COVER N. 681 -BRASIL

Postmark: A C Central de São Paulo SE/SPM 12.01.2026  

Posted on the 12th January;  Received on the 29th January 2026

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First Portuguese speaking Cover of the Year. Muito Obrigado, Luis. Um abraço!

Of note in this particular cover is the fact that two of the stamps have seen issues in both Portugal and Brazil. 

In fact the 2,80 Reais, issued on 30JUN2022, is a joint Portugal-Brazil Issue, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Brazil's Independence declared by a man who would enjoy the privilege of Being Emperor in Brazil, as D. Pedro I and King in Portugal, albeit briefly, for he would abdicate in favour of his daughter Maria,  as D. Pedro IV.

The stamp is illustrated with reproductions of two paintings. The upper one is dated of 1922 and was authored by Brazilian painter Georgina Moura Andrade de Albuquerque (1885-1962). It is now on display at the Museu Histórico Nacional, in Rio de Janeiro.

The other painting is a portrait of Pedro I, authored in1826 by Portuguese Painter, born in Cape Verde and deceased in Brazil, Simplício Rodrigues de Sá (1785-1839), which can be seen at the Museu Imperial of Petrópolis.

The 5,95  Reais stamp is the UPU 150th anniversary commemorative issue, dated of  09OCT2024, featuring the celebratory logo that was replicated in stamp issues worldwide.

The 0,10 Reais is proof that a stamp can have an interesting design irrespective of its face value. In fact I find the definitive  series to which it belongs, themed on musical instruments,   issued on 01JUL2002 and comprising10 values, quite attractive.

The postmark, as usual with Luis' letters was applied at the Central PO of São Paulo.

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COVER N. 680 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P. O. Colombo Mail 20.01.2026  

Posted on the 20th January;  Received on the 29th January 2026

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2026 is going to be an exciting astronomical year since here in Portugal we will have the opportunity of witnessing a total solar eclipse, something that hasn't occurred since 1912, that is more than a century ago.

 

In practice the area of Portuguese soil where the eclipse will be fully visible will be quite restricted, being limited to the north-eastern tip of our continental territory, Natural Park of Montesinho being probably the most privileged viewing point to go stick your neck up in the air. (after the eclipse, a full tour of the park area is highly recommended..., for it is a nice place to visit and enjoy not only the sights but also the gastronomy.... you can't go bad with a Posta à Mirandesa......)

Since the full eclipse will only be visible for 26 seconds and there will be no possibility of rewinding and playing it again, I gather that the Park will be quite a hot spot on the 12th August...

Anyway, I got a full preview yesterday. Ravindra kindly sent me a cover with the three stamps of the "Wonders of the Universe" that he still hadn't sent me and one of them shows a beautiful photograph of  a "Total Solar Eclipse with Corona".

බෝහම ස්තුති, Ravi!

The stamps are part of the 10x20 Rupee sheet entitled, "The wonders of the Universe", issued on 25SEP2025.

Further to the solar eclipse on the stamp in the centre, the one to its left is illustrated with " Galactic wrekage in Stephan's Quintet" (hmmm.... a nice title for a jazz piece, I would say), an Hubble image., while the one on the right shows  "Sagitarius A" a black hole in our old Milky Way., which recently made the news because for his was the first photograph taken of such a celestial body, thing...(so dense, I can't find a word for it :-).

the remaining stamps of the series can be seen on covers  #647 and  #671

As usual, the postmark was applied at Colombo's Central P.O.

COVERS N. 679 - FRANCE - DROM-COM - NOUVELLE CALÉDONIE

Postmark: 78e Salon Philatélique d'Automne  2025 - Premier Jour d'émission 6 Novembre 2025 Nouméa Agence Philatélique / Noumea Agence Philatélique Nelle Calédonie 06.01.2026  

Posted on the 6th January;  Received on the 27th January 2026

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What a nice surprise I got today: a letter from the French territory of New Caledonia, a group of Islands located in the Pacific, almost antipodean in relation to the country I write these lines from.

Receiving mail from such uncommon origins is always a pleasure and so,  mon très grand Merci, cher Roland,  pour cette magnifique surprise.

