Water Damaged at Scott Base?

I sometimes enjoy receiving covers from far away places that actually look like they've traveled from far away. Not always, but sometimes. Like this one that came back to me from New Zealand's Scott Base (via Christchurch) in the Ross Dependency. It was water damaged enough that my address had been partially washed out but still, it found it's way back to me. Someone at the sorting center wrote in my street address beneath the label. Maybe it was dropped in the snow outside the base, or fell onto the deck of the supply ship on it's way back to me. More likely though it was damaged somewhere closer to home. 

Christmas Island, Canada

That time of year again. This postmark from the Christmas Island post office gets a refresh every now and then and I think this is the first time I've received this particular iteration. The small community of Christmas Island sits on the shore Nova Scotia's Bras d'Or Lake, in the middle of Cape Breton Island. Bras d'Or Lake is actually an estuary that drains into the Atlantic, and is classified as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Ōigawa Railway Postmark from Shimada, Japan

The postmark on this cover from the former town of Kanaya, now part of Shimada, depicts the Japanese Government Railway's C10 No. 8. It was built in 1930 and is the only surviving C10-type locomotive in service with Ōigawa Railway Company. The 40km Ōigawa railway line terminates at Kanaya station. The stamp on the left is a 1998 letter writing day stamp that features artwork by Itō Jakuchū, and the stamp on the right from 1993 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Agricultural Research Center.

Small Collection of Stamps from Norway

The pair of stamps at the top from 2023 are from a set showcasing the scenic beauty of Noway. Lower left is a stamp from a 2024 set that commemorated the Norwegian town of Bodø being recognized as the European Capital of Culture in 2024. And lower right is a stamp from a 2014 set promoting tourism in Norway and Viking Culture.

Algeria and the UN

A first-day cover from Algeria commemorating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and Algerian Diplomacy Day. The UN was founded on 24 October 1945. Algeria was admitted to the UN on 8 October 1962: 3 months after gaining independence.

30 Years of Diplomatic Relations between China and Monaco

This colourful cover is from Suzhou, China. The 2025 flower stamps are a joint issue with Monaco commemorating 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The stamps on the left depict Boat Orchids  (Cymbidium) which is an orchid that grows in China. It is the worlds oldest horticultural orchid. And the stamps on the right depict Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium) which is the floral emblem of Monaco.

The World's Largest Mushrooms in Vilna, Alberta

Vilna is a village in central Alberta that is named after the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, and for the Ukrainian word for "free" (вільна). Wild mushrooms do grow in the area and hunting for them is a local tradition. But the large mushrooms in the postmark are actually 6m tall sculptures of Tricholoma uspale mushrooms in Vilna's mushroom park.

Raising Awareness During The Algerian Revolution

On this first-day cover from Algeria is a 2025 souvenir sheet commemorating the importance of mobilization and awareness-raising during the Algerian revolution. During the revolution from 1954 to 1962, the leaders of the Algerian National Liberation Front had to travel the country to promote their ideas and mobilize the people. It's how things had to be done before advanced cellular networks and social media.

Indonesia's Youth Pledge Day

From the Indonesian town of Purworejo in the province of Central Java. The stamps from 2023 commemorate the 95th anniversary of Youth Pledge Day. It's a nationalist celebration that was started in 1928 at a youth conference when a declaration of national unity was made: one motherland, one nation, and one language. It was part of a larger push for independence from Dutch rule, which was achieved at the end of the Indonesian National Revolution in 1949.

Vintage Automobiles of Spain

This was sent from Seville, from the outer barrio of La Negrilla. The souvenir sheet is from 2012 and features vintage automobiles that were popular in Spain at one time. I visited Seville once in the 90's. I don't think we spent much more than 24 hours there but I remember it quite well. It was very lively and colourful. Perhaps because there was a festival going on, but I like to believe that's the way it always is there.

The Founding of Quebec City in 1608

A nice postmark from Quebec City commemorating the founding of the city in 1608 by French explorer Samuel de Champlain. The stamp is a 2025 Truth and Reconciliation stamp featuring the right side of the  Brentwood Box commissioned by the Truth and Reconciliation commission in 2009. 

The 34th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference in Åland

This cover is from the Åland capital of Marihamn. The 2025 stamp on the right is an abstract map of the Baltic region, with the countries around the Baltic Sea Represented by the colours of their flags, showing Åland’s location between Sweden and Finland. The stamp was issued to coincide with the 34th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC) held in August of 2025 in Mariehamn. The stamp on the left from 2005 depicts the Schooner "Linden" in the summer.