KALIFE' S STAMP COLLECTION

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM AUSTRALIA

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-02:00

Australia issued on July 1, 2011 a beautiful set offive stamps depicting some local native baby animals. The animals featured onthe stamps are a bilby, dingo, kangaroo, koala and sugar glider. The Koala(Phascolarctos cinereus) is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native with furranging from grey to brown above, and is white below. It has large furry ears,a prominent black nose and no tail. It spends most of its time in trees and haslong, sharp claws, adapted for climbing.

Known for its treacherous reefs, rocks and weather,Cape Leeuwin is regarded by mariners as one of the most dangerous coastlines inthe world. The Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse was first lit on December 1, 1896 tosafely guide ships travelling to Australia’s eastern ports. It is mainlandAustralia’s tallest lighthouse: the 39 m (128 ft) round limestone tower stands 56meters (183 ft) above sea level and its light is visible for 26 nautical miles(or 48 km).

Originally unpainted, the tower had the natural stone colorof Tamala limestone, but was painted white in 2004. The lighthouse was totallymanually operated until 1982 when it was converted to electricity replacing theclockwork mechanism & kerosene burner, one of the last in the world. It wasautomated in September 1992.

The lighthouse is located on the headland of CapeLeeuwin, the most south-westerly point on the mainland of the AustralianContinent, near Augusta, in the state of Western Australia (34°22′27″S115°08′09″E). It stands at the point where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet.Guided tours are conducted daily at the lighthouse: after climbing 186 stepsand seven floors on a metal spiral staircase it is possible to observe rockparrots, dolphins, fur seals and in season, whales. A visitor centre, café andretail shop are contained within the light station.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-12-28T17:25:00.000-02:00

US Postal Service issued on October 13, 2011 itstraditional Christmas stamp presenting “The Madonna of the Candelabra”, aMadonna painting by the Italian renaissance artist Raphael, dating to about1513 which is in the collection of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Theself-adhesive Forever stamp ($0.44 First Class) shows the central portion ofthe painting with a detail of the Madonna and Child.

On the same day four self-adhesive stamps werereleased featuring four colorful baubles, typical ornaments used to decoratethe Christmas tree.

Petit Manan Lighthouse is the second tallest lighttower in Maine and is located on a small island off Petit Manan Point, nearMilbridge (44°22′03″N 67°51′52″W). Locally known as 'tit Manan, the 119 ft (36m) round granite tower was built in 1855 and its light has a range of 25nautical miles. The light station has acharming Victorian wood keeper's house, a brick fog signal house, an oil house,a boat house and an engine house.

Petit Manan Light was electrified in 1938 andautomated in 1972. The light was out of service for two months in 2001 after anor'easter damaged its submarine power cable; as a result it was converted tosolar power later that year. The light station is part of the Petit MananWildlife Refuge, managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and is not open tothe public.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM UKRAINE

2011-12-22T21:54:00.000-02:00

Vladimir Grigoryevich Shukhov was a Russian engineerand architect renowned for his pioneering works on hyperboloid towers. The AdziogolLighthouse is one of his remarkable structures designed on 1910 and first liton June 14^th, 1911. Also known as Stanislav Range Rear Light, the 64m (210 ft) round skeletal steel tower is the tallest lighthouse in Ukraine. Itslight can be seen for up to 17 nautical miles (31 km). It is located on aconcrete pier on an islet off the mouth of the Dnepr River delta, about 30 kilometers(19 mi) from Kherson (46°29′32″N 32°13′57″E).

The main structure is a light circular steel web,tapering through a curve to the small beacon housing. Slender vertical memberswrap around the column in a hyperbolic paraboloid, forming an open helicalmesh. At the center of the web is a steel stair tower, giving a sense ofsolidity to the otherwise delicate structure.

Repeating the previous lighthouse issue (from 2009)Ukraine released on October 8, 2010 a miniature sheet with six lighthouses:Sanzhiiskyi, Tendrivskyi, Pavlovskyi Front, Khersoneskyi, Tarkhankutskyi andIllichivskyi.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM RUSSIA

2011-12-05T20:07:00.001-02:00

My Polish friend Gosia sent me this beautiful black-and-white Russian postcard of Tokarevsky Lighthouse.

The Tokarevsky Lighthouse was built in 1910 to guide ships safely to themain Vladivostok harbor, in Russian Far East. The 12 m (39 ft.) white stonetower is located at the end of the mole at the southwestern tip of theEgersheld Peninsula. It is one of Russia's best known lighthousesand USSR and Russia Post Offices issued stamps depicting Tokarevskii Mayak:USSR (Jun 1984) and Russia (Jul 2010).

The 3,75 zł stamp features the pot marigold (Calendulaofficinalis), a plant native of southern Europe but flourishes incool, temperate climates. These bright yellow and orange flowers are a familiarsight in cottage and country gardens. Pot marigold petals have been usedtraditionally as both a culinary and medicinal herb. The stamp is part of theseries “Flowers and Fruits” issued on August 5^th, 2009.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NETHERLANDS

2011-12-03T02:19:00.001-02:00

The Eierland Lighthouse is located on the northernmosttip of the Dutch island of Texel, near the village De Cocksdorp (53°10′55″N4°51′19″E). Eierland was formerly a separate island, but it has been joined toTexel since 1630 by construction of sea dikes. The lighthouse constructionbegan in July 1863 on a sand dune and it was first lit on November 1, 1864. The35m (114 ft) round brick tower is painted red with the lantern and the watchroom painted white. In the course of time the red color faded to pink, but in2004 it was repainted in the original bright red.

Electrified in 1927, the tower suffered heavy damagesin April 1945, after one of the last WW II battles in Europe. The event knownas the Georgian Uprising of Texel occurred when Georgian prisoners of warrebelled against their German captors and a bloodshed and destruction spreadthroughout the island. The tower was extensively repaired in 1948-49 and a newbrick wall surrounded the damaged original. In this process the lighthouse losttwo of its original nine floors and was reopened on March 24, 1950. The EierlandLight is almost year-round daily open to visitors and after climbing the153-steps staircase (seven floors), one has a magnificent view over the Waddenand North Sea, the nearby island of Vlieland and Texel.

Netherlands issued on October 14, 2011 a stampsheetlet with ten stamps featuring Postcrossing.com, a website for postcardenthusiasts. The postcrossing project started in 2005 when Paulo Magalhães, anavid Portuguese postcard collector launched the website to foster postcardswapping among collectors from all over the world. The stamps bring images of realpostcards depicting tourist attractions (such as Big Ben, the Taj Mahal and theEiffel Tower), people in traditional costume, cute and amusing animals (like achimpanzee dressed as a cowboy) and curious vintage photos (such as a Victorianromance).

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-12-02T22:34:00.001-02:00

On September 1, 1858 a 32 ft (10 m) round bricklighthouse was built on Mount Desert Island, Maine to mark the entrance to BassHarbor and Blue Hill Harbor (44° 13’ 19”N 68° 20’ 14”W). The cliffside Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse stands56 ft (17 m) above sea level and its red light is visible for thirteen nauticalmiles. The 1-1/2 story wood keeper's house is used as a residence for CoastGuard personnel. Making part of the light station there are a boathouse, a pyramidalbell tower, a brick fog signal building, an oil house and a barn. Electrified in 1949 and automated in 1974, thelighthouse is not open to the public.

On the postcard, the 98–cent definitive stamp issuedon June 28, 2009, in the Scenic American Landscapes series, featuring a view ofthe Snake River at dawn in the Grand Teton National Park. Thank you, Fran!

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM FRANCE

2011-12-02T21:01:00.001-02:00

For lighthouse enthusiasts like me, Brittany(Bretagne) is the paradise! The peninsula situated in the northwest of France,alongside the Atlantic Ocean has a rugged coastline, granite cliffs, dunes,white sandy beaches and numerous islands. All these natural landscapes are homeof historic and wonderful lighthouses.

On the postcard four beautiful lighthouses of the Finistère Department: the black and white Phare du Créac'h at the northwestern tip of the Île d'Ouessant; the round stone Phare du Four located on a rock near Argenton; the red and white Phare des Pierres-Noires on an islet southeast of Île Molène; the square granite Phare de la Vieille on the rock of Gorlebella, in the strait Raz de Sein.

On June 8, 2001 France issued a commemorative stamp(face value 3 FRF 0,46 €) paying homage to the remarkable Jean Vilar, theatreplaywright and actor, thirty years after his death. Vilar created in 1947 theAvignon theatre festival, the famous annual festival known as one of theworld's greatest art festivals. The portrait of Vilar is placed in front of thefacade of the large medieval Gothic Palais des Papes in Avignon.

Since 1938, the French Federation of PhilatelicAssociations holds an annual philatelic event called Journée du timbre (StampDay) that takes place in many cities in a weekend in February or March. Theevent was renamed Fête du Timbre (StampFestival) in 2000 and attracts stamp collectors searching the specific stamp issuedon this occasion.

Cartoon characters and comics heroes were chosen asmain subject from 1999 to 2009 to attract a young audience to stamp collecting.The 2001 stamp presents Gaston Lagaffe, the lazy office junior created in 1957in the comic magazine Spirou. Gaston is very fond of animals and keeps severalpets. On the 3 FRF stamp issued on January 26 Gaston appears accompanied by hishyperactive cat.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 24

2011-12-01T18:52:00.001-02:00

Brazilian Postal Administration released on October 21, 2011 Christmas issues: two self-adhesive stamps and a souvenir sheet.

The stamps bring two classic icons of Christmas: theball and the candle. These are traditional Christmas tree decorations. Theballs adorn the pine tree, and the colors of each ball represent the fruits ofthe tree: joy, good deeds, love, wisdom, fellowship, and others. There is alsoa stamp with the illustration of a candle and its burning light represents theenlightenment of the world. Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate light of the world. Both stamps have the inscription "Boas Festas" (Happy Holidays) and the design of a colorful ribbon on a smallgarland.

The souvenir sheet brings as background image therepresentation of the universe, presented as a symbol of God's creationalpower. Drawings of Christian symbols with specific meanings surround thesouvenir sheet: the dove (symbol of the Holy Spirit), wheat and grape (thebread and wine representing the body and blood of Jesus), the lamb (symbolizingChrist, as mentioned in the Bible, Lamb of God), the cross (representing theHoly Trinity), and the fish, known as Ichthys, fish in Greek, and is also anacronym for the phrase Iesus Christus Theou Yicus Soter, which means JesusChrist Son of God Saviour. The fish was a symbol used by early Christians in orderto communicate and identify each other. The top stamp has the image of an openBible and, at the background, the Planet Earth. The lower stamp presents aclosed Bible on the light, representing the word of God.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM CROATIA

2011-12-01T07:49:00.001-02:00

By the 19th century the Austro-Hungarian Empire haderected 48 lighthouses in the islands of the Adriatic Sea, locating them nearstrategic shipping lanes. Sveti Ivan na pučini (St. John out in the sea) Lighthouseis located on a rocky islet about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Rovinj, on thewestern coast of the Istrian peninsula 45° 02" 39' N 13° 36" 47' E. Built in 1853, the 15 m (49 ft) octagonalcylindrical stone tower is attached to a 2-story stone keeper's house. Makingpart of the light station there are a depot, an engine room, a wharf, a boathoist and a boat shelter. The cream-colored stone tower was automated in 1983and is supplied by 24 V DC solar modules or electric generator. Itswhite flash light has a range of 24 nautical miles. After its independence in1991, Croatia refurbished several of the lighthouses and assigned themdouble-duty as inns. Today, 11 Croatian lighthouses, including Sveti Ivan, areavailable for vacation rental.

Croatia issued on March 15, 2010 a series of fourstamps with motifs of folk costumes called “Croatian Ethnographic Heritage”. Onthe postcard, the 4,6 kn stamp represent textile embroideries from Posavina,region in the north of Croatia. The costumes from Posavina do not focus on toomuch elaborate designs and patterns, and instead consist of simple black andwhite blouses, trousers, and skirts. The men wear black vests and black hatswhile the women wear beautiful silk shawls, usually blue or red in color withflower motifs. These costumes are most often worn with connection to specialevents and celebrations, mostly at ethnic festivals, religious holidays,weddings, and by dancing groups.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM RUSSIA

2011-11-20T18:35:00.001-02:00

Ludmila sent me a special postcard featuring stamps and lighthouses, my two passions.

Russia Postal Administration issued on July 4, 2005 a set of three lighthouse stamps and this beautiful postcard shows two light stamps located at the White Sea and their precise location on the map. The 5.00 stamp depicts the Mud'yugskiy Lighthouse built in 1838 on an island just off the main entrance to the Dvina delta in Arkhangel'sk. The 40m (131 ft) round stone tower is the oldest lighthouse of the Russian North.

The 6.00 stamp shows the Solovetsky Lighthouse located atop Sekirnaya Hill in the northwestern part of the Solovetsky Island. In 1863, Orthodox monks built the Church of Ascension and mounted a lantern atop its onion-shaped dome. The lantern is at 123 meters (403 ft) above the sea level and its light is seen around nearly 22 miles.

Russia issued on June 08, 2010 a souvenir sheet depictingValaam archipelago, in the north-western part of Lake Ladoga and considered a uniquehistorical and natural landscape area. The archipelago consists of the islandof Valaam and more than 50 small islands. A dissected coastline, a lot of bays,inlets, sheer granite cliffs feature the landscape. The stamp shows the churchof St. Nicolas, part of the preserved monastic constructions that includes the WonderSpaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, the barbican church of Peter and Paul and thechurch of the Assumption.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM POLAND

2011-11-19T19:20:00.001-02:00

Świnoujście is a city and seaport on the Baltic Sealocated in the extreme north-west of Poland, close to the German border. Stawa Młyny is one of the symbols ofSwinoujscie, as part of the official logo of the city. The 11 m (36 ft) roundcylindrical brick tower is a navigation beacon in the shape of a windmill.Built in 1873, it is located at the end of the west breakwater at the mouth ofthe Świna River. The front (seaward)side of the white tower has four large white windmill vanes, but they do not turnin the wind. LAT: 53° 56.0' N LON: 014°17.0' E

Dwór refers to a manor house used or owned by Polishnobility and built in the countryside. The “Polish Mansion Houses” stamp seriespresents mansion houses whose interiors were transformed in museums. The facevalue 50GR issued on April 30, 1997 depicts Dwór Lopusznej, the house manor inLopuszna, a village in southern Poland near the border with Slovakia. The housewas built in 1790 by Romuald Lisicki in Polish traditional way - rectangularshape, decorated wooden porch in front and the roof divided in 2:3 ratiocovered by shingle (very characteristic to Polish manors). Moreover, all livingrooms and bedrooms are located on the ground floor and the kitchen is inseparate building.

