French FDCs about World War I

On Friday I got a cover from France.

Stamp:

Maquis Barrage de l'Aigle (issued 05-09-2016)

with a special postmark from the philatelic shop in Boulogne-sur-Mer

Inside were two French First Day Covers.

Centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (whole set) (issued 08-04-2017)
It is a joint issue with Canada.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought in 1917 between the German Empire and the British Empire and is a part of the Battle of Arras. It was the first battle in which the four divisions of Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together. It ended with a victory of the British Empire. 

Centenary of the Battle of Chemin des Dames (whole set) (issued 14-04-2017)
The Battle of Chemin des Dames, also known as Second Battle of the Aisne, was fought between the German Empire and France in April and May 1917. The battle began as part of a meticulously planned Franco-British offensive, but had to be abandoned after many French divisions mutinied and ended with a tactical victory of the German Empire.

Thank You very much William!

Germany: Bad Mergentheim

On Thursday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows various views of Bad Mergentheim. Bad Mergentheim is a town in the German State of Baden-Württemberg. Between 1526 and 1809 it was the headquarters of the Teutonic Order. Since 1926 it is an officially recognized spa town.

Stamp:
Saxon Switzerland (issued 02-06-2016)

Thank You very much Doreen!

Italy: Palazzo Carignano in Turin

On Wednesday I got a postcard from Italy.

It shows the Palazzo Carignano in Turin. The Palazzo Carignano was built between 1679 and 1704 in the Baroque style as a private residence of the Princes of Carignano, a cadet branch of the House of Savoy. In 1820 Victor Emmanuel II, the first King of Italy, was born at the palace and since 1938 the palace houses the oldest, biggest and most important museum about the Risorgimento, the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento. As one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy is the Palazzo Carignano since 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a related stamp and another nice stamp:
Giuseppe Mazzini (from set of three) (issued 10-03-1972)
Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian politician and journalist. His efforts helped bring about the independent and unified Italy.
60 years Treaty of Rome (issued 25-03-2017)
with a special Easter postmark

Thank You very much Renato!

USA: Yellowstone National Park

On Tuesday I got a postcard from the USA.

It shows the Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant and is thus the oldest national park in the World. It is famous for its wildlife and its many geothermal features including the largest supervolcano on the continent. The park is one of the few remaining intact large ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of the earth. In 1978 it became one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Stamp:
The Moon (issued 22-02-2016)

Thank You very much Emily!

Germany: Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg

Yesterday I got three postcards from Germany.

Two of them are from Goslar. One of them shows a street with timber-framed houses. Goslar is a town in the German State of Lower Saxony. Between the 10th and the 12th century it was one of the seats of the Holy Roman Empire and was also an important member of the Hanseatic League. Its historic centre is perfectly preserved. Since 1992 are the Historic Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 2010 the Upper Harz Water Management System was added.

I bought the cards when I recently visited Goslar.

With a matching stamp:

25 years of Goslar on the UNESCO World Heritage List (issued 13-04-2017)

with a special postmark about the issuance of the new stamp

The other one shows the Mines of Rammelsberg. The mining at the Rammelsberg was first mentioned in 968 and was continued until 1988 when it was ended because of depletion of the deposit. Mined were mineral ores for the production of silver, lead, copper, zinc and others metals. After the shut-down of the mines a unique museum was created. Today are the Mines of Rammelsberg a National Geotope and an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

With a matching stamp:
25 years of Goslar on the UNESCO World Heritage List (issued 13-04-2017)
with a special postmark showing a water wheel at the Rammelsberg

Germany: AutoMuseum Volkswagen

Yesterday I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them shows a Golf I Alaska-Feuerland from the collection of the AutoMuseum Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. The AutoMuseum Volkswagen was opened in 1985 and shows more than 100 different Volkswagen cars. 

I bought this card when I recently visited the museum.

With a matching stamp:
Classical Cars - VW Golf I (from set of two) (issued 13-04-2017)
with a matching special postmark

At the museum I also bought three other cards for my collection.

Israel: Jerusalem

On Thursday I got two postcards: my first card from Israel and one from Belarus.

Israel is a country in the Middle East bordering on Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Egypt. It is the World's only Jewish-majority state, one of the most educated countries in the World and the country with the highest standard of living in the Middle East. It is a member of the United Nations and the OECD.

The card shows the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the capital and largest city of Israel, although not all countries recognise Israel's rule over the city, as also the Palestinian territories claim it to be their capital. It is a holy city in Christianity, Islam and Judaism. As proposed by Jordan, the Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls are since 1981 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Gerbera (from set of five) (issued 05-02-2013)
Vegetables (three from set of five) (issued 16-06-2015)

Thank You very much Olga!

Belarus: Nesvizh Castle

On Thursday I got two postcards: one from Belarus and my first card from Israel.

The card from Belarus shows the Nesvizh Castle. The Nesvizh Castle was owned by the Radziwill family from 1533 and later the family turned the castle into an impressive Baroque complex, the first in Eastern Europe. Since 2005 is the Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Postcrossing (issued 03-01-2017)
with a Postcrossing postmark from Minsk

Thank You very much Uladzia!

