COVER N. 479 - ARMENIA

Postmark: Charles Aznavour First Day 0010 Yeravan 30.05.2024

Posted on ?; received on the 25th June 2024

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"The postman always rings twice", so they say, and twice he rang...

Well ring is not the right verb here, I admit, but on the same day, I got two nice First day Covers from Armenia, and this time I have to Thank Stéphane and Alex, for kindly sending me a cove that gracefully complements the Charles Aznavour French FDC's  I got from Eric and Stépahne and Alex.

A great many thanks, Guys. 

As I stated a propos the French Aznavour covers, Charles Aznavour is highly regarded in te country of his ancestry, the more so after the humanitarian role he played through the Association Aznavour and later the Aznavour Foundation, in the wake of the terrible earthquake of 1998 in the then Soviet Socialist Republic Of Armenia, which attained a magnitude of 6.9 in  the Richter scale, causing   between 25000 and 50000 deaths and 130000 injured.

Remembering this relevant figure of the French song but also of the cinema and politics (after gaining Armenian citizenship in 2008 he was appointed ambassador of this country to Switzerland and Armenia's permanent delegate to the UN at Geneva), HayPost isued on 30MAY2024 a single 500 dram souvenir sheet, of which 4 examples can be sen on the cover,  obliterated with the First Day Postmark, issued at Yerevan, Armenia's capital.

COVER N. 478 - ARMENIA

Postmark: First Day 0010 Yeravan 01.11.2023

Posted on ?; received on the 25th June 2024

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This has been a good week with two new countries added to the list, thanks to the kind efforts of my friends. I'm really thankful for this since getting another slot filled in really means that slowly, step by step, I'm inching in the right direction towards achieving the goal I set for myself and my little blog. 

En raison de tout cela, il me faudra une fois encore exprimer ma gratitude pour  votre intérêt et contribution. Un très grand Merci,  Roland. 

Armenia. Strange at it might seem, I always felt indebted to an Armenian, even though I never met him. In fact he died five years before I was born.

Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian, was his name, and the foundation that bears his name, amongst many other actions which as far as I can tell  made it more important to the development of culture in Portugal than the official government structure of the day, was instrumental in ensuring that people who did not have easy access to books and literature in the hinterland but also in the big cities, could still indulge in the pleasure of reading.

In Faro, in the Algarve, I learned to read. My father made sure I could do it before I went to primary school and as soon as I could  make sense of written words, he would take me along whenever he visited the local Calouste Gulbenkian library to borrow books. In no matter of time at all, I would go there alone, myself, also to borrow such classics as the adventures of Grichka and his Bear or Enid Blyton's mysteries...

Later I went to the Azores... Santa Maria at the time had but a small library at the Clube Asas do Atlântico, but the highlight of the week was when the  Citröen H Van of  Gulbenkian's Itinerant Library with its distinctive corrugated metal skin cabin would stop near the park for a full 3 hours so that we could go there return and borrow books.... By that time it was Verne and Karl May that would pile on my bedside table, only to be dispatched in a matter of days....

Gulbenkian made a fortune in oil. Caught in the geopolitics of the second world war, he came to live in Portugal in 1942, where he stayed in an hotel suite in Lisbon until his passing away in 1955.

In his testament he declared that he wanted a foundation to promote culture and science for the benefit of all humanity and  that it woud be headquartered in Lisbon, where it now occupies a magnificent urban park with a fantastic garden designed by Portuguese architect Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles wherein the Calouste Gulbenkian museum and the Modern Art Center are also located, as well as the auditorium, home of the Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir.

If ever someone reading these words visits Lisbon, just be sure to follow my advice and reserve at least half a day for the Gulbenkian museums, topped by an end of the day concert... you won't regret it... especially if the huge glass panels at the end of the auditorium behind the orchestra are left uncovered while the music is played while the day comes to a close....

Now back to the cover Roland so kindly sent me. 

As I have mentioned before, the Chinese new year and zodiac seem to be very popular philatelic themes even outside the far east, since many are the Postal services that issue yearly sets dedicated to it.

Such is the case with HayPost, the Armenian Postal services provider,  which since 2018 has yearly issued a stamp dedicated to the forthcoming Chinese new year.

On the cover we have stamps pertaining to this series, in the form of the  Year of the Tiger (2022) and  Year of the Dragon (2024) issues, dating of 22DEC2021 and 01NOV2023, respectively, with a face value of 500 dram, both cancelled with the first day postmark for the 2023 stamp, issued at Yerevan, the country's capital.

POSTCARD N.143 - TÜRKIYE

Postcard sent on the 4th June; received on the 20th June 2024

Postcard image: Hagia Sophia
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And another country joins the fold, thanks to Ravindra's holiday trip. Thanks a huge lot, Ravi!

Istambul and Hagia Sophia, The cathedral that became a mosque and then a museum in the spirit of the  reformation of the state brought about by Ataturk’s vision of a modern secular Turkey, only to fall prey again to the winds of an ever stronger confluence between politics and religion....

Irrespective of it all, Hagia Sophia is one of the great religious monuments of mankind and I am glad to have had the opportunity to visit it on my tip to Turkey, several years ago, which gave me the opportunity of getting to know a bit more of a culture and a country which I knew nothing about.

I can't resist telling a story here: I was in Turkey during the Ramadan. On one of the last days (or was it the last, I can't really remember now) I was in Ankara and there was this fair in a local park, close to the hotel where we were staying. My wife and I went to visit the fair and at some point we noticed that people in the fair stalls were preparing to eat, breaking the day's fast.  We were passing by a stall where this very kind elderly lady call us by gestures and offered us with an obvious expression of kindness on her face slices of a bread and meat dish, akin to a minced meat pizza, which, of course, we accepted and thanked her for. We really felt warmed by her kind gesture. And it was delicious. 

Stamps :

Cheeses are good everywhere. In fact cheese is my nemesis... that is.. cholesterol.. oh, let's talk about stamps...

