POSTCARD N.199 - GERMANY

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 2nd November; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: Landmarks of Wismar

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Hansestadt Wismar, that is, the Hanseatic City of Wismar, is the subject of a multi-view postcrossing postcard I got from Christine. Danke sehr!

As usual with multi-view cards, the thumbnails highlight well known landmarks of the place they promote. Still, I have to say the photos do not do justice to what I could see on the internet regarding this old hanseatic city, for it has so much more lovely buildings and squares ... the port alone is worth the journey....

Left to right on the card we have the Tourist Information Centre, St. Nicholas church, the old Customs house, the City Hall and the Wasserkunst Wismar, the old city waterworks.

Stamps used:

 2 definitive stamps from the world of letters series:

0,20 € - wet bonding - issued on 02NOVE2024

0,10 € - message in a bottle - issued on 02NOV2022

The 0,95 € stamp was issued on 03JUL2025, in the Historical Buildings series. It displays the Speicherstadt, Hamburg, the Warehouse district in Hamburg, the largest warehouse district of a single city in the world.

The postmark is illegible.

 

COVER N. 656 - INDIA

Postmark: Krishnagiri Sevaganapalli - 01.11.2025

Posted on the 1st November;  Received in November 2025

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A pretty uncommon format for an envelope, but a nice one, all the same. Thank you so much, Akhil, for the nice cover and the nice stamps. I will try to reciprocate as soon as my recover from my leg injury allows me to be able to displace myself fully autonomously again.

On 01AUG2019, India Post issued two souvenir sheets containing each 2x25 rupee stamps, themed on Indian perfumes. One of sheets (that one the cover) dedicated to sandalwood, and the other to jasmine.

Sandalwood is obtained from trees of the genus Santalum, especially from the Indian sandalwood (Santalum album). The essential oils  in the wood, used in the perfume and cosmetics industries, are obtained through steam distillation of sandalwood chips.

Although the postmark is not very clear I managed to read most of it, identifying the place of expedition as Sevaganapalli Village, in the Tamil Nadu State

COVER N.655 / POSTCARD N.198 - U.S.A.

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 1st November; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: Grand Teton National Park

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A touch of colour lands on mailbox from  the United States of America. Thanks a lot Brianna, I loved the postcard and the stamps.

Brianna used almost the full 2024 self-adhesive floral definitive issue, dated of 18JUL2024 on this cover. The only stamp left out was the 10 c stamp which featured poppies and coneflowers. From left to right we have: 1 cent - Fringed Tulip: 2 cents - Daffodils; 3 cents - Peonies and 5 cents - Red tulips.

The two remaining stamps are part of the very interesting 20 Forever USA stamp pane issued on 23JUL2025 honouring the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service. as luck had it, the two stamps on the cover were part of the some row I had already in my collection thanks to A.W., who sent me a very nice FDC for this set in Cover #635.

Inside the envelope was this beautifully illustrated postcard of Grand Teton National Park, in Wyoming, with a herd of bisons quietly grazing under the watch of the Grand Teton itself.

I would love to visit this and other American parks someday, but for now it is out of question. I can understand that the effects of over tourism in protected areas can really be dramatic, but I can't help but feel that imposing a 100 Dollar surtax on top of the entry fee for a foreigner has nothing to do with protecting the area, and a lot to do with the type of isolationism that I still remember being fostered by the wretched dictators and their entourage which ruled my country 50 + years ago...."Proudly Alone", was their motto.... sad bunch they were....

The mechanical postmark hails from Orlando, Florida, and although is quite smeared, it is possible to again identify the special  sprayed add-on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service., featuring the legend 1775-2025, below a stylised eagle in flight.

POSTCARD N.197 - CANADA

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 27th October; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: The wallflower fairy

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Cicely Mary Barker (1895-1973) was a British illustrator whose most celebrated work are the art noveau Flower Fairies which went on to populate several books for which I do believe she also wrote the accompanying poems.

One of those books is "A Flower Fairy Alphabet", first published in 1934, which, as the name suggests, contains illustrations for all the letters in the alphabet.

Wielinga, from Canada, sent me a postcard with the illustration pertaining to the letter.... well,  W, of course.  Thanks a lot, Wielinga!

