France Postcard

Le Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel (English: Mount Saint Michael) is a rocky tidal island in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometer off the country's north coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches.

France Postcard
Special Post Marke ; 13.03.2008 Le Mont Saint Michel - Point Touristique
Post Marke ; 14.03.2008 50 Le Mont St. Michel - Manche

30.04.2007 Fauna Barau's Petrel
Face Value ; 0,86€
Size ; 40 x 30

The Barau's Petrel, Pterodroma baraui is a medium sized gadfly petrel from the family Procellariidae. It is around 40cm long, and has white undersides and forehead. Its bill is black and it's upper parts are dark, with a moderately distinct M pattern across the wings and back.The Barau's Petrel ranges across the Indian Ocean from Réunion to Western Australia and Indonesia. It is highly pelagic at sea, feeding of small fish (10cm) by surface-seizing and plunge diving. Barau's Petrels will associate with other species while feeding. With the exception of a single nest found on the island of Rodrigues the bulk of the population is thought to nest on Réunion. Their colonies are unusual in being far inland and at high elevations; they dig burrows under the forest at around 2400-2700m above sea level. The breeding biology of the species has not been studied but it is inferred that they have a 55 days incubation period and take around 100-120 days to fledge a chick. Unlike most burrow nesting procellariids Barau's Petrels begin to return to their colonies diurnally, returning in the late afternoon and riding the thermal updrafts in order to conserve energy. The chicks fledge between November and February.The name commemorates Armand Barau, an agricultural engineer and ornithologist from the French territory of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. It is one of the most recently discovered species of seabird and was only described in 1963, although it was known to local people prior to that.The Barau's Petrel is considered to be an endangered species. It has a highly restricted breeding range and has suffered hunting pressure in the past. While the shooting of the species has now been stopped, and the population seems to have recovered, it is currently threatened by introduced species and light pollution. Young birds, particularly fledglings, are disorientated by artificial lights such as streetlights or the floodlights of sporting venues, which they mistake for bioluminescent squid, and lead them to fail reach the sea. It is estimated that as much as 40% of each breeding season's fledglings get confused in this fashion. Conservation organisations work with local people to catch disorientated chicks and release them back at sea, a program that is thought to rescue most of the lost chicks. Measures are also underway to reduce light pollution by shielding light sources so that they don't attract young birds, a method that has been used to help Newell's Shearwaters in Hawaii.

Thank you Stephane COTARD

U.K. Postcard

London

London is the largest urban area and capital of England and the United Kingdom. At its core, the ancient City of London, to which the name historically belongs, still retains its limited mediaeval boundaries; but since at least the 19th century the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis which has developed around it.Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of England and the Greater London administrative area, with its own elected mayor and assembly.An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its settlement, London has been the centre of many important movements and phenomena throughout history such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. In light of this, the city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world which has increased over the years due to the city's economic growth. London boasts four World Heritage Sites; these are Palace of Westminster, the Tower of London, the historic settlement of Greenwich, and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is one of the world's leading business, financial, and cultural centres,and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts all contribute to its status as a major global city.London has an official population of 7,512,400 (as of mid-2006) within the boundaries of Greater London and is the most populous municipality in the European Union. The urban area of London extends beyond the limits of Greater London and has a population of 8,278,251 (as of 2001).The metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of between 12 and 14 million. London's diverse population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 different languages are spoken within the city.It is an international transport hub, with five major international airports serving the area and a large port. It serves as the largest aviation hub in the world, and the multi-terminal Heathrow Airport carries more international passengers than any other airport in the world.

U.K. Postcard
Post Marke ; ?

