New Zealand: Sheep

Today I got three postcards: one from New Zealand, one from Germany and one from China.

The card from New Zealand shows a road sign about sheep. In New Zealand there are seven sheep for every person and they are an important part of New Zealand's economy.

With matching stamps:
Year of the Sheep (two from set of four) (issued 14-01-2015)

Thank You very much Sharon!

China: Year of the Sheep

Today I got three postcards: one from China, one from New Zealand and one from Germany.

The card from China is a New Year's card of the Year of the Sheep.

The card is prepaid and was added with two stamps:
Definitive (from set of four) (issued 01-02-2002)
Year of the Sheep (issued 05-01-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Hanghui!

Germany: Glaselefant Hamm

Today I got three postcards: one from Germany, one from China and one from New Zealand.

The card from Germany shows the elephant of glass in Hamm. The elephant of glass housed once the coal washery of the Maximilian colliery, but for the state horticultural show in 1984 it changed its function and houses now a palm garden. It is a landmark of Hamm.

Stamp:
label

Thank You very much Martina!

Hong Kong: Year of the Ram

Today I got seven postcards. One of them is from Hong Kong.

It is a New Year's card of the Year of the Ram.

With matching stamps:
Year of the Ram (two from set of four) (issued 24-01-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Joe!

Canada: Le 178ieme Bataillon Canadien-Français des cantons de l'est

Today I got seven postcards. One of them is from Canada.

It shows the World War I poster Le 178ieme Bataillon Canadien-Français des cantons de l'est. It was created in 1915 by The Mortimer Co. Limited. 

Canada declared war on the German Empire on 5th August 1914 although they were at war already one day earlier as Canada was a dominion of the United Kingdom. For operation in World War I the Canadian Expeditionary Force was formed. The war allowed Canada to become more independent and otherwise also opened a big rift between the French and English speaking Canadians.

With many nice stamps:
Year of the Snake (issued 05-01-2001)
International Philatelic Youth Exhibition (from set of five) (issued 11-03-1982)
Legendary Canadians (two from set of four) (issued 15-08-1998)
James Naismith (from set of three) (issued 25-10-1991)
Canadian Flag
Hippodamia Convergens

Thank You very much Jason!

Hungary: Icons

Today I got seven postcards. One of them is from Hungary.

It shows two women in traditional clothes and many peppers. 

With a matching stamp:
Cultivated Flora of Hungary (from set of two) (issued 06-08-2014)
Stamp Day (from set of two) (issued 06-07-2012)

Thank You very much Ania!

Denmark: Horsens

Today I got seven postcards. One of them is from Denmark.

It shows various views of Horsens. Horsens is a harbour town at the east coast of Jutland. Horsens is a location of metal and tobacco industry and known for having presented internationally known artists.

With a great stamp:
Definitives-50 and 100 (two from set of four) (issued 28-04-2010)
EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2015)

Thank You very much Hans Jørgen!

Switzerland: Castles of Bellinzona

This is the 700th post on my blog and my 150th UNESCO World Heritage Site! Thank You all of you for sending me all this nice postcards and covers with so many nice stamps and all the nice UNESCO cards!

Today I got seven postcards. One of them is from Switzerland.

It shows the castles of Bellinzona. The Three Castles, the Defensive Wall and the Ramparts of the Market-Town of Bellinzona are since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With nice stamps:
Pro Juventute (from set of four) (issued 28-11-1979)
Pro Patria (from set of four) (issued 29-05-1980)
with a special postmark from Ürikon

Thank You very much Inge!

USA: National WWI Museum

Today I got seven postcards. Two of them are from the USA.

One of them shows the National WWI Museum in Kansas City in the State of Missouri. The National WWI Museum opened as Liberty Memorial Museum in 1926 and since 2004 it is the official World War I museum of the USA. 

At the beginning of World War I the USA remained neutral. But in 1915 the USA were involved in it when they demanded the end of the unrestricted submarine warfare of the German Empire after the sinking of the HMS Lusitania. The German Empire fulfilled this demand. But when the German Empire resumed the unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 the USA declared war. Although not joining the Triple Entente the USA supported it with supplies and sent soldiers to the western front. Until the end of World War I the USA played an important role.

Stamp:
Global Forever Christmas (issued 24-10-2013)

Thank You very much Chasity!

USA: Liberty Memorial in Kansas City

 Today I got seven postcards. Two of them are from the USA.

One of them shows the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City. In 1919 a group of citizens started to collect money for a World War I memorial. The Liberty Memorial was built from 1921 to 1926.

Stamps:

Let's Celebrate (issued 25-03-2011)

Butterfly (issued 10-02-2014)

Thank You very much Chasity!

Germany: Willy Brandt

Today I got a postcard from Germany.

The card shows Willy Brandt. Willy Brandt was born in 1913 in Lübeck. He resisted the National Socialist Dictatorship and went into exile to Norway and Sweden in 1933. After the Second World War he assisted the rehabilitation of the democracy in Germany and from 1957 and 1966 he was the Governing Mayor of Berlin. From 1966 he was the Foreign Minister of Germany and from 1969 Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1971 he got the Nobel Peace Prize. He died in 1992.

The card was sent from Unkel in Rhineland-Palatinate. There lived Willy Brandt from 1979 until his death.

It is an official card: DE-3900822

Stamp:
Glücksburg Castle (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2013)

Thank You very much Siv!