As with any milk producing country in the world, Turkey has its own cheeses, and I am sure they must be great, as there are no bad cheeses, (I am not talking about processed cheeses here....). In fact I think I can remember trying some white, a bit salty, cheeses at breakfast, that went great with the olives, another absolute must in a  Turkish breakfast.

On 17MAY2022, Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı (PTT), issued the  two se-tenant stamp set, each with a face value of 5 liras, used on the postcard, illustrated with a photo of  Turkish cheses... 

I have to say that this was a bold move by PTT, the Turkish Postal Services provider, though, since there are people who really do not like cheese at all and  I don't see any of them licking the back of the stamp, to use them as intended...  😉

The stamp with a shark, a remora, what looks like a grouper and some other fishes is the 2024 EUROPA CEPT issue  from Turkey, with a face value of 20 Liras, issued on 09MAY2024.

The postmark, sadly, is mainly illegible, but I can discern Istanbul, at least, which I presume was the place of posting.

COVER N. 477 - LITHUANIA

Postmark: Kaunas Lietuva 14.06.2024

Posted on the 14th June; received on the 20th June 2024

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A cover coming from the Baltic... It is high time I put the Baltic States on my travelling agenda again. They were scheduled, in the company of Belarus for the 2020 holidays, but then the bloody virus made its appearance and I had to postpone. Nowadays, another type of virus does not make a journey to Belarus an enjoyable prospect, so I'll have to limit myself to the three states bordering the Baltic... not for this year though since things are already settled for the holidays.

Meanwhile I'll be more than happy to keep receiving mail from that neck of the woods, such as the nice cover I got from Jonas. Labai ačiū, Jonas!

Stamps, left to right, top to bottom:

- Lithuanian Rulers, is the theme of a three auto-adhesive stamp definitive set, (0.05; 0,20; 1.20 €) issued on 24FEB2024.

The 0.20 € stamp on the cover bears the effigy of Grand Duke Kęstutis (1300-1382) who ruled Lithuania from 1381 till being killed in the very next year as a result of dynastic intrigues that corroded the regular succession to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

- The State Flag of Lithuania illustrates the 0,03€ stamp, part of a 3 stamp definitive a issued on 04JAN2019 dedicated to Historic National Flags.

- Part of the same set is the 0,49€ stamp illustrated with the State flag of Lithuania. The yellow stripe is symbolic of the wheat and freedom from want; the green signifies hope and the nation's forests, and the red the love for the country and the blood of those that gave their lives fighting for the country.

- Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, after the period of German and Soviet occupation, initiated during the period of the second world war.

Although clearly marked with a 1990 legend, the stamp with the image of the Lithuanian Liberty bell is part of the second definitive issue of present day Lithuania, which began to circulate on 10JAN1991, comprising five stamps, three (10;20;30 Russian Kopeks) illustrated with the national symbol of the State, a Vytis, a  mounted armoured knight holding a sword and shield; one (50 Kopeks) with the image of the Hill of Crosses in Siauliai and the 200 Kopek stamp on the cover, illustrated with aforementioned Liberty Bell.

The Lithuanian Liberty bell was funded by American Lithuanians in 1919, in the image of  American Liberty Belli as a way to promote Lithuania as a free independent state.

On one side the following is inscribed:

Oh, ring through the ages,

for the children of Lithuania;

For one is not worthy of Liberty,

Who does not defend her!

the other side bears the following inscription:

 “The American Lithuanian Convention to Lithuania, June 9, 10 and 11, 1919, Chicago, Illinois. Let this Bell, be a symbol of liberty, a testimonial for future generations of the solicitude and love that  American Lithuanians bore for their fatherland Lithuania.”

The Lithguanianm Liberty Bell is now kept at the Vytautas the Great War Museum, in Kaunas, the place of origin of the cover.

- The 5 cent  stamp in the middle of the second row is part of a three stamp set (5; 80 cents; 1 Litas), issued on 25JUL1994, dedicated to the traditional costumes of the Samogitians, the inhabitants of Samogitzia, one of the five ethnographic regions of the country: Samogitia; Lithuania Minor; Aukštaitija; Suvalkija and Dzūkija.

- Finally the 0,95€ stamp is part of the 2023 Europa issue dedicated to the theme "Stories and Myths"  and it evokes the  legend of Eglė the Serpent Queen. .

the issue, which started to circulate on 29APR2022, was competed by another stamp, with the same face value, dedicated to the "Legend of the Blooming Fern".

Of note is the fact that as above stated, the cover contains stamps in the three currencies that at one time or other were or are in use in Lithuania since it regained its independence.

The Postmark hails from  Kaunas, the second largest city of Lithuania,  with a population of about 304,200 inhabitants, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Art Deco architecture.

COVER N. 476 - BELGIUM

Postmark: Beernem 8730 06.06.24

Posted on the 6th June; received on the 13th June 2024

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It is not that often that i get mail from Belgium, so this latest cover from the epicentre of the EU was more than welcome, especially since as usual, Guy, kindly sent me some quite appreciated extras. Hartelijk dank, Guy!

Belgium, and especially Brussels,  is full of great museums and all I've visited were absolutely outstanding, be it the  royal fine arts museum or the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History, especially the aviation department, which holds an incredible aircraft collection, spanning the full length of aviation's history.

Belgium was once a colonial power too. so it comes as no surprise that a museum dating back from the last decade of the  19th century, would have been created to highlight what was then regarded  as a synonym of power and greatness.

Belgium hosting the  Exposition Internationale de Bruxelles in 1897, King Leopold II decided this would be a great opportunity to let the colonial might of the court in what was then the Belgian Congo be shown to his peers and so an exhibition was mounted in the purpose built Palais des Colonies, at Tervuren, in  the outskirts of Brussels.  This would in time evolve to a fully dedicated museum that has, of course, evolved in concept and purpose, but still occupies the same palace where the original exhibition was held, being nowadays called Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale (AfricaMuseum, for short), its original designation being Musée Royal du Congo Belge.

In 2013 he museum closed for renovation, the works being carried on up to 2018, when it opened again to the general public.