Netherland Postcard

Zeeland

Netherland Postcard
Post Marke ; 09.03.2008 Rotherdam

2008 Europa Priotry Stamp
Heart and World Map
Face Value ; 0,92€

Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is a province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands (hence its name, meaning "sea-land") and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. Its population is about 380,000 and its area is about 2930 km², of which almost 1140 km² is water. Large parts of Zeeland are below sea level. The last great flooding of the area was in 1953. Tourism is an important economic activity. Its sunny beaches make it a popular holiday destination in the summer. Most tourists are Germans. In some areas, the population can be two to four times higher during hich summer season. The coat of arms of Zeeland shows a lion half-emerged from water, and the text "luctor et emergo" (Latin for "I struggle and I emerge").

History

Nehalennia is an ancient religion goddess known around the province of Zeeland. Her worship dates back at least to the 2nd century BCE[1], and flourished in the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.She was possibly a regional goddess, either Celtic or pre-Germanic - sources differ on the culture that first believed in her. During the Roman Era, her main function appeared to be the protection of travelers, especially seagoing travelers crossing the North Sea. Most of what is known about her comes from the remains of over 160 carved stone offerings (votives) which have been dredged up from the Oosterschelde since 1970. Two more Nehalennia offering stones have also been found in Cologne, Germany.Zeeland was a contested area between the counts of Holland and Flanders until 1299, when the count of Holland gained control of the countship of Zeeland. Since then, Zeeland followed the fate of Holland. In 1432 it became part of the Low Countries possessions of Philip the Good of Burgundy, the later Seventeen Provinces. Through marriage, the Seventeen Provinces became property of the Habsburgs in 1477. In the Eighty Years' War, Zeeland was on the side of the Union of Utrecht, and became one of the United Provinces. The area now called Zeeuws-Vlaanderen was not part of Zeeland, but a part of the countship of Flanders (still under Habsburg) that was conquered by the United Provinces, hence called Staats-Vlaanderen (see: Generality Lands). After the French occupation (see département Bouches-de-l'Escaut) and the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, the present province Zeeland was formed. The catastrophic North Sea Flood of 1953, which killed over 1,800 people in Zeeland, led to the construction of the protective Delta Works.

New Zealand

The islands of New Zealand were named by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman in 1642. Tasman named it Staten Landt, believing it to be part of the land of that name off the coast of Argentina. When that was shown not to be so Dutch authorities named it Nova Zeelandia in Latin, Nieuw Zeeland in Dutch. The two major seafaring provinces of the Netherlands in its Golden Age were Holland and Zeeland, and originally the Dutch explorers named the largest landmass of Oceania and the two islands to the southeast respectively Nieuw Holland and Nieuw Zeeland. The former was eventually replaced by the name Australia, but the name New Zealand remained in place for the latter. Captain James Cook subsequently called the archipelago New Zealand.

The Americas

The town of Zeeland in the US state of Michigan was settled in 1847 by Dutchman Jannes van de Luyster and was incorporated in 1907. The town still maintains a distinctive Dutch flavour. Flushing, a neighborhood within the borough of Queens, New York, is named after the city Flushing (Vlissingen in Dutch) in Zeeland. This dates from the period of the colony of New Netherland, when New York was still known as New Amsterdam. The Dutch colonies of Nieuw Walcheren and Nieuw Vlissingen, both on the Antillian island of Tobago, were both named after parts of Zeeland. The Canadian town of Zealand, New Brunswick, may have been named for the Zeeland birth place of Dutchman Philip Crouse who settled in the area in 1789.

Azerbaijan Postcards - Greece Post

Azerbaijan Different Views

Greece Post
Post Marke ; 15.02.2008 Thessalonie

Thank you Aysel AGHAYEVA

Cayman Islands Postcard

Cayman Islands Coast

Cayman Islands Postcard
Post Marke ; 25.02.2008 Grand Cayman

2007 Tourism
Cayman Island Coast
Face Value ; 30c

The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. It is an offshore financial centre and one of the leading tourist scuba diving destinations in the world.

