United Kingdom: London

On Friday I got two cards from the United Kingdom.

One of the cards shows various views of London.

Stamp:
Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition (from set of eight) (issued 07-01-2016)
Far away from the theatres of World War I the Endurance Expedition tried to cross Antarctica. When they returned to the civilisation after their unfavourable journey in June 1916, they dominated the headlines of the newspapers, but in fact they returned without the normal honours and civic receptions. Already short after their return many members of the expedition had to serve in the armed forces.

Thank You very much William!

United Kingdom: London with Star Wars stamps

On Friday I got two cards from the United Kingdom.

One of them shows various views of London.

With great stamps:
Star Wars (two from set of twelve) (issued 20-10-2015)
The stamps show Han Solo and Rey. You can see the other stamps from the set here.

Thank You very much William!

New Zealand: World War II Poster

On Wednesday I got three postcards: one from New Zealand and two from Malaysia.

The card from New Zealand shows a World War II poster. 

Stamps:
Rita Angus Paintings (from set of four) (issued 06-04-1983)
Maori Craft (from set of six) (issued 21-02-1996)
100 years RSA (from set of six) (issued 03-02-2016)
The Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RSA) was founded in 1916 by soldiers returning from World War I. It helps soldiers and their families since its foundation and is today one of New Zealand's largest organisations. It also honours the fallen soldiers. The stamp shows the iconic Poppy.

Thank You very much Sharon!

Malaysia: Langkawi

On Wednesday I got three postcards: two from Malaysia and one from New Zealand.

One of the cards from Malaysia shows a Dusky Leaf Monkey on Langkawi. Langkawi is a group of islands in the Adaman Sea. It belongs to the Malaysian State of Kedah. Since 2008 it is called Langkawi Permata Kedah, Langkawi the Jewel of Kedah. It is a World Geopark.

With great related stamps:
Year of the Monkey (whole set) (issued 26-01-2016)
Actually the stamps are much brighter, but for some reason my scanner did not want to show the colours.

On the card there is also the First Day Special Postmark of the stamps.

Thank You very much Matthew!

Malaysia: World Post Day

On Wednesday I got three postcards: two from Malaysia and one from New Zealand.

One of the cards from Malaysia shows the development of the postman's vehicles. The card was printed for the World Post Day. 

The card was sent in early December 2015 during the FourNation Stamp Exhibition and also has a special postmark of the event, but it also has another postmark of the 10th February 2016.

With a great matching stamp:
World Post Day (issued 09-10-2015)

Thank You very much Shaliza!

cover from Serbia

On Wednesday I got not only three postcards but also a cover from Serbia.

Stamps:

Year of the Monkey (whole set) (issued 09-02-2016)

Inside were a postcard and a stamp pack.
The postcard shows the Saint Michael's Cathedral in Belgrade. The Saint Michael's Cathedral is one of the most important places of worship in Serbia.

The stamp pack includes the Serbian stamp sheet about British Heroines having served in Serbia during World War I (issued 08-12-2015). The pack gives information about the featured women.

Thank You very much Brane!

Russia: Kazan Kremlin in Tatarstan

On Monday I got nine postcards including my first card from Tatarstan.

The Republic of Tatarstan is a federal subject of Russia. It is located in the European part of Russia. It is considered to be particularly independent and also never signed the Federal Treaty. In 2008 the independence of Tatarstan was declared, but it was ignored by Russia and the United Nations.

The card shows the Söyembikä Tower of the Kazan Kremlin. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan and is known as Third Capital of Russia. It is also the largest city of Tatarstan and the eight largest city of Russia. It hosted the Summer Universiade in 2013 and will be one of the host cities of the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Among others Kazan is twinned with Braunschweig, my home town. The Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin is since 2000 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a matching stamp and another related stamp:
Summer Universiade in Kazan (issued 25-06-2013)
Headdresses of the Republic of Tatarstan (from set of four) (issued 30-07-2010)

Thank You very much Ilshat!

Thailand: Macaques

On Monday I got nine postcards including one from Thailand.

The card from Thailand shows Macaques. Macaques are the most common monkeys in Thailand. 

With matching stamps:
Year of the Monkey (issued 01-01-2016)
with different First Day Special Postmarks

Thank You very much Kwanjira!

Germany: Martin Luther

On Monday I got nine postcards including three from Germany.

One of the cards from Germany shows a portrait of Martin Luther. Martin Luther was a seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. He was born in Eisleben in 1483. In 1505 he became a monk in the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt. In 1511 he moved from Erfurt to Wittenberg, where he published his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. As he was not willed to reject his writings, he was excommunicated by the Pope. Between 1521 and 1522 he lived in the Wartburg Castle. There he translated the New Testament into German. Martin Luther died in Eisleben in 1546.

I got this card in a local museum.

