as a pilgrim site, the monastery and monumental cathedral is also a complex with historical monuments that belong to the most valuable masterpieces of the Late Baroque architecture and art with Central European significance.

Estonia FDC on "Käsmu Lighthouse"

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Estonia

Käsmu Lighthouse

Date of Issue : 13 September 2012

The lighthouse is on the higher western bank of Käsmu Bay (earlier Kasperwieck). The Käsmu Lighthouse, built on the initiative of local ship owners and the maritime school, began working in 1892. It was a building more like a wooden house six meters high with the walls painted white. The height of the light was 8.2 meters and its visibility six miles. The Käsmu Lighthouse will be 120 years old in 2012.

Israel ATM FDC on "Dusky Grouper"

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Israel

Dusky Grouper ATM

Date of Issue : 4 September 2012

Singapore FDC on "Giant Pandas"

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Singapore

Giant Pandas

Date of Issue : 6 September 2012

S$0.50 : Kai Kai
S$0.65 : Jia Jia
S$2.00 : Kai Kai and Jia Jia

To mark the twentieth anniversary of Singapore's diplomatic relations between Singapore and China in 2010, a pair of giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia, would be in Singapore for the next 10 years.

The 2 giant pandas are from the Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base, Szechuan province. Kai Kai was born on 14 September 2007, while Jia Jia was born on 3 September 2008. The giant pandas would be staying in their habitat situated at the Yangtze River zone of River Safari.

Portugal Postcard - Nazaré

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Bilhete Postal

Portugal

A nice postcard showing the view of Nazaré. Thank You very much to my friend!

China FDC on "A Glimpse of Yanbian"

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China


A Glimpse of Yanbian

Date of Issue : 3 September 2012

3-1 : Harvest Dance
3-2 : Hymn of Prosperity
3-3 : Ode to Harmony

3 September 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province. It is the only autonomous prefecture for the Korean ethnic group and the largest Korean-populated area in China.

Czech Republic FDC on "Beauty of Orchids"

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Czech Republic

Beauty of Orchids

Date of Issue : 5 September 2012

20 Koruna : Paphiopedilum charlesworthii, Paphiopedilum insigne and Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum
18 Koruna : Cattleya aclandiae and Cattleya maxima
14 Koruna : Stanhopea tigrina and Coryanthes feildingii
10 Koruna : Dendrobium peguanum

The stamps feature exotic orchids originating from foreign locations.

Very beautiful FDCs from Czech Republic with the autograph of the stamp designers, Libuše and Jaromír Knotek. Thank You very much to my friend !

Israel FDC on "Highest and Lowest Places on Earth - Israel Nepal Joint Issue"

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Israel

Highest and Lowest Places on Earth - Israel Nepal Joint Issue

Date of Issue : 4 September 2012

Israel and Nepal established full diplomatic relations in 1960. Nepal was among the first Asian countries to establish relations with Israel.

Nepal is located in the Himalaya Mountains and includes Mt. Everest – the earth’s highest mountain, and Israel is home to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea, 422 meters below sea level, the Lowest Place on Earth. It is a salt lake located in eastern Israel. The Kingdom of Jordan lies on its eastern border.

Mt. Everest, 8,848 meters above sea level, the Highest Place on Earth. It is located in the eastern portion of the Himalaya Mountains, on the border between Nepal and China. Most of the mountain lies in China, while the southern portion is located within the borders of the Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal.

Taiwan FDC on "Teas of Taiwan"

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Taiwan

Teas of Taiwan

Date of Issue : 12 September 2012

Baozhong tea : A lightly fermented tea, the tealeaves have a cord-like shape. The tea liquid is honey-gold in color with a pleasant aroma, and a smooth, refreshing taste. It is grown primarily in Pinglin, Shiding in New Taipei City and Wenshan, Nangang in Taipei City. The backdrop of the stamp is set against the Pinglin Tea Museum.

Tieguanyin tea : A partially fermented tea, Tieguanyin is more oxidized than Oolongs. The tealeaves are rolled into miniature balls, and the tea liquid is amber in color, with a slightly acidic and fruity zest; it is mellow, sweet and smooth to the taste. Tieguanyin is produced primarily in Muzha in Taipei City. The Maokong Gondola is the backdrop of the design.

Black tea : A fully fermented variety, the tealeaves come in tiny strips and crushed shreds. The tea liquid is a beautiful reddish brown with a light caramel aroma and rich flavor. Black teas are grown mostly in Yuchi in Nantou County and Ruisui in Hualian. The stamp is set against the Sun Moon Lake wharf.

Oolong tea : A partially fermented tea, Oolongs are unique for their semi-ball shaped or ball shaped leaves. The tea liquid is bright golden-yellow with strong fragrance. Nantou and Jiayi Counties are the primary Oolong-growing regions. The famed Alishan Forest Train is the backdrop of this stamp.

