My National Covers

Every now and then I have the opportunity to add what I call a "National Cover" to my collection.

These are nothing fancy. In fact they are but covers that I print  at home with the flag and coat of arms of a specific country and which I then either send to a fellow collector who is willing to help or give to friends or family or take my own self whenever travelling abroad, in the hope that these might find a way to a local post office to get a stamp and a postmark.

I will be adding these to a new "My National Covers" section in this blog.

If you don't see your country here and are willing to help me add your own country's national cover to my collection, please email me at pnsoares1@gmail.com. 

You'll get a cover from Portugal (if you want I'll be happy to print a Portuguese National Cover just like the ones I print for myself, although in a somewhat larger envelope) and a printed envelope with the relevant symbols printed, so that you can then return it to me.

Thanks a lot.

Note: Whenever possible I will try to transcribe the flag and coat of arms information from the relevant national site. Failing that I'll transcribe from Wikipedia.

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Brazil / Republica Federativa do Brasil 

The Flag

The national flag was established on 19 November 1889, four days after the Proclamation of the Republic. It was inspired by the flag of the Brazilian Empire. The colour green represents the House of Braganza, the Portuguese royal family, and the colour yellow represents the Habsburgs, the family of Empress Leopoldina. In addition, the colours depict the country's riches: green for the woods and forests, yellow for mineral wealth, blue for the sky, and white for peace.

‘Order and Progress,’ the motto written on the flag, is inspired by positivist philosophy. The stars symbolise the 26 states and the Federal District. Their arrangement represents the Southern Cross constellation on 15 November 1889 in Rio de Janeiro, when the Republic of Brazil was proclaimed. Flag Day is celebrated on 19 November.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Source: Símbolos nacionais representam a identidade de uma nação, diz consultor — Senado Notícias

The Coat of Arms

The National Arms or National Coat of Arms represent the glory, honour and nobility of the country and were created on the same date as the national flag. The use of the symbol is mandatory in the buildings of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches and by the Armed Forces. They are also present in all public buildings, representing the characteristics that make up the Federative Republic.

The coat of arms is a blue shield, supported by a five-pointed star, arranged in the shape of the Southern Cross constellation, with a sword at the ready. Surrounding it is a crown formed by a branch of coffee berries and another of flowering tobacco on a golden halo. The symbol also bears the date of the proclamation of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 15 November 1889.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Source:  Símbolos nacionais representam a identidade de uma nação, diz consultor — Senado Notícias

The Stamps

Founded in 1999, the G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).[2][3] It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, through annual meetings of heads of state and heads of government.[

The 19 member states of the G20 account for around 85% of gross world product (GWP), 75% of international trade, 56% of the global population,[5] and 60% of the world's land area; including the EU and AU, the G20 comprises 78.9% of global population and 83.9% of global CO2 emissions from fossil energy.

Source: G20 - Wikipedia

- The 19th summit meeting of the G20 took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 18 and 19 November, 2024, under the motto "Building a just world and a sustainable planet".

Marking the occasion, Correios do Brasil issued on 05NOV2024 the 6.3 Reais on te cover, illustrated with the logo of the summit and carrying it's motto as legend: "Construindo um mundo justo e um planeta sustentável".

 

Caiçaras (Portuguese pronunciation: [kajˈsaɾɐs]) are a people who inhabit the coastlines of the Brazilian states of Paraná, São Paulo and Santa Catarina, and the municipalities of Paraty and Angra dos Reis, in the south of Rio de Janeiro. They were formed from the intermixing of Indigenous, Africans and Portuguese people. The main basis of Caiçara culture is artisanal fishing, cultivation of small gardens, hunting, plant extraction and handicrafts.

Source: Caiçaras - Wikipedia

On 01JUL2022 Correios do Brasil issued the stamp on the cover celebrating the "The Caiçara Villages and Populations of Brazil" as can be read on the tiny legend in the frame of the stamp image

The drone captured photograph on the stamp shows a fisherman with his catch inside a canoe with another canoe to its side where a fishing net can also be perceived.

The Postmark

The Postmark was applied at the Central Post Office of São Paulo, the Capital of the eponymous State and the largest city of Brazil with almost 11.5 million inhabitants.

My "Muito Obrigado" goes out to Luis, whose help was instrumental to make it possible for me to add this cover to my collection.

POSTCARD N.211 -  PHILIPPINES

Postcard sent on the 21st January; received on the 12th February 2026.

Postcard image: Matinloc shrine

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The restless wanderer was on the move again. This time to southeast Asia, it seems, judging from  the postcard that Mr. Postman dropped today on my letterbox. The Philippines... not an usual visitor to my blog. I'm really thankful to The Ghost who Walks, my friend The Phantom, for his continued support of this humble album of covers and cards. Danke Sehr, Alex!

Matinloc Shrine, an abandoned religious structure devoted to the Virgin Mary is located on the Island of the same name

From what I could read on the Internet, the shrine was built in the early 80s of last century, by a wealthy Philippine businessman, but after some years it was left on its own and is now but another tourist attraction, with years of neglect slowly making their way into the structure.

