Germany: Beethoven Monument in Bonn

Today I got three postcards: one from Germany, one from Japan and one from Singapore.

The card from Germany shows the Beethoven Monument in Bonn. The Monument honours Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most famous sons of Bonn. It was unveiled in 1845.

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

Stamp:
EUROPA (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark on the occasion of the 40th death anniversary of Erich Kästner

Thank You very much Kurt for sending me the card in an envelope!

Singapore: Pulau Ubin

Today I got three postcards: one from Singapore, one from Germany and one from Japan.

The postcard from Singapore shows a view of Pulau Ubin. Pulau Ubin is a small island in north east Singapore. Pulau Ubin is a popular destination of local tourism as it is one of the last rural areas of Singapore.

With matching stamps:
Pulau Ubin (whole set) (issued 18-07-2014)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Jeremy!

Japan: Letter Writing Day

Today I got three postcards: one from Japan, one from Singapore and one from Germany.

The card from Japan was issued by the Japanese Post to promote the Letter Writing Day. The Letter Writing Day is the 23rd day of every month and on 23rd July a new stamp set is issued on the occasion of it. It was established in 1979. The card shows an Iris.

With a matching stamp:
80 years Parliament (issued 29-11-1970)
Letter Writing Day (from set of twenty) (issued 23-07-2014)
Definitive (from set of two) (issued 15-07-1971)
with a First Day Special Postmark of the Letter Writing Day stamp

Thank You very much Keiko!

Iceland: Surtsey

This is my 100th UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thank You everybody having helped me to achieve this aim!

Today I got three postcards: one from Iceland, one from Spain and one from China.

The card from Iceland shows the island Surtsey. Surtsey is located off the South Coast of Iceland and is the southernmost point of Iceland. Surtsey was created by a submarine eruption having started in 1963. Surtsey is protected since its birth and produces unique long-term information on the colonisation process of new land by plants and animals without human interference. Since 2008 has been Surtsey an UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Stamp:
Tourism (from set of two) (issued 16-01-2014)

Thank You very much Svea!

China: Red River's Hani Terraces

Today I got three postcards: one from China, one from Iceland and one from Spain.

The card from China shows the Red River's Hani Terraces. Since 2013 has been the Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With nice stamps:
Monkey King (from set of six) (issued 01-06-2014)
The Monkey King is a Chinese animation movie. Go here for more information.
60 years Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (issued 03-05-2014)
The aims of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries are to enhance people’s friendship, further international cooperation, safeguard world peace and promote common development. The stamp shows the painting Ode to Peace.
90 years Whampoa Military Academy (issued 16-06-2014)
The Whampoa Military Academy was founded by Sun Yat-sen in 1924. It is the first political and military institution to train revolutionaries in modern China.

Thank You very much Jianlun!

Spain: Plaza Mayor and road signs of Madrid

Today I got three postcards: one from Spain, one from China and one from Iceland.

The card from Spain shows the Plaza Mayor and various road signs of Madrid. 

Stamps:
EUROPA (issued 04-04-2011)
Definitives-0,01€ and 0,10€ (issued 02-01-2008)

Thank You very much Jose!

Germany: Abbey of Lorsch

Today I got three postcards: one from Germany and two from Spain.

The card from Germany shows the Gatehouse of the Abbey of Lorsch. The Gatehouse was built in 774 by Benedictine Monks and is thus regarded the oldest, still standing German building of the post-Roman time.

The Abbey of Lorsch was during the Middle Ages one of the most important claustral centres of Central Europe. The Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch have been since 1991 an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the "Lorscher Arzneibuch" written in the Abbey is since 2013 a part of the Memory of the World Programme of the UNESCO. 

I got this card a few weeks ago in an envelope.

With matching stamp:
1250 years Abbey of Lorsch (issued 02-01-2014)
with a matching special postmark from Lorsch for the main festival of the jubilee

Thank You very much "Janet" for sending me the card in an envelope!

Spain: Palacio de Monterrey in Salamanca

Today I got three postcards: two from Spain and one from Germany.

One of the cards from Spain the Palacio de Monterrey in Salamanca. The Palacio de Monterrey was built in the 16th century. Today it is owned by the House of Alba and houses a private art collection. Since 1988 has been the Old City of Salamanca an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamps:
EUROPA (23-04-2013)
Definitive-0,01€ (issued 02-01-2008)

Thank You very much Jose!

Spain: Temple of Diana in Mérida

Today I got three postcards: two from Spain and one from Germany.