Germany: History of Bad Kissingen

On Wednesday I got four postcards from Germany.

One of them is the Chronicle card of Bad Kissingen. Bad Kissingen was first mentioned in 801 and since the 9th century the town's salt springs are known. In 1330 it got the town privileges. Since the 16th century therapies are offered in the town and in the 19th century it developed into a World Spa preferred by the European aristocracy. As one of the Great Spas of Europe the town seeks for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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

Stamp:
Felix the Rabbit (from set of two) (issued 02-03-2015)

Thank You very much Hertha!

Germany: Kurhaus of Baden-Baden

On Wednesday I got four postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Kurhaus of Baden-Baden. Baden-Baden is a town in the German State of Baden-Württemberg. Since Roman times it is known for its thermal springs. The town had its heyday in the 19th century, when it was a popular destination for aristocrats and wealthy commoners. As one of the Great Spas of Europe the town seeks for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)

Thank You very much Sarah!

Germany: Ebernburg Castle

On Wednesday I got four postcards from Germany.

One of them shows Ebernburg Castle. Ebernburg Castle is a castle above the town of Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate. It was first mentioned in 1338 and was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times in its history. According to the humanist Ulrich von Hutten, the Ebernburg Castle is known as Shelter of Justice, as Franz von Sickingen gave refuge to various reformers at the castle. Between 1886 and 1889 the Hutten Sickingen Memorial was built next to the castle. 

Stamp:
Saxon Switzerland (issued 02-06-2016)

Thank You very much Hertha!

Germany: Memmingen

On Wednesday I got four postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the marketplace of Memmingen. Memmingen is a town in the German State of Bavaria. Until 1802 it was a Free Imperial City. In 1525 the Twelve Articles, which are said to have been the first written set of human rights in Europe, were written in Memmingen.

Stamp:
1000 years Neunburg vorm Wald (issued 01-03-2017)

Thank You very much Reinhold!

Japan: Kamakura

On Tuesday I got two postcards: one from Japan and one from Germany.

The card from Japan shows the Kaizoji Temple in Kamakura. Kamakura is a city in the Prefecture of Kanagawa. Due to its ancient shrines and temples it is a popular tourist destination.

Stamp:
Travelling (from set of twenty) (issued 14-04-2017)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Germany: Lübeck

On Tuesday I got two postcards: one from Germany and one from Japan.

The card from Germany shows various views of Lübeck. Lübeck is the second largest city of the German State of Schleswig-Holstein. It was once the leading city of the Hanseatic League and is today still Germany's most important port on the Baltic Sea. Since 1987 is the Hanseatic City of Lübeck on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)

Thank You very much Mariel!

Turkey: Old Theatre of Pergamon

On Saturday I got a postcard from Turkey.

It shows the Old Theatre of Pergamon. Pergamon was a powerful Ancient Greek city and important centre of learning. Later it became one of the most famous therapeutic and healing centres of the Roman world. Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape are since 2014 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With a nice stamp:
?
Think Green (from set of two) (issued 05-09-2016)

Thank You very much Harun!

Germany: Rheingold train

On Thursday I got two postcards from Germany.

One of them shows a Rheingold train. The Rheingold was a luxurious train connecting the Netherlands and Switzerland. The first Rheingold started service in 1928 and in 1987 the operation of the Rheingold ended. 

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)
with a special postmark from the model making exhibition in Dortmund

Thank You very much Claas!

Germany: Embarking on Heligoland

On Thursday I got two postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the embarking on Heligoland. Embarking is the transport of passengers from the land to a ship lying on the roads. Heligoland is the only German island where embarking is still practised. 

Stamp:
Lily of the Valley (issued 06-05-2010)

Thank You very much Claas!

covers from Germany

On Thursday I got not only two postcards but also two covers from Germany.

With a nice stamp:
Marigold (issued 07-07-2005)
50 years Treaty of Rome (issued 01-03-2007)
with a special postmark about the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

The second cover is prepaid and was issued to commemorate the 250 years of Pforzheim as Gold Town. I used it to get a special postmark about the same theme.

Turkey: Ferry in Istanbul

On Wednesday I got four postcards: one from Turkey, two from the Czech Republic and one from China.

The card from Turkey shows a ferry in Istanbul.

Stamps:
UEFA EURO 2016 (from set of four) (issued 10-06-2016)
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (from set of three) (issued 16-07-2009)
650 years of Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling (from set of four) (issued 08-07-2011)

Thank You very much Almıla!

China: Year of the Rooster

On Wednesday I got four postcards: one from China, one from Turkey and two from the Czech Republic.

The card from China is a maxicard about the Year of the Rooster. The stamp is from a set of two and was issued on 5th January 2017.

Stamps:
Fruits (from set of four) (issued 23-07-2016)
Special-use Stamp for Greeting Cards (from set of four) (issued 08-08-2013)

Thank You very much Yuan!

Czech Republic: Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc

On Wednesday I got four postcards: two from the Czech Republic, one from China and one from Turkey.

The cards from the Czech Republic are again from the Archdiocesan Museum in Olomouc.

Thank You very much Eva!