My postcards and stamps

Request from the Visually Impaired

2015-07-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the "Tell Me About World" initiative.
You can send a letter or a postcard telling about you, your town, country, hobbies. You can tell anything you want. Your messages will be translated to Russian and placed on special website adopted to blinds.

We are "The Center of Social Initiatives". We working on help for blinds.

Your letters and postcards will help blinds to find something new and interesting about the world and people.

Address:

«Tell me about a world”
Togliatti, Samara obl.,
P.O. box 5154
Russia 445040

Postcards from Nepal

2011-07-13T05:08:00.000-07:00

Kala Patthar
Kumari

"Christmas letters"

2011-06-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

I wish to invite you to the project "Christmas letters". You can write a letter about Christmas and New Year holidays in your land and send it via Snail mail. What are cooked for celebration, what presents made, what Christmas characters are in your country. Tell about your connection with this holidays, tell about best Christmas present you have got.

Postcard and letter from Germany:

Thank you Susanne!

उप्पो-Nalle

2011-05-19T15:00:00.000-07:00

Uppo-Nalle is a series of Finnish children's novels by the Finnish author Elina Karjalainen.

The main character in the books is Uppo-Nalle, an animate teddy bear. The bear was named Uppo-Nalle (Finnish for "sunken bear") because he was originally found underwater during a river cruise. Other characters in the books are a girl named Reeta, her grandmother, and their dog named Laulava lintukoira (Finnish for "singing bird dog").

Moomins

2011-05-19T14:45:00.001-07:00

Comet In Moominland (Swedish title Kometjakten / Mumintrollet på kometjakt / Kometen kommer) is the second in the series of Tove Jansson's Moomin books, published in 1946.
The novel has been adapted into animation several times, including the 1978 serial Mumi-troll, 1992 feature Tanoshii Mūmin Ikka: Mūmindani no Suisei and 2010 compilation movie Moomins and the Comet Chase.

Moomins and the Comet Chase (Finnish: Muumi ja punainen pyrstötähti) is a 2010 stop motion film compiled from the Comet in Moominland-based episodes of the 1977–1982 Moomins TV series animated at Se-ma-for in Poland, restored and re-soundtracked with multiple voice actors replacing the single narrator. It is the second such Moomin film produced by Finnish children's film company Filmkompaniet, the first being Moomin and Midsummer Madness, and the first one converted to stereoscopic 3-D. A similar revision of the remainder of the series for high-definition television of all 78 episodes will follow and is currently in production.

Borovsk

2011-04-27T23:21:00.001-07:00

Borovsk

Riga

2011-04-01T23:05:00.001-07:00

Riga's historical centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) architecture, which UNESCO considers to be unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Riga

«The 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight»

2011-04-01T22:57:00.000-07:00

Souvenir sheet «The 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight» is prepared to be issued.

On April 12, 2011, (numbering) souvenir sheet of one stamp dedicated to the anniversary of the first human spaceflight is issued.
Stamp depicts a portrait of Y.A. Gagarin, spaceship "Vostok" blasting off is represented on the fields of the souvenir sheet.

"The Starry Night" from Belarus

2011-03-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

The Starry Night (Dutch: De sterrennacht) is a painting by Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. The painting depicts the view outside his sanatorium room window at night, although it was painted from memory during the day. Since 1941 it has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Reproduced often, the painting is widely hailed as his magnum opus.

The Starry Night

The previews of stamp to be issued in March

2011-03-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

Souvenir sheet «Sochi is the capital of the XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014» is prepared to be issued.

On March 15, 2011, the souvenir sheet dedicated to the XXII Olympic Winter Games, which would be held in Sochi in 2014 is issued.
Souvenir sheet depicts the official logo of the XXII Olympic Winter Games against the background of snow-covered slopes of Krasnaya Polyana and stylized torch with ribbons, painted in Olympic colors.

Design: O. Shushlebina.
Face value: 25 rub.
Size of souvenir sheet: 90x60 mm, size of stamp: 42х30 mm.
Circulation: 120 thousand souvenir sheets.

Postcards from Portugal

2011-02-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

Fado is a music genre which can be traced from the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. However, in reality fado is simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure.

Fado

Postman from Russia

2011-02-07T00:30:00.000-08:00

A mail carrier, mailman (US), postman/postwoman(UK), letter carrier (in American English and in New Zealand) or postie[citation needed] (in Australia, New Zealand) is an employee of the post office or postal service, who delivers mail and parcel post to residences and businesses. The term “mail carrier” came to be used as a gender-neutral substitute for “mailman” soon after women began performing the job. In the Royal Mail, the official name changed from "letter carrier" to "postman" in 1883, and "postwoman" has also been used for many years.

Postman

Russia. Stamps schedule_2011

2011-01-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

The 100th anniversary of birth of Mstislav Keldysh (1911 - 1978), scientist

Sochi - the capital of the XXII Olympic Winter Games 2014

Joint issue the Russian Federation - Aland Islands (Finland). The 150th anniversary of foundation of Marienhamn

XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Winter Olympic sports

The 150th anniversary of birth of Konstantin Korovin (1861 - 1939), artist souvenir sheet of 1 stamp

Historical and cultural heritage of Russia. Museum of wooden architecture and folk art "Malye Korely"

Monuments of science and technology. Watches. Continuation of series

Russia. Regions. Continuation of series. Omsk Region, Tyumen Region, Kaluga Region.

XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Tourism at the Black Sea coast of Russia

50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin space flight

Cities of military glory. Continuation of the series. Vladikavkaz, Rostov-on-Don and Tuapse, Velikiye Luki, Veliky Novgorod, Vyborg

Weapon of victory. Continuation of series. Aviation

The 100th anniversary of birth of Kirill Shchelkin (1911-1968), professor, nuclear physicist

EUROPA issue. Forests

Architectural constructions. Bridges.

The 350th anniversary of Irkutsk

The 200th anniversary of independence of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Joint issue between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Montenegro

The 350th anniversary of voluntary occurrence of Buryatia into the structure of the Russian state

Russia. Regions. End of series. Novgorod Region, Tambov Region.

Natural heritage of Russia. Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve

History of Russian Cossacks. Continuation of series

World-wide cultural heritage in Russia. Continuation of the series. Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent souvenir sheet of 1 stamp

The 250th anniversary of birth of Miсhail Barclay de Tolly (1761 - 1818), general-field marshal

Culture of the peoples of Russia. Folk costumes (headdresses) of Russian North

The 300th anniversary of plant «Arsenal»

The 300th anniversary of Moscow head post office

The 300th anniversary of birth of Mikhail Lomonosov (1711 - 1765), scientist

Happy New Year!

Fayum mummy portrait

2011-01-10T05:04:00.000-08:00

Mummy portraits or Fayum mummy portraits (also Faiyum mummy portraits) is the modern term given to a type of realistic painted portraits on wooden boards attached to mummies from the Coptic period. They belong to the tradition of panel painting, one of the most highly regarded forms of art in the Classical world. In fact, the Fayum portraits are the only large body of art from that tradition to have survived.

Mummy portraits have been found across Egypt, but are most common in the Faiyum Basin, particularly from Hawara and Antinoopolis, hence the common name. "Faiyum Portraits" is generally thought of as a stylistic, rather than a geographic, description. While painted Cartonnage mummy cases date back to pharaonic times, the Faiyum mummy portraits were an innovation dating to the Coptic period on time of the Roman occupation of Egypt.

They date to the Roman period, from the late 1st century BC or the early 1st century AD onwards. It is not clear when their production ended, but recent research suggests the middle of the 3rd century. They are among the largest groups among the very few survivors of the highly prestigious panel painting tradition of the classical world, which was continued into Byzantine and Western traditions in the post-classical world, including the local tradition of Coptic iconography in Egypt.

The portraits covered the faces of bodies that were mummified for burial. Extant examples indicate that they were mounted into the bands of cloth that were used to wrap the bodies. Almost all have now been detached from the mummies. They usually depict a single person, showing the head, or head and upper chest, viewed frontally. In terms of artistic tradition, the images clearly derive more from Graeco-Roman traditions than Egyptian ones.

Two groups of portraits can be distinguished by technique: one of encaustic (wax) paintings, the other in tempera. The former are usually of higher quality.

About 900 mummy portraits are known at present. The majority were found in the necropoleis of Faiyum. Due to the hot dry Egyptian climate, the paintings are frequently very well preserved, often retaining their brilliant colours seemingly unfaded by time.

Fayum mummy portraits

Baba Yaga by Ivan Bilibin

2010-12-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

Baba-Yaga is a witch-like character in Slavic folklore. She flies around on a giant pestle or broomstick, kidnaps (and presumably eats) small children, and lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. In most Slavic folk tales, she is portrayed as an antagonist; however, some characters in other mythological folk stories have been known to seek her out for her wisdom, and she has been known on rare occasions to offer guidance to lost souls. According to Propp, she often fulfills the function of donor; that is, her role is in supplying the hero (sometimes unwillingly) with something necessary for the further quest.

Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (16 August [O.S. 4 August] 1876 – 7 February 1942) was a 20th-century illustrator and stage designer who took part in the Mir iskusstva and contributed to the Ballets Russes. Throughout his career, he was inspired by Slavic folklore.

Ivan Bilibin was born in a suburb of St. Petersburg. He studied in 1898 at Anton Ažbe Art School in Munich, then under Ilya Repin in St. Peterburg. In 1902-1904 Bilibin travelled in the Russian North, where he became fascinated with old wooden architecture and Russian folklore. He published his findings in the monograph Folk Arts of the Russian North in 1904. Another influence on his art was traditional Japanese prints.

Bilibin gained renown in 1899, when he released his illustrations of Russian fairy tales. During the Russian Revolution of 1905, he drew revolutionary cartoons. He was the designer for the 1909 première production of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's The Golden Cockerel. The October Revolution, however, proved alien to him. After brief stints in Cairo and Alexandria, he settled in Paris in 1925. There he took to decorating private mansions and Orthodox churches. He still longed for his homeland and, after decorating the Soviet Embassy in 1936, he returned to Soviet Russia. He delivered lectures in the Soviet Academy of Arts until 1941. Bilibin died during the Siege of Leningrad.