One of the cards from Spain shows the Temple of Diana in Mérida. The Temple of Diana is one of the few religious buildings in Mérida preserved in a satisfactory state. Although it is called Temple of Diana, it was actually dedicated to the Imperial cult. Since 1993 has been the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida including buildings like the Temple of Diana and the Roman Theatre an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With nice stamp:
EUROPA (issued 04-04-2012)
Definitives-0,01€ and 0,05€ (issued 02-01-2008)

Thank You very much Jose!

Slovakia: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Today I got three postcards: one from Slovakia, one from the Netherlands and one from Hungary.

The card from Slovakia shows different UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Slovakia.

Levoča (upper row first from left), the Žehra Church (upper row second from right), the Spišský hrad (big picture in the middle) and the Spišská Kapitula (middle row left) have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. The official name of the UNESCO World Heritage Site is "Levoča, Spišský Hrad and the Associated Cultural Monuments".

The Bardejov Town Conservation Reserve (upper row second from left) has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.

Vlkolínec (upper row first from right) has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

The Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica (middle row right) and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity have been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

The church of Kežmarok (lower row right) has been as one of the Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area since 2008 an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamp:
20 years Visegrad Group (issued 11-02-2011)
It is a joint issue with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

Thank You very much Zuzana!

Hungary: Buda Castle

Today I got three postcards: one from Hungary, one from Slovakia and one from the Netherlands.

The card from Hungary shows the Buda Castle in Hungary's capital Budapest. The Buda Castle is the largest building in Hungary and the highest situated building of Budapest. It was built by Béla IV of Hungary in the 13th century and was from then onwards the residence of the Hungarian Kings. It was enlarged over the centuries and after its destruction in the World War II it has been rebuilt. Budapest has been with the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

 Stamps:
EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 09-05-2014)
Chair (from set of four) (issued 09-10-2001)

Thank You very much Karr!

Netherlands: Windmills of Kinderdijk-Elshout

Today I got three postcards: one from the Netherlands, one from Hungary and one from Slovakia.

The card from the Netherlands shows the windmills of Kinderdijk-Elshout. The 19 windmills of Kinderdijk-Elshout are one of the most famous sights in the Netherlands. The construction of windmills began in the Middle Ages and they are still used for the drainage of land for agriculture and settlement. The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

With nice stamps:
Football World Cup Brazil (two from set of ten) (issued 02-06-2014)

Thank You very much Amy!

Iceland: Reykjavík

Today I got two postcards: my first card from Iceland and one from Germany.

Iceland is a country in Northern Europe and the second-largest insular state in Europe. Iceland is a member of the UN, of the NATO and of the OECD.

The card shows the waterfront of Iceland's capital Reykjavík. Reykjavík is the northernmost capital of the World and the cleanest capital of Europe. 

With nice stamp:
Tourism (from set of two) (issued 16-01-2014)

Thank You very much Svea!

Germany: Council of Constance

Today I got two postcards: one from Germany and my first card from Iceland.

The card from Germany shows the Imperia and the building where the Council of Constance was held in Baden-Württemberg. The Council of Constance was held between 1414 and 1418. During this time 20000 persons lived in Constance. The main topic was the end of the Western Schism and the reunification of the church. 

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

With a nice matching stamp:
600 years Council of Constance (issued 03-07-2014)
with a special postmark on the occasion of the jubilee

Thank You very much Nina for sending me the card in an envelope!

Germany: Jena

Today I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them shows Jena. Jena is the second largest town of Thuringia and an important centre of education and science. In 2008 was Jena the City of Science ("Stadt der Wissenschaft"). 

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

Stamp:
150th birthday of Ricarda Huch (issued 03-07-2014)
with a special postmark commemorating also Ricarda Huch

Thank You very much Kathrin for sending me the card in an envelope!

Germany: Karlsruhe

Today I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them is a multiview from Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe is the second largest town of the State of Baden-Württemberg and was once the capital of Baden. Since 1950 is in Karlsruhe the seat of the Federal Court of Justice and since 1951 of the Federal Constitutional Court. 

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

Stamp:
Blossoming Trees-Conker Tree (from set of three) (issued 07-02-2013)
with a special postmark commemorating the latest coin from the series "Der deutsche Wald" showing also a conker tree

Thank You very much Tanja for sending me the card in an envelope!

Germany: Town Hall of Bremen

Today I got three postcards from Germany.

