COVER N. 729 - USA 

Postmark: Boston 2026 World Expo 250th Youth and Family Day - Station Boston MA 02205 30.05.2026

Posted on the 23rd May;  Received on the 11th June 2026

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Third cover I got from Ravi from the Boston World Expo features an amazing line up of  American lighthouses, on a prepaid envelope with an American Flag preprinted stamp. Bohoma Sthuthi, Ravi.

Looking at Ravindra's cover it is easy to understand why Lighthouses is a popular theme amongst stamp collectors, Ravi being a dedicated one himself. 

In fact,  these structures are not only quite frequently located at incredibly beautiful, and often protected sites but they also exhibit a baffling diversity in architectural terms, given that in their essence they are basically a tower with a lantern on top.

Add to this the  conspicuity of the high visibility paint scheme that is also a feature of many a lightouse, the fact that many are centuries old, often with many a story to tell, plus the romantic aura they exhale (especially on stormy winter days) and there is no escaping their allure... 

Between 1990 and 2021 USPS issued a total of 7 issues based around the same concept: a 5 stamp se-tenant strip (self-adhesive, from 2003 on) dedicated to the lighthouses of a given region of the US (the first issue escaping this categorisation, for it includes lighthouses that cross the full span of the country from Washington in the Pacific coast to New Jersey, on the Atlantic side.

For this cover, Ravi used precisely the original issue, that of 1990, comprising 5 x 25 cents stamps.

From left to right, the lçighthouses depicted in the beautiful paintings are:

- Admiralty head, Washington  

Now deactivated, this 9.1 m tall lighthouse, was built in 1903.

- Cape hateras, North Carolina

Built in 1870 and twice relocated (last time in 1999) Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, is 64 m in height.

- West Quody Head, Maine

Located at the Easternmost point of the contiguous United States, this 15 m tall lighthouse was built in 1808.

- American Shoals, Florida

Located off shore of Key West, Florida, the 34 m high American Shoals lighthouse was constructed in 1880.

- Sandy Hook, New Jersey

The oldest operating lighthouse in the United States, the 31 m high sandy Hook lighthouse was built in 1764.

COVER N. 729 - USA 

Postmark: Boston 2026 World Expo 250th anniversary of the US - Station Boston MA 02205 23.05.2026

Posted on the 23rd May;  Received on the 9th June 2026

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Second cover I got from Ravi from the Boston World Expo features some stamps of a very recent issue celebrating another of the most famous US icons: Route 66. Again, a large Bohoma sthuthi, Ravi.

2026 marks the centenary of this most famous of American routes, originally crossing about 2/3 of the country, linking Los Angeles, (later Santa Monica) California, on the West coast, to Chicago, Illinois, on the shores of lake Michigan.

Today, Route 66 is no longer. Parts of it have been altered, merged, replaced by new infrastructures, due to the exponential increase in traffic since the opening of the original road and, as a matter of fact, Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. Still its importance as a vital artery for internal migration and especially the role it played in the years following the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl and the post-war boom of the 50s have granted it a place in American history, today crystallised in what is known as the Historic Route 66, which comprises about 85% of the initial road.

On the centenary of Route 66, USPS issued on 05MAY2026 a set comprising 8 self-adhesive USA Forever stamps illustrated with photographs of Motel, Cafe and Gas stations signs existing on Route 66, themselves pretty iconic images too.

Ravi used three of these stamps on this cover, postmarked from the postmarking station of the World Expo dedicated to the Day of the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the United States. I wonder if he came across any of the Joads or maybe Billy or Captain America in their Harleys....

COVER N. 728 - USA 

Postmark: Boston 2026 World Expo Stamp Collectors Day - Station Boston MA 02205 25.05.2026

Posted on the 10th April;  Received on the 8th June 2026

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Turns out that the Boston Postcard was just an apetiser for the several fantastic covers that Ravi most kindly and generously sent me from the Boston 2026 World Expo. Bohoma Sthuthi, Ravi. Truly appreciated it.