Ivan Bilibin
Baba Yaga

Sandro Botticelli. Card from Nataly

2010-12-02T06:05:00.000-08:00

"Venus and the Graces Offering Gifts to a Young Girl", с. 1483
Fresque
Musee du Louvre, Paris - France

Alessandro di Mariano di Vanni Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli or Il Botticello "The Little Barrel"; (c. 1445 – May 17, 1510) was an Italian painter of the Florentine school during the Early Renaissance (Quattrocento). Less than a hundred years later, this movement, under the patronage of Lorenzo de' Medici, was characterized by Giorgio Vasari as a "golden age", a thought, suitably enough, he expressed at the head of his Vita of Botticelli. His posthumous reputation suffered until the late 19th century; since then his work has been seen to represent the linear grace of Early Renaissance painting. Among his best known works are The Birth of Venus and Primavera.

Botticelli

Pippi Longstocking

2010-12-01T11:40:00.000-08:00

Pippi Longstocking (Swedish Pippi Långstrump) is a fictional character in a series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, and adapted into multiple films and television series. Pippi was named by Lindgren's then nine-year-old daughter, Karin, who requested a get-well story from her mother one day when she was home sick from school.

Nine-year-old Pippi is unconventional, assertive, and has superhuman strength, being able to lift her horse one-handed without difficulty. She frequently mocks and dupes adults she encounters, an attitude likely to appeal to young readers; however, Pippi usually reserves her worst behavior for the most pompous and condescending of adults. She turns white around the nose whenever she gets angry, and considering her superhuman strength, this fortunately happens very rarely. Pippi's anger is reserved for the most extreme cases, such as when a man ill-treats his horse. And like Peter Pan, Pippi does not want to grow up.

After an initial rejection from Bonnier Publishers in 1944, Lindgren's manuscript was accepted for publication by the Swedish publisher Rabén and Sjögren. The first three Pippi chapter books were published from 1945 to 1948, with an additional series of six books published in 1969–1975. Two final stories were printed in 1979 and 2000. The books have been translated into 64 languages.

Pippi

Mail-art project "4 Senses"

2010-10-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

Nonprofit institution of disabled people of Samara region "The Center of Social Initiatives" invites you to participate in mail-art project.

The topic is "4 Senses".

Usually one have 5 base sensations: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory and sense of smell. visual sensation is critical because it gives majority of infor…mation about environment.
There are colourful ads, shop windows, coloured walls, vivid buses and trams around us. There is a lot of visual information so we often pay a little attention to it. But the people with no visual sensation usually have only four base sensations. How does one lives without critical sensaton?

One who wish to participate are proposed to reflect his own vision of blind's world.
Size is not restricted.
Tecnique: not restricted to particular tecnique.
The works should be sent via post not in an envelope. No copies, no E-mail contribution please.
The works received will not be rated or returned to sender.

The end date of work's registration: 1st March 2011.

Exhibition: we are planning to make a mobile exhibition in organizations andpublic places of Togliatti city. Also we will make a negotiations about making an exhibition in other Russian cities.

Documents: if the project will be successful then the catalogue printing is planned. Everyone who participated will get a printed catalogue in 2011.
All works received will be published in project's blog: 4 Senses
Works should be sent to:
445040, Togliatti, Samara obl.,
P.O. box 5154,
Russia

News

2010-04-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

New post in "Pearl of my collection":
Pearl number one

Welcome!

Postcard from Poland

2010-03-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

"Wanted, dead of alive. $1.000.000 reward".
Martyna from Poland, Send me your address please so I will send you a letter.
*****************************************************************************

Gdańsk, formerly known by its German name Danzig (see Names below), is a city on the Baltic coast in northern Poland, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.

Gdańsk is Poland's principal seaport as well as the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is also historically the largest city of the Kashubian region. The city is close to the former boundary between West Slavic and Germanic lands and it has a complex political history with periods of Polish rule, periods of German rule, and two spells as a free city. It has been part of modern Poland since 1945.

The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdynia and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population of over 800,000. Gdańsk itself has a population of 455,830 (June 2009), making it the largest city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland.

Gdańsk is situated at the mouth of the Motława River, connected to the Leniwka, a branch in the delta of the nearby Vistula River, whose waterway system supplies 60% of the area of Poland and connects Gdańsk to the national capital in Warsaw. This gives the city a unique advantage as the centre of Poland's sea trade. Together with the nearby port of Gdynia, Gdańsk is also an important industrial centre. Historically an important seaport and shipbuilding centre, Gdańsk was a member of the Hanseatic League.

The city was the birthplace of the Solidarity movement which, under the leadership of Gdańsk political activist Lech Wałęsa, played a major role in bringing an end to Communist rule across Central Europe. It is also the home and birthplace of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who is of Kashubian origin.

Gdańsk

"Pearl of my collection"

2010-02-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, I wish to invite you to the new blog "Pear of my collection" . You can tell there about yourself and your collection, place a link to your blog and found a new friends.

Who can participate?

Anybody who collecting somebody may participate this project.

How to participate?

Send a message in English to pearl_of_my_collection@mail.ru with your name, your country, short text about your interests and about one pearl of your collection with image of it. Place a link to your blog at the end of the message.

How messages I can send?

You can send any number of messages, but please one message for one pearl.

Contest

2010-02-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

Sad, but nobody gave the correct answer. So we will continue contest untill one will found the right answer.

Postcard from Tyumen , Russia

2010-02-27T00:33:00.000-08:00

Tyumen is a city in Urals Federal District in Russia, located on the Tura River 2,144 kilometers (1,332 mi) east of Moscow. It is the administrative center and the largest city of Tyumen Oblast in the Urals Federal District.

Tyumen was the first Russian outpost in Siberia; it was founded in 16th century to support Russian expansion to Siberia. Since its foundation, Tyumen has always been an important settlement. Located at the crossing of water and land routes, the town rapidly developed from a small military settlement to a large commercial and industrial city. The city core, the Old Tyumen, retains many historic buildings illustrating the city's development during the 18th-20th centuries.

Today Tyumen is one of the most important business centres of Russia, and is of importance in the nation's in politics, education and culture. The capital of a vast oil-rich region stretching from the Kazakh border to the Arctic Ocean, Tyumen is an important transportation hub and industrial center of its region, and the home to many companies active in Russia's oil and gas industry.

Tyumen is also a destination for a fair number of tourists, in particular from Germany. Tyumen's population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions.

Tyumen

Mail-Art Project "Ticket To Jerusalem"

2010-02-23T02:04:00.001-08:00

Mail-Art Project "Ticket To Jerusalem"

Create artwork called "Ticket To Jerusalem". Use a horizontal piece of thick paper, 8x3" (20x8 cm), the size of conventional airplane ticket (a boarding pass, to be exact). Any media: collage, drawing, rubber stamps etc. Attach a stamp, write return address and mail WITHOUT envelope to: Radik Shvarts, PO Box 245614, Brooklyn, NY, 11224, USA.

Project deadline is extended until May 1st, 2010. All entries are posted online. Most of them will also be exhibited internationally and featured in a book "Ticket To Jerusalem" that will be published in 2010. Every person, whose artwork is featured in the book will get a free copy.

tickettojerusalem.com

Postcard from Bellingshausen Station

2010-02-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

Bellingshausen Station is a Russian (formerly Soviet) Antarctic station at Collins Harbour, on King George Island of the South Shetland Islands, located at 62°12′S 58°58′W / 62.2°S 58.967°W / -62.2; -58.967.

It was one of the first research stations founded by the Soviet Antarctic Expedition in 1968. It is also the location of Trinity Church, the only permanently staffed Eastern Orthodox church in Antarctica.

The station is connected by unimproved roads to the nearby stations: Chilean Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, Chinese Great Wall Station, and Uruguayan Artigas Base.

The Antarctic Peninsula and its nearby islands are considered to have the mildest living conditions in Antarctica. The average temperature around the station in the coldest month (August) is -6.8°С (19.76°F), and +1.1°С (34°F) in February, the warmest. Russian polar residents have nicknamed the Bellingshausen Station "kurort" (Russian: курорт), which is a German etymology adapted by Russian and meaning "resort".

Bellingshausen Station

2010-02-03T21:05:00.000-08:00

Сontest

2010-01-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dear friends, I wish to propose you to take part in contest.
Those who will give correct answer to my question will get a present -- booklet with Russian stamps.

The question is: "I have 132 pets at my home. What is my pets?"

The winner will be determined at March, 1st 2010.

Good luck!

New souvenir sheets

2010-01-28T10:41:00.000-08:00

A.P.Chekhov (1860-1904). To the 150th birth anniversary.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov 1860 – 15 July [O.S. 2 July] 1904 was a Russian short-story writer, playwright and physician, considered to be one of the greatest short-story writers in the history of world literature. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics.Chekhov practised as a doctor throughout most of his literary career: "Medicine is my lawful wife", he once said, "and literature is my mistress."

Anton Chekhov

New stamp

2010-01-28T10:39:00.000-08:00

Postcard from Nadym, Russia

2010-01-25T23:39:00.000-08:00

Nadym is a town in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia, situated on the Nadym River. It is the administrative center of Nadymsky District.

The origin of the name is unknown. One of the most likely versions is that it derives from the Nenets word nyaidem, which translates into English as "mossy place".

Nadym was mentioned in Russian chronicles for the first time in 1598 and appeared on the Russian maps in the 18th century. But in the second half of the 19th century the settlement was deserted. In 1968, it was reestablished after the gas deposit "Medvezhye" was discovered nearby a year before. Town status since March 9, 1972.

Postcard from Austria

2010-01-20T06:16:00.000-08:00

Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg's "Old Town" (Altstadt) with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the mid-20th century, the city was the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music, which also features famous landmarks in Austria. With three universities, Salzburg is filled with the liveliness of a large student population.

Salzburg

Postcard from USA

2010-01-05T02:29:00.000-08:00

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or simply "Santa", is a legendary figure who, in many Western cultures, brings gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24 or on his Feast Day, December 6 (Saint Nicholas Day). The legend may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.

While Saint Nicholas was originally portrayed wearing bishop's robes, today Santa Claus is generally depicted as a plump, jolly, white-bearded man wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, and films. In the United Kingdom and Europe, he is often depicted in a manner identical to the American Santa Claus, but he is commonly called Father Christmas.

One legend associated with Santa Claus says that he lives in the far north, in a land of perpetual snow. The American version of Santa Claus says that he lives at his house on the North Pole, while Father Christmas is often said to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi in Lapland Province, Finland. Santa Claus lives with his wife Mrs. Claus, a countless number of magical elves, and eight or nine flying reindeer. Another legend of Santa Claus says that he makes a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and that he delivers presents, including toys, candy, and other gifts to all of the good boys and girls in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the reindeer who pull his sleigh.

