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.

COVER N. 682 - FRANCE

Postmark: Bureau Philatélique 06 Nice Marché aux Fleurs 27.01.2026

Posted on the 27th January;  Received on the 2nd Febreuary 2026

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Stamps can bring memories forth. I said it here before, I restate it again, thanks to a nice cover from France with a stamp that made me go and take a look at the photographs I took a bit over a year ago at Nice....

Un grand Merci Andrè. Aussi pour les fantastiques timbres aviation. Je les ai adoré!  

I much rather walk along any given coast or shore line in the winter than in the summer. In fact, in the summer I'd rather stay away from the coast, this being one of the most perennial points of contention with my dear wife, who, for nine out of the twelve months of the year, longs for the scorching hot days of the sunny season, since that is the only time when she will allow the ocean to caress her delicate body, while I barely exist by her side, turned into a lifeless lump of sweaty, nearly vegetative, matter...

That's why I was quite happy when we visited Nice, a little more than a year ago, in mid winter. And, just to set the record straight, so did she, since, barring our thermostatic differences, summer or winter, what we really like is to go and see what we have never seen before.

What could be more pleasurable than a late afternoon walk along La Promenade des Anglais, thus concluding a more than full day on the coast that took us to Cannes and Antibes with its Picasso Museum, taking advantage of the sunny and temperate embrace of the Mediterranean?

That's what the calm and inviting illustration on the stamp on the cover seemed to ask me, when I first looked at the envelope that I had just taken out of my letterbox.... ah those blue chairs.... we both sat on them for a while having a sandwich (an omelette sandwich, I remember quite vividly) while the calm waters played the looping minimal symphony of the beach stones rubbing their backs against each other...

The 2025 United Nations Conference on the Oceans, took place in Nice between 9 and 13 June, with the aim of « Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean ».

Not an easy task in a world that still seems to ignore the voice of science, and where a leader that should know much better, proclaims his unabated love for coal, while exerting the oil industry to "drill, baby drill", and exhibiting ferocious cold tempests as proof that global warming is a hoax....

On the occasion of the Conference La Poste issued, on 10JUL2025, the 2.10 € stamp on the cover illustrated with a nice artistic rendition of Nice's waterfront, with the typical blue chairs, a couple of seagulls and two frolicking dolphins in the distance. 

Postage was colpleted with two Marianne stamps. The 0,10 is part of the Marianne of Lamouche issue, and is dated of 01OCT2006, while the 0,05 is part of the Marianne de l’avenir set, issued on 13SEP2023.

Postmark of the Philatelic Bureau of the Post Office, located near the Flower Market, in downtown Nice.

COVER N. 681 -BRASIL

Postmark: A C Central de São Paulo SE/SPM 12.01.2026  

Posted on the 12th January;  Received on the 29th January 2026

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First Portuguese speaking Cover of the Year. Muito Obrigado, Luis. Um abraço!

Of note in this particular cover is the fact that two of the stamps have seen issues in both Portugal and Brazil. 

In fact the 2,80 Reais, issued on 30JUN2022, is a joint Portugal-Brazil Issue, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Brazil's Independence declared by a man who would enjoy the privilege of Being Emperor in Brazil, as D. Pedro I and King in Portugal, albeit briefly, for he would abdicate in favour of his daughter Maria,  as D. Pedro IV.

The stamp is illustrated with reproductions of two paintings. The upper one is dated of 1922 and was authored by Brazilian painter Georgina Moura Andrade de Albuquerque (1885-1962). It is now on display at the Museu Histórico Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro.

The other painting is a portrait of Pedro I, authored in1826 by Portuguese Painter, born in Cape Verde and deceased in Brazil, Simplício Rodrigues de Sá (1785-1839), which can be seen at the Museu Imperial of Petrópolis.

The 5,95  Reais stamp is the UPU 150th anniversary commemorative issue, dated of  09OCT2024, featuring the celebratory logo that was replicated in stamp issues worldwide.

The 0,10 Reais is proof that a stamp can have an interesting design irrespective of its face value. In fact I find the definitive  series to which it belongs, themed on musical instruments,   issued on 01JUL2002 and comprising10 values, quite attractive.

The postmark, as usual with Luis' letters was applied at the Central PO of São Paulo.

