Hong Kong FDC on "Year of the Snake"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Hong Kong

Year of the Snake

Date of Issue : 26 January 2013

$1.40 : Paper-cutting is a traditional Chinese art. The distinctiveness of snakes is captured by incorporating Chinese paper-cutting techniques.

$2.40 : Rendered in Chinese ink and wash painting, the slithering movement of a snake is vividly portrayed in the stamp, highlighting the style of the Lingnan School of Painting.

$3 : Seal carving, commonly known as Zhuanke, is a type of traditional art originated in China. The stamp depicts two seals - one carved with the bronze inscription of the word "snake" (left) and the other with a motif of a snake (right).

$5 : Jade carving is one of the oldest carving arts in China. A coiled snake shape jade pendant depicted in the stamp is carved according to the natural colour and shape of the jade.

On the FDC, you can see the autograph of the stamp designer, Mr. KAN Tai-keung and also the autograph of the Postmaster General, Mrs Jessie Ting Yip Yin-mei.

Portugal Postage Due Cover to Hong Kong

Postage Due Cover
欠資封
Sobrescrito com Selos de Porteado

Portugal Hong Kong

Date Sent: 22 Dec 2012

Hong Kong Postage Due Label
~~~ Issued on 23 September 2004

On the cover, my friend affixed 2 Portuguese 3 eurocents stamp out of the normal postage of 80 eurocents ("Correio económico" is 0,77). On 26 Jan, I went to the GPO to get the mail and paid the postage due. The postage due is : ((0.72 / 0.80) x 2.3) + 4 = HK$6.10. On the cover, you can see the red T 0.72/0.80 postmark from Portugal (It is really strange. It should be T 0.74/0.80). Also, there is a big rectangle "To Pay" chop from Hong Kong. Thank You very much to my friend !

Latvia FDC on "Coats of Arms of Latvian Towns and Municipalities"

First Day Cover
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Latvia

Coats of Arms of Latvian Towns and Municipalities

Date of Issue : 11 January 2013

The stamp with a denomination of LVL 0.35 features the coat of arms of Varakļāni town. The town is located in the western part of Latgale. The coat of arms depicts a fox and three roads. The fox is a symbol of the rich forests and clever people of Varakļāni. The three roads stand for three important highways that enter Varakļāni from Krustpils, Madona and Rēzekne.

The stamp with a denomination of LVL 0.60 features the coat of arms of Strenči municipality. Strenči municipality lies in the northeastern part of Latvia and borders the municipalities of Valka, Smiltene, Beverīna and Burtnieki. The blue background of the coat of arms stands for the Gauja River; the four horizontal golden stripes symbolize timber rafting in Gauja, and the three golden diamonds symbolize the railway going through Strenči.

The stamp with a denomination of LVL 0.98 features the coat of arms of Vārkava municipality. The municipality lies in the southeastern part of Latvia and borders the municipalities of Līvāni, Preiļi and Daugavpils. The coat of arms depicts a bull with golden horns, symbolizing selflessness, generosity and courage, as well as a rose with leaves in the natural colors.

The FDC features a map of Latvia and the coats of arms of Varakļāni town and Vārkava and Strenči municipalities. The cancellation is an outline of Latvia with the locations of the municipalities and town marked.

China FDC on "Offshore Oil"

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China


Offshore Oil

Date of Issue : 18 January 2013

3-1 : Oil Prospecting
"Hai Yang Shi You 720" displayed on the stamp is Asia's first-generation geophysical vessel for three-dimensional deepwater seismic survey, independently designed and built by China. The vessel was put into use at South China Sea in May 2011.

3-2 : Well Drilling
"Hai Yang Shi You 981" displayed on the stamp is a sixth-generation deepwater semi-submersible drilling platform, first of its kind independently designed and built by China. It began to drill officially at the South China Sea on 9 May 2012.

3-3 : Oil Production
"Hai Yang Shi You 117", also named "Bo Hai Peng Bo", displayed on the stamp is the FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) with the largest tonnage and newest technology so far in China. It went into operation at Bohai Sea on 18 May 2009.