History of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands were first sighted by European eyes when Christopher Columbus, on 10 May 1503, encountered them during his disastrous fourth and final voyage to the New World. He named them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there. The first recorded English visitor to the islands was Sir Francis Drake, who landed there in 1586 and named them the Cayman Islands after the Neo-Taino nations term (caiman) for crocodile (Zayas, 1914).The first recorded permanent inhabitant of the Cayman Islands, Isaac Bodden, was born on Grand Cayman around 1700. He was the grandson of the original settler named Bodden who was probably one of Oliver Cromwell's soldiers at the taking of Jamaica in 1655.The islands, along with nearby Jamaica, were captured, then ceded to England in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid. They were governed as a single colony with Jamaica until 1962 when they became a separate British Overseas Territory and Jamaica became an independent Commonwealth realm.The island of Grand Cayman was hit by Hurricane Ivan on 11-12 September 2004, which destroyed many buildings and damaged 70% of them. Power, water and communications were all disrupted in some areas for months as Ivan was the worst hurricane to hit the islands in 86 years. However, Grand Cayman promptly engaged in a major rebuilding process and within two years its infrastructure was nearly returned to pre-Ivan levels. The Cayman Islands have the dubious honour of having experienced the most hurricane strikes in history. Due to the proximity of the islands, more hurricane and tropical systems have affected the Cayman Islands than any other region in the Atlantic basin (brushed or hit every 2.23 years).[1] The Cayman Islands currently enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean region, aided by thriving tourism and banking industries.

Geography of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are located in the western Caribbean Sea. They are the peaks of a massive underwater ridge, known as the Cayman Trench, standing 8,000 feet (2,400 m) from the sea floor, which barely exceeds the surface. The islands lie in the centre of the Caribbean south of Cuba and West of Jamaica. They are situated about 400 miles (650 km) south of Miami, 180 miles (300 km) south of Cuba, and 195 miles (315 km) northwest of Jamaica. Grand Cayman is by far the biggest, with an area of 76 square miles (197 km²). The two "Sister Islands" of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are located about 80 miles (130 km) east of Grand Cayman and have areas of 14 square miles (36 km²) and 10 square miles (25.9 km²) respectively.All three islands were formed by large coral heads covering submerged ice age peaks of western extensions of the Cuban Sierra Maestra range and are mostly flat. One notable exception to this is The Bluff on Cayman Brac's eastern part, which rises to 140 feet (42.6 m) above sea level, the highest point on the island.Cayman avian fauna includes two endemic subspecies of Amazona parrots: Amazona leucocephala hesterna, or Cayman Brac Parrot, native only to Cayman Brac, and Amazona leucocephala caymanensis or Grand Cayman Parrot, which is native only to Grand Cayman. Another notable fauna is the endangered Blue Iguana, which is native to Grand Cayman. There is also the agouti and the Booby Birds on Cayman Brac.

Demographics of the Cayman Islands

The latest population estimate of the Cayman Islands is about 50,000 as of July 2006, representing a mix of more than 100 nationalities. Out of that number, about half are of Caymanian descent. About 60% of the population is of mixed race (mostly mixed African-European). Of the remaining 40%, about half are of European descent and half are of African descent. The islands are almost exclusively Christian, with large number of Presbyterians and Catholics. Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean. The vast majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac is the second most populated with about 1,200 residents, followed by Little Cayman with around 200 permanent residents.The capital and major city of the Cayman Islands is George Town, which is located on the south west coast of Grand Cayman.

Politics of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory, listed by the UN Special Committee of twenty-four as one of the last non-self governing territories. A fifteen-seat Legislative Assembly is elected by the people every four years to handle domestic affairs. Of the elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), five are chosen to serve as government ministers in a cabinet headed by the governor. The head of government is the Leader of Government Business, which is currently The Honourable Kurt Tibbetts.A Governor is appointed by the British government to represent the monarch. The governor can exercise complete executive authority if they wish through blanket powers reserved to them in the constitution. They must give royal assent to all legislation, which allows them the power to strike down any law the legislature may see fit for the country. In modern times, the governor usually allows the country to be run by the cabinet, and the civil service to be run by the Chief Secretary, who is the Acting Governor when the Governor is not able to discharge his usual duties for one reason or another. The current governor of the Cayman Islands is Stuart Jack and the current Chief Secretary is The Honourable George McCarthy, OBE, JP.

