Czech Republic

New nice cover from Czech Republic.

We have a commemorative mini-sheet evoquing JOACHIM BARRANDE (August 11, 1799 Sauges, France - October 5, 1883 Vienna, Austria). French geologist and paleontologist. He was attracted to the fossils from the Lower Palaeozoic rocks of Bohemia.

For ten years (1840 - 1850) he made a detailed study of the rocks of Bohemia collectinf fossils and obtaining upwords of 3.500 species.

He was a fervent advocate of the theory of the catastrophes, thus opposing Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The district of Prag, Barrandov, was named in honnor of the Scieentist on Bebruary 24, 1928.

Thank you very much, Vladimir!

The Philippines

Wonderful FDC "In Memoriam" of Pope John Paul II (May 18, 1920 Wadowice, Poland - April 2, 2005 Apostolic Palace, Vatican City).

The main picture on the cover remembers Pope's visit to Davao City on February 20, 1981.

Thank you very much, Myron!

Australia

Nice cover decorated with "Working Dogs"

Five stamps (50 c each) with beautiful smart dogs, i.e:

- Border Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, Labrador, Beagle and German Shepherd.

Courtesy of Kresimir!

Estonia,

Beautiful FDC on Olympic Games Beijing 2008.

GERD KANTER, (born May 6, 1979 in Tallin Estonia) Olympic Gold Medallist (Discus)

"From the discus final taking place in front of the full house of the Beijing Olympic Stadium on August 19, 2008 Gerd Kanter didn't desapoint Estonian sports fans, sending his discus one meter farther in the fourth round than his main rivals ..."

Thank you very much, Pirjo!

Estonia

Nice commemorative FDC. It concers Kalvi, a city located in Nordern East of Estonia.

Thank you, Pirjo!

Macedonia

Nice FDC from Macedonia.

Stamps with flowers. Pulsatilla halleri (All) on the left and Stachys iva Griseb, on the right.

Courtesy of Goran!

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!

Marshall Islands

Very beautiful Cover "In Memoriam" of Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005).

A special place is reserved in my collection for this very special cover.

Thank you so much, A.W. Welch, for This smile!

Switzerland

PLUS VITE, PLUS HAUT, PLUS FORT !

Cette Lettre Prioritaire reçue de la Suisse porte trois timbres différents, 2 "Pro Patria" et un 3ème consacré aux Jeux Olympiques de Pékin 2008 (le timbre à droite -Special Stamp Olympic Games in Beijing 2008).

Merci, Vural Oguz!

Russia

CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS !

Nice "R" FDC "Olympic Games Beijing 2008", dated 15.04.2008.
Apart these 3 stamps on the Olympic theme, we have more 19 stamps and 14 cancellations in total on the cover...
It isn't ablosutely so common.
Thank you, Nikolai!

Gibraltar

Very original FDC with the theme "EUROPA 2008 " - Writing Letters - , from Gibraltar.

Four stamps with 4 Personalities fullfil this interesting Official First Day Cover, dated 1.6.2008:

- Winston Churchil

- Horatio Nelson

- John F. Kennedy

- Mahatma Ghandi

Yes, sometimes, writen words are absolutely necessary...

Austria

Beautiful cover with the theme "Writing Letters Europa 2008".
Thanks, Andreas!

Liechtenstein

SCHNELLER, HÖHER, STÄRKER !

Nice cover from Liechtenstein with three beautiful stamps, including " Olympic Games Beijing 2008".

Thank you, Vural Oguz!

Poland

Nice cover from Poland.

Courtesy of Kazimierz!

Russia

New nice cover from Russia.

Thank you, Nikolai!

Chile

Nuevo sobre recibido de Chile.

En evidéncia una mini-hoja de cuatro sellos ($ 280 x 4) , evocativa del "Mundial de Futbol Femenino Sub 20" - "Chillan sede Mundialista".

Muchas gracias, Humberto!

New cover from Chile.

A souvenir sheet composed with four stamps ( $ 280 x 4) is in evidence. It evoques the "Women world football under 20" - "Chillan sede Mundialista".

Thanks a lot, Humberto!

Hong Kong

MAIS RÁPIDO, MAIS ALTO, MAIS FORTE !

