Italy

The stamp in right side reproduces a painting of the eighteenth century Portuguese painter Vieira Lusitano (1699 - 1783), Royal Painter to King John V of Portugal.

This issue celebrates the centennial 8 of the birth of St. Anthony of Lisbon or St. Anthony of Padua (Lisbon, Portugal, 1195 - Padova, Italy, 1231). He is the patron saint of Lisbon and is venerated with equal devotion, both in Italy as in Portugal.

Thank you very much, Lorenzo!

Brazil

Another nice cover from Brazil, country of football, samba and carnival...

And much more: Land of fantastic musicians, beautiful people and the largest Portuguese speaking country.

Three interesting stamps (aviation, nature and football) and two clear round cancellations.

Obrigado, Luiz Alberto!

Luiz Alberto is interested mint stamps with the following topics: Lighthouses, Medicine, Blind, Cosmos (Space). You can have a look at his just new web site http://kalifecollection.blogspot.com

Canada

Nice commemorative First Day Cover just received about Mc. Laughlin Carriage Co. (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada).

Robert Samuel McLaughlin (1871 - 1972) was an importantant businessman, philantropist and founder, in 1907, of the McLaughlin Motor Car Co., one of the first automobile manufactures in Canada.

Courtesy of Leung!

France

Beautiful cover received from France.

Three Masters of Universal Painting show to us 3 magnificent panels:

- Raffaelo Sanzio(1483 - 1520)

- Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675)

- Paolo Veronese (1528 - 1588) "Les Noces de Cana" (detail)

Thanks a lot, Bruno!

Ukraine

Nice cover from Ukraine.

This cover remembers 120 years of Esperanto, a constructed language created by L.L. Zamenhof in 1887 to facilitate communication between peoples.

Curiously, any country has adopted this language officially, until now.

Two butterflies (Catocala sponsa L. and Staurophora celcia L.)and a pot lend beauty this envelope.

Thank you, Igor!

Indonesia

Beautiful FDC.

Gastronomy is the main theme of this cover composed by 4 stamps, I suppose corresponding to 4 different traditional dishes.

Thank you, Irene and "good appetite"!

Lithuania

Beautiful FDC just received from Lithuania.

It's a commemorative FDC - August 30, 2008 - to celebrate 400 years from the Appearence of The Virgin Mary in Siluva.

Siluva (known as Samogitia) is a small village, w. about 1,000 inh., located in Western Lithuania.

The devotion to Our Lady of Siluva was surppressed hundreds of years.

Throughout its turbulent history, Siluva has remained the spiritual center of catholic faithful from the whole Lithuania.

Pope John Paul II made a special pilgrimage while visiting Lithuania in 1993.

Thank you very much, Einius!

The Netherlands

Nice DFC received from The Netherlands.

It's dated February 10, 1987. It commemorates 100 Years of Salvation Army (100 Jaar Leger des Heils) and the Year of the Homeless (Jaar van de Daklozen).

Thank you very much, Eric!

The Netherlands

New cover from The Nederlands with a beautiful mini-sheet with 5 different stamps.

It's a recent series issued on June 12, 2008 entittled "MooiNederland".

Really nice!

Thank you, Piet!

Australia

Beautiful cover received from Australia. It's a commemorative series about "Centenary of Rugby League"

We have 5 different stamps, with the same facial value - 50c, evoquing 5 differents teams:

- Roosters, Raiders, Rabbitohs, Panthers and Titans.

Thank you, Kresimir!

Belgium

Olympic Games Beijing 2008

Again a beautiful cover from Belgium.

Thanks, Ch. J.!

The Philippines

New cover from The Philippines.

This is a cover with commemorative stamps issued on 2007 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Development Bank of The Philippines (DBP), a Government-owned bank.

Courtesy of Ray!

Estonia

Beautiful "R" FDC received from Estonia, about mills series issued in Tallinn on August 28, 2008.
Thanks a lot, Pirjo!

Taiwan

New FDC from Taiwan, entitled "Stag Beetles of Taiwan", issued on June 5, 2008.
Courtesy of George!

Slovenia

Nice cover from Slovenia.
Apart the stamp with apainting, on the right, we have a mini-sheet series about Slovenian flowers (Centiana tergestina.
Thank you, Ziga!

Save Miguel (II) Explanation Required

SAVE Miguel (II) - EXPLANATION REQUIRED
Think natural, of course!

You were probably quite surprised because I have posted the video "Save Miguel!" And you asked: What a simple tree(Quercus Suber L.)has to do with philately? I answer: Apparently, nothing.
However, my answer could not be as simplistic, for an important reason:
-- As you know, the survival of this typical forest - cork oak trees - (Quercus Suber L.) is nowadays in danger, and with it, an entire eco system throughout the Mediterranean basin. And, why?
The main enemy of this tree is the synthetic closure (aluminium screw cap or other synthetic closure) in the wine bottles, instead of using NATURAL CORK in the bottling.
In our global village, it makes sense to think about the planet and the welfare of future generations.
Let's "Save Miguel!". CHEERS! with a good wine, bottled with natural cork. Miguel thanks ...

Save Miguel!