First one was this cover on a prepaid envelope with a printed USA Forever stamp:

 The "World Stamp Show", which took place in Boston, Massachusetts, from the 23 to the 30 May was one of the events integrated in the celebrations of the 250th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America.

Previously to the show, on 14 August, USPS issued a  couple of terrific in-taglio printed "Forever" stamps to promote this important philatelic event and also to celebrate the country's anniversary.

According to USPS, the stamps, which when closely analysed exhibit a very fine 3D appearance, were created as replica vintage engravings so as to celebrate the stamps issued in the 19th and the early years of the 20th century, and they are illustrated with images of  the Old North Church, which is oldest church building in existence in Boston, as it appeared during the American Revolution, and of a  “Midnight rider”  galloping with a lantern in one hand, so as to light his way.

These are both symbols of the American revolution for lanterns in the bell tower of the  Church, there placed momentaneously, at the request of Paul Revere, on the night of April 18, 1775, warned patriots of the movements of the British troops.

Paul Revere himself was one of  the "midnight riders" (and the most famous of them all), evoked in one of the stamps, these being patriots dispatched to warn fellow revolutionaries of the whereabouts of the British troops, prior to the first battles of the American revolution: Lexington and Concord, which took place on the 19th April.

The Postmark was applied at the Expo on the 25th May at the "Stamp collectors' day" postmarking station.

POSTCARD N.233 - USA

Postcard sent on the 25th May; received on the 5th June 2026

Postcard image:  Boston skyline from the sky...

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There are images I will keep forever in my cerebral photobook... 

Boston, Massachusetts... that's where they were going to.... whole families, by the end of the summer, after visiting relatives,  in their nicest clothes,  nervously waiting for the boarding call at the airport terminal, with the father always taking with him a couple of bottles bound together, artistically covered in some sort of intertwined plastic straw that would create  patterns on the cover (red and white, being the colours I vividly remember). Binoculars, we called them... inside the glass bottles the aguardente that their families had been producing for ages.... for a special occasion... a birthday, a christening, a marriage... a bit of liquid island to wear off the saudades (they say the word can't be translated, but it means a deep longing, missing something very much).

"Charlie, come here", said the mother to the  little kid running and jumping as kids do, between the rows of the seats of the airport terminal (in those days there was no specific boarding room, just a general pre-flight area, where passengers and general public could be together).

"Charlie, ... come here" said the mother, this time a bit louder and with more assertivness, but Charlie, did not seem to hear, or couldn't care less.

"Charlie, don't you hear me? Come here!", shouted mother... same result

"Eh Carlinhs, nan tás aouvi? vencá!" Charlie, as if hit by lightning, froze and immediately  calmed down and went to join mother at the end of the room...

Massachusetts ranks as the second most important Azorean emigration destination, after California, so flights to Boston were the best transportation option for those that would later regain their communities in Fall River or New Bedford.

Carlinhos should be 5 or 6 years younger than me... In his American home, I wonder if he still keeps  father's binoculars as a souvenir of days gone....

Ravi used a "Forever Global" self-adhesive stamp issued on 24Jan2025, illustrated with a 1794 Compass Rose that was drawn in 1794 by "...Lucia Wadsworth — the aunt of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — in her school geography notebook...", according to Wikipedia.

Postmark from Boston, the Capital of the State of Massachussets.

Bohoma sthuthi, Ravi, for another great postcard and the opportunity to rememeber happy days....

POSTCARD N.232 - USA

Postcard sent on the 27th May; received on the 8th June 2026

Postcard image:  Gingerbread Cottages at Martha's Vineyard

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Ravi sent me one of his fantastic and much appreciated mail barrages from the United States.

I'll dedicate the next posts to the cards and covers that have been falling into my letterbox rather frequently these last few days.

