Czech Republic: Český Krumlov Castle

Today I got three postcards: two from the Czech Republic and one from Germany.

One of the cards from the Czech Republic shows the interior of the Český Krumlov Castle in Český Krumlov. As part of the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov it is since 1992 an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamp:
Centenary of World War I (from set of two) (issued 11-06-2014)

Thank You very much Klara!

Czech Republic: Loreta

Today I got three postcards: two from the Czech Republic and one from Germany. 

One of the cards from the Czech Republic shows Loreta in Prague's Castle District. Loreta is a pilgrimage destination and was built from 1626 onwards.

Stamp:
Centenary of World War I (from set of two) (issued 11-06-2014)
Actually Czechia was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (Central Powers) during the World War I, but in 1916 an exile government was founded and Czechs also fought alongside the Triple Entente at the Eastern front. After World War I Czechia and Slovakia formed the Czechoslovakia.

Thank You very much Klara!

Germany: Little Prince

Today I got three postcards: one from Germany and two from the Czech Republic.

The card from Germany shows illustrations of the Little Prince and the Fox from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's book The Little Prince. The Little Prince was published in 1943 and was voted France's best book of the 20th century. It was translated into 250 languages and dialects. It is also on the list of the best-selling books with 140000000 sold copies.

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

With matching stamp:
Little Prince (issued 01-09-2014)
with First Day Special Postmark

Japan: Tomioka Silk Mill

Today I got four postcards: two from Japan, one from Singapore and one from San Marino.

One of the cards from Japan shows the East Cocoon Warehouse at the Tomioka Silk Mill in the Gunma prefecture. The Tomioka Silk Mill was established in 1872 by the Japanese Government with machines from France. It marks Japan's entry into the modern and industrialised era. Since 2014 is the Tomioka Silk Mill with the Related Sites an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With nice stamps:
Year of the Horse 1966 (issued 10-12-1965)
Year of the Sheep 1967 (issued 10-12-1966)
Year of the Dragon 2012 (from set of two) (issued 11-11-2011)
Year of the Dragon 1976 (issued 13-12-1975)
with a special postmark for the new Autumn greeting stamps

Thank You very much Ai!

Japan: Shirakami-Sanchi

Today I got four postcards: two from Japan, one from Singapore and one from San Marino.

One of the cards from Japan shows the primeval beech forests of Shirakami-Sanchi in the Aomori and Akita prefectures. The primeval beech forests of Shirakami-Sanchi belong to the biggest in the World and developed 8000 years ago. They are home to the black bear, the golden eagle and the Japanese serow. Since 1993 is Shirakami-Sanchi an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stamps:
Year of the Sheep 1979 (issued 04-12-1978)
Year of the Rabbit 2011 (from set of two) (issued 10-11-2010)
with a special postmark of the stamp for 100th anniversary of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers

Thank You very much Ai!

San Marino: First Tower

Today I got four postcards: one from San Marino, two from Japan and one from Singapore.

The postcard from San Marino shows the First Tower in San Marino's capital San Marino (City) on Mount Titano. The historic centre of San Marino dates back to the foundation of the "World's oldest surviving republic" in the 13th century. Since 2008 is the San Marino Historic Centre with the Mount Titano an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sent from Italy

Thank You very much Nika!

Singapore: Marina Bay

Today I got four postcards: one from Singapore, one from San Marino and two from Japan.

The card from Singapore shows the Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum and the Helix Bridge at the Marina Bay. 

Stamps:
2015 World Stamp Exhibition (whole set) (issued 28-08-2014)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Jeremy!

Ross Dependency: Scott Base

Today I got two postcards: my first card from the Ross Dependency (it is my first one from Antarctica) and one from Germany.

Antarctica is the southern-most continent and also the coldest, driest, and windiest continent. The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 prohibits the military use of Antarctica. Antarctica is mainly inhabited. Antarctica is claimed by the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, Norway, Australia, Chile and Argentina.

The Ross Dependency is the part of Antarctica claimed by New Zealand. In 1923 New Zealand formalised its claim but because of the Antarctic Treaty it is not recognised by the most countries. 

The card shows the Scott Base. The Scott Base is a research facility operated by New Zealand. It is located near the Mount Erebus. 