When I had my first bout of stamp collecting, many years ago, I chose to concentrate on the "Fish" theme. I was a teenager and  just arrived in the mainland from my pre-adolescence years in the Azores, where I had developed a strong connection with the ocean and marine life.

I still have some stamps (not many, for resources were scarce)  from that period,  and with time my bond with the ocean and marine life would wither a bit but I still cannot imagine myself living very far from the vastness of the sea, although I now seem to have developed an all inclusive love to everywhere, be it sea, forest, mountain, plain or just the relatively quiet neighbourhood where I live, not that far  from the capital (in distance,  I mean, because in time..... try it at 7 AM on a rainy weekday...)

Anyway, what I meant to say, before  embarking in one of my customaries trains of thought, is that I still adore fish stamps.

And the one on the cover is simply beautiful!

Issued on 11JUN2025, the "International" rate stamp is illustrated with an eloquent depiction of a Zebra Shark (Leopard Shark, the French call it, leaning more towards the nature of its "inherent" adult camouflage) or Stegostoma tigrinum.

The thing is that Zebra shark juveniles do look stripped, not mottled (or shall I say shaken, not stirred?), hence the option for the equine comparison.

This gentle dweller of sandy flats and coral reefs of the indo-pacific region, categorised as an endangered species by the IUCN, has nocturnal habits, this being the period of the day when it is actively feeding on molluscs and crustaceans, and can grow up to 2.5 meters in length.

The stamp is cancelled with the postmark of the Philatelic agency of Nouvelle Calédonie, located in Noméa, the capital, and the cover also bears a first day of issue cachet of the Salon Philatélique d'Automne, which took place in Paris, from the 6th till the 8th November 2025, where Roland was able to deliver it to the care of the Office des Postes et Télécommunications de Nouvelle-Calédonie (OPT-NC).

 My National Covers

Every now and then I have the opportunity to add what I call a "National Cover" to my collection.

These are nothing fancy. In fact they are but covers that I print  at home with the flag and coat of arms of a specific country and which I then either send to a fellow collector who is willing to help or give to friends or family or take my own self whenever travelling abroad, in the hope that these might find a way to a local post office to get a stamp and a postmark.

I will be adding these to a new "My National Covers" section in this blog.

If you don't see your country here and are willing to help me add your own country's national cover to my collection, please email me at pnsoares1@gmail.com. 

You'll get a cover from Portugal (if you want I'll be happy to print a Portuguese National Cover just like the ones I print for myself, although in a somewhat larger envelope) and a printed envelope with the relevant symbols printed, so that you can then return it to me.

Thanks a lot.

Note: Whenever possible I will try to transcribe the flag and coat of arms information from the relevant national site. Failing that I'll transcribe from Wikipedia.

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 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 

/የኢትዮጵያ ፌዴራላዊ ዴሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ

The Flag

The Ethiopian flag comprises three colors. In the center there is a national coat of arms. The three colors are set horizontally in equal dimension with green at the top, yellow in the middle, and red at the bottom. 

Source: Historys - Embassy of Ethiopia

What the colors symbolise varies depending on point of view. However, generally, red represents the blood spilled in defense of Ethiopia; yellow represents peace and harmony between Ethiopia's various ethnic and religious groups; and green is said to symbolise hope, or the land and its fertility.[citation needed] The colors had historically been used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (red for faith and power, yellow for the church & peace, and green for natural wealth) prior to their adoption as the colors of the state, likely due to them being easy to produce and common in the Ethiopian landscape

Source: Flag of Ethiopia - Wikipedia

The Emblem

The national emblem is a blue circle with depiction; straight and equal lines of yellow come from all directions and join each other. A star is formed by the straight and equal lines with yellow rays radiating from the joints of the straight and equal lines. The national coat of arms on the flag reflects the hope of the nations, nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia, as well as of its religious communities to live together in unity and equality.

Source: Historys - Embassy of Ethiopia

The Stamp

The 40 birr stamp is part of a three stamp issue (20; 30; 40 birr) dated of 21JUN2023, themed on Ethiopian frogs.