Wielinga used a stamp from the 2025 issue of "From far and wide" self-adhesive definitive series initiated in 2018, which showcase many of Canada's scenic wonders. The  2025 edition re-issues four stamps of the 2024 edition (the ones firstly issued with nominal face values) which was the fourth in the series, albeit with new denominations. As such, the stamp on the postcard  with a face value of 3.65 Canadian dollars, featuring the Qarlinngua Sea Arch, in Arctic bay, in the Nunavut Territory, was firstly issues with a value of 2.92 Dollars.

As much as I understand the need to keep costs controlled, the decision to print stamps in a size that makes the images almost undecipherable, (the printed area measures 2 x 1.6 cm or 1.4 cm if we exclude the CANADA legend) when, furthermore, including a legend which is totally unreadable, is out of justification, in my humble opinion. I hope Canada Post would rethink this policy.

Unfortunately, there was no postmark on the stamp, what may be a consequence of the tribulations Canada Post has gone through recently.

COVER N. 654 - BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES - GIBRALTAR

Postmark: Royal Gibraltar Main Office - Post Office -28.10.2025

Posted on the 28th October;  Received in November 2025

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International Women's Day is celebrated across the world on the 8th March, honouring the (regrettably... it should be but history, by now....) on-going struggle of women for the full acknowledgment of their individual rights as society members, for even if those may be established de jure, in many a country's  legal framework, the de facto picture tells quite a different story

Just as a sad example of the tribulations that women have still to deal with, in my own country, this year alone, up to now, 24 women were killed in domestic viloence episodes...

Official sources also say that in Portugal women still have a 12% lower salary when compared to those of men, and the list of inequalities does not stop here, as we all know.

On International Women's Day 2019, 8th March,  the Gibraltar Post Office issued the three stamp set (64 p; 80 p; 2.8 £)  featured on the cover I got from my  friend the Flying Dutchman. Hartelijk dank, Eric!

Alongside the on topic illustration, each stamp features the legend "International Women's Day 2019" and  its chosen motto: "Think equal, build smart, innovate for change".

POSTCARD N.196 - NETHERLANDS

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 29th October; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: Amsterdamse Grachtengordel (Amsterdam Canal belt)

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A view of one of the many bridges over one of Amsterdam's canals, which enjoy UNESCO World Heritage Site status, featuring another of  the city's icons: a cyclist.

Thanks a lot, Tamara

The class 1 International, stamp featured on the postcard is part of a 5 same tariff self-adhesive stamp set issued on 03JUL2023, illustrated with Dutch icons. 

The mechanical postmark was applied at Amterdam.

COVER N.653 / POSTCARD N.195 - U.S.A.

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 29th October; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: Waterfowl and wildlife conservation stamps

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What a cute little envelope I got with a very nice small postcard inside illustrated with images of stamps of the wildlife conservation series that the US Postal Service issued between 1956 and 1978, totalling 16 stamps and also of a waterfowl conservation stamp issued in 1968. All of them are absolutely beautiful.

Thanks a lot, Breanna!

Stamps on the cover:

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

- Self-adhesive "Love skywriting" Forever USA  stamp, issued on 07JAN2017

- "Fun", part of a 10 x Forever USA self-adhesive stamp set dedicated to pinback buttons, issued on 15AUG2024

The barely readable mechanical postmark issued in Portland, Oregon,  contains a special sprayed add-on,  celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service. Iit features the legend 1775-2025, below a stilised eagle in flight on the left of the legend.

POSTCARD N.194 - U.S.A.

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 27th October; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: Dodger Stadium

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Baseball... Not a familiar noun around here, so the more interesting the image on the card becomes. Thanks a bunch Stephanie.

Stephanie explained in the card that the Los Angeles Dodgers were playing the world series against the Toronto Blue Jays, so I went and checked and the Dodgers won 4-3 in the seven game series, thus becoming the World Series Champion for 2025.

Three of the games took place in the Dodger Stadium.

Stephanie sent me the postcard inside a cellophane bag, to protect it, with the stamps (and postmark) applied on the bag itself, what caused the postmark to smudge quite a bit, making it impossible to read its origin.

The "Expresso" forever USA stamp is part of the 4 self-adhesive stamp set issued on " 09APR2021, themed on Coffee Beverages. 

 The 100th Anniversary of  the Wright Brothers' First Flight was celebrated by USPS with the self-adhesive stamp on the cover illustrated with the "Flyer" flying above up the dunes at Kitty Hawk.

