Lighthouse of Latvia - Liepaja's Lighthouse, 2009 FDC from LATIVA

FDC Name:Lighthouse of Latvia - Liepaja's Lighthouse, 2009.
Issue Date:5th NOV'2009

Details:

Designer  Arta Ozola - Jaunarāja   Printed  SIA "Baltijas banknote"   Stamps printed 301000

Personal Greeting Stamps-Happy Times FDC from TAIWAN

FDC Name:Personal Greeting Stamps-Happy Times 

Issue Date:12th NOV'2009 

Details:To provide more design options, Chunghwa Post is issuing “Happy Times,” a new set of ten personal greeting stamps. All ten stamps have denominations of NT$3.50 and NT$5.00, distinguished by different background colors. Customers now have a chance to create a brand new set of personal greeting stamps using their prettiest or most memorable photos. The designs of the stamps follow:

1. Pearl (cherished love): Precious pearls are often used to express a love that is cherished above all. Giving pearls is a display of how much one values the recipient.

2. Present (surprise): Presents wrapped with a ribbon that is tied in a bow suggest that they are full of surprises and bring joy.

3. Bouquet (love): Beautiful flowers are the ideal choice for expressing affection to family members, as well as romantic love and friendship.

4. Candy (sweetness): A lollipop and some candies wrapped in colorful cellophane paper make one feel sweet, thus adding to the joy of happy times.

5. Balloon (joy): During celebrations and other happy occasions, colorful balloons floating in the air impart a joyous atmosphere.

6. Champagne (celebration): During romantic moments or celebrations, the clinking flutes that are filled with champagne can help to mark the occasion, freezing a beautiful moment in time.

7. Heart (warmth): Hearts represent mutual support and caring between family members, friends and lovers. This stamp features a big heart made of many smaller hearts to convey the warmest side of anyone’s heart.

8. Cake (bliss): A cake decorated with chocolate and a strawberry offers a taste of happiness and sweetness. It’s a desert that can’t be passed up during happy times.

9. Sparkler (celebration): By lighting up sparklers or setting off fireworks in the night sky, the flickering light brings the festivities to a high point.

10. Clover (luck): It is said that four-leaf clovers bring good luck, but their rarity makes them especially precious. Let flying four-leave clovers on stamps spread good luck and best wishes.

The non-personalized stamps that will be available in post office branches are printed in a format of 20 stamps per sheet. To increase philatelic interest, a ditch design is added between the two rows of stamps. Its ditch pattern includes Chinese and English expressions of celebration.

To provide customers with more design options, the personalized ones are printed in five different formats: two vertical-sheet layouts with marginal inscriptions and two without (with a white background), and one business card layout without marginal inscriptions.

The formats of the stamps follow:

1. Vertical-sheet layouts with marginal inscriptions: The stamps are printed in two columns (in either NT$3.50 or NT$5.00 denominations) with tags in between for printing a photo image provided by the customer.

2. Vertical-sheet layouts without marginal inscriptions: The layouts of these sheets are the same as the ones with marginal inscriptions. Except that their tags are not perforated. Apart from the name of the stamp set, the places for marginal inscriptions are left blank for the customers’ own designs. 

3. Business card layout without marginal inscriptions: The sheet is comprised of six stamps—one each from the NT$3.50 denominated stamps, all of which have a white background. The name of the stamp set is printed in the center of the right margin. Each sheet (A4 size) can be cut into six smaller sheets (96 mm × 95 mm). 
Remark:This is large cover with 10 stamps and additional ATM stamp for the registered post on the issue date,Good one.

Stonecutters Bridge FDC from HONG KONG

FDC Name:Stonecutters Bridge:

Issue Date:17th DEC'2009

Details:Stonecutters Bridge is a high level cable-stayed bridge which spans the Rambler Channel in Hong Kong, connecting Nam Wan Kok, Tsing Yi Island and Stonecutters Island. The bridge deck was completed on 7 April 2009, making this the second longest cable-stayed span in the world, and opened to traffic on 20 December 2009.