Polish Postal Administration issued on April 18, 2011a set of six stamps called “Smile of the world” featuring people of differentcountries in smiling expression. It is a beautiful and artistic work of thePolish explorer and photographer Elżbieta Dzikowska. The 3 zł stamp showsa smiling young woman resident of the Bolivian Andes.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 23

2011-11-15T10:57:00.001-02:00

The Italian Embassy and consulates in Brazil, inpartnership with the Italian Institute of Culture in Brazil conceived a projectcalled Momento Itália-Brasil celebrating the good relationship existing betweenBrazil and Italy and valorizing the influence of the Italian immigrants withinthe Brazilian society. During nine months (from October 2011 up to June 2012),Italians and Brazilians will join in hundred of events all over the country. TheProgram will embrace various categories: architecture and design; art andculture; science and technology; the cinema; corporations and the economy;gastronomy; sports; parties and fairs; fashion; music; theater; dance and theItalians in Brazil.

The stamp issued on October 12, 2011 is part of theDiplomatic Relations Series and depicts the logo of the Program MomentoItália-Brasil: it assembles in an artistically manner two images portraying TheColiseum in Rome and the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro - bothof which are counted among the Seven Wonders of the World. The color green isused for the background and can be found in the flags of both countries. Thecolors red, yellow and white, composing the image of the stamp, also allude tothe flags.

COVER AN LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GERMANY

2011-11-14T20:54:00.001-02:00

The German Post issued on April 7th, 2011 a set offour stamps dedicated to the popular sports in the country and highlightimportant sport events taking place in Germany this year. The 55ct +25ct stamp illustratesa striker from the women’s soccer, sport which has developed rapidly in Germanyin recent years. The third Women's Soccer World Cup was held in Germany from 26.06.2011to 17.07.2011 and Japan won the final against the United States and became thefirst Asian team to win a FIFA World Cup.

The traditional definitive Flower series, issuedannually since 2005, makes people aware of beauty and diversity of flowers ingardens and open countryside of Germany. The 35¢ stamp issued on January 2, 2006 depictsthe dahlia, a flower native to Mexico, diverse in form and color and common asa garden plant. There are at least 36 species of dahlia, but thousands ofhybrid varieties. The dahlias prefer a sunny location and the flowering periodin Europe extends from June until October.

The Isle of Fehmarn lies in the Baltic Sea, off theeastern coast of Schleswig-Holstein, between Germany and Denmark, separatingthe Kiel Bay and the Mecklenburg Bay. The Fehmarn-Belt-Waterway had been one of the most important shippingroutes in the Baltic Sea in the last few centuries and still has greatimportance in our days for the passage from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.Fehmarn, which belonged to the Danish Kingdom in the 19th century, has an areaof nearly 180 square miles and the Danish, and later the German builtlighthouses at all corners of the island.

Three lighthouses face the German mainland: thetallest Flügge Light (54°26.456'N/11°01.060'E) lies at the southwestern tip ofthe island; the “little white” Strukkamphuk Light (54°24.562'N/11°05.736'E)stands near the Fehmarnsund Bridge and the Staberhuk Light (54°24.155'/11°18.651'E) is located on the southeastern point of Fehmarn.

The Westermarkelsdorf Light (54°31.641'N/11°03.484'E)shines in the northwest of the isle marking the western entrance to the FehmarnBelt. The old and the new Marienleuchte Lights (54°29.698'N/ 11°14.293'E) standat the island’s northeastern corner near the ferry terminal at Puttgarden,where ferries link Fehmarn to Denmark.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM BELGIUM

2011-11-13T10:32:00.001-02:00

Nieuwpoort is a Belgium city located by the sea closeto the Dutch border, in the province of West Flanders. In Nieuwpoort, the Yser Riverflows into the North Sea. The first light station in Nieuwpoort dates back to1863, but this tower was destroyed in World War I. A second lighthouse wascommissioned in 1926 and had the same fate being destroyed on September 7, 1944during World War II. The current 29 m (95 ft) conical concrete tower with redand white bands was first lit on March 21, 1949. A 2-story keeper's house isattached to the tower and both stands at the eastern side of the mouth of theYser (51°09.300' N 2°43.900' E). The double gallery tower wasautomated in 1986 and its red flash light has a range of 16 nautical miles.

On September 20, 2010 Belgium Post Office issued a setof three stamps called "New life in the brewery “presenting formerbreweries converted into other activities. The stamp on the postcard shows thesupport center Telematics (CST) at Marche-en-Famenne. Carmelite monks settledin Marche-en-Famenne in 1473 and started producing a famous beer. The formermonastery/brewery is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city and todayhouses a digital public space which offers computer training and free access toIT.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 22

2011-11-13T10:18:00.001-02:00

Mailbox is the 2011 common theme for the annualAmerica UPAEP stamp series and Brazil issued a 4-stamp sheet on October 9, 2011.Each stamp depicts one mailbox related to the period when it was utilized. Thefirst three mailboxes to be commissioned in Brazil were inaugurated in Rio deJaneiro City, on August 5, 1845 during the Imperial time. They were made fromcast iron, painted dark brown and the front artwork showing the imperial coatof arms painted in polychrome. The Republic mailboxes at the end of the 19^thcentury were also made from iron, with two meters in height, weighing aroundhalf a ton and made in Holland.

At the start of the second decade of the 20th century,the mailboxes started to be manufactured in Brazil. The first DCT boxes had asimple design and were square, heavy, green column types and were used throughout Brazil until 1969.They were replaced by current small lightweight boxes, in the form of atruncated pyramid, painted yellow and suspended on painted blue steel rods.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM IRELAND

2011-11-12T22:47:00.001-02:00

The Royal Mail issued on September 15, 2011 the fifthKings and Queens stamp series featuring the Hanoverian dynasty that reigned over the British Isles from thedeath of Queen Anne in 1714 to the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. The 76pstamp presents King George IV who ascended the throne on 29 January 1820and died on 26 June 1830.

Old Head is one of the major lighthouses on theSouth Irish coast and also serves as a guide to the entrance of Kinsale Harbor.It is located at the end of a narrow, rocky peninsula about 20 km (12 mi) southof Kinsale (51°36.287' N 08°32.018' W). The31 m (100 ft) round masonry tower was first lit on October 1, 1853 and paintedwhite with two red bands. The color scheme was changed to black with two whitebands during the summer of 1930. The light source was a multi-concentric wickoil lamp at the focus of a first order dioptric lens with a range of 21 miles(33km). The light station had 2-story keeper's houses and other buildingsenclosed by a stone wall.

The light was converted from vapourised paraffin toelectric on April 25, 1972 and the intensity of the light was increased givinga range of 25 nautical miles. On April 1,1987 the Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse was converted to unwatched automaticoperation and the keepers were withdrawn.

In the 1990s a golf club, the Old Head Golf Links, wasbuilt on the Old Head; the light station now stands behind the green of thefourth hole, which is called the Razor's Edge. Since the golf course opened, access to the Old Head of Kinsale has beenrestricted to golfers and guests only, and there has been a long-runningcampaign for the restoration of public access. The Old Head's lighthouse/golfmatter has been controversial, but the Irish Supreme Court has confirmed thegolf club's right to close access through its property.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM FINLAND

2011-11-12T20:04:00.001-02:00

Remmarholmen Lighthouse is located on Reimarisaari, asmall island off the southwestern tip of the larger island of Vallisaari, about3.5 km (2 mi) southeast of Helsinki (60° 7'52" N 24°59'38" E). The 5 m (17 ft) roundconcrete tower lies beside the main ship route into the harbor of the Finnishcapital.

Finland issued on March 2, 2005 two sets of coilstamps on Hvitträsk, a group of buildings in the National Romantic stylelocated at Kirkkonummi, 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of Helsinki. Thearchitectural masterpiece, designed by famous architects Herman Gesellius,Eliel Saarinen and Armas Lindgren as studio facilities and dwellings for theirown use, is featured on six stamps.

Hvitträsk is a unique piece of National Romantic(Nordic Art nouveau) architecture, a true must-see with beautiful gardens and alake. The house was named after Lake Vitträsk, on which it was built between1901–1903. Hvitträsk literally means White Lake.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GERMANY

2011-11-12T17:12:00.001-02:00

Pellworm is one of the North Frisian Islands on theNorth Sea coast of Germany. The landscape of the south side of the island isdominated by the 41 m (135 ft) round cast iron tower, painted red with onewhite horizontal band. Built in 1907, the lighthouse was assembled from 600individual steel components and held together by 16,000 bolts. This tower ispractically identical to two other lighthouses in North Friesland: the Hörnumon Sylt and Westheversand, on the Eiderstedt peninsula). Since it was firstcommissioned in 1907, Pellworm lighthouse has been electrically powered and wasautomated in 1977. In August 2002, the original Fresnel lens has been replacedby a modern light cannonwith a six-time-changer, whose halogen bulbs burn for 2000 hours. The 2-storykeeper's house is used as a registrar's office; this lighthouse, likeWestheversand, is popular for weddings. During the summer season, the lighthouseis open for guided tours when you can ascend the 140 steps to the doublegallery (54° 29' 46'' N 008° 39' 57'' E).

The traditional definitive Flower series, issued annuallysince 2005, makes people aware of beauty and diversity of flowers in gardensand open countryside of Germany. Thegenus Tagetes includes about 50 species of marigolds and countless varieties insulfur-yellow, orange or golden brown colors decorating gardens, parks andtraffic islands. The 20¢ flower stamp (issued in 2007) depicts the Frenchmarigold (Tagetes patula), a species in the daisy family (Asteraceae).

The stamp series "German Paintings" presentssignificant art works by German artists. The stamp issued on January 3, 2011depicts the oil painting “Wanderer above the mist” composed in 1818 by CasparDavid Friedrich. Friedrich was a German Romantic landscape painter (1774-1840),best known for his allegorical landscapes which typically feature contemplativefigures silhouetted against night skies, morning mists, barren trees or Gothicruins. The painting shows a young lonely man standing upon a rocky precipiceobserving the vastness and infinity of the landscape. Thanks a lot, Michaela.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 21

2011-11-11T20:51:00.001-02:00

Brazil issued on October 3, 2011 a set of four stampscalled “Brazilian trees – natural treasures” encouraging the awareness andpreservation of this natural heritage. As a common feature, all four stampshave the same tree-trunk, but each in a different stage of growth, with theword preservation written several times underneath the trunk, depicting agrassy soil. The trunk is formed by the repetition of the word VIDA (Life),highlighting its function in developing and sustaining vegetation species. Theadult tree stamp depicts on its canopy the names of various Brazilian species oftrees, such as Cabreúva (Owl Tree), Mogno (Mahogany), Jatobá (Hymenaeacourbaril), Cedro (Cedar), Imbuia (Phoebe porosa), Andiroba (Carapa guianensis)…With the exception of the adult tree stamp, the other three stamps bring varioustexts stressing the importance of preserving trees.

VISITING LIGHTHOUSES IN SOUTH AFRICA - PART 2

2011-11-10T20:29:00.000-02:00

After visiting Slangkop, we drove south about forty five minutes towards Cape Point, a rocky promontory at the end of the Cape Peninsula. The National Park is wonderful with a large variety of animals (baboons, ostriches, antelopes, birds...), flowers and breathtaking landscapes.

There are two lighthouses in Cape Point: this 8 m (27ft) cylindrical cast iron tower was first lit on May 1, 1860 but was wronglypositioned. The lighthouse was built at 249 m (816 ft) above the sea level and was shrouded by fog much of thetime.

After the Portuguese ship "Lusitania" was wrecked in 1911 on Cape Point, a new lighthouse was built on the lower cliffs (87 meters above sea level) and was comissioned on March 11, 1919.

The 9 m (30 ft) square cylindrical stone tower islocated atop a steep pinnacle above Cape Point and is the most powerfullighthouse on the South African coast, with a range of 63 km (39 mi).

It is difficult to reach the lighthouse mainly becauseof the steep and jagged pathway and stiff winds on the cliff. After a thirtyminutes walk by a narrow pathway, this is the closest I could get to thelighthouse. But our effort was worthwhile: a fabulous sunset over the cliffwith few whales and dolphins swimming quietly in the dreaded Cape of Storms.

VISITING LIGHTHOUSES IN SOUTH AFRICA - PART 1

2011-11-03T01:01:00.000-02:00

My family and I spent nine days on vacation in South Africa last October: Cape Town and some places in the Western Cape province. We loved the country, a friendly and cheerful people, fantastic landscapes and of course, beautiful lighthouses. We started visiting the tallest cast-iron tower on the South African coast: Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie, a small and pleasant 3,000 people village on the west coast of the Cape Peninsula.

Slangkop (means Snake Head) is a 33m (108 ft) round cast iron tower and was first lit on March 4, 1919. The tower has a total of 139 steps and five floors. Luciano and Thiago loved the spiralling staircases and the 20 windows during the climbing to the lantern house.

Ludmilla, an amateur photographer and newly passionate about lighthouses enjoyed the amazing views from the lantern room and took dozens of pictures.

We are inside of the rotating lens system at 41 meters above sea level. It is equipped with a 400 watt metal halide lamp and the light ranges 30 nautical miles.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 20

2011-11-02T17:56:00.000-02:00

The city of Sao Paulo celebrates the centennial of itsMunicipal Theater and a commemorative stamp was released on September 12, 2011.The Municipal Theater began to be built in 1903 through the planning and handsof the architect Ramos de Azevedo and Italians Claudio Rossi and DomizianoRossi. The theater was officially opened on September 12, 1911, with a crowd of20,000 people jostling at its doors. São Paulo had finally been integrated intothe international circuit of big cultural-artistic events. The architecture ofthe Municipal Theater was influenced by the Paris Opera, with a combination of17th century Renaissance and Baroque features. Inside, it boasts an array ofworks of art: busts, bronzes, medallions, decorated walls, crystals,neoclassical columns, stained glass, mosaics and marble are a feast for theeyes of more attentive viewers.

The image on the stamp brings the theater’s facadeshown from a frontal view and presents the revitalized theater to the public inall its grandeur. On the sides, the two main statues on the facade stand out,conveying the essence of its artistic mission: Music and Drama.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM FRANCE

2011-11-02T12:53:00.002-02:00

The Island of Batz is an island located about 2 km (1.2mi) northwest off Roscoff in Brittany, north-western France and is separated fromthe mainland by a 10 minute ferry crossing. The island is 3.5km long and 1.5kmwide fringed by a 14km coastline with many fine sandy beaches.

The Batz Island Lighthouse is located is locatedtowards the western tip of the island (48° 44' 46" N 04° 01' 39" W) and was built between1832 and 1836. The 43 m (141 ft) round stone tower rises from the center of a1-story stone keeper's house and was inaugurated on October 10, 1836. Electrifiedin 1939 and automated in 1995, the lighthouse offers an extraordinary panoramicview after climbing up its 198 steps to the balcony. Its lantern is located at 67meters (219 ft) above sea level and has a range of 42km (23 mi).

The French Post issued on April 27, 2009 a miniaturesheet with ten self-adhesive stamps depicting beautiful landscapes of Brittany(Bretagne). The stamp on the card shows the main beach (Plage des GrandsSables) in the Groix Island (Île de Groix) and its sands of different colors. It also brings the traditional Marianne stamp (face value 0.10), one of the most proeminent symbols of the French Republic. Thanks a lot, Jean Pierre.

