Estonia FDC on "From the Treasury of the Estonian Art Museum"

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Estonia

From the Treasury of the Estonian Art Museum

Date of Issue : 16 November 2012

Lepo Mikko (1911–1978), a graduate of the Pallas Art School in 1939, was a confirmed modernist whose vigorous creative stimulus was the atmosphere of spiritual liberation and change of the 1950s and 60s. In those years Mikko painted a number of poetic treatments of country life in the process of renewal, as well as painting landscapes. His most radical artistic searches took form in still lifes, one of the most outstanding examples being Still Life with Mandolin, painted in 1958. In that work, as well as in his other analogous works, the basis is the composition of objects that Mikko set up, in which proportions of form, rhythms of contours and decorative relations between patches of colour, rather than materiality and spaciousness, are of primary importance. One of the most fascinating features in Mikko’s works is the perfectly balanced relationship between abstraction and genuine impression.

Taiwan FDC on "Ancient Chinese Painting - Three Friends and a Hundred Birds”

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Taiwan

Ancient Chinese Painting - “Three Friends and a Hundred Birds”

Date of Issue : 22 November 2012

The painting “Three Friends and a Hundred Birds” is by the Ming Dynasty painter Pien Wen-chin (邊文進) from the National Palace Museum collection. The souvenir sheet features three stamps, each highlighting a portion of the original masterpiece

Pien Wen-chin (邊文進) was an important bird-and-flower painter at the early Ming Dynasty court. The "Three Friends of the Winter" refer to pine, bamboo, and plum blossom. Among them, plum blossom symbolizes integrity for its cold hardiness; bamboo is a homonym of a Chinese character that means "blessing", and pine symbolizes longevity. Though the painting depicts 97 birds, it includes "a hundred birds" in the title to indicate the multitude of birds being featured. Furthermore, the number 100 is regarded as auspicious in Chinese. In consideration of the fact that it was painted for the court, it may also signify "the hundred birds pay homage to the phoenix", an expression of great reverence.

Korea FDC on "Park Hyeokgeose of the Silla Kingdom"

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South Korea

Park Hyeokgeose of the Silla Kingdom

Date of Issue : 21 November 2012

The stamp design : Gathering of the 6 heads of the village hamlets, the horse that bows to the egg, the birth of Park Hyeokgeose, the birth of maiden Alyeong, the founding of the Silla Kingdom.

After the collapse of Gojoseon, its displaced people moved to and settled in Gyeongju, forming 6 village hamlets. One day, the heads of these 6 village hamlets decided to found a nation. Around this time, a white horse was seen kneeling and crying beside Najeong (a legendary well) in Yangsan (Namsan), Gyeongju. Taking a closer look, the people found an egg there. When they cracked the egg, a boy emerged from it. When they bathed the boy, his body emanated a gleaming luster, with birds and animals dancing, the earth and the sky trembling, and the sun and the moon growing brighter. This is how he came to be named Park Hyeokgeose. After a while, beside a well in Alyeong, a dragon appeared and from its armpit, a girl was born. Named after her birthplace, she was named Alyeong. People built a palace in the western brink of Yangsan (Namsan), and raised these two consecrated babies. In 57 BC, Park Hyeokgeose was coronated as the king and Alyeong as the queen, marking the founding of the country named Seorabeol.

Russia FDC on "400 Years of the Restoration of the Unity of the Russian State"

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Russia

400 Years of the Restoration of the Unity of the Russian State

Date of Issue : 2 November 2012

The souvenir sheet was issued to commemorate 400th anniversary of the expelling of the Polish-Lithuanian occupation forces from Moscow during the Time of Troubles in 1612. This event is considered as the symbol of the fact that the all social classes of occupied and torn by a civil war Russia united to preserve Russian statehood when there was no central power (neither a tsar nor a patriarch) to guide them.

The souvenir sheet features the leaders of the struggle against Polish-Lithuanian invasion Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, the spiritual leader of the resistance to invaders and the strife against separatists Patriarch Hermogenes, women giving their jewellery to the needs of the militia organized by K. Minin and D. Pozharsky, the icon of Theotokos of Kazan, that is considered as a protector of Russia and, as it is believed, was helping Russian forces during the war on interventionists; the coat of arms of Russia in 1612–1620, the view of the Moscow Kremlin in 17th century.

Mexico Postcard - Mother's Day

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Bilhete Postal

Mexico

A Mexican "Mother's Day" postage prepaid card with matching stamp. Thank You very much to my friend !

France FDC on "France - Sweden Joint Issue : Gustav III or the Masked Ball"

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France

France - Sweden Joint Issue : Gustav III or the Masked Ball

Date of Issue : 9 November 2012

The theme for this joint issue with Sweden is the opera Gustav III, or The Masked Ball which was composed by Daniel Auber from France. The text was written by Eugène Scribe. The opera had its premier in Paris on February 27, 1833, and tells the story of the murder of Gustav III

Hong Kong FDC on "Hong Kong Insects II"

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong Insects II

Date of Issue : 22 November 2012

$1.4 stamp : Cosmoscarta bispecularis | Spittle Bug
$1.8 stamp : Creobroter gemmata | Flower Mantid
$2.4 stamp : Eristena species | Mangrove China-mark
$2.5 stamp : Lamproptera curius | White Dragontail
$3 stamp : Mortonagrion hirosei | Four-spot Midget
$5 stamp : Pteroptyx maipo | Hong Kong Bent-winged Firefly

(From Hong Kong Post : http://www.hongkongpoststamps.hk/eng/stamps/latest_stamp_issues/2012/20121122a/introduction.htm)

Mexico Postcard - Christmas

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Bilhete Postal

Mexico

Two "Christmas" postage prepaid card with matching stamp. Thank You very much to my friend !

