Spain: Medina Azahara

On Thursday I got a postcard from Spain.

It shows Medina Azahara. Medina Azahara was built in the middle of the 10th century as new capital of al-Andalus by the first Umayyad Caliph of Córdoba. Already in 1010 it was sacked in a civil war and was forgotten afterwards, until it was rediscovered in the early 20th century. It provides in-depth knowledge of the now vanished Western Islamic civilization of Al-Andalus at the height of its splendour. The Caliphate City of Medina Azahara is since 2018 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
25 years Organización Nacional de Transplantes (issued 16-01-2015)

Thank You very much Boris!

My Trip to the Merseburg Cathedral

On Thursday I visited the Merseburg Cathedral.

The Merseburg Cathedral was built between 1015 and 1021 as cathedral of the Bishopric of Merseburg. Its construction is strongly connected with Bishop Thietmar of Merseburg, who wrote an important chronicle about the Ottonian Kings and Emperors, and Emperor Heinrich II, who had reestablished the bishopric in 1004 and who was there when the cathedral was consecrated. In 1545 Martin Luther gave a sermon in the cathedral and since the Reformation it has not been the seat of a bishop. The cathedral, which was built in a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is considered to be an artistic and historical highlight in southern Saxony-Anhalt, but also inside are some important artworks. The most famous are probably the graveslab of Rudolf of Rheinfelden, which is the oldest bronze graveslab in Middle Europe, the Ladegast Organ, which is said to be one of the best organs in the World, an altarpiece created by Lucas Cranach the Elder and a facsimile of the Merseburg Incantations.

France: Paris

Last Wednesday I got two postcards from France.

One of them shows various views of Paris.

Stamp:
Sophie Calle (issued 19-10-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much William!

France: Musée de La Poste

Last Wednesday I got two postcards from France.

One of them is from the Musée de La Poste in Paris.

Stamp:
European Capitals - Tallinn (from set of four) (issued 23-04-2018)
with a special postmark from the philatelic shop in Paris

Thank You very much William!

Austria: Capuchin Church and Imperial Crypt in Vienna

On Monday I got two postcards from Austria.

One of them shows the Capuchin Church and Imperial Crypt in Vienna. The Imperial Crypt, which is located under the Capuchin Church and which thus also known as Capuchin Crypt, is since 1633 the principal place of entombment for the members of the House of Habsburg. The bones of 145 members of the House of Habsburg plus urns containing the hearts or cremated remains of four others are there including 12 emperors and 18 empresses.

With a related stamp:
Austrian Heraldy (from set of fourteen) (issued 01-07-2018)
Death Centenary of Emperor Franz Joseph I (issued 27-08-2016)

Thank You very much Anita!

Austria: Vienna Ring Road

On Monday I got two postcards from Austria.

One of them shows a map of the Vienna Ring Road. The Vienna Ring Road was built under Emperor Franz Joseph I and replaced Vienna's city walls. Many opulent public and private buildings were erected along the road, which are known for their specific Ring Road style as mixture of Classical, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and which still today show the former grandeur and glory of the Habsburg Empire. As border of the Historic Centre of Vienna is the Vienna Ring Road since 2001 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
30 years of Four Paws (issued 12-10-2018)

Thank You very much Anita!

cover from India

On Monday I got not only two postcards but also a cover from India.

With nice stamps:

50th anniversary of the first Indian-built Submarine (issued 07-12-2018)

50th anniversary of the Central Industrial Security Force (whole set) (issued 08-03-2018)

60th anniversary of the Defense Research and Development Organization (issued 11-04-2018)

Inside were an awesome stamp set from Singapore plus its related souvenir sheet. The set is about the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Russia and was issued on 1st June 2018.

Thank You very much Sriraam!

Germany: Dinner for One

Last Saturday I got three postcards from Germany

Two of them show scenes from Dinner for One. Dinner for One is a British comedy sketch that was recorded by the German NDR in 1963. It features Freddie Frinton and May Warden and since then became an integral component of the New Year's Eve schedule for many people in Germany and Northern Europe, although it remained virtually unknown in the United Kingdom. As it is shown on every New Year's Eve on many different channels, it has become the most frequently repeated TV programme ever.

