Monday 29 April 2013

519 – La Liseuse c1771

Card no 519 – Danielle 
Fragonard’s Young Girl Reading 
Country Card Sent From: USA 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Omaha, Nebraska 
Date Received: 27th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 4,122 miles 
Time Taken: 7 days 



Jean-Honoré Fragonard (5 April 1732 – 22 August 1806) was a French painter and printmaker whose late Rococo manner was distinguished by remarkable facility, exuberance, and hedonism. One of the most prolific artists active in the last decades of the Ancien Régime, Fragonard produced more than 550 paintings (not counting drawings and etchings), of which only five are dated. Among his most popular works are genre paintings conveying an atmosphere of intimacy and veiled eroticism.

His two best known works are The Swing and this young girl reading - La Liseuse.

And two Forever stamps I had not seen before -




Sunday 28 April 2013

516-8 – Bulgarian cities, monasteries, and the Etar museum

Card no 516 - 518 – Irina 
Bulgaria 
Country Card Sent From: Bulgaria 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Sofia 
Date Received: 25th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,414 miles 
Time Taken: 13 days 


These are three wonderful cards from Irina – all shaped rather than rectangular. The ones of Bulgarian Monasteries and Etar are the shape of the country of Bulgaria.





And what a wonderful stamp sheet Irina put on the envelope.

515 - Books from a librarian!

Card no 515 – Rene 
Books 
Country Card Sent From: USA 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Omaha, Nebraska 
Date Received: 25th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 4,138 miles 
Time Taken: 13 days 
Postcrossing id – US-2180125 


Did you notice 691 is upside-down?

And the stamps

514 – A Corsican train

Card no 514 – Martine 
Corsica unadorned 
Country Card Sent From: France 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Piedogriggio, Corsica 
Date Received: 25th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 942 miles 
Time Taken: 4 days 


A Corsican train bringing a

 to me, as Martine always does! 

513 – A Map of the Netherlands

Card no 513 – Karin 
A Map of The Netherlands 
Country Card Sent From: The Netherlands 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Bussum 
Date Received: 25th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 345 miles 
Time Taken: 5 days 
Postcrossing id – NL-1827214 

What an excellent map. If you click on the map it will enlarge.



I think this means ‘donating kidneys saves lives.’

512 – Nationalpark Harz, Germany

Card no 512 – Heike 
Harz Nationalpark and adjacent towns 
Country Card Sent From: Germany 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Liebenberg 
Date Received: 25th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 567 miles 
Time Taken: 3 days 
Postcrossing id – DE-2123262 

“Being the first National Park in Germany covering two federal states since 2006, the Harz National Park in its eastern part in Sachsen-Anhalt consists of 8,900 ha land and was set up in 1990. In 1994, the federal government of Niedersachsen established the western part of this park, covering 15,800 ha. This means that the united Harz National Park consists of abt. 24,700 ha now. The park is part of the European nature conservation network „Natura 2000“.”

 “The Harz National Park is virtually uninhabited, but does contain some hamlets. Nearly all the land within the park is forested and belongs to the federal states. “

“With its geographical location, beautiful landscapes and characteristic natural, environmental set-up and layout, the Harz National Park region is one of the most significant recreational areas within Central Europe. “
The above information came from http://www.nationalpark-harz.de/en/

The Old Town of Goslar and the Mines of Rammelsberg are UNESCO World Heritage Sites ansd featured in card no 485

These were the attractive stamps that Heike used:


Saturday 27 April 2013

511 – Finnish letterboxes

Card no 511 – Esa
Finnish letterboxes in the snow
Country Card Sent From: Finland
Place that Card Sender Lives: Vihti
Date Received: 25th April 2013
Distance Travelled: 1,137 miles
Time Taken: 3 days
Postcrossing id – FI-1739584


And a lovely stamp of a blue tit.

