The Bread Thief, Japan FDC

This first-day postmarked cover from the Japanese city of Shizuoka features stamps depicting scenes from the Japanese award-winning children's book series Pan Dorobō (The Bread Thief) written by Keiko Shibata. The set of 10 stamps is the ninth in the annual series "The World of Children's Picture Books".

Merry Christmas from Toronto, Canada

I believe this is the first time in over 13 years of cover circuit club memberships that I've ever received a circuit from a member in my own country. And I found it to be an interesting cover. It's a Christmas card that was sealed around the edges, addressed and stamped. What a smart idea. An interesting way to reuse a greeting card.

Christmas Scenes from Liechtenstein, FDC

A nice Christmas FDC from Liechtenstein with a set of 2025 Christmas stamps featuring scenes from historical greeting cards held at the the Liechtenstein National Archives. Thank You Mr. Jan Geiert.

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.