Norfolk Island Christmas Stamp

Hello, nice to be back on Sunday Stamps :) I can see that I've missed a few exciting topics, but I am sure there will be other chances to post ships and singers ;) I have come back from a trip and still haven't settled into a routine; I am sure there are plenty of holiday stamps to show, but this is the one that I have scanned some time ago and is ready to be posted...A Norfolk Island Christmas stamp from 1970, commemorating the first Christmas Service in 1788. Merry Xmas time everyone! xD

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Australian Antarctic Territory

I was happy to read that the theme for #144 Sunday Stamps is Arctic and Antarctic, as I have for some time had these in my collection, two FDCs from the Arctic Scenes series, from 1985 and 1987. I really love the cancellation on the second one, maybe I should enlarge it ;) And of course give you the link to other entries, which I am positive will be just awesome, its such a great theme! (again posting this early, and it will be my last post for a while...hope to contribute again in december :))

Sea Life, Aldernay

A sea life cover that I missed posting for Sunday Stamps some months ago...actually not only for its theme but also as se-tenant stamps. Issued in 1993 with the WWF postmark.

Europa '77 Isle Of Man

I think I have mentioned that I try to collect FDCs and covers issued in 1977, year of my birth...The theme for Europa stamps was Landscapes, and here is the issue from Isle of Man :)

Spain Vintage

This FDC looks even more vintage than it really is because the images are dedicated to first printings. The set of stamps is from 1973.

Airmail From Kyrgyzstan

One of those cases when you arrange a postcard swap and get an envelope...but I will guess this was chosen for some good reason, safety perhaps? In any case an interesting postcard :) And although the lack of stamps was disappointing at first, I find that many postmarks quite interesting :))

Armenia

First cover from Armenia thanks to generous Radim, with stamps from 2012 showing Armenian alphabet and Soviet Armenian historian and academic Ashot Hovhannisyan. Very interesting cancellation, and lovely view of Yerevan and Ararat inside :)

USA Various

Patrick surprised me immensely with this donkey card of Turks and Caicos! On envelope he used recent USPS issues. Thanks a bunch!!

Greenland

An FDC from 1986 issued by Kalaallit Allakkeriviat which is to say Greenland Postal service, which changed its name to POST Greenland in 1997 after merging with TELE Greenland (into TELE-POST). The stamp is dedicated to Independant postal service. Another random find from my travels (no I wasn't in Greenland! I just like browsing thru postal shops :)) I was particularly attracted to the map cancellation :)

Germany Vintage

An eclectic bunch - stamp from 1971, special cancellation for the same year but the actual date is the date of Apollo 16's landing after 11 days in space, 27th of April 1972. This interesting cover is something my dad acquired in a 'thank you' package while working for a construction firm :)

Uganda

Another wonderful surprise from Sauj and friend, a cover from Uganda with a stamp issued in 2012 (from set of 3) celebrating the 50th independance anniversary. Huge thanks once more!!

Looking for info online I came across the disturbing facts about huge printing conglomerates issuing fancy stamps for exotic countries just to sell them at expensive rates...sure enough it was easier to find those kinds online...some of them are quite amazing but also bizzare. Me no liki :/

Kenya Crops

A wonderful surprise cover from dear friend Sauj and his secret 'accomplice' nicknamed Mr.G xD Two stamps from the series Crops issued in 2001, showing paw-paw and coffee. I cannot say enough thanks!

Poland

Here is one lovely cheerful letter from Poland, love the Euro 2008 stamp! Polish Post issues great stamps but can rarely be seen on postcards...

Nikola Tesla

This week Sunday Stamps theme is industry, interpreted broadly. I immediately thought of Nikola Tesla and what he had done for the development of electric power industry - today he is reffered to as a 'forgotten genius'. He patented AC induction motor and transformer, and has done extensive and dangerous power experiments. I hope you can see a movie about him one day (I have seen local production but would be great for Hollywood to acknowledge him too) because he was a very interesting and peculiar character..!

Issued in 1993 for the 50th anniversary of tesla's death.
More industrial feats here:

Australia Various

An envelope in which I've received a FDC, the birdie stamp belatedly for sunday stamps :) An awefully cute fairy-wren, and even the crabs are cute (issued in 1973).

India Vintage

Another interesting find was this used envelope with prepaid embossed 'stamp' from India...and two different cancellations on the back. From 1972 :)

Cormorans, Serbia

Like Ana would surely agree, its difficult to go to the Serbian PO and leave empty-handed ;) This WWF set dedicated to cormorans was issued in 2011. I might have mentioned before I am a big fan of Serbian Post issues, this being no exception :)

Enlarged as suggested!