Celebrating this fact Poste Belge issued on 11JUN2018 a souvenir sheet comprising 5 Tariff 1 Europe stamps, the background of four of them illustrated with African handicraft artefacts  and one with a photo of the museum buildings. The main image on the stamps though is  the logo of the Africa Museum, the characters that make out the word Africa, being highlighted on each of the stamps, as is visible in the stamp on the cover in wherein the letter R is substantially enlarged in comparison with the other letters that make out the work Africa.

Judging from the Postmark, the cover was posted at Beernem, a city in West Flanders with a population of around 14,600 inhabitants.

COVER N. 475 - BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA - BH Pošta

Postmark: Sarajevo 71109 24.05.24

Posted on the 24th May; received on the 13th June 2024

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Sarajevo... what a nice end of the day I had there at the top of the hill, waiting to see the sun go down over a tonic water with lemon and ice (my wife's the lucky one, since she could add gin to the equation....).

Me and just about every foreigner who happened to be in Sarajevo on that particular date, I guess, judging from my photo journal....

The kind of nice memories that looking at a little rectangle of paper glued onto an envelope can pop up in one's mind... such is the power of stamps.

Thank you so much Mr. Phantom, the restless wanderer, for making me remember how good tonic water can taste without gin!

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Common Europa Issue of 1956, on 30NOV2005 BH Pošta issued a souvenir sheet (in both perforated and imperforated versions) comprising 4 stamps, denominated in Euros (1,5 € each stamp) and Bosnian Marka (3 KM).  The stamps highlighted UE integration, with the flags of the European countries, both EU members and non members, the common European  currency and a more locally centred event, the organization by Bosnia and Herzegovina of the XV European Chess Cup Finals in 1999, in the city of Bugojno.

One of the stamps with the flags (the one containing my own country's) can be seen on the cover Alex sent me, while the full souvenir sheet can be seen here,

COVER N. 474 - FRANCE

Postmark: Pokémon Paris La Poste 30.05.2024

Posted on the 30th May; received on the 12 June 2024

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I have to confess that I could never understand the Pokémon craze. Originally a video game, I believe, the creatures created by Japanese game designer Satoshi Tajiri evolved to become a multimillion dollar brand that, at one point, had people old enough to know better, stopping at the most strange and unexpected places holding their cell phones against their faces, trying to catch an elusive video game character.... I must be getting old and either dumb or just plain idiot, but I really can't understand some of today's epiphenomenal trends....

That said, who wouldn't want to have a cover on his collection autographed by the designer of the stamps on it? So, un très grand Merci, Eric, for again sending me a very interesting addition to my covers stash.

On 30MAY2024 La Poste issued a 12 self-adhesive "Lettre Verte" stamps set in booklet format, dedicated to  Pokemon characters.

Further to Poussacha and  Lucario (left and right on the cover) the  following characters also feature on stamps of this set: Dracaufeu, Pikachou, Miaouss, Psykokwak, Ectoplasma, Évoli, Ronflex, Mewtwo, Chochodile and Coiffeton.

As noted above, the envelope is autographed by the designer of the stamps and of the first day  Postmark, Mr. Étienne Théry

Got to go...  chasing Pókemons.... 😀

COVER N. 473 - PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Postmark: Goroka Papua New Guinea 23.04.2024

Posted on the 23rd April; received on the 12 June 2024

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Another terriffic addition to the collection. It is not everyday that one gets a letter from such a far off place as Papua New Guinea, and I'm sure my friend Mr. Postman must have been once again flabbergasted by the strange envelopes that he so often drops into my letterbox. Muito Obrigado Eric. Fantástica carta!

Eric had already tried once to send me mail from Papua New Guinea, but that time the stamps on the  postcard (#117) weren't cancelled. This time I was very happy to see that a large cancellation was applied on all the stamps.

As I mentioned on the notes pertaining to Postcard #117, in 2001, 2004 and  2005, the Papua New Guinea Postal Services issued three sets of stamps dedicated to the flags of the country Provinces.

What we have here on this particular cover are 4 stamps from the 2004 issue, dated of 20OCT2004, which comprised 6 stamps (2 x 70 toea; 2.65: 2.70; 4.60; 10 Kina).

From left to right, top to bottom, the provincial flags depict ed on the 4 stamps are of the Provinces of Madang; East New Britain; Milne Bay and Morobe.

The stamp on the left top corner is part of a set dedicated to traditional headdresses, comprising 5 stamps, (2 x 70 toea; 2.65: 2.70; 4.60; 50 Kina) issued on 02JUN2004.

The headdress depicted on the stamp is typical of the Simbu Province.

The large Postmark indicates that the letter was posted at Goroka, the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province, with a population of around 19,000 inhabitants.

COVER N. 472 - FRANCE

Postmark: 58-Clamecy Nièvre 07.06.2024

Posted on the 7h June; received on the 12 June 2024

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The sea... 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water. Of these 96,5% correspond to the area covered by the 5 oceans. And to think that there are still many people on this earth who have not had a glimpse of all that immensity…

All my life I lived by the sea. I still do, luckily. As I type, I'm but a 10 minutes drive from  the ocean... the same ocean that I have swam in all my life, from my very first years in Cape Verde, to those spent in the Algarve in the South of Portugal, in my adolescence in the Azores, midway between Europe and America and finally here  again where I live not far from Lisbon, our capital, which the legend says Ulisses founded at the mouth of the Tagus, on his return to Ithaca, after the Trojan wars. 

When I was a kid, in Faro, my father would lead me and my sister on long walks by the coast (something I still enjoy doing) and we would be enthralled by the treasures we discovered on the sand, especially after stormy days, mainly glass ball net floaters, bottles (we even found one with a message, once), and all sorts of bits and pieces...

This was more than 50 years ago. In this 5 decades time we have accumulated so much garbage in the oceans that I feel that instead on 5 they are now 6, one of them being made out of the tons of  floating plastic that we all somehow have contributed to create.

After spoiling the land, we took to spoiling the oceans and in spite of all the warnings we don't seem to be acting with the needed determination to ensure that our descendants will be able to enjoy the simple pleasures the ocean has to offer to anyone who dares to dive with a snorkel mask and flippers, even on a sand covered beach ( who can forget the sight of a flounder or a ray suddenly erupting out of the sand and swimming away?).