Stephanie also used a "Usa/Postcard" stamp of the "Vibrant leaves" issue of 14MAR2025. Further to the Sweetgum leaf , the issue includes stamp with nice autumn coloured leaves of Aspen, Sassafras, Oak and Mapple.

POSTCARD N.193 - GERMANY

Postcrossing Postcard sent on the 29th October; received in November 2025.

Postcard image: Freien Hansestadt Bremen (Free Hanseatic City of Bremen)

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A nice multiple view postcard from the city of Bremen, the capital of the State of Bremen, an enclave within Lower Saxony, in the northwest of Germany.

Danke sehr, Manuela.

The images on the card, as expected, show several landmarks of the city, such as the Rathaus (city hall) or the Marktlpaz (market square).

 

Manuela used  3 definitive stamps from the world of letters series. Left to right:

0,20€ - wet bonding - issued on 02NOVE2024

0,10 - message in a bottle - issued on 02NOV2022

0,95 - flowers - 03AAPR2025

I have to say that when I first saw stamps from these series, wich began to be issued in 2021, I didn't think much of it, but as new issues keep coming, I have grown to quite like their illustrations.

COVER N. 652 - CYPRUS

Postmark: Registered Nicosia W.B.O. Cyprus 23OCT2025

Posted on the 21st October;  Received in November 2025

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Nasia, who keeps a very commendable blog about birds on stamps, sent me a cover illustrated with sports themed stamps. Unfortunately, the envelope took a bit of a beating by the weather while in transit, but, somehow, the stamps were spared and they look quite ok.

Ευχαριστώ πολύ, Nasia!

- The 2022 FIFA Football World Cup took place in Qatar, from 20 November to 18 December. Argentina having won the tournament.

Celebrating the occasion, Cyprus Post issued, on 18NOV2022, the single commemorative stamp on the cover, with a face value of 0,24 €.

- The 2024 Summer Olympic Games took place in Paris, France, from 26 July to 11 August.  Cyprus participated with a team of 15 athletes, having won one silver medal in Sailing.

Commemorating the Olympics, Cyprus Post issued, on 02MAY2024, a four stamp set (0.34 - Swimming; 0,41 - Shooting; 0,64 - Sailing ;0,75 € - Cycling). The 0,41€ can be seen on the cover.

 - The Refugee stamp, mandatory in all postage in Cyprus, is also included on the cover. The stamp is the 2022 issue.

Postmark from Nicosia, Cyprus capital.

COVER N. 651 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P. O. Colombo Mail 21.10.2025  

Posted on the 21st October;  Received in November 2025

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Another of Ravi's always interesting covers, Bohomȧ  sthoothi, friend.

- On 15JUN2023, Sri Lanka Post issued a mini-sheet containing 20 x 50 Rupee circular stamps, dedicated to fruits and vegetables of Sri Lanka.

From left to right, the three stamps of this issue stamps depict:

Manilkara hexandra - a tree existing in the wild, which can reach 12 m in height, and whose yellow  fruits are harvested for human consumption.

Artocarpus nobilis, the Ceylon Bread fruit, endemic to Sri Lanka. its  seeds and fruits being used for medicinal purposes.

Ziziphus mauritiana, or Indian jujube. an evergreen shrub, cultivated for its fruit, which can be consumed raw, in beverages or in preserves.

As usual, postmark from the central Post Office at Colombo.

POSTCARD N.192 -  SPAIN 

Postcard sent on the 21st October; received in October 2025.

Postcard image: Cap de Creus   (Creus cape)

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The Easternmost point of the Iberian peninsula... Cap de Creus, in the beautifully sounding Catalan or Creus Cape as English, that modern day Esperanto, would have it said.

Moltes gràcies, Eva, for such a nice postcard. I've been to quite a few places in the Peninsula, but never to Cap de Creus. It is on the list, now!

Eva used a 1,85€ stamp issued on 24APR2025 as part of a 2 stamp set of the same denomination  dedicated to the 750th anniversary of the founding of Vila-real and  the 700th anniversary of the founding of Benidorm, two Spanish cities located in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, the first  in the Province of Castellón, and the second in the Province of Alicante.

The stamp is illustrated with an image of the portal of the Balcon del mediterraneo, a well known landmark of the city with a mirador in a promontory overlooking the Mediterranean sea.

