Road Safety in Hong Kong

Two stamps from a cute set of four issued by Hong Kong Post in May of 2026 on the theme of "Road Safety". They are on the official first-day envelope but not first-day postmarked. The image in the postmark is that of the new Hong Kong Post headquarters where the postmark was applied. And below that is a handstamp for the Macau 2026 specialize stamp expo held at the end of June in 2026.

100th Anniversary of the Rax Cable Car. Austria.

The postmark on this cover from Austria commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Rax cable car. I believe it is the first-day postmark for a stamp that commemorates the occasion as well. The cable car takes passengers up the Rax mountain range in eight minutes to a height of 1600m above sea level.

The stamps from left to right are: 

• A 2017 stamp from the Austrian Inventions series that commemorates the typewriters invented by Peter Mitterhofer. He built several advanced prototypes between 1864 and 1869 that were never produced commercially.
• A 2018 stamp from the Classic Costume series. This one features Thayataler Trachten: traditional folkdress from the Thaya region.
• And finally, a 2018 stamps that addresses generational issues. It's a graphical representation of co-existence, with young and old occupying the same space.

First Flight Across the South Atlantic from Portugal to Brazil

On this Brazilian cover from Palmeira dos Índios are a set of stamps from 2022 that commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first flight across the South Atlantic Ocean. In 1922 Portuguese aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral used three different float planes to hop to the Brazilian coast from Lisbon via the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Fernando de Noronha.

70 Years of EUROPA Stamps, Germany FDC

On this cover is a first-day postmarked 2026 Europa stamp from Germany. This year the EUROPA theme marks the 70th anniversary of the EUROPA stamp and each participating country has issued stamps with a common design representing the perforations along the edges of a stamp. The larger line of "dots" running diagonally across the stamp are actually cut through the stamp, perforating it.

Pet Dogs in Taiwan

The pair of stamps on this cover from Taiwan are from a 2025 set of ten featuring dogs and cats. On the right is a Shetland Sheepdog and on the left is a Shiba Inu.

Hobbit Holes in New Zealand

I received this postcard from my daughter who was travelling though New Zealand earlier this month. She had time to drop by Matamata to see the movie sets where they filmed scenes from "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". It's a very popular tourist stop between Auckland and Rotorua.

The postcard came with this stamp that I found unfamiliar. It's from a private New Zealand mail carrier called The New Zealand Document Exchange or DX Mail. She dropped this off at a New Zealand Post  postbox in Christchurch but it ended up with a postmark implying it went through a bulk carrier in Wellington.

She also brought back these recent FDCs with illustrated artwork featuring common plants that are foraged around New Zealand: Kawakawa, Bladder Kelp, Watercress and Fennel. Beautiful stamps. 

Summer Greetings from Shizuoka, Japan

Stamps from the annual Summer Greetings series from Japan Post. Soft-serve ice cream on the right and warabi mochi on the left. These are from a sheet of ten 85 yen stamps that all feature popular summer snack foods. The other sheet in the set has ten 110 yen stamps featuring fruit items that are popular in the summer, like the pineapple pictured in the first-day postmark.

Eureka Weather Station, Canada

It's been a while since I've received mail from Eureka: the Canadian weather station on Ellesmere Island. The postmark has been refreshed a little since then. And I guess Canada Post felt the stamp was too colourful for this cover so they decided to spoil it for me. Good job.

The Eureka research and weather station is quite far north, but not the most northern research station. That would be the Canadian military and research station of Alert which is about 400km north of Eureka, on the north tip of Ellesmere island. But Alert doesn't have a post office.

Summer Festivals in the Touhoku Region, Japan

The stamps on this cover from Shizuoka are from 1999 and feature two summer festivals held annually in Japan's Touhoku region. The Sendai Tanabata Festival is on the left and the Soma Nomaoi Festival is on the right. Sendai's Tanabata Festival is one of Japan's largest star festivals that celebrates the reuniting of two celestial lovers: Orihime and Hikoboshi. The city's streets are decorated with large paper ornaments (kazari) with long colourful streamers. Soma's Nomaoi Festival is an annual event in which hundreds of horseback riders dressed as samurai compete in traditional events and battles. It has been an annual tradition for over 1000 years.