Um grand merci, Jean-Pierre for another cover with a Europa 2024 issue.  It is never to much to call on people's attention to underwater Fauna and Flora. After all, if we want to keep eating oysters and munch on sea lettuce, we have to ensure they thrive on unpolluted habitats!

The French Europa Issue 2024 is composed by the 1,96 stamp on the cover, issued on 13MAY2024, which is illuminated by what at first looks like an almost abstract but colourful composition. As the eyes scan the image area, though, familiar shapes begin to appear and it is possible to identify several sea dwellers like an octopus, a ray, a moray eel, sea bream, corb, a starfish, corals and seaweed. 

The Postmark indicates that the letter was posted at Clamecy, a town in the Nièvre department, Central France.

COVER N. 471 - FRANCE

Postmark: Théodore Géricault 1791-1824 Premier Jour 76 Rouen 30.05.2024

Posted on 30th May; received on the 12 June 2024

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Un gros Merci Eric, for this cover embellished with such a great stamp.

When I was a kid, one of the stories that made headlines all across the world was that of the members of an Uruguayan Rugby team that got stranded in the Andes, after an airplane crash... an horrific story, and an awful accident (come to think of it, there was a recent remake of the movie that was made at the time, IIRC).

We all are familiar with the sordid details of the story  and with what the survivors had to resort to in order to keep themselves alive until they were finally rescued.

In the early 19th century, there were no aircraft, so a flying accident was not to be expected, although the Montgolfier brothers had already proved the feasibility of hot air balloons as a means of transportation.

But en route accidents also happened with other means of transportation and the consequences could be just as terrible if the survivors had no easy or prompt access to a safe rescue to bring them back to their point of origin.

La Méduse, a French 40-gun Pallas-class frigate, launched in 1810, ran aground on the coast of Mauritania in 1816,  due to the ineptitude of her Captain,  Hugues Duroy de Chaumarey, history claims.

The vessel was carrying 400 passengers, who were forced to be distributed by the ship’s lifeboats but there was no place for everybody, so 147 of them were put on a raft to be towed by one of the lifeboats, something which proved unfeasible in the open seas, so the raft was abandoned adrift in the ocean,  its occupants left to their luck (or lack of it).

Of course things went horribly wrong and when the raft was finally found by rescuers, only 15 people were still alive on it, and it is here that the connection between the two accidents can be established, since the survivors had to resort to the same sort of expedients to keep themselves alive as the Uruguayan Rugby players, roughly one and a half century after them.

The sinister raft episode is at the centre of a famous painting by Théodore Géricault (1791- 1824), which is considered to be one of the most emblematic paintings of French Romanticism. The masterwork, produced in 1818-1819, can today be seen at the Louvre Museum, in Paris.

Honouring Géricault on the 200th anniversary of his passing, La Poste issued the very beautiful stamp which Eric used on this cover, with an exquisite two-colour in-taglio printing reproduction of this masterwork, created by designer and engraver Pierre Albuisson.

The 2,58 € (Lettre Verte 100g) was issued on 03JUN2024, although the first day postmark is dated of 30.05.2024, which I presume was the advanced sale date.

COVER N. 470 - POLAND

Postmark: Kriptoznaczek Cyfrowa rewolucja w filatelistyce (Crypto-currency - Digital revolution in Philately) Wroclaw1 16.05.2024

Posted on 16th May; received on the 12 June 2024

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Crypto-stamps... the way forward for the hobby or just another way to create a speculation bubble?

I have to admit: I still have not totally understood the concept. That is, I suppose that the process is simple: one buys a crypto-stamp, which besides the postage stamp itself, which can be used for what a stamp can be used for... (bonjour, Mr.  de La Palice), gives you the right to obtain an electronic token (an electronic stamp), which you can collect, in an electronic album somewhere in the cloud, this stamp being able to be traded as any financial asset (that is bought and sold)... the value added generated by demand being the interesting factor for this particular piece of electronic "thingery"... Pure speculation, nothing more than this, or am I wrong?

For the time being, I think I'll stick to the old physical scheme of things and concentrate on the traditional paper stamps that we all come to appreciate so much. After all, my first and single experience with this immaterial medium went very wrong, as I mentioned  here.

All this a propos a beautiful cover that I got from Poland with two of the stamps that are being issued as crypto-stamps by Poczta Polska, for which I have to thank Roman. Bardzo dziękuję, Roman!

Roman included a note saying that he had sent me the cover because of the fine aviation related cancellation, and I do concur with him, both the stamps (although the balloons are totally fictional) and  the cancellation are very nice.

The balloons had been the subject of a 4 stamp issue dated of 18OCT2023, which Roman kindly sent me on the official First day covers, (covers  # 360/361). 

The commemorative cancellation  highlights the two Crypto-Stamps issued by Poczta Polska, the already mentioned balloon issue and the previous one "Poland in Space" dedicated to the Polish participation in ESA satellite projects, which Roman has also kindly sent me  (cover #199)

The 2,35 Zloty stamp on the right corner was issued on 31MAR2025, celebrating the Oscar for best foreign language film won by Ida, a Polish film directed by Paweł Pawlikowski. This particular stamp was also issued with a se-tenant label attached to its left or to its right, replicating a frame of the actual film.

COVERS N. 468/469 - FRANCE

Postmark: Charles Aznavour 1924-2018 Paris La Poste 1er Jour 30.05.2024

Posted on 30th May; received on the 7th and 12 June 2024

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Charles Aznavour (1924-2028) ....Shahnour Vaghinagh Aznavourian... the Franco-Armenian singer, songwriter, actor who had a very long and successful artistic life, something which is not always the case with artists, so subjected to the whims of the public that they are....  he lived a long life indeed,  brightened until the very end  by the  rays of  the spotlights of the innumerable stages where he sang for a faithful audience of unconditional fans.

Even though I am not particularly fond of his music, it is obvious that he had a very personal impact in the history of French and European popular music in the 20th century, songs like La Bohème or She being sang and known not only in France and Europe, but really all across the world. 

