PHILIPPINES - Cover from City of San Fernando - Pampanga, Philippines to Braga, Portugal

Cover with 2010 definitive stamp of 1p, 5p and 7p posted on September, 14 2010.
(Special thanks to friend Walter Peter)


7p - Lionfish - Singles (11,333,300)
100p - Bottlenose Dolphin - Singles (203,300)

7p The red lionfish (Pterois volitans)
Is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae. It inhabits the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Adults can grow as large as 17 inches (43 cm) in length while juveniles may be shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). It has fleshy tentacles which protrude from both above the eyes and below the mouth. The pectoral fin is present in a distinctive fan-like shape, and dorsal spines are long and separated. Every spine of the lionfish is venomous, and while no fatalities due to lionfish stings have been reported, their venom extremely painful. The Red Lionfish eat live prey and do not eat fish flakes and other processed food.

100p Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus)
Are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Bottlenose dolphins live in groups typically of 10-30 members, called pods, but group size varies from single individuals up to more than 1,000. Their diet consists mainly of forage fish. Dolphins often work as a team to harvest fish schools, but they also hunt individually. Dolphins search for prey primarily using echolocation, which is similar to sonar. They emit clicking sounds and listen for the return echo to determine the location and shape of nearby items, including potential prey. Bottlenose dolphins also use sound for communication, including squeaks and whistles emitted from the blowhole and sounds emitted through body language, such as leaping from the water and slapping their tails on the water surface.

Date of Issue: 13-05-2010
Type: Definitive stamps
Denomination: 7p and 100p
No. of Stamp in Set: 100 (7p) and 50 (100p)
Size: Perforation: 13.5
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: Lithography Offset
Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.
Graphic Artist: Jiomer E. Dacaymat
Source: Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific by Dr. Terence Gosliner
Designer: Darwin A. Marfil (7p)
Design Coordinators: Victorino Z. Serevo; Elenita D.L. San Diego


1p - Yellow Seahorse - Singles (2,800,000)
5p - Giant Clam - Singles (2,500,000)
20p - Scarlet-Fringed Flatworm - Singles (900,000)

1p YELLOW SEAHORSE (Hypocampus Kuda)
The Yellow Seahorse is one of the larger seahorses and is also known as the Common Seahorse, Spotted Seahorse, or Oceanic Seahorse. It has a short crown which is directed backward. Hippocampus kuda actually comes in many colors including yellow, orange, brown, and even black. The Yellow Seahorse tends to get along with pipefish, but they are a slightly faster feeder than the seahorse. In order to maintain the coloration of these wonderful animals it is ideal to keep décor of a similar coloration in the aquarium. Some individuals may have spots. For the best results, seahorses should be kept in a separate, species-only tank that is 50 gallons or larger with multiple items which they can grab with their prehensile tails. The reason for this is that seahorses are very slow methodical eaters and when maintained with other fish, they will never receive the proper amount of food to thrive in the aquarium.

5p GIANT CLAM (Tridacna Crocea)
Several species of giant clams are available to hobbyists, but Tridacna crocea is one of the most popular, if not number one. Note that this species is simply called “crocea” by most, but is also known as the crocus clam, boring giant clam and saffron-colored giant clam in different places and crowds. And they’re also sometimes sold under the trade names super crocea, ultra crocea or something similar, because certain specimens have a more colorful and/or unusual appearance than others. It should be no surprise that they’re highly desirable, because they often come in wonderful blues and greens, with just about every other color mixed in at times, as well. Purple, orange and gold are often seen, as well as solid brown. On top of their wonderful colors, the patterns that typically cover their upper mantle tissue may include stripes, waves, spots, rings, etc., making them look even more beautiful.

20p SCARLET-FRINGED FLATWORM (Pseudoceros Ferrugineus)
Flatworms belong to the Phylum Platyhelminhes, which includes notorious human parasites such as liver flukes and tapeworms. At first glance flatworms are easily mistaken for nudibranchs, but they lacks gills and the body is much thinner and more fragile. They are sometimes seen crawling over sand and coral, or are found under rubble. Fortunately marine flatworms are not harmful, and many have a beautiful appearance. The most stunning belong to a group known as polycads. Their flat oval-shaped bodies frequently exhibit dazzling colors. Their bright livery possibly warns predators of their toxic properties or bitter taste. Flatworms are common on most coral reefs, but due to their small size (most measure less than 8 cm. in length) and secretive habits, they are easily overlooked.
(Periplus Nature Guides – Tropical Marine Life)

Date of Issue: 15-06-2010
Type: Definitive stamps
Denomination: 1p, 5p and 20p
No. of Stamp in Set: 100
Size: Perforation: 13.5
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: Lithography
Offset Printer: Amstar Company, Inc.
Graphic Artist: Earvin L. Ayes
Source: Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific by Dr. Terence Gosliner
Designers: Lino B. Jamisola (1p); Mary Anne C. Cruz (5p); Lawrence Cunanan (20p)
Designer coordinators: Victorino Z. Serevo; Elenita D.L. San Diego