COVER FROM ARGENTINA

2011-10-30T15:24:00.000-02:00

The stamp series America UPAEP, issued annually with acommon theme in the countries of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain andPortugal, has mailboxes as the main theme for 2011. Argentina issued on August20, 2011 two beautiful stamp depicting buzones (mailboxes). The first mailboxesin Argentina appeared in 1858, but were wooden boxes embedded in walls,available in shops and pharmacies (when they were open) and also in some trainstations. In 1865, these wooden boxes were replaced by metal pillar mailboxesplaced in the corners of Buenos Aires.

Correo Argentino issued on September 10th, 2011 a setof four stamps is the third series of Folk festival showing four differentnational festivals. The $2.50 stamp presents the National Beer Festival (FiestaNacional de la Cerveza) which has taken place every October since 1963 in VillaGeneral Belgrano, Córdoba. It is Argentina's version of the German Oktoberfestheld in Munich and the festival attracts thousands of tourists for twoconsecutive weekends. This is the biggest Oktoberfest outside Germany in LatinAmerica.

The bicentenary of the death of Mariano Moreno, animportant Argentine lawyer, journalist and politician, is marked with acommemorative stamp issued on May 21, 2011. Moreno is considered the precursorof Argentine journalism, as he created the “Gazeta de Buenos Aires”, anewspaper released in 1810 and initially used to give publicity to thegovernment actions of the Primera Junta, the first Argentine government. Thestamp portrays Moreno’s image, the first issue of his newspaper “Gazeta de BuenosAires” and the Buenos Aires Cabildo building.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 19

2011-10-30T12:03:00.002-02:00

Brazilian Post issued on September 1^st,2011 the third stamp of the series “Brazilian Historical Cities” celebratingthe fourth centenary of Mogi das Cruzes, city located 50 km far from the cityof Sao Paulo. On September 1^st, 1611, Sant’Anna de Mogy Mirim wasraised to the category of village and became the seventeenth village in Brazil.Over the years, Mogy became a settlement outpost and important trade point toexpeditions which explored the hinterlands of Brazil during the 17th century. The economy was considerably boosted by agriculture by providing supply tothose who left for the hinterlands in search of the gold mines of Minas Gerais.In the two following centuries the region adjusted to the demand by growingcotton and sugar cane, among other crops, with an emphasis on coffee. Later on,with the arrival of Japanese immigrants, tea, fruits and vegetables, inaddition to ornamental plants formed the so-called Green Belt of the GreaterSão Paulo.

On the top left corner the stamp displays arepresentation of the bandeirantes (members of an armed band of early explorersin Brazil) who passed through the village of Mogy on their way to thehinterlands. Below are the churches of the First and Third Orders of Carmo,which originally marked the borders of the sixteenth century village. In thecenter, on the top, the stamp shows the magnificence of the current city ofMogi das Cruzes. The white dove shown right below symbolizes the Feast of theHoly Spirit, the source of faith and culture of the people of Mogi das Cruzes.Next is the Tea House, built by the Japanese Kazuo Hanaoka, one of the mostvaluable examples of Japanese-Brazilian architecture that has been declared anational heritage by IPHAN. Beside it is the Obelisk, considered the “GroundZero” of the city and built out of marble blocks. On the right-hand corner isthe image of City Hall, a counterpoint to the past representing modernity.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GERMANY

2011-10-30T02:40:00.000-02:00

My Dutch friend Bertie sent me from Netherlands this German lighthouse postcard.

The islandof Sylt is located on the German North Sea coast, in the area known as NorthFrisia, near the Danish border. North Frisia is part of Schleswig-Holstein,Germany's northernmost state. This area was ruled by Denmark until 1864. Thereare three surviving lighthouses established under Danish rule on the island ofSylt. The List West Lighthouse is one ofthese lighthouses built in 1858 by the Danish government to guide ships throughthe channel between Sylt and the adjacent (and still Danish) island of Rømø.The 11 m (36 ft) white cast iron tower is the northernmost lighthouse inGermany and also the oldest lighthouse on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein.Automated in 1977, the light is located at a long sand spit which is aprotected natural area, at the northwest corner of the island. 55° 03` 10" N 008° 24` 05" E

Dutch Postissued on March 2, 1999 a set of four stamps presenting important parks in theNetherlands. The 80¢ stamp celebrates the centenary of the Sonsbeek Park inArnhem, the most famous park in this city and also the first monumental citypark in the country. The 67 hectare park is largely wooded with anancient beech forest and contains a great variety of trees andplants, numerous ponds, fountains and two waterfalls. Thepark hosts on summer Sundays free cultural festivals with theater, music anddance performances.

Drawing andcartoon techniques were used on the 80c stamp issued on May 15, 1998 tocelebrate the 16th FIFA Soccer World Cup held in France in 1998.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 18

2011-10-29T18:29:00.000-02:00

Brazil issued on August 24, 2010 a commemorative stamppart of the Diplomatic Relations Series celebrating the 120 years of thebeginning of Ukrainian immigration to Brazil. The Ukrainian population inBrazil is currently estimated at around half a million, mostly Brazilians whoare the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren andgreat-great-grandchildren of immigrants who have come from Ukraine in severalwaves since 1891.

The stamp portrays two Ukrainian Christian churches,one in the city of Kyiv, in the Ukraine, and another in the Ukrainian communityin Brazil, in the town of Mallet, state of Paraná. On the left one can see St.Sophie’s Cathedral with its golden domes of Byzantine architecture. It was thefirst Ukrainian monument to be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Inthe center the stamp depicts the Cathedral’s magnificent four-story belfry. Onthe right is the Church of St. Michael the Archangel - the first to be built inBrazil by Ukrainian immigrants – featuring its triple walls, where wood issecured making little use of nails.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM ISLE OF MAN

2011-10-29T08:51:00.000-02:00

The Isle ofMan is a large island in the Irish Sea very roughly equidistant fromsouthwestern Scotland, northwestern England, and northeastern Ireland. PortErin is a quiet seaside resort in the south of the island popular for thoseseeking a relaxed holiday with superb coastal scenery and many fine walks. The PortErin Range Front Lighthouse is an 11 m (36 ft) octagonal concrete tower paintedwhite with a single red horizontal band. It is located on the waterfront inPort Erin, at the southwestern corner of the island. Lat 54 05.3 N Lon 04 46.3W

We see onthe postcard three flower stamps part of the definitive collection issued in1998: first part came on sale on 12th February (4p, 21p, 25p, 50p & £1values)and further flowers values (1p, 2p, 10p, 20p & 30p) followed on 2ndJuly 1998.

Thank you, Jean Pierre.

LIGHTHOUSE MAXIMUM CARD FROM ALAND

2011-10-28T23:11:00.000-02:00

My friend Eeva sent this beautiful maximum card to my collection. Thanks a lot!!!

Finland celebrates the centenaryof Finnish comics issuing a miniature sheet of six stamps on September 5, 2011.The first comic book in Finland was published in 1911 “Professori Itikaisentutkimusretki “ (The Expedition of Professor Itikainen),written and drawn byIlmari Vainio. The pictorial stamps include popular characters from the firstsix decades of Finnish comics from the 1910s to the 1960s. The 1910s arerepresented by Ola Fogelberg's Janne Ankkanen which was published in SuomenKuvalehti and later in Kansan Kuvalehti. For the 1930s, the stamp sheet features Herra Kerhonen, whose author, Gösta Thilén, isregarded as one of the masters of wordless comics.

On February27th, 2008 Finland issued a self adhesive stamp showing the “Sweet Pea” (Lathyrusodoratus), an annual climbing plant with large blossoms. In embossed Braille onthe stamp “1 lk. kl” – means “first class” in Finnish.

Åland is anarchipelago lying off the southwestern corner of Finland and stretching acrossthe entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia from the Baltic Sea. The great majority ofthe residents are Swedish by language and heritage (the islands were part ofSweden until 1809). Åland is an autonomous province of Finland, has its ownnational flag and issues its own postage stamps.

Åland PostalService issued on June 6, 2008 four lighthouse stamps and their respectivemaximum cards. The Kökarsören Lighthouse was a square skeletal tower built in1906 and located atop a small island about 10 km (6 mi) southeast of the city ofKökar. In 1983, the lighthouse haddeteriorated to such a degree that it had to be demolished and replaced by a modernlighthouse. The postcard depicts the original skeletal lighthouse and the engravedstamp brings in its background a map and the position of the tower (5946,1 N 21 01,3 E).

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS FROM USA

2011-10-26T23:09:00.000-02:00

Bernadette sent me two beautiful lighthouse postcards to my collection. Thanks a lot!

The Absecon Light is a coastal lighthouse located in the north end ofAtlantic City, New Jersey overlooking Absecon Inlet. The station’s name,Absecon, honors an Indian tribe that at one time lived on the New Jersey coast.

The 169 ft (51.5 m) brick tower was first lit on January 15, 1857 and isthe third tallest masonry lighthouse in the United States. Electrified in July1925, the light station still retains its original first order fixed Fresnellens. The lighthouse succumbed to what is often described as progress: by 1933Absecon could no longer be distinguished from the lights of Atlantic City. Itwas deactivated on July 11, 1933 and remained inactive 64 years. A majorrestoration of the tower was completed in 1998 and the keeper’s house wasreconstructed and opened in October 2001. Nowadays the lighthouse is privatelymaintained and open to the public: after ascending the 228 steps of the toweramazing views of the Atlantic City skyline wait for you.

The coldLabrador Current and the warm Gulf Stream oppose each other just off CapeHatteras, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina coast. Thiscurrent forces ships into a dangerous twelve-mile long sandbar called DiamondShoals. Hundreds of shipwrecks in this area have given it the reputation as the“Graveyard of the Atlantic”. The first lighthouse (95 ft/29m) in Cape Hatteraswas lit in October of 1803, but it was considered unsatisfactory during hazeor low fog. In 1854, it was extended to 150 ft (48 m) and was fitted with a newfirst order Fresnel lens. But this first light station was never consideredadequate and the construction of the current Cape Hatteras lighthouse began in1868.

The new 200 ft(61 m) round brick tower wasfirst lit on December 1, 1870 and is the tallest U.S. lighthouse. Mounted on anoctagonal red brick base the light received a distinctive black and whitespiral pattern and its light can be seen for 24 miles (39 km) out at sea. Dueto erosion of the shore, once almost a third of a mile from the Atlantic, theCape Hatteras Light teetered at the very edge of the tides by the late1990s. In 1999, a $12 million relocationand restoration project moved the entire light station 2900 ft (885 m)southwest in 23 days. For lighthouse enthusiasts like me, Cape Hatteras stillstands 208 years after its construction and we can climb the 248 steps to thegallery and the lantern. The lighthouse is located just off Route 12, near thevillage of Buxton, and is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. 35°15′02″N 75°31′43.7″W

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM FINLAND

2011-09-17T22:56:00.000-03:00

Rönnskär Lighthouse is the second oldest light in Finland and is located on a small island at Kirkkonummi, 30 km (19 mi) from Helsinki. The original tower was built in 1800 by Sweden and destroyed during the war between Sweden and Russia in 1808-09. The second light, built on the same plans under Russian rule in 1814, was significantly heightened in 1828. The current lighthouse is a 27 m (89 ft) two-stage tower: the lower half is square cylindrical unpainted rubblestone, and the upper half is round cylindrical cut stone, painted white (59°56’23”N 24°23’10”E). In 1928, Rönnskär was replaced by the Porkkala lighthouse located 7.5 km (4.5 mi) north. The lantern was removed and radar and communications equipment was mounted atop the tower. Despite being decommissioned, the tower is in good condition.

Finland issued on January 24, 2011 a set of five second class self-adhesive stamps presenting different self-made mailboxes.

Two self adhesive stamps in the form of a shamrock were issued on January 24, 2008. The 0,05€ stamp shows an image of rings on water and the 0,10€ depicts a beautiful view of the archipelago of Gulf of Finland.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM ISRAEL

2011-09-17T21:15:00.000-03:00

Eilat Lighthouse is located on a bluff on the west side of the Gulf of Aqaba, about 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) southwest of the port of Eilat, Israel and 1.2 kilometers (0.75 mi) northeast of the Egyptian border (29° 30' 00" N 34° 55' 00" E). It is a 9 m (30 ft) round 5-legged skeletal tower painted white with black trim and a black band around each of the legs.

Israeli Postal Administration issued on June 30, 2009 a 2.30 ILS stamp presenting the Dead Sea, a national and global natural treasure which attracts around 1.2 million foreign tourists a year. The Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel to the west. It is the lowest place on the face of the Earth, currently situated 422.22 meters below sea level. With 33.7% salinity, it is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. Its salinity allows for a unique floating experience and the minerals found in the water and in the mud along the shore provide added health benefits while bathing.

The Dead Sea is shrinking dramatically due to human decisions to siphon off its waters. One of the main reasons for the sea's shrinkage is the diversion of water. Ninety percent of the waters that flow from the Jordan River, which traditionally supplies the Dead Sea, are diverted for drinking and agriculture in Israel and Jordan.

The stamp shows an ibex along a rocky cliff in the Judean Desert, a section of the Dead Sea with salt “sculptures”, a floating tourist, the Dead Sea against the background of the Dragot Cliffs and the Edom Mountains in Jordan.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 17

2011-09-17T16:50:00.000-03:00

Brazil issued on July 23th a miniature sheet with four stamps presenting myths of Brazilian folklore that were and are still present in the collective imagination of grandmothers, parents, children and grandchildren. They are popular values and beliefs kept alive from one generation to another and very often, orally transmitted.

In the top left, the image of Curupira, a hairy, red-haired monster with inverted feet mounted on a boar, scaring a possible agent of deforestation, represented by a man and a chainsaw that down the tree. In the upper right, the Mãe-do-ouro (Mother-of-gold) emerges from the water with a fireball in her hands, protecting gold mines and guiding courageous gold prospectors.

At the bottom left, the figures of Boto (Dolphin) and a young pregnant woman alludes to the legend of seduction of women by an unknown man. In the lower right corner, the Mula-sem-cabeça (Headless Mule), a story about a woman who loves a priest and is cursed into an equine, that breathes fire out of its head. We can also see in the upper right the logo of the National Philatelic Exhibition - BRAPEX 2011.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM AUSTRALIA

2011-09-13T23:33:00.000-03:00

Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia. The first known ship to have visited this area is the Leeuwin ("Lioness"), a Dutch vessel that charted some of the nearby coastline in 1622. The 39 m (128 ft.) round limestone tower was first lit on December 1, 1896 and is one of Australia's best known lighthouses. It stands at the end of a narrow peninsula with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean to the north and the Southern Ocean to the south.

