Třebechovice pod Orebem, Czech Republic

From the Czech town of Třebechovice pod Orebem. The stamp on the right is an old paddle steamer: the Vltava. At first I thought the engraved stamps next to it was an older stamp but it's not that old. 2012. It is an image of the Baťa Canal. I wish more stamps were made this way.

Greenland, Fish in Nordic Waters FDC

Mackerel and herring stamps from Greenland. Their contribution to the Norden 2018 joint issue.

France, Héros de la Résistance 2017

Received this from La Baule, France a few days ago. Thank You François! La Baule is a seaside resort in Brittany on the western coast of France. The stamp used is from a limited annual collection of modern reproductions of classic French stamps: "Trésors de la Philatélie". In this case a 2017 reproduction of the 1957 10F stamp commemorating Henri Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves.

He was a naval officer when France was invaded by Germany during the Second World War. After the Armistice of 1940 he joined the resistance and established a spy network in France. But he was captured and eventually executed on 29 August 1941.

Caxias do Sul, Brazil

Czech Antarctic Station

I came across this website the other day: http://www.antarcticfoundation.cz/en/postcard/. The Czech Republic, specifically Masaryk University, operate a small research base off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula on James Ross Island. The base is the Gregor Johann Mendel Polar Station and can house up to 20 during the summer. To generate a bit of income, or perhaps just to promote the base, they offer postcards for sale with an option to have them mailed from the base. Unfortunately they only accept payment through bank transfer.

Almost seven years ago I contacted someone at the University who was involved with research at the base and I asked if he could send something back to me during his next expedition. He was happy to accommodate my strange request. I had to supply two covers: one with Chilean stamps and another with Argentine. Sometimes they had contact with the Argentine base Marambio, but usually it was the Chilean navy. Both covers came back trough Chile but only the Chilean cover (this one) had a postmark. I had forgotten about this cover until I saw that website with the postcards.

I think if someone were to send a cover with Czech postage on it to the Czech Antarctic Foundation, they might be willing to send it back with the base stamp on it. But I`m not sure if they would be willing to carry it down to the Antarctic. Not if they`re selling postcards mailed from the base. I might have gotten lucky with my request.

Norway: European Perch Maximum Card

I like this newly issued perch stamp from Norway. It's their "Norden" issue for this year. I don't care much for maximum cards that have the same image as that of the stamp but I love the postmark. The way the date and "Olso" follow the lower body of the perch. It all works for me.

Naucalpan, Mexico

Naucalpan is a highly industrialized city to the northwest of Mexico City.

Frogs from the Netherlands

A pair of stamps from a recent sheet featuring reptiles and amphibians from in the Netherlands. On the right is a Moor Frog. The males can turn blue for a few days during the mating season. The stamp on the left is a garlic or common spadefoot toad. When frightened, these toads can secrete a substance that smells like garlic.

Norway 100 Years of History FDC

A set of five Norwegian stamps from 2005 highlight key events during 100 years of Norwegian History. From left to right, top to bottom:

• The swearing in of King Haakon VII on 27 November 1905 after the separation of Norway and Sweden
• The return from exile of Crown Prince Olav in 1945, after the liberation of Norway.
• The official launch of Norwegian Television in 1960
• Opening of the Ekofisk Oil Field in the North Sea in 1971
• Norway's 2-1 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup group stage which secured them a spot in the knockout stage. Their best World Cup finish so far.

United Nations, New York Office

Gorredijk, Netherlands

Annaba, Algeria