One of the cards shows the Town Hall of Bremen. The Town Hall of Bremen is located on the Marketplace of Bremen and is the seat of the President of the Senate and Mayor of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. It is one of the most important examples of the Brick Gothic. Since 2004 it has been together with the Bremen Roland an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With matching stamp:
Bremen (from set of two) (issued 05-06-2014)

Thank You very much Marina!

New Zealand: Tirau's Big Sheep

Today I got two postcards: one from New Zealand and one from Germany.

The card from New Zealand shows Tirau's Big Sheep. Tirau is located on the North Island of New Zealand on the State Highway 1. In the 1980s Tirau was on the way to become a ghost town as the population decreased. Then Henry Clothier opened a antiques shop later followed by other shops and travellers have started to stop. In the 1990s Henry Clothier's son Steven was tasked to build the Big Sheep (1994) for a wool gallery and a Big Dog (1998) as information centre. 

With a matching stamp:
Matariki (from set of six) (issued 04-06-2014)
Legendary Landmarks (two from set of eighteen) (issued 02-07-2014)

Thank You very much Sharon!

Germany: Städtisches Museum in Braunschweig

Today I got two postcards: one from Germany and one from New Zealand.

The card from Germany shows a piece from the Fürstenberg China collection at the Municipal Museum (Städtisches Museum) in Braunschweig. The Fürstenberg China Factory was founded in 1747 in Fürstenberg at the behest of Duke Charles I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Thus is the Fürstenberg China Factory the second oldest German porcelain factory that still operates at the same place and the third oldest altogether. The Municipal Museum was founded in 1861 and shows exhibits of Braunschweig's history. The collection was increased by donations of Braunschweig's civics. Today is the Municipal Museum with 270000 exhibits one of the most important art-historical and culture-historical museums of Germany.

I bought this card when I recently visited the museum.

Stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Germany: Lighthouse Buk

Today I got a postcard from Germany.

The card shows the Lighthouse Buk in Bastorf in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Lighthouse Buk has been in operation since 1878 and is with 20,8m one of the smallest lighthouses in Germany. Its main task is to warn against the sandbank Hannibal.

I got this card a few weeks ago in a cover.

With matching stamp:
Lighthouses (from set of two) (issued 03-07-2014)
with a special postmark showing also the Lighthouse Buk

Thank You very much Claas for sending me the card in an envelope!

Netherlands: Van Nellefabriek

Today I got two postcards: one from the Netherlands and one from Singapore.

The card from the Netherlands shows the Van Nellefabriek. The Van Nellefabriek was designed and built in the 1920s near Rotterdam. It is named the ideal factory as for example daylight is used inside. The Van Nellefabriek was the headquarters of the Van Nelle company, a company producing coffee, tea, tobacco and other things. Since 2014 has been the Van Nellefabriek an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamps:
EUROPA (whole set) (issued 22-04-2013)

Thank You very much Maick!

Singapore: Sultan Mosque

Today I got two postcards: one from Singapore and one from the Netherlands.

The card from Singapore shows again the Sultan Mosque.

Stamps:
Let's Celebrate (four from set of five) (issued 26-03-2014)

Thank You very much Jeremy!

WWI Centenary from Jersey

Today I got the first stamps for my new World War I Centenary collection. The stamps are from Jersey and were issued on 06-05-2014. The stamps show poppies and on the 46p and 56p are real poppy seeds.

Italy: Nutella

Today I got a cover from Italy.

Stamp:

Nutella (issued 14-05-2014)

Inside was the maxicard of the Nutella stamp. Nutella is a hazelnut chocolate spread merchandised by the Italian company Ferrero. Nutella was created as Pasta gianduja in 1946 by the confectioner Pietro Ferrero. In 1951 Ferrero changed the recipe and called it from then on Supercrema gianduja. In 1964 an act prohibited the prefix "Super-" in brand names. Thus Ferrero created the word Nutella from the English word "nut" and the Italian female diminutive "-ella". Since 1965 is Nutella sold outside Italy and today it can be bought in 75 countries.

Thank You very much Giuseppe!

Greece: Kos

Today I got my first postcard from Greece. 

Greece is a country in Southeast Europe bordering on Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Greece is a member of the EU, of the OECD, of the NATO and of the UN. The capital of Greece is Athens.

The card shows impressions of the island of Kos. Kos is the third-largest of the Dodecanese islands and is located next to the Gulf of Cos near Turkey. In 460 B.C. Hippocrates was born on Kos.

Stamp:
Olympus (from set of four) (issued 19-07-2013)

Thank You very much Achim and Jutta!