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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Brazil / Republica Federativa do Brasil 

The Flag

The national flag was established on 19 November 1889, four days after the Proclamation of the Republic. It was inspired by the flag of the Brazilian Empire. The colour green represents the House of Braganza, the Portuguese royal family, and the colour yellow represents the Habsburgs, the family of Empress Leopoldina. In addition, the colours depict the country's riches: green for the woods and forests, yellow for mineral wealth, blue for the sky, and white for peace.

‘Order and Progress,’ the motto written on the flag, is inspired by positivist philosophy. The stars symbolise the 26 states and the Federal District. Their arrangement represents the Southern Cross constellation on 15 November 1889 in Rio de Janeiro, when the Republic of Brazil was proclaimed. Flag Day is celebrated on 19 November.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Source: Símbolos nacionais representam a identidade de uma nação, diz consultor — Senado Notícias

The Coat of Arms

The National Arms or National Coat of Arms represent the glory, honour and nobility of the country and were created on the same date as the national flag. The use of the symbol is mandatory in the buildings of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches and by the Armed Forces. They are also present in all public buildings, representing the characteristics that make up the Federative Republic.

The coat of arms is a blue shield, supported by a five-pointed star, arranged in the shape of the Southern Cross constellation, with a sword at the ready. Surrounding it is a crown formed by a branch of coffee berries and another of flowering tobacco on a golden halo. The symbol also bears the date of the proclamation of the Federative Republic of Brazil, 15 November 1889.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Source:  Símbolos nacionais representam a identidade de uma nação, diz consultor — Senado Notícias

The Stamps

Founded in 1999, the G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).[2][3] It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, through annual meetings of heads of state and heads of government.[

The 19 member states of the G20 account for around 85% of gross world product (GWP), 75% of international trade, 56% of the global population,[5] and 60% of the world's land area; including the EU and AU, the G20 comprises 78.9% of global population and 83.9% of global CO2 emissions from fossil energy.

Source: G20 - Wikipedia

- The 19th summit meeting of the G20 took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 18 and 19 November, 2024, under the motto "Building a just world and a sustainable planet".

Marking the occasion, Correios do Brasil issued on 05NOV2024 the 6.3 Reais on te cover, illustrated with the logo of the summit and carrying it's motto as legend: "Construindo um mundo justo e um planeta sustentável".

 

Caiçaras (Portuguese pronunciation: [kajˈsaɾɐs]) are a people who inhabit the coastlines of the Brazilian states of Paraná, São Paulo and Santa Catarina, and the municipalities of Paraty and Angra dos Reis, in the south of Rio de Janeiro. They were formed from the intermixing of Indigenous, Africans and Portuguese people. The main basis of Caiçara culture is artisanal fishing, cultivation of small gardens, hunting, plant extraction and handicrafts.

Source: Caiçaras - Wikipedia

On 01JUL2022 Correios do Brasil issued the stamp on the cover celebrating the "The Caiçara Villages and Populations of Brazil" as can be read on the tiny legend in the frame of the stamp image

The drone captured photograph on the stamp shows a fisherman with his catch inside a canoe with another canoe to its side where a fishing net can also be perceived.

The Postmark

The Postmark was applied at the Central Post Office of São Paulo, the Capital of the eponymous State and the largest city of Brazil with almost 11.5 million inhabitants.

My "Muito Obrigado" goes out to Luis, whose help was instrumental to make it possible for me to add this cover to my collection.