The light was totally manually operated until 1982 when it was converted to electricity replacing the clockwork mechanism & kerosene burner, one of the last in the world. Automated in September 1992, it also serves as an important automatic weather station. Originally unpainted, the tower had the natural stone color of Tamala limestone and in 2003, after being completely renovated, was painted white. Guided tours are conducted daily at the lighthouse and visitors can climb the 186 steps and seven floors to achieve the gallery and a wonderful view of the cape.

Australia Post issued on March 6, 2006 a set of six fauna stamps called Australian Native Wildlife featuring animals from the three main subclasses of modern Australian mammals. The 5¢ stamp shows the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Fishes of the Reef is a colorful definitive issue released in two parts: part 1 (five stamps) issued on June 21, 2010 and part 2 (eight stamps) issued on June 28, 2010. All eight fish species represented in this series occupy the waters of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. Several can also be found around reefs off northern and Western Australia. The 5¢ stamp presents the yellow Coral Rabbitfish (Siganus corallinus).

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS FROM NETHERLANDS

2011-08-21T13:09:00.000-03:00

The self-adhesive stamp brings the word “Wereld” (means "world" in Dutch) and a globe in the form of a heart. It is a € 0,95 standard international rate stamp.

Egmond aan Zee is a village on the North Sea coast in the Dutch province of North Holland. Due to the treacherous sea near Egmond and several shipwrecks along that coast, King William I ordered the construction of a lighthouse in Egmond. Built in 1834/1835, the 28 m (92 ft) round brick tower was first lit on September 30, 1835 and was declared a Dutch memorial to Lieutenant Jan van Speyk. Jan Carolus Josephus van Speijk blew up his own ship to prevent it from falling into the hands of Belgian revolutionaries at Antwerp on February 5, 1831. The tower was electrified in 1922 and completely renovated in 1968 after being declared as a rijksmonument (National Heritage Site of the Netherlands). The lighthouse is open to public visits by appointment and is located on the seaside boulevard at the foot of Van Speijkstraat in Egmond aan Zee (52°37′8″N 4°37′18″E).

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 16

2011-08-21T09:00:00.000-03:00

Continuing with the series dedicated to Historical Cities, the Brazilian Post pays homage in this stamp to the city of Sabará, which in its 300 years played a major role in laying the cultural foundations of the state of Minas Gerais. The city preserves its customs through its cultural and religious festivities and its artistic and architectonic assets.

The stamp issued on July 17^th shows on the low left corner of the stamp, one can see the Gold Museum and some items of its collection: gold bars and a mortar. Above it, in blue, one can see the Municipal Theater. In the central part of the image, one can see the Nossa Senhora do Ó church with its façade marked by elements of oriental influence. Next to it, dominating the image, there is a sculpture created by Aleijadinho for the Nossa Senhora do Carmo church. On the right corner next to it there is an image of the mansion of Father Correa, which was built in 1770 and later was turned into the headquarters of the municipal city hall.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS FROM GERMANY

2011-08-20T22:55:00.000-03:00

Germany issued on July 1, 2010 a beautiful stamp featuring a 19th-century mail coach used to transport and deliver express mail through the country. Even with the construction of the first railways in the 1830’s and the use of trains to transport mail, these coaches still operated in some Alpine regions until the early 20^th century.

Silt is the largest German island in the North Sea, occupying an area of about 38 square miles. When Sylt belonged to the Danish realm in 1853, King Frederick VII ordered the construction of a lighthouse on Sylt's highest elevation, the red cliff, in the northern third of the island (54.946197°N 8.340836°E). The 40 m (131 ft.) round stone tower was first lit on June 4, 1856 and originally constructed using yellow stones from the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The tower was reinforced with iron rings in 1875 and still bears the royal crest of Frederick VII of Denmark. Until 1953 the lighthouse used to be greyish-yellow when the current black and white pattern was applied. The light station was electrified in 1929 and automated in 1977. The lighthouse was called by its Danish name Rotes Kliff (red cliff) until 1975, when the name was changed to Kampen, the name of the nearby village. In 2006, Kampen celebrated the 150th anniversary of its famous lighthouse after being completely renovated and freshly painted.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a federal state in northern Germany facing the Baltic Sea with steep bluffs, beaches with fine sand dunes and islands such as Rügen and Usedom. From the end of World War II until the reunification of Germany in 1991, it was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). Mecklenburg includes the western portion of this coast (the Wismar, Warnemünde, and Rostock areas), while Vorpommern (Lower or Western Pomerania) includes the eastern section from the Stralsund area to the Polish border. The postcard features eight beautiful lighthouses (“schöne leuchttürme“) of the German northeastern coast.

AEROGRAMME FROM ENGLAND

2011-08-19T12:02:00.000-03:00

On April 13, 2004 Royal Mail released a set of stamps depicting six ocean liners: the world's largest ocean liner and some of the famous liners of the past. At the time of her construction in 2003 in France, Queen Mary 2 was the longest, widest and tallest passenger ship ever built. The Queen Mary 2 is 345m (1135 ft.) long, 41m (135 ft.) wide and 72m (235 ft.) high. On 12 January 12, 2004, Queen Mary 2 set sail on her maiden transatlantic voyage from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale, in the United States, carrying 2,620 passengers and a crew of 1253.

Royal Mail issued on July 19, 1988 a set of five stamps celebrating the fourth centenary of the Spanish Armada, formidable battle fleet of Spain that sailed against England in 1588, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of England. With superior fire-power, the English inflicted considerable damage on Spanish ships off the south coast of England between July 21 and July 29, 1588. The stamp remembers the battle at the Isle of Wight on July 25, when the Armada was compelled back to open sea sailing to Calais.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NORWAY

2011-08-18T20:55:00.000-03:00

Feistein Lighthouse is situated on a flat island near Klepp, southwestern coast of Norway and was lit for the first time in 1859 - when it was simply mounted in a tower on top of a house. The current 25 m (82 ft.) round cast iron tower was first lit in June 1915. The red and white lighthouse is attached to a 2-story keeper's house and connected to another keeper’s house by a raised walkway. The lighthouse was automated in 1989 and the keeper’s houses are available for overnight accommodations. The buildings that remain today, the lighthouse tower, lighthouse keeper's residence, the annex, boatshed and a smithy are preserved as cultural heritage buildings.

Norway Post issued on April 17, 2009 a self-adhesive A-Priority Worldwide stamp featuring Kannesteinen, a rock found in of Vågsøy in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. The sea and the waves have been beating against this rock for thousands of years, skilfully sculpting it into its present shape. This 3-metre high rock is a very popular and easily accessible tourist attraction.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 15

2011-08-14T17:53:00.000-03:00

The Brazilian Post celebrates Paulo Gracindo, man and character, in the centenary of his birth, one of Brazil’s most prestigious actors, recognized for his significant work in numerous movies, TV series, radio and TV programs and soap operas. Issued on July 16, 2011, the stamp presents Gracindo’s face and one of his phrases - “I lived on stage and represented in life.” The masks symbolize the representation in theater and in the lower left, the imprint of Mercosur (agreement among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) because it is a common issue (theme) of these countries.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-08-14T11:43:00.000-03:00

Just offshore on Florida’s southwest coast, 12-mile long Sanibel Island today is regarded as a vacation paradise by lovers of white sand, turquoise water, fresh seafood and plentiful seashells. Located on the eastern tip of the island, the Sanibel Island Lighthouse is a 102 ft (31 m) square pyramidal skeletal tower first lit on August 20, 1884. A central metal-walled cylinder provides access to the lantern via a winding staircase of 127 steps. Two nearby keeper’s house were built on piles to protect them from storm-driven high waters. This lighthouse was the first of a class of skeletal lighthouses built in many parts of the country, especially in Florida. In April 1949, the light station was automated (fed from acetylene gas) and only in 1962 was electrified.

On September 5, 2010, U.S Postal Administration issued a 44¢ commemorative stamp depicting Mother Teresa of Calcutta, catholic nun who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, on August 26, 1910. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death in 1997, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. A beautiful 44¢ stamp exploring images associated with jazz was issued on March 26, 2011 to pay tribute to this genuine American style.

The guava (Psidium guajava) is a native fruit of tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Africa, one of the most common and popular fruits in the world. The 27¢ definitive stamp is part of a Tropical Fruit series issued on April 25, 2008. The five tropical fruits are: guava, kiwi, papaya, pomegranate and star fruit.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-08-13T21:48:00.002-03:00

The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Florida and the second tallest masonry lighthouse in the nation. It is located in the town of Ponce Inlet, Florida, on the north bank of Ponce Inlet where the Halifax and Indian Rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Using red brick shipped south from Baltimore, construction crews erected in four years an impressive 175 ft (53 m) tower, first lit on November 1, 1887. In 1933, the tower light was electrified and the original first-order fixed lens was replaced by a 3rd order Fresnel lens. In 1953, the lighthouse was completely automated. In 1970, the Coast Guard discontinued the light station and established a new light at the Coast Guard Station on the south side of the Inlet.

After decades of restoration the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse was recommissioned in 1983 and stands today as one of the best preserved most complete Light Stations in the nation. In 1998 the light station was designated a National Historic Landmark as one of only a handful of 19th Century Light Stations to have all its original buildings still intact. The light and the museum are open to the public year round and visitors can climb 203 steps to the top of the tower.

On September 14, 2010, US Postal Service issued a 44–cent commemorative stamp honoring Julia de Burgos, one of Puerto Rico’s most celebrated poets. The stamp is part of the known Literary Arts series.

The first class stamp issued in 2008 depicts one of the most prominent symbols of the American Revolutionary War: the Liberty Bell, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In USA this cracked bell is a familiar symbol of independence and has been described as an icon of liberty and justice.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NEW ZEALAND

2011-08-12T23:56:00.001-03:00

The Cape Reinga lighthouse stands on a spectacular site overlooking the meeting of the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea, at the northern extremity of New Zealand. First lit in 1941, this lighthouse replaced the Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse built in 1879 on nearby Motuopao Island. The 10 m (33 ft) octagonal concrete tower with black lantern roof was originally powered by diesel-generated electricity. The station was automated and the last keeper was withdrawn in 1987. In April 2000, the light was powered from battery banks charged by solar panels. Approximately 10,000 people visit the Cape Reinga lighthouse each year.

New Zealand Scenic definitive stamps depict spectacular locations around New Zealand's territory and are well-known and desired among collectors. On August 4, 2010 it was issued five gummed and self-adhesive stamps and the $1.90 value presents the resort town of Queenstown. Located in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island, Queenstown is surrounded by the magnificent Southern Alps and sitting on the shores of crystal-clear Lake Wakatipu.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 14

2011-08-09T09:49:00.000-03:00

Established on July 15, 1811, the Trade Association of Bahia - ACB, Brazil’s first professional association and the oldest one in the Americas, is celebrating its 200th anniversary in continuous operation this year. Those who pass by the Conde dos Arcos square in Salvador, the capital city of the state of Bahia, immediately see the headquarters of the Trade Association of Bahia, an imposing 19th-century, English-style building that was declared national heritage by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute.

The stamp issued on last July 15^th, shows the logo of the 200th anniversary of the Trade Association of Bahia (ACB) and, at the center, its current headquarters over the number 200, indicating the two centuries during which the entity has been active. Above it, one can see the ACB name and the year of its foundation.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS FROM NETHERLANDS

2011-08-08T22:33:00.000-03:00

Marian sent me two beautiful postcards of the same original lighthouse located in Vlissingen. Vlissingen is a city in the southwestern Netherlands in Zeeland province. With its strategic location between the Scheldt River and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries and has a rich maritime heritage. In the 17th century Vlissingen was a main harbour for ships of the Dutch East India Company. Vlissingen is mainly noted for the wharves on the Scheldt where most of the ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) are built.

Vlissingen is the birthplace of Michiel de Ruyter, the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. On March 24, 2007 the city celebrated with a large ship parade, the 400^th anniversary of birth of its famous citizen.

The 11 m (36 ft) pentagonal pyramidal red cast iron lighthouse is located on the west mole on the Boulevard de Ruyter, marking the entrance to the old commercial harbor (Koopmanshaven) of Vlissingen.

The self-adhesive stamp brings the word “Wereld” (means world in Dutch) and a globe in the form of a heart. It is a € 0,95 standard international rate stamp.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-08-08T20:53:00.001-03:00

Situated on a cliff 185 ft above the blue Pacific, the cylindrical white Point Vicente Lighthouse is crowned by a handsome lantern with cross-hatched windows. The 67 ft (20 m) concrete tower was first lit on April 14, 1926 and its original 3rd order Fresnel lens is still in use. Automated in 1971, the well preserved light station is open to the public the second Saturday of each month and is allowed to climb the tower's 74 steps. The lighthouse is located north of Terranea Resort, next to Point Vicente Interpretive Center, off Palos Verdes Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Nikola Tesla was a Croatian scientist-inventor and electrical engineer known for his studies in the field of electromagnetism which contributed to the birth of commercial electricity. Tesla’s A.C. induction motor conceived in 1883 is widely used throughout the world in industry and household appliances. It started the industrial revolution at the turn of the century. Electricity today is generated transmitted and converted to mechanical power by means of his inventions. Tesla arrived in New York in 1886, became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1891 and is considered one of the outstanding intellects of the world who paved the way for many of the technological developments of modern times. The 20¢ stamp issued on September 9, 1983 is part of a four-stamp series devoted to American inventors.

On June 28, 2009 the U.S. Postal Service issued a 79–cent definitive stamp, part of the well-known Scenic American Landscapes series, presenting Zion National Park, located in Utah, Southwestern United States. The park is known for its incredible deep canyons, high plateaus and striking rock towers and mesas. The stamp depicts a photograph showing layers of sedimentary rock that reflect the park’s geologic origins in the slick rock area on the east side of the park. Thank you, Lori.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 13

2011-07-25T22:28:00.003-03:00

The historical city of Ouro Preto celebrated its 300th anniversary on the last July 8th and our Post Office released on this day a commemorative stamp, the second issue of the Historical Cities series in 2011. Originally called Vila Rica, this city owes its origins to the discovery and exploitation of the gold and played a leading role in Brazil's history in the 18th century.

On July 8, 1711, Dom João V, King of Portugal created Vila Rica, merging all the villages located in the region of the Velhas River, at the foot of the monumental Itacolomi Peak. The tremendous wealth from gold mining brought a rapid growth of the city: Ouro Preto features the most authentic and homogeneous monuments of typical Baroque art of the colonial period in the Americas. In the closing years of the 18th century it became a centre of the movement for the emancipation of Brazil from the Portuguese colonial rule known as Inconfidência Mineira. Ouro Preto was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980.

Gold production in Ouro Preto in the 18th century is portrayed on the right-hand corner of the stamp. It shows a gold pan, the main tool used by miners for extracting gold from sediment, gold bars, gold dust kept in bags, and gold coins. In the background, one can see a group of houses with their roofs, with the Carmo church in the foreground. Above, against a blue background, one can see the imposing silhouette of the Itacolomi Peak, which in the past was used as a landmark by the first explorers. At the center, one can see the statue of Joaquim José da Silva Xavier – leading member of the revolutionary movement for the emancipation of Brazil known as the Inconfidência Mineira. On lower right-hand corner, one can see the Council Chamber and Prison building, built between 1784 and 1846, today, it hosts the Inconfidência Museum, with its rich and diversified collection.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-07-24T15:28:00.002-03:00

Located in the heart of Florida's Gold Coast the city of Pompano Beach houses the beautiful Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse, on the north side of Hillsboro Inlet. The light marks the northern limit of the Florida Reef, an underwater coral formation on the lower east coast of the state.