Santa Claus

new blog

2010-01-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

My new blog:
memoryfilia.blogspot.com

Postcard from Serbia

2009-12-31T11:26:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Postcard from China

2009-12-22T10:51:00.001-08:00

Mogao Caves

The Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes (also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas and Dunhuang Caves) form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China. The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. Construction of the Buddhist cave shrines began in 366 AD as places to store scriptures and art. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The caves also have famous wall paintings.

World Heritage List

China
Date of Inscription: 1987
Criteria: (i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)
Dunhuang County, Gansu Province. At the eastern foot of Mount Mingsha, 25 kilometres southeast of the County seat.
N40 08 E94 49
Ref: 440

Mogao Caves
UNESCO

New stamps

2009-12-20T04:46:00.000-08:00

Fountains of Russia

Building of the fountains in our country has a rich history, which counts more than one century. Today achievements in science and technology allow to create diverse fountains by both, architectural features and technical fillings. One of the most advanced technologies is light-dynamic constructions, due to which fountains look spectacular in the night-time, and some of them remain operating even in the cold seasons.

Fountain in the city of Yaroslavl - light-dynamic fountain in front of the building of the regional administration. Due to the plan of its architects after the capital repair in 2009 the fountain was changed into the clock, counting down the time until 1000th anniversary of the city.
In the center of the composition - a dial with pointers-jets, on each side are the "bells" of the clock "chime".
The bowl of the new fountain is made of 250-ton monolithic granite, in the center of is are the sculptural symbols of the four seasons, twelve columns carry out the function of the dial.

The fountain "Sail" in the city of New Urengoy was created to the 30th anniversary of the city and it was opened in 2005.
The concept of the fountain represents the architectural quotation of a sailing ship: a bowl-aft, mesh sail, fluttering round the central mast. Water flows down into the bowl from the mast, foamy jets beat from under the stern, simulating waves.
The fountain is made of materials that can withstand temperatures of the Far North and is equipped with light-dynamic backlight, which creates, at any time of the year, a kind of monumental composition in the form of the ship with a sail.

Fountain in the city of Nizhny Novgorod is an updated version of the historic fountain. It was built in 1847 and carried out a water bearing function. During the capital repair in 2007, additional water cascade, as well as dynamic backlight were added to the fountain.
The fountain is equipped with light-emitting-diode (LED) backlight and it has four operating modes.
It functions in the light as well as in the dark, and thanks to the LED-construction – also in winter.

The fountain in the city Verkhnaya Pyshma, which was established in 2006, is the semantic center of the appearance and accomplishment of the pedestrian boulevard in the city.
Monumental and decorative composition of the fountain consists of a glass sphere with internal illumination and two bowls, flowing water in which creates a waterfall. The whole composition is framed by background jets directed towards the center of the fountain.
Light-dynamic backlight allows the fountain operating in daylight and at night.

rusmarka

Christmas cards from USA

2009-12-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas card from Finland

2009-12-17T05:18:00.001-08:00

Mail art from Lesosibirsk, Russia

2009-12-15T11:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas cards from France

2009-12-14T22:46:00.000-08:00

Card from Hong Kong

2009-11-28T10:01:00.001-08:00

Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where "East meets West", reflecting the culture's mix of the territory's Chinese roots with the culture brought to it during its time as a British colony. One of the more noticeable contradictions is Hong Kong's balancing of a modernised way of life with traditional Chinese practices. Concepts like feng shui are taken very seriously, with expensive construction projects often hiring expert consultants, and are often believed to make or break a business. Other objects like Ba gua mirrors are still regularly used to deflect evil spirits, and buildings often lack any floor number that has a 4 in it, due to its similarity to the word for "die" in the Chinese language. The fusion of east and west also characterises Hong Kong's cuisine, where dim sum, hot pot and fast food restaurants coexist with haute cuisine.

Hong Kong is a recognised global centre of trade, and calls itself an 'entertainment hub'. Its martial arts film genre gained a high level of popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s. Several Hollywood performers and martial artists have originated from Hong Kong cinema, notably Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Jackie Chan, and Yuen Woo-ping. A number of Hong Kong film-makers have also achieved widespread fame in Hollywood, such as John Woo, Wong Kar-wai and Stephen Chow.[110] Homegrown films such as Chungking Express, Infernal Affairs, Shaolin Soccer, Rumble in the Bronx, and In the Mood for Love have gained international recognition. Hong Kong is the centre for Cantopop music, which draws its influence from other forms of Chinese music and Western genres, and has a multinational fanbase.

The Hong Kong government supports cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, the government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department subsidises and sponsors international performers brought to Hong Kong. Many international cultural activities are organised by the government, consulates, and privately.

Hong Kong has two licensed terrestrial broadcasters – ATV and TVB. There are three local and a number of foreign suppliers of cable and satellite services. The production of Hong Kong's soap dramas, comedy series and variety shows reach audiences throughout the Chinese-speaking world. Magazine and newspaper publishers in Hong Kong distribute and print in both Chinese and English, with a focus on sensationalism and celebrity gossip. The media is relatively free from official interference compared to mainland China, although the Far Eastern Economic Review points to signs of self-censorship by journals whose owners have close ties to or business interests in the PRC, but state that even Western media outlets are not immune to growing Chinese economic power.

Hong Kong offers wide recreational and competitive sport opportunities despite its limited land area. Internationally, Hong Kong sends delegates to international competition, namely the Olympic Games, and Asian Games, and played host to the equestrian events during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. There are major multipurpose venues like Hong Kong Coliseum and MacPherson Stadium. Hong Kong's steep terrain makes it ideal for hiking, with expansive views over the territory, and its rugged coastline provides many beaches for swimming.

Hong Kong

New stamp

2009-11-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

The 50th anniversary of the Strategic Rocket forces

Stamps schedule 2010 (Russia)

2009-11-26T01:05:00.000-08:00

1. The 100th anniversary of birth of Valentina Grizodubova (1910-1993), woman pilot, Hero of the Soviet Union January, 14
2.
The 100th anniversary of birth of Anatoly Serov (1910-1939), test pilot
January, 19
3.
The 150th anniversary of birth of Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), writer
January, 29
4.
Monuments of science and technology. Clock. Continuation of series XXI winter Olympic games
February, 5

5.
XXI winter Olympic games
February, 11
6.
The 275th anniversary of birth of Feodor Rockotov (1735-1808), painter
February, 19
7.
Culture of Russian peoples. National clothes (headdresses) of Tatarstan Republic. Continuation of series.
March, 10
8.
Russia. Regions. Continuation of series. Bryansk Region, Kursk Region, Novgorod Region, Orenburg Region, Tambov Region, Republic of Tyva
March, 17
9. The 500th anniversary of birth of Ivan Feodorov (1510-1583), book-printer March, 25

10.
Cities of military glory. Continuation of series. Elets, Elnya, Luga, Malgobek, Voronezh
April, 15

11.
Weapon of the Victory. Continuation of series. (Tanks)
April, 20
12.
The 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Partiotic War
April, 26
13.
Issue by “Europa” programme. Children books
May, 5
14.
The 300th anniversary of Cyrillic alphabet – first civil alphabet
May, 14

15.
The 1000th anniversary of Yaroslavl city May, 21

16. The 275th anniversary of birth of Dmitry Levitsky (1735-1822), painter
June, 7

17. The 300th anniversary of foundation of Tsarskoe Selo June, 18
18. Joint issue Russian Federation – Serbian Republic. Art June, 25
19. World natural heritage in Russia. Continuation of series. Curonian Spit July, 7

20. Architectural constructions. Bridges. Continuation of series. July, 20

21. World cultural heritage in Russia. Continuation of series. Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery August, 2

22. History of Russian Cossacks. Continuation of series August, 15

23. The 150th anniversary of birth of Isaak Levitan (1860-1900), painter August, 27

24. The 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War September, 2

25. The 75th anniversary of birth of German Titov (1935-2000), cosmonaut September, 10

26. Year of the Teacher October, 5
27. All-Russian population census-2010 October, 11

28. Joint issue Russian Federation – Kazakhstan Republic. Investigators (Chockan Valikhanov) October, 20

29. The 300th anniversary of birth of Nikolay Pirogov (1810-1881), surgeon November, 25

30. Happy New Year and merry Christmas! December, 1

Happy New Year stamp

2009-11-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

New stamp

2009-11-19T23:31:00.001-08:00

New stamp "50th anniversary of Antarctic Treaty" will be issused at November, 30 2009.

New stamp

2009-11-19T23:19:00.001-08:00

On November, 25th, 2009, the stamp “The 200th anniversary of the Higher Theatre School named after Mikhail Schepkin” is issued.

FDC from Latvia

2009-11-19T23:08:00.000-08:00

Евгений, благодарю Вас за этот красивый конверт!

First defense of Sevastopol

2009-11-08T11:22:00.000-08:00

New stamp “200th anniversary of birth of V. I. Istomin, the hero of Sevastopol defense 1854—1855” issused in Russia at October, 14th 2009.

Here is the text was written specially for this event by my friend and collector Dmitriy Maleev from Angarsk (Irkutskaya oblast).
Dmitriy and me will be very glad if you’ll comment this post and will also answer the question: are texts like this interesting for you?

First defense of Sevastopol

It will be the story about fellow-soldiers, Russian naval commanders, heroes of Navarin, Sinop and Sevastopol defense, whose friendship started in Kronshtadt and followed for life.

Nakhimov Pavel Stepanovich was born at June, 23rd (July, 5th by Gregorian calendar) 1802 in Gorodok village of Smolensk region of Russia.
Kornilov Vladimir Alekseevich was born at February, 1st (13th by Gregorian calendar) 1806 in Irkutsk.
Istomin Vladimir Ivanovich was born in 1809 in Lomovka village of Penza region of Russia.
At different years they all studied in Naval military school of Peterburg. They had got baptism of fire In Narva battle fighting abroad the “Azov” battleship at October 8th (20th) 1827. United squadron of Russian, Britain and French ships won this battle against Turkish-Egyptian fleet. ”Azov” had fired 5 ships and became the first Ship of Guard at Russian fleet.

I. K. Ayvazovskiy. “Navarin battle”

Nakhimov even before Navarin completed his round-the-world voyage on “Kreiser” frigate at 1822—1825. In 1832 he became a master of “Pallada” ship (let’s think of Goncharov’s novell). In 1836 he was a master of “Silietria” battleship on Black Sea fleet. In 1852 he became a vice-admiral. His ship was the 120th-cannon battleship “Maria Empress”.

