India: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai

Last Saturday I got a postcard from India.

It shows the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus was built between 1878 and 1888 in a mixture of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and traditional Indian architecture, which makes it an outstanding example of the meeting of two cultures. Today it is one of the busiest train stations in the World. Since 2004 is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which was known as Victoria Terminus until 1996, on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamps:
Bicentenary of the Paika Rebellion (issued 24-12-2018)
Ram Chand Paul (issued 06-03-2019)
Atal Vajpayee (issued 25-12-2018)

Thank You very much Prashanth!

Finland: Moomins with New Moomin Stamp and Designer's Signature

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from Finland and one from Spain.

The card from Finland shows an illustration of the Moomins.

The card was signed by James Zambra, the son of Tove Jansson's niece and the designer of this year's Moomin stamps.
With a great matching stamp:
Moomins' Advice to a Good Life (from set of six) (issued 05-06-2019)
with First Day Special Postmark
Arktika (from set of six) (issued 09-05-2017)

Thank You very much Heli!

Some days after I got this card I also got the FDC of the Moomin stamps, which I had ordered online.

Spain: Royal Palace of Aranjuez

Last Friday I got two postcards: one from Spain and one from Finland.

The card from Spain shows the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a former royal residence near Madrid, where the Spanish Kings usually spent the springtime. It is open to the public since 1931. Since 2001 is the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
EUROPA (issued 25-04-2019)
The stamp can be scanned to listen to the bird.

Thank You very much Boris!

My Stamp Order from Portugal

Last Friday I got my stamp order from Portugal. Interestingly the Portuguese Post used real stamps to send my order, which is not very common today.

Among the stamps I ordered were the Portuguese Star Wars stamps (issued 25-08-2017) and this year's EUROPA stamps of Portugal, the Azores and Madeira (issued 09-05-2019). The other stamps I bought you can see on my stamp blog.

Germany: Town Hall of Aachen with European Election Postmark

Last Thursday I got three postcards from Germany.

One of them shows the Town Hall of Aachen. The Town Hall of Aachen was built in the 14th century in the Gothic style and is today one of the two most important historic buildings in Aachen's old town. It includes parts of Charlemagne's palace. Although it was built as sign of civic freedom, it also includes a hall that was used for the traditional coronation feast that was part of the coronation ceremony of the Holy Roman Empire. Annually the Charlemagne Prize, a prize awarded for work done in the service of European unification, is awarded in the town hall and on the 22nd January 2019 the Treaty of Aachen, a renewal of the Élysée Treaty, was signed there by Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron.

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

With a nice related stamp:
50 years Élysée Treaty (issued 02-01-2013)
It is a joint issue with France.
with a special postmark about this year's European Elections showing the Town Hall of Aachen

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

I also got the special postmark on two covers.

Germany: Quedlinburg and the Ottonian Kings

Last Thursday I got three postcards from Germany.

Two of them I had bought during my recent trip to Quedlinburg. Later I sent them to the postmarking centre to get the postmark that was available in Quedlinburg during my trip.

United Kingdom: Beaumaris Castle

On Wednesday I got four postcards: two from the United Kingdom and two from Germany.

One of the cards from the United Kingdom shows Beaumaris Castle in Wales. Beaumaris Castle was built as part of Edward I's campaign to conquer North Wales after 1282. Although a huge sum was paid for the construction, it is not completed, but it is still considered to be one of the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europa. As one of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd is Beaumaris Castle since 1986 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With nice stamps:
Pioneers of Communication (from set of four) (issued 05-09-1995)
Birth Centenary of Winston Churchill (from set of four) (issued 09-10-1974)
Marvel Comics (from set of ten) (issued 14-03-2019)

Thank You very much Anu!

United Kingdom: Caernarfon Castle

On Wednesday I got four postcards: two from the United Kingdom and two from Germany.

One of the cards from the United Kingdom shows Caernarfon Castle in Wales. Caernarfon Castle was built in the 13th century by King Edward I of England and served together with the surrounding town as the administrative centre of North Wales. As one of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd is Caernarfon Castle since 1986 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

With nice stamps:
Modern University Buildings (from set of four) (issued 22-09-1971)
European Football Championship (from set of five) (issued 14-05-1996)
Marvel Comics (from set of ten) (issued 14-03-2019)

Thank You very much Anu!

Germany: Brandenburg Gate in Potsdam

On Wednesday I got four postcards: two from Germany and two from the United Kingdom.

One of the cards from Germany shows the Brandenburg Gate in Potsdam. The Brandenburg Gate was built between 1770 and 1771 as symbol for Prussia's victory in the Seven Years' War. Originally it was a part of Potsdam's city wall, but since they were destroyed around 1900 it is a free-standing structure. 

Stamp:
Emoji (issued 04-04-2019)

Thank You very much Edith!

Germany: UNESCO World Heritage in Trier

On Wednesday I got four postcards: two from Germany and two from the United Kingdom.

One of the cards from Germany shows various buildings in Trier, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among the shown buildings are the Barbara Baths (lower row second from right). The Barbara Baths were built in the 2nd century, but today only the foundations and the subterranean service tunnels have survived. It was the largest Roman bath ever built north of the Alps.

Stamp:
Topography of Terror (issued 02-01-2017)

Thank You very much Marie-Luise!

cover from Germany

On Wednesday I got not only four postcards but also a cover from Germany.

Stamp:

EUROPA (issued 02-05-2019)

The stamp can be scanned to listen to the bird.

with a matching special postmark from Hesel

Singapore: Mass Rapid Transit

On Tuesday I got a postcard from Singapore.

It shows a part of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit. The Mass Rapid Transit is a major part of the railway system in Singapore. The first section was opened in 1987 and today it spans most of the country. Three lines of the system are fully automated. 

Stamps:
Views of Singapore (from set of three) (issued 25-02-1987)
Ferns (from set of four) (issued 14-11-1990)
with an advertising postmark about Singapore's Bicentennial

Thank You very much Jobbo!

Austria: Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Vienna

On Monday I got a postcard from Austria.

It shows again the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Vienna. As the stamp on the front side on the first card got lost, Anita sent me a second one, but unfortunately also this time the stamp got lost. 

This time Anita used the stamp (issued 17-05-2019) also on the backside.

Thank You very much Anita!

Germany: Goethe in the Roman Campagna

Last Saturday I got a postcard from Germany.

It shows the painting Goethe in the Roman Campagna by Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein. The painting was painted in 1787 and shows Goethe during his journey in Italy. Since 1887 it belongs to the collection of the Städel Museum in Frankfurt.

With a matching stamp:
Treasures of German Museums (issued 07-06-2018)

Thank You very much Martin!

Japan: Enryaku-ji Temple

Last Friday I got three postcards: one from Japan and two from Germany.

The card from Japan shows a part of the Enryaku-ji Temple in the Shiga prefecture. The Enryaku-ji Temple was founded in 788 and is located on Mount Hiei in Otsu where it overlooks Kyoto. It is the headquarters of the Tendai sect. Since 1994 is the Enryaku-ji Temple together with the other Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto in Kyoto and Uji on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Stamp:
Centenary of Diplomatic Relations with Finland (from set of ten) (issued 26-05-2019)
with First Day Special Postmark

Thank You very much Keiko!