The Hildebrandtia macrotympanum, the animal depicted in the stamp,  is a species of frog in the family Ptychadenidae. It is a rarely seen fossorial frog[1] that is found in southern Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Common names Somali ornate frog, northern ornate frog, and plain burrowing frog have been proposed for it.

Source: Hildebrandtia macrotympanum - Wikipedia

The Postmark

The unusual rectangular postmark was applied at Lalibela, a town in the north of the country, famous for its rock cut monolithic churches.

A huge "Danke Sehr! goes out to "The Phantom", for this interesting addition to the collection.

POSTCARD N.209 -  BARBADOS

Postcard sent on the 15th December 2025; received on the 20thJanuary 2026.

Postcard image: Barbados beach views

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The last of my friends' Caribbean venture. And another box ticked on the list. Wonderful

Muito obrigado, Diana, Nuno e Xavi, sois os maiores!

A former British Colony, Barbados, The Easternmost  state of the Caribbean, comprises but the Island that bears its name.

Having become independent from the UK in 1966, although maintaining the status of realm of the Commonwealth, with Elizabeth II as the Head of State, the country would become a Republic in 2021, although maintaining its association with the Organisation, now with the status of Republic within the Commonwealth, its Head of State being elected by an electoral college.

Barbados is probably one of the most sought tourist destinations in the Caribbean and the fact that it is located out of the Hurricane area of influence is without doubt a contributing factor for this.

Other than tourism, the economy also benefits from offshore finance operations and  the sugarcane industry, this having been cultivated locally since the 17th century. 

The stamp used is part of a definitive issue of 14 stamps, dated of 18JAN2016, dedicated to the "Builders of Barbados".

It is illustrated with a very nice portrait of Sarah Ann Gill (1795 - 1866), a  social and religious leader  during the era of slavery upon whom the parliament bestowed the title of National Hero of Barbados.

The Postmark was applied at the town of Christ Church, located in the Southern end of the Island.

COVERS N. 678 - BRAZIL

Postmark: AC Central de São Paulo / SE SPM 28.08.2025  

Posted on the 28th August;  Received on the 8th September 2025

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Sometimes it happens: one or two (or 5 or 10) covers or postcards get pilled out of the usual stash of  items to post here on my blog. 

As hard as I try to keep it up to date, it is not always easy, due to holidays, lack of free time, journeys out of my usual place or even (worst case scenario) a broken leg....

That is why today I found a cover from Luis, from Brazil, neatly tucked into the box where I keep mail that has already been posted here, but which has not yet been properly archived.

Better late then never, they say, so withouth further ado, and with an apology to Luis, (Desculpe o atraso e muito obrigado, como sempre, Luis; Abraço)  here it goes:

Quite a coincidence that just one day after Europe signed a free trade treaty with the Mercosul countries, I should post this cover carrying a very interesting stamp issue dedicated to beneficial insects, which was the Mercosul stamp series of Brazil for 2021.

The 6 x 1.80 Reais stamps issued on 02DEC2021 and in a light propedeutic way, with children book type illustrations, highlight the paramount role insects play as adjuvants of  agriculture, as pollinators, pest controllers, compost producers and so on.

Following the 1/2/3 order in which they were glued on the cover, the stamps carry illustrations of  bees, dragonflies, praying mantis, dung beetles, micro-wasps and ladybugs and the segment of the stamp with the illustration is printed in bas relief, standing physically above the rest of the stamp.

Each stamp also carries the Mercosul logo on the right upper corner of the illustration.

As usual with Luis' covers, the Postmark was applied at the Central Post Office of São Paulo. 

POSTCARD N.208-  CZECH REPUBLIC

Postcard sent on the 9th January;  received on the 15thJanuary 2026.

Postcard image: Images of Grenada 

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Thanks a lot Michal, for another fine postcard with one of the many outstanding landmarks of your beautiful country. 

The historic town centre of Kutná Hora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the reasons for this classification is the outstanding building of Saint Barbara's Church, whose construction began in 1388, only to be finished in 1905, which can be seen on the centre right of the photograph, alongside the  Baroque style building of the Jesuit College, completed in 1750.  