80th Anniversary of the United Nations, Tunisia

A cover commemorating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations from the Ennasr district of Ariana, north of Tunis. The stamp was issued by La Poste Tunisienne in 2025.

A small collection of stamps from India

From Chakkarapalli, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. A small assortment of stamps. Top right is a 2004 Olympic Games stamp. Top middle are a pair of stamps from 2011 commemorating the 10th presidential naval fleet review, with a MiG-29K on the right and the Presidents yacht on the left. Interesting combination. Far left is a 2026 commemorative the honors the shadow puppetry art known as Ravanchhaya. I like that one. And the final stamp honors those who dealt with controlling COVID in 2020.

Street Painters in France

On this cover from France are a pair of recent stamps. The 2026 stamp on the left features street painters, like the ones you would see in tourist areas in Paris. And the stamp on the right is from a 2025 booklet features images of the oceans. I believe the island on this stamp is part of the Glénan Islands.

Mailed in the envelope was this lovely old philatelic souvenir card from 1973. The first-day postmarked stamp commemorates the 46th annual National Philately Congress that was held in Toulouse that year. The image on the card is one of those silk prints that was popular or philatelic items back in the day. It's an image of the tower of the Toulouse capital buildings. Built in 1525, the structure has been the location of the city's tourist office since 1948.

Spanish Architecture

Here's a cover from Vigo on the north-east coast of Spain. On the left are a pair of stamps from a 2007 set showing Spanish architecture with the Market of Santa Caterina in Barcelona on the left and Terminal T4 at Barajas Airport in Madrid on the right. Top-right is a stamp from a 2002 showing Castillo de los Priores in Calatorao, Zaragoza. And below that is a 2002 stamp commemorating the founding of the city of Tudela in 1200.

Animal Illustrations by Kuwagata Keisai, Japan

The stamps on this cover from Osaka are from a 2019 set that features illustrations by ukiyo-e artist Kuwagata Keisai that are part of his 1797 "Abbreviated Drawing Styles for Birds and Animals" collection. On the right is an owl and on the left, a quail.

125th anniversary of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade, Serbia

On this cover from Sremski Karlovci, Serbia, is a set of four stamps from 2020 that commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade. Clockwise from top-right:

• The last bear of Jastrebac mountain, shot in 1885 by King Milan I Obrenović
• Jarandolite, a rare calcium borate mineral, found by geologist Dobrica Stojanović and described in 1992
• This one is a lable: a rare fungus, Myriostoma coliforme, commonly known as the saltshaker earthstar or pepper pot.
• A fossilized skull of an extinct crooked horned antelope
• Rtanjska metvica (a type of mint) that is critically endangered and endemic to Mt. Rtanj in Serbia

Artemis II Launch Cover

This is the Artemis II commemorative launch postmark that was (and I believe still is) available from the USPS. I got this one from the Cape Canaveral "Astronaut Blvd" post office and had it datestamped April 1: launch day. I previously received a cover with the Artemis II Mission Control postmark which also turned out well.

Algerian Traditional Dishes, FDC

On this cover are a pair of recent stamps from a set of four that feature traditional Algerian cusine. On the left is tikourbabine which is a stew combining semolina dumplings, vegetables and chickpeas in a spiced broth. And on the right is a tomato based soup and hand-made pasta dish known called chorba mkatfa.

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.

Pordenone, Italy

The 2025 stamp on the right commemorates the 50th anniversary of Gardaland: the 8th most visited theme park in Europe. It's in Castelnuovo del Garda, not too far from Verona. And the 2025 stamp on the left commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Fiamme Gialle Ski Club. This is the ski club of the Italian Financial Police.

