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!

Canada

New Letter from Canada.

This is the Canadian FDC commemorative of Olympic Games Beijing 2008. 4 colorful and beautiful stamps are on the back of the cover.

It's the cherry on the cake...

Thank you very much, Leung!

Our friend stamps collector is currently very interested in receiving every FDC around the world depicting this theme.

Certainly you can give him a hand... To know more about his favorite topics, please consult one of Leung's attractive websites: http://musicballetdance.blogspot.com/

Republic of Korea

Beautiful FDC, thanks to Ahn Jung Min, from Seoul.

He collects First Day Entire Covers posted to his address on the date of issue.

You can have a look at his website:

http://hiphila.blogspot.com

It's really interesting.

Vatican

FDC from Vatican marking the visit of H.H. Pope Paul VI to Portugal, on May 13, 1967, at the fiftieth anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady in Fátima.

Unfortunately the Portuguese Official Post (CTT) didn't issue any series remembering that event. Only a modest dated cancellation.

Thank you very much, Piet, for this wonderful gift!

Taiwan

New beautiful FDC received from Taiwan.
This issue evoques the "3rd Anniversary of Cooperation between the Republic of China - the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe Commemorative Stamps".
About the stamps, I got the following information:
NT$9: The Second Print of Lighthouse Postage Stamps (1991) issued on Oct. 02, 1991;
NT$12: Orchids of Taiwan Postage Stamps (I) issued on Jan. 10, 2007;
NT$5*2: The Inauguration of the Tenth President and Vice President Commemorative Issue(2000)on May 20, 2000 (President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Lu Hsiu-lien)
Designer: Chieh Jiin-jau
Thank you, Wu Wei Yi!

Taiwan

New FDC from Taiwan "Seashells of Taiwan" issued on July 9, 2008.
Designer: Jheng Yi-lang
Thank you, James!

Ukraine

Coming from Ukraine, I received this wonderful letter - a genuine bouquet of flowers.

Yes, it is an intense color and we can almost guess its flavourings ... It is a beautiful "bouquet", enriched with stamps of EUROPA 2008 theme.

Thank you very much, Igor, for sharing your garden with us!

The Netherlands

Very beatiful cover just received from The Netherlands.

This expensive mini-sheet (6.65 euros) is a deserved tribute to the great Dutch painter Rembrandt (July 15, 1606 - October 4, 1669). Interestingly many other famous painters from different seasons and styles, sign this original phylatelic piece. Thus, among many others, we can see the signatures of Goya, Rubens, Claude Monet, Pissarro, Matisse, Picasso, Dali, Magritte, Van Gogh and many, many other geniuses of European Painting.

Thank you, Piet, for so rich gallery ...

Monaco

Thanks to Holger, I receive my first cover from Monaco...

It's a very special one:

EUROPA FDC 2007 - Scouts

"This reminds on the establishment of the scout movement by Lord Baden Powel of Gilwell 100 years ago". "Every day a good act".

EUROPA FDC 2007 - Les Scouts

"Ceci rappelle sur l'établissement du mouvement du scout par le Lord Baden Powel of Gilwell, qui a lieu avant 100 ans". "Chaque jour un bon acte".

EUROPA FDC 2007 - Pfadfinder

"Damit wird an die Gründung der Pfadfinder-Bewegung durch Lord Baden-Powel of Gilwell vor 100 Jahren erinnert". "Jeden Tag eine gute Tat".

Poland

Nice FDC from Poland.

Thank you, Kazimierz!

Luxembourg

I have now a double pleasure: This is my first cover from Luxembourg and, moreover, with 2 beautiful EUROPE CEPT 2008 stamps.

My collection thanks to Alfredo, a nice Italian man living in Luxembourg and liking to encourage good friendship through stamps.

Grazie mille, Alfredo!

Iceland

EUROPA CEPT 2008 FDC from Iceland.
Rich plastic expression in both stamps - "Writing letters" seem
metaphorically "to inflame".
Thank you, Holger!

Cyprus

EUROPA CEPT 2008 FDC from Cyprus (Greek Post).

Courtesy of Holger.

The Philippines

New very beautiful cover from The Philippines.

This series has a large and colourful stamp entitled "Rare Flowers of The Philippines" and Rafflesia manillana, as cientific sub title.

It's extreme beauty. Besides, this cover has a clear circle cancelation and message as rich as necessary everywhere: "Yes for Peace".

Thanks a lot, Myron!

Belgium

Très beau courrier reçu de la Belgique.

Du coté droit, le timbre des Postes Belges sur le thème EUROPA 2008 (Lettres), systhème auto-adhesif.

Du coté gauche deux timbres avec des oiseaux donnent une tonalité bucolique à cette enveloppe.

Merci, Thomas!

Vous pouvez jeter un coup d'oeil sur son intéressant blog philatélique à: http://veedeesstamps.blogspot.com/

Very nice cover from Belgium.

On the right side, a self-adhesive stamp EUROPA 2008 (Letters)- the first self-adhesive Europa stamp from Belgium!

On the left side two stamps with birds give a bucolic trend to this cover.

Thank you so much, Thomas!

You can have a look at his interesting phylatelic blog at: http://veedeesstamps.blogspot.com/

Poland

Again a beautiful and suggestive cover from Poland.

Thanks to the loyalty of Kazimierz!

Poland

New nice FDC from Poland,

Thanks to Kazimierz!

Slovakia

My first cover from Slovakia.

And this is very special: FDC Europa 2008 - "Writing letters", issued on 05.05.2008 (3.600 pcs.).

"... Although technology has become an everyday part of our lives...writing letter will remain a necessity for every cultured human being."

- Jana Svecova

Czech Republic

Beautiful FDC Europa 2008, from Czech Republic.

It's a melancolic image: A woman (mother, daughter, grandmother, friend, wife, girlfriend, we'll never know) is writing a letter, quietly. Old scene and always new, even in our current world of the Internet and email.

Thank you, Vladimir!

Czech Republic

New nice cover from Czech Republic (Brno).

Particularly 3 stamps are in evidence: 3 paintings, beautiful works of the following painters:

- Jaroslav Panuska (1872-1958)

- Jan Petr Molitor (1702-1757)

- Mikolas Ales (1852-1913)

Thank you, Vladimir!

Russia

New cover from Russia.

Apart some standard stamps, there is a series, a complet set of 4 stamps, with the value of 20,00 (4 x 5,00), under the theme of Art-Painting.

This series, entitled "We glorify the Homeland! The patriotic subject in modern painting" issued on June 8, 2004.

Thank you, Nikolai!

Slovenia

New FDC from Slovenia.

Again the very suggestive theme EUROPE 2008 - Writen Letters. One more cover to enrich my (still small) collection on topic Europa 2008. This FDC has a nice and clear cancelation from Maribor, the second largest city of Slovenia - about 110,000 people - near the Drava river.

Thank you, Ziga!

Macedonia

This is the first cover I have just received from Macedonia (from its capital, Skopje).

It's a very simple and beautiful one: only one single stamp with a fish - Zingel Balcanius (Karaman, 1936) is its cientific name.

Sometimes the simplicity and beauty are two inseparable friends ...

Thank you very much, Goran!