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COVER N. 680 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P. O. Colombo Mail 20.01.2026  

Posted on the 20th January;  Received on the 29th January 2026

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2026 is going to be an exciting astronomical year since here in Portugal we will have the opportunity of witnessing a total solar eclipse, something that hasn't occurred since 1912, that is more than a century ago.

 

In practice the area of Portuguese soil where the eclipse will be fully visible will be quite restricted, being limited to the north-eastern tip of our continental territory, Natural Park of Montesinho being probably the most privileged viewing point to go stick your neck up in the air. (after the eclipse, a full tour of the park area is highly recommended..., for it is a nice place to visit and enjoy not only the sights but also the gastronomy.... you can't go bad with a Posta à Mirandesa......)

Since the full eclipse will only be visible for 26 seconds and there will be no possibility of rewinding and playing it again, I gather that the Park will be quite a hot spot on the 12th August...

Anyway, I got a full preview yesterday. Ravindra kindly sent me a cover with the three stamps of the "Wonders of the Universe" that he still hadn't sent me and one of them shows a beautiful photograph of  a "Total Solar Eclipse with Corona".

බෝහම ස්තුති, Ravi!

The stamps are part of the 10x20 Rupee sheet entitled, "The wonders of the Universe", issued on 25SEP2025.

Further to the solar eclipse on the stamp in the centre, the one to its left is illustrated with " Galactic wrekage in Stephan's Quintet" (hmmm.... a nice title for a jazz piece, I would say), an Hubble image., while the one on the right shows  "Sagitarius A" a black hole in our old Milky Way., which recently made the news because for his was the first photograph taken of such a celestial body, thing...(so dense, I can't find a word for it :-).

the remaining stamps of the series can be seen on covers  #647 and  #671

As usual, the postmark was applied at Colombo's Central P.O.

COVERS N. 679 - FRANCE - DROM-COM - NOUVELLE CALÉDONIE

Postmark: 78e Salon Philatélique d'Automne  2025 - Premier Jour d'émission 6 Novembre 2025 Nouméa Agence Philatélique / Noumea Agence Philatélique Nelle Calédonie 06.01.2026  

Posted on the 6th January;  Received on the 27th January 2026

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What a nice surprise I got today: a letter from the French territory of New Caledonia, a group of Islands located in the Pacific, almost antipodean in relation to the country I write these lines from.

Receiving mail from such uncommon origins is always a pleasure and so,  mon très grand Merci, cher Roland,  pour cette magnifique surprise.

When I had my first bout of stamp collecting, many years ago, I chose to concentrate on the "Fish" theme. I was a teenager and  just arrived in the mainland from my pre-adolescence years in the Azores, where I had developed a strong connection with the ocean and marine life.

I still have some stamps (not many, for resources were scarce)  from that period,  and with time my bond with the ocean and marine life would wither a bit but I still cannot imagine myself living very far from the vastness of the sea, although I now seem to have developed an all inclusive love to everywhere, be it sea, forest, mountain, plain or just the relatively quiet neighbourhood where I live, not that far  from the capital (in distance,  I mean, because in time..... try it at 7 AM on a rainy weekday...)

Anyway, what I meant to say, before  embarking in one of my customaries trains of thought, is that I still adore fish stamps.

And the one on the cover is simply beautiful!

Issued on 11JUN2025, the "International" rate stamp is illustrated with an eloquent depiction of a Zebra Shark (Leopard Shark, the French call it, leaning more towards the nature of its "inherent" adult camouflage) or Stegostoma tigrinum.

The thing is that Zebra shark juveniles do look stripped, not mottled (or shall I say shaken, not stirred?), hence the option for the equine comparison.

This gentle dweller of sandy flats and coral reefs of the indo-pacific region, categorised as an endangered species by the IUCN, has nocturnal habits, this being the period of the day when it is actively feeding on molluscs and crustaceans, and can grow up to 2.5 meters in length.

The stamp is cancelled with the postmark of the Philatelic agency of Nouvelle Calédonie, located in Noméa, the capital, and the cover also bears a first day of issue cachet of the Salon Philatélique d'Automne, which took place in Paris, from the 6th till the 8th November 2025, where Roland was able to deliver it to the care of the Office des Postes et Télécommunications de Nouvelle-Calédonie (OPT-NC).