Switzerland's Kleine Emme River

Definitives on this one from Riva San Vitale in Switzerland. The stamp on the right is from a 2023 set of eight stamps showing river landscapes found in Switzerland. On this stamp is the Kleine Emme river near Lucerne. Beside that is a 1982 definitive depicting the Zodiac sign Aquarius and Bern's Old Town. And on the left is a 2022 coin definitive with a 10 centime coin on it.

Fujiyoshida Cherry Blossoms, Japan

I was reading about this place in Japan that had cancelled their cherry blossom festival because of over tourism. There is viewing platform in a park that offers this amazing view of Mt Fuji and in the spring when the cherry blossoms are out it is an extremely popular destination. 

There is a post office in Fujiyoshida with a landscape postmark that depicts this view. It's an older postmark but apparently it's still in use. I found this old Fuji postcard so I stamped it and sent if off to the post office in Fujiyoshida to see what came back. 

A big one from Pakistan

This envelope is quite large actually, and has stamps on the front and back. Postmarked at the philatelic bureau in Rawalpindi. Twin to neighboring Islamabad. The 2025 souvenir sheet on the right commemorates international women's day. At the top is a 2025 stamp commemorating the five year economic plans launched in 2024 known as URAAN. And on the left is 2026 stamp that commemorates the 25th anniversary of the PARCO Mid-Country Oil Refinery.

More on the back. At the top is a pair of 2025 stamps commemorating the 75 anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Bottom left is a 2014 stamp commemorating the 2013 100th anniversary of Pakistan's paramilitary police force: the Frontier Constabulary. And bottom right is a 2 rupee Jinnah definitive.

Algerian Flora and Fauna

Here's a recent souvenir sheet from Algérie Poste featuring local flora and fauna. On the top are stamps depicting green mint and wild thyme. And on the bottom are the African golden wolf and the cat-like  and elusive genet.

Norway's Thor Heyerdahl

Here is set of stamps issued in 2014 to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl. The raft in the stamp on the left was used in his 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition to sail (drift) from Peru to Easter Island. And the one of the right is the Ra II which he used to sail from Africa to Barbados in 1970. His theories on migration are controversial and perhaps somewhat racist. But he did prove it would have been possible for ancient peoples to cross vast oceans using the limited tools and technology they had available at the time. 

More Than Meets The Eye!

Nothing really special here. Machine cancel from Florida. However, the cover does have an imperf stamp pair on it. Or more correctly, a pair that lacks die-cuts, because all US stamps are self-adhesive. This was a 2021 stamp issue that contains a hidden message in the design that isn't all that hard to figure out. USPS sells sheets or plates of stamps without die-cuts at face value but only in limited quantities. They tend to sell out fast and usually end up on the resale market.

Two Birds and a Helicopter from Mauritius

Perfectly postmarked at the Tribecca Mall in Trianon, in the Plaines Wilhems District near the center of the tropical paradise known as Mauritius. On the left is a Rodrigues Parrot stamp from the 2025 Extinct Species 3 definitive set. In the middle is a 2013 stamp showing a Mascarene Swallow. And the stamp on the right is from a 2024 set commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Mauritius Police Helicopter Squadron.

Les cabanes à sucre

The Canadian province of Quebec produces over 70% of the world's maple syrup. Sugar shacks and the maple syrup they produce are an important part of Québécois culture in Canada. During the spring when the maple sap flows, these shacks become popular meeting places for enjoying traditional food and activities. Canada Post recently issued these stamps, in the shape of maple syrup tins, to honor the sugar shack tradition.

Serbian Underwater Flora and Fauna

On this cover from Novi Sad are a pair of 2024 Europa stamps. The theme that year was underwater flora and fauna. On the left is a European pond turtle and on the right is a white water lily. And something else I just noticed: Latin alphabet on the left and Cyrillic on the right.