Discovery of Antarctica, Portugal

The stamp sheet from Portugal is from an issue that commemorates the discovery of Antarctica. The stamps on the sheet show several species of fauna that inhabit the Antarctic region, above and below the water line. Only about 10% of an iceberg rests above the surface of the water.

It took centuries to fully "find" Antarctica. Some places were even discovered multiple times and given different names due to the poor accuracy of navigational instrumentation at the time. GPS would have helped. And a way to share information, like the internet.

Thank you Pedro for this excellent cover!

Pope Francis visits Canada, Vatican City

When I sent this to the Vatican post office I requested some nice postmarks. And that's what I got. The postmark commemorates Pope Francis' recent visit to Canada July 24-30. The stamp on the left commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Inspectorate of Vatican Public Security (in 2020). In the middle is a 2022 stamp that commemorates the 1900th anniversary of the Martyrdom of Saint Marcian. And on the right from 2021, the 150th anniversary of the Congregation of Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception.

Asturias, Spain

I can't make out the postmarks but I'm pretty sure it's from the Asturias region. In the middle is a 2022 stamp advertising the San Fermín festival (Pamplona, running of the bulls). And above that is a poinsettia from 2006. On the right is a 2022 stamp block showing the town of Calaceite from a set featuring charming villages. And on the left are a few King Felipe VI stamps to round out the bunch.

Viña del Mar, Chile

From the coastal city of Viña del Mar, a pair of 2019 stamps from a set of four commemorating the 100th anniversary of the University of Concepción. 

National Stamp Week 1976, Australia

This is an Australian FDC from 1976 for the National Stamp Week stamp featuring William Blamire Young: the designer of the Kangaroo & Map stamp from 1913. Bottom-left is a Squatter Pigeon stamp from a 2021 set featuring pigeons and doves. And in the middle are two stamps from a 2021 set featuring contemporary Australian sculpture with Inge King on the top and Lex Namponan on the bottom. And to round it all off, a 5c Coral Rabbitfish from 2010.

Spider-Man FDC from Germany

Commemorating 60 years since the first appearance of Spider-Man in Marvel's "Amazing Fantasy" #15 in August 1962. It is also the first stamp in a new series of superhero stamps from Germany.

St. Louis, Missouri. USA

A little cover from St Louis Missouri with a roll-on postmark and Backyard Games forever stamps from 2021. Tetherball and baseball. Some 10c pears bring them up to the international rate.

Panama City

I see two different postmarks. Some say "Panama Este" and one has 0823 on it which happens to be a postal code for Plaza Concordia in Panama City. I'm not sure what Panama Este refers to. There is a province called Panama West. Could Panama Este refer to the province of Panama which is east of the canal?

The 2019 stamp on the left shows the Basilica of Jesus Nazareno in Atalaya. It is one stamp from a 2019 World Youth Day series showing minor Basilicas in Panama. The stamp to the left is from a 2021 (I think) set that commemorates the 500th anniversary (in 2019) of the founding of Panama City. The stamp shows the Old Panama City cathedral ruins. It has a rough texture applied to the ruins in the image which I believe is rock dust form the ruins of the old city. And the last stamp from 2021 commemorates the 200th anniversary of Panama's independence from Spain.

Harrisonburg, Virginia. USA

From the city of Harrisonburg Virginia. A couple of recent George Morrison stamps: Spirit Path, New Day, Red Rock Variation: Lake Superior Landscape (1990) in the middle and to the right, Untitled (1995). Ralph Bunche from 1982 adds an extra 20c to get to the USPS international letter rate.

Boise, Idaho. USA

Happy Birthday stamps from 2002 and Legends of Baseball stamps from 2000 with Rogers Hornsby on the top and Lefty Grove on the bottom.