Be it as it may, the island itself probably more than deserves a visit, judging from the colour and transparency of the waters that surround it, provided one does not forget to take a snorkel and goggles along...

The 17 Pesos stamp bearing the image of a Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga Jeffereyi), a critically endangered species, endemic to the forests of the Philippines Archipelago, was issued on AUG2024, included in a definitive  three stamp issue dedicated to National Symbols.

The postcard bears two different postmarks both bearing the identification of the Post Office of El Nido, in the province of Palawan, a town that serves as gateway to the islands of the Bacuit archipelago, including Matinloc

COVER N. 686 - FRANCE

Postmark: Nouvel An Chinois Année du Cheval - Paris - 1er jour 06.02.2026

Posted on the 6th February;  Received on the 11th February 2026

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My second Year of the Horse cover. This time from France, where La Poste issued its customary very pretty Chinese New Year issue. Un grand Merci, Roland.

The Year of the Horse, or, more specifically, of the Fire Horse, something that occurs every 60 years, will begin on the coming 17th February.

I could go and look for what experts in the Chinese Zodiac expect the year to be, but the sceptic in me will always say that you cannot predict the future, and so you'd better learn from the past, so as not to commit the same mistakes, ever and ever again.

Simple as it might seem, this postulate, nevertheless,  does not seem catch up with human  societies at large, for we keep allowing ourselves to be represented in many cases by lunatics, liars, tormentors, dictators, with the results that we all know... and yet, just like the zodiac, it seems to be cyclic....

Will the circle be unbroken; by and by, Lord, by and by?

there's a better home a-waiting, in the sky, Lord, in the sky...

I wish it were that simple....but what I'd really want would be to everyone to have a better home a-waiting where we are, Lord, where we are!

I would also wish that La Poste would not insist in double cancelling the covers that devoted philatelists so laboriously and carefully prepare to send to their friends... talk about learning with errors from the past....

Will the circle be unbroken...?

POSTCARD N.210 -  JAPAN

Postcard sent on the 31st January; received on the 10th February 2026.

Postcard image: Tokyo Skytree Tower

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I have a confession to make: lately, Jeff's "My stamp Stuff" Blog has been making me feel a bit envious. Well, my skin hasn't turned deep green, yet, but I see a slight colour shift has been making its way onto my epidermis :-). I know it is not the best feeling one should allow to develop within oneself, further more we are all grown-ups, so we should know better, but to see all those magnificent pictorial postmarks he has been publishing accompanied by those not less than gorgeous Eki stamps.... how can one not feel envious about it? especially someone like me who everywhere I go and visit, tries to collect stamps from the tourist bureaus, museums, hotels and so on, on the pages of my travel journal...

So I was more than enthralled to open up my letterbox today to find one such postcard from Japan, courtesy of Jeff himself. This made it possible for my skin to start to regain its natural colour, so I think the worse of my envy bout is past now (unless he starts again to post those lovely postcards of his.......)

Tokyo Skytree tower is the third human made tallest structure in the world, rising 634 metres into the air at Sumida, one of Tokyo's 23 special wards or municipalities.

Construction of the Nikken Sekkei Ltd. designed radio and television broadcast tower  began in 2008 and it would be completed in 2012.

The 110 Yen stamp featuring a cyclist is part of a 10 x 110 Yen self-adhesive set included in a minisheet issued on the occasion of the 79th National Sports Festival of the Shiga Prefecture.

The back of the postcard features two post office stampmarks. The pictorial one, in sepia, was applied at Sumida, since it clearly features the Skytree tower, as well as what looks like the top of some structure which I could not identify.

Of note is the fact that the date is expressed according to the Japanese calendar, the numeral 8 standing for the eight year of the Reiwa era which started in 2019.

The black datestamp with the date expressed according to the Gregorain calendar originates from Mukojima, a neighbourhood of Sumida, so both stampmarks might have been applied at the same Post Office.

Further to these postmarks , the card features a large Eki blue stamp which I gather must be the official stamp of the Skytree tower. 

Again, Many thanks, Jeff. Truly appreciated.

COVER N. 685 - INDIA

Postmark: 100 Years of Electrification in  Indian Railways  380001 Ahmedabad 31.12.2025

Posted on the 19th January;  Received on the 6th February 2026

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A few days ago I posted a cover sent by my friend Ravidra Ratpanala on the 1st January this year. Well today I post one mailed on the very last day of 2025, this time from neighbouring India and exhibiting two lovely train stamps. आपका बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद, Piyush (I hope that Google got it right.....).

Passenger transportation in trains in India is a story that goes back to 1853, when the first  train dedicated to such an endevaour began to circulate on a 34 km stretch of  narrow gauge track between Bombay (Mumbai) and Thane.

From then on, India's railroad network would exponentially grow over the years to become what is now the 4th largest in the world, behind the USA, China and Russia.

