Small Collection of stamps from Chile

A little group of individual stamps on this cover from Concepcion in central Chile. Clockwise from top-left: 

• a 2015 stamp commemorating the 120th anniversary of the State Defense Council, 
• a 2023 UPAEP stamp. The theme in 2023 was "philately and the postage stamp"
• a 2011 stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the the Chilean National Congress
• a 2011 stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Chilean state-owned firearms and munitions manufacturer FAMAE. I was expecting more guns on that stamp. It wasn't instantly apparent from the imagery what it was about.

Valentine's Day Greetings from the Philippines

On this cover from the city of Taguig are 2026 Valentine's Day stamps features popular Valentine's Day flowers, with Alstroemerea on the left and Lilies on the right. The postmark comes from the post office at Market! Market! Mall. It appears to be a shopping mall complex that blends traditional and modern shopping experiences with a large indoor flea market area and an area for food stalls right next door. It's the kind of place I'd be spending a chunk of time in if I were to ever visit Taguig.

Fifty Years of Achievements in Space, United Nations Geneva

From the Geneva office. The two stamps are from a 2007 set of three and a souvenir sheet, with three different issues across the three UN offices. They commemorate 50 years of achievements in space, declaring space for humanity.

Brazil - Romania Joint Issue from 2015

The pair of Brazilian stamps at the top is from 2015 and is a joint issue between Brazil and Romania. Each stamp features a sculpture of the biblical character "Eve" with Brazilian Victor Brecheret's interpretation on the left and Romanian Gheorghe Leonida's interpretation on the right. Below that is a 2002 stamp from a souvenir sheet that brings attention to the environmental protection area for the Southern Right Whale. Unlike their northern Atlantic cousins, the southern right whales are not endangered. 

Artemis II Mission Control

During the recent Artemis II moon mission a couple of commemorative postmarks were made available from the USPS. I got this one from the Hadley Street Post Office in Houston, Texas. It shows the Orion capsule Integrity against the moon with the flight controllers back at Houston Mission Control. I had it datestamped April 6: the day Integrity came within 6500km of the lunar surface.

Colorado Statehood 150th Anniversary, USA FDC

First-day postmarked USPS stamps commemorating the 150th anniversary of the state of Colorado. First thing I think about when I think of Colorado is the Rocky Mountains. And John Denver for some reason. Probably because of his song about the Rocky Mountains. He used to live in Colorado, but not in Denver. That's pretty much everything I know about Colorado. I guess now I can add that I know it's been a state for 150 years.

World Veterinary Association Congress 2026, Japan FDC

The 41st World Veterinary Association Congress was held in Tokyo between the 21st and 24th of April of 2026. The World Veterinary Association mission is to provide global leadership for the veterinary profession and promote animal health and welfare. Their first congress was held in 1863.

50th Anniversary of East German Antarctic Research at Georg Forester

Recent "stamp of the month" postmark produced by Deutsche Post to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the East German Antarctic Research Base Georg Forester on 21 April 1976.

Port-aux-Français on Kerguelen Island

From the French research station of Port-aux-Français on Kerguelen Island in the South Indian Ocean. Throughout the year, 50 to 120 people live and work here: scientists, engineers and military personnel. The 2025 TAAF stamp shows the L'Astrolabe approaching Adélie Land in Antarctica to supply Dumont d'Urville Station.

German Antarctic Research Station Georg Forester

On this cover is a first-day postmarked 2026 stamp from Germany commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the East-German Antarctic Research Station Georg Forester. The base ceased operation in 1993 and was dismantled in 1996.

Here's a 1988 cover commemorating the second East-German Antarctic Expedition. The stamp from 1988 shows a rendering of the the station. And in the postmark is a portrait of Georg Forester, for whom the base was named. He was one of the first Germans to set foot on Antarctic lands when he visited the island of South Georgia in 1775.

The Fibula of Dorestad

The Europa 2025 theme was "National Archaeological Discoveries" and the stamp issued by Post NL for the Netherlands features the Fibula of Dorestad. The guilded broach was found inside a well in 1969 in the town of Wijk bij Duurstede. It was likely hidden there during Viking raids of 850AD in what was then the trading post of Dorestad.

The South Sandwich Islands

From the British Antarctic Survey 's King Edward Point research station on the island of South Georgia in the South Atlantic. The stamps, showing a snow petrel and Cook Island, were from a 2021 set of six showing landscapes and fauna from the South Sandwich Islands. It was the first in an annual series of four. The South Sandwich Islands are a chain of 11 volcanic islands 700km southeast of South Georgia.