ROMANIA - Cover from Bucarest, Romania to Braga, Portuga

Cover with stamp of 2.10L from the 2010 joint issue Romania-Portugal posted on October, 25 2010.
(Special thanks to friend Popovici Silviu)

In 1880, Portugal recognized Romania’s independence. Celebrating the 130th anniversary of this event, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the joint stamp issue entitled „Ceramics – Tiles“.
Magic of fire and mystery of the clay moistened by the life-giving water, the modelling in clay become human being’s first step towards art and craftsmanship.
Appeared in the Middle East around 7800 B.C., the ceramic was decorated by incisions, stone polishing or pressing after almost two thousand years later; in 1200 B.C., they started using colours as well.
A remarkable pottery development was attested in the Middle East, in the entire Mediterranean basin and it also expanded to the Roman world and Byzantium.
Both the household objects and the ones used for the houses and palaces adornment continued to experience diversity until the Renaissance.
The Royal palaces and churches were decorated on walls with coloured and enameled bricks. Simultaneously, the plates – glazed stove tiles – for stove making appeared, leading to the development of manufactures where potters made these clay pieces.
The stove tile, a clay plate burnt into the oven until red, mica powdered or enameled, had a square or rectangular shape and was used for building heating or food preparation systems.
The archeological discoveries in the 14th and 15th centuries showed the elites’ preferences for decorating rooms with fireplaces built of tiles.
The patterns on the tiles are geometrical, zoomorphous, phytomorphous, anthropomorphous, heraldic, and religious.
The image reproduced on the postage stamp with the face value of RON 3.10 represents a Saxon origin tile from Bistrita-Nasaud County, dating back from the half of the 19th century, which belongs to the patrimony of the Romanian Peasant Museum in Bucharest. It was modelled by pressing the clay in a mould, was burnt in the oven, enamelled and painted by means of a horn.

The piece has a rectangular shape, depicted with stylized floral motifs: daisies, tulips and carnations placed in its center and corners.
The Azulejos are painted tin-glazed tiles used to cover large surfaces, either inside buildings or on their façades. Azulejo is a word deriving from the Arabic word al-zulayi (meaning “polished stone”).
In the early 16th century, in Seville, the ceramic plates were used to decorate a monumental wall for the first time.
The technique used to process the ceramic has continuously evolved from the Moorish geometric and laced themes, up to plant and animal themes.
The Azulejos constitute one of the representative elements of the Portuguese culture revealing the symbiosis between this culture and the European and Arabic ones.
Also, using Azulejos as thermal insulating and waterproof material reveals a practical, but also esthetic sense, given to these ceramic plates.
Used for more than five centuries and having a major role in architecture, the ceramic plates (azulejos) represent for Portugal not just a state of mind but also an emblem.
The image reproduced on the postage stamp with the face value of RON 2.10 illustrates an azulejo, dating back in the 18th century, Lisbon, from the collection of the National Tile Museum in Lisbon.

Two types of mini-sheets with 4 sets of stamps one with illustrated border and the other with illustrated border and label with silver foiling were issued in limited quantities.

Date of Issue: 30-06-2010
Type: Commemorative stamp
Denomination: 2.10 Lei and 3.10 Lei
No. of Stamp in Set: 2
Size: 30x36 mm
Perforation:
Colour: Multicolour
Process of Printing:
Printer:
Designer: Mihai Vămăşescu

ALGERIA - Cover from Setif, Algeria to Braga, Portugal

First Day Cover with stamps from the 2010 Algerian issue – 50º Anniversaire de L’Organization des Pays Exportateurs de Petrole posted on September, 14 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Ouari Khemissi)

CROATIA - Cover from Nedelišće, Croatia to Braga, Portugal

Cover with two stamps from 2009’s issues - 21st Men’s World Handball Championship and Accession of the Republic of Croatia to NATO, posted on October, 21 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Tomislav)

Date of Issue: 16-01-2009
Type: Commemorative stamp
Denomination: 3.50 Kr
No. of Stamp in Set: 1
Size: 40.28x29.82 mm
Perforation: 14
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: Offset print + embossed print
Printer: "Zrinski" - Čakovec
Designer: Goran Den Popović i Danijel Popović, designers from Zagreb