Aznavour also lent his name, fame and money to several humanitarian projects especially in Armenia,   after the 1998 earthquake, first with the Association Aznavour and much later in 2016 with the Aznavour Foundation.

His artistic and humanitarian roles were rightly acknowledged by the French and Armenian States during his lifetime, Charles Aznavour having received several decorations and accolades bestowed upon him by both states and also by Canada and Belgium

Such an notorious person could not go by without his face on a stamp and 5 years past his death in 2018, La Poste issued on 03JUN2024 the 1,96€ stamp bearing his face, which Stephane and Eric used to kindly send me on First Day Covers.

Un grand merci!

The first day postmark, issued in Paris, in both cases, contains a reproduction of Aznavour's signature.

Speaking of signatures,  Eric's cover is autographed by the stamp designer, Mr. Hom Nguyen, a talented self-taught artist, born in 1972, in Paris whose biography is well worth reading, since it is quite inspirational as are his magnificent portraits.

COVER N. 467 - U.S.A

Postmark: Juneau AK 998 13.05.2024

Posted on the 13th May; received on the 12th June 2024

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I goofed big time and inadvertently deleted the post featuring this particular cover. So let me get things straight again and repost the letter I received from Ravindra from Juneau, Alaska, some days ago..

To post this letter from the Capital of the State of Alaska, Ravindra used a "Forever Global" stamp issued on 14MAR2022,  part of the circular stamp series dedicated to lowers initiated in 2017.

The flower on it is the African daisy (Osteospermum sp.) which numbers 70 species that can be found in the wild in Southern and eastern Africa and also in the Arabian Peninsula.

It is also widely cultivated, cultivars and hybrids of the species being a common sight in gardens, all around the world.

The postmark indicates that ravindra mailed the letter from the Capital od the State of Alaska, Juneau.

POSTCARD N.142 - CZECH REPUBLIC

Postcard sent on the 1st June (?), received on the 6th April 2024

Postcard image: Klosterman Watch tower in Javornik
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Another great postcard  with a  watchtower in the Sumava mountains, the Czech Republic.  This time the Klosterman Tower in Javornik.  Děkuju mockrát, Michal!

The tower, located near the town of Vacov can be climbed up to the top, to enjoy the great scenic views, if one is willing to climb the 196 steps that conquer its 39.6 metres of height.

I could not find any particular information of the date of building of the tower, nor about the person after which it is named, a Mr. K. Kosterman, whose statue  is featured in the middle medallion photo on the postcard. 

The Postcard legend  celebrates the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the tower and the two other medallions, the top features the St. Anthony chapel, located just before entering the forest at Javornik, and that on the bottom of the postcard, a wooden cabin, which I presume to be located in Javornik, also.

the postcard features two stamp marks, the smaller one with what I presume is the  tower mascot, and the other with the legend "Reopening ceremony of the Klosterman Tower; Javornik 1066 m above sea level; 5 July 2003.

The tariff E stamp Michal used, was issued on 30NOV2021 and it is illustrated with the image of one of the iconic religious symbols of Prague, the Infant Jesus of Prague,  a wooden statue of the Child Jesus, whose origin can be traced back to 556, which can be seen in the Discalced Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Victories located in the Malá Strana (the lesser town) area of the city.

The postmark hails from the city of Ceske Budejovice.

 

COVER N. 466 - SOUTH AFRICA

Postmark: no postmark

Posted on ?; received on the 5th June 2024

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Another South African cover full of nice aircraft stamps from the secret service :-), just like the previous, a  Zambian postmark hinting that the cover transited through that country.

I think that the sender was again my Secret German Santa, so again  Danke sehr, Wilhelm! Great to receive the pair to your previous SAAF cover. Many thanks!

As mentioned in the notes to Cover #406, South Africa Post Office issued a minisheet on 28APR2021 with 10 "Standard Postage" stamps, celebrating the centenary of the South African Air Force, which was established on the 1st February 1920, equipped with aircraft donated by the United Kingdom from the vast surplus inventory issued out of the First World War.

The stamps are pretty informative in that they contain a small legend indicating the period of usage of the aircraft depicted on each stamp, which are also well identified.

The 5 stamps that in conjunction with those on cover #406 complete the 10 stamp set, were used on this cover and  from left to right, top to bottom, they are illustrated with photographs of the following aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Dakota

South African Air Force is probably the only air force in the world still using its C-47's operationally, although they must be on the verge of being phased out, which is not strange at all, given that the mighty Dakota first flew on 17 December.... 1935.... not bad in terms of operational life and there are a few still operating in various parts of the globe.

North American F-86 Sabre 

Operational with the SAAF between 1953 and 1980, the North American F-86 Sabre, which first flew in 1947, was probably the most produced second generation jet aircraft,  having raised to fame due to the role it played in the Korean war, where  it had to face  and defeat its most  famous opponent, the nifty Mig-15.

It should  be noted on this subject  that the Korean war  also corresponds to  the first operational use of SAAF Sabres since South Africa integrated the joint UN forces participating in the conflict.

 Saab JAS 39 Gripen D

In service with the SAAF since 2008 (and not 2005 as indicated in the stamp, 2005 being, in fact, the year when they were ordered, I believe) the Saab J 39 Gripen is a Swedish Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft (ALFA).

Having first flown in 1988, the Gripen is in service with the air forces of six countries; Sweden; South Africa; Brazil; UK; Thailand and Czech Republic.

Denel Rooivalk AH-2A

The Denel Rooivalk AH-2A is a locally developed attack helicopter that builds on the experience acquired with the Denel Alpha, an also local  development of the Alouette III. As such, the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma platform was modified so as to fulfil the role of an Attack Helicopter, SAAF operating 11 aircraft of the type since 1999.

Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) / Kawasaki MBB BK117 

A joint German/Japanese developed light utility and transport helicopter, six units of the type are in service with the SAAF since 1994

The only post mark on the cover was applied at Lusaka, Zambia's capital, on 14MAY2024.

