COVER N. 546 - BOLIVIA

Postmark: Agencia Boliviana de Correos -  Recaudacion  - Admission - La Paz 03.12.2024

Posted on the 3rd December; Received on the 24th December 2024

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La Paz, I would swear that in the whole wide world there is not a more beautifully named city. La Paz, the city of Peace, high in the Andean Plateau... and I got a letter from there on Xmas Eve... if only it could be a sign of things to come... La Paz coming to all men... even those of ill will....

Thank you so much whoever was it that made sure I'd get it... There's a sender on the cover, but I do suspect that there was someone else behind this nice Xmas present. I couldn't be more thankful!

Breaking News, Have just confirmed it... the usual suspect... none other than my friend the Flying Dutchman.. :-) Gracias Daniel e Muito Obrigado, Eric!

There are rare birds and then there are those that are almost illusive, to the point of being thought forever gone. The  Apolo cotinga, or Palkachupa (Phibalura boliviana), went unseen to human eyes for a period two years short of a century. The last sighting of the species had occurred in 1902, until in 2000, in was rediscovered in the region of Apolo.

Total population of this passerine of the Contigidae family was calculated in 2011 to number about 600 individuals all distributed in  the same living area and it is considered to be highly endangered due to loss of its habitat, the moist high altitude savana,  caused by extensive agriculture and cattle raising. IUCN lists it as Endangered.

On 18OUT2017, Correos de Bolivia issued a two stamp set dedicated to endangered bird species featuring the Palkachupa in the 0,5 Boliviano stamp (two on the cover) and the Horned curassow (Pauxi unicornis) on the 3 Boliviano stamp.

Cacique Enriquillo (1498-1535) a native of what is now the Dominican Republic was the leader of the first uprising against the Spanish colonisers in 1519. A national hero for the Dominicans, his statue, which is replicated in the 23 Bolivianos stamp on the cover issued on November 2024,  celebrating the friendly relations between Bolivia and the Dominican Republic, can be seen in the Museum of the Dominican Man, in Santo Domingo.

The very neat bi-colour postmark was applied at La Paz... and I have to say it again... what a beautiful name for a city.....