United Kingdom: A photo from World War I

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from the United Kingdom, one from Finland, two from Germany, one from Singapore and two from Japan.

One of the cards from the United Kingdom shows one of this year's stamps about the World War I Centenary. It shows a British soldier at a comrade’s grave at Cape Helles. Cape Helles is located on the southern tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was hard-fought in 1915. The photo was taken by Ernest Brooks and shows just the silhouette of an unknown soldier.

With a related stamp:
Queen's Head
World War I Centenary (from set of six) (issued 14-05-2015)
The stamp shows an excerpt from the poem "All the Hills and Vales Along" by Charles Hamilton Sorley. The poem illustrates the singing soldiers marching to the front line. Charles Hamilton Sorley served as a captain and was killed on 13th October 1915. This poem was published posthumously. He is considered to be one of the leading World War I poets.

Thank You very much Federica!

_________________________________________________________________________________

All the Hills and Vales Along

All the hills and vales along

Earth is bursting into song,

And the singers are the chaps

Who are going to die perhaps.

O sing, marching men,

Till the valleys ring again,

Give your gladness to earth’s keeping,

So be glad, when you are sleeping.

Cast away regret and rue,

Think what you are marching to.

Little live, great pass.

Jesus Christ and Barabbas

Were found the same day.

This died, that went his way.

So sing with joyful breath,

For why, you are going to death.

Teeming earth will surely store

All the gladness that you pour.

Earth that never doubts nor fears,

Earth that knows of death, not tears,

Earth that bore with joyful ease

Hemlock for Socrates,

Earth that blossomed and was glad

‘Neath the cross that Christ had,

Shall rejoice and blossom too

When the bullet reaches you.

Wherefore, men marching,

On the road to death, sing!

Pour your gladness on earth’s head,

So be merry, so be dead.

From the hills and valleys earth

Shouts back the sound of mirth,

Tramp of feet and lilt of song

Ringing all the road along.

All the music of their going,

Ringing swinging glad song-throwing,

Earth will echo still, when foot

Lies numb and voice mute.

On, marching men, on

To the gates of death with song.

Sow your gladness for earth’s reaping,

So you may be glad, though sleeping.

Strew your gladness on earth’s bed,

So be merry, so be dead.

United Kingdom: Penny Black

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from the United Kingdom, one from Finland, two from Germany, one from Singapore and two from Japan.

One of the cards from the United Kingdom shows a recently issued miniature sheet about the 175th anniversary of the Penny Black. The Penny Black is a stamp from the United Kingdom. It was issued on 1st May 1840 and is thus the World's first stamp. It showed an profile of Queen Victoria on black background and had a face value of one penny. The introduction of stamps was part of the reform of the postal system by Sir Rowland Hill. The Penny Black was only in use for one year. Then it was replaced by the Penny Red due to problems with the cancellation.

With a matching stamp:
Queen's Head
175 years Penny Black (from set of two) (issued 06-05-2015)

Thank You very much Federica!

Japan: Horyuji Temple

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from Japan, two from the United Kingdom, one from Finland, two from Germany and one from Singapore.

One of the cards from Japan shows the Horyuji Temple. The wooden structures at the Horyuji Temple were built between the 7th and the 8th century and are thus some of the oldest surviving wooden structures in the World. The temple illustrates the adaptation of Chinese architecture to the Japanese layout and the introduction of the Buddhism to Japan. The Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area are since 1993 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Letter Writing Day (from set of twenty) (issued 23-07-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark
Sushi (from set of two) (issued 30-10-2014)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Japan: Kiki's Delivery Service

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from Japan, two from the United Kingdom, one from Finland, two from Germany and one from Singapore.

One of the cards from Japan shows a scene from Kiki's Delivery Service. Kiki's Delivery Service is an animated movie produced by Studio Ghibli. It tells the story of the young witch Kiki on her way to independence. It was released in 1989.

Stamp:
Letter Writing Day (from set of twenty) (issued 23-07-2015)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Singapore: Cheat Sheet

Yesterday I got eight postcards: one from Singapore, two from Japan, two from the United Kingdom, one from Finland and two from Germany.

The card from Singapore is a cheat sheet presenting many facts on the country.

Stamps:
Transportation (from set of nine) (issued 19-03-1997)
Our City in a Garden (from set of five) (issued 13-07-2013)
with the seventh of twelve slogan postmarks celebrating Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence

Thank You very much Candice!

Germany: Bad Ems

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from Germany, one from Singapore, two from Japan, two from the United Kingdom and one from Finland.

One of the cards from Germany shows various views of Bad Ems. Bad Ems is a bathing resort on the river Lahn in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is known for the Ems Dispatch and the Ems Edict. The town seeks as one of the Great Spas of Europe for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

EDIT: As one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe is Bad Ems since July 2021 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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

Thank You very much Hanko!

Germany: Leipzig's New Town Hall

Yesterday I got eight postcards: two from Germany, one from Singapore, two from Japan, two from the United Kingdom and one from Finland.

One of the cards from Germany shows the New Town Hall in Leipzig. The New Town Hall is the seat of Leipzig's city administration since 1905.