For the 55th anniversary of the recording of the sketch and the 50th death anniversary of Freddie Frinton the German Post issued a special stamp on the 11th October 2018. Luckily I was able to get two postcards to use them for the stamp.

The first card shows Freddie Frinton and the tiger.

With a matching stamp:
Dinner for One (issued 11-10-2018)
with a special postmark from Hamburg

The second card shows Freddie Frinton and May Warden.

With a matching stamp:
Dinner for One (issued 11-10-2018)
with a First Day Special Postmark

Germany: Princesses Group

Last Saturday I got three postcards from Germany

One of them shows the Princesses Group. The Princesses Group is a sculpture of the Prussian princesses Louise and Frederica created by Johann Gottfried Schadow. It is now shown in the Old National Gallery in Berlin and is considered to be a masterwork of the early Neoclassicism.

I bought this card when I was in Berlin earlier this year.

With matching stamps:
250th birthday of Johann Gottfried Schadow (issued 08-05-2014)
Treasures of German Museums (issued 11-10-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark

covers from Germany

Last Saturday I got not only three postcards but also four covers from Germany.

Stamp:

150th anniversary of the North German Postal Union (issued 13-09-2018)

with a special postmark about World Post Day

Stamps:
Phlox (issued 13-04-2017)
Best Wishes (from set of two) (issued 08-04-2010)
with a special postmark about Stamp Day

Stamp:
Lübeck Martyrs (issued 11-10-2018)
with a matching special postmark

Stamps:
Phlox (issued 13-04-2017)
1000 years Leipzig (issued 01-07-2015)
with a special postmark about the 70th anniversary of the first special stamps in the Soviet Occupation Zone

My Stamp Order from Australia

Last Saturday I got my stamp order from Australia. Among the stamps I ordered were this year's Australian stamps about the Centenary of World War I (issued 02-10-2018). 

John Monash was an Australian civil engineer and military commander of the World War I. After having served in Egypt and Gallipoli, he became commander of the Australian Corps in May 1918. He was a meticulous planner and brilliant tactician and planned the Battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, which expedited the end of the war. After the war he was knighted. John Monash died on 8th October 1931. He is considered to be one of the best Allied generals of the World War I and the most famous commander in Australian history.

After the Battle of Amiens the Entente saw a rapid series of victories against the German Empire, which became known as Hundred Days Offensive. This became the beginning of the end of the Western Front. 

On 11th November 1918 the Entente and the German Empire signed the Armistice of Compiègne. This armistice finally ended the war on the Western Front. The war was costly for Australia. Around 156000 Australians were wounded and 60000 died. Many of the fallen are interred in foreign soil. After the war Australia had another problem, as around 167000 troops had to be repatriated. Once again it was John Monash, whose brilliant leadership ensured that until early 1920 everyone came home.

I also ordered a souvenir sheet about the Year of the Dog (issued 08-01-2018), two maxicards about children's books (issued 21-08-2018) and other stamps that you can see on my stamp blog.

USA: Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh

Last Friday I got four postcards: one from the USA, two from Germany and one from Spain.

The card from the USA shows the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh. The Duquesne Incline is a funicular scaling Mount Washington. It was opened in 1877 to carry cargo up and down the mountain and later it also carried passengers. Once there were many funiculars on the mountain, but today just two are left and the Duquesne Incline became one of Pittsburgh's most popular tourist destinations.

Stamp:
Honoring First Responders (issued 13-09-2018)
John Lennon (from set of four) (issued 07-09-2018)
Uncle Sam's Hat (issued 18-02-2017)

Thank You very much Eric!

Spain: Almansa

Last Friday I got four postcards: one from Spain, one from the USA and two from Germany.

The card from Spain shows the Town Hall of Almansa. Almansa is a town in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. 

Stamp:
EUROPA (issued 21-04-2017)

Thank You very much Rongwei!

Germany: Basilica of Constantine in Trier

Last Friday I got four postcards: two from Germany, one from Spain and one from the USA.

The two cards from Germany show the Basilica of Constantine in Trier. The Basilica of Constantine was built at the beginning of the 4th century as Roman palace basilica for Constantine the Great. It was damaged during World War II, but was later restored. As one of the Roman Monuments in Trier it is since 1986 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
100th birthday of Heinz Sielmann (issued 08-06-2017)

Thank You very much Marie-Luise!