Friday, November 23, 2012

Kenya 10-11-12

From my friend Bhavin in Nakuru, this nice cover with a recently issued strip of Professor Wangari Muta Maathai stamps on it. Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist and was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She passed away in 2011.


What made this cover even more interesting was the date in the postmark: 10-11-12. Nice touch. Thanks Bhavin.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Le Salon philatélique d'automne 2012

I see my friend François has recently made the trip to Paris for the 66th fall philatelic exhibition. Thank you for the cover François.

Bürgel, Germany



Saturday, November 17, 2012

Plattsburgh NY - War of 1812

The Battle of Plattsburgh took place on land and water (Lake Champlain) between 6 and 11 September 1814. It was an American victory and the last time the British would attempt to invade the United States before the war ended in December of 1814.


Hyllinge, Sweden




The History of Alderney Harbour



Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Patna, India

A cover from Patna, on the south bank of the Ganges. Happy Diwali.


Thursday, November 8, 2012

Space Shuttle Endeavour - Final Mission Station

After the US ended their space shuttle program, it was decided that the four remaining shuttles would be donated to museums to be put on display. Endeavour was given to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. It was flown from Florida to LAX on top of a jumbo jet which is an amazing thing to see in itself. But the real challenge was getting the shuttle from the airport to the science center: 12 miles away. That part of the journey started at LAX on 12 Oct and it took two days to transport the massive shuttle, with its 78 foot wing span, through the streets of LA.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/us/space-shuttle-endeavour-rolls-through-los-angeles.html

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Sveagruva, Norway

Sveagruva is a mining settlement on Spitsbergen island, 60km south of Longyearbyen. It is the largest coal mine on the island and employs over 300 people who all live in Longyearbyen. Nobody permanently lives in Svea and yet, they have a post office there. The animal on this faded postmark is a muskox.