Thank you Katerina F.

Brasil Postcard

Maceio - AL

Brasil Postcard
Post Marke ; 20.02.2008 - Maceio AL

18.02.2008 200th years of the Medical Faculty UFRJ Size ; 35 x 25
Tirage ; 300.000

Maceió is the capital and the largest city of the coastal state Alagoas, Brazil.The capital of Alagoas enjoys a privileged location between Mundaú Lake and the Atlantic Ocean. The city proper has a total population of 922,458 inhabitants (year 2006) living under a tropical climate with average temperature of 25°C (77°F). Around 1,180,000 people live in its metropolitan area (year 2005).Its sunny weather, calm and blue sea, palm trees around the beaches, beautiful lagoons and natural swimming pools in the Atlantic Ocean sand banks have made the city to become an important tourist destination in the last decades. The new Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport connects Maceió with many Brazilian cities and also operates some international flights.Maceió is also a port city and due to its port development about 200 years ago it changed from a village into a city which would become the capital of Alagoas state in 1839.The city is home to the Federal University of Alagoas.

USA Cover

USA Cover
Post Marke ; 27.02.2008 Saginaw MI

USA Cover

USA Cover
Post Marke ; 21.02.2008 Btooksville FL
Than you Charles JENSEN

China P.R. Postcard

China Postcard
Post Marke ; 16.02.2008
Thank you Zhou FAN

Algerie Maximumcard

Algerie Maximumcard Special Post Marke ; 12.09.2007

12.09.2007 Fauna
Red Fox
Face Value ; 38,00
Size ; 43 x 29

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a mammal of the order Carnivora. In Great Britain and Ireland, where there are no longer any other native wild canids, it is referred to simply as "the fox". It has the widest range of any terrestrial carnivore, being native to Canada, Alaska, almost all of the contiguous United States, Europe, North Africa and almost all of Asia, including Japan. It was introduced in Australia in the 19th century.As its name suggests, its fur is predominantly reddish-brown, but there is a naturally occurring grey morph known as the Silver Fox; a strain of tame Silver Fox has been produced from these animals by systematic domestication.

Thank you Ouari KHEMISSI

Algerie Cover

Algeria Cover (Pigeons) - Registered Post
Post Marke ; 16.02.2008 Setif
Registered Number ; RR 562905098 DZ

Arrival Post Marke ;
27.02.2008 Posta İşleme / Bursa
28.02.2008 Heykel / Bursa

25.01.2005 Pigeons
Wood Pigeon (Columba Palumbus)
Face Value ; 10,00
Size ; 35 x 25

The Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a member of the family Columbidae, doves and pigeons.In the colder northern and eastern parts of its European and western Asiatic range the Wood Pigeon is a migrant, but in southern and western Europe it is a well distributed and often abundant resident.The three Western European Columba pigeons, Wood Pigeon, Stock Pigeon, and Rock Pigeon, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the Wood Pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size at 38–43 cm, and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast.Juvenile birds do not have the white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about 6 months old (about 3 months out of the nest) they gain a small white patch on both sides of the neck, which gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6–8 months old (approx. ages only). Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adult birds.It breeds in trees in woods, parks and gardens, laying two white eggs in a simple stick nest which hatch after 17 to 19 days. Wood pigeons seem to have a preference for trees near roadways and rivers. The nests are vulnerable to attack, particularly by crows, the more so early in the year when the leaf cover is not fully formed. The young usually fly at 33 to 34 days; however if the nest is disturbed some young may be able to survive having left the nest as early as 20 days from hatching.Its flight is quick, performed by regular beats, with an occasional sharp flick of the wings, characteristic of pigeons in general. It takes off with a loud clattering. It perches well, and in its nuptial display walks along a horizontal branch with swelled neck, lowered wings, and fanned tail. During the display flight the bird climbs, the wings are smartly cracked like a whiplash, and the bird glides down on stiff wings. The noise in climbing flight is caused by the whipcracks on the downstroke rather than the wings striking together.The Wood Pigeon is gregarious, often forming very large flocks outside the breeding season. Most of its food is vegetable, taken from open fields or gardens and lawns; young shoots and seedlings are favoured, and it will take grain.The call is a characteristic cooing (coo-coo-coo-cu-cu). This species can be an agricultural pest, and it is often shot, being a legal quarry species in most European countries. It is wary in rural areas, but often quite tame where it is not persecuted.