The approaches at Tsing Yi and Stonecutters Island are located near Container Terminal 9 and Container Terminal 8, respectively. Construction commenced on 27 April 2004 by Maeda–Hitachi–Yokogawa–Hsin Chong Joint Venture. It cost HK$2.76 billion. It was reported to be over budget.

The bridge is part of Hong Kong's Route 8, connecting Sha Tin, Cheung Sha Wan, Tsing Yi Island, Ma Wan and Lantau Island. Other major constructions along the route are Nam Wan Tunnel (completed in 2008), Eagle's Nest Tunnel (completed in 2008), Sha Tin Heights Tunnel (completed in 2008), Tsing Ma Bridge (completed in 1997) and Kap Shui Mun Bridge (completed in 1997).

As a result of the interesting challenges and extreme difficulty in constructing this bridge, the project was featured on the Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering series in 2006.

Remark:Nice miniature sheet FDC posted on the issue date but I have posted this in my blog lately as a bunch of FDC was misplaced by me.The M/s was excellent.

Beijing - Hangzhou Grand Canal FDC from CHINA

FDC Name: Beijing - Hangzhou Grand Canal.
Issue date:26th September 2009.
Details:The Beijing - Hangzhou Grand Canal, stretching 1,794 kilometers from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in the south, is the longest manmade water course in the world. It passes through Beijing and Tianjin Municipalities and the provinces of Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, connecting the Haihe, Huanghe (Yellow), Huaihe, Changjiang (Yangtze), and Qiantang Rivers. Since its construction, the canal has played an important role in shipping, irrigation, flood control, drainage, and the interflow of commodities, and has promoted cultural exchange as well. The Zhenguosi Pagoda, in the canal's Gaoyou Section, is one of the representatives for the extensive promotion of Buddhist culture. First built in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), the pagoda originally stood on the bank of the canal, and when the canal was extended in 1956, a 100-meter-diameter earthen islet was erected to surround and defend the pagoda, making it the only islet-based Buddhist pagoda along the Grand Canal.
Remark:Nice Miniature sheet FDC posted on the issue date by registered post,Great.

Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games Minisheet FDC from Hong Kong

FDC Name:Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games
Issue Date:5th DEC'2009
Details:This set of stamps is issued to celebrate the 5th East Asian Games held in Hong Kong from 5 to 13 December 2009. The event marks an exciting milestone in our sports history, as it is the first time Hong Kong has had the honor to host a regional multi-sport contest of this scale.

The quadrennial event debuted in China (Shanghai) in 1993, followed by Korea (Pusan) in 1997, Japan (Osaka) in 2001 and China (Macao) in 2005. Athletes from nine East Asian countries or regions meet in Hong Kong this year to compete for 262 gold medals in 22 sports. With both the number of gold medals up for grabs and the number of sports staged in the arena hitting record highs, the Games this year is the biggest ever.

The set of six stamps contains two designs for each of the three denominations, featuring all the 22 sports in the 5th East Asian Games, namely,

• Judo, Rowing and Rugby Sevens ($1.40);
• Athletics, Badminton, Wushu and Shooting ($1.40);
• Basketball, Hockey, Squash and Aquatics ($2.40);
• Cycling, Weightlifting and Tennis ($2.40);
• Windsurfing, Football, Bowling and Taekwondo ($3);
• Table Tennis, Volleyball, Dance Sport and Cue Sports ($3).
  

The silhouettes in gold, silver and bronze foil represent the three levels of medals awarded, bringing out the spirit of competition that motivates athletes to go for their best.

"Be the Legend" - Get set for the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games!
Remark:Nice FDC posted by my friend,It is a great mini sheet FDC,Though the stamps are colorful but in scan it is not coming.

