World War I Cover from the United Kingdom

On Monday I got a cover from the United Kingdom.

Stamps:

World War I Centenary (two from set of six) (issued 20-09-2018)

The right stamp shows two stanzas of Wilfred Owen's famous poem Anthem for Doomed Youth. Wilfred Owen was one of the most famous poets of World War I. He enlisted in 1915, but already in 1916 he was diagnosed as suffering from shell shock and sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh for treatment. There he made friends in Edinburgh's artistic and literary circles and also wrote Anthem for Doomed Youth in 1917. In July 1918 he returned to active service in France. Wilfred Owen was killed in action on the 4th November 1918. In his poems he deals with the horrors of trenches and gas warfare and thus he stood in stark contrast to the public perception of war at the time and to the confidently patriotic verse written by earlier war poets.

Thank You very much William!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells,

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds.

Germany: Christmas Market in Frankfurt

Last Friday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the Christmas Market in Frankfurt. The Christmas Market in Frankfurt is one of the largest Christmas Markets in Germany and is visited by over 3million people every year. It influenced cities in Great Britain to hold their own "Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt". The biggest of them is in Frankfurt's twin city Birmingham.

The card was signed during a Postcrossing Meet-up on the market.
Stamp:
Variable Value Stamp (from set of two) (issued 03-01-2017)

Thank You very much Klaus!

New Zealand: Wellington Blown Away Sign

Last Thursday I got a postcard from New Zealand.

It shows the Wellington Blown Away Sign. The Wellington Blown Away Sign was erected in 2012. Actually a Wellywood sign was planned, but due to local disapproval the current sign was created instead.

Stamps:
New Zealand Heritage - Ships (from set of six) (issued 07-03-1990)
Thinking Outside the Square (two from set of twelve) (issued 05-09-2018)

Thank You very much Sharon!

Vietnam: Year of the Pig

Last Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Vietnam and one from Japan.

The card from Vietnam is a maxicard about the Year of the Pig. The stamp is from a set of two and was issued on the 1st December 2018.

On the backside is just a postmark.

Thank You very much Phan!

Japan: Dewa Sanzan History Museum

Last Wednesday I got two postcards: one from Japan and one from Vietnam.

The card from Japan shows the Dewa Sanzan History Museum. The Dewa Sanzan History Museum is a museum about the three sacred mountains of Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan and Mount Yudono in the Yamagata Prefecture.

Stamps:
Musical Instruments (from set of fifteen) (issued 06-12-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark
8 Yen Difference Make Up Stamp (from set of two) (issued 01-11-2018)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Year of the Pig Covers from Taiwan

Last Tuesday I got a cover from Taiwan.

Stamps:

Year of the Pig (whole set) (issued 03-12-2018)

with First Day Special Postmark

Inside was a Year of the Pig postcard.

Already last Friday I had got another cover from Taiwan with a Year of the Pig souvenir sheet and a different special postmark.

Thank You very much George!

Belgium: Place Royale in Brussels

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from Belgium and one from France.

The card from Belgium shows the Place Royale in Brussels. The Place Royale is located on the site of the former Coudenberg Palace, which was destroyed by a fire in 1731. The new neoclassical buildings were constructed between 1773 and 1780.

Stamp:
Diamant Sector (from set of five) (issued 27-01-2018)
with a special postmark from Brussels

Thank You very much William!

France: Westminster Hotel in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from France and one from Belgium.

The card from France shows the Westminster Hotel in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage. The Westminster Hotel is known for its Art Deco façade.

Stamp:
Rose Valland (issued 01-10-2018)
with a special postmark from the philatelic shop in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage

Thank You very much William!

cover from Belgium

Last Friday I got not only two postcards but also a cover from Belgium.

With nice stamps:

North Sea Fish (from set of six) (issued 13-05-2006)

This is Belgium - Food (from set of ten) (issued 19-11-2006)

Fernand Khnopff (from set of four) (issued 17-01-2004)

with a special postmark from Brussels

Thank You very much William!

South Korea: Christmas card with Year of the Pig stamp

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Last Wednesday I got two postcards: one from South Korea and one from China.

The card from South Korea is a Christmas card.

With a great stamp:
Year of the Pig (from set of two) (issued 03-12-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark
Crinum asiaticum (issued 03-02-2006)

Thank You very much Park!

China: Chinese Symbols

Last Wednesday I got two postcards: one from China and one from South Korea.

The card from China shows various famous symbols of the country like the Giant Panda, the Great Wall or the Chinese Dragon.

Stamps:
Landscapes of the Four Seasons (from set of four) (issued 04-08-2018)
Cultural Relics with the Phoenix (from set of six) (issued 29-07-2017)
Fruits (from set of four) (issued 14-07-2018)

Thank You very much Lilith!

New Zealand: Cards for Kaikoura

Last Tuesday I got three postcards: one from New Zealand, one from the USA and one from Germany.

The card from New Zealand was printed to support Kaikoura. Kaikoura is a town on the South Island. It is an important destination of the sustainable tourism, but in late 2016 the town's infrastructure was heavily damaged by an earthquake. 

With matching stamps:
Reconnecting New Zealand (two from set of six) (issued 02-05-2018)
Marine Wildlife (from set of three) (issued 01-05-1996)

Thank You very much Sharon!

Germany: Turmberg in Karlsruhe

Last Tuesday I got three postcards: one from Germany, one from New Zealand and one from the USA.

The card from Germany shows various views of the Turmberg in Karlsruhe. The Turmberg is 256m high. It is the location of a castle ruin and can be reached by a funicular railway.

Stamp:
Christmas (issued 02-11-2018)

Thank You very much Lena!

USA: Édouard Moyse

Last Tuesday I got three postcards: one from the USA, one from Germany and one from New Zealand.