25.01.2005 Pigeons
Rock Pigeon (Columba Livia)
Face Value ; 15,00
Size ; 35 x 25

The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), or Rock Dove, is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". The domestic pigeon is of this species, and escaped domestic pigeons have given rise to the feral pigeon.Rock Pigeons are pale grey with two black bars on each wing. Males and females are similar in appearance. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents care for the young for a time.Habitats include various open and semi-open environments, including agricultural and urban areas. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originally found in Europe, North Africa and western Asia, the Rock Pigeon has been introduced to cities around the world. The species is abundant, with an estimated population of 17 to 28 million birds in Europe.The Rock Pigeon was first described by Gmelin in 1789. The genus name is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek kolumbos/κόλυμβος “a diver”, from κολυμβάω (kolumbao), 'to dive, plunge headlong, swim'.Aristophanes (Birds, 304) and others use the word kolumbis/κολυμβίς 'diver', for the name of the bird, because of its swimming motion in the air. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin livor 'a bluish colour'.Its closest relative in the Columba genus is the Hill Pigeon, followed by the other rock pigeons, the Snow, Speckled and White-collared Pigeons.The species is also known as the Rock Dove or Blue Rock Dove, the former being official name used by the British Ornithologists' Union and the American Ornithologists' Union until 2004, at which point they changed their official listing of the bird to Rock Pigeon.In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". Baby pigeons are called squabs.

Thank you Ourai KHEMISSI

Liechtenstein Cover

Liechtenstein Cover
Post Marke ; 11.02.2008 Gamprin - Bedern

01.09.2007 Beetles
Cetonia Aurata
Face Value ; 100 F

Cetonia aurata, known as the rose chafer, or more rarely as the green rose chafer, is a reasonably large beetle, 20 mm (¾ in) long, that has metallic green coloration (but can be bronze, copper, violet, blue/black or grey) with a distinct V shaped scutellum, the small triangular area between the wing cases just below the thorax, and having several other irregular small white lines and marks. The underside is a coppery colour. Rose chafers are capable of very fast flight; they do it with their wing cases down thus resembling a bumble bee, see photos below clearly illustrating it. They feed on flowers, nectar and pollen, in particular roses (from where they get their name); which is where they can be found on warm sunny days, between May and June/July, occasionally to September.The larvae are C–shaped, have a very firm wrinkled hairy body, a very small head and tiny legs; they move on their backs, which is a very quick way to identify them. Larvae overwinter wherever they have been feeding, that is in compost, manure, leafmould or rotting wood, and they pupate in June/July. Some adult beetles might emerge in the autumn, but the main emergence is in the spring when they mate. Following mating, the females lay their eggs in decaying organic matter, and then die. Larvae grow very fast, and before the end of autumn they would all have moulted twice. They have a two year life cycle.Rose chafers are found over southern and central Europe and the southern part the UK where they seem to be sometimes very localized. They are a very beneficial saprophagous species (detritivore), their larvae are the insect equivalent of earth worms and help make very good compost where they are often found in great numbers.

