COVER N. 394 - FRANCE

Postmark: 58 - Clamecy Nièvre  12.01.2024

Posted on 12th January; received on the 15th January 2024 

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European capitals... always a pleasure to visit them, and Bratislava was no different when I was there some years ago, visiting the totally reconstructed castle, which further to being the official house of the President of Slovakia, also houses the Slovak Parliament, and other beautiful landmarks as the iconic blue church.

Now I had the chance to go through all this once again thanks to the great cover I got from France with part of a  souvenir sheet from the “Les capitales Européenes” series dedicated to the Slovak Capital. Je vous remercie énormement Jean-Pirerre!

The beautifully illustrated stamp issued on 09MAY2023, on the no less beautifully illustrated souvenir sheet, which in its complete form, comprises four 1.80€ stamps,  depicts Bratislava castle, which in its many iterations and developments dates back to the 11th century.

Over the years and as a result of the two world wars the castle was abandoned and left to deteriorate, but in the 50s of last century it was decided to rebuild it, works having stopped temporarily in 1968, when it was occupied by Warsaw Pact troops, during the Prague Spring events.

The reconstruction works were finally completed in 2010, with the completion of the Honorary Courtyard.

To complete the required postage, Marianne stamps of the 20JUL2018 (0,01€) and 20JUL2018 (0,05€) issues were used.

Jean-Pierre Kindly included another of the great  "Poste Aérienne" series postcards, of which he has already sent me a couple before. This time, thye card is dedicated to Éduard Nieuport (1875-1911), who, with his brother Charles (1878-1913), established the Société Anonyme des Établissements Nieuport, for the production of aviation related components and, later,  aircraft. 

Flying in those days was a terribly dangerous matter and both brothers lost their lives in aviation accidents within a two year interval.

Nieuport aircraft would be famous not only for their participation in WWI where aircraft like the Nieuport Nie.11 "bebe" or the Nie. 17 or the 29 would rise to fame, piloted by such names as Georges Guynemer, Charles Nungensser or Eddie Rickenbacker, but also for their participation in races and raids, a Nieuport-Delage sesquiplan having been the holder of the  world air speed record in 1923 (330.275 km/h).

 

The Postcard replicates a stamp dedicated to Édouard Nieuport, issued on 10JUN2016.