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

With a matching stamp:
1000 years Leipzig (issued 01-07-2015)
with a special postmark showing Leipzig's Old Town Hall

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

Finland: Snufkin

Yesterday I got eight postcards: one from Finland, two from Germany, one from Singapore, two from Japan and two from the United Kingdom.

The card from Finland shows Snufkin. Snufkin is one of the characters in the Moomin books of Tove Jansson. He appears in six of the nine books with his first appearance in "Comet in Moominland". He is a good friend of Moomintroll and the half-brother of Little My. He lives in the Moominvalley only in spring and summer. 

With a matching stamp:
Moomins-Snufkin (from set of six) (issued 06-05-2013)

Thank You very much Arja!

Germany: Jasmund National Park

Yesterday I got two cards from Germany.

One of them shows the Jasmund National Park on Rügen, the largest German island, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Jasmund National Park was founded in 1990. It is home to the largest coherent beech forest of the German Baltic Sea Coast and the largest chalk cliffs of Germany. It is the smallest national park in Germany. The beech forests of the Jasmund National Park were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List together with four other Ancient Beech Forests of Germany in 2011. The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians in Slovakia and the Ukraine were added to the list already in 2007. 

Stamp:
Lighthouse (from set of two) (issued 11-06-2015)

Thank You very much Mirko!

Germany: Chilehaus

Yesterday I got two cards from Germany.

One of them shows the Chilehaus in Hamburg. The Chilehaus was built between 1922 and 1924 in the style of the Brick Expressionism. It is located in the Kontorhaus District. With its ten storeys it is one of Hamburg's first high-rise buildings. The Kontorhaus District with the Chilehaus and the Speicherstadt were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List earlier this month.

Stamp:
Chiemsee (from set of two) (issued 01-07-2015)

Thank You very much Nicole!

China: Confucius Temple in Qufu

Yesterday I got a postcard from China.

It shows the Confucius Temple in Qufu. The Confucius Temple was firstly built in BCE 478 to commemorate Confucius, the great philosopher, politician and educator from the 6th and 5th century BCE. Confucius was born in Qufu. Today there are more than 100 buildings in the temple. Since 1994 are the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Teachers' Day (from set of two) (issued 10-09-2014)
Internet Life (from set of four) (issued 20-04-2014)

Thank You very much Chenzhan!

Germany: Golden Horseman

Yesterday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the Golden Horseman in Dresden. The Golden Horseman is an equestrian statue of Augustus II the Strong, the Elector of Saxony, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. It shows Augustus II on a Lipizzaner horse wearing a Roman imperial armour and looking towards Poland. The statue was created between 1732 and 1734 and the base was constructed in 1735 and 1736. It was unveiled in November 1736. It was first made of fire-gilded copper, but during a restoration in 1956 gold foil was used instead. The Latin inscription of the base was added in 1885. Today it is one of the best-known sights of Saxony's capital. In the background you can also see the Frauenkirche.

You can read more about Augustus II the Strong on my History Blog.

With a matching stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Amelie!

Germany: Friedrich Fröbel

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany shows various places in the German State of Thuringia related to Friedrich Fröbel. Friedrich Fröbel was born in 1782 in Oberweißbach. He is known for opening the World's first Kindergarten. He died in 1852 in Schweina. The card shows the Kindergarten in Bad Blankenburg, the Fröbel Museum in Bad Blankenburg, Fröbel's birth house, the Fröbel Tower in Oberweißbach, a bust and and the place where Fröbel invented the name "Kindergarten".

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

Stamp:
EUROPA (issued 07-05-2015)
with a special postmark about the 175th anniversary of the first Kindergarten

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

Germany: 1000 years Leipzig

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany was printed for Leipzig's 1000th anniversary. Leipzig was first mentioned in 1015 in the chronicle of Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg. Many events are planned in the anniversary year.

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

With a matching stamp:
1000 years Leipzig (issued 01-07-2015)
with a special postmark showing Leipzig's Old Town Hall

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

Germany: History of Leipzig

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany is the Chronicle card of Leipzig. Leipzig was first mentioned in 1015 and got the town privileges in 1165. It soon became an important place of trade. Its university was founded in 1409. Leipzig was allowed to organise fairs from 1497 onwards. It was damaged during the Thirty Years' War, but was soon regained its old position. Between 1723 and 1750 Johann Sebastian Bach was the chanter at Leipzig's Thomaskirche. In 1813 Napoleon was beaten in the Battle of the Nations near the city. In 1895 the first sample fair took place. Today is Leipzig the largest city in the German State of Saxony and among the ten largest cities in Germany.

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

With a matching stamp:
1000 years Leipzig (issued 01-07-2015)
with a special postmark showing Leipzig's Old Town Hall

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

Germany: Erlangen Castle

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany shows the Erlangen Castle in Erlangen. Erlangen is the smallest big city in Bavaria. The Erlangen Castle was built between 1700 and 1704. Today it houses the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

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

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark showing also the Erlangen Castle

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

Germany: Karlsruhe

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany shows an aerial view of Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe was founded in 1715. Because of its layout it is known as "fan city". 