Oriental Beauty tea : Synonymous with White Tip Oolong, this variety is heavily fermented. The leaves are attached to the twigs, with five colors interspersed across to form a flower-shaped pattern. The liquid is reddish orange that smacks of nectar or ripe fruit, with a rich and smooth aroma. The tea is grown in Emei, Beipu in Xinzhu County, Toufen in Miali County, Pinglin and Shiding in New Taipei City. The stamp features the suspension bridge astride Emei Lake in the backdrop.

Korea FDC on "World Conservation Congress Jeju 2012"

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South Korea

World Conservation Congress Jeju 2012

Date of Issue : 6 September 2012

The stamp features green sprouts and the Congress emblem.

The "World Conservation Congress", would be held during 10 days from September 6th to 15th, 2012 on Jeju Island.

The World Conservation Congress is an environmental meeting sponsored by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) every four years. This round of Congress to be held on Jeju Island, participated by 10,000 people from 1,200 organizations from 180 or so countries, will conduct various discussions on environmental conservation in the contemporary era.

St. Maarten Postcard

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Bilhete Postal

St. Maarten

A very nice map postcard showing the entire Caribbean island of Saint Martin. St. Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern half of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, while the northern half of the island constitutes the French overseas collectivity of Saint-Martin.

Thank You very much to my friend !

China FDC on "Ci of the Song Dynasty"

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China


Ci of the Song Dynasty

Date of Issue : 31 August 2012

6-1 : Huanxisha 浣溪沙 (Yan Shu 晏殊)
6-2 : Niannujiao - Remembering Chibi 念奴嬌·赤壁懷古 (Su Shi 蘇軾)
6-3 : Queqiaoxian 鵲橋仙 (Qin Guan 秦觀)
6-4 : Yijianmei 一剪梅 (Li Qingzhao 李清照)
6-5 : Busuanzi - Ode to the Wintersweets 蔔運算元·詠梅 (Lu You 陸遊)
6-6 : Pozhenzi - A Poem to Chen Tongfu in a Heroic Vein 破陣子·爲陳同甫賦壯語以寄 (Xin Qiji 辛棄疾)

Sri Lanka Postcard - Galle Fort

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

A very nice Sri Lankan view postcard showing the Galle Fort. I like all the beautiful stamps. Thank You very much to my friend !

Portugal Postcard - Pedro IV Square

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Bilhete Postal

Portugal

A nice postcard showing the view of Pedro IV Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV, also known as Rossio Square). Thank You very much to my friend!

Estonia FDC on "Estonian Mushrooms - European Destroying Angel"

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Estonia

Estonian Mushrooms - European Destroying Angel

Date of Issue : 30 August 2012

The stamp shows the deadly Amanita virosa, commonly known as the European destroying angel. After eating a meal of the destroying angel the latent period is rather long, with the first symptoms, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach pains, occurring within five to twelve hours but they will then fade away for several hours and even days to return with vengeance, but by that time kidney and liver damage is well underway. The death angel often grows in Estonian spruce groves and groves mixed with spruce. It is totally white, with a pure white cap, initially egg-shaped and later convex or flat. The gills are white and the stem has a fragile ring on the stipe. The death angel is often mixed up with the common white mushroom, but one of their main differences is that its stipe has a ring and a volva, which the white mushroom does not have.

Latvia FDC on "125th Birthday of Friedrich Zander"

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Latvia

125th Birthday of Friedrich Zander

Date of Issue : 23 August 2012

The stamp depicting a portrait of the inventor, while the envelope features planets, stars, and a rocket.

Friedrich Zander made an invaluable contribution to astronautics research. As early as in the beginning of the 20th century, Zander began implementing his ideas about spaceflight and designing rockets. He acquired his education at the Riga Polytechnic Institute, and was the head of the Aircraft Association of Riga students. The lunar impact crater Tsander is named after him, as are streets in his native Riga and in Moscow.

Zander was born on 23 August 1887 in Riga and died on 28 March 1933 in Kislovodsk (USSR).

See also : Russia FDC on "125th Birth Anniversary of F.A. Zander"

China FDC on "Hetian Jade"

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China


Hetian Jade

Date of Issue : 28 August 2012

4-1 : Jade Bixie Warding off Evil
4-2 : Jade with Characters "Chang Le" and Grain Patterns
4-3 : Jade Wine Cup with Two Ears on a Golden Silver
4-4 : Jade Elephant with Two Cleaning Kids on its Back

Hetian Jade comes from Hetian in the Kunlun Mountains in Xinjiang. It is divided mainly into five categories according to color: yellow, white, blue green and dark green. First used in the late Neolithic Period, Hetian Jade entered the central plains during the Yin and Shang dynasties (1600 BC - 1046 BC) and gradually became the main source of jade for later dynasties.