Michal used a tariff E stamp part of a two same tariff stamp set, issued on 12OCT2022 in celebration of LIBEREC 2002 European Stamp Exhibition and Polar Salon, held in Liberec, between 13 and 16 October 2022.  

The Postmark was applied at  Velešín, a town in the Český Krumlov district of the South Bohemia Region.

The postcard also contains the stamp of St. Barbara's Church, and I'm very glad that Michal included it since it is quite a nice addition.

COVER N. 677 - NETHERLANDS

Postmark: Amsterdam 101 19.12.2025  

Posted on the 19th December;  Received on the 31st December 2025

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Oooops... there was yet another Season card I haven't yet posted here. Here it goes with my apologies to Jaap for having it out of chronological order and my sincere thanks and best wishes for the year.  Hartelijk dank, Jaap!

The "International1" stamp is the 2024 Dutch EUROPA issue, dated of 13MAY2024. The common  theme for the year being "Underwater Fauna and Flora", Post NL chose the European bitterling (Rhodeus amarus)  to illustrate its issue.

The European bitterling is a freshwater fish of the Acheilognathidae family, measuring up to 10 cm,  which can be found from the Rhone River basin in France to the Neva River in Russia.

The mechanical postmark applied in Amsterdam is quite festive also with its pair of pine trees...

With such a nice image you don't have to speak Dutch (as is my case) to know that someone's is wishing us well... 

COVER N. 676 - PORTUGAL

Postmark: Arroios Lisboa 1002(?) 05.01.2026  

Posted on the 5th January;  Received on the 7th January 2026

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It is not often that I post a cover I get from my own country, so here's one, with my thanks to Filatelia Maçãs, who as usual provided first class service in filling in a stamp order.

Stamps left to right, top to bottom:

N20g (domestic up to 20g) stamp issued on 31MAR202 as part of as 12 x N20g set dedicated to centenary museums of Portugal. The stamp showcases a tapestry done in the very particular stich style of Castelo Branco (a Portuguese City and District) and the local  museum wherein it is exhibited: Museu Francisco Tavares Proença Júnior, inaugurated in 1910.

Obrigado Portugueses, (Thank you, Portuguese people) reads the legend on the N20g stamp issued on 09OCT2010, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese Postal Services. 

The stamp which was freely distributed by CTT, the Portuguese Postal Operator, to its clients, at Post Offices around the country, is illustrated with the image of Queen D. Maria II, the same effigy that appeared on the first Portuguese stamps ever released, on the first of July 1853. A red and green (the national colours) ribbon decorates the neck of the effigy.

The 0,05 € stamp is part of a definitive set comprising 5 values (0.05; 0,54; 0.70; 0.88; 0.91 €) issued on 02JUN2022, themed on "Portuguese numismatics", this being the second stamp group of a series.  The stamps is illustrated with a Gold "Português" coin, issued during D. Manuel I reign (1495-1521).

The 0,04 € stamp is part of the third group of "Portuguese Numismatics" stamps, comprising 5 values (0.04; 0.57, 0.74; 0.95; 1.05 €) issued on 28APR2024. It depicts a silver Portuguese Escudo, issued during the First Republic - 1910-1926.

COVER N. 675 - FRANCE - SAINT PIERRE ET MIQUELON

Postmark: 975 St. Pierre - St. Pierre et Miquelhon 17.08.2025  

Posted on the 8th December;  Received on the 6th January 2026

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Joy! I am always very pleased to receive mail from the tiny French island possession in Newfoundland for not only it is a remote place and  somewhat of an oddity in geopolitical terms but also because the stamps issued by the postal administration of the archipelago are almost without exception very beautiful, a large percentage of them being in-taglio printed.

But St. Pierre is, as I said, a quite remote location, and I would not have the pleasure of receiving this beautiful cover hadn’t I been able to count on  the gracious and generous help of Roland, who went through the trouble of getting it stamped and dispatched during the last Salon D'automne, in Paris.

Un très grand Merci, cher ami.

The 2.10 stamp on the cover was issued on 10JAN2025 as the year's issue of the on going St. Pierre and Miquelon ships series. 

The ship depicted is the Jan Maria, a fishing trawler which according to notes I found on the internet "was Dutch-built in 1963. She passed through many hands and was renamed often. Still sails today under a Cameroon flag".

