Songbirds, USA

Participating in my favourite RR brought me these two covers with new Songbirds stamps, 4 from the set of 10 showing: Evening Grosbeak, Western Meadowlark, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak and American Goldfinch.
Thanks to Patrick and Edwin :)

Illustrations, Mexico

This week's Sunday Stamps topic is Artists and Illustrators - last month I've received this fantastic cover from Marco who was visiting Mexico - very much appreciated! The airmail envelope with the colours of the mexican flag is a nice touch :)

Beside the familiar definitives showing folk art (2011) there are also three of five stamps issued in 2013 under the title Philatelic Promotion, showing paintings of the renowned Mexican artist Francisco Eppens Helguera: Cacti (1988); Eagle Warrior And Tiger Warrior (1980); Calla Lilies (1988). Whats more, Eppens  achieved international fame for his award winning modern designs for Mexican postage and revenue stamps (1935–1953). I find his images striking, very happy to have learned about this artist via posting for Sunday Stamps xD

Croatian National Parks

Actually this FDC was issued in 1994 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Croatian tourism, and is one of 3 FDCs as there were 7 stamps in a set. This one shows the national parks in my region: Plitvice Lakes (UNESCO), Kornati Islands (my workplace!) and Krka waterfalls.

I have posted an entry on Sunday Stamps' landscapes theme on my postcard blog before remembering that I have this FDC, I hope noone will mind me having two entries xD

 

 

 

Goran Ivanišević, Wimbledon Winner 2001

I wasn't to post but one entry for Sunday Stamps, but then reading Ana's blog reminded me of this FDC which is apt for today as the Wimbledon finals Djokovic vs Federer is being played as we speak.

The whole nation was in front of their TVs in 2001 during Wimbledon finals, holding their breath dozens of times during the tense Ivanisevic vs Rafter match - the win came after five sets and tie-break in the last one, you can imagine the nerves! Esp for Ivanisevic who was known not only for his fast serve but also for swearing a lot and breaking his rackets heh. He was already nearing the end of his professional carreer and entered the tournament unseeded - he became the first wildcard, the first Croatian and the lowest ranked player in history (world No. 125) to claim the Wimbledon title :))

 

Winter Olympic Games Calgary '88, Guinea-Bissau

Sunday stamps theme for this week is sports, and the first idea I had for posting is this recently acquired souvenir sheet - bobsleigh has always been one of my favourite winter sports, maybe I was even watching it back in 1988 during Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, I definitely remember watching the games. Not sure which team this is, but the Golden Medal was taken by the former Soviet Union.

More sporty stamps here:

Thangka Souvenir Sheet

Here is one of the most impressive covers that landed in my mailbox, like, ever :) For my mini-sheet group Wong sent me this recent issue representing Thangka - a Tibetan-style scroll painting on cotton, silk or paper, which is painted or embroidered. This envelope is C5 size (app 23x16cm) so you see this sheet is not exactly 'mini' :) the special postmark is so fine, I wish I'd be able to send something similar one day; I've sent my first special postmarks last week and yet they didn't look nearly as neat. Croatian Post, learn from China..!