Sunday Stamps - (O) Otto Dix from Germany

For the letter O - Otto Dix

2016 - Germany - Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

Designer: Prof. Annette Le Fort and Prof. Andre Hers

According to wiki, Otto Dix is considered as one of the most important artists of the New Objectivity movement in German art. For his 125th birthday, the Deutsche Post issued this commemorative stamp.

For more stamps with the letter "O", visit See it on a Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (N) Nohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve

For the letter N - Nohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve

2005 - Belize - Ecological and Heritage Sites 

2005 - Belize - Ecological and Heritage Sites is a network of 5 limestone caves with a river flowing through them. It's pretty interesting to read about cave tubing on this site.

For more stamps with the letter "N", visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (M) Meatball from Taiwan

For the letter M - Meatball

2013 - Taiwan - Signature Delicacies

Designer: Creative Design and Advertising Corporation 

I've been to Taiwan twice but I've never had the chance to try their meatball or Ba Wan. I hope there could be a third time! 

This stamp, together with 3 more, were released on 16 August 2013. The other stamps could be seen here. 

For more stamps with the letter "I", visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (L) Laddle from Russia

For the letter L - Ladle

2004 - Russian Federation - Russian Silverware of the late 19th Century

This stamp was issued on 26 October 2004, along with 3 other designs. All were from the All Russian Museum of Decorative, Applied, and Folk Arts.

For more stamps with the letter "L", visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (K) Karate World Championship in France 2012

For the letter K - Karate

2012 - France - Sport (Sporting events)

Printer: Phil@Poste Boulazac

I came across a very informative post about the mini-series containing this stamp while researching about it. The post can be found here. Saves me some typing time (wink).

I would say though that I love how the Eiffel Tower is depicted with brushstrokes here against a bright red sun. Simple yet beautiful fusion of French and Japanese icons.

Sunday Stamps - (J) Japan's International Letter Writing Week

For the letter J - Japan's International Letter Writing Week 2013 & 2014

(L) 2013 - Shirasuka (Shizuokal)

Released: 9 October 2013

Designer: Tamaki Akira

(R) 2014 - Setchutsubaki ni suzume

Released: 9 October 2014

Designer: Tamaki Akira

According to this website, Japan's International Letter Writing Week issue is an annual series since 1958. It has the aim of contributing to world peace by encouraging cultural exchange between people of the world through writing letters.

The stamp designs for the year 2013 and 2014 were from The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido and one more painting by Utagawa Hiroshige that were not featured in the past. Hiroshige-san is considered as the last grand master of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukiyo-e Japanese woodblock prints and painting.  

For more stamps with the letter "I", visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (I) Ingmar and Ingrid from Sweden

For the letter I - Ingmar Bergman and Ingrid Bergman

(L) 2018 - Sweden - Ingmar Bergman Centenary

Design: Eva Wilsson

(R) 2015 - USA - Legends of Hollywood

Photographer: Laszlo Willinger (1940)

Searching for stamps to feature for the letter I, I was intrigued when I saw these two Bergmans. They share the same family name but are not related to each other. They shared professional work in the film industry though.

The stamp on the left is one of the two designs issued by PostNord in commemoration of the life of Ingmar Bergman. He is considered to be among the most accomplished and influential filmmakers of all time. The film, Persona, featured on this stamp is considered by Bergman himself as one of his most important works.

Thanks to Monica of Beyond the Lone Islands for sending me a postcard from Boras, Sweden with this stamp.

On the right is Ingrid Bergman, also famously known as Ilsa Lund, her character in the film classic, Casablanca. Ingrid is in the list of 100 Famous Actresses of Hollywood's Golden Era (1930 - 1959).

For more stamps with the letter "I", visit See It On A Postcard

P.S. As I'm still locked out from my linky account and I'm yet to receive a response from the page administrator, I decided to step back and cancel the recommence of the Postcard for the Weekend linky. I deeply apologize for the false excitement over this. 

Sunday Stamps - (H) Huangmei Opera from China

For the letter H - Huangmei Opera

2014 - China - Arts & Culture

Designer: Zhang Wang

Released on 6 July 2014, the picture on this stamp is entitled "The Emperor's Female Son-in-Law". This is one of the grand plays staged for the Huangmei Opera. Huangmei Opera traced its origins from 200 years ago in the rural parts of China, among which are Anhui, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces. The costumes used in the plays are less extravagant as compared to other forms of Chinese opera. The focus was more on the tone and the beautiful singing. Storylines mirrored reality and that's why it has won the hearts of the audience. Huangmei Opera is in the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage.

