USA: HemisFair '68

On 27th October I got three postcards: one from the USA, one from Italy and one from France.

The card from the USA shows a model of the HemisFair '68. The HemisFair '68 was a World's Fair that was held in San Antonio between April and October 1968. More than thirty nations including West Germany and multiple Latin American countries as well asfifteen corporations hosted pavilions at the fair. This card was sent through official Postcrossing.

Three stamps were used on the card. I especially like the two upper stamps about the Harlem Renaissance. They are from a set of four and were issued on 21st May 2020.

 Thank You very much Lindsey!

France: La Roque-Gageac

On 27th October I got three postcards: one from France, one from the USA and one from Italy.

The card from France shows various views of La Roque-Gageac. La Roque-Gageac is a commune in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It is located on the river Dordogne and is considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France.

The card was sent from Cahors and eight Marianne stamps were used. A ninth stamp (issued 16-10-2020) commemorates the 400th anniversary of the reincorporation of Béarn into France. The stamp shows a map of the region, the Château de Pau and a portrait of King Louis XIII, the father of the Sun King.

 Thank You very much William!

cover from Germany

On 27th October I got not only three postcards but also a cover from Germany.

I sent this cover to myself to get this year's special postmark for World Post Day.

Germany: Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne

On 26th October I got four postcards: one from Germany and three from France.

The card from Germany shows the Wallraf-Richartz Museum in Cologne. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum is the oldest museum in Cologne and one of the most important museums in Germany. It shows fine art from the Middle Ages until the early 20th century.

A definitive was used.

 Thank You very much Marcel!

France: Sarlat-la-Canéda

On 26th October I got four postcards: three from France and one from Germany.

One of the cards from France shows various views of Sarlat-la-Canéda. Sarlat-la-Canéda is a town in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It has a well preserved Medieval city centre.

Another one of the six sport stamps (issued 18-09-2020) was used. The card was sent from Cahors.

 Thank You very much William!

France: Cahors

On 26th October I got four postcards: three from France and one from Germany.

One of the cards from France shows various views of Cahors. Cahors is the main city of the Lot department. It is known for its wine, gastronomy and monumental diversity from Roman times and the Middle Ages. The Pont Valentré (second image from above) is as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France even on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another one of the six sport stamps (issued 18-09-2020) was used. The postmark is from the philatelic shop in Cahors. 

 Thank You very much William!

France: Toulouse

On 26th October I got four postcards: three from France and one from Germany.

One of the cards from France shows various views of Toulouse. As a reminder, Toulouse is the fourth largest city in France and the centre of the European aerospace industry.

The card got a special postmark from a philatelic shop in Toulouse, this time however from the Saint-Aubin district. Apparently there is thus more than one philatelic shop in Toulouse.

 Thank You very much William!

Germany: Loreley and the Upper Middle Rhine Valley

On 24th October I got three postcards from Germany.

The cards show the Loreley, a map of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and Burg Rheinstein. I sent all three postcards to myself to get the three different special postmarks for the new Loreley stamp (issued 01-10-2020). Especially I like the view on the first card showing the actual Loreley. On that card I also used an older stamp about the Upper Middle Rhine Valley (issued 04-05-2006).

Åland Islands: Mariehamn Meet-up

On 23rd October I got five postcards including one from the Åland Islands.

On World Postcard Day I had sent out a few official postcards and this was one of the cards I got in return. This is definitely one of the most special cards I got in official Postcrossing. As yesterday started the Cards for Literacy month, I began to send out some more official cards. Let's see what will return this time. ;)

The card was signed during a Postcrossing Meet-up in Mariehamn, a Postcrossing stamp was used and it got a special postmark.

 Thank You very much Anna!

France: Toulouse

On 23rd October I got five postcards including one from France.

It shows various views of Toulouse. Toulouse is the capital of Occitanie and the fourth largest city in France. With one of the oldest universities in Europa the city had always been a centre of science. Today it is the centre of the European aerospace industry.

One of six sport stamps (issued 18-09-2020) was used. The postmark is from the philatelic shop in Toulouse. 

 Thank You very much William!

Italy: Verona Arena

On 23rd October I got five postcards including one from Italy.

It shows the Verona Arena. The Verona Arena is one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters and is nowadays still used for opera performances.

The card was sent on World Post Day. The special postmark (unfortunately poorly visible over the tape) this year highlights the importance of (mail) communication in times of Covid-19. The stamp (issued 09-05-2020) shows the Madonna of Loreto and was the first stamp issued after a two month break due to the pandemic.

 Thank You very much Giulia!

Germany: Natural History Museum in Braunschweig

On 23rd October I got five postcards including one from Germany.

I have already visited museums, but the natural history museum in my home town will always have a special place in my heart. This card shows the otter statue that greets the visitos at the entrance.

I used our recent otter baby stamp (issued 03-09-2020) on this card and got a matching special postmark from Herford.

Canada: Bluenose Stamp

On 23rd October I got five postcards including one from Canada.

The card shows the Bluenose Stamp. The Bluenose is one of the classics of philately and one of the most popular Canadian stamps. It was issued in 1929. The depicted ship, the fishing schooner Bluenose, was built in 1921 and its centenary will be celebrated next year with a new stamp. This card was sent as an official card. 

Many stamps were used on the card. Most of them are part of the benefical insects definitive series. The stamp on the right is a Community Foundation Charity Stamp (issued 21-09-2020). 

 Thank You very much Diane!

covers from Germany

On 23rd October I got not only five postcards but also two covers from Germany, which I had sent to myself. 

The first one got a special postmark about the centenary of the organised philately in Wittenberg and references to the local university. In a local stamp shop I had bought this related stamp about the 500th anniversary of the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg (issued 02-05-2002) to go with the postmark. 

The second cover got a normal definitive and a special postmark about the Centenary of the Territory of the Saar Basin. 

My Trip to Lüneburg

On 23rd October I had been in Lüneburg. Although this had already been my second visit there, I was surprised how nice this city is. 

For a postcard collector the selection of cards is usually just as important as the place itself. In Lüneburg I found a big selection of cards, but unfortunately not a single view of the one place I was looking for. In particular I was looking for a postcard showing the Leuphana Central Building by Daniel Libeskind. However I found this multiview showing this new university building in the upper right corner.

Main reason to visit Lüneburg this time was a special exhibition about medieval pilgrims in the Museum Lüneburg. Like usual nowadays no postcards for the exhibition itself were printed, but here is a card showing an old globe from the museum.

When I was in Lüneburg the last time, I had visited two of the city's three main churches. The third one was already closed. During this trip I was there in time to visit this Saint John's Church, a good example of the Brick Gothic style. In the church there is also a small shop, but due to Covid-19 it is currently closed. This card I bought in one of the city's many souvenir shops.

Although it was just October I already had a chance to buy this postcard of Lüneburg's Christmas Market for my small collection of such markets. 

Last but not least for my own collection I also bought this card showing a pork bone in the Town Hall referencing a local legend about the discovery of Lüneburg's salt spring.