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 - (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 - (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

Sunday Stamps: New Year

2018 is the year of the Earth Dog, the previous one being in 1958. Wow, that's 60 years ago! 

I just realized that my mother has an Earth Dog zodiac sign. She's turning 60, two days from now.

Now onto the stamps: (1) The Singapore stamp was released on 5 Jan 2018. It was designed by Mr. Leo Teck Chong, who has been designing Singapore's Chinese zodiac series of stamps since 2009 up to present. (2) The Taiwanese stamp was issued on 1 Dec 2017. It features a paper cutting of a dog surrounded by peonies. 

For Sunday Stamps hosted at See it on a Postcard.

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Hari Raya Aidilfitri

We're enjoying a 3-day long weekend here at the moment to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The stamp was issued on 29 February 2008. 

Apart from the much awaited long weekend to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the entire month of Ramadan is a source of inspiration for me. For the past 3 years of witnessing the tradition here in Singapore (partly in Malaysia as well), the dedication and discipline of my Muslim friends during the hours of fasting made me revisit my own spirituality at the same time. The sense of community and atmosphere of festivity specially during sahur and iftar, made me yearn for my immediate family back in the Philippines but at the same time, blessed me with friendship and deeper understanding of the Muslim faith -- specially on those occasions that I was invited to dinner, which more often than not, was coupled with intelligent conversations.

For expositions/fairs/events @ Sunday Stamps.

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Gardens or Forests

Left to right --

50th Anniversary of the Jardim Botanico Madeira

Issued in 2010 (Portugal)

Eero Järnefelt 150 Years Commemorative Stamp, Forest Landscape 

Issued in 2013 (Finland)

Nuuksio National Park

Issued in 2013 (Finland)

Singapore, my second home is a garden city. One of the most admirable features of this garden city is the lush greeneries lining the roadsides. Left to right --

Saga, Adenanthera pavonina

Issued in 2010 (Singapore)

Angsana, Pterocarpus indicus

Issued in 2010 (Singapore)

Rain tree, Samanea saman

Issued in 2010 (Singapore)

For Sunday Stamps: gardens or forests

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Places of Worship

Left stamp - Cathedral of Gniezno

The stamp was issued on 1 March 2002. It is also showing the coffin with relics of St. Adalberg. 

The Cathedral of Gniezno, according to wikipedia, served as the coronation place for several Polish monarchs and the seat of Polish church officials continuously for nearly 1000 years.

Right stamp - Fortified Church of Biertan

The stamp was issued on 11 September 2011. The Fortified Church of Biertan was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 under the category: villages with fortified churches in Transylvania.

For more places of worship stamps, visit See it on a Postcard.

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Humorous or odd

 

Charlie Chaplin is fondly remembered in many countries. This stamp is issued on 12 April 2014 by the Österreichische Post in commemoration of his 125th birthday.

For humorous or odd @ See it on a postcard

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Flying

This miniature sheet is from a postcard that I sent to myself from my first business trip back in 2015. 

This special edition was issued back in 1998. According to wikipedia, this Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower was the tallest in the world when it was built. It monitors two runways for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (main and also referred as KLIA1) and KLIA2 (domestic). Currently this tower is only 3rd highest in the world. It has been overtaken by another tower monitoring a 3rd runway for KLIA2 and that in Suvarnabhumi International Airport - Bangkok.

Fly around the world today through Sunday Stamps @ See it on a postcard.

~maria

Sunday Stamps: Dia Del Galeon Festival 2010 Commemorative Stamps

The theme this weekend for the Sunday Stamps is maps. I'm stretching out the theme a bit with this sheet since only a portion of the land mass outlines are actually within the perforations of the stamps.

This commemorative sheet was issued by the Philippine Postal Corporation on 8 October 2010. Galleon is a Spanish word that means a sailing ship. Originally the purpose of these ships are for war but later on these were used for trade. Dia means day. The entire phrase translated to English is Day of the Galleon.On these stamps are images of the Manila galleons. In October 2009, UNESCO recognized the unique part played by the Manila galleons in conducting trade and cultural exchange between the Philippines and Europe. 

More information about the galleon trade can be found here and here.

Hop over to See it on a postcard for more stamps featuring maps this weekend.

~maria