510 – Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Minsk

Card no 510 – Olga 
A view of Minsk 
Country Card Sent From: Belarus 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Minsk 
Date Received: 25th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,246 miles 
Time Taken: 9 days 
Postcrossing id – BY-856648 

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is one of the most visible churches in Minsk, with its central location overlooking the Svisloch river in the historic Upper Town. The Cathedral is the most important Russian Orthodox church in the city. Its origins date back to the 17th century (1633-1642) when the building served as a Catholic Bernardine monastery. After several devastating fires and a conversion to Orthodoxy, the church was expanded and renovated, though the monastery was closed in 1922. The church's holiest icon is the image of the Mother of God, which is said to have been found by Minsk residents in 1500.

509 – A Belarusian Mailbox

Card no 509 – Nastia 
A Belarusian Mailbox 
Country Card Sent From: Belarus 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Minsk 
Date Received: 23rd April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,246 miles 
Time Taken: 8 days 
Postcrossing id – BY-854975 

I’m getting quite a collection of post-box cards now. 

Tuesday 23 April 2013

508 - Now just whereabouts is Taiwan?

Card no 508 - Betty 
World Map with Taiwan shown 
Country Card Sent From: Taiwan 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Kaohsiung City 
Date Received: 23rd April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 6,206 miles 
Time Taken: 8 days 
Postcrossing id - TW-876128 


Wouldn’t it be great if there was such a map card for every country. Perhaps I should create them and put them on Zazzle.

507 – Views of Old Sofia

Card no 507 - Irina 
Old Sofia 
Country Card Sent From: Bulgaria 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Sofia 
Date Received: 22nd April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,414 miles 
Time Taken: 12 days 


I love cards like this with pictures of old towns showing the street life as it was around 100 years ago.


Monday 22 April 2013

506 – Targu Mures, Romania

Card no 506 - Andras 
The centre of Targu Mures, Romania 
Country Card Sent From: Romania 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Targu Mures 
Date Received: 20th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,308 miles 
Time Taken: 7 days 


The buildings shown here in the centre of Targu Mures are the old city hall (with the tower) and the Palace of Culture.

This is my first card from Romania.

Its stamp…

505 – A Spanish post-box (or not???)

Card no 505 - Danielle 
A Spanish post-box (or perhaps not)
Country Card Sent From: USA 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Omaha, Nebraska 
Date Received: 20th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 4,122 miles 
Time Taken: 6 days 

Another nationality of post-box to add to my growing collection.  But which nationality? See the comments.

And another Go Green stamp…

And another car… 

504 – Inge Löök’s Aunties celebrate Valentine’s Day

Card no 504 - Sini 
Merry Valentine's Day 
Country Card Sent From: Finland 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Lahti 
Date Received: 20th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,191 miles 
Time Taken: 3 days 

This Inge Löök Aunties’ card is a Merry Valentine’s Day one. Unlike most countries Valentine’s Day in Finland is celebrated as Friend’s Day and has no romantic associations. Ystävälle means ’A Friend’. This is how finnguide.fi describes it on their calendar page -

Valentines Day is celebrated all over the world on the 14th of February. In Finland this celebration arrived rather late, and was officially listed in the almanac in 1987. In Finland Valentines Day is called "Ystävänpäivä", which means "Friend's Day". Unlike many other countries where Valentines Day is mainly a day of "Romance", in Finland it is also the day when close friends send cards and gifts to each other, although it is a popular day to get married and engaged on. 

Even though Valentines Day came to Finland from the United States, its roots are visible in European folklore and in Catholic legends. The tradition of celebrating St. Valentines Day on 14th of February, dates back to ancient Rome, when Romans were celebrating Juno, the protector of matrimony and maternity. 

The name Valentine comes from saint Valentinus, the martyr, who's commemorative day has been celebrated on 14th of February, since the 350's. According to legend, Valentinus was conducting marriage ceremonies for soldiers, who were not allowed to get married, and was therefore acting against the orders of the military commanders. As a result Valentinus was arrested, and to show their gratitude, wives of the soldiers sent gifts, cards and flowers to Valentinus. He was executed on the 14th of February (Valentine's Day).