The pyramidal tower was built at Russel Wheel & Foundry Co in Detroit, Michigan, and was shipped via Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Illinois and Mississippi River, to the Gulf of Mexico on a 4,000 nautical-mile trip. The 137 ft (42 m) octagonal pyramidal skeletal tower with a central cylinder was assembled and erected in 1906 and first lit on March 7, 1907. Electrified in 1932 and fully automated in 1974, the lighthouse is considered one of the most powerful lights in the world with a beam that can be seen 28 miles (45 km). The nine-foot diameter Fresnel Lens stopped rotating due to a failure of the electric drive mechanism in 1992. After hard work and expensive repairs the original 2nd order Fresnel lens was relit on August 18, 2000.

The American author and humorist Mark Twain is honored in the Literary Arts stamp series on a $0.44 stamp released on June 25, 2011. Twain (1835-1910) is most noted for his novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the latter often called "the Great American Novel." The stamp shows Twain as an older man; the steamboat in the background evokes a way of life along the Mississippi River that played a huge role in many of Twain's works, as well as in his own life.

On February 10, 2011 U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp recognizing the centennial of the birth of Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), America's 40th President. The $0.44 stamp is part of a three-stamp series dedicated to honor three stars of the American cinema: Reagan, Gregory Peck and Helen Hayes.

On April 11, 2011 the US Postal Service issued a 20-cent definitive stamp featuring a portrait of George Washington, first president of the United States. Thank you, Jean Pierre.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 12

2011-07-23T21:58:00.001-03:00

The Brazilian Postal Administration issued on July 6th, 2011 a souvenir sheet paying homage to the Tijuca National Park, a mountainous fragment of the Atlantic Rainforest biome in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the world's largest urban forest, covering some 32 km² (12.4 mi²) and is currently the most visited national park in Brazil, with over two million visitors a year.

Created on July 6, 1961, the park situated in the heart of a metropolis with a population of about six million people, provides many environmental services such as maintenance of water sources, erosion control, flood alleviation, mitigation of thermal variations, local climate regulation and reduction of pollution.

The souvenir sheet highlights typical fauna and flora species of the park: the violet-capped woodnymph (Thalurania glaucopis), the green-headed Tanager (Tangara seledon), the hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou insidiosus) and the orchid Hadrolaelia lobata, which is the symbol of the Tijuca National Park, an endemic species threatened by extinction. On the upper left corner, one can see the logo of the International Year of Forests and the logo of the World Philatelic Exhibition “Brasiliana 2013” can be seen on the right.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GERMANY

2011-07-22T20:07:00.000-03:00

Warnemünde (means Warnow mouth) is a sea resort and city situated on the Baltic Sea in the northeast of Germany at the estuary of the river Warnow. The city is a centre of maritime traffic and is known for its historic lighthouse located in a public square near the west bank of the river.

The postcard shows the 12 m (40 ft) round metal tower built in 1998 and painted red with a white horizontal band between the galleries. This lighthouse is located on the east mole at the entrance to the river Warnow. There is a similar green lighthouse on the west mole and both are locally known as Die Zwillinge (the twins).

Germany released on February 3, 2011 a joint issue celebrating 150 years of German - Japan friendship depicting UNESCO World Heritage sites in both countries. Germany issued two stamps and Japan a souvenir sheet with ten stamps. The 0, 75€ German stamp presents the landmark of Regensburg, the Cathedral of St. Peter, the main and the greatest Gothic cathedral in Bavaria. Although the building works started as early as 1260, it was only finished in the 19th century. Thanks a lot, Renate.

COVER FROM LATVIA

2011-07-22T19:32:00.000-03:00

The Council of Europe has been at the vanguard of efforts to raise the environmental consciousness of Europeans for almost thirty years. Amongst the initiatives promoted by it include the creation of a network of nature reserves. Because the threats to the environmental are so powerful, large in number, and spread throughout Europe, the Council of Europe has decided to establish 1995 as European Nature Conservation Year, with special emphasis on the need to conceive nature outside special protected areas.

To mark the occasion Latvia Postal Administration issued on July 8th, 1995 a set of three stamps portraying Latvia’s protected birds: 8s white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos); 20s corncrake (Crex crex) and 24s white-winged black tern (Chlidonias leucopterus). Thank you, Juris.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM FRANCE

2011-07-22T19:27:00.001-03:00

The French port of Sète was built by Colbert in 1666, as the Mediterranean entrance of the Canal du Midi. The Môle Saint Louis, built in 1669, is the historic breakwater mole sheltering the port and the canal entrance. The first light station in Sète was constructed by Vauban in 1684. The original tower was rebuilt a few years later when the mole was extended; that tower served until a taller lighthouse was built in February 1861. The present lighthouse is a copy of the 1861 lighthouse, which was destroyed on August 19, 1944 during World War II. The 31 m (101 ft) round white masonry tower is located at the end of the mole.

The International Year of Chemistry 2011 is a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind. Under the unifying theme “Chemistry—our life, our future,” it aims to raise awareness of chemistry among the general public and to attract young people into the field, as well as to highlight the role of chemistry in solving global problems.

The year 2011 will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize awarded to Madame Marie Curie, the Polish–French physicist–chemist famous for her pioneering research on radioactivity.

Curie was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize (Physics 1903) and the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes (Chemistry 1911). The official launch ceremony of the IYC 2011 took place on 27–28 January in Paris at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The French Post issued on January 28, 2011 a beautiful 0, 87 € stamp celebrating Madame Curie and the Year of Chemistry.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 11

2011-07-08T22:20:00.002-03:00

In partnership with the United Nations Organization, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse - INPEA - declared June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Every year, this date is marked by events held all over the world for the purpose of mobilizing and sensitizing society to the need to address the issue of elder abuse. This year, Brazilian Post Office takes another step to prevent elder abuse issuing a commemorative stamp on June 15^th.

To symbolize protection, solidarity and respect for the elderly, the stamp depicts an elderly couple under an umbrella emblazoned with the words love, respect, dignity and care, which are indispensable to raise awareness against violence to that class of people. Above the protective umbrella are the words assault, indifference, disrespect and violence, represented in the form of water droplets, which are repelled and thus do not reach the elderly who are protected from the storms of actions that hinder their happiness, integrity and quality of life.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NETHERLANDS

2011-07-08T11:07:00.000-03:00

The 2008 Dutch Christmas stamps present a different design of those traditional images associated with Christmas and New Year. Issued on November 18, the 10 self-adhesive stamps show a city view from above compounding an original mosaic of buildings and people. On the streets parents have their child in each hand; people talk to each other and wish each other happy new year. Christmas symbols like the bell, the fire, the tree and the candle are represented at the buildings and the city is also decorated with monumental Christmas cards and envelopes. The face value of stamps and other lettering are displayed on the pavement of the streets and are thus part of the illustration.

The port of Den Helder lies at the northern tip of Western Friesland, between the Waddenzee and the open North Sea, opposite the island of Texel. Den Helder is known as a naval town - which is not surprising, considering it is home to the country's main naval base, the Royal Netherlands Naval College and the Dutch Navy Museum.

Huisduinen is a village located just 2 km west of Den Helder where is located the tallest cast iron lighthouse in Europe: the 63.5 m (208 ft) 17-floor red tower Lange Jaap (“Long John”), first lit on April 1^st, 1878. The 18 m (59 ft) square brick building on the postcard is a 5-story channel traffic control tower located about 600m (0, 4 mile) far from the Lange Jaap.

COVER FROM GERMANY

2011-07-08T00:12:00.001-03:00

Built in 1886/87 to serve as a leading light to ships through the Wurster arm of the Weser estuary, Obereversand Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1923 due to the River Weser became more and more silted. By the 1990s, the foundation of the tower was undermined and in danger of collapse. In 1999, a preservation society was formed to work with the national park service for relocation and restoration of the lighthouse. In early 2003, the lighthouse was ingeniously lifted off its foundations and barged to the harbor of Dorum, where it was installed on a new foundation just offshore and fully restored.

The 34 m (112 ft) square cast iron tower is mounted on a square skeletal foundation with an external stairway providing access to the gallery and lantern room. The lighthouse was relit on August 14, 2004 and is a touristic attraction on the waterfront at Dorum.

Germany released on February 3, 2011 a joint issue celebrating 150 years of German - Japan friendship depicting UNESCO World Heritage sites in both countries. Germany issued two stamps and Japan a souvenir sheet with ten stamps. The 0, 75€ stamp presents the landmark of Regensburg, the Cathedral of St. Peter, the main and the greatest Gothic cathedral in Bavaria. Although the building works started as early as 1260, it was only finished in the 19th century.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GREECE

2011-07-01T16:49:00.000-03:00

Athos is a small and narrow mountainous peninsula in the Greek region of Macedonia, where lies Mount Athos with its steep and densely forested slopes reaching up to 2,033 meters. A World Heritage Site, it is home of twenty Eastern Orthodox monasteries (which are presently inhabited by some 1,400 monks) and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. It is also known as Agion Oros in Greek (meaning Holy Mountain in English).

Since 2008, the Hellenic Postal Service issues stamps for postal use only at the two post offices of Mount Athos. The first set of five stamps was issued on the 16th of May 2008 and was followed by several others in 2008 and 2009. Since May 2008, the Mount Athos Monastic Community started issuing its own stamps and that year released five sets of five stamps depicting the Athonian monasteries. The 2, 42€ stamp shows the Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou issued on November 7, 2008.

Chania is the second largest city of Crete and lies along the north coast of the Greek island. In 1212 A.D. the Venetians conquered Crete. Then they decided to build a new city on the remains of ancient Kydonia. They built the port and a lighthouse was established around 1570.

In 1830 England handed Crete over to Egypt. The 26 m (85 ft) round cylindrical stone tower was built by the Egyptians in 1864, at the end of the breakwater mole on the east side of the entrance to the harbor. Its magnificent cylindrical shape with unpainted white stones remembers a minaret with an internal stairway that leads to a balcony with a glass tower. In 2006 a thorough restoration was carried out and the lighthouse is a landmark at this charming historical city.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 10

2011-06-30T13:22:00.000-03:00

Brazil issued on June 5^th, 2011 a beautiful souvenir sheet with four marine fauna stamps: Jellyfishes (Pelagia sp and Phyllorhyza punctata), Squids (Sepioteuthis sepioidea), Octopus (Octopus insularis) and Starfishes (Oreaster reticulatus). It also depicts other aquatic creatures such as algae, coral and fishes. The logomark of the Japan World Stamp Exhibition – Philanippon 2011 (to be held in Yokohama from July 28 through August 2, 2011) – is placed in the souvenir sheet’s lower right-hand corner.

COVER FROM RUSSIA

2011-06-26T16:32:00.000-03:00

My Siberian friend Natalia sent me this beautiful envelope with cool stamps. Thanks a lot!

Russia Postal Administration issued on May 9th, 2001 the annual Europa stamp with the common theme “Water – a natural treasure”. The 8.00R stamp features Lake Baikal, world's deepest lake (1620m = 5,387 ft) containing roughly 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water. In the centre of the photo there is the shore of the island Olhon, which is situated in the centre of the lake. On the right margin of the stamp there is a plan of the lake and the representatives of the Baikal fauna: a gull, an eared seal and a Baikal omul.

The Golden Mountains of Altai, one of the most picturesque natural sites of Russia, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. The site covers a vast area of 16,175 km² in the South of the Republic of Altai and is unique on its safety, landscape and natural diversity. Russia issued on November 18th, 2004 a beautiful se-tenant block of 4 stamps presenting landscapes of this area. The 3.00R stamp shows a scenic view of the Katun River famous for its glacier-blue waters, alpine valleys, and world-class kayaking and rafting.

The small 0.50R fox stamp is part of a set of 15 definitive stamps issued on August 29th, 2008.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 09

2011-06-25T23:59:00.000-03:00

In this issue of the Diplomatic Relations Series released on May 6^th, 2011, the Brazilian Post is paying homage to the Republic of Paraguay on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of its independence, focusing on a project that is an example of integration between Brazilians and Paraguayans: the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant.

Itaipu is the largest generator of clean and renewable energy on the planet and holds the world record in water availability and is the world leader in annual production. The construction began in February 1971 and the first generation unit started running on May 5th, 1984. The last two of the 20 electric generation units started operations in September 2006 and in March 2007, thus raising the installed capacity to 14 GW and completing the power plant.

The stamp shows a panoramic view of the Itaipu hydroelectric power plant. In the background, one can see the reservoir of the Itaipu plant, shared by the two countries. At the center, its dam can be seen to the right and its spillway to the left. The dam joins the two banks of the Paraná River. The border between Brazil and Paraguay is at the center of the dam. Brazil is on the right side and Paraguay is on the left side, where one can see the open spillway. As a tribute to a sister country, one can see the logo of the 200th anniversary of Paraguay’s independence on the lower left corner.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM SINGAPORE

2011-06-25T23:22:00.000-03:00

The Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south. The Johor Straits Lighthouse marks the western entrance to the strait and is located at a marina, just west of the Second Link Expressway Bridge. The 12 m (39 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower was built in 1958.

Singapore Post Office issued on March 16th, 2011 a set of five stamps celebrating the centennial of aviation in Singapore. The 1st local stamp on the postcard shows the aircraft piloted by Mr. Joseph Christiaens taking off from the racecourse in Farrer Park on 16 March 1911.

Singapore is known internationally as a Garden City since there are about two million trees planted along roadsides, in parks and protected nature areas. “Know 10 Trees” is a National Parks Board initiative aimed at raising the public’s awareness of Singapore’s most common roadside trees, which are depicted in a beautiful set of ten stamps issued on May 26th, 2010. The 1st local stamp presents Senegal Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis), a fast growing evergreen tree with a straight, robust and cylindrical trunk. Thanks, Shiyun

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM ENGLAND

2011-06-25T23:06:00.000-03:00

Beachy Head is a chalk headland on the south coast of England, close to the town of Eastbourne in the county of East Sussex. The fabulous white cliff on the postcard is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 162 m (530 ft) above sea level. Beachy Head Lighthouse was first lit in 1902, sited about 165 meters seawards from the base of the cliffs. It was built to replace the decommissioned Belle Toute Lighthouse located 2.5 km (1.5 mi) east of this place.

The 43 m (141 ft) tapered round granite tower was mounted on a square concrete pier and painted white with a broad red horizontal band. Electrified in 1920, the tower was automated and demanned in June 1983. In January 2010 Trinity House proposed to deactivate this light, but following opposition from local boaters it agreed in May to continue the light at reduced power.

