Seville, Spain

The envelope and postmarks commemorate the 13th century Iglesia de Santa Ana in Seville. All stamps are from 2017. Top right is a tourism stamp and part of a set (and a joint issue) that commemorates 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The other two stamps are from a set celebrating Spainsh cinema. On the left is Spanish film actress Lina Morgan. And lower right is Spanish film director Vicente Aranda. 

The Discovery of the Kerguelen Islands

There is usually a lot more to see on covers from the TAAF islands. Oh well. Both stamps are from 2022. The bottom stamp is one of the pair of annual TAAF mineral stamps. On this one is the mineral Serpentinite. And the top stamp commemorates the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Kerguelen Islands.

The 2023 TAAF stamps will be available soon. You can see them in the January 2023 edition of PhilInfo.

Merry Christmas from Finland

Christmas stamps from Finland featuring gingerbread coming to life. With nice Christmas postmarks from Helsinki.

Traditional Malaysian Cakes and Headwear

Postmarked at a post office in the state of Sengalor. I'm guessing the national mail center in Shah Alam. The pair of stamps on the right from 2022 feature traditional Malaysian cakes: Kuih Alok and Kuih Bakar. And the pair on the left, also from 2022, showcase traditional Malaysian male headwear: Tempok and Lavung Tepo/Dok.

North Pole, Alaska

Recent US space stamps on a cover from North Pole Alaska. Located just outside Fairbanks, North Pole is apparently known for year-round Christmas decorations but I'm sure there is more going on there than just 24/7 Christmas celebrations. Looking at the weather in North Pole AK this morning (19 December at 9AM) it is -39C. That's pretty cold for this time of year, even for central Alaska.

The stamps on the right are Moon Landing anniversary stamps from 2019. And on the lower left is the Eclipse stamp from 2017. That's the one with thermochromic ink. If you put your finger over the blacked-out moon for a few seconds the ink fades and you can see the moon beneath it. 

Sevaganapalli, India

Sevaganapalli is a villiage in the north-west corner of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, just a few kilometres south-east of the city of Bengaluru. The souvenir sheet on this cover is a joint issue with Canada from 2017, celebrating Diwali: the festival of lights.

This interesting maximum card was included in the envelope. The postmark commemorates Martyrs' Day on January 30th which is the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948. The stamp from 2021 commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gandhi's first visit to the Indian state of Odisha.

Greetings from Sweden

Greeting stamps from Sjöbo Sweden. The stamps are coil stamps from 2019 that were part of a set that don't commemorate anything. They're just stamps for sending mail. The stamp with the rings was probably meant for wedding invitations. I'm not sure about the clouds. Expressing condolences perhaps.

The Queen's 90th Birthday, UK

Another padded envelope, this time from the UK with "North & West Yorksire" postmarks. However the souvenir sheet, issued in 2016 to commemorate the Queen's 90th birthday, is also first-day postmarked with a postmark that was sponsored by the Royal Mint (not the official Royal Mail FD postmark).  But that postmark was not applied to the envelope. And it does not look like the stamp sheet was previously used as there are still areas of undisturbed gum on the back of it. I think that postmark was applied to the sheet in the past, cancelled to order, and the sheet was eventually used on this cover. Previously postmarked stamps were used to mail this envelope.

After 31 January 2023 the machin stamps on the right will no longer be valid for postage as the Royal Mail are moving to barcoded stamps. So this is likely the last time I will see those stamps on a cover from the UK.

Prague, Czech Republic

A small padded envelope from the Czech Republic that came to me with a few coins in it. I am pretty sure that from what I can make out of postal code on the postmark, it came through Prague. The stamp from 2010 shows the famous Alphonse Mucha "Zodiac" print, distributed by the French magazine La Plume in 1897.

Christmas Island, Nova Scotia

Christmas postmarks from Christmas Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. Christmas Island is a small community on Cape Breton Island and not actually an island itself although it's name is connected to a small island (known as Christmas Island) that is within the boundary of the municipality. I try to acquire postmarks from this post office every year. 

This was the annual holiday postcard sent to Canada Post online customers. The colour and design of each bird house matches each of the three non-secular holiday stamps issued by Canada Post this year.

Hessisch Lichtenau, Germany

Christmas stamps, sent to me from the town of Hessisch Lichtenau. Peaceful Christmas on the left. And on the right an Angel bringing a message of great joy, taken from the painting "Annunciation to the shepherds" by Sano di Pietro. Thank you Martin. It was good to hear from you again.

Dawson City, Yukon Territory

New postmark? Maybe. Certainly new to me. Dawson City was known for being at the center of the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890's. With over 1500 residents it is currently the second largest town in Yukon Territory. The stamp commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Summit Series which was an eight game hockey series played between Canada and the Soviet Union in 1972. Canada won.