POSTCARD N.141 - SPAIN

Postcard sent on the 8th May, received on the 23rd May 2024

Postcard image: El Arenal - Mallorca

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I realised today I forgot to mention a Phantom postcard which was received while I was away hiking in the south coast, so let's get the record straight and start  by thanking Alex for not forgetting to spending the time to  send me a postcard at the risk of getting his beer warmed by the Balearic sun....

Danke sehr, Herr Phantom!

Mallorca, the biggest island of the Baleares.... I spent a week there once without air conditioning, with temps in the high 30s ºC and high humidity  levels... I'll never forget it... I would go and take a swim before hitting the bunk for the night so see if I could refresh myself just a tiny little, but the temperature of the water, the still, calm water of the Mediterranean was  probably some 28 ºC or worse... hell, not the promised holiday paradise I had been told about.

Still I have good memories: riding the wooden Sóller train, Miró's workshop, the view from the castle, the several beaches I visited... but I don't think I was at el Arenal, since I have no recollection of going any further to that side on the island than to Palma, the capital, to visit its monumental cathedral. 

But the heat and the humidity is something I will never really forget. Same thing as in Malta a couple of years before.

Alex used the Spanish issue of the 2023 Europa Stamp, carrying the  proposed new peace symbol inspired in the Celtic love knot which won the common design competition for Luxembourg. 

The legend Paz, el mayor valor de la humanidad, (Peace, the highest value of Humanity), the theme chosen for the 2023 issue,  is also inscribed on the Tariff B stamp, issued on 09MAY2023.

Further to the manual postmark from the El Arenal Post Office,  which Alex made sure was profusely applied on the stamp and postcard, as per the usual unfortunate practice of the Spanish Post Ofice,  a mechanical postmark was also applied at the Centro de Tratamiento Automatizado (CTA) of the Ballears, which I presume to be located in Palma.

COVER N. 465 - MONGOLIA

Postmark: CPO Nairobi Kenya 25.03.2024

Posted on the 25th March; received on the 5th June 2024

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A circuit from the land of the never ending steppes. How nice. How I would love one day to visit Mongolia with my photo camera...

Until that day arrives, if ever, I'll have to content myself with  an occasional cover from where the eagles fly and the horses run, like the one I got, which is quite beautiful too, in its airmail stripped envelope and red postmark over some pretty interesting stamps. Bayarlaa Баярлалаа, Dansran!

It is always a great joy to tick another box in the countries list!

Starting with the envelope, the nice logo on it dates from 2020, the year when India and Mongolia celebrated 65 years of diplomatic relations, an occasion that was honoured with a stamp issued by Mongol Post, which featured the same logo that can be seen on the envelope, presumably the official first day envelope. 

now on to the stamps, l to r:

- The 380th anniversary of the foundation in 1649 of the country's Capital, Ulaanbaatar, which until 1924 was known as Urga, was celebrated in 2019. The anniversary was the occasion for Монгол Шуудан  (Mongol Post) to issue a three 1000 stamp tögrög souvenir sheet, each of them illustrated with photographs of the capital in the late 19th century, 1870 to be more precise (the stamp on the cover); early 20th (1920) and in contemporary times. 

Interesting enough, the city, which only became the State Capital in 1911, was founded as a nomadic Buddhist centre, what led to the location of Urga, as it was then known, having changed for 28 times before finally setting on its current location, in 1778.

- Several Cultural traditions of Mongolia have been awarded Intangible Cultural Heritage Stratus by UNESCO, in fact 15, to be more precise. In 2019, Mongol Post issued a seven stamp set, plus two single stamp souvenir sheets, dedicated to this theme.

The 2000 tögrög stamp on the cover is the stamp included in one of the souvenir sheets, which highlights the "Traditional Music of the Morin Khuur”, which was inscribed in UNESCO's list of World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.

The  music produced by the Morin Khuur, a two stringed fiddle, is present in much of the Mongolian nomad's rituals and everyday life, and its design evokes the importance that horse raising has for the Mongolian nomad culture. 

This is obvious in the way the instrument itself is designed, with the fretless neck terminating in a horse head whose ears are the tuning pegs.

- "Modern National Costumes" was the theme chosen in 2012 for a six stamp set (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600 tögrög), issued on 24AUG2012, of which the 300 t stamp can be seen on the cover, illustrated like all the others with what I presume to be a modernist take on a traditional costume from one of the country's regions.

Unfortunately the red postmark that cancelled the stamps is not legible on the upper half, but for a final H.

COVER N. 464 - KENYA

Postmark: CPO Nairobi Kenya 25.05.2024

Posted on the 27th May; received on the 4th June 2024

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I've said this before but it is never to much to stress it. I really feel that this blog is as much mine as of a number of kind fellow collectors who are always willing to help me feel in the blanks in my list of countries and postal administrations.

One of those fine gentlemen is Roland who again surprised me with the opportunity to add another African country to my list, with a neat cover from Kenya that he somehow arranged to be sent to me.

Un énorme Merci, Roland! I truly appreciated it!

Kenya Post stamp issues have been rather intermittent lately, it seems, the country having not issued any new stamps since 2022.

The 35 shilling stamps on the cover, originated in the former British colony in Eastern Africa which became independent in 1963, were issued in 2014, included in a definitive series themed on Birds, comprising 9 values (30; 35; 50; 55; 65; 70; 80; 100 and 100 Kenyan shillings).

The bird depicted over the pink background is the Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis, which is a common sight in  Sub-Saharan Africa, and from South Sudan to South Africa.

The male adult plumage is characterised by a red–scarlet breast complemented by an iridescent green patch on top of the bird's head, while the female features and overall brownish appearance.

The postmark was applied at the General Post Office of Nairobi, the country's capital.

 

COVER N. 463 - GERMANY

Postmark: Dachau 12 85221 29.05.2024

Posted on the 29th May; received on the 4th June 2024

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Alex kindly sent me  a cover with this year's Deutsche Post Europa stamp. Danke sehr, Alex!

I have to say that Deutsch Post took a rather different approach in what regards the design of its stamp.

