Horses Of India

Another great cover for the animal group, representing four Indian horse breeds. Issued in 2009. Additional stamp is from the series 'Personalities', with Surendranath Jauhar. There is also a special sparrow cancellation, to raise the awareness that this little bird is actually not as common as it used to be...Thanks Sauj! :)



Palau-Japan Friendship Bridge, Palau

Patrick often goes to exotic places (for business if I remember correctly!) and is so thoughtful to offer to send interesting covers - this one shows a part of the sheet with 30 stamps issued in 2002,  'Palau-Japan Friendship Bridge'. It took me a while to find the info but I think I've solved my problem - finding the Postbeeld online catalogue! I will also include their scan of this issue for better perspective. Thanks Pat! :))

RMS Titanic100th Anniversary Commemoration, Canada

As many involved in postcrossing know already, this year was 100th anniversary commemoration of the most famous sunken ship RMS Titanic. This great set of stamps shows us both the front (bow, top two) and the back (stern, bottom two) of the ship. Also, they have been cancelled in Halifax, the city in Canada that played a major role in retrieval of the bodies after the tragic event, as the closest city to the sinking with direct rail and steamship connections.

Many thanks to Maryam!

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, Australia

This is the year that the Commonwealth celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of their queen Elizabeth II. A lovely set of stamps showing the queen then and now. Thank you Irene :)

Tunisia

A cover with fantastic stamps from Tunisia, from Radim who is always so kind to send mail from his many travel destinations. Děkuji Radim!

The 1st stamp shows maajna, a traditional large ceramic bowl used for kneading dough during bread preparation. The 2nd one commemorates the Tunisian Revolution which began on 18th December 2010  and ended on 14th January 2011 with the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Both current issues.

Traditional Likay Play, Thailand

ชื่อกลุ่มสินค้า	งานแสดงตราไปรษณียากรแห่งชาติ 2554
วันแรกจำหน่าย	04 สิงหาคม 2554

(heh this is the first info I found)
A special stamp collection featuring the Likay traditional play, issued on 4 August 2011 to mark the opening of the 17th Thailand Philatelic Exhibition, or Thaipex 2011.

And how beautiful are these stamps?! I have received a couple on a postcard once, now I have the whole set, yay :)) You cannot see it on the scan but there are glittering touches on the colourful costumes! Complete with different cancellations. And inside a standard postal postcard with perforated stamp rim, very cool :) Thanks so much Nina, who can wish for more? :)))

Year Of The Dragon, Serbia

A gorgeous Year Of The Dragon stamp issued by the Serbian Post, one of the best I've seen! Thats why I had to scan it separately to have a better view :) Also the Belgrade Central Office/Telephone Exchange. I was close to being sorry having to erase my address, as Ana has one of the handsomest handwritings ever..!

And oh what a joy, a set of stamps with reptiles from our former country Yugoslavia issued in 1962! I was a stamp collector before I became a postcard collector...and I still like receiving stamps on occasion, especially if they are animal sets. I have loads of stamps on paper at home waiting to be sorted...its a relaxing hobby once I stop working and spend the winter days at home.

Hvala puuuuuuuuuuuuno Anči! :)))

EUROPA - Città del Vaticano

Very very happy to have this in my collection, Europa cover from the smallest country in the world :) Many thanks to Rita, and for a lovely postcard inside!