Nakhimov Pavel Stepanovich

In 1838 Kornilov became a hief of staff of Black Sea squadron and a first master of 120th-cannon battleship “Twelve apostles” (this ship was painted by Ayvazovskiy: In 1846 he was assigned to Britain for controlling of steambots building ordered there. In 1852 he became a vice-admiral b in fact was commander of Black Sea fleet. He tried to change sailboats to steambots and rearm the ships. In 1853 he took part in thirst steamboats fighting. He mastered 10th-cannon steamboat “Vladimir” joined battle with 10th-cannon Turkish-Egyptian steamboat “Pervaz-Bakhri”. After three hours of fighting “Pervaz-Bakhri” had gave up.

Kornilov Vladimir Alekseevich

Istomin mastered several ships on Chyornoe (Black) sea. Participated in Caucasian war in 1847. In 1850 then he was in a rank of captain a mission of heading of newest 120th-cannon battleship “Paris” was assigned to him.

Istomin Vladimir Ivanovich

This ship represented on Victoria’s envelope and it was 3rd ship named identical. The 1st ship built in 1814 was named in honor of capture of Paris by Russian army. Prow of that ship’s ram was enriched by the figure of two-headed eagle with emblem of Paris in claws.
The last “Paris” was 4,790-ton ship. It was 64.6 meters overall length, 18.1 meters overall width and carried 1000 team members. The last “Paris” was armed impressively: 28 of 68-lb bombing cannons, 38 of 36-lb cannons, 24 of 24-lb cannons and 34 of 36-lb carronades.

The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Sinop

In 1853 Crimean (or Eastern, as it named in other countries) war had began.
At November, 18th (30th) 1853, at the beginning of the war, Russian squadron commanded by vice-admiral Nakhimov disclosed and destroyed Turkish fleet in Sinop bay. Turkish lost 7 frigates, 3 corvettes, 1 steamboat, 4 cargo ships and 5 maritime batteries. 3000 Turkish team members of 4500 overall was killed. Many of Turkeys was captured including Osman-pasha admiral, the commander of Turkish squadron. None of Nakhimov’s squadron ships was lost, 37 team members was killed and 299 injured. Only ship was not destroyed in that battle was “Taif”. The chief adviser of Osman-pasha Adolph Slade was abroad on that ship. Using better velocity properties “Taif” was able to run away from Russian ships and to brought a message about full extermination of Turkish squadron to Istanbul.

I. K. Ayvazovskiy. “Sinop. Night after the battle November 18th 1853”

“Paris” ship mastered by Nakhimov leaded the second column of Russian ships. This ship came in the road and destroyed 5th maritime battery, “Ghuly-Sephid” corvette, fired “Damiad” and “Nizamie” frigates causing this ships cast ashore. As Nakhimove wrote in his report, Istomin “showed exemplary fearlessness and presence of mind, wisdom, clever and fast orders during the battle”. After this battle Istomin was promoted to the rank of rear admiral.
During shots to the maritime batteries bombs from Russian ships caused fires in town. After destroying of Turkish squadron Russian sailors landed and began firefighting and saving of citizens.
Sinop battle was the last battle of sail fleets. This battle and deaths of citizens as well was the one of the reasons of Britain and France joined to the war at the side of Turkey. In June—July 1854 outnumbered British-French-Turkey fleet (34 battleships and 55 frigates, mostly steam-driven) blocked Russian fleet in Sevastopol. Landing of united forces and followed 349-days heroic defense of Sevastopol came went to history of Russian fleet as especially bright both heroic and tragic events.
All the Black Sea fleet went down to the seabed of Sevastopol bay. Thereby the way to town was barricaded for enemy ships. Teams landed and fortified cost line by the cannons of ships sent to seabed. One of the batteries was named “Parizhskaya” (“Parisian”) and the ship “Paris” stayed in the road with 214 gunners.
Kornilov was one of coordinators of Sevastopol defense; his war commander talent was shown especially bright during this defense. He gave the lead of smart arrangement of active defense. He died like a hero on Malakhov barrow at October 5th (17th) 1854.
Istomin was assigned to command of Northern fortification and later then this position was held by Kornilov stayed there as chief of staff. After Kornilov’s death he never leaves the position and was killed by direct shot of cannonball to the head at the Mach 7th (19th) 1855.
Since February 1855 Nakhimov was the commander of Sevastopol seaport and military governor of town. At March he was promoted to admiral. At June 28th (July 10th) 1855 during going around the front line fortifications at the Kornilov’s bastion of Malakhov barrow he was fatally injured in the head by the bullet. He died at June 30th 1855.

Kornilov and Nakhimov monuments in Sevastopol

At August 28th (September 9th) garrison left the town preliminary blew up all the batteries and storages. “Paris” battleship was sank and took his place near other ships went down before. Now a monument devoted to sank ships can be found there.

Monument devoted to sank ships in Sevastopol

Long times after that war as stated in peace treaty Russia has no warships on Black Sea. Only at the beginning of XIX century revival of fleet begun.

Christmas and New Year's Day coming soon!

2009-11-08T10:07:00.000-08:00

For putting you in a good mood I wish to show you a little stamp's collage.
Here represented new issues from several countries dedicated to Cristmas and New Year's day.

Postcard from Tula. Russia

2009-11-07T00:55:00.000-08:00

Tula is an industrial city in the European part of Russia, located 193 km south of Moscow, on the river Upa.

A musical instrument, the Tula accordion, is named for the city, which is a center of manufacture for such instruments sold throughout Russia and the world. Tula is also renowned for traditional Russian pryaniki, cookies made with honey and gingerbread. In the West, Tula is perhaps best-known as the center of samovar production: the Russian equivalent of "coals to Newcastle" is "You don't take a samovar to Tula".

The most popular tourist attraction in Tula Oblast is Yasnaya Polyana, the home and burial place of the writer Leo Tolstoy. It is situated fourteen kilometers south-west of the city. It was here that Tolstoy wrote his celebrated novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina.

The museum " the Tula samovars " , branch of Museum Association " Tula regional historical-architectural and literary museum " was open in 1990 on Mendeleevskaia street, 8 in the house that was built in 1910 – 1911 per design of architect V.N.Sirotkin. The basis of an exposition of a museum was made with the collection of samovars collected in various years in association "TOIALM". The exposition of a museum which consists of three halls, acquaints visitors with history of begining and development of one of the most known Tula crafts – Samovar making. The first hall tells about Samovar manufacturing in Tula in XVIII - XIX centuries. Among unique samples of the end of XVIII century - "sbitennik" which was the predecessor of a samovar, a pot for preparation of sbiten - a drink made from different types of grass, spices, honey. Sbitennik was made by first Tula samovar workshop of Lisitsyns. Samovars of first half of the XIX century presented by samples of Somovs factory, Malikovs facotry, etc. At those times samovars mostly were made in the form of a keg, a decorative vase, a crater. There were the coffee pots samovars, portable samovars for travel; “zharovoi” with kerosene furnace; samovars "Parichko" with a removable jug. Since second half of the XIX century Tula becomes the largest supplier of samovars. The Tula samovars have penetrated into all corners of Russia and outside of Russia as well. Tula samovars were presented at every All-Russia and international exhibition. In an exposition of a museum there are the medals received by N.Batashevyms at the World's fairs in Paris (1889), Chicago (1893), London (1909), at the All-Russia exhibitions in Moscow (1882), Nizhni Novgorod (1896). The second hall is presented by samovars manufactured in Tula in second half XIX – beginning of XX century. It exhibits the products of “The Association of Steam samovars factories of successors of V.S.Batashev in Tula " - one of the largest and famous Tula’s factories of XX century. Exposition contains memorial items of members of the Batashev family: portrait of A.S.Batashev - one of brothers of the Batashev family. Among the most unique products of factory are 5 tiny samovars presented in 1909 from Batashevs to the children of Russian Emperor Nikolay II. Samovars of the Soviet period between 1920 and 1940 presented by interesting samples: a vase " the Turkish hookah ", a samovar-vase gift to S.I.Sepanov, director of the Tula ammuntion factory in 1930th; also samovar presented as a gift to Stalin in 1949 for his 70th year anniversary. The exposition of the third hall acquaints visitors with products of a machine-building factory "Stamp" carrying name of B.L.Vannikov, the only factory in Tula making samovars now days. There are samples of “zharovoi” samovar(with wood or coal furnace), electric combined samovar, and also samovars with the art painting and decorations manufactured in different year.

Tula, Russia
tula-samovar

Iceland

2009-11-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

Skriduklaustur - a cultural and educational center, donated by the Icelandic author Gunnar Gannarson.

The culture of Iceland is rich and varied as well as being known for its literary heritage which stems from authors from the 12th to 14th centuries. Other Icelandic traditional arts include weaving, silver crafting, and wood carving. The Reykjavík area has several professional theatres, a symphony orchestra, an opera, and a large amount of art galleries, bookstores, cinemas, and museums. There are also four active folk dance ensemble in Iceland. Iceland's literacy rate is among the highest in the world, and a love of literature, art, chess, and other intellectual pursuits is widespread.

Gunnar Gunnarsson (May 18, 1889 - November 21, 1975) was an Icelandic author who wrote mainly in Danish. He grew up, in considerable poverty, on Valþjófsstaður in Fljótsdalur valley and on Ljótsstaðir in Vopnafjörður. Despite huge difficulties, he managed to become one of the most widely read novelists in both Denmark and Germany.

Often considered one of the most important Icelandic writers, he wrote the novel Af Borgslægtens Historie (translated into English as Guest the One-Eyed), the first Icelandic work that was ever made into a movie. He also wrote the autobiographical novel "The Church on the Mountain" in 1923-1928.
Gunnar Gunnarsson
Icelandic literature
Iceland

New stamp

2009-10-31T04:50:00.000-07:00

The 200th anniversary of the Transport department of Russia

On November, 9th, 2009, the stamp “The 200th anniversary of the Transport department of Russia” is issued.

New stamp

2009-10-31T04:45:00.000-07:00

History of the Russian State. The 300th anniversary of birth of Elizaveta Petrovna (1709-1762), empress.

On November, 6th, 2009, the souvenir sheet devoted to the 300th anniversary of birth of Elizaveta Petrovna is issued.

Stamps from Vatican City

2009-10-13T22:44:00.001-07:00

Vatican City, officially the State of the Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the capital city of Italy. At approximately 44 hectares (110 acres) (0.44 km2), and with a population of over 800, it is the smallest country in the world by both area and population.