Thank you Oguz VURAL

Finland Postcard

Foto ; Jan Töve

Finland Postcard
Post Marke ; No Post Marke

22.09.2006 Flora
Mountain Avens (Dryas Octopelata)
Face Value ; 1 st Class
Size ; 34,5 x 24,5

Dryas octopetala (common names include mountain avens, white dryas, and white dryad) is an arctic-alpine flowering plant in the family Rosaceae. It is a small prostrate evergreen subshrub forming large colonies, and is a popular flower in rock gardens. The specific epithet octopetala derives from the Greek octo (eight) and petalon (petal), referring to the eight petals of the flower, an unusual number in the Rosaceae, where five is the normal number. However flowers with up to 16 petals also occur naturally.Dryas octopetala has a widespread occurrence throughout mountainous areas where it is generally restricted to limestone outcrops. These include the entire Arctic, as well as the mountains of Scandinavia, the Alps, Carpathian Mountains, Balkans, Caucasus and in isolated locations elsewhere. In Great Britain, it occurs in the Pennines (northern England), at two locations in Snowdonia (north Wales), and more widely in the Scottish Highlands; in Ireland it occurs on The Burren and a few other sites. In North America, it is found in Alaska most frequently on previously glaciated terrain and reaches as far south as Colorado in the Rocky Mountains. It is the official territorial flower of the Northwest Territories.The stems are woody, tortuous, with short, horizontal rooting branches. The leaves are glabrous above, densely white-tomentose beneath. The flowers are produced on stalks 3-10 cm long, and have eight creamy white petals. The style is persistent on the fruit with white feathery hairs, functioning as a wind-dispersal agent. The feathery hairs of the sea head first appear twisted together and glossy before spreading out to an expanded ball which the wind quickly disperses.It grows in dry localities where snow melts early, on gravel and rocky barrens, forming a distinct heath community on calcareous soils.

Germany Postcard

Mühldorf

Mühldorf is a town in Bavaria, Germany and the capital of the district Mühldorf on the river Inn. It is located at 48°14′30″N, 12°31′30″E, and had a population of about 17,808 in 2005.

Germany Postcard

Post Marke ; 30.01.2008 Briefzentrum 84

08.11.2007 100th years Astrid Lindgren
Face Value ; 100 Euro Cent
Size ; 55 x 32,80

Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren née Ericsson, November 14,1907 - January 28, 2002 was a Swedish children2s book author and screenwrite, whose many titles were translated into 85 languages and published in more than 100 countries. She has sold roughly 145 million copies worldwide. Today, she is most remembered for writing the Pipi Longstocking Karlsson-on-the-Roof book series.
Astrid Lindgren grew up in Näs, near Vimmerby,Smaland and many of her books are based on her family and childhood memories.Pipi Longstocking, her most famous character, however, was originally invented by her daughter Karin, who was, at the time, ill and bed-ridden.
Lindgren was the daughter of Samuel August Ericsson and Hanna Johnsson. She had two sisters. Her brother, Gunnar Ericsson, was a member of the Swedish parliament. Upon finishing school, Lindgren took a job with the a local newspaper in Vimmerby. When Astrid became pregnant with the chief editor's child in 1926, the editor proposed marriage. Astrid demurred, and moved to Stockholm, learning to become a typist and stenographer. In due time she gave birth to her son Lars in Copenhagen and left him in the care of a foster family.
Although poorly paid, she saved whatever she could and travelled as often as possible to Copenhagen to be with Lars; often just over a weekend, spending most of her time on the train back and forth. Eventually, she managed to bring Lars home, leaving him in the care of her parents until she could afford raising him in Stockholm. In 1931 she married her boss, Sture Lindgren (1898-1952). Three years later, in 1934, Lindgren gave birth to her second child, Karin, who later became a translator. The family moved in 1941 to an apartment on Dalagatan, with a view over Vasaparken, where Astrid lived until her death.
Astrid Lindgren died in 2002, at the age of 94. Following her death the government of Sweden instituted the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in her memory. The award is the world's largest monetary award for children's and youth literature, in the amount of five million SEK.