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark about the 470th day of death of Martin Luther

Germany: Little Red Riding Hood

On Monday I got nine postcards including three from Germany.

One of the cards from Germany shows an illustration of Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red Riding Hood is an European fairy tale. It was first published by Charles Perrault and is also included in the fairy collection of the Brothers Grimm. It tells the story of a young girl and her encounter with the Big Bad Wolf.

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

With a matching stamp:
Little Red Riding Hood (from set of three) (issued 11-02-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark
I recently uploaded my collection of Little Red Riding Hood stamps to my Stamp Blog.

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

Germany: Electric Street Light and Advertising Column in Berlin

On Monday I got nine postcards including three from Germany.

One of the cards from Germany shows an Electric Street Light and an Advertising Column on the Potsdam Square in Berlin. The Potsdam Square was the first place in Berlin with an Electric Street Light. It was taken in operation in 1882. Berlin was the first place where Advertising Columns were established, for the first time it was done in 1855. The companies had to pay to publish their ads on them and thus the authorities were in control of the public communication. Today there are around 67000 Advertising Columns in Germany.

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

With nice matching stamps:
200th birthday of Ernst Litfaß (issued 11-02-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark
Ernst Litfaß was born in Berlin in 1816. He was a printer, bookseller and publisher. He became known for ending the fly-postering with his new invention, the Advertising Column. As he had the monopole on the establishing of the Advertising Columns he soon became wealthy. Ernst Litfaß died in Wiesbaden in 1874.

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

Japan: Howl's Moving Castle

On Monday I got nine postcards including three from Japan.

One of the cards from Japan shows a scene from Howl's Moving Castle. Howl's Moving Castle is an animated movie produced by Studio Ghibli. It tells the story of a young woman meeting a wizard. It was released in 2004.

Stamps:
Sushi (from set of two) (issued 29-10-2015)
Classic Pooh (from set of ten) (issued 06-11-2015)

Thank You very much Michelle!

Japan: Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art

On Monday I got nine postcards including three from Japan.

One of the cards from Japan shows the Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art. The Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art is an art museum in Fukushima City. It opened in 1984.

Stamp:
Miffy (from set of twenty) (issued 12-02-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Japan: Setagaya Art Museum

On Monday I got nine postcards including three from Japan.

One of the cards from Japan shows the Setagaya Art Museum. The Setagaya Art Museum is an art museum in Setagaya in the Tokyo prefecture. It opened in 1986.

Stamps:
Miffy (from set of twenty) (issued 12-02-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark
Definitives (from set of twelve) (issued 2015)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Estonia: Tallinn

On Monday I got nine postcards including one from Estonia.

The card from Estonia shows the Old Town of Tallinn.

Stamps:
Bird of the Year-Great Tit (issued 17-02-2016)
with First Day Special Postmark
Definitive (issued 16-10-2015)
Definitive (from set of three) (issued 10-01-2013)
Peony (issued 24-03-2011)
Leucanthemum vulgare (issued 17-01-2007)

Thank You very much Jaan!

Turkey: Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Expo 2016

Yesterday I got the two cards from Turkey that my mum and grandma sent to me from their recent trip.

The first card shows various views of Pamukkale and Hierapolis. Pamukkale is known for its hot springs and the terraces of carbonate minerals created by the flowing water. Hierapolis is an ancient spa town known for its Greek buildings. Today Pamukkale and Hierapolis are important tourist destinations. Hierapolis-Pamukkale is since 1988 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a sweet stamp:
Tapestry (from set of five) (issued 06-08-2015)

The second card also shows Pamukkale and Hierapolis

With the same stamp

They also bought two more cards of Pamukkale and Hierapolis for me.

At the Airport of Antalya they got a set of Expo 2016 cards for me. The Expo 2016 is an International Horticultural Exposition. It will be held in Antalya between April and October 2016. Its motto is "A Green Life for Future Generations".

Germany: Dresden Zwinger

On Friday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the Kronentor of the Zwinger in Dresden. The Zwinger was built between 1709 and 1728 by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann at the behest of Augustus the Strong. It is one of the most important buildings in the Baroque style and one of the best-known sights of Dresden. Today it houses various museums. The Zwinger is shown on the new German €2 commemorative coin issued in 2016.

The card was sent from the Postcrossing Meet-up in Dresden.
With a matching stamp:
Dresden (from set of two) (issued 03-04-2014)

Thank You very much Amelie!

Australia: Uluru

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from Australia and one from France.

The card from Australia shows the Uluru. The Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a sandstone rock formation in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory. It is a sacred mountain for the local Aborigines, as it plays an important role in their dreamtime stories. The Uluru is one of the best known icons of Australia. The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is since 1987 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Year of the Monkey (whole set) (issued 03-02-2016)

Thank You very much Jemma!