503 – German Map

Card no 503 - Jini 
Map of Germany 
Country Card Sent From: Germany 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Chemnitz 
Date Received: 20th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 693 miles 
Time Taken: 3 days 
Postcrossing id – 5105322 

This map of Germany uses the colours of the German flag. 

502 – Dom St Peter – Regensburg, a WHS

Card no 502 - Johanna 
Dom St Peter – Regensburg – A WHS 
Country Card Sent From: Germany 
Place that Card Sender Lives: Munich 
Date Received: 18th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 725 miles 
Time Taken: 3 days 
Postcrossing id – DE-2105338 

Johanna kindly sent this because it is a World Heritage Site and she knows I collect WHS cards.

Located on the Danube River in Bavaria, the medieval town of Regensburg contains many buildings of exceptional quality that testify to its history as a trading centre and to its influence on the region from the 9th century. A notable number of historic structures span some two millennia and include ancient Roman, Romanesque and Gothic buildings. Regensburg’s 11th- to 13th-century architecture – including the market, city hall and cathedral – still defines the character of the town marked by tall buildings, dark and narrow lanes, and strong fortifications. The buildings include medieval patrician houses and towers, a large number of churches and monastic ensembles as well as the 12th-century Old Bridge. The town is also remarkable for the vestiges testifing to its rich history as one of the centres of the Holy Roman Empire that turned to Protestantism.


The Regensburg Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Peter) is the only cathedral in Bavaria. The cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture in southern Germany.

Overall length 86.00 m inside
Inside width 34,80 m
Height nave 32.00 m
Height of the towers 105 m from base

This was the timescale of its building
1273 beginning of the new building to the west of the city after a fire (probably in 1250) destroyed the old cathedral.
To 1285/90 High Gothic replanning.
In 1320 The three choirs of the new cathedral can be used. Demolition of the old cathedral.
1385-1415 age of elaborate main entrance to the west.
1442 Construction of the roof over the nave. Preliminary end of construction in 1520.
1514-1538 Expansion of the cloister.
1613-1649 restoration of the cathedral and Baroque transformation (cupola).
1828-1841 At the request of King Ludwig I gothicised (eg elimination of the baroque frescoes) and degradation of the dome, it is replaced by a ribbed vault.
1859-1869 Expansion of the towers and spiers of completion.
1870/72 completion of the cathedral with the completion of the transept gable and roof of the rider (crossing) after 600 years of construction.

The stamp was one I have had a few times before but this time it was most appropriate – it was the Regensburg stamp!


Sunday 21 April 2013

501 – Books and more books

Card no 501 - Anastasiya 
Books and more books 
Country Card Sent From: Russia 
Place that Card Sender Lives: St Petersburg 
Date Received: 18th April 2013 
Distance Travelled: 1,335 miles 
Time Taken: 21 days 
Postcrossing id – RU-1635662 


I tend only to quote from the backs of the cards if it relates specifically to the subject of the card but in this case I shall make an exception because Anastaiya’s valediction of “Wish you all the best, bright and beautiful” may not be perfect English but it is one of the most delightful I have received.

The stamps combined all four of the Russian animal stamps (I think there are just four though I know there are a lot of different values). 


Great Britons - a new Royal Mail stamp issue

This week (16th April) the Royal Mail issued a set of Great Britons stamps.  I have been wanting to put new Royal Mail stamp issues on this blog but until now have not managed to find the time.  The set has ten First Class stamps.











 This last person, Bill Shankly, was a man close to my heart.  Being a Liverpool Football Club fan and going to many matches in the 1960s and 70s when he was manager - including Liverpool's 3-0 FA Cup win against Newcastle in 1974.  (It should have been 4-0 because we had a perfectly good goal disallowed in error by the referee!!)  This was manager Bill Shankly's last game in charge of Liverpool and the last game I attended apart from a couple in more recent times with Richard.



I have a couple of postcards relating to Bill Shankly and if any football supporter ever reads this who wants one they may have it with the Shankly stamp on it - assuming it hasn't gone by then.