21st Men’s World Handball Championship - Croatia 2009
Application of the logo of the 21st Men’s World Handball Championship - Croatia 2009 Globally known victories of Croatia’s men’s national handball team have made our handball players the most trophy winning Croatian sportsmen in general. Gold medals were won by our handball players at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Two gold medals won at the biggest world sports events were supplemented with the gold medal won at the World Championship 2003 in Portugal and two silver medals in 1995 in Iceland and in 2005 in Tunis.
The large collection of medals has also been completed with several medals won at European championships. In 1994 in Portugal, handball players were bronze medallists and at the last European Championship in Norway (2008) they were runners-up and won the silver medal. None of the handball national teams on the global level and in any other sport can boast about such success as the Croatian handball.
For many handball enthusiasts and experts worldwide the Croatian handball players are the „European Brazil“. Indeed, the Croatian handball players can really be compared to Brazil in the football world. It’s no wonder that with their continuous successes they are highly appreciated worldwide. It is only thanks to our handball players and their reputation that the International Handball Federation (IHF) entrusted Croatia with the organisation of the World Championship 2009, although at the time the decision was made our country did not have a single sports hall that would be an adequate venue for such sports events.
The organisation of the biggest event in Croatia since its independence can partly be attributed to the guarantees of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and of functionaries in the local communities who made their promises and realised the goals on time.
The sports halls in seven towns have been completed on time and the last organisational preparations have been finished as well. «Let the games begin» - the whole of Croatia is ready to welcome the handball players and their supporters from 24 best handball playing countries worldwide.
In January 2009 (from the 16th January till the 1st February) the whole of Croatia will be breathing together with its handball players, dreaming about another great success. Zagreb, Split, Varaždin, Zadar, Osijek, Poreč and Pula, but also the whole of Croatia.
A similar atmosphere was also at the 2000 Men’s Handball European Championships but also at the 2003 Women’s Handball World Championships, which were organised in Croatia. At that time, the world of handball was delighted with Croatia’s organisational skills. However, these World Championships will be better than the previous ones.
This is what our handball heroes have promised to us and we should believe them because they always keep their promises. Ivano Balić, Petar Metličić, Blaženko Lacković and their «comrades», led by the national team selector and coach Lino Červar have made Croatia happy so many times, and everyone was celebrating and crying with them.
At this event many handball players from the «golden generation» will say goodbye to national team and their dearest jersey. The most beautiful scenario would be if they could say goodbye as winners, with the national anthem on the highest step of the victory podium in the crowded beauty of Zagreb – Arena. The coach Lino Červar made one thing very clear: «It’s going to be the best organised championships in the history of handball. This generation deserves the biggest spectacle and farewell with the golden medal. My guys are the best in the world.
‘Let them cry – Croatia is the world champ’. »

Date of Issue: 04-04-2009
Type: Commemorative stamp
Denomination: 8.00 Kr
No. of Stamp in Set: 1
Size: 42.60x35.50 mm
Perforation: 14
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: Offset print
Printer: "Zrinski" - Čakovec
Designer: Igor Kuduz

Accession of the Republic of Croatia to NATO
Digital and Dispersed Map of Croatia and the NATO Alliance Logo The North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) was signed on April 4, 1949.
NATO was established at the height of a Cold War when it became obvious that cooperation from the time of anti Hitler coalition was abandoned; and when the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe tried to create a new coalition of nations «national democracies» and that the Marshal plan and the Truman doctrine served as the basis for gathering those who accepted the Euro Atlantic idea of development and co-operation.
The Treaty was signed for an undetermined period of time and consisted of only 14 articles. The provisions of these articles confirmed the freedom and security to all the members, pointing out the need to accept mutual values recognised in democratic functioning of societies. Pursuant to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation any threat to security to any country member is considered as a threat to any of the other country members, whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to any external party.
The Alliance is referring to Article 51 of the United Nation Charter where it is elaborated that nothing shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the UN Security Council has taken necessary measures.
The Treaty anticipates that any European country is given the possibility to become a NATO member under the condition that it be unanimously invited and accepted into NATO and shall deposit the instrument of accession to NATO with the American Government.
First signatories of the Treaty in Washington on April 4, 1949 were: Belgium, Denmark, France, Island, Italy, Canada, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, USA and Great Britain. Turkey and Greece became NATO members in 1952; The Federal Republic of Germany in 1955 and Spain in 1982 after deposing General Franco’s dictatorship, In the years of the Cold War, NATO had a strong defensive role and the military dimension was at the forefront.
However with international tensions subsiding some changes in international relations were announced and the so called Harmels report in 1957 pointed out a political unity of the NATO members.
During the détente years NATO members would be an important actor in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OESS) process and also after the fall of the European socialist system in 1989 and SSSR.
In 1991 NATO remained the sole military and political alliance in Europe.
Almost all of the Eastern European countries, except Russia and Belarus, applied to be accepted into NATO and the intensive process of the NATO expansion had begun.
After Clinton organised a Partnership for Peace in 1994 as a preparatory stage for the accession to NATO, the first new members in 1999 were Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary.
After March 2004 Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia became full members.
At a meeting in Bucharest in 2008 the invitation was extended to Albania and Croatia and the process of Macedonia’s accession to NATO was placed on hold until the subject of the official name of Macedonia shall be resolved.
NATO functions on the principle of inter-government co-operation, and decisions are adopted by a consensus, on the basis of consent among all the member states.
Full sovereignty is preserved of all the member states including their independence even at the price that the democratic principle in some cases slows down actual action.
The headquarters of NATO is in Brussels, and the Military Committee in Mons (Belgium). Although Croatia placed as a goal in the foundation of its foreign policy documents the accession to Euro Atlantic