Beautiful Official FDC about "Olympic Games Beijing 2008", dated 9.8.2008. The sub-theme of the souvenir sheet illustrates the "Equestrian Events".

Thank you, T.P. AU!

Croatia

New nice cover from Croatia, courtesy of Dragan.

It's really interesting: it represents an intentinal partnership between Dragan's city - RIJEKA (Croatia) - and my home town - S. MARIA DA FEIRA (Portugal).

Good idea, Dragan! let's work hardly on it. Certainly we will find a lot of things common to our both cities to justify such partnership...

Republic of Korea

FASTER, HIGHER, STRONGER !

Beautiful "R" FDC about "Olympic Games Beijing 2008", dated 08.08.2008.

Thank you, Ahn Jung Min!

Taiwan

This Commemorative Issue FDC evoques the R.O.C and the Holy See Relations - 60 years of Diplomacy (1942 - 2002).

Thank you very much, Wu Wei Yi!

Estonia

Again a nice FDC from Estonia, with the theme "EUROPA 2008 - writen letters".

One cover more to join my collection with this topic.

Thanks a lot, Pirjo, for your kind contribution!

Estonia

CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS !

Beautiful FDC about Olympic Games Beijing 2008, come from Tallinn, courtesy of Pirjo.

Thank you!

USA

The stamp on the left evoques the Black Cinema (2008 issue),
DUKE ELLINGTON and his COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA.
Nice cover, courtesy of Donald!

Russia

Beautiful cover received from Russia (Moscow).

It's decorated with a nice souvenir sheet issued on March 28, 2005 - "History of Russian State. Emperor Alexander II (1811 - 1881)".

Illustrator: A. Povarihin

Engraver: V. Starikovsky

Thanks a lot, Malanov!

Ecuador

Wonderful cover received from Ecuador.

This envelope is illustrated with geographical map of the Galapagos and decorated with "alive" three stamps:

-- $ 0.40 Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - 2008

-- $ 0.80 Mantaraya (Aetobatus narinari) - 2008

-- $ 1.20 map of the Galapagos - 2006

About Galapagos Islands:

"... In 1986 the surrounding 70,000 square kilometres (43,496 sq mi.) of ocean was declared a marine reserve, second only in size to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In 1990 the archipelago became a whale sanctuary. In 1978 UNESCO recognised the islands as a World Heritage Site, and in 1985 a Biosphere Reserve. This was later extended in December 2001 to include the marine reserve..." - Wikipedia

Thank you very much, John!

Slovenia

Again a beautiful cover with "Olympic Games Beijing 2008".

Courtesy of Jernej!

Poland

Four stamps decorate this envelope.

In the upper right corner we have a stamp (2.20 Zl.) dedicated to Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849), great Polish composer and pianist. His compositions (mazurkas, valses, night, preludes, sonatas, ballads, barcarolas, etc.) are tender and romantic, passionate and sometimes melancolic.

A composer and pianist of exception.

Thank you very much, Kazimierz!

Slovenia

Nice cover stamped with "Olympic Games Beijing 2008".

Thank you very much, Cvetko!

Algeria

Courtesy of Ouari, this beautiful registered cover from Algeria.

Poland

New nice cover from Poland.

Thank you, Piotr!

United Nations (Vienna)

Wonderful cover.

These 3 stamps with face value of 0, 25 euros each are part of the series "WELTERBE" - Word Heritage - issued on 2007.

It is a tribute to 3 places in South America, that the story enshrined, including:

-- Machu Picchu (Peru)

-- Rada Nui - the Pascua Island (Chile)

-- Cueva de Las Manos (Argentina)

Thank you very much, Holger!

Austria

Nice cover from Austria.

Courtesy of Holger!

Switzerland

Nice cover from Switzerland. My first and very special one from this beautiful country.

Both stamps refer to EUROPA CEPT: On the left side from this year 2008 and from the year1975 on the right.

Clear cancellation with the view of St. Wendelin Krumbach Chapel.

Courtesy of Vural.

Italy

Nice cover from Italy.

On the clear cancellation dated 13.06.2008, we can read "Giardino Botanico di Oropa / 1998-2008 Diece Anni per la Natura".

"Botanical Garden of Oropa / 1998-2008 Ten Years for Nature".

Thank you very much, Alfredo!