Floral Greetings from Finland

The flowers on this year's floral greetings stamps from Finland's Posti are roses and malva flowers, on the left and right on this cover respectively. Way too early for flowers to bloom here right now. Helsinki too I imagine. But these stamps give those of us who have had to put up with a cold and snowy winter something to look forward to. 

Terre Adélie 76

A nice cover from the French Antarctic research base Dumont d'Urville. Stamped and signed by expedition participant and chemist-glaciologist Clémence Ferrand. The red handstamp in the middle appears to be that of the MV Astrolabe with it's slogan "Toujours plus sud": always further south. They were able to supply the base on 23 November 2025 which matches the datestamp in the postmarks.

Germany's Hildegard Knef

This is from the German town of Polch: a little to the west of Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate. The 2025 stamp on the left commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of legendary German actress and singer Hildegard Knef.

Hong Kong, Year of the Horse

On this cover from Hong Kong is one of the four stamps from the 2026 Year of the Horse issue by Hong Kong Post. The $1 definitive on the left I've seen before but the 50c definitive is new to me. It's from a 2025 set that shows various landmarks around Hong Kong. And on this stamp is the Hakka village of
Lai Chi Wo.

AAT Krill Stamps from Seymour

From the Australian town of Seymour, north of Melbourne. The two stamps on the left are Australian Antarctic Territory stamps from a 2025 set of four depicting Antarctic krill. AAT stamps can be used on Australian mail just as Australian stamps can be used on AAT mail. The heart shaped stamp with the penguins is a personalized stamp.

The First Swedish Astronaut

The block of stamps on the left were issued in 2009 and they feature scenes from December 2006 when Sweden's Christer Fuglesang became the first Swede in space. During his time at the ISS he carried out three space walks. The stamp on the right is from a 2020 set showcasing Swedish doors. 

German Pets, FDC

A love bird is featured on this first-day postmarked 2026 pets stamp from Deutsche Post. It's part of an annual series that started in 2023 I believe. I think the postmark is just as cute as the stamp.

A Journey Through Italy's Most Beautiful Villages

The postmark commemorates Poste Italiane's publication of the book "A Journey Through Italy's Most Beautiful Villages. One Hundred Portraits of Wonder Through Philately". It is the third and final volume in a book series that promotes small towns in Italy by presenting stamps and postmarks that commemorate them. And the stamp on this cover is a 2023 issue that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Arena di Verona opera festival.

Falkland Islands Queen Elizabeth II Reissue

Postmarked in Stanley: the capital city of the Falkland Islands. The stamp lower left was originally part of a 2021 set issued to commemorate the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. But after her passing the set was reissued in 2023 and this stamp is from that reissued set. The two stamps on the right are from 2021 and feature paintings of settlements in the Falklands painted by Mike Peake.

Tokyo Skytree

I finally received the last postcard I sent myself from Tokyo. This one I sent from the 350m observation deck of the Skytree. It is the tallest broadcast and observation tower in the world. All mail dropped off in the special mailbox on the observation deck goes to the nearby Mukojima Post Office where they apply a special postmark. The postmark shows the Skytree as seen from the Sakurabashi pedestrian bridge with the Sakurabashi monument in the foreground.

Quite a few post offices around the Skytree have postmarks that feature the tower which makes sense since you can see it from quite far away. We wandered past a couple of those post offices during our travels.

 

The postmark on the card above came from the main Asakusa Post Office. It features the Kaminari Gate of nearby Sensoji Temple and the Skytree in the background. The outline of the postmark is in the shape of a Japanese paper lantern known as a Chochin. The other handstamps on this card I found at the Asakusa tourist office across the street from Kaminari Gate.

And here's another postmark with the Skytree on this card featuring Kaminari Gate. I had this postmark applied at the Honjo-Azumabashi Post Office which is between the Skytree and the Azuma bridge that crosses the Sumida river. You can see the bridge in the postmark as well as the Asahi Brewery headquarters. I believe the frame that outlines the postmark is in the shape of a cherry blossom. And the Skytree eki stamp came from the stamping station next to the postbox at the Skytree.

Sri Lankan UNESCO World Heritage Site Sigiriya

The stamps on this cover postmarked in Colombo are a 2023 set depicting the rock fortress Sigiriya: a UNESCO world heritage site. Sigiriya means lion rock. The granite column was once the site of a 5th century palace. The complex on and around the rock are well preserved and are a popular tourist destination.

Spring Greetings FDC from Shizuoka, Japan

A pair of stamps from this year's Spring Greetings issue from Japan Post, first-day postmarked in Shizuoka. I believe that's an otter holding a fish in the first day postmark.