In 1925, India would also commit to follow the worldwide trend in rail transport technology, by introducing the first electric train on a short 16 km commuter stretch between  Victoria Terminus in Bombay and Kurla, with an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) running on 1500 Volts DC electric traction fed by means of overhead electric transmission.

One hundred years have passed since that milestone and today the fastest train service in India, the Vande Bharat Express, like in many other countries around the globe, also runs on self propelling EMUs that were locally designed and built, operated in eighty services connecting cities less than 800 km apart, with a top speed of 180 km/h.

Celebrating the centenary of the electrification of Indian railways, India Post issued on 31DEC2015 the 2 x10 Rupees stamp set on the First day Cover Piyush sent me.

The two train compositions that magnificently illustrate the stamps are, (left) The First EMU train that operated in India in 1925 on its inaugural run on the 3rd February 1925 and, on the right, the current fastest train of India, the above mentioned Vande Bharat Express.

The FDC Postmark, issued at Ahmedabad , State of Gurajat, appropriately features an electric locomotive 

In order to complete postage, three 5 rupee stamps, canceled with the Ahmedabad regular day mark cancel dated of 19.01.2026 were glued on the back of the envelope.

The stamp features the portrait of Nationalist Netaji Subash Chandra Boise (1897 - 1945), and was issued in January 2016 as part of the year's issue of the definitive series "Makers of India".

COVER N. 684 - ROMANIA

Postmark: 601170 Onesti 1 26.01.2026

Posted on the 26th January;  Received on the 5th February 2026

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Another infrequent visiting country to my blog. And one whose stamp issues I find always quite interesting. Great. Mulțumesc mult, Nicolae.

Traditional pottery is one of the most widespread forms of handicrafts all over the world, due to its obvious  functional utility. And yet, it is also one of the most diverse forms of handicrafts, often being a showcase for traditional decorative art, with stable and time honoured patterns and drawings, much like tapestry, bus also with new and contemporary interpretations of traditions and designs.

Portugal also has its fair share of time honoured traditional pottery designs, very different from one another according to the regions wherein they are produced... but today it's Romania we talk about and judging from the stamps on this cover, the regional diversity of  traditional ceramic dishes decorations in Romania is also quite obvious.

Highlighting this fact Poșta Română issued in 2007 two sets of four stamps dedicated to Romanian Ceramics. On the cover we have a mix of stamps from these two sets, the top two (2,10 Lei and 70Bani) issued on 13APR2007, and the lower two (80 and 70 Bani) issued on 07JUN2007.

Following the same order, the dish in the 2.10 Lei stamp is typical of the Izei Valey, located in the Maramures Region, in the northwest of the country, which, by itself, justifies a visit, with its amazing wooden churches and monasteries and the uncommon, to say the least,  Merry Cemetery .

The 70 Bani stamp features a dish from the town of Vlădești, in the Vâlcea region, centre south of the country.

The 80 Bani stamp bears the image of a dish decorated with a pattern typical of the town Viștea, in the county of beautiful Brașov, Transilvania, in the centre of Romania.

the second 70 Bani stamp features a plate decorated in the style of the town of Oboga, in the Olt Region. in the South of the country.

Finally, the Large plate on the carrier sheet features a soup dish from Luncavița, in the Tulcea region, in the centre east, very close to the borders with Moldova and Ukaine.

The 10 Lei stamp dated of 28FEB1992, is part of a six stamp set (4; 5; 8; 10; 30; 45 Lei) themed on fish, features a Romanian Darter (Romanichthys valsanicolas), a critically endangered species, endemic to a very restricted area in southern Romania.

Postmark from the town of Onesti, in the Moldavia Region, centre east of the country.

COVER N. 683 - CHINA

Postmark: ? 07.11.2025

Posted on the 7th November 2025;  Received on the 5th February 2026

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An interesting pre-paid large and bulky envelope with some very beautiful bird stamps on it, and some generous gifts inside.

Thanks a lot Young. It has been a while sicne I got a letter from China, so this one was particularly welcome.

 

I would imagine that the pre-paid envelope was issued in celebration of the Chinese New Year 2024, since the printed 100 Yuan stamp depicts a dragon and the two characters in the illustration on the left side of the envelope seem to be setting some firecrackers off, one of the traditions associated with the commemorations of the new year.

The two stamps that were used in blocks of four, constitute a set issued on 20FEB1992 dedicated to "Storks"

The 20 Chinese renminbi fēn stamp depicts the illusive Black Stork, (Ciconia nigra)  which can be found in many countries and locations, Portugal included, although here it is quite a rare sight, while the 1.20 Yuan stamp bears the image of the white stork (Ciconia ciconia), a much more common sight, at least in my country.  Following years of very sharp decrease in numbers,  it became a protected species and is now a very familiar sight, so much so that it is not uncommon to see High Tension poles with more than a dozen or even more than twenty stork nests.

Also, as far as I know, Portugal, in particularly the area around Cape Sardão in the south coast, is the only place where white storks build nests on sea cliffs.

The postmark is very soft but I could make out the date, though not the place of issue.