For more stamps with letter "H" - visit See It On A Postcard

P.S. The Postcards for the Weekend re-opens next weekend. Woohooo! It will be open by 12 AM, 13 Oct and close by 12 NN, 15 Oct. It shall follow the same schedule every weekend from then on. As before, there will be a different theme for each weekend while every first weekend of the month will always be dedicated for anything you wish to share. Hope to see more beautiful postcards from all deltiologist bloggers! Thanks to Eva of Mail Adventures for encouraging me to restart this linky! Cheers x

Sunday Stamps - (G) Grey Reef Shark from Australia

For the letter G - Grey Reef Shark

2018 - Australia - Reef Safari

Photographer: Jurgen Freund

The stamp was issued on 1 August 2018, along with four other designs. According to Australia Post: The inquisitive Grey Reef Shark is most often seen in shallow water near the drop-offs of coral reefs. The Grey Reef Shark is bronze to grey in colour on top and a paler shade on its under-side, with a black outline on its tail fin. The species looks similar to the Galapagos Shark, save for the colouration of the tail.

For more information about this issue, please visit this page.

For more stamps with the letter "G" - visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (F) Firefighting Corps from Monaco

For the letter F - Firefighting Corps from Monaco

2009 - Monaco Firefighting Corps

The stamp was issued on 5 January 2009. It's a part of a 3-design set that could be seen here.

I have so much respect for firefighters. They're people who does not think twice to put their lives on the line of duty.

Sunday Stamps - (E) East Cape, New Zealand

For the letter E - East Coast, New Zealand

2013 - New Zealand - New Zealand Coastlines

According to Wikipedia, East Cape is the easternmost point on the North Island of New Zealand. On the left side of the stamp is the East Cape Lighthouse on Otiki Hill.

The stamp was released on 4 September 2013. It was part of a 5-design miniature set.

For more stamps with letter "E" - visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (D) Dinner with a Singaporean Family

For the letter D - Dinner with family

2018 - Singapore - Singpost's Evenings in Singapore

The stamp was one of the six designs released early last month, 2 August 2018. The six designs were about familiar evening scenes in Singapore. This particular stamp shows a family sharing a home-cooked dinner.

Somehow, this stamp makes me emotional as I don't have any of my family here in Singapore. However, from time to time, I get to enjoy a home-cooked dinner together with my two flatmates.

The rest of the stamps from this set can be seen here. For more stamps with the letter "D" - visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (C) Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden

For the letter C - Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden

2016 - Sweden - Royal Anniversaries

Photographer: Anna-Lena Ahlström

The stamp was issued on 17 March 2016 to mark the 70th birthday of the Swedish king and the 40th anniversary of his wedding to Queen Silvia. With King Carl XVI Gustaf on this stamp is Princess Victoria, heir apparent and Princess Estelle, 2nd in line to the Swedish throne.

For more stamps with the letter "C" - visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (B) Batik from Indonesia

For the letter B - batik

2011 - Indonesia - Traditional Textiles

Designer: De-er

The red & black (Batik Madura Jawa Timur) stamp was from a mini-sheet issued on 6 July 2011. The brown & white (Batik Parang Garuda DI Yogyakarta) stamp was from a mini sheet issued on 30 March 2011.

Batik is a traditional textile from Indonesia and perhaps the most popular. Each time I see an intricately patterned printed fabric with an ethnic design here in the SE Asian region, right away I would think, "Ah, that's batik!" 

I've been to Indonesia several times now since 2015. I've become more well-informed that batik is but one of the traditional textile design techniques. Here's an article about the different Indonesian traditional fabrics.

for more stamps with the letter "B" - visit See It On A Postcard

Sunday Stamps - (A) Art from Finland

for the letter A - Art

2015 - Finland - Art Post

Designer: Tiia Vanhatapio ja Miika Saksi

The miniature sheet was issued on 11 September 2015. I received all 4 designs on 3 different occasions from a letter or a postcard, sent by my Finnish pen pal - Tuija.

The sheet features "dreamlike images that rise from the depths of the imagination to create the set and setting for events."

for more stamps with the letter "A", visit See it on a Postcard