Postmark from the city of Valencia.

COVER N. 649 - BRAZIL

Postmark: Jardim Satélite - São José dos Campos - SP 10.10.2025  

Posted on the 10th October;  Received in October 2025

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Muito obrigado,  Segisberto,  for this cover with the great triptych that Correios do Brasil issued in commemoration of the first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic, a feat carried out in 1922 by Portuguese aviators  Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho.

 

The 3 x 2,35 reais se-tenant strip was issued on 01AUG2022, and I talked about it a propos cover #172 .

The 1,55 stamp featuring a cat was issued as part of a 30 x 1,55 stamp sheet dedicated to pets on 06NOV2018. This particular sheet was Brazil's participation in the 2018 UPAEP -  Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal joint issue programme.

The 0.05 Real stamp illustrated with a seamstress was issued on 30DEC2005 and is part of a definitive series issued between 2005 and 2011, dedicated to Professions.

Postmark from the city of São José dos Campos in the State of São Paulo.

POSTCARD N.191 - PAKISTAN 

Postcard sent on the 1st October; received in October 2025.

Postcard image: K2, the highest mountain of pakistan and the second highest in the world   

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The restless wanderer, the Ghost Who Walks, my friend The Phantom was on the move again, and this time he surprised me with a beautiful postcard sent on World Postcard day, the first October, from Pakistan, illustrated with the mighty K2, the world's second highest elevation at 8,614 m above sea level and one of the deadliest peaks of the eight-thousanders.

 I was especially happy to receive this postcard since it allowed me to tick another box in my list of countries. Danke sehr, Alex!

The stamps are all illustrated with the effigy of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, considered to be the founder of Pakistan. Although he didn't live to see the country's becoming a republic in 1956, he served as its first governor-general  when the Kingdom of Pakistan became independent from the  British crown in 1947 as a dominion, integrated in the British Commonwealth of Nations.

The 20 Rupee stamp is part of a definitive issue dated of 11SEP1994, (the 46th anniversary of Ali Jinnah's death)  while the 100 rupee stamp of the same series was issued on 14SEP2024.

The smaller stamps are part of a six definitive stamp issue, dated of 19AUG1998 (the 50th anniversary of Ali Jinnah’s death).

COVER N. 648 - INDONESIA

Postmark: Malang 25.09.25  

Posted on the 25th September;  Received in October 2025

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At long last I'm finally able to drag my leg up a flight of stairs so that I can go to the room where I keep the desktop computer I use, which is the same as saying that I am now able once again to update my blog.

Ever since the stupid accident that has kept me grounded, mail has been piling up, and I have quite a few letters and postcards to post here. In order to gain time and go through the lot as fast as I can, I will limit comments to a minimum, but I'm sure it will take some time to get back on track.

I apologise to all the friends who have sent me circuits which I have been not yet forwarded. I am still not able to go out in the street all by myself, so I still have not sent all the circuits I have received, although a few are already on their way, thanks to my dear wife's agreeing to do a "technical stop" on our way back from a physiotherapy session. 

I still have 4 or 5 to dispatch, what I'll do as soon as possible.

On the negative side of things I have noticed that CTT, the Portuguese postal operator is no longer issuing stamps denominated in Euros and has now turned to using only letter codes. This is a philatelic disgrace because I can no longer combine stamps of different issues to send other collectors as I many times do.

Stamp issues here usually have 4 stamps (Domestic 20g; Domestic next day 20g;  Europe 20g; International 20g). Most times a single stamp souvenir sheet (20 g domestic registered mail tariff) is also issued, solely as a way of making the issue more expensive for the collector, since  from an usability point of view, at least with the frequency it is used, this is totally unnecessary.... 

The corolary of this is that unfortunately I will probably  have to start using but one stamp on my letters from now on, so I ask for my fellow collector's  comprehension, but there's simply nothing I can do...

So, back to today's cover, with my many thanks to Irene:

Ratu Boko Palace is an archaeological site located in the island of Java, Indonesia.  

The legend on the edge of the two x 2500 Rupiah stamp issue dated of 20MAR2013 dedicated to this important Indonesian landmark, which Irene used on this nice cover,  reads " Ratu Boko Palace: The lost masterpiece palace complex from the 8th century, the only Hindu and Buddhist mixed architecture archaeological site.

Postmark from Malang. East Java.