The Postmark was applied at the post office of St. Pierre.

POSTCARD N.207- GRENADA

Postcard sent on ? received on the 9thJanuary 2026.

Postcard image: Images of Grenada 

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Diana, Nuno and Xavi again went through the trouble of wasting some of their much deserved free holiday time to finding an open post office to send me a postcard, this time from their passage through Grenada. I couldn't be more thankful for  I can now tick another box in the list of countries, thanks to them.

Muito obrigado, queridos amigos. Um grande abraço!

Grenada is the biggest Island of a group of three that constitute the island state of Grenada, the smaller islands being Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Further to these, the territorial jurisdiction of this small state also encompasses a number of mall deserted islands, part of the Grenadines chain.

Independent from the UK since 1974, but a member of the Commonwealth, Grenada hit the news  in 1983 when the USA invaded the country to depose the military Government then in force, who had came to power through a military coup, a move that was far from internationally consensual... (history goes around in cycles they say.....)

Tourism, as common in the Caribbean, is highly relevant for the Islands and their major source of income  although spices, notably nutmeg and mace, also play an important role in the state’s revenue structure.

Diana used a 1 East Caribbean Dollar stamp, part of a set of four themed on "Fauna and Flora", issued on 19DEC2023. 

The photograph in the stamp depicts a banded butterfly fish (Chaetodon striatus), a species that can grow up to 16 cm and can be found in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean, from Brazil to Bermuda. 

Although the date of expedition is illegible, the origin of the postmark can be clearly read: Grenada Postal Corp - River Road.

COVER N. 674 - LITHUANIA

Postmark: Vilnius Premier Jour 21.11.2025  

Posted on the 21st November;  Received on the 6th January 2026

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And yet.... I still have another one...

Come to think of it, the Season seems to have been quite generous after all in terms of the number of  messages from friends who chose to do it the traditional way and I am so glad it was that way. I only regret not having been able to reply in kind,,, I promise I'll do it next year.

Labai ačiū, Leonardas! A very Happy New Year to you and yours!

Leonardas kindly sent me his Christmas wishes inside the official First Day Cover of Lietuvos paštas Christmas issue, dated of 21NOV2025.

And what an extraordinary set it is! At first sight one might think the images on the stamps are computer generated graphic images allusive to the Season... well indeed they are but they mimic something much more analogical: Karpiniai, Lithuanian paper-cut art.

Originated in the 16th century this form of popular art, carried out with a paper and a pair of scissors or a cutter,  was used as decoration for tables and other furniture at festive events such as weddings and also for the same purposes at home, in windows, shelves, tables, 

Today the tradition is very much still alive and has made its way into the art circuit with new interpretations of the old technique by contemporary artists.

Looking at the designs in the two stamps one can get a clear image of the intricate lacelike patterns that are created in Karpiniai and where symmetry is one of the rules not to be infringed.

The 2 € stamp features the image of two angels while he 2.10 € stamp is illustrated with a lovely Christmas tree.

The first day Postmark, applied in Vilnius, the Capital city, (which is unfortunately slightly marred by another faint date stamp) is also reminiscent of paper cuts, with a nice interpretation of snowflakes, the theme for the envelope decoration.

Leonardas card , which I find quite beautiful.

COVER N. 673 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P. O. Colombo Mail 01.01.2026  

Posted on the 1st January;  Received on the 14th January 2026

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Just when I thought I had closed up all the 2025 Christmas and New year's season mail, my friend Mr. postman dropped another nice envelope fully in tune to the theme in my always expectant letterbox.

Now this couldn't have arrived at a better time, for I am stranded again at home in full rest mode, popping pills, courtesy of my leg....

Hopefully it will all turn out for the best in a week time, but it is again a week of procrastination of me finally being able to get on my feet and go to the post office to deal with long due mail that I have to answer.... anyway, that's life....

So, a huge බෝහම ස්තුති to my friend Ravi and may his wishes be also mine for you and yours, friend!

This is quite a special cover. I am sure it is not that easy to get a first day of the year regular cancel as the one on it. In fact I think that would be impossible in a lot of places since the first of January being a holiday, means that public services are closed, hence no way of asking for such a postmark at a post office counter.