Vatican City is a city-state that came into existence in 1929 and is thus distinct from the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church, known as the Holy See, which existed long before 1929. Ordinances of Vatican City are published in Italian; official documents of the Holy See are issued mainly in Latin. The two entities even have distinct passports: the Holy See, not being a country, only issues diplomatic and service passports; the state of Vatican City issues normal passports. In both cases the passports issued are very few.

The Lateran Treaty in 1929, which brought the city-state into existence, spoke of it as a new creation (Preamble and Article III), not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756-1870) that had previously encompassed central Italy. Most of this territory was absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, and the final portion, namely the city of Rome with a small area close to it, ten years later, in 1870.

Vatican City is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state, ruled by the bishop of Rome—the Pope. The highest state functionaries are all clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church. It is the sovereign territory of the Holy See (Sancta Sedes) and the location of the Pope's residence, referred to as the Apostolic Palace.

The Popes have resided in the area that in 1929 became Vatican City since the return from Avignon in 1377. Previously, they resided in the Lateran Palace on the Caelian Hill on the opposite side of Rome, which was out of repair in 1377. The signing of the agreements that established the new state took place in the latter building, giving rise to the name of Lateran Pacts, by which they are known.

Vatican

New stamp

2009-10-09T06:33:00.001-07:00

Road traffic safety

New stamp

2009-10-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

The 200th anniversary of birth of Vladimir Istomin, the hero of the Sevastopol defence 1854-1855.

New stamp

2009-10-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

On October, 7th, 2009, the stamp “The United Nations World Food Programme” is issued.

Kingdom of Bahrain

2009-10-03T02:43:00.000-07:00

The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small island country in the Persian Gulf ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. Saudi Arabia lies to the west and is connected to Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway, which was officially opened on the 25th of November 1986. Qatar is to the southeast across the Gulf of Bahrain. The planned Qatar Bahrain Causeway will link Bahrain and Qatar as the longest fixed link in the world. Bahrain is also popular for its oil and pearls. The country is also the home of many popular structures such as the Bahrain World Trade Center and the Bahrain Financial Harbour, and also the home of many tall skycrapers, including the proposed 1,022 m (3,353 ft) high supertall Murjan Tower. The Bahrain International Circuit is also located here, and is the place where the popular Bahrain F1 Grand Prix takes place.

Bahrain

Bodaybo, Russia

2009-10-02T03:57:00.001-07:00

Bodaybo is a town in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Vitim River at its confluence with the Bodaybo River.
Bodaybo was founded in 1864 and served the needs of the local gold mining industry. The Lena massacre took place near Bodaybo in 1912. It was granted town status in 1925.

Bodaybo

The Sakha Republic, Russia

2009-09-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). At half the size of the Far Eastern Federal District, it is the largest subnational governing body by area in the world at 3,100,000 km2 (1,200,000 sq mi), yet it has a population of less than one million. Its capital is Yakutsk.

The Sakha Republic is the site of Pleistocene Park, a project directed at recreating pleistocene tundra grasslands by stimulating the growth of grass with the introduction of animals which thrived in the region during the late Pleisotcene — early Holocene period.

Sakha Republic

Rostov-on-Don, Russia

2009-09-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

Rostov-on-Don is the city and the administrative center of Rostov Oblast and the Southern Federal District of Russia, located on the Don River, just 46 km from the Sea of Azov.

Rostov-on-Don

History of the Russian Cossacks

2009-09-22T09:53:00.001-07:00

Standart stamps

2009-09-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Russian Federation : The Republic of Tatarstan
Russian Federation : Astrakhan Region
Russian Federation : Moscow Region
Russian Federation : Nizhny Novgorod Region
Russian Federation : Novgorod Region
Russian Federation : Pskov Region
Russian Federation : Rostov Region
Russian Federation : Tula Region
Russian Federation : Tumen Region
Russian Federation : Moscow

Culture of Russian people. National suits (headdresses)

2009-09-22T09:39:00.001-07:00

Algeria

2009-09-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

Algeria is a country located in North Africa. It is the largest country on the Mediterranean sea, the second largest on the African continent and the eleventh-largest country in the world in terms of land area.

It is bordered by Tunisia in the northeast, Libya in the east, Niger in the southeast, Mali and Mauritania in the southwest, a few kilometers of the Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara in the southwest, Morocco in the west and northwest, and the Mediterranean Sea in the north. The capital of Algeria is Algiers.

Algeria

Greenland

2009-09-20T22:44:00.000-07:00

Greenland is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically associated with Europe (specifically Denmark) since the 18th century.

In 1979, Denmark granted home rule to Greenland, with a relationship known in Danish as Rigsfællesskabet, and in 2008 Greenland voted to transfer more competencies to the local government.

Greenland is, by area, the world's largest island that is not a continent,as well as the least densely populated country in the world. However, since the 1950s, scientists have hypothesized that the ice cap covering the country may actually conceal three separate island land masses that have been bridged by glacier.

Greenland

2009-05-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

The 141th anniversary of birth Nicholas II (Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov)

Postcard from Gatchina, Russia

2009-05-02T09:18:00.001-07:00

Gatchina is a city in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located 45 km south of St. Petersburg by the road leading to Pskov. It is part of the World Heritage Site Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.

Khotchino (old name of Gatchina) was first documented in 1499, a village in possession of Novgorod the Great, Russia. In the 17th century, in a series of wars, it passed to Livonia, then to Sweden, and was returned to Russia during the Northern War. At that time, Gatchina was a southern vicinity of the new Russian capital, St. Petersburg. In 1708 Gatchina was given by Peter the Great to his sister Natalia Alekseevna, and after her death, Peter founded an Imperial Hospital and Apothekary here. In 1765, Catherine the Great bought Gatchina with suburban 20 villages, then she granted it to her favourite General Count Orlov. Between 1766 and 1788 Count Orlov built a sombre castle with 600 rooms and laid out an extensive English landscape park over 7 square kilometres, with adjacent zoo and a horse farm. A triumphal arch was erected to a design by the architect of Gatchina, Antonio Rinaldi (1771, built 1777-82), forming a monumental entrance, the gift of Catherine The Great to Count Orlov for his efforts during a recent outbreak of plague at Moscow.
Main Gatchina palace.

The Gatchina Palace was expanded several times by several imperial owners. Rococo interiors were designed by Rinaldi and Vincenzo Brenna and executed by Italian stuccoworkers and Russian craftsmen. Interiors were highlighted with parquetry floors, painted ceilings, and distinctly Italian furniture.

Gatchina

Postcard from Romania

2009-05-02T09:10:00.001-07:00

The University's Central Library "Mihai Eminescu" in Bucharest

Bucharest is the capital city, industrial and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country.
Bucharest was first mentioned in documents as early as 1459. Since then it has gone through a variety of changes, becoming the state capital of Romania in 1862 and steadily consolidating its position as the centre of the Romanian mass media, culture and arts. Its eclectic architecture is a mix of historical (neo-classical), interbellum (Bauhaus and Art Deco), Communist-era and modern. In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of the "Little Paris of the East" (Micul Paris). Although many buildings and districts in the historic centre were damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes and Nicolae Ceauşescu's program of systematization, many survived. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom.

Thank you Ladislau!

Bucharest

Postcard from Japan

2009-05-02T08:52:00.001-07:00

Nihonbashi or Nihombashi, is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan which grew up around the bridge of the same name which has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603, and the current bridge made of stone dates from 1911. The district covers a large area to the north and east of the bridge, reaching Akihabara to the north and the Sumida River to the east. Ōtemachi is to the west and Yaesu and Ginza to the south.

The Nihonbashi district was a major mercantile center during the Edo period: its early development is largely credited to the Mitsui family, who based their wholesaling business in Nihonbashi and developed Japan's first department store, Mitsukoshi, there. The Edo-era fish market formerly in Nihonbashi was the predecessor of today's Tsukiji fish market. In later years, Nihonbashi emerged as Tokyo's (and Japan's) predominant financial district.

The Nihonbashi bridge first became famous during the 1600s, when it was the eastern terminus of the Nakasendō and the Tōkaidō, roads which ran between Edo and Kyoto. During this time, it was known as Edobashi, or "Edo Bridge." In the Meiji era, the wooden bridge was replaced by a larger stone bridge, which still stands today (a replica of the old bridge has been exhibited at the Edo-Tokyo Museum). It is the point from which Japanese people measure distances: highway signs that report the distance to Tokyo actually state the number of kilometers to Nihonbashi.

Postcard from Finland

2009-05-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

The Sámi people, (also known as Lapps, although this term is considered derogatory) are the indigenous people of northern Europe inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. Their ancestral lands span an area the size of Sweden in the Nordic countries. The Sámi people are among the largest indigenous ethnic groups in Europe. Their traditional languages are the Sámi languages, which are classified as members of the Finno-Lappic group of the Uralic language family.

Traditionally, the Sámi have plied a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. However, the best known Sami livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding - which about 10% of the Sámi are connected with and 2,800 actively involved with full-time. For traditional, cultural, and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved only for Sámi people in certain regions of the Nordic countries.

Gakti or gákti, as it is written in Northern Sámi, is a piece of traditional clothing worn by the Sámi in northern areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The gákti is worn both in ceremonial contexts and while working, particularly when herding reindeer. The traditional Sami costume is characterized by a dominant color adorned with contrast colored bands, plaits, pewter embroidery, tin art, and often a high collar. In the Norwegian language it is called 'kofte', most probably due to the word "gákti" being somewhat similar to the word 'kofte' in the accusative, genitive, locative and comitative case (gávtti/gaftti, gávtti/gaftti, gávttis/gafttis, gávtiin/gafttijn).

A pattern of a Metal goldwork (embroidery) collar for a traditional Sami peoples male garment (costume) from Åsele, Västerbotten, Sweden. The Sami gákti is a National costume (folk costume) and the metal tread most commonly used for the embroidery is Pewter.

The colours, patterns and the jewellery of the clothing can tell if a person is single or married and where the person is from. There are different gákti for women and men; men's gákti have a shorter "skirt" than women's. Traditionally the gákti was made from reindeer leather, but nowadays it's more common to use wool, cotton or silk. The gákti can be used with a belt (pleated, quilted or with silver buttons), silver jewellery, traditional leather footwear and a silk scarf. It is also a tradition that if your buttons on the belt are square, it shows that you are married. If they are round, you are single/not married yet. If a married couple divorce, and the ex-husband continue to use the Sami costume made by his ex-wife, he signals that he still wants her.