In  fact, rather than using the stamp to highlight one or more particular  species falling under the scope of the common heme, as I expect all the other postal administrations to do, the German issue  fills the stamp with the theme itself, literally,...

In a way, if we consider that the Europa issues can be seen as a huge multinational stamp exhibition,  the German issue can be looked upon as the  first of the exhibition pieces on display, informing the viewer of what he or she is about to see. Good for philatelic exhibitions too, I presume and definitely, an unexpected approach to the theme.

The 85 cent stamp, with the legend Unterwasser Fauna und Flora (Underwater Fauna and Flora) was issued on 02MAY20024

the 5 and 10 cent satmps are part of the  "world of letters" current definitive series, started in 2021. The 5 cent pertains to the first issue, dated of 02DEC2021 and the 10 cent to the 2022 set, issued on 02NOV2022.

COVER N. 462 - CANADA

Postmark: no postmark

Posted on ?; received on the 3rd June 2024

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"He who doesn't have a dog, hunts with a cat", so says and old Portuguese adagio, which I think could perfectly be used in this particular occasion.

I got a cover sent by an Argentinean collector with a note inside, explaining how hard it was for him to participate in a cover circuit, given the difficulties in locally obtaining stamps and the the impact of rampant inflation on things as easy as posting a letter.

My country has gone through some really bad economic times, but Argentina has been in permanent economic upheaval for I can't remember how long and I sincerely hope the Argentineans will one day soon find a way of  for once and for all solving the equation that has been causing so much socio-economic trouble... 

So, Muchas gracias, Amílcar. I know your Canadian letter holds the beauty of  the pampas and Patagonia, inside!

The vintage travel poster set of  five "P" tariff stamps from which the poster advertising the cruise of the great lakes, replicating a poster issued in the 1930s,  was issued on 09JUN2022.

The Madonna and Child stamp, featuring a painting by 15th century Italian artist Master of the Castello Nativity was issued on 01NOV2016 as one of the annual Christmas issues of Canada Post.

The Gardenia was the flower chosen for the "flowers" issue of Canadian Post in 2019, the two "P" tariff stamps which, as ususal, are included in the set, of which one can be seen on the cover, having been issued on Valentine's day, 14FEV2029.

No postmark was applied on this letter. 

COVER N. 461 - INDIA

Postmark: Ahmedabad G.P.O. Philatelic Bureau 18.05.2024

Posted on the 18th May; received on the 31st May 2024

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What a  nice handwriting... I am always awed by the ability  some people have of  writing as if they were drawing as it is the case illustrated by the address on this letter... beautiful stuff! Khuba khuba ābhāra, Dilip!

Products with a Protected Designation of Origin, a EU and UK certified label, are products that are part of the culture and traditions (mainly gastronomic) of the restricted region in which they are produced, such a classification  being a way of ensuring their sustainability and preservation as well as contributing to their popularisation and market penetration.

I would imagine that a similar classification scheme is awarded by other countries in the world to products produced locally which have specific charateristics linked to the region wherein they are produced.

That is probably the case with the fruits that take the stage in the stamps that Dilip used on this cover. In fact, the  mini-sheet comprising twelve 5 Rupee stamps of which they are part of, issued on 12FEB2023, is entitled "Geographical Indications. Agricultural goods".

e stamps on the cover correspond to the middle strip of the sheet and they highlight, from left to right:

Mahabaleshwar Strawberries. 

Quoting direct from wikipedia "Mahabaleshwar strawberry is a strawberry grown in the hilly slopes of Mahabaleshwar, [in the state of Maharashtra] accounting for about 85 percent of the total strawberry produced in India". Production reaches about 30,000 Tons per year, which is a lot of strawberries, by all accounts.

They obtained the Geographic Indication tag in 2010. 

Allahabad Surkha Guava 

The Allahabad Surkha Guava are distinct from the regular Gouava by the fact that they have a deep pink flesh, and an  apple red  skin. They are cultivated in Allahabad, in the sate of Uttar Pradesh.

It obtained the Geographic Indication tag in 2007.

Shahi Litchi of Bihar

The pulp of these fruits is considered to have a rose scented aroma, and they are produced in the Muzaffarpur District, in the state of Bihar. 

It obtained the Geographic Indication tag in 2018.

Naga Tree Tomato

Locally called Si Binyano or Khwüdi,  the Naga tree tomato (known as tamarillo in most places) is a fruit that has its origins in the Andean region of South America. In India, it is generally cultivated in the State of Nagaland in kitchen gardens, and amongst other culinary uses it is at the heart of a famous chutney. 

It was given the Geographic Indication tag in 2015.

Postage was completed with a 15 Rupee definitive stamp of the series "Creators of India" issued on 2020, honouring Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015), the 11th President of India - 2002 to 2007 - who was  an aerospace scientist who was influential in the development of India's ballistic missile capabilities and nuclear test programmes.

COVER N. 460 - USA

Postmark: Juneau AK Kindred Post CPU USPS-99801 09.05.2024

Posted on the 9th May; received on the 29th May 2024

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The yellow school bus. Another Iconic image from America...and just to make sure i don't miss it, I got 7 of them, all in one go 😀.

Ravindra, it seems, took the Northern route with a stop in Alaska, from where the cover was  sent. Bohomȧ  sthoothi, Ravindra!

I if understand it correctly, "additional ounce" stamps are used to complement forever stamps, which are valid for a 1 ounce letter. as such if the letter weighs 5 ounces you could use 1 forever stamp and complement it with 4 "additional ounce" stamps, since they are cheaper than the regular "forever" stamp.

Conversely, They can also be used to fully post a letter, just like Ravindra did,  and I quite like the end result, with 7 school buses driving the letter across the American continent and the Atlantic Ocean to finally stop by my door.

We all are aware that school buses in the USA are yellow and have a somewhat standard model, what most of us don't know (well I didn't until today... that's the beauty of stamps, right?) is that the yellow school bus was the brainchild of educator  Frank W. Cyr (1900 – 1995) and I would highly recommend the reading of this little BBC this short BBC article, which tells it all about the history of this Icon of Americana.

The Yellow School Bus additional ounce self-adhesive stamp was issued by USPS on 05JAN2023.