The Royal Mail issued on September 16th, 2010 a wonderful series called "Medical Breakthroughs” celebrating six important medical discoveries made by British doctors and scientists. The stamp shows a beautiful image of an implanted lens in the eye replacing the crystalline lens (cataracts surgery). Two Machin definitive stamps are beside the “operated” eye. Thanks, Andy!

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM INDONESIA

2011-06-21T15:38:00.000-03:00

On November 5^th, 2010 Indonesia released a “Fauna and Flora” series and two stamps present animals classified as an endangered species: the primate Belitung Tarsier (Tarsius bancanus saltator) found in the Bangka–Belitung province and the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) found in Jambi province, on the east coast of central Sumatra.

On the cover we have two stamps issued in 2011: the Rp 1500 hare stamp celebrating the Lunar Chinese New Year (released on Jan. 25^th) and the Rp 2500 stamp that celebrates the International Year of Chemistry (released on March 1^st).

Indonesian Culinary is precious and appreciated because of its variety and exotic tastes. The Post Office issued the seventh "Indonesian Traditional Food" stamp series (with seven designs) on July 6^th, 2010 and the dish featured on the Rp 1500 stamp is Gulai Iga Kemba’ang (Lamb ribs in curry).

The stamp depicting a boy scout in a wheelchair is one of the three commemorative stamps issued on May 2^nd, 2008 to celebrate Special Needs Education. Indonesian National Education Day has been celebrated since 2 May 1908 and was initiated by the Indonesian education hero Ki Hajar Dewantara.

Semarang is one of Indonesia's ten major cities and is in the central part of the north coast of Java. Tanjung Emas is the name of its port, around which lies the city's oldest buildings, some of which date back to the Dutch colonial era or older. The Semarang Lighthouse is located on a promontory on the east side of the harbor and was built in 1883 during Dutch colony. It is a 30 m (98 ft) 12-sided cast iron tower painted white.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM SOUTH AFRICA

2011-06-21T00:14:00.000-03:00

Cape Recife Lighthouse is situated at the southern entrance to Nelson Mandela Bay (Algoa Bay), adjacent to the Cape Recife Nature Reserve and about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The 24 m (79 ft) octagonal brick tower is painted with black and white bands equipped with a radio beacon, fog signal and attached to 1-story keeper's house. It is South Africa's third oldest lighthouse, first lit on April 1^st, 1851 on a rocky promontory surrounded by sand dunes and a variety of birdlife, mainly a penguin sanctuary. The tower is opened to guided tours.

South Africa is one of the most important fishing nations in Africa. Along an extensive coast there are coastal villages in the Indian Ocean with the warm Mozambique current to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean with the colder Benguela current to the west. South Africa Postal Administration issued on February 19, 2010 a set of 10 stamps presenting different aspects of the simple life of South Africa’s fisher folk. These stamps were designed by Jacoline Naudé and on the postcard we can appreciate the hard routine of fishermen sailing in their boat at sunrise to make their living. Thank you, Bruce!

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 08

2011-06-17T15:19:00.000-03:00

For all passionate collectors about trains, Brazilian Post issued on April 30^th, 2011 a series of three stamps presenting the outside area of centuries-old railway stations, which are historical and architectural landmarks: Luz and Júlio Prestes Stations (in São Paulo) and Central do Brasil (in Rio de Janeiro).

Luz Station, built with structures brought in from England and displaying features similar to those of the Big Ben and the Westminster Abbey, both in London, was opened to the public on 1st March 1901, and is considered the main gateway to the city of São Paulo. The station is mostly notable for housing the Museum of the Portuguese Language, established in 2006. The Luz Metro station is also located within the complex.

The current Júlio Prestes Station was designed by Cristiano Stockler das Neves in 1925, in the French Louis XVI style, and completed in 1938. São Paulo Concert Hall (Sala São Paulo), which was opened in the 1990s, seats 1,509 people and is the home of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.

The new Central do Brasil Station, opened in 1943, is considered the largest train station in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Its point of reference – the big four-faced clock inspired by the Art Deco movement –has for decades served as both an orientation and reference point for the people of Rio de Janeiro. The sheet vignette highlights elements like the clock, a clapper board and a movie screen, an allusion to the film "Central Station".

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-06-13T00:02:00.000-03:00

Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America and the southernmost of them. It is bounded on the north by the Canadian province of Ontario, on the south by the U.S. states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, and on the west by the state of Michigan. Lake Erie is Ohio's greatest natural resource and islands tend to be located in the western side of the lake, under the sovereignty of Ohio in the United States.

Navigation on the lake has been aided since the nineteenth century by lighthouses dotting the Ohio shoreline. The historic Marblehead Lighthouse (left on the card), built in 1821, is the oldest U.S. lighthouse on the Great Lakes and is by far the state's best known lighthouse. On the left, the historic and restored Fairport Harbor Lighthouse built in 1871, which houses the first Great Lakes lighthouse marine museum in the state of Ohio, as well as in the United States. The postcard presents on the center, from the top to the bottom, Lorain Lighthouse (the "Jewel of the Port") built in 1917; Cleveland Harbor Lighthouse built in 1911 and Mentor Headlands Lighthouse built in 1925.

On the postcard, the 98–cent definitive stamp issued on June 28, 2009, in the Scenic American Landscapes series, featuring a view of the Snake River at dawn in the Grand Teton National Park. Thank you, Laurie!

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM TAIWAN

2011-06-11T00:04:00.000-03:00

The Penghu Islands are an archipelago off the western coast of Taiwan in the Taiwan Strait consisting of 90 small islands and islets covering an area of 141 square kilometers. Yuwongdao Lighthouse is located at the southwestern tip of the Yuwongdao Island near the village of Waian. The original light station was established in 1778 in a tower of a pagoda and the current lighthouse was built in 1875. The 11 m (36 ft) round cast iron tower was designed by the British engineer David Henderson and installed under contract to the Chinese Imperial government (Ch’ing Dynasty).

On March 3^rd, 2011 Taiwan Post issued a four-stamp fauna series presenting the beauty of Taiwan’s freshwater fishes. The NT$12 stamp shows Spinibarbus hollandi, a carnivorous carp that feeds on small fish, crustacean and aquatic insects and can be found in the middle stretches of rivers in southern and eastern Taiwan. Thank you, Jun

COVER FROM MOLDOVA

2011-06-09T22:16:00.001-03:00

On November 30, 2010 Moldova Post issued a series of eight stamps called " Extinct Animals from Moldova” depicting prehistoric species that lived in that area. The 1.20 lei stamp shows the cave lion (Panthera leo spelaea). The cave lion lived from 370,000 to 10,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch. Apparently, it became extinct about 12,500 years ago, although there are some indications it may have existed into historic times in southeastern Europe, as recently as 2,000 years ago in the Balkans.

Another beautiful fauna series was issued on August 14, 2007 presenting four extinct species of birds in Moldavia. The Black Grouse (Lyrurus Tetrix) can be found across Europe, but this species is declining rapidly and there are isolated remnants in Germany, France, Belgium and Holland. Moldavia considers the Black Grouse extinct since 2003.
In many of Moldova’s villages, water wells are traditionally centers of social life, a place to meet friends and discuss the day's events. The community comes together to build them using a traditional process and this event is considered as important as the construction of a new house Wells are still used in many Moldovan towns and cities. The 1 L. violet stamp shows a well in the village of Ciripcău, north-east of Moldova. It is part of a four-stamp series of Moldovan wells issued on February 19th, 2008.
Thank you, Phillip for the cover and mint stamps.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 07

2011-05-04T11:35:00.002-03:00

Brazil issued on April 15th, 2011 a commemorative stamp celebrating the bicentenary of the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras. Created by the King of Portugal D. João in 1810, the Royal Military Academy - the embryo of the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras - was officially open on April 23, 1811 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The Academy was established with the aim to train future infantry, cavalry, artillery and engineering officers, including geographers and surveyors, capable of carrying out not only military functions but also civilian work in mines, roads, ports and channels. In 1944, the Academy was finally settled in the city of Resende and remains training the future Army officers.

The stamp features the historic gates of the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras surrounded by a green and yellow sash representing the colors of the Brazilian flag, with the Coat of Arms of AMAN superimposed in the center and the years 1811 and 2011 on the sash. Under the Coat of Arms is the phrase “AMAN 200 years”, crossed by Caxias’ Sword, a distinctive weapon used by the cadets. On the right hand side is the dark blue military cap used in official events and in the graduation ceremony of Army officers. On the bottom hand side the sentence “Two centuries training future Army officers” complements the stamp.

COVER FROM POLAND

2011-05-03T20:31:00.001-03:00

Since 1997, Poland has issued special Easter (Polish:”Wielkanoc”) stamps. The stamps feature usually religious scenes, folk customs and different symbols of the life reborn, such as baby animals, flowers and plants. Polish Post Office repeated the design tradition on the two Easter stamps issued on March 25^th, 2011. The chick, hatching out of the egg, symbolizes new life or rebirth and the hare reminds us abundant new life. The First Day Cover represents the Polish tradition of making Easter palms to celebrate the Palm Sunday. The most popular palms that people usually carry to the church are made of blooming pussy willows branches decorated with branches of birch, raspberry, currant and also some dry flowers and grass, ribbons and other decorations. In the Catholic Church the willow symbolizes the resurrection and the immortality of the soul. Thank you, Andrzej.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-04-30T23:57:00.002-03:00

Near the border between North Carolina and Virginia coasts, the mighty Gulf Stream sweeps in close to the mainland. To avoid fighting its powerful current, captains steered their ships perilously close to land. To warn mariners to keep safe distance, US Lighthouse Board first lit on December 1, 1875 the Currituck Beach Lighthouse filling the remaining "dark space" on the North Carolina coast between the Cape Henry Lighthouse to the north and Bodie Island to the south. The light is located on the Outer Banks in Corolla, North Carolina and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The 162 ft (49 m) unpainted round red brick tower still holds the original first-order Fresnel lens and the Victorian style wood keeper´s house is under a complete three decades restoration process. A smaller dwelling on the north side of the light (probably the residence for a third keeper and his family) was restored and serves as visitor center and a museum shop. The lighthouse was automated in 1939. Visitors can climb the tower’s 214 steps during warm-weather months (from Easter through Thanksgiving). Winter months provide time for restoration and maintenance.

US Postal Service introduced its Celebrating Lunar New Year series in 2008 and in 2011 issued the fourth stamp on January, 22nd. The 44-cent stamp celebrates the Year of the Rabbit which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. It depicts kumquats, which are eaten for luck and given as special gifts, a design of a rabbit and the Chinese character for "Rabbit."

The 2009 US Christmas stamp remembers a Christian image featuring Madonna and Sleeping Child, a painting by Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, more commonly known as Sassoferrato. The 44-cent stamp was issued on October 20, 2009.

The 5¢ George Washington stamp was issued on February 22, 1966 as part of a large “Prominent Americans Series”, collection of 25 stamps that honored important individuals who played important roles in U.S. history. Thank you, Sarah and Aaron!

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GERMANY

2011-04-30T22:00:00.003-03:00

The Roter Sand Lighthouse is located in the North Sea off the entrance to the Weser, about 10 km east of Wangerooge, Germany. This is one of the world's great waveswept lighthouses and the construction of the tower posed enormous difficulties; the first attempt failed when a storm overturned the incomplete caisson in October 1881. The 28 m (92 ft) round cast iron, brick lined tower painted with red and white horizontal bands was inaugurated in 1885. The light was downgraded in 1964, when Alte Weser took over its function as the landfall light for Bremerhaven and the light was finally deactivated in 1986. Since 1999, after a large restoration, the tower has been open for day tours and overnight stays.

In 2010, Germany celebrates the bicentenary of the Museum of Natural History in Berlin and a commemorative stamp issued on January 2nd, 2010 remembers the date. It one of the world's largest and most important museums of its kind. More than a half million people visit its exhibitions per year, which focus the history of the earth and life, the diversity of life and meteorite research. The 0, 45 € stamp features the 14 meters high dinosaur skeleton and items of the zoological collection.

On November 11, 2010 the Deutsche Post issued a 0, 55 € commemorative stamp to highlight the Alpine World Ski Championships that took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen from February 7 to February 20, 2011. The city previously hosted the same competition in 1978. The stamp shows a beautiful image of a ski racer competing in giant slalom. Thank you, Sabine.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS FROM CROATIA

2011-04-22T22:45:00.003-03:00

Croatia issued on November 27th, 2006 two self-adhesive Christmas stamps depicting an altar stone screen “Nativity” from the parish church of St. Stephen in Luka Šipanska, painted in the 15th century by the Venetian painter Pantaleone.

The Croatian 2009 Europa stamp was issued on May 9th, 2009 presenting a beautiful se-tenant on Astronomy thematic. It was chosen images of parts of the Universe taken by the Hubble Telescope.

Murter and Kornati archipelago in Croatia consists of 189 islands, cliffs, reefs and rocks and it is one of the most beautiful areas on the Adriatic Sea. The islet of Prisnjak is only some 300 m from the western coast of the island of Murter. In 1886, a lighthouse was built on the islet in order to make it easier for captains to navigate in the Murter archipelago. It consists of a 15 m (49 ft) octagonal white stone tower and a ground floor stone keeper's house with a red tile roof. The house is available for vacation rental. The electricity is supplied from 220 V AC solar modules, while water is supplied from a cistern. The lighthouse has a system for water heating based on solar modules. It is automated and included into remote control system.

Thank you, Josip.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-04-21T11:40:00.000-03:00

My friend Bella sent a beautiful Florida postcard to my collection. On the envelope, the 98–cent definitive stamp issued on June 28, 2009, in the Scenic American Landscapes series, featuring a view of the Snake River at dawn in the Grand Teton National Park. Thank you, Bella.

The St. Marks Light is the second oldest light station in Florida, located on the east side of the mouth of the St. Marks River, on Apalachee Bay. The first lighthouse was built in 1831, but erosion forced the tower to be rebuilt with double walls in its present location in 1842. The 73 ft (22 m) white brick tower is attached to a 1-story brick keeper's house and rests on a 12 foot thick limestone base. Eighty-five steps spiral up the brick tower to the lantern room, the first seventy-two are wood and the last thirteen are iron. The lantern room still contains the Fresnel lens installed in 1867, but its light was extinguished in 2000 and replaced by a modern solar powered light. The lighthouse is within the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, about 25 miles south of Tallahassee along the Gulf Coast of Florida.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 06

2011-04-20T11:15:00.002-03:00

Brazilian Post issued on April 8th, 2011 the first stamp of the series “Brazilian Historical Cities” celebrating the 300th anniversary of the city of Mariana. In 1696, the news that gold had been found in the region of minas, today State of Minas Gerais, quickly spread in Brazil and reached Portugal. Thousands of people rushed to the region in search of wealth and then emerged the village of Nossa Senhora do Carmo.

