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.