Ferns FDC From TAIWAN

FDC Name:Ferns.
Issue Date:26th NOV'2009
Details:Taiwan has among the highest density of ferns in the world and has been touted as the Kingdom of Ferns. To introduce the beauty of ferns, Chunghwa Post is issuing a set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet featuring Asplenium nidus, Cyathea spinulosa, Cyathea lepifera, and Cibotium taiwanense.The denominations are as follows

1. NT$5.00: Asplenium nidus (臺灣巢蕨)Commonly known as the bird's-nest fern in English, its long slender fronds are layered and form a nest-like clump at its short fat rhizome. It is a large epiphytic fern and can usually be found growing on tree trunks. It is a common ornamental garden plant.
2. NT$9.00: Cyathea spinulosa (臺灣桫欏)The plant is commonly known as the Taiwan tree fern in English. Its trunk is about five meters high, and its fronds are oval-shaped. New green fronds are upright and radiate from the crown, while the old fronds bend downward to form a leave skirt. This shade tolerant tree is common in mid- and low-elevation regions of the island.
3. NT$12.00: Cyathea lepifera (筆筒樹)This fern is known as the common tree fern in English. It usually produces a single straight trunk up to a height of eight meters. Its fronds are large and form a clump at the crown. When an old frond falls, it will leave an obvious mark on the trunk where it once attached. It is a representative tree species in the subtropical areas of Taiwan.
4. NT$25.00: Cibotium taiwanense (臺灣金狗毛蕨)this fern’s short, thick rhizome is densely covered with golden hairs and bears a crown of fronds. The base of its pinna is asymmetrical, and there are two to three pinnules less on the side closer to the ground. This terrestrial plant can only be found in Taiwan.
   

This set of stamps is printed in intaglio in combination with offset, and the effect is simply exquisite.
Remark:Nice real posted FDC by registered post sent by my friend from Taiwan,Many thanks and wish him Happy New Year.

Tiger-New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps Mini sheet FDC from TAIWAN

FDC Name:New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps.
Issue Date:1st DEC'2009
Details:To welcome the year of the tiger, Chunghwa Post issues a set of two New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps (Issue of 2009) and a miniature sheet. Employing ink wash techniques from Chinese painting, the stamps portray the composed and awe-inspiring air of a tiger. The miniature sheet features a stately tiger on an open scroll. The designs are described below:

1.NT$3.50 Stamp: An image of a tiger gazing ahead, which symbolizes farsightedness, optimism, enterprise and luck.

2.NT$13.00 Stamp: A portrait of a tiger leisurely lying on the ground, which suggests talent, ambition, and new sources of revenue.

3.NT$12.00 Miniature Sheet: The sheet features a stately tiger on an open scroll, suggesting “good fortune is at hand” (the Chinese character for tiger sounds close to the character for good fortune). The design of the marginal inscription blends Chinese calligraphy, auspicious cloud patterns and colorful flowers to create a festive atmosphere.

Technical Details:

Printer :China Color Printing Co.Ltd

Paper :Phosphorescent Stamp paper

Process :Deep etch offset

Designer :Arteck Creative Consultants, Inc.

Remark:Nice real posted FDC on the by registered airmail post ,As I am TIGER collector this is my one of the prized collection for my theme.Recently I have won a award on my TIGER exhibit at Stampmania2009 for one frame .Many many thanks to Chen for such lovely FDC.

Tiger-New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps FDC from TIWAN

FDC Name:New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps.
Issue Date:1st DEC'2009
Details:To welcome the year of the tiger, Chunghwa Post issues a set of two New Year’s Greeting Postage Stamps (Issue of 2009) and a miniature sheet. Employing ink wash techniques from Chinese painting, the stamps portray the composed and awe-inspiring air of a tiger. The miniature sheet features a stately tiger on an open scroll. The designs are described below:

1.NT$3.50 Stamp: An image of a tiger gazing ahead, which symbolizes farsightedness, optimism, enterprise and luck.

2. NT$13.00 Stamp: A portrait of a tiger leisurely lying on the ground, which suggests talent, ambition, and new sources of revenue.

Technical Details

Printer :China Color Printing Co.Ltd

Paper :Phosperorescent Stamp paper

Process :Deep etch offset

Designer :Arteck Creative Consultants, Inc.