The card from the USA shows the French-Jewish artist Édouard Moyse.

With a related stamp:
Diwali (issued 05-10-2016)
Peace Rose (issued 21-04-2018)
Celebrate! (issued 09-09-2015)
Hanukkah (issued 16-10-2018)
It is a joint issue with Israel.

Thank You very much Kimberly!

Japan: Sakai City Museum

Last Monday I got a postcard from Japan.

It shows the Sakai City Museum. The Sakai City Museum was opened in 1980 and shows exhibits about the history, fine arts, archeology and folklore in Sakai. It is located near the famous Daisen Kofun, the largest grave in the World. 

With a great stamp:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar (from set of ten) (issued 30-11-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!

Germany: Aachen Cathedral

Last Saturday I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Aachen Cathedral. The Aachen Cathedral was begun around 795 as palatine chapel for Charlemagne and until today it was often enlarged. In the Middle Ages it was the coronation place of the German Kings. In 1978 it was one of the first twelve sites to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

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

Stamp:
Water Lily (issued 11-05-2017)
with a special postmark about the 40th anniversary of the inscription of the Aachen Cathedral to the UNESCO World Heritage List

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

Germany: Christmas Market in Bremen

Last Saturday I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Christmas Market in front of Bremen's Town Hall. The Christmas Market in front of the Town Hall is the oldest of the three Christmas Markets in Bremen. It was first held in 1857 and is today one of the largest Christmas Markets in Germany. 

With a related stamp:
Christmas (issued 02-11-2018)

Thank You very much Serena!

Germany: Christmas Postcard

Last Saturday I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them is a cute Christmas postcard.

I sent this card to myself to get a special postmark.

With a related stamp:
Christmas (issued 02-11-2018)
with a special Christmas postmark from St Nikolaus

Malaysia: 7th Malaysia Postcrossing Meet-up

Last Friday I got a postcard from Malaysia.

It is the official postcard of the 7th Malaysia Postcrossing Meet-up.

The card was signed during the meet-up.
With a nice stamp:
Children's Activities (from set of five) (issued 12-11-2018)
with a special Stamp Week postmark

Thank You very much Shaliza!

cover from Jersey

Last Friday I got not only a postcard but also a cover from Jersey.

Stamps:

Definitives (from set of eleven) (issued 18-02-2015)

Stained Glass Windows (from set of eight) (issued 27-11-2015)

Thank You very much William!

Germany: Christmas Market in Dortmund

On Wednesday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the Christmas Market in Dortmund. The Christmas Market in Dortmund is one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany. One of its special features is the largest Christmas Tree in the World.

Stamp:
Naumburg Cathedral (issued 06-10-2016)

Thank You very much Marcel!

USA: Las Vegas

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from the USA and one from Turkey.

The card from the USA shows an aerial view of Las Vegas. Las Vegas is the 28th largest city in the USA and the largest city in the US State of Nevada. It is an internationally renowned major resort city known primarily for its gambling, entertainment and nightlife. 

Stamps:
Christmas (issued 28-10-1982)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (two from set of four) (issued 06-11-2014)

Thank You very much Meredith!

Turkey: Manavgat

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from Turkey and one from the USA.

The card from Turkey shows various views of Manavgat. Manavgat is a town in the Antalya Province. It is especially known for its waterfall, which was once shown on a Turkish lira banknote.

My mum sent this card to me on her recent trip to Turkey.

Stamp:
Ruins of Perge (issued 22-05-2018)

Austria: Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf

Last Wednesday I got a postcard from Austria.

It shows the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf. The Silent Night Chapel was built between 1924 and 1936 at the site of the former Saint Nicholas' Church. The Saint Nicholas' Church was demolished after it was damaged during the floodings of the Salzach in the late 19th century. The new chapel was built as memorial for the Christmas carol Silent Night, which was performed in the Saint Nicholas' Church for the first time in the World on the 24th December 1818.

With a nice matching stamp:
200 years Silent Night (issued 23-11-2018)
with First Day Special Postmark

Already two days earlier I had got another postcard of the chapel, which also shows the lyrics of Silent Night in English and German.

With a nice matching stamp:
200 years Silent Night (issued 23-11-2018)
with another special postmark

Thank You very much Anita!

USA: Star Wars Stamp Cards

Last Tuesday I got five postcards: three from the USA and two from Japan.

Two of the cards from the USA are about Star Wars. Star Wars is an American movie franchise created by George Lucas. The first movie was released in 1977 and the next years two more movies were released, which form the original triology. A prequel trilogy was released between 1999 and 2005. Apart from these movies many books, television shows, computer and video games, comic books and currently three spin-off movies were released. Together they all form a big fictional universe. After Disney bought the rights of the movies in 2012, this fictional universe was reduced to include only the movies and some other canonic releases, but they also started a new triology that will be concluded in 2019. Today Star Wars is considered to be a Worldwide pop culture phenomenon and one of the most influential movies in the history. It is also the second-highest-grossing film series of all time.

The first card shows the US stamps that were issued in 2007 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. The USA were the first country to issue official Star Wars stamps. Until today more stamps were issued in Portugal (2017), Spain (2017 and 2018) and the United Kingdom (2015 and 2017).

Stamps:
Statue of Kamehameha I in Honolulu (issued 18-10-1937)
Honoring First Responders (issued 13-09-2018)
Wolf Trap Farm Park (issued 01-09-1982)
John Lennon (from set of four) (issued 07-09-2018)

The second card shows Yoda.

With an awesome matching stamp:
Alzheimer's Research (issued 30-11-2017)
Disney Villains (from set of ten) (issued 15-07-2017)
Star Wars (from set of fifteen) (issued 25-05-2007)

Thank You very much Meredith!