This, in turn, is very illustrative of how a simple letter can be a window to the world and make you realise that the old ellipsoid rotates not around one's own navel but around its own axis so that what is an acquired fact for some of us is a surprise for others... and that is one of the beauties of diversity, a word that is being ever more frowned upon by the sweeping mouldy winds that are picking up intensity in places that seem to have forgotten that history should teach us something....

Ravi used the beautiful  2025 Christmas issue of Sri Lanka Post , dated of 09DEC2025, its two stamps (50 and 110 rupees) being illustrated with Nativity scenes with a decidedly Hindu artistic touch patent in the joyful and brilliant colours that dominate the scenes.

The very clear  postmark, as usual applied at Colombo’s Central Post Office, clearly displays 01-01 as the date of issue.... now, do any of you have regular postmarks with this date combination in your collection? Let me know in the comments.

Happy new year!

POSTCARD N.206- AUSTRIA

Postcard sent on the 31st December, received on the 9thJanuary 2026.

Postcard image: This card is heaven sent - Postamt Christkindl

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To round up all my Season's correspondence, I got another kind postcard full of the best possible wishes sent by Christkindl, this time from his postal office in Austria.

I have to thank Mario Paiva, of the ever interesting O Filatelista blog, whose post on Austria's Christkindl Post Office, was instrumental in my getting this interesting piece to my collection.

Two Christmas issues stamps were used on this postcard:

the 1.20€ stamp was issued on 14NOV2025 and its image depicts a stained glass pane at the Parish Church of Saint Leonard, illustrated with the Birth of Christ.

The 0.65 € stamp, illustrated with a wintery scene was issued on 11November 2010.

The very nice and clear pictorial postmark is illustrated with the image of the 3 Magi, presenting their offers to Baby Jesus.

 

POSTCARD N.205 -  CZECH REPUBLIC

Postcard sent on the 25th November; received on the 4th December 2025.

Postcard image: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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The sort of image that would grace the postcards we used to have on top of the drawer close to the Nativity Scene, which I talked about a few postcards back .... Quintessential Christmas time: snow flakes,  conifers, warm festive lights...

Moc děkuji, Michal,  Um muito próspero Ano Novo para ti e para os teus também!

Miloš Zeman (1944 -) was the third president of the Czech Republic having been in office for ten years, between 2013 and 2023.

On the occasion of the start of his mandate Czech Post issued,  on 24APR2013, the code "A" (domestic) stamp with his effigy, Michal used on this postcard.

Vaclav Kral (1936 -2005) was a Czech car designer, who created several relevant  models for  Skoda and Tatra. His most famous model was the Metalex  Tatra MTX V8 of 1991, which held the Czech car speed record, having been clocked at 260 km/h in 1997.

This celebrated car, of which only four were built, due to a fire having consumed the plant where they were to be produced, is the subject of the second  "A" tariff  stamp used on the postcard, dedicated to Czech design, issued on 02OUT2019. The stamp bears a tiny legend: Český design Václav Král.

COVER N. 672 - UNITED KINGDOM

Postmark: Royal Mail Southampton Portsmouth & IOW 06.12.2025  

Posted on the 6th December;  Received in December 2025

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Staying on the Season's festive mail theme I was once again rewarded with a fantastic card created by my friend and artist Fraser May, something which has been a long standing tradition that sees me every December waiting for his friendly card always full of humour and good spirits.

Thanks again, Fraser. Always a pleasure to receive your cards.

Fraser used the 3.40 £ stamp of Royal Mail's  5 stamp 2025 Christmas issue, (st; 1st large; 2nd; 2nd large; 3.40 £) dated of 04NOV2025. Illustrated with the three Magi. The other stamps in the set also carry Nativity related illustrations, namely an angel, Mary and the baby Jesus,  three shepherds and Joseph, Mary and the donkey.

The mechanical post mark carries te message "Welcome president Steinmeir State Visit 2025", highlighting the visit to England, at the invitation of King Charles III, of Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the last such visit of a German head of state to the UK having occurred in 1998.