Two Finns dressed up in fake gákti outside of Rovaniemi, Finland. Though at first glance authentic, the patterns on these gáktis are not traditional anywhere in Sapmi

The Finnish tourist industry is notorious for displaying fake "sami culture" for tourists. Ethnically Finnish actors dress up in fake "gáktis" and perform fake "traditional rituals". This activity has been met with fierce protests from ethnic Sámi since it creates a false image of Sámi culture, diverts tourist industry money from ethnic Sámi to ethnic Finns (thereby exploiting the Sámi presence in Lappland without giving anything back to the Sámi) and is dishonest towards tourists.

The Four Winds hat (in Sami čiehgahpir) is one version of traditional man's hat of the Sami. The basis is a simple blue cylinder, decorated with a red band with braid patterns, but the top is a large, four-cornered star, colored bright blue with parts bright red and yellow. The decoration in an actual Sami hat is, like the rest of the Sami costume, indicative of the person's place of origin or even his clan, much like the Scottish tartan.

Sami
Gakti

Postcard from Germany

2009-05-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area, and is the second largest city in the Bergisches Land. It is a member of the regional authority of the Rhineland.

Solingen is called the "City of Blades", since it has long been renowned for the manufacturing of fine swords, knives, scissors and razors made by famous firms such as DOVO Solingen, Wüsthof, J. A. Henckels, Boker, and numerous other manufacturers. Wilkinson is also based here.

In Medieval times, the swordsmiths of Solingen coined the town's image, which is preserved to this date. In the latter part of the 17th century, a group of swordsmiths from Solingen broke their guild oaths by taking their sword-making secrets with them to Shotley Bridge, County Durham in England. Some 90% of German knives are produced in Solingen.

Solingen

New stamps

2009-04-29T10:29:00.000-07:00

2009. May, 15.
The 175th anniversary of installation Hydrometeorogical service in Russia

Postcard from France

2009-04-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Photo by Michel Perez

New stamp

2009-04-23T02:05:00.000-07:00

New stamp "Astonomy" from "Europe" set will be available since 5th March 2009.

In 2009 "astronomy" became a theme of traditional annual issue, organized by Association of the state post operators of Europe (PostEurope). The principal reason was that this year has been declared as the International year of astronomy (IYA2009) by the Association for the United Nations. In 1609 Italian astronomer Galileo Galiley for the first time looked in telescope, having begun modern astronomy. Nowadays the primary goals of astronomy are studying and explanation of apparent motions of heavenly bodies, finding of laws and reasons of these movements, studying of heavenly bodies structure, their physical and chemical properties, construction of models of their internal structure, solving problems of origin and development of heavenly bodies and their systems, studying of the most general properties of the Universe, construction of theory of observable part of the Universe ? Metagalaxies. Stamp represents Terskolsk observatory of the Institute of astronomy of Russian academy of science and on armillary sphere against the background with Big Dipper concellation.

Postcards from Netherlands

2009-04-22T06:52:00.001-07:00

Rotterdam - city and municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland, situated in the west of the Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the country (behind Amsterdam).

The port of Rotterdam is the largest in Europe. From 1962 to 2004, it was the world's busiest port; then it was superseded by Shanghai. Rotterdam is situated on the banks of the river Nieuwe Maas ('New Meuse'), one of the channels in the delta formed by the Rhine and Meuse rivers. The name Rotterdam derives from a dam in the Rotte river.

Postcard from Germany

2009-04-22T06:44:00.001-07:00

The Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe.

The Rhine and the Danube formed most of the northern inland frontier of the Roman Empire and, since those days, the Rhine has been a vital, navigable waterway, and carried trade and goods deep inland. It has also served as a defensive feature and has been the basis for regional and international borders. The many castles and prehistoric fortifications along the Rhine testify to its importance as a waterway. River traffic could be stopped at these locations, usually for the purpose of collecting tolls, by the state that controlled that portion of the river.

Rhine

Postcard from Italy

2009-04-22T06:32:00.001-07:00

Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan)

Santa Maria delle Grazie ("Our Lady of Grace") is a famous church and convent in Milan, included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites list.

The church is also famous for the mural of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in the refectory of the convent.

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci

Thank you Lorenzo!

Santa Maria delle Grazie
The Last Supper

Russian Easter post cards

2009-04-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

Easter/Pascha

2009-04-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Pascha is the fundamental and most important festival of the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Every other religious festival on their calendars, including Christmas, is secondary in importance to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is reflected in rich Paschal customs in the cultures of countries that have traditionally had an Orthodox Christian majority.

ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ!

Easter

Stamps

2009-04-17T05:11:00.000-07:00

New stamps set devoted to 65th anniversary of victory in Great patriotic war (1941--1945) will be available since 27th April, 2009. Weapons of victory. Small arms.

Cosmonautics Day

2009-04-12T03:58:00.000-07:00

Cosmonautics Day is a holiday celebrated (mainly in Russia) every April 12 to commemorate the first manned earth orbit. It was established in the USSR on April 9, 1962.

It is celebrated in honour of the historic first manned space flight made on April 12, 1961 by 27 year old Russian cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin of the USSR, who made one complete orbit around the Earth (lasting 1 h 48 min) aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1.

Soviet stamps dedicated to Cosmonautics Day from my collection:

Cosmonautics Day

Postcard from USA

2009-04-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

Fairbanks is a Home Rule City in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States.

Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage. It is the principal city of the Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of the Fairbanks North Star Borough and is the northernmost Metropolitan Statistical Area in the United States.

Thank you Kris!

Fairbanks

Postcards from Great Britain

2009-04-08T23:06:00.000-07:00

Robin Hood is an archetypal figure in English folklore, whose story originates from medieval times, but who remains significant in popular culture where he is known for "robbing the rich to give to the poor" and fighting against injustice and tyranny. His band of merry men includes a "three score" group of fellow outlawed yeomen – called his, "Merry Men." He has been the subject of numerous films, television series, books, comics and plays. In the earliest sources, Robin Hood is a commoner, but he would often later be portrayed as the dispossessed Earl of Huntingdon.

Robin Hood memorial statue in Nottingham.

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England and is one of only eight members of the English Core Cities Group.

Nottingham is famed for its links with the Robin Hood legend and, during the Industrial Revolution, obtained worldwide recognition for its lace-making industry. It was granted its city charter as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria in 1897 and has since been officially titled the City of Nottingham.

Nottingham
Robin Hood

Postcard from Serbia

2009-04-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

Serbia is a country in Central - and Southeastern Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans. Serbia is bordered by Hungary to the north; Romania and Bulgaria to the east; the Republic of Macedonia and Albania to the south; and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the west. The country's capital, Belgrade, was titled "City of the Future of South Europe" in 2006.

Serbia has eight cultural sites marked on the UNESCO World Heritage list: Stari Ras and Sopoćani monasteries (included in 1979), Studenica Monastery (1986), the Medieval Serbian Monastic Complex in Kosovo, comprising: Dečani Monastery, Our Lady of Ljeviš, Gračanica and Patriarchate of Pec- (2004, put on the endangered list in 2006), and Gamzigrad - Romuliana, Palace of Galerius, added in 2007. Likewise, there are 2 literary memorials added on the UNESCO's list as a part of the Memory of the World Programme: Miroslav Gospels, handwriting from the 12th century (added in 2005), and Nikola Tesla's archive (2003).

The statue of Prince Mihailo III on Republic Square, mid 19th century.

Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city lies on two international waterways, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula. Belgrade is the largest city in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, second largest city on the Danube river and the fourth largest in Southeastern Europe, after Istanbul, Athens, and Bucharest.

Serbia
Belgrade

Ана, спасибо, что не забываешь меня :)

Postcards from Surgut, Russia

2009-04-05T10:39:00.001-07:00

Surgut is a city in Russia, the largest in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and second largest in Tyumen Oblast.
Surgut is one of the oldest Siberian cities. It was founded in 1594 by order of Tsar Feodor I.
The name of the city, according to one tradition, originates from the Khanty words "sur" (fish) and "gut" (hole, pit).

Khanty / Hanti are an endangered indigenous people calling themselves Khanti, Khande, Kantek (Khanty), living in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, a region historically known as "Yugra" in Russia, together with Mansi peoples. In the autonomous okrug, the Khanty and Mansi languages are given co-official status with Russian. In the 2002 Census, 28,678 persons identified themselves as Khanty. Of those, 26,694 were resident in Tyumen Oblast, of which 17,128 were living in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and 8,760—in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. 873 were residents of neighbouring Tomsk Oblast, and 88 lived in the Komi Republic.

The Khanty's traditional occupations were fishery, taiga hunting and reindeer herding. They lived as trappers, thus gathering was of major importance.

Khanty are today Orthodox Christians, mixed with traditional beliefs (shamans, reincarnation).
Their historical shaman wore no special clothes except a cap.

Surgut
Khanty people

Postcard from Japan

2009-04-05T00:19:00.001-07:00

Maiko Girls in the Garden of Kyoto

Maiko is a Japanese word for dancing girl and is an apprentice geisha.
Geisha, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.

The kimono is the traditional clothing of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" (ki "wearing" and mono "thing" but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment. The standard plural of the word kimono in English is kimonos, but the unmarked Japanese plural kimono is also sometimes found.

Kimonos are T-shaped, straight-lined robes with collars and full-length sleeves that typically are wide. Both genders wear their kimono so that the hem falls to the ankle. Kimonos are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial) and secured by a wide belt called an obi, which is tied at the back. Kimonos are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).

Today, kimonos are most often worn by women, and on special occasions. Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called furisode, with almost floor-length sleeves, on special occasions. A few older women and even fewer men still wear the kimono on a daily basis. Men wear the kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in the kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese dress whenever appearing in public. They commonly wear the kind of casual Japanese attire that is referred to as yukata, which is of plain unlined cotton.

Women's Kimonos

Kurotomesode
a black kimono patterned only below the waistline, kurotoroko are the most formal kimono for married women. They are often worn by the mothers of the bride and groom at weddings. Kurotomesode usually have five kamon printed on the sleeves, chest and back of the kimono.

Furisode
furisode literally translates as swinging sleeves—the sleeves of furisode average between 39 and 42 inches (1,100 mm) in length. Furisode are the most formal kimono for unmarried women, with colorful patterns that cover the entire garment. They are usually worn at coming-of-age ceremonies (seijin shiki) and by unmarried female relatives of the bride at weddings and wedding receptions.