Germany: Luther Room in the Wartburg Castle

Today I got two postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Luther Room in the Wartburg Castle. Martin Luther lived from 1521 to 1522 in the Wartburg Castle and there he translated the New Testament. As it was a secret stay he was called Junker Jörg. The Wartburg Castle is since 1999 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up at the Wartburg.
Stamp:
Janosch (from set of two) (issued 01-03-2013)

Thank You very much Hanko!

Germany: Martin Luther in Erfurt

Today I got two postcards from Germany.

One of them shows various places in Erfurt concerning Martin Luther. In 1501 Martin Luther started his studies in Erfurt. He studied the seven liberal arts and after finishing in 1505 he started at his father's request law studies. But when he returned from Mansfeld to Erfurt on 2nd July 1505 there was a big thunderstorm and he pledged to become a monk if he is saved. According to his pledge he joined the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt as he was saved. In 1511 he moved from Erfurt to Wittenberg. The card shows a painting of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach the Elder, the Augustinian Monastery with Luther's cubicle, the door of Erfurt's old university, the Luther Memorial and the Luther Bible.

Stamp:
Janosch (from set of two) (issued 01-03-2013)

Thank You very much Hanko!

United Kingdom: Icons of London

Today I got a postcard from the United Kingdom.

It shows the Elizabeth Tower, a London Bus and a Red telephone box. 

With a nice stamp:
Queen's Head
150 years Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (from set of ten) (issued 06-01-2015)

Thank You very much Federica!

China: Fujian Tulou

Today I got a postcard from China.

The card shows the Cuilin Building in the Xinluo village. The Cuilin Building is one of the Tulou of the Fujian province. Tulous are earthen houses built between the 15th and the 20th century to house a clan of up to 800 members. They are mainly round and were built for defence purposes. They have a courtyard in the middle, several storeys, only one door and windows just over the first floor. The inside of the tulous is often decorated. The Cuilin Building is the smallest tulou discovered so far. Fujian Tulou is since 2008 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a nice stamp:

Thank You very much "cindorchen"!

Singapore: Gardens by the Bay

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

The card from Singapore shows the Gardens by the Bay.

Stamps:
Year of the Goat (whole set) (issued 09-01-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Jeremy!

Finland: Moomintroll and Too-ticky

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

The card from Finland shows Moomintroll and Too-ticky. Too-ticky is a wise woman and a friend of the Moomin family. She first appeared in the book Moominland Midwinter.

On the backside of the card are four Moomin stickers.
With a matching stamp:
Moomins-Moominmamma (from set of six) (issued 06-05-2013)

Thank You very much Arja!

Germany: St. Peter's and Paul's Church in Eisleben

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

The card from Germany shows the St. Peter's and Paul's Church in Eisleben. The St. Peter's and Paul's Church in Eisleben was first mentioned in 1333. In 1483 Martin Luther was baptised in the St. Peter's and Paul's Church.

Stamp:
Glücksburg Castle (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2013)

Thank You very much Klaus!

Germany: Martin Luther's Death House

Today I got six postcards from Germany.

One of them shows Martin Luther's Death House in Eisleben. Allegedly Martin Luther died in this house in 1546. It houses a museum. Since 1996 is Martin Luther's Death House together with other Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Glücksburg Castle (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2013)

Thank You very much Klaus!

Germany: Martin Luther's Birth House

Today I got six postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the yard of Martin Luther's Birth House in Eisleben. Martin Luther was born in Eisleben in 1483. The original house was destroyed in a fire in 1689 but a new one was built on the same place. It opened to the public in 1693 and houses a museum about Martin Luther. Since 1996 is Martin Luther's Birth House together with other Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Glücksburg Castle (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2013)

Thank You very much Klaus!

Germany: Hildesheim Cathedral

Today I got six postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Hildesheim Cathedral. The Hildesheim Cathedral was built from 1010 to 1020 in the Ottonian Romanesque style. After it was destroyed in World War II it was rebuilt from 1950 to 1960. The Hildesheim Cathedral is since 1985 together with the St. Michael's Church on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

I bought this card when I recently visited the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hildesheim.

Stamp:
Glücksburg Castle (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2013)

I also bought some other cards cards of the Hildesheim Cathedral.
One of them shows the interior with the Bernward Doors, the Bronze baptismal font and the Hezilo chandelier.

The other cards I bought show famous works of art from the cathedral's treasures. The treasure of the Hildesheim Cathedral belongs to the big church treasures of Europe. The cards show parts of the Bernward Gospels, the Silver Cross of Bernward, the Lion Aquamanile and the Eagle lectern. The treasure of the Hildesheim Museum is shown at the Hildesheim Cathedral Museum.

Germany: St Michael's Church in Hildesheim

Today I got six postcards from Germany.

One of them shows again the St Michael's Church in Hildesheim.

I bought this card when I recently visited the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hildesheim.

Stamp:
Glücksburg Castle (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2013)

I also bought some other cards of the St Michael's Church.
The first of them shows the interior with the painted wooden ceiling. North of the Alps there is no other painted wooden ceiling like the one of the St Michael's Church.

The second card shows the altar of Mary. It was created around 1520.

The last card shows the Woehl-organ. The Woehl-organ was created in 1999 by Gerald Woehl. Recently the Organ Construction and Organ Music was added to the German Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.