Remark:Nice real posted FDC on the by registered airmail post ,As I am TIGER collector this is my one of the prized collection for my theme.Recently I have won a award on my TIGER exhibit at Stampmania2009 for one frame .Many many thanks to Chen for such lovely FDC.

Arachnid - Stamp Week 2009 FDC from MALAYSIA

FDC name:Arachnid - Stamp Week 2009
Issue Date:7th DEC'2009
Details:Arachnids are a class (Arachnida) of joint-legged invertebrate animals in the sub phylum Chelicerata. All arachnids have eight legs, although in some species the front pair may convert to a sensory function. The term is derived from the Greek word ἀράχνη (aráchnē), meaning "spider".Almost all arachnids are terrestrial. However, some inhabit freshwater environments and, with the exception of the pelagic zone, marine environments as well. They comprise over 100,000 named species, including spiders, scorpions, harvestmen, ticks, and mites.More

• Stamp Value :30sen (2 designs) ; 50sen : RM 1.00
• Sheet Content :20 Stamps
• Paper :Phosphor Coated
• Printing Process :Lithography
• Printer :Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn Bhd
• Stamp Designer :Hazel Design Sdn Bhd

Remark:Nice FDC sent by my friend Salimin but the POS Malaysia post office has made another cancellation on the stamps making the FDC a mess.I would have been more happy if my friend could send the Miniture sheet FDC to me also.Thanks

Stage Art of Ma Lianliang FDC from CHINA

FDC Name:Stage Art of Ma Lianliang
Issue Date:28th NOV'2009.
Details:China National Philatelic Corporation issued FDC and set of 2 stamps with total face value 2.40 yuan.The denominations

• 1.20: Summoning the East Wind
• 1.20: Orphan of the Zhao Family
  

Ma Lianliang (1901 - 1966), a native of Beijing, of Hui ethnic group, was a renowned master of Peking Opera. At the age of eight, he entered Xi Lian Cheng Opera School. After graduation, he combined what he learned from the school with bold innovation, and based on stage practice, he gradually developed a unique artistic style of his own, which is now commonly known as the Ma School. The images he portrayed on stage featured distinctive personalities, and in addition to outstanding performance in singing, recitation and acting, the master impressed the audience with his accurate representation of scenarios and vivid depiction of dramatic figures, thus realizing a perfect fusion of play plots with artistic forms. His most representative plays, including "Summoning the East Wind", "Sweet Dew Temple", "Su Wu as a Shepherd" and "Orphan of the Zhao Family", enjoy great popularity among the audience. The superb stage art of Ma Lianliang made a great contribution to the development of Peking Opera, exerting a profound influence that still lingers today.
Remark:Great FDC posted on the issue date by registered post and received here on 14th DEC'2009.

500th Anniversary of Cristmas tree FDC from LATIVA

FDC Name:500th Anniversary of Cristmas tree.
Issue Date:27th NOV'2009.
Details:
Designer: Girts Griva
Paper: Chalky
Printing process: Offset
Miniature Sheet composition: 10 (2 x 5) stamps
Printing run: 775 - 1.200.000; 776-777 - 300.000.
Michel catalogue numbers: 775-777
Printed at:SIA "Baltijas banknote", Latvija
Denomination

• 35 (S). multicoloured. Decoration of Christmas tree. Horse.
• 55 (S). multicoloured. Decoration of Christmas tree. Fish
• 60 (S). multicoloured. Decoration of Christmas tree. Snowflake.

Remark:Nice Christmas FDC posted on the issue date by registered post by my friend on the issue date,Many thanks & wish you all Merry Christmas.

State Definitive Series Special Collection - Garden Flowers FDC from MALAYSIA

FDC Name:State Definitive Series Special Collection - Garden Flowers.
Issue Date:24th NOV'2009.
Details: Malaysian postal administration has issued these 14 sets of six stamps in the form of souvenir sheets.A splendid FDC above with the series including the arms and the portrait of the Sultan of the State of Terengganu (north-east of the Malay Peninsula).

The Sultan of Terengganu since 1998, Mizan Zainal Abidin, shown above, is also the 13th King of Malaysia (Yang di-Pertuan Agong) since 2006.