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

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark about Karlsruhe's 300th founding anniversary

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

Germany: Chiemsee

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany shows a map of the Chiemsee and of its surrounding area. The Chiemsee is the largest lake in the German State of Bavaria and the third-largest in Germany. The largest island in the lake is the Herreninsel followed by the Fraueninsel and the Krautinsel. 

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

With matching stamps:
Chiemsee (whole set) (issued 01-07-2015)
with a special postmark showing a paddle steamer on the Chiemsee

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

Germany: Hanover Adventure Zoo

Today I got eight postcards: seven from Germany and one from Iceland.

One of the cards from Germany shows various animals from the Indian theme world at the Hanover Adventure Zoo. The "Jungle Palace" was built at the end of the 1990s and was at that time unique in Europe. It houses animals from Asia. The card shows Gray langurs, Asian elephants and a Siberian tiger.

I bought this card when I visited the Zoo some years ago.

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark showing also a Gray langur

Iceland: Þingvellir National Park

This is the 1000th post on my blog! Thank You all of you for sending me all this nice postcards and covers with so many nice stamps!

Today I got eight postcards: one from Iceland and seven from Germany.

The card from Iceland shows the Þingvellir National Park. The Þingvellir National Park is where the first assembly representing whole Iceland, the Althing, came together for the first time in 930. The Þingvellir National Park is since 2004 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a nice stamp:
EUROPA (from set of two) (issued 30-04-2015)

Thank You very much Marlene!

Zambia: Victoria Falls

Today I got four postcards: my first cards from Zambia and Togo, one from Germany and one from France.

Zambia is a country in Southern Africa bordering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. Its capital is Lusaka. In 1964 became Zambia independent from the United Kingdom.

It shows a lunar rainbow over the Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls is a waterfall on the Zambezi River and located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The first European to see them was David Livingstone in 1855. Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls is on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1989. 

The stamp shows a serval. The serval is a medium-sized from Africa. The stamp was overprinted and surcharged after Zambia's currency, the Zambian kwacha, was rebased in January 2013. One new kwacha is equal to 1000 old kwacha, as can also be seen on the stamp. I do not know when the stamp was issued or overprinted, but I think one of them happened in "Oct. 2012".

Thank You very much Mike for arranging this card for me!

Togo: Koutammakou

Today I got four postcards: my first cards from Togo and Zambia, one from Germany and one from France.

Togo is a country in West Africa bordering on Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso. Its capital is Lomé. Togo became independent from France in 1960.

The card shows among others a traditional mud-tower house, a Takienta. These mud-tower houses are located in Koutammakou, the Land of the Batammariba, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004.

I could not find any information on the stamps. :(

Thank You very much Mike for arranging this card for me!

France: Amiens Cathedral

Today I got four postcards: one from France, my first cards from Togo and Zambia and one from Germany.

The card from France shows the Amiens Cathedral. The Amiens Cathedral was started to be built in the 13th century in the Gothic style. It is the largest sacral building in France and a Basilica minor. Since 1981 is the Amiens Cathedral on the UNESCO World Heritage List and since 1998 it is also a part of the World Heritage Site "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France".

Stamp:
Monument National du Hartmannswillerkopf (issued 22-06-2015)
The Hartmannswillerkopf is a peak in the Alsace. During World War I it was hard-fought between Germany and France. The battles took mainly place in 1915 as both sides withdrew big parts of their troops in 1916. Around 30000 soldiers lost their at Hartmannswillerkopf. Today is the area a National Monument of France and has a museum and a cemetery. The trenches can also be visited.
with a special postmark from the Postal museum in Paris

Thank You very much Axel!

Germany: History of Naumburg

Today I got four postcards: one from Germany, one from France and my first cards from Togo and Zambia.

The card from Germany is the Chronicle card of Naumburg. Naumburg was founded at the beginning of the 11th century and became a bishop's see in 1028. Between the 11th and the 13th century two monasteries and the cathedral were built. It was a part of the Duchy of Saxe-Zeitz between 1656 and 1718 and since 1815 of Prussia. Today is Naumburg located in the German State of Saxony-Anhalt. The Naumburg Cathedral and the landscape of the rivers Saale and Unstrut seek for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

EDIT:

The Naumburg Cathedral is one of the new UNESCO World Heritage Sites of 2018. The landscape of the rivers Saale and Unstrut is not included.

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

Thank You very much Michèle!

Slovenia's Postcrossing stamp

Today I got not only four postcards but also a cover from Slovenia.

Stamps:

Birds of Slovenia (from set of five) (issued 29-05-2015)

Postcrossing (issued 29-05-2015)

Thank You very much Mateja!

Spain: Can Picafort on Majorca

Today I got three postcards: my first card from the Balearic Islands and two from Germany.

The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The four largest islands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The Balearic Islands are an province and autonomous community of Spain. Their capital city is Palma de Mallorca.

It shows Can Picafort. Can Picafort is a tourist location on Majorca.

Stamp:
Tourism (from set of two) (issued 02-01-2015)

Thank You very much Corinna!