The initial landmark of Mariana is the year 1711, when, on April 8, Dom João V, King of Portugal raised the village to the category of a town. Following orders from Portugal, an administrative and judiciary framework was set up in the town on July 4, 1711 and in a short time the town became the main trade and education center of the state of Minas Gerais. The town became the converging point of the gold mining movement and a prosperous urban center. In 1745, the town of Nossa Senhora do Carmo was raised to the category of a city called Mariana as a tribute to Queen Maria Ana D’Austria, Dom João’s wife. Mariana became the first capital of Minas Gerais.

On its lower left corner, the stamp portrays the Saint Francis of Assisi church, which was built between 1762 and 1794, and the Our Lady of Carmo church, which began to be built in 1783 and whose construction finished in the following century. Located in the Minas Gerais square, these two churches seem to talk to each other. At the center of the stamp, one can see the Maria Fumaça locomotive, which connects Mariana to Ouro Preto and the pillory, full of elements: a globe (Portuguese maritime conquests), a scale (justice), a sword (conviction) and the Portuguese coat of arms. On the lower right corner, one can see the Chamber House and Jail built in the second half of the 18^th century, which have preserved the features and history of a period marked by wealth and power.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM RUSSIA

2011-04-18T21:59:00.001-03:00

Tanya from Belarus sent me this postcard to my lighthouse collection. This beautiful sunset image shows the lighthouse located on the breakwater of the harbor at Sochi, Russia. The 16 m (52 ft) round masonry tower (painted red with one white horizontal band) stands at the mouth of Sochi River, exactly where its muddy water enters the Black Sea.

On June 10th, 2008 Belarus Postal Administration issued two definitive stamp series: five fauna stamps and eight flower stamps. On the postcard we can see two mammals: the 300 BYR hare (Lepus europaeus) and the 400 BYR wolf (Canis lupus).

The garden flowers depicted on the stamps are the 30 BYR petunia (Petunia hybrida) and the 50BYR narcissus (Narcissus hybridus).

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 05

2011-04-08T19:04:00.001-03:00

The Brazilian Post issued on April 2^nd, 2011 a postage stamp to commemorate the centenary of Guarani Football Club. This is yet another club to be celebrated as part of the Series: Football Clubs - The Road to the 2014 World Cup. Guarani Football Club was founded in the city of Campinas, in the state of São Paulo, on April 2, 1911. As the years went by, Guarani Football Club became the most important professional football club in all Brazil that was not seated in a state capital. Guarani was the first club from the countryside of Brazil to win the National Brazilian Championship in 1978. The club’s nickname is “Bugre” (a popular term for an indigenous Brazilian); and its mascot is an indigenous person.

In the foreground, the stamp shows the logo used to commemorate the centenary of Guarani Football Club, with a design that is based on the Club’s official emblem with the addition of a golden outline, the centenary year and a golden pennant containing the words 100 years. In the background, there is a representation of the moment that Guarani won the Brazilian Professional Football Championship in 1978, which took place in Guarani’s home ground the club’s important victories: the gold star represents the 1978 Brazilian Championship, and the silver star represents the Silver Cup (Second Division Championship) which it won in 1981. Green is used as this is the club’s color.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NORWAY

2011-04-08T18:56:00.001-03:00

The Eigerøy Lighthouse was erected in 1853-54 and first lit on November 16,1854. It is Norway's first cast-iron light tower, prefabricated at Baerums Verk steel-works, and stands on an island, about 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Egersund. Cast iron towers proved eminently suitable for Norwegian weather and maritime conditions. The 33 m (108 ft) round cast iron tower is attached to a 2-story service building and painted red with one white horizontal band. At the top of the tower is still the great first-order lens from 1897. Automated in 1989, Eigerøy is fully operational and is open to visitors who have access to the lamp room after climbing 134 steps. The lighthouse is excellent for a day trip, by car or by boat and is open on Sundays during the summer.

Norway Post issued on April 17, 2009 its famous year’s tourist stamps, depicting natural phenomena and engineering skills in a set of six stamps named “National Tourist Routes”. On the postcard, we can see the Pot Rock (Kannesteinen) on Vågsøy Island: a beautiful and unique natural rock formation located on the farm of Nord-Oppedal and definitely one of the major tourist attractions in this area.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM ESTONIA

2011-04-03T21:52:00.001-03:00

Vormsi Island is Estonia’s fourth largest island. The island is located in northwestern Estonia at the Gulf of Finland and was historically inhabited by coastal Swedes. This is the reason for many of the place names end in "by" which is the Scandinavian word for town. Located about 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the town of Saxby, the 24 m (79 ft) round cast iron tower was built in 1871.

Estonia is a small country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe and has more than 100 lighthouses along its coastline. It is a paradise for lighthouse (tuletorn in Estonian) collectors like me because Eesti Post issues annually a lighthouse stamp since 1995.

Estonia issued on September 25th, 1996 a 2.50 Kr stamp celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Vaindloo Lighthouse. The 17 m (56 ft) round cast iron tower is located on the Vaindloo Island in the northernmost point of Estonia, situated sixteen miles north of the mainland. The stamp shows at its background a map with the lighthouse location. The light stamp issued on April 22, 2010 depicts the pyramidal wooden Suurupi Front Lighthouse, a well-known historic landmark that survived 150 years about 20 km west of the capital Tallinn.

FDC AND MAXICARDS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

2011-03-27T16:12:00.001-03:00

South Africa issued on June 9^th, 1988 a set of four stamps depicting beautiful lighthouses on the country’s coast. My friend Bruce sent me the stamps, First Day Cover and the maxicards: what an addition to my collection, pal. Thanks!

Besides the four stamps, the commemorative envelope brings the tower and lantern of Green Point Light at the first day postmark and a photo of Cape Point Lighthouse located in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve.

Namibia is the country formerly called South West Africa. During the World War I in 1915, South Africa occupied the territory and remained in control for the next 75 years.

Pelican Point Lighthouse is located at a peninsula in the western side of Walvis Bay, Namibia and illustrates the 16¢ stamp. Built in 1932, the 34 m (112 ft) round cast iron tower is painted with black and white horizontal bands. The adjacent 3-story building, apparently abandoned now, was a harbor control center and light keeper’s house.

Namibia Post issued in June 2010 a set of three stamps depicting Pelican Point Light. I posted this issue at this blog last February 6th.

The 30¢ stamp presents the Green Point Lighthouse in Cape Town, a 16 m (52 ft) square 4-story brick tower painted white, with red and white diagonal bands. It was first lit on April 12, 1824 and is South Africa's oldest lighthouse.

Cape Agulhas Lighthouse illustrates the 40¢ stamp: it is South Africa's third oldest light station, first lit on March 1st, 1849. The 27 m (89 ft) sandstone tower, painted white with two red horizontal bands, rises through the center of a 1-story keeper's house. I posted a beautiful Cape Agulhas Light postcard at this blog on November 12, 2010.

Umhlanga Rocks Lighthouse was first lit on November, 24^th 1954 to replace the Bluff lighthouse, which was commissioned in 1869 but had to be abandoned due to its rapid deterioration. The 21 m (69 ft) cylindrical concrete tower stands 21m above the beach and guides ships into the safety of the Durban harbor.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-03-27T13:03:00.000-03:00

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park located at the southern tip of Key Biscayne is the home of the historic Cape Florida Lighthouse built in 1825. This light station is Florida's oldest; the original tower was gutted by fire during an attack by Seminole Indians in 1836. The present lighthouse was reconstructed in 1846, but the 95 ft (29 m) white brick tower was extinguished in 1878.

Hurricanes and tropical storms destroyed the keeper’s house and beach erosion endangered the lighthouse. In 1967, the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park was opened and it started the efforts and campaigns to restore the light. The 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house and other station buildings are replicas built in 1970.One hundred years after Cape Florida Light had been extinguished, it was re-lit on July 4, 1978.

In August 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused major damage to the tower. Once again the tower was extinguished and needed extensive repairs; the state again came to the rescue, restoring it in time for Miami’s Centennial Celebration in 1996.

The definitive stamp “American Clock” features an artistic rendering of the dial, or face, of a banjo clock. Constructed of brass and steel in 1805, the banjo clock depicted on the stamp has a painted iron dial and a mahogany case crowned by a brass eagle.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM GERMANY

2011-03-26T10:04:00.000-03:00

My Austrian friend Berta sent this card to my collection.

This beautiful tower is one of the best-known lighthouses of the German North Sea coast. Located in the northern part of the peninsula of Eiderstedt in Schleswig-Holstein state, the tower was built in 1906 and first lit on May 26^th, 1908. The 40m (131 ft) round cast iron tower is painted with red and white horizontal bands and is flanked to either side by two keeper's cottages. It is such a popular site for weddings that one of the keeper's cottages is a registrar's office and the other is a national park office. Tourists can climb to the light gallery during the summer season and appreciate the overall stunning view of the peninsula.

Austria Post issued on January 28^th, 2009 a commemorative stamp depicting the 9^th century castle of Burg Landskron, located on a rock mountain near Villach, in southern state of Carinthia, Austria.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NETHERLANDS

2011-03-25T23:43:00.000-03:00

Urk Lighthouse is located on a promontory in the town of Urk, in the Flevoland province in the central Netherlands. Urk, once an island in the Zuiderzee, has been joined to the mainland since the 1930s, and the lighthouse now stands on the east shore of the IJsselmeer. The important economic pillar of the village is the fishery. The 18.5 m (61 ft) round brick tower was first lit on May 18^th, 1845 and was attached to 2-story keeper's house. The station was electrified in 1920 and automated in 1989. The lighthouse was restored in 1972 and was declared a national monument in 1981. Former lighthouse keeper Koert Bakker leads school groups and tourists to visit the lighthouse.

Thank you, Mrs. Veen for this beautiful card.

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 04

2011-03-23T13:57:00.001-03:00

The Brazilian Post issues today (March 23, 2011) a colorful stamp to commemorate the 100^th birthday of UPAEP, an organization that has striven to maintain the union of its member countries, as well as using postal stamps to record and publicize the true, ongoing history of postal services.

UPAEP’s roots date back to 1864, when some Latin American countries met in Lima and signed an agreement with the aim of facilitating and improving postal relations between the contracting countries, namely: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru and Venezuela. However, the current organization was founded in 1911, when Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay joined the others to form the “Unión de los Correos Sudamericanos,” which was headquartered in Montevideo.

In the foreground, the stamp features the logo commemorating the centenary of the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (UPAEP), with the slogan “100 años uniendo culturas.” In the background, there is an image of the American Continent, part of Africa and Europe, and the colors that are common to the flags of the countries that make up the Union: red, green, yellow and blue.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM TAIWAN

2011-03-23T00:18:00.001-03:00

Liouciou (Liuchiu Yu) is a coral island located in Pingtung County, in Southern Taiwan. The island is a popular beach resort and lies 15 km (8 nautical miles) southwest of Tungkang. The Liouciou Lighthouse is an 11 m (36 ft) round white concrete tower at the highest point on the southeastern coast of the island. Constructed in 1929 during the Japanese occupation by the fishermen’s association, it guides ships in Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Channel and also the local fishermen. The white tower was deactivated in 1944 due to the damage in World War II, but it was rebuilt in 1952 and equipped with a fifth-order acetylene flashing light. The station was electrified in 1980 and in recent years, the lighthouse has also become one of the most popular wedding album shooting spots and tourism attractions.

On April 21, 1989 Taiwan Post issued fifteen definitive lighthouse stamps and the stamps featured on the postcard are: Dongyin (Tungyin Tao) Lighthouse at Matsu Islands (value 4.50) and Huayu Lighthouse at Penghu Islands (value 7.50). Thank you, Midori.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS FROM NORWAY

2011-03-22T17:12:00.000-03:00

Norway Post issued on April 17, 2009 its famous year’s tourist stamps, depicting natural phenomena and engineering skills in a set of six stamps named “National Tourist Routes”. On the cover we can see the Pot Rock (Kannesteinen) on Vågsøy Island: a beautiful and unique natural rock formation located on the farm of Nord-Oppedal and definitely one of the major tourist attractions in this area. The other stamp shows Støtta Fjord near Meløy in Nordland.

Lyngør is a village area on a group of small islands in the municipality of Tvedestrand in Aust-Agder County, off the southeast coast of Norway. The village is accessible only by boat, has no cars, and is known for its scenic harbor and charming wooden houses. It is recognized as one of the best-preserved communities in Europe. Lyngør Lighthouse stands on a small islet at the entrance to Lyngørfjorden, about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of Risør.

The lighthouse is an early example of concrete construction in Norway, and several of the original installations are preserved, including the original 3rd order Fresnel lens with its rotating mechanism. The 17 m (56 ft) square cylindrical concrete tower attached to the front of a 2-1/2 story keeper's house was first lit in the autumn of 1879. The lighthouse station includes an engine house, two oil houses, and a boathouse and was automated in 2004. The keeper’s house was completely refurbished and is available for vacation rental.

Thank you, Cathrine for your beautiful postcards and stamps.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-03-21T22:42:00.000-03:00

Pensacola is Florida’s second oldest city, has the deepest bay on the Gulf Coast and an important harbor. In 1824, a 40-foot (12 m) tower was built at the south entrance to Pensacola Bay, but the light was considered too dim and it remained in service until 1858. A new and taller tower was constructed one-half mile west of the original lighthouse by John Newton of the Army Corps of Engineers. The new and current 150 ft (46 m) brick tower is the tallest lighthouse on the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast and was first lit on New Year’s Day, 1859. The lighthouse has the upper two thirds painted black and the lower third white and is attached to a 2-story brick keeper's house. The station was electrified in 1939 and automated in 1965.

The lighthouse is located on the grounds of Naval Air Station Pensacola across from the Naval Aviation Museum and is maintained by Pensacola Lighthouse Association. The keeper's house has been renovated and offers exhibits on the history of the lighthouse and the Naval Air Station.

On the postcard, the 98–cent definitive stamp issued on June 28, 2009, in the Scenic American Landscapes series, featuring a view of the Snake River at dawn in the Grand Teton National Park. Thank you, Maux.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NEW ZEALAND

2011-03-13T22:24:00.001-03:00

On January 12, 2011 New Zealand issued a Lunar New Year: Year of the Rabbit set of four stamps celebrating the Chinese New Year that began on February 3, 2011 and runs until January 22, 2012. The Year of the Rabbit is the fourth in the cycle of the Chinese New Year, occurring every twelve years.

The $1.90 stamp uses the Chinese painting technique (with vibrant color) to portray the well known Chinese story in which the rabbit jumps down from the moon (where the essence of the rabbit is said to have originated). Thank you, Alex.

COVER AND LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS

2011-03-13T00:11:00.001-03:00

France issued two beautiful Europa stamps on May 2nd, 1994 as part of the common European theme “Great discoveries”. The 2,80F multicolored stamp remembers the discovery of HIV virus by the group of scientists and doctors, headed by Luc Montagnier at the Pasteur Institute in Paris in 1983. In 2008, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Montagnier for the discovery of HIV.

Marianne is one of the most prominent symbols of the French Republique, represents France as a state and its values of Liberty and Reason. On the cover there is a dark grayish brown Marianne stamp (face value 0, 05 €) issued on July 1st, 2008.