Monaco Cover

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Monaco

A Monaco cover for the philatelic exhibition "Timbres Passion 2012" in the city of Belfort, from 2 to 4 November 2012. Thank You very much !

Sri Lanka Postcard

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Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

Another Sri Lankan postcard showing stilt fishing at southwest coast. Thank You very much to my friend !

China FDC on "18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China"

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China


18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China

Date of Issue : 8 November 2012

2-1 : Scientific Development
2-2 : Carrying Forward and Forging Ahead

The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China began on November 8, 2012 in Beijing, China, at the Great Hall of the People. The Congress elected the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and saw the number of Politburo Standing Committee seats reduced from nine to seven. The seven PSC members elected during the Congress were Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli.

Israel FDC on "Festivals of Lights : Israel - India Joint Issue"

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Israel

Festivals of Lights : Israel - India Joint Issue

Date of Issue : 5 November 2012

Stamp on the Left : deepavali
Deepavali is the most significant and joyful holiday in the Indian year. In ancient Sanskrit, the word “deepavali” means “row of lamps” and it is customary to illuminate homes and streets with thousands of candles, lights and fireworks.

Stamp on the Right : Hanukkah
Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean victory over their enemies, the Hellenistic kings of the House of Selvecus, and the miracle that occurred when worship resumed at the Temple in Jerusalem. It is customary to light candles in windows or doorways on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah to make this miracle known.
For the Jewish people, the Hanukkah candles symbolize the triumph of good over evil and the victory of justice over injustice. The menorah featured on the stamp was inspired by the wooden menorah used by the Jewish community in Bombay, India.

Israel and India established full diplomatic relations in 1992.

Estonia FDC on "Centenary of Estonian Scouting"

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Estonia

Centenary of Estonian Scouting

Date of Issue : 7 November 2012

Scouting first arrived in Estonia in 1912 when the first Boy Scout unit launched activity at the Pärnu Boys' Gymnasium (high school). Anton Õunapuu is regarded as the founder of the Estonian Boy Scout movement. In connection with the occupation of Estonia in 1940 scouting was banned in the country. In Estonia scouting was restored in the late 1980s. Now there is a joint scouts organization, the Estonian Scouts Association, of about 1,500 members, one of the biggest youth associations in Estonia. There are more that 30 million scouts in the world.

Slovakia FDC on "Ľubovňany Castle"

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Slovakia

Ľubovňany Castle

Date of Issue : 8 November 2012

One of the most preserved and the most visited Slovak castles, the majestic Ľubovňa castle is situated above Poprad river on a limestone crag. Castle was built near Stará Ľubovňa by Andrew III at the end of the 13th century and the first reference to the castle comes from the year 1311.

The FDC cancellation portrays ground plane of the castle. The high bastion with an entrance to the first courtyard of the castle is depicted on the FDC.

Hong Kong 10.11.12 Cover

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Hong Kong

A Hong Kong 10.11.12 Cover, with two "15th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" stamps issued on 1 July 2012.

Libya Cover

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Libya

My first registered cover from Libya. Thank You very much to my friend !

Liechtenstein Postcard - Vaduz Castle

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Bilhete Postal

Liechtenstein

My first postcard from Liechtenstein. A nice postcard showing the Vaduz Castle. Thank You very much to my friend !

Estonia FDC on "Railway Bridges – Joint Estonian-Latvian-Lithuanian Issue"

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Estonia

Railway Bridges – Joint Estonian-Latvian-Lithuanian Issue

Date of Issue : 25 October 2012

The most outstanding of the 440 railway bridges built in the first period of Estonian independence are reproduced on the stamp, on the first day cover and the cancellation. In addition to the Narva Bridge, also the Carnikava Bridge in Latvia and the Lyduvìnai Bridge in Lithuania are featured on the souvenir sheet.

The first railway bridge across the Narva River was built in 1869 and another, stronger one, next to it in 1902. After both the bridges were destroyed in hostilities a new strong railway bridge, which is also featured on the stamp, was erected by the early 1920s. Built as the last big iron bridge in Estonia, it was opened for traffic on 12 December 1923 but was destroyed during World War II. The stamp also shows one of the new Stadler FLIRT type passenger trains that will arrive on Eesti Raudtee track at the end of this year. The reinforced concrete Sindi railway bridge across the Pärnu River that illustrates the cover was festively opened on February 13, 1928. Train traffic on the Lelle-Papiniidu narrow gauge (750 mm) railway line was launched three days later. The first day cancel features the Ahja Railway Bridge on the Tartu-Petseri Railway that was considered to be one of the most beautiful ones in Estonia and was completed in 1931.

Germany Cover

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Germany

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

Hong Kong FDC on "12 Western Zodiac Signs"

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Hong Kong

12 Western Zodiac Signs

Date of Issue : 1 November 2012

This is a very big FDC! On this FDC, I affixed all the 12 stamps of the 12 Western Zodiac Signs Heartwarming Stamps Mini-pane.

Honduras Postcard

Postcard
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Bilhete Postal

Honduras

My first postcard from Honduras. Very nice map postcard. I also like the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games stamp. Thank You very much to my friend !

China FDC on "Chinese Ceramics - Dehua Porcelain"

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China


Chinese Ceramics - Dehua Porcelain

Date of Issue : 20 October 2012

(Top FDC)
4-1 : White-Glazed Three-Legged Ding with Dragon Designs and Double Handles
4-2 : White-Glazed Zun with Elephant-Headed Handles and String Patterns
(2nd FDC)
4-3 : White-Glazed Statue of Seated Avalokitesvara
4-4 : White-Glazed Statue of Standing Bodhidharma

Dehua Kiln, in Fujian Province, was one of China's major folk kilns in ancient times, Historically, it enjoyed worldwide fame for its white porcelain making, which culminated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).