Bohoma sthuthi, friend. You're spoiling me with all these great pieces of mail.

Martha's Vineyard is an island in the State of Massachusetts, off the coast of Cape Cod, famous as an exclusive holiday destination.

The island, which can only be reached by air or sea, is also famous for its Victorian Architecture , namely the famous gingerbread cottages dating from the 19th century such as those depicted in the postcard Ravi sent me.

The term Gingerbread refers to the elaborate wooden trim that decorates the façades roofs and porches.

Ravi used a "Forever Global" self-adhesive stamp issued on 24Jan2025, illustrated with a 1794 Compass Rose that was drawn in 1794 by "...Lucia Wadsworth — the aunt of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — in her school geography notebook...", according to Wikipedia.

The stamp was originally cancelled with a large red manual postmark issued at Edgartown, Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard administrative capital, on the 27th May. The next day, a mechanical cancellation was also applied, this time at Providence,the Capital of the neighbouring State of Rhode Island.

COVER N. 727 - USA 

Postmark: Figures of the American revolution First day of Issue Washington DC2066 10.04.2026 

Posted on the 10th April;  Received on the 8th June 2026

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Thanks A.W. for another excellent cover, and for the nice stamps inside, which I truly appreciated.

2026 marks the  250th anniversary of The United States of America as an independent country, a status emerging from what would go down in history books as "The American Revolution". 

A timeline for this period would put its beginning in 

1765, as this was the year when the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act which for the first time  imposed a direct tax on the 13 British Colonies in North America demanding that “many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper from London which included an embossed revenue stamp” (cf. Wikipedia) (what gave way to a slogan which to this day is every now and then echoed: "No taxation, without representation"),  

and its final in 

1789, the year when the Constitution of The United States became effective.

In between, many were the moments that would guarantee a specific entry in American history compendia, but none the more so than the 4th July 1776, the day the Second Continental Congress, in which the 13 colonies were represented adopted the declaration  of Independence that marked the definitive cutting of  ties with the United Kingdom.

It would be expected that such a round date as a quarter of millennium milestone would produce many celebratory mementos, and commemorative stamps, would, of course, be expected to be issued.

USPS has thus included several issues linked to the celebrations in its stamp issue programme, the first of which is the "Figures of the American Revolution"  issue, dated of  10APR2026, comprising 25 self-adhesive "USA Forever" stamps illustrated with portraits of famous "individuals whose actions were vital in achieving independence and establishing the principles that continue to guide the United States", as claimed in the release notes. Each of the stamps also feature a legend with a short explanatory text.

Three of these stamps, dedicated to

- John Dickinson  - "Penman of the Revolution" whose writings articulated America's revolutionary Ideals;

- Bernardo de Galvés - Governor of Spanish Louisiana who aided patriots drive the British from West Florida;

- Nathaniel Greene -  Quaker and skillful general whose tactics turned the tide of war by ending British occupation of the South

can be seen in this First Day cover, postmarked at Washington DC.

COVER N. 726 - SPAIN 

Postmark: 2 Mechanical: Correos Valencia Vignette: Correos La Compañia de Todos / Correos y Telegrafos (?) Vignette:  Valencia Postal (?) Siempre (?) 01.06.2026

Posted on the  22nd May;  Received on the 2nd June 2026

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Moltes Gràcies, Eva. I cannot but appreciate the effort you went through to complete the postage on this cover with stamps from different issues, while keeping the lot subordinated to the same theme that also transpires from the two lovely postcards inside the envelope: Valencia. 

A letter can be much more than a folded piece of paper inside an envelope. In its apparent simplicity a letter (and I mean the physical object, not the written message therein contained) can be an exercise of creativity or a statement of purpose that transcends its formal classic usage as vector for information transmission, for communication. This, as we all know, is most often reserved for the words written in the neatly folded sheets of paper - or the back of the postcards, as in this case - that surge to life once the envelope, that unsuspecting Pandora’s box, is desecrated by the recipient.