As mentioned before, the letter was posted at Juneau, the Capital of the State of Alaska.

COVER N. 459 - NORWAY

Postmark: Vika Oslo 21.05.2024

Posted on the 21st May; received on the 28th May 2024

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The restless wanderer, the ghost who walks... my friend The Phantom was on the move again... this time to where the sun sometimes forgets to set and the moon refuses to rise ... Danke sehr Herr Phantom!

According to Wikipedia (I know absolutely nothing about the Norwegian monarchy), the current Monarch, King Harald V, born in 1937, is the first monarch born in Norwegian soil since King Olav IV in 1340. 

This would look a bit strange for a national of a country that is almost 900 years old, like myself, but the explanation is easy to obtain since Norway, as we know it today, only became independent in 1905, when it peacefully severed its ties with Sweden, with the dissolution of the  United Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark, a personal union which had existed since 1814.

Harald had not a quite upbringing. When he was just three years old,  Germany invaded Norway and so his mother, Crown Princess Märtha,  himself and his two sisters , had to flee to the United States where they stayed for the duration of the war, while his father, Crown  Prince Crown Prince Olav, and his grandfather, King Haakon, stayed in London with the Norwegian government-in-exile.

Come to think of it, this story is at the centre of a TV series which aired some years ago on Portuguese TV, called "Atlantic Crossing".

King Harald V is married to Queen Sonja, an Oslo born commoner, since 1968.

The happy couple is the subject of the two "Innland 20g"  nice stamps which Alex used to mail me the cover, part of a set of four issued on 22APR2024, dedicated to "Royal anniversaries", which besides Harald and Sonja, includes another two stamps with the smiling faces of King Hakoon VII (Harald's grandfather) and Princess Ingrid Alexandra (Harald's granddaughter), these last two for domestic service up to 50g (Innland 50g).

Of note is the quality of the portraits on the stamps, which picture the Royal couple under a very common people aura, which I think can only improve their good looks.

One last comment to note that this is probably the cover I've seen with the smallest postmark of all... very clear, but quite small in size.

COVER N. 458 - FRANCE

Postmark: 500 Ans de la decouverte de New York - Premier jour - 16 Angoulême - la Poste 12.04.2024

Received on the 28th May 2024

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It seems that the first European to have sailed into what is now called "the bay" of probably the most famous of all American cities was a Florentine explorer, Giovanni da Verrazzano, under contract to the King of France, François I (Francis I), also known as François d'Angoulême (he inherited the title of Count of Angoulême from his father, although he was born in the chateau of Cognac, in the homonymous city).

Signore da Verrazzano sailed into the mouth of the Hudson river on the 17th April 1524 and as a way of honouring his employer he  named the new found region Nouvelle France and the bay wherein he sailed Nouvelle Angoulême. As a matter of curiosity, he also claimed Newfoundland, Terre-Neuve,  to the French crown.

Five hundred years later, La Poste would not let go the anniversary without issuing one of the most amazing pieces of stamp art that I have seen lately, and I really am indebted to Roland for kindly having made sure I had one cover graced with it to add to my collection. Un énorme Merci, Roland!

I find it hard to add any words to describe the truly amazing one 1,96 € stamp souvenir sheet issued on 15APR2024. In fact the sheer beauty of  the exquisitely detailed single colour head-on view of Manhattan, with its iconic towering skyscrapers occupying the centre of the sheet (and most of the stamp) needs no explanation, and Monsieur Louis Genty, the creator and engraver of such a work of art is to be highly congratulated by such a beautiful piece of work.

But there's more to it: Louis Genty was also the designer of also very beautiful first day postmark showing Giovanni da Verrazzano ship presumably sailing in the New Angoulême bay,  which, besides Paris,  was appropriately applied at Angoulême, given the link between this particular city and the history of New York, as above stated.

All in all a great addition to my collection.

COVERS N. 456/457 - FRANCE

Postmark: Service des Oblitérations Philatéliques 24 Boulazac 23.05.2024 

                  Le Carré d'Encre Paris 25.05.2024

Posted on the 23rd and 25th May; received on the 28th and 29th May 2024

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Thank you so much Roland and Jean-Pierre for your care in making sure that I would not miss the last bloc-feuillet of the amazing Trésors de Notre-Dame series. I really love this series and what it stands for, since preserving the past is ensuring that the memories of the great realisations of our species will be available for those who will come after us to study, enjoy and, hopefully, improve upon. Un grand Merci à vous deux!

Calling on the attention of the world to the outstanding restoration work that Notre-Dame Cathedral was subject to, fallowing the tragic fire of 15 April 2029, La Poste,  in 2020, initiated  an annual issue of outstanding in-taglio printed single stamp souvenir sheets entitled "Trésors de Notre-Dame", which was scheduled to end when the restoration works were finally completed, something which will happen later this year.

Five great pieces of philatelic art were thus produced and the last one, this year's, issued on 15APR2024, had to be dedicated to the roof, since with its conclusion and the spire in place  the cathedral is now looking almost ready for its reopening, which will take place in December.

Technically, it is not the roof, but the structure that supports it, the so called "La Charpente". 

Let me just paste here the comments I wrote about this same bloc-feuillet on post regarding cover #451:

"I read the release notes for the souvenir sheet and watched a couple of videos on the internet on the Charpente reconstruction and I have to say that it was nothing short of amazing (as of course is all the reconstruction work of such an ioportant monument).

About 1400 oak trees had to give their life so that the necessary timber could be made available to execute the intricate woodwork, an operation that called on the expertise of a team of dedicated carpenters who replicated in every single detail, down to the personal markings of their colleagues who had rebuilt the roof following a previous fire in the 18th century, the original structure.

Special tools were also made to work the wood and the original joining techniques were also followed to ensure the most exact replication possible.

A nice touch was also added by the new carpenters who, like their colleagues of yore, also inscribed their own personal markings, in a rather discreet manner, of course, in the wooden beams.

It is great to see that in spite of the terrible fire that ravaged through its wall, this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site is on its way to regain its former splendour."