• Stamp Value :RM 25.00 (Consist of First Day Cover and Stamp sheet -for 14 states with stamps valued at 5 sen, 10sen, 20sen, 30sen, 40sen, 50sen)
• Paper :SPM Watermarked, Phosphor Coated
• Printing Process :Process: Lithography
• Printer :Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn Bhd
  

Remark:Nice miniature sheet FDC posted on the issue date by my friend Terence Wong.FDC cancellation, fitting perfectly with the souvenir sheet, issued in Kuala Terengganu, capital of the state of Terengganu also royal capital.

Christmas-2 FDC from ESTONIA

FDC Name:Christmas
Issue Date:19th NOV'2009.
Details:Already centuries ago our forefathers marked the winter solstice as the most important event of the year. It was the time of cleaning and decorating the house (with a spruce tree, so-called Christmas crowns and krõllid), straw on the floor, beer, baked pork, Christmas bread and black pudding. The word jõul (Christmas) has been borrowed into Estonian from Scandinavia about a thousand years ago. At Christmas the Christian world marks the birth of Christ. Traditional Christmas services are carried out in all the churches. The Pope ushering in Christmas at a midnight mass in St Peter's Basilica, with the Vatican Television Center mediating it to the whole world, has acquired a global meaning.Christmas is reflected in the work of many great artists and composers. One of the best-known Christmas songs is Franz Xaver Gruber's Silent Night composed in 1818, which has been performed in about 300 languages and dialects. Over time the Christmas tree (15th century), the Advent crown (19th century), sending Christmas cards to friends and relatives (19th century), Santa Claus (20th century) and later also ginger breads and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) have become part of Christmas traditions at different times. The first postage stamp dedicated to Christmas was issued in Canada in 1898, and Estonia got its first Christmas stamp in 1992. In today's rapidly changing world Christmas has become a mixture of forefathers' customs, the Christian tradition and commerce.

Denomination:	5.50
Date:	19.11.2009
Print:	ofset
Designer:	Lembit Lõhmus
Sheets:	2 x 5
Quantity issued:	1 000 000
Printing house:	AS Vaba Maa

Remark:My 1st Christmas FDC from Estonia,Many thanks and wish everybody a Merry Christmas.

Christmas-1 from ESTONIA

FDC Name:Christmas
Issue Date:19th NOV'2009.
Details:Already centuries ago our forefathers marked the winter solstice as the most important event of the year. It was the time of cleaning and decorating the house (with a spruce tree, so-called Christmas crowns and krõllid), straw on the floor, beer, baked pork, Christmas bread and black pudding. The word jõul (Christmas) has been borrowed into Estonian from Scandinavia about a thousand years ago. At Christmas the Christian world marks the birth of Christ. Traditional Christmas services are carried out in all the churches. The Pope ushering in Christmas at a midnight mass in St Peter's Basilica, with the Vatican Television Center mediating it to the whole world, has acquired a global meaning.Christmas is reflected in the work of many great artists and composers. One of the best-known Christmas songs is Franz Xaver Gruber's Silent Night composed in 1818, which has been performed in about 300 languages and dialects. Over time the Christmas tree (15th century), the Advent crown (19th century), sending Christmas cards to friends and relatives (19th century), Santa Claus (20th century) and later also ginger breads and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) have become part of Christmas traditions at different times. The first postage stamp dedicated to Christmas was issued in Canada in 1898, and Estonia got its first Christmas stamp in 1992. In today's rapidly changing world Christmas has become a mixture of forefathers' customs, the Christian tradition and commerce.

Denomination:	5.50
Date:	19.11.2009
Print:	ofset
Designer:	Lembit Lõhmus
Sheets:	2 x 5
Quantity issued:	1 000 000
Printing house:	AS Vaba Maa

Remark:My 1st Christmas FDC from Estonia,Many thanks and wish everybody a Merry Christmas.

Hara Lighthouse FDC from ESTONIA.

FDC Name:Hara Lighthouse.
Issue Date:24th SEP'2009.