Also known as the Grand Phare, Ras el Tin Lighthouse was constructed in 1842 by the engineer Mohamed Mazhar Pasha, and was first lit in 1848. The 55 m (180 ft) round cylindrical stone tower is located at the tip of the Ras El Tin peninsula and marks the entrance to the western harbor of Alexandria. This early photo shows a tower built with exposed stones which, during the renovation of 1919, was plastered and painted in horizontal black and white stripes. In 1954 it was converted to electricity and in 2000 an elevator was installed to reach the lantern room. The lighthouse is located within the headquarters of Egyptian Navy as well as the presidential palace of Ras el Tin, which are restricted areas accessed only by a special security permission.

Alexandria is famous for its legendary great lighthouse The Pharos, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The lighthouse stood on the small Pharos Island for almost 13 centuries. There are six lighthouses still existing in Alexandria.

Jean Pierre sent me this photographic print of the lighthouse at Port Said, Egypt. This is the tallest lighthouse in Africa, built in 1886 by the French architect François Coignet, who used reinforced concrete at the 59 m (194 ft) octagonal tower. It is located in downtown Port Sa'id, on the west side of the entrance to the Suez Canal. Nothing of original Port Said remains except for the lighthouse pushed to the interior of the city and rendered useless through the gradual silting of the port. Inactive since 1997 the lighthouse of Port Said has been officially registered as a monument in January 2011.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM CANADA

2011-03-12T21:15:00.001-03:00

Cape Spear is traditionally considered to be the easternmost location in North America, located about six miles from St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. In 1836 a lighthouse was built here at the entrance to St. John's Harbor: it was the second light to offer aid along the Newfoundland's coast.

After 119 years of service the old light was decommissioned and a new concrete building was built to house the light in 1955. The 11m (35 ft) white octagonal concrete tower is the current active lighthouse on the postcard. It is located about 180 m (200 yd) northeast of the original lighthouse. Cape Spear's location also makes it a great place to watch for birds, whales and dolphins.

Canada issued on January 17, 2011 a definitive stamp series called Baby Wildlife presenting four cutest and cuddly wildlife babies: Arctic hares, a red fox, two geese and a Polar bear. The $1.75 self adhesive stamp corresponds to the Canadian international rate.

COVER AND FDC FROM SRI LANKA

2011-02-20T16:31:00.001-03:00

Sri Lanka Post Office issued on October 9th, 2007 a set of 16 Constellation stamps presenting the twelve traditional zodiac constellations plus Centaurus, Ursa Major, Orion and Ophiuchus. The 40.00 LKR stamp shows Ophiuchus, a large constellation located northwest of the center of the Milky Way, best visible in the northern summer and listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy. The stamp represents its commonly image of a man grasping the snake.

The other two definitive stamps are national symbols: the 50.00 LKR State Emblem stamp (issued on November 23, 2007) and the 100.00 LKR golden lion stamp (issued on September 24, 2008). The republican emblem was chosen after the country was declared a Republic on May 22, 1972. In addition to the lion with a sword and the Palapethi open petal design it portrays the Punkalasa, dhammachakka, sun, moon and two sheaves of paddy. The Lion symbol played a significant role in the history of Sri Lanka and represents freedom and hope.

My friend Asela sent me a wonderful FDC and two mint stamps of his country’s issue commemorating the bicentenary of birth of Louis Braille and the World White Cane Day. 2009 was marked by commemorative issues in forty-six countries celebrating the bicentennial of Louis Braille. The Sri Lanka Post Office, in despite the delay, produced a beautiful piece with the bust of Louis Braille and a hand reading braille.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM BELGIUM

2011-02-20T12:22:00.001-03:00

The postcard with the inscription “Belgian Coast” presents four lighthouses of that country. Belgium has a North Sea coast about 65 km (40 mi) long, all of it located in the Flemish-speaking province of West Vlaanderen (West Flanders). There are four ports on this coast: Nieuwpoort, Oostende, Blankenberge, and Zeebrugge, and each of the four has its own collection of lighthouses. Knokke-Heist, a seaside resort is located east of Zeebrugge port.

On September 20, 2010 Belgium Post Office issued a set of three stamps called "New life in the brewery “presenting former breweries converted into other activities. The stamp on the postcard shows the support center Telematics (CST) at Marche-en-Famenne. Carmelite monks settled in Marche-en-Famenne in 1473 and started producing a famous beer. The former monastery/brewery is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city and today houses a digital public space which offers computer training and free access to IT. The other two stamps show the center of free time Mena (Rotselaar) and contemporary art center in Brussels.

COVER AND POSTCARD FROM SPAIN

2011-02-07T22:15:00.001-02:00

The Nature Reserves of Spain series issued in 2010 featured the different protected nature parks in Spain with a high ecological and scenic value. There were four issuances during the year in a total of twelve beautiful stamps. Correos de España issued on July 19th, 2010 the second set of three stamps devoted to three nature reserves very different in their geographic characteristics and ecosystems. The first stamp on the cover presents the Picos de Europa National Park, a biosphere reserve that extends over the three northern provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and León. There are many protected animal species like wild boars, roe deer, wolves, foxes and the Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus actos arctos).

The Monfrague National Park in Extremadura is a haven for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike. It consists of over 17,000 hectares of land made up of wide-open expanses of both woodland and dry pastures, as well as numerous rocky areas and oak trees. It is one of the most important ornithological reserves in Spain. The park is most famous for its collection of Black Vultures (Aegypius monachus), of which it houses two hundred pairs and makes Monfrague the world's biggest colony for these birds.

The Isla de Arosa, or Illa de Arousa in Galego, is a substantial island, about 7 km (4 mi) long, on the eastern side of the Ría de Arousa, in the province of Pontevedra ,in Galicia, Spain. The Punta Caballo Lighthouse was placed on the rocky northwestern tip of the island: the works began in April 1852 and the tower was first lit on October 19th 20, 1853. The 5 m (16 ft) octagonal stone tower is attached to the front of a square 1-story keeper's house. The building, with rectangular form, housed two rooms, one for each lighthouse keeper, and a common kitchen. The rest of covered surface was occupied for a warehouse and an aisle of distribution.

COVER FROM LATVIA

2011-02-07T22:04:00.001-02:00

Krišjānis Barons was a Latvian writer and editor known as the creator of Latvju dainas, the popular edition of Latvian folk song texts published between 1894 and 1915 in six volumes, and including 217 996 folk songs. Latvian Post Office released on October 31, 2010 a special issue celebrating the 175th anniversary of the birth of Barons. The envelope illustrates his portrait and the cancellation brings his signature. USSR Post Office issued in October 1985 a stamp honoring Krišjānis Barons. Thank you, Juris.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-02-06T01:11:00.000-02:00

Once more my friend Alex fill up my collections of stamps, a postal card and a lot of important information.

Biloxi Lighthouse is a 61 ft (18.5 m) white cast iron tower located in the median of Highway 90, at the foot of Porter Street in Biloxi, Mississippi. Built in 1848, it is the second-oldest cast iron lighthouse in the U.S. and became the last standing of the more than ten lighthouses originally built to mark the Mississippi coastline. The keeper's houses were destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969. Although the lighthouse survived the Hurricane Katrina, which caused so much devastation in Biloxi and the surrounding Gulf Coast in 2005, its interior brick lining was damaged and required extensive repair. On February 19, 2010, a rededication ceremony was held for a gleaming white Biloxi Lighthouse that had just undergone a $400,000 makeover, during which the tower was rewired, the interior brick lining was rebuilt, new exterior lighting was installed, and the decorative metal fence surrounding the base of the tower was restored.

The U.S. Postal Service released on July 23, 2009 its popular series of Lighthouses stamps presenting five Gulf Coast Lighthouses. On the postcard we see two 44¢ stamps: the 131 ft (40 m) brick Sand Island Light in Alabama and the 82 ft (25 m) hexagonal cast iron tower mounted on the walls of Fort Jefferson, Florida. The 28¢ stamp depicts exactly the white cast iron Biloxi Lighthouse.

FDC FROM NAMIBIA

2011-02-06T00:55:00.001-02:00

Because Namibia has one of the world’s most barren and inhospitable coastlines, it was largely ignored by the European nations until relatively recently.Its colonial history began in 1878, when Britain took control of the port of Walvis Bay. The rest of South West Africa became a German colony in 1884. South African troops occupied the German colony in 1915, early in World War I, and South Africa remained in control of the territory for the next 75 years. After a lengthy struggle, Namibia became independent in 1990.

Namibia Post issued on June 18^th, 2010 a beautiful set named “Lighthouses of Namibia” presenting the three active traditional lighthouses in the country. Swakopmund Light built in 1903: the 28 m (92 ft) round tower with a double gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Pelican Point Light built in 1932: the 34 m (112 ft) round cast iron tower painted with black and white horizontal bands. Diaz Point Light built in 1915: the 28 m (92 ft) tower painted with red and white horizontal bands, mounted on a 1-story hexagonal stone base. Thank you, Bruce for the stamps and the FDC. Fantastic!

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM SOUTH AFRICA

2011-02-05T23:31:00.001-02:00

Slangkop Lighthouse means ‘snakehead lighthouse’ when it is translated directly into English and also is commonly referred to as the Kommetjie lighthouse. This is the tallest cast iron tower on the South African Coast, located near the village of Kommetjie, about 30 km (20 mi) south of Cape Town. The 33 m (108 ft) white round cast iron tower marks a dangerous promontory on the west side of the Cape Peninsula, facing the open Atlantic. It had been the site of numerous shipwrecks over the years, so the lighthouse was first lit on March 4^th, 1919. The station includes several buildings, one of them a modern conference facility and another used as a visitor center and gift shop. The lighthouse is open to guided visits and it is also a popular site for weddings. Kommetjie is also one of the best spots for seabird watching and the Slangkop Lighthouse area falls into the Table Mountain National Park’s Marine Protected area.

The South African Post Office released a series of colourful commemorative stamps to mark the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The stamps were issued on June 11, the opening day of the football event. The stamps are round in shape and depict the official logo, the gold Fifa World Cup trophy and the Jabulani, the official match ball. Thank you, Cecile!

2011 - STAMPS OF BRAZIL - 03

2011-02-05T22:10:00.001-02:00

The Brazilian Post issued on January 21^st, 2011 a stamp to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Father Landell de Moura, the pioneer of radio broadcasting in Brazil. Roberto Landell de Moura was the first person to broadcast the human voice over a distance without using wires. This was the forerunner of what was then called radiotelephony, which is nothing more than what we nowadays know as radio. He was born on January 21, 1861, in Porto Alegre, and was ordained as a priest in Rome in 1886. Besides theology, he also studied physics and chemistry at the Gregorian University, in Rome, Italy, where he started to develop the theory that formed the basis for his different inventions.

Landell carried out his first experiments at the end of the 19th century. At the same time, whilst Landell’s equipment was broadcasting voices, Guglielmo Marconi, the famous Italian inventor was only transmitting signals in Morse code (groups of dots and dashes). Father Landell died anonymously in his home town on 30 June 1928.

The stamp portrays Father Landell de Moura speaking into a “wave transmitting” microphone, one of the devices he invented. In the background, there is a reproduction of the United States patent document of 1904, and a design of the device. In the bottom left hand corner there is an Amplitude Modulated (AM) radio wave, for transmitting the sound of the human voice over long distances without using wires.

COVER FROM POLAND

2011-02-05T20:19:00.000-02:00

My friend Krystyna sent me this cover with two stamps of the popular series 'Polish Cities' issued in 2005. The 20 gr stamp (issued on Oct 5 th) presents the Gothic style façade of the All Saints Collegiate Church, one of the most ancient historical monuments of Sieradz. The Stanisław Wyspiański Theatre of Silesia built in 1907 in Katowice is shown in the 30 gr stamp issued on July 29 th.

Polish Post Office issued on September 21st, 2002 four stamps presenting old locomotives from Wolsztyn Locomotive Roundhouse. The 2 zł stamp presents the freight train engine Tki-87, the oldest locomotive in the Wolsztyn engine-house. She has been constructed in Krolewiec /Konigsberg/ in 1908 to the order of the Prussian railways and in 1995 she has been stationed in Wolsztyn.
The commemorative art stamp issued on May 18th, 2002 marks the 140th Anniversary of The Foundation of the National Gallery in Warsaw. On the stamp it is shown one of the most famous works of the gallery, the painting of Sandro Botticelli, "Madonna with the Child, Saint John the Baptist and the angel".

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM USA

2011-02-05T10:53:00.000-02:00

The Huron Islands are a group of eight small, rocky islands in Lake Superior, located about three miles offshore from the mouth of the Huron River. Beginning mid-Nineteenth Century, with the copper boom in the Keweenaw Peninsula, the Huron Islands were a navigational hazard to vessels following the coast to/from Portage River, Michigan. This area had been the site of numerous shipwrecks over the years.

Huron Island Lighthouse was built at the highest point on the West Huron Island with its light exhibited for the first time on the night of October 20, 1868. The 39 ft (12 m) square cylindrical granite tower is attached to 1-1/2 story granite keeper's house. The light station was electrified in 1930 and a solar-powered light installed in 1961. The station, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1975, has been automated in 1972 and is still an active aid to navigation.

This is the 44–cent Angel with Lute definitive stamp. On October 21, 2010, US Postal Service issued a 44–cent “Angel with Lute” definitive stamp. This stamp features a detail of a fragment of a circa–1480 fresco by Melozzo da Forli (1438–1494), where an angel with a halo strums a lute and glances downward toward the left. The original fresco fragment can be visited at the Room IV of the Vatican Pinacoteca (art museum).

The ninth issuance in the American Treasures stamp series features Boys in a Pasture, an 1874 oil-on-canvas painting by Winslow Homer. The 44-cent commemorative stamp was released on August 12, 2010 and the original painting is part of the Hayden Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARD FROM NORWAY

2011-01-31T02:28:00.000-02:00

By 1878 it became evident that the lighthouses at Oksøy and Odderøya were not sufficient for safe navigation in the difficult and highly trafficked waters of the Kristiansand fjord. The Grønningen Lighthouse was erected on a small skerry in the entrance to Kristiansandsfjorden, about 3 km (2 mi) south of Fidje. The 14 m (46 ft) square cylindrical masonry tower is attached to a 1-1/2 story masonry keeper's house and the buildings are well preserved. It is fully automated with a modern fog warning device and a third order lens. Today, the lighthouse is used as a hostel in the summer months for day visits and overnight stays.

Norway issued on June 19th, 1996 two stamps commemorating the centennary of the Norwegian Railway Museum, one of the oldest established railway museums in the world. The 3.00k stamp depicts the locomotive “Urskog” built by the German firm of Richard Hartmann in 1895 and its carriages are from the Urskog-Høland line.

The Norwegian wildlife stamp series has been used since 2006 and is one of the favourite series among collectors. The 10.50 NOK stamp depicts the Aortic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) issued on March 29th, 2006.