Irotomesode
single-color kimono, patterned only below the waistline. Irotomesode are slightly less formal than kurotomesode, and are worn by married women, usually close relatives of the bride and groom at weddings. An irotomesode may have three or five kamon.

Homongi
literally translates as visiting wear. Characterized by patterns that flow over the shoulders, seams and sleeves, hōmongi rank slightly higher than their close relative, the tsukesage. Hōmongi may be worn by both married and unmarried women; often friends of the bride will wear hōmongi at weddings and receptions. They may also be worn to formal parties.

Tsukesage
has more modest patterns that cover a smaller area—-mainly below the waist-—than the more formal hōmongi. They may also be worn by married women.

Iromuji
single-colored kimono that may be worn by married and unmarried women. They are mainly worn to tea ceremonies. The dyed silk may be figured (rinzu, similar to jacquard), but has no differently colored patterns.

Komon
"fine pattern". Kimono with a small, repeated pattern throughout the garment. This style is more casual and may be worn around town, or dressed up with a formal obi for a restaurant. Both married and unmarried women may wear komon.

Edo komon
is a type of komon characterized by tiny dots arranged in dense patterns that form larger designs. The Edo komon dyeing technique originated with the samurai class during the Edo period. A kimono with this type of pattern is of the same formality as an iromuji, and when decorated with kamon, may be worn as visiting wear (equivalent to a tsukesage or hōmongi).

Uchikake
is a highly formal kimono worn only by a bride or at a stage performance. The Uchikake is often heavily brocaded and is supposed to be worn outside the actual kimono and obi, as a sort of coat. One therefore never ties the obi around the uchikake. It is supposed to trail along the floor, this is also why it is heavily padded along the hem. The uchikake of the bridal costume is either white or very colorful often with red as the base color.

Susohiki / Hikizuri
The susohiki is mostly worn by geisha or by stage performers of the traditional Japanese dance. It is quite long, compared to regular kimono, because the skirt is supposed to trail along the floor. Susohiki literally means "trail the skirt". Where a normal kimono for women is normally 1,5-1,6 m or 4,7-5,2 ft long, a susohiki can be up to 2 m or 6,3 ft long. This is also why geisha and maiko lift their kimono skirt when walking outside, also to show their beautiful underkimono or "nagajuban" (see below).

Postcards from Poland

2009-04-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland. Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship (1975-1998). It is the capital of Sandomierz County (since 1999).
Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction.

Krasiczyn is a village in Przemyśl County, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. It is the seat of the gmina (administrative district) called Gmina Krasiczyn.
In Krasiczyn stands the Krasicki Palace, a Renaissance palace built for Stanisław Krasicki by Galleazzo Appiani.
Adam Stefan Cardinal Sapieha, whom Pope John Paul II described as 'my model', was born in Krasiczyn, in the castle.

Rzeszów is a city in south-eastern Poland. It was granted a town charter in 1354, the capital and largest city of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship (since 1999), previously of Rzeszów Voivodeship (1945–1998).

Thanks Kazimierz for postcards and stamps!

Postcard from South Africa

2009-03-26T23:41:00.001-07:00

The Zulu are the largest South African ethnic group of an estimated 10-11 million people who live mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Small numbers also live in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. Their language, isiZulu, is a Bantu language; more specifically, part of the Nguni subgroup. The Zulu Kingdom played a major role in South African History during the 19th and 20th centuries. Under apartheid, Zulu people were classed as third-class citizens and suffered from state sanctioned discrimination. They remain today the most numerous ethnic group in South Africa, and now have equal rights along with all other citizens.

The rural Zulu economy is based on cattle and agriculture. Consequently, the main staple diet consists of cow and agricultural products. This includes barbecued and boiled meat; amasi (curdled milk), mixed with dry, ground corn or dry, cooked mealie-meal (corn flour); amadumbe (yams); vegetables; and fruits. The Zulu traditional beer is not only a staple food but a considerable source of nutrition. It is also socially and ritually important and is drunk on all significant occasions.

Drinking and eating from the same plate was and still is a sign of friendship. It is customary for children to eat from the same dish, usually a big basin. This derives from a "share what you have" belief which is part of ubuntu (humane) philosophy.

Older Zulu women wear clothes that cover their bodies. They wear isicholo( Izzy-chow-low ), a wide hat made of straw and decorated with beads (ubuhlalu). They also wear isidwaba, a pleated skirt made of cowhide and softened by hand. Younger women sometimes decorate their 'isidwaba' with beads, whereas older women wear it plain. Clothing for Zulu girls is mainly made of beadwork and is usually revealing.

Beads are the pride of the Zulu nation. Zulu beadwork encompasses a symbolic language that may include reprimands and warnings, messages of love, and encouragement. Different beads carry symbolic meanings that may be used during courtship. When a young man proposes love from a woman, she gives him a gift of betrothal beads as an indication of her acceptance of him. This acceptance is usually followed by lobolo (bride price) by which the young man pays eleven cows to the woman’s family.

Zulu

Postcard from France

2009-03-26T23:31:00.001-07:00

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot
Souvenir de Mortefontaine (1864), Louvre

Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (July 17, 1796 – February 22, 1875) was a French landscape painter and printmaker in etching. Corot was the leading painter of the Barbizon school of France in the mid-nineteenth century. He is a pivotal figure in landscape painting and his vast output simultaneously references the Neo-Classical tradition and anticipates the plein-air innovations of Impressionism.

Corot was the leading painter of the Barbizon school of France in the mid-nineteenth century. He is a pivotal figure in landscape painting. His work simultaneously references the Neo-Classical tradition and anticipates the plein-air innovations of Impressionism. Of him Claude Monet exclaimed "There is only one master here—Corot. We are nothing compared to him, nothing." His contributions to figure painting are hardly less important; Degas preferred his figures to his landscapes, and the classical figures of Picasso pay overt homage to Corot's influence.

Historians somewhat arbitrarily divided his work into periods, but the point of division is never certain, as he often completed a picture years after he began it. In his early period, he painted traditionally and "tight"—with minute exactness, clear outlines, thin brush work, and with absolute definition of objects throughout. After his 50th year his methods changed to focus on breadth of tone and an approach to poetic power conveyed with thicker application of paint, and about 20 years later, from about 1865 onwards, his manner of painting became full of mystery and poetry, created with a more impressionistic touch. In part, this evolution in expression can be seen as marking the transition from the plein-air paintings of his youth, shot through with warm natural light, to the studio-created landscapes of his late maturity, enveloped in uniform tones of silver. In his final 10 years he became the "Père (Father) Corot" of Parisian artistic circles, where he was regarded with personal affection, and acknowledged as one of the five or six greatest landscape painters the world has seen, along with Hobbema, Claude Lorrain, Turner and Constable. In his long and productive life, he painted over 3,000 paintings.

Corot approached his landscapes more traditionally than is usually believed. By comparing even his late period tree-painting and arrangements to those of Claude Lorrain, such as that which hangs in the Bridgewater gallery, the similarity in methods is seen. Compared to the Impressionists who came later, Corot’s palette is restrained, dominated with browns and blacks (“forbidden colors” among the Impressionists) along with dark and silvery green. Though appearing at times to be rapid and spontaneous, usually his strokes were controlled and careful, and his compositions well-thought out and generally rendered as simply and concisely as possible, heightening the poetic effect of the imagery. As he stated, “I noticed that everything that was done correctly on the first attempt was more true, and the forms more beautiful.”

In the 1860s, Corot became interested in photography, taking photos himself and becoming acquainted with many early photographers, which had the effect of suppressing his painting palette even more in sympathy with the monochromic tones of photographs. This had the result of making his paintings even less dramatic but somewhat more poetic, a result which caused some critics to cite a monotony in his later output. Théophile Thoré wrote that Corot “has only a single octave, extremely limited and in a minor key; a musician would say. He knows scarcely more than a single time of day, the morning, and a single color, pale grey.” Corot responded:

“What there is to see in painting, or rather what I am looking for, is the form, the whole, the value of the tones…That is why for me the color comes after, because I love more than anything else the overall effect, the harmony of the tones, while color gives you a kind of shock that I don’t like. Perhaps it is the excess of this principal that makes people say I have leaden tones.”

In his aversion to shocking color, Corot sharply diverged from the up-and-coming Impressionists, who embraced experimentation with vivid hues.

In addition to the landscapes (so popular was the late style that there exist numerous forgeries), Corot produced a number of prized figure pictures. While the subjects were sometimes placed in pastoral settings, these were mostly studio pieces, drawn from the live model with both specificity and subtlety. Like his landscapes, they are characterized by a contemplative lyricism, with his late paintings L’Algerienne (Algerian Woman) and La Jeune Grecque (The Greek Girl) being fine examples. Corot painted about fifty portraits, mostly of family and friends. He also painted thirteen reclining nudes, with his Les Repos (1860) strikingly similar in pose to Ingres famous Le Grande Odalisque (1814), but Corot’s female is instead a rustic bacchante. In perhaps his last figure painting, ‘’Lady in Blue’’ (1874), Corot achieves an effect reminiscent of Degas, soft yet expressive. In all cases of his figure painting, the color is restrained and is remarkable for its strength and purity. Corot also executed many etchings and pencil sketches. Some of the sketches used a system of visual symbols—circles representing areas of light and squares representing shadow. He also experimented with the cliché-verre process—a hybrid of photography and engraving.[50] Starting in the 1830s, Corot also painted decorative panels and walls in the homes of friends, aided by his students.

Corot summed up his approach to art around 1860, “I interpret with my art as much as with my eye.”

The works of Corot are housed in museums in France and the Netherlands, Britain and America.

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

Postcard from Finland

2009-03-26T23:25:00.001-07:00

Pettson and Findus is a series of children’s books written and illustrated by Swedish author Sven Nordqvist. The books feature an old farmer (Pettson) and his cat (Findus) who live in a small ramshackle farmhouse in the countryside. The first of the Pettson och Findus book to be published was Pannkakstårten in 1985 (first published in English in 2007 as Pancake Pie).

To date, nine story books have been published in Swedish, plus a puzzle book, song book and cook book. The books have worldwide book sales of over 6 million and have been translated into 44 languages. There are two alternative English translations of the characters' names: in the books published in the UK by Hawthorn Press, as well as those published in English by Swedish publisher Opal, they have the original names, Pettson and Findusin, while in the books published in the USA by Carolrhoda Books they are called Festus and Mercury.

