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!

Croatia

Nice FDC EUROPA 2008 (Letters) from Croatia.

It is not visible, but in each stamp there is a small relief, only sensitive to the touch, which gives it a real sign of originality. Thank you, Dragan!

Russia

New cover from Russia.

Stamps of different themes. However, I would like to draw your attention to the stamp EUROPA, on the right side. My collection of stamps EUROPA CEPT 2008 is still being enriched ...

Thank you, Nikolai!

Poland

FDC celebrating the Euro Cup 2008 taking place in Switzerland and Austria.

Football is a passion and a party. We hope it will be celebrated by all, regardless of titles ...

Thank you, Kazimierz!

Brazil

Esta é a minha primeira carta recebida do Brasil. Parece um pouquinho estranho, mas é verdade. O Brasil, tão perto dos nossos corações e, por vezes, tão longe... Uma saudação carinhosa e sentida para a comunidade luso-brasileira dos dois lados do Atlântico e uma homenagem aos mais de 500 anos de história comum.

Muito obrigado, Roberto!

This is my first letter received from Brazil. It seems a little bit strange, but it's true. Brazil, so close to our hearts and sometimes so far... A loving and heartfelt greeting to the Luso-Brazilian community on both sides of the Atlantic and a tribute to more than 500 years of common history.

Thank you very much, Roberto!

Taiwan

New nice cover received from Taiwan.

This special cover commemorates 45 years of the Diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Paraguay.

Concerning the stamps:

NT $7 - It's an Air mail postage stamp (issue of 1980)

NT $ 4 - 2nd print of National Flag (1980)

NT $2 and $ 18 - 400th Anniversary of Matteo Ricci's arrival in China (commemorative issue dated 1983)

Courtesy of Wu Wei Yi!

EUROPA CEPT 2008 - Swapping Covers (Update on 26.03.2009)

My collection EUROPA CEPT 2008 covers is going on in progress.
However, my missing list is still rather wide. Please note my complete want list, as hereunder:

Andorra (French Post), Andorra (Spanish Post), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzergovina, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Greenland, Guernesey, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kazahkstan, Kosovo, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia.

You are invited to send me an EUROPA CEPT 2008 cover from each of the above countries. In exchange I'll send you an EUROPA CEPT 2008 FDC from PORTUGAL, MADEIRA or AÇORES, at your choice, or other phylatelic item, upon agreement.

It's so easy and really fun...

USA

FDC "First Man on the Moon - Apollo 11 - July 20,1969"

"One small step for Man

One giant leap for Mankind"

Courtesy of Piet.

Poland

Two new FDC's from Poland.

-- "EUROSAI 2008" (European Organization of Supreme Audit Institution). VII Congress who took place in Cracow on 2 - 5 June 2008. And

-- "World of Toys" - Color, Imagination, Creativity and Dream. Ways to a healthy growth of children on its interaction with the world.

Thank you, Kazimierz!

Denmark

First FDC received from Denmark.
In this is very special one: EUROPA CEPT 2008.
I'm trying to get the maximum possible of this series. Unfortunately, I'm still missing a lot...
Thank you, Piet, for your usual and inconditional support!

Ukraine

New beautiful cover from Ukraine.

Once again the beauty and color in the painting.

Thank you, Igor!

Argentina Viewcard (Mendoza Vineyards)

Viñas Mendocinas , Tunuyán (1.100 mts.).
"El hombre es un eslabón más en la naturaleza. NO su dueño".

Mendoza Vineyards , Tunuyán (1,100 meters.).
"Man is another link in nature. NON its owner".

Vignobles de Mendoza, Tunuyán (1.100 mètres.).
"L'homme est un maillon dans la nature. NON son propriétaire".

Vinhas de Mendoza, Tunuyán (1.100 metros.).
"O homem é um elo na natureza. NÃO o seu dono".

European Football Championship 2008

European Football Championship 2008

CTT (The Portuguese Official Post) issued on 05.06.2008 a new series of 2 stamps (0.30 and 0.61) and a block (1.20 and 1.66) celebrating this Championship starting today in Switzerland.

"Football is a passion."

Obviously I wish every success to the National Team of Portugal, and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all participating teams, hopping this meeting will be a festival of joy and friendship between peoples.

Spain

Carta Europa CEPT 2008 de España.