Now on to the star of the show, Fraser's great Card:

I guess it needs a little explanation for those not fluent in Portuguese habits: our  traditional Christmas supper is boiled dried cod with potatoes, turnips, carrots and onions, and yes, a bit of parsley wouldn't go amiss... :-).

COVER N. 673 - LIECHTENSTEIN

Postmark: Post von Christkind 9490 Vaduz 1.12 - 31.12.2025  

Posted in December;  Received in December 2025

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The festive Season would not end without me receiving another beautiful Christmas Letter, dispatched from the office that Chistkind, or as I say it, Menino Jesus, maintains at Lichtenstein.

Um grand Merci, Roland pour ce très beau pli. Happy new year!

The 1.90 Swiss Frank stamp is part of Lichtenstein's Post 2025 Christmas issue, comprising four stamps (100, 120, 190, 250 Swiss Frank) issued on 10NOV2025, illustrated with what looks like 19th or early 20th century vintage illustrations, themed on the Christmas Season.

According to Lichtenstein Post the stamps feature "lovingly designed motifs of historical greeting cards from the original holdings of the Liechtenstein National Archives".

The celebratory postmark features the image of a little angel writing a letter (?) over the legend Christkind.

COVER N. 671 - SRI LANKA

Postmark: Headquarters P. O. Colombo Mail 21.10.2025  

Posted on the 21st October;  Received in November 2025

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I've written here about Season's greetings cards and how this time of the year transcends borders, cultures, creeds, and this is the good, the very good thing, I see in it, for it is a time of renewal, reaffirmation of wishes especially for those we relate the most to, but also to our friends.

Ravi sent me a beautiful card and  like the festive cards I got from other friends I really appreciated it. Again, I could not answer in kind for bones can be quite the killjoy, but all the wishes my friends so generously sent me I  am happy to return them in double to them.

So, බෝහම ස්තුති, Ravi! Very kind of you and I truly appreciated it.

Ravi sent me his card on a nice cover graced with three circular stamps whic are part of the 10x20 Rupee sheet entitled, "The wonders of the Universe", issued on 25SEP2025. 

From left to right the amazing photographs replicated in the stamps  show: the crab nebula; The famous Pillars of Creation, that is the Eagle nebula; and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Ravi had already sent me a cover with four other stamps of these set, which can be seen here. 

Somehow such amazing images go very well in hand with the Season and its deep meanings, in whichever way we relate to it.

Words of wisdom!

COVER N. 670 - TAIWAN

Postmark: Taiwan R.O.C. 01.12.2025

Posted on the 1st December 2025; Received in December 2025

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As I understand it, the Chinese new year begins with the first new moon of its first month, which runs from 21 January to 20 February, in our Gregorian calendar.

This year, this particular lunar event will occur on the 17th February, so this will be the day when the beginning of the Chinese New Year is celebrated and after the  Year of the Snake, we well be graced with the Year of the Fire Horse.

Many are the postal administrations that issue stamps in commemoration of the Chinese New year, and I received my First FDC of the Year of the Fire Horse from Taiwan.

Thank you so much James.

The complete issue dated of 01DEC2025 comprises the 2 stamps (6 and 13 Taiwan New Dollars) plus the single stamp souvenir sheet with a facial value of 15 NTD featured on the envelope.

COVER N. 669 - GERMANY

Postmark: Deutsche Post Himmelsthür - Weihnachtspostfiliale 31137 01.12.2025

Posted on the 1st December 2025; Received in December 2025

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I am very glad that my good behaviour is acknowledged by more than one Santa. The good Weihnachtsmann from Germany this year again did not forget to write me. Danke sehr, Wilhelm!

The 0,95 € stamp with a wintery scene was issued on 03NOV2025.

The World of Letters series 0,15€ Letters Peacock stamp was issued on 10AUG2024 

The postmark shows none other than Weihnachtsmann himself holding a letter while he looks out of the Gates of Heaven (Himmelsthür), where his Post Office is located. 

Weihnachtsmann's personal message 

This year's  short Christmas story 

This year Weihnachtsmann sent no colouring postcards as he did in previous years... maybe he forgot.... or maybe I did not behave so well after all😀