Birds Of Prey, Czech Republic

I have just realised I have this nice set for Sunday Stamps, something Radim sent me last year for an Animal group in the RR :) Birds of Prey issued in 2003, representing Red Kite (Milvus Milvus), Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus) and Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus Pennatus). 

New Zealand Vintage

Stamps from 1967 definitives series, and special aviatic cancellation :)

Federal Republic Of Germany

An envelope sent to my host family in Germany, and it almost ended up in a rubbish bin! The stamps are all from 1970 (including Europa Cept) with the exception of the bottom left one from 1969. Love vintage stamps!

Croatian Ethnographic Heritage

Again an early post for Sunday Stamps, this time for the theme ethnic or national costumes. Some of these stamps may be recognised as they were issued as definitives (like the even more familiar set from 2010 which gives us postcrossers the goosebumps of terror as they are often the only stamps they sell in POs, to this day!). Represented are the details of national costumes from five different regions in Croatia.

Other (I am sure) great posts check here:

Mauritius Vintage

This is a cover I fished out in a small philatelic shop in Israel, dated in 1960 (pre-independance). The back holds an Israeli cancellation and pictorial postmark.

Peru Vintage

I have found these by a random street seller in Lima, he had a whole bundle of old postal items so I've chosen two FDCs issued in my birth year 1977 :)

The Orchids Of Peru

Another mini-sheet that I wanted to share is this flowery set from Peru issued in 2010, showing four types of orchids that can be found on this country's soil. I wish to see them 'in person' one day...

Amazon Alive

I just realised that I have a few mini-sheets that fit the se-tenant category :) I have only now spotted that Royal Mail issued this set as Europa stamps for the 2011 theme International Year Of Forest. I just love the brightness of colours! And the message that reminds us how important the Amazon Forest is for our planet...

Tren A Las Nubes, Argentina

Theme for this week's Sunday Stamps is se-tenant stamps. I have only recently learned this is the name for stamps that are printed from the same plate and sheet and adjoin one another, unsevered in a strip of block. They may defer in design but also (as a much cooler example) have a continuous design so two or more stamps together make a whole image. Because of the size these would be difficult to use on a postcard (though I did receive one such example just last week! why not post that too :)) and the 'mini'sheet (from 2011) used here is actually much, much bigger and impossible to put on a cover even..!

These two stamps show the first stages of the development of  the Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds), a popular touristic train service in Salta Province, Argentina's northwest. The mini-sheet is full of information like the heights that the train reaches on its way, which animals you can see there...The construction started in 1921, it encompasses 29 bridges, 21 tunnels, 13 viaducts, 2 spirals and 2 zigzags - the highest point is at 4220 meters! Who wouldn't wanna ride on it, it sounds amazing!!

To top it all the shape of the stamps is also not ordinary. I like it that the Sunday Stamps inspires me to look more into the wonderful covers and stamps that I've received over the years :)) Muchas gracias German! More to see here:

Belgrade Zoo

This is an FDC that doesn't cover any of the usual topic on Sunday Stamps, so I've decided to slide it in for the anything you wish theme this sunday...I've hurried a bit as I won't be online on sunday.

This set of stamps celebrates 75th anniversary of the Belgrade zoo, which is one of the oldest in Europe. The name of the city means white(beo) city(grad) and the zoo tries to accommodate as many unusual white species as possible. I think idea in itself is marvelous - my concern is that the zoo holds too many species in a small space, now I've also read that its the reason it is not accredited by any international zoo association...I wish something could be done about this, in fact about every crammed zoo there is. Otherwise the joyous moment of seeing such splendid animals can turn into a sad one within seconds...

I am sure there will be many great stamps shown for the open theme day, here!

Croatian Insects

Seven-spot Ladybird, Alpine Longicorn and Stag Beetle. Am not a huge fan of insects, but these are lovely! 

Post Boxes, Malaysia

For this week's Sunday Stamps the theme is the post, letters, post boxes, etc. I thought this cover is perfect, including 3 out of 10 stamps from the set Post Boxes issued in 2011. Each stamp shows a mailbox typical for a certain city/region in Malaysia - its curious cos in my country all mailboxes look the same..!

Thank you very much Nurul :))

Have a look at other entries here:

Animals Cover From Estonia

Here is one fantastic cover sent to me by Heidi for the animals-themed group, which could also have done really well for the Sunday Stamps...great cancellations as always!

Croatian Wildlife

Croatian wildlife is not very diverse, but still a few interesting species can be found (and seen if you are lucky..!). I am particularly fond of these two FDCs which show deer and white-tailed eagle (issue from 1993) and loggerhead sea turtle and bottlenose dolphin (1995). These stamps, as from the 90´s, are not valid for current use. Grr. xD

Many many great stamps on this topic, check here!