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... :-).