Cover from India no. 2

A cover from India received yesterday from Thana, Maharashtra, with the definitives from the current series called "Builders of Modern India": Indira Gandhi (1917 - 1984), issued on 1 December 2008, and Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997), issued on 1 March 2009. Thank you, Niraj.

Cover from Austria no. 5

A splendid cover sent by Florian from Austria. It flied by balloon post between Pinkafeld and Riedlingsdorf in Burgenland on 16 October 2010 (there is such a flight every year in Austria, in 2010 it was the 21st, to raise funds for children cancer research). The 0.55 euro stamp, issued on 14 June 2010, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the second alpine spring water system (Vienna public water main), the 0.10 euro laburnum definitive was issued in 2007.

The special postmark used in Pinkafeld commemorates not only the 21. Ballonpostfahrt (balloon flight), but also the 1150th anniversary of Pinkafeld. The other postmark is of Riedlingsdorf (postal code 7422) at the other end of the journey.

Thank you so much, Florian!!

Postcard from Great Britain no. 5

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An impressive viewcard received today from the UK, showing the ruins of the priory in the village of Castle Acre in the county of Norfolk. thought to have been founded in 1089 by William de Warenne.

Since the priory radiates mystery, it's very fitting that the stamp is also dedicated to a mystery, or rather an author of mysteries, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) who penned the immortal Sherlock Holmes (and lots of other novels and short stories, I myself love his horrors!). The stamp was issued on 8 October 2009, in a series called "Eminent Britons", dedicated to prominent British personalities with their anniversaries in 2009.

Thank you, Catherine!!!

Covers from Finland no. 8 and 9

It's -12 degrees Celsius now here, so it may be convenient to get warm a bit... these two Finland's covers are just perfect, because both have campfires in them. The first 0.65 euro stamp was issued on 28 April 2004, as part of the EUROPA project focusing on various aspects of vacations, and a sunset with campfire at sea or at a lake is definitely one of them. The other EUROPA stamp was issued on 9 May 2007 (scouting centenary) and shows three girls scouts also around campfire. Both covers were sent from the town of Mikkeli, by Liisa, thank you!!

Cover no. 12 from France

A really interesting cover received on Friday from the region of Ile de France with a pretty stamp issued on 29 May 2008. The stamp is supposed to be sent to inform of the birth of a baby, and, after scratching part of its surface, it is revealed if it is a boy or a girl... Here I show the stamp before the scratching, and after... and in this case "c'est un garcon" - "it's a boy":)

There is of course also the girl version. Merci beaucoup Anais!

Cover from Italy no. 15

Giovanni has just sent me this fantastic cover with a souvenir sheet showing the Basilica Santa Maria di Collemaggio in the city of L'Aquila, capital of the Abruzzi region in central Italy, in April 2009 hit by the destructive earthquake. The basilica is an important example of Romanesque art in Abruzzo. And there is also a special postmark from Florence, commemorating the 2nd Salon of Arts and Restauration, with the head of Michalangelo's David.

Grazie, Giovanni! Yesterday I sent you a special cover; I hope it arrives safely even with this terrible snowing.

Postcard from Přerov, Czech Republic

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Here is a view of the centre of the town of Přerov, where I grew up:) - the main (Masaryk) Square and the Municipal House, which is a cultural venue for concerts, also with a very stylish (black, plush, and magic) night club (the entry is right behind the bus). The A stamp (local rate of 10 Kč) was issued on 29 September 2010, and in my opinion is one of the best of this year issued here. It features a painted sign of the Austro-Hungarian Post (1870s), a historic map and six postal goblins busy about their important work in postmarking and delivering letters.

The card was dropped on Saturday into a post box, so on Monday it received the automatic cancellation which is truly awful (I expected otherwise, but no, everything found in post boxes these days goes to the machines).

Cover from Italy no. 14

Another great surprise from Giovanni, a variation on the theme of Inter Milan, Italy's football champion in the season 2009-2010 after this special postcard and this cover with a special postmark. The cover above with the commemorative Inter Milan stamp was sent on 7 August 2010 from Terracina, province of Latina, near Rome, with another special football postmark. Grazie mille, Giovanni!

Cover from Hong Kong no. 3

This is a lovely pictorial cover sent by Brian from Hong Kong, with a $2.40 stamp from a series called "Hong Kong in My Eyes". The stamp was drawn by TAN Ying-yun and is cancelled by the day of issue postmark, and sent on the official first day cover (21 October 2010). To complete the postage there is the definitive white-bellied sea eagle stamp as well.

Cover from Latvia no. 7

A great cover from Oleg in Riga, Latvia, with a 0.40 lat stamp issued on 5 August 2010, showing a steam engine used in the 1920-1930s, from a series of railway stamps. Another nice example is here. The other 0.15 lat bears the coat of arms of the spa town of Jurmala, issued in 2005. Thank you, Oleg!