With three New Zealandian stamps and ... :
Definitive (from set of six) (issued 01-07-2009)
Definitive (from set of seven) (issued 09-05-2007)
Legendary Landmarks (from set of eighteen) (issued 02-07-2014)

... one nice stamp of the Ross Dependency:
Antarctic Food Web-Krill (from set of five) (issued 20-11-2013)
The krill is the food source for most Antarctic animals. This just 6cm long crustaceans live their 6 years of life in swarms of sometimes 30000 of them per cubic metre. The krill is maybe the most abundant species of the World.
The stamps of Ross Dependency are issued by New Zealand Post since 1957 and after a break from 1987 to 1994 they are again issued. The Ross Dependency Agency processing the mail from the Ross Dependency is located in Christchurch.

Thank You very much Amy!

Germany: Landschaftliches Haus in Braunschweig

Today I got two postcards: one from Germany and my first card from the Ross Dependency.

The card from Germany shows the Landschaftliches Haus in Braunschweig. The Landschaftliches Haus housed from the founding of the Duchy of Braunschweig in 1814 until 1946 its state parliament. Since 1994 it houses the Local court. 

In the end phase of World War I the Kiel Mutiny led to nationwide revolution in Germany. Due to this German Revolution of 1918 the monarchy was scrapped within a few days. The time of the German Empire was over and the Weimar Republic was founded. Shortly after the Weimar Republic signed the First Armistice at Compiègne and the World War I was ended. Duke Ernest Augustus of Braunschweig abdicated on 8th November.

I sent this card to myself when I found it yesterday.

Stamp:
Centenary of World War I (issued 07-08-2014)

Hong Kong: a junk at the Victoria Harbour

This is the 450th 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 two postcards: one from Hong Kong and one from San Marino.

The card from Hong Kong shows a junk at the Victoria Harbour. Since 2010 is the Watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junks an Intangible Heritage of the UNESCO.

Stamps:
Year of the Dragon (from set of four) (issued 14-01-2012)
The stamp sparkles.
Year of the Snake (from set of four) (issued 26-01-2013)
with a special postmark showing a Star Ferry

Thank You very much Joe!

San Marino: Azienda Autonoma di Stato Filatelica e Numismatica

Today I got two postcards: one from Hong Kong and one from San Marino.

The card from San Marino was issued by the Azienda Autonoma di Stato Filatelica e Numismatica. The Azienda Autonoma di Stato Filatelica e Numismatica was founded in 1981 and issues the stamps and coins of San Marino. 

With nice stamp:
35th World Convention of the International Confederation of Sportfishing (issued 17-03-2014)
with a pictorial postmark

Thank You very much Claas!

Germany: Karlsruhe Palace

Today I got not only two postcards, but also a cover from Germany.

Stamp:

Football World Champion Germany (issued 17-07-2014)

Inside were two postcards.
One of them is from Losheim am See and I will use it later to get a special postmark.
The other card shows the Karlsruhe Palace. The Karlsruhe Palace was built from 1715 onwards at the behest of Margrave Charles III William and was from then until 1918 the residence of the Margraves and later Grand Dukes of Baden. Since 1921 it houses the Badisches Landesmuseum. In the World War II it was destroyed but rebuilt between 1949 and 1966.

The card was signed by all attendees of the Postcrossing Meet-up in Karlsruhe.

Thank You very much Hanko!

Japan: Cultural Landscape of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine

Today I got two postcards: one from Japan and one from Greece.

The card from Japan shows a view of the Cultural Landscape of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in the Shimane prefecture. The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was one of the largest silver mines in Japan and ran from 1526 to 1923. Since 2007 is the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine with its Cultural Landscape an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With matching stamp:
Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (from set of ten) (issued 23-10-2008)

Thank You very much Keiko!

Greece: Litochoro

Today I got two postcards: one from Greece and one from Japan.

The card from Greece shows the church of Agios Nikolaos in Litochoro. Litochoro is a town located at the base of Mount Olympus.

Stamp:
Olympus (from set of four) (issued 19-07-2013)

Thank You very much Mariel!

Russia: The Absinthe Drinker by Pablo Picasso

Today I got a postcard from Russia.

The card shows the painting The Absinthe Drinker by Pablo Picasso. It was painted in 1901 with oil on canvas. Today it is shown in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.

Stamps:
50th Anniversary of Baikonur Cosmodrome (from set of four) (issued 01-12-2004)
100th birthday of Dmitry Sergeevich Likhachev (issued 19-09-2006)
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (issued 28-07-2014)

Thank You very much Ivan!