In addition to the books, there are also three Pettson and Findus 75-minute long animated films, an animated TV series of 26 25-minute parts, computer games and board games. In December 1993, the Swedish TV company SVT broadcast one of the Pettson and Findus stories, Tomtemaskinen (The mechanical santa), as its annual Christmas “Advent calendar”, with one 15-minute part shown each day up until Christmas Eve. In 2000 the world of Pettson and Findus was recreated full scale at the Junibacken Children’s Museum in Stockholm.

Pettson and Findus
Pettson and Findus website - in Swedish

Postcards from Finland

2009-03-26T22:55:00.001-07:00

The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts (and later in Finnish by WSOY) in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white, round and furry in appearance, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses. The carefree and adventurous family live in their house in Moominvalley, in the forests of Finland, though in the past their temporary residences have included a lighthouse and a theatre. They have many adventures along with their various friends.

In all, nine books were released in the series, with five picture books and a comic strip also written by Jansson being released between 1945 and 1993.

The Moomins have since been the basis for numerous television series, films and even a theme park in Finland.

The books in the series, in order, are:

1. The Moomins and the Great Flood (Originally: Småtrollen och den stora översvämningen) - 1945.
2. Comet in Moominland, Some editions: The Happy Moomins - (Originally: Kometjakten/Kometen kommer) - 1946.
3. Finn Family Moomintroll (Originally: Trollkarlens hatt) - 1948.
4. The Exploits of Moominpappa, Some editions: Moominpappa's Memoirs (Originally: Muminpappans bravader/Muminpappans memoarer) - 1950.
5. Moominsummer Madness (Originally: Farlig midsommar) - 1954.
6. Moominland Midwinter (Originally: Trollvinter) - 1957.
7. Tales from Moominvalley (Originally: Det osynliga barnet) - 1962 (Short stories).
8. Moominpappa at Sea (Originally: Pappan och havet) - 1965.
9. Moominvalley in November (Originally: Sent i november) - 1970 (In which the Moomin family is absent).

The first book, known in English as The Moomins and the Great Flood (Originally: Småtrollen och den stora översvämningen) was finally published in English in 2005 (though only in Finland).

There are also five Moomin picture books by Tove Jansson:

1. The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My (Originally: Hur gick det sen) - 1952.
2. Who Will Comfort Toffle? (Originally: Vem ska trösta knyttet) - 1960.
3. The Dangerous Journey (Originally: Den farliga resan) - 1977.
4. An Unwanted Guest (Originally: Skurken i Muminhuset) - 1980 (No English translation published).
5. Songs from Moominvalley (Originally: Visor från Mumindalen) - 1993 (No English translation published).

The books and comic strips have been translated from their original Swedish and English into many languages.

Moomin
Official Finnish Moomin Website

Postcard from Saudi Arabia

2009-03-26T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA is an Arab country and the largest country of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Jordan on the northwest, Iraq on the north and northeast, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates on the east, Oman on the southeast, and Yemen on the south. The Persian Gulf lies to the northeast and the Red Sea to its west.

The Kingdom is sometimes called "The Land of the Two Holy Mosques" in reference to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam. In English, it is most commonly referred to as Saudi Arabia. The current Kingdom was founded by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, whose efforts began in 1902 when he captured the Al-Saud’s ancestral home of Riyadh, and culminated in 1932 with the proclamation and recognition of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, though its national origins go back as far as 1744 with the establishment of the First Saudi State.

Saudi Arabia is the world's leading petroleum exporter. Petroleum exports fuel the Saudi economy.

Thanks Ganesh!

Saudi Arabia

New stamps

2009-03-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

Two new stamps sets devoted to 200th anniversary of N. V. Gogol are available since 1st April 2009.

Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol (1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1809 – 4 March [O.S. 21 February] 1852) was a Ukrainian-born Russian writer. Although his early works, such as Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka, were heavily influenced by his Ukrainian upbringing and identity, he is often called the "father of modern Russian realism he was one of the first writers to criticize his country's way of life. The novels Taras Bul'ba (1835; 1842 [revised edition]) and Dead Souls (1842), the play The Inspector-General (1836, 1842), and the short stories Diary of a Madman, The Nose and The Overcoat (1842) are among his best known works. With their scrupulous and scathing realism, ethical criticism as well as philosophical depth, they remain some of the most important works of world literature.

The film by the Nikolay Gogol's book "Taras Bulba" will be released on April, 2nd 2009.

Nikolai Gogol
Works by Nikolai Gogol

New stamp

2009-03-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

New stamps set devoted to 150th anniversary of A. S. Popov is available since 16th March 2009.

Alexander Stepanovich Popov (March 16 [O.S. March 4] 1859 – January 13 [O.S. December 31, 1905] 1906) was a Russian physicist who first demonstrated the practical application of electromagnetic (radio) waves, although he did not apply for a patent for his invention.

Beginning in the early 1890s he continued the experiments of other radio pioneers, such as Heinrich Hertz. In 1894 he built his first radio receiver, a version of the coherer. Further refined as a lightning detector, it was presented to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society on May 7, 1895 — the day has been celebrated in the Russian Federation as "Radio Day". The paper on his findings was published the same year. In March 1896, he effected transmission of radio waves between different campus buildings in St Petersburg. Upon learning about Guglielmo Marconi's system, he effected ship-to-shore communication over a distance of 6 miles in 1898 and 30 miles in 1899.

Alexander Popov

Aerograms from Malaysia

2009-03-25T06:48:00.001-07:00

Thanks Khor Kok Keong!
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Postcard from Spain

2009-03-24T14:21:00.001-07:00

The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, often simply called the Sagrada Família, is a massive Roman Catholic church under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. The temple is scheduled to open for worship by September 2010.

The Sagrada Familia was designed by Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), who worked on the project for over 40 years. Gaudi devoted the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2026. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, "My client is not in a hurry." After Gaudí's death in 1926, work continued under the direction of Domènech Sugranyes until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

Parts of the unfinished church and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the lost plans as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940 the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The current director and son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol, has been introducing computers into the design and construction process since the 1980s. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial Josep Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades.

According to the newspaper El Periódico de Catalunya, 2.26 million people visited the partially built church in 2004, making it one of the most popular attractions in Spain. The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse. As of 2006, work concentrates on the crossing and supporting structure for the main tower of Jesus Christ as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave which will become the Glory façade.

Recently, the Ministry of Public Works of Spain (Ministerio de Fomento in Spanish), has projected the construction of a tunnel for the high speed train just under where the principal façade of the temple has to be built. Although the ministry claims that the project poses no risk to the church, the engineers and architects of the temple disagree as there is no guarantee that the tunnel will not affect the stability of the building. A campaign is being waged by the Sagrada Família preservation society (Patronat de la Sagrada Família) and the neighbourhood association AVE pel Litoral.

Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852–10 June 1926) – in English sometimes referred to by the Spanish translation of his name, Antonio Gaudí – was a Spanish Catalan architect who belonged to the Modernist style (Art Nouveau) movement and was famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs.

List of Gaudí buildings:

Bellesguard's Tower Barcelona 1900-1909
Casa Milà Barcelona 1905-1907
Casa Batlló Barcelona 1905-1907
Casa Botines Leon 1891-
Casa Calvet Barcelona 1888-1900
Episcopal Palace of Astorga Astorga (Leon) 1883-1913
El Capricho Comillas (Cantabria) 1889-
Sagrada Familia Barcelona 1882-now
Casa Vicens Barcelona 1883-1888
Church of Colònia Güell Santa Coloma de Cervelló(Barcelona) 1908-1914
Park Güell Barcelona 1883-1888
Palau Güell Barcelona 1885-1890
Hotel Attraction New York Only Project

Sagrada Família
Gaudi
List of Gaudí buildings

Postcard from USA

2009-03-21T07:32:00.001-07:00

The University of Alaska Fairbanks, located in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska System, and is abbreviated as Alaska or UAF. UAF is a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant institution, as well as participating in the sun-grant program through Oregon State University. It is also the site where the Alaska Constitution was signed in 1956. UAF was established in 1917 as the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, first opening for classes in 1922.

UAF is home to seven major research units: the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station; the Geophysical Institute, which operates the Poker Flat Research Range; the International Arctic Research Center; the Arctic Region Supercomputing Center; the Institute of Arctic Biology; the Institute of Marine Science; and the Institute of Northern Engineering. Located just 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the Fairbanks campus's unique location is situated favorably for Arctic and northern research. The campus's several lines of research are renowned worldwide, most notably in Arctic biology, Arctic engineering, geophysics, supercomputing, and aboriginal studies. The University of Alaska Museum of the North is also on the Fairbanks campus.

In addition to the Fairbanks campus, UAF encompasses seven rural and urban campuses: Bristol Bay Campus in Dillingham; Chukchi Campus in Kotzebue; Interior-Aleutians Campus, which covers both the Aleutian Islands and the Interior; Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel; Northwest Campus in Nome; and the Tanana Valley Campus in Fairbanks, UAF's community college arm. Fairbanks is also the home of the UAF Center for Distance Education, an independent learning and distance delivery program.

Thanks KRIS! It will be great if you will send your postal address to my e-mail.
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University of Alaska

Postcard from Philippines

2009-03-21T06:49:00.001-07:00

The Miag-ao Church was built in 1786 by Spanish Augustinian missionaries and was declared as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Baroque Churches of the Philippines" in 1993. On the front facade, which is flanked by two watchtower belfries, one can see the unique blending of Spanish and native influences.

The central feature of the bas-relief facade is a large coconut tree which reaches almost to the apex. While an integral part of the Philippine landscape, the coconut tree is also the subject of lore. According to an old Philippine legend, the coconut tree was the only bequest from a loving mother to her two children, a tree which sustained them for life. On the church's facade the coconut tree appears as the "tree of life" to which St. Christopher carrying the Child Jesus on his shoulder is clinging to. The lesser facades feature the daily life of Miagaowanons during the time. Also depicted are other native flora and fauna, as well as native dress.

The church and its watchtowers were also built to defend the town and its people against raids by the Moros. It therefore has thick walls and, reportedly, secret passages. Indeed stretching along the Iloilo coast are defensive towers, but none that equal the size of the Miag-ao. It is because of this defensive purpose that it is sometimes referred to as the Miag-ao Fortress Church.

Thanks ROD!
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Miag-ao Church
Baroque Churches of the Philippines

Postcard from Germany

2009-03-21T03:16:00.000-07:00