Portugal Postcard - Lisbon

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Portugal

A nice postcard showing a view of Lisbon. Thank You very much to my friend!

Sri Lanka Postcard - Dehena Water falls

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan postcard which shows the Dehena Water Falls. Thank You very much to my friend !

Poland Cover

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Poland

A nice cover with 2004 Poland "Visits of Pope John Paul II to Poland" stamps. Thank You very much !

Latvia Souvenir Cover on "150th Birthday of Rūdolfs Blaumanis"

Souvenir Cover
紀念封
Envelope Comemorativo

Latvia

150th Birthday of Rūdolfs Blaumanis

Date of Issue : 5 January 2013

Rūdolfs Blaumanis, who was the pioneer of drama and the novella genre in Latvian literature, was born on 1 January 1863. He lived in the Braki homestead of Ērgļi parish, where a museum of the prose writer and playwright is now housed.

The most popular works of Rūdolfs Blaumanis include the novellas Raudupiete, Salna pavasarī, Purva bridējs, Nāves ēnā; the plays Trīnes grēki, Ļaunais gars, Pazudušais dēls, Skroderdienas Silmačos, Indrāni; the poems Tālavas taurētājs, Ziema, Vēl tu nezini, Kā zagšus.

Rūdolfs Blaumanis died with tuberculosis in the Takaharju sanatorium in Finland on September 4, 1908. The writer was brought to Latvia and buried in the Ērgļi cemetery.

Israel ATM FDC on "Endangered Flowers"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Israel

Endangered Flowers ATM

Date of Issue : 1 January 2013

Singapore FDC on "Year of the Snake"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

Singapore

Year of the Snake

Date of Issue : 4 January 2013

China FDC on "Gui-Si Year"

First Day Cover
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Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


Gui-Si Year

Date of Issue : 5 January 2013

According to Chinese lunar calendar, 2013 marks Gui-Si Year, or the Year of the Snake. In traditional Chinese culture, the snake is considered to represent the virture of being grateful and repaying kindness. The snake on the stamp, inspired by the theme of "grateful snake", holds a precious pearl in mouth and transforms into a Ganoderma lucidum grass at the tail, symbolizing good luck. Its body is decorated with patterns of spring peach blossoms, summer lotus, autumn chrysanthemums, and winter plum blossoms, implying peace all year round.

Russia FDC on "Happy New Year"

First Day Cover
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Russia

Happy New Year

Date of Issue : 3 December 2012

This FDC is rather strange. The issue date was 3 December 2012, and also the special cancellation shows the date of 3 December. But, there was a mistake on the datestamp cancellation. The datestamp cancellation shows the date of 3 November 2012, which is one month earlier than the issue date.

Sri Lanka Postcard - Gal Vihara

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan postcard which shows the Gal Vihara, a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in north-central Sri Lanka. Thank You very much to my friend !

Poland Cover

Cover
封
Sobrescrito

Poland

A nice cover with a 1997 Poland "Fifth visit of pope John Paul II to Poland" stamp sheetlet and also a 2007 "John Paul II Foundation 25 years" stamp. Thank You very much !

Portugal Postcard - Pena Palace

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Portugal

A nice postcard showing the Pena National Palace, which stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. Thank You very much to my friend!

China FDC on "30th Anniversary of the Promulgation of the 1982 Constitution"

First Day Cover
首日封
Sobrescrito de 1.º Dia

China


30th Anniversary of the Promulgation of the 1982 Constitution

Date of Issue : 4 December 2012

On 4 December 1982, the Fifth Session of the Fifth National People's Congress adopted the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, which has been adopted ever since. the current Constitution has been revised 4 times.

Mexico Postcard - Xalapa

Postcard
明信片
Bilhete Postal

Mexico

A Mexican postcard showing a view of Xalapa. Thank You very much to my friend !