Muy hermoso, no están de acuerdo? Un variado y colorido ramo de flores ofrece una viveza y belleza extraordinárias a este tema. Y el color verde del "azulejo" imprime un toque de esperanza absolutamente y siempre tan necesaria a nuestras vidas ... En fín, una carta = un vivo mensage de esperanza.

Magnífico cuadro.

Muchas gracias, José Luís!

Cover Europe Cept 2008 from Spain. It is very beautiful, don't you agree? A colorful bouquet of different flowers gives an extraordinary beauty and an liveliness to this theme. And the green color of tile prints a touch of hope absolutely and dayly necessary to our lives ...

A letter = an alive message of hope.

Magnificent picture.

Thanks, José Luis!

Norway

FDC EUROPA CEPT 2008 from Norway.

ROSES, BIRDS and the magic word that is moving the world since the beginning: LOVE!

Thank you very much, Tonni!

The Netherlands

Cover "Europa CEPT 2008" from The Netherlands.

Despite the speed of the email, a traditional WRITTEN LETTER remains a strong trait of union between friends.

Thank you very much, Piet!

The Philippines

The singing of birds is a valuable asset wherever we are...

From the Philippines comes to me this full melody concert, this sunny spring morning of June!

Thanks a lot, Ray

The Philippines

New beautiful cover from The Philippines.

Two nice stamps on it: On the left remembering the 50 years on the foundation of the Dominican School; On the right, an expressive pictorial art, by Carlos "Botong" Francisco, under the "National Stamp Collecting Month (November)".

Courtesy of Myron!

Slovenia

Definitely the spring and nature of arms given...

Thanks, Anka!

Poland

New cover from Poland.

Polish EUROPA CEPT 2008 stamps are metaphorically an excellent dish!...

Thank you, Piotr!

France

Nouveau courrier de la France. Celui-ci est vraiment très beau. Éric est très genéreux et nous surprend toujours avec de belles choses. J'aimerais mettre en évidence le timbre Europe 2008, dont je fais une campagne pour en réunir de tous les pays.

Merci, Éric!

New letter from France. This is really a very beautiful one. Éric is very generous and always surprises us with such beautiful things. I would like to highlight the stamp Europe 2008 on the upper right side. (As you know, I'm trying to collect this year every Europa FDC).

Thanks a lot, Éric!

Poland

Again a new beautiful cover with pope John Paul II - "In memoriam".

Thanks to Kazimierz.

Latvia

Beautiful FDC received from Latvia titled "Eiropas Cempionâts Orientesanas Sporta 2008" - "European Championship for Guidance sport 2008".
Courtesy of Normunds.

United Nations

Letter received from United Nations (UNAMI - United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq) Nine stamps decorate this envelope. Two of the series have the theme "The World Heritage": EGYPT: Saint Catherine Area, Ancient Thebes and Islamic Cairo; USA: Hawaii volcanoes, Everguades and Yellowstone.

Thank you, Martin!

Chile

Carta recibida de Chile. Los sellos están invulgarmente dispuestos en diagonal y este emisión es un homenaje a MARTA COLVIN (Chillán 1907 -Santiago 1995), en el centenario de su nacimiento. De ascendencia irlandesa y portuguesa, desde muy joven fue atraída por la escultura y el diseño. Obtuvo reconocimiento internacional con el Gran Premio de Escultura en la Bienal de São Paulo (Brasil) en 1965. En la parte trasera de la carta se encuentran 3 sellos con pinturas de ROBERTO MATTA (Santiago 11.11.1911 - Civitavecchia (I) 23/11/2002), un gran pintor surrealista chileno. Además de pintor, fue arquitecto, filósofo y poeta, considerado por muchos el último de los representantes del surrealismo.
Cortesía muy amable de Humberto!
Letter received from Chile. The stamps are unusually in diagonal and are a tribute to hMARTA COLVIN (Chillan 1907-Santiago 1995), in the centenary of her birth. From Irish and Portuguese descent, since very young was attracted by the sculpture and the design and obtained international recognition with the Grand Prize for sculpture in the Biennial of São Paulo in 1965. On the back of the letter we see 3 stamps with paintings by ROBERTO MATTA (Santiago 11.11.1911 - Civitavecchia (I) 23.11.2002), a famous Chilean Surrealist painter. In addition to painter, he was architect, philosopher and poet, considered by many the last of the representatives of Surrealism.
Courtesy of Humberto!

Sweden

Beautiful cover with Europa CEPT stamps 2008 from Sweden.

Thank you so much, Arne!