In these days of global electron mail, those that insist in writing letters and postcards using such "unconventional" tools as a ballpoint or, worse yet, a fountain pen, have, even if unconsciously, become part of an evolutionary drift that is producing a sort of a differentiated sub-species: the Homo sapiens epistolator, a being that views written communication not merely as an operative  functional necessity but as something akin to a craft.

Mail art is, of course, one flashing example that readily comes to mind; traditional letter writing fans another, but I think philatelists, in general, are also a part of this restricted universe, so much so, that they will go to the extreme of mailing envelopes empty but for a sheet of card inside to guarantee the envelop will not fold into itself,  just for the sake of getting a particular cancel or cachet on them, thus creating a unique piece that the recipient will hopefully treasure.

There is therefore a metalanguage in a Homo sapiens epistolator letter that might not be apparent to the whole species taxon, and knowingly using it, on one hand, and deciphering it, on the other, is of course a source of pleasure for the cognoscienti.

Stamps can lend themselves also to this particular metalanguage, for most of the times, they are quite semantically rich. 

Take Eva's cover, for instance. Who would notice, but those that have the habit of scrutinising each received letter as the latest product of a specialised manufacture,  that there is a hidden message on the face of this envelope, one that needs no passing the paper through an open flame to reveal itself...

The unaware recipient would probably notice what looks to be four stamps, one in warm colours and the other three in a contrasting cold palette; he or she might also notice that one stamp is not really a stamp, because it has no tariff indication and that sending a letter from Spain to Portugal is no longer a cheap indulgence since adding the cost of an "A" stamp - 0.96 € -  to the 1,29 € of the other two, generates a total of 2.25€....

But a few would look further afield and notice that there is a leit motiv in all the stamps that is carried into the contents of the envelope, and it is here that the taxon differentiation takes effect: "Ah, Ah, a Valencia themed cover, how nice and thoughtful", the Homo Sapiens epistolator would utter in sincere pleasure, appreciating all the effort that his/her correspondent went through to construct this exercise of thematic unity.

Receiving this particular letter, greatly enriched the exchange of correspondence Eva and I had on the subject of Valencia, a city I recently had the pleasure of speed dating, taking it to a significance level that  vastly transcends the nonetheless very relevant written message it contained... 

So, if you think that one cannot have augmented reality in a snail mail exchange, try to buy some interesting stamps next time, and do take the time to exercise your orthographic skills in paper and ink one of these days... a whole new universe will (re)open itself to you...

Stamps:

- The World Exhibition of Philately, ESPAÑA 2004 took place in Valencia in May 2004. On the occasion, Correos de España issued a two stamp (0,52€; 0,77 €)  + vignette se-tenant set illustrated with images that evoke  the city and its relationship with the sea.

The 0,52€ stamp bears an image of the Bravo España, a sailing yacht of the Real Club Náutico de  Valencia, famous for its participations in the America's Cup, which first took to the sea in Valencia, in 1999.

The 0,77 € stamp is illustrated with some of the city's landmarks, notably the buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences, the Torres de Serranos and the Cathedral.

- The Fallas de Valencia, which take place every year between 15 and 19 March, are the city's most famous festival, during which wooden sculptures (Fallas) are erected in the city's neighbourhoods, and later burnt down.

The festival was awarded Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Humanity status by UNESCO in 2016.

On 01MAR 2022, Correos de España issued the self-adhesive Tariff A used on the cover, illustrated with a photo of a Falla on fire.

As writing paper, Eva used beautiful postcards showing two of the many baroque wonders of Valencia: the decorations and frescoes of the Church of San Nicolás de Bari and San Pedro Mártir

and the incredible Alabaster decoration of the entrance to the palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas,  (which I cannot pardon myself for not having seen, having been not more than a hundred meters or so from it...) which now houses the Ceramics Museum.