Details:The small Hara Island near the western shore of Hara or Papilaht Bay (earlier Paponvik) is mainly covered with spruce forest. In 1909 an iron framework lighthouse 15.2 meters high was erected at the highest point (12 metres above sea level) of the island. At the time it had a major sprat salting facility with 350 workers where sprats were salted into tin cans under the name of Revelskiye kilki (Tallinn Sprats) since 1870. The Tallinn Sprats made in Hara were shipped to St Petersburg via Loksa Port. Initially the sea mark of Hara Island was visible to 10 nautical miles. In 1954 major rebuilding of the lighthouse was carried out as the navigation mark was to be connected with a new military port. The height of the tower was increased to 23.7 meters with the red light visible to seven nautical miles. But gradually importance of the port declined and in the late 1980s the installations were dismantled from the Hara Lighthouse and it became a day mark. Its present height is 24 metres and it consists of a cylinder with a conical red roof over a metal framework. The tip of the sea mark is clearly visible over the forest. The Hara Lighthouse will be one hundred this year.

• Designers: Roman Matkiewicz
• Paper: chalky
• Printing process: offset
• Perforation: 14 x 13 3/4
• Size of a stamp: 33 x 27,50 mm.
• Size of the Miniature Sheet: 99 x 165 mm.
• Miniature Sheet composition: 10 (2 x 5) stamps
• Printing run: 45.000 stamps or 4.500 Miniature Sheets
• Michel catalogue number: 645

Remark:Nice FDC but received very lately due bad Indian postal system.

A Century of Track and Field Athletics FDC from ESTONIA

FDC Name:A Century of Track and Field Athletics in Estonia.
Issue Date:22nd SEP'2009.

Details:We count the centenary of Estonian athletics from the first athletics competitions in Tallinn and Tartu in 1909. The first Olympic Games of the antiquity can be regarded as the starting signal of modern athletics. The last century, which seems like an hour side by side with the the 3,000-year history of the games of the antiquity, offers unforgettable moments and emotions to all friends of sports and probably to every Estonian. The brightest of them are connected with the Olympic gold medals of high jumper Jüri Tarmak in 1972 in Munich, of triple jumper Jaak Uudmäe in 1980 in Moscow, of decathlete Erki Nool in 2000 in Syndey of discus thrower of Gerd Kanter in 2008 in Beijing.

Bird of the Year – Eurasian Tawny Owl FDC from ESTONIA

FDC Name:Bird of the Year – Eurasian Tawny Owl.
Issue Date:8th OCT'2009

Details:The Estonian Ornithological Society has chosen the tawny owl (Strix aluco) as the bird of the year 2009. The tawny owl, a bird in the order Strigiformes, is an age-old resident of Estonia, although it was relatively rare until the middle of the 19th century. The tawny owl prefers habitats close to humans – cemeteries, parks, broadleaved groves around farms or manor seats etc. The tawny is a nocturnal bird of prey who nests in large hollows and cracks in trees, but sometimes also in suitable holes in buildings. It willingly settles in nest boxes with a large entrance holes. There are from 1,000 to 2,00 nesting pairs of the tawny owl in Estonia at present. The tawny is about the size of a crow; it has large dark eyes and a brownish or grey plumage. The tawny starts nesting early in the year. Some couples lay their eggs already in February, although generally this activity occurs at the beginning or middle of March. The clutch, usually of three to four eggs, is incubated by the female alone in four weeks and it takes about as long for the young to fledge. The tawny’s wide diet includes almost any prey it can catch, mainly small rodents – particularly in rural areas – but birds, frogs, bats and earthworms will do as well. The tawny owl is a species in the third category of protected birds.

• Designer: Vladimir Taiger
• Paper: chalky
• Printing process: offset
• Perforation: 12 3/4 x 13
• Size of a stamp: 41 x 41 mm.
• Sheet composition: 20 (4 x 5) stamps
• Printing run: 40.000
• Michel catalogue number: 646
  

Remark:Nice Real posted FDC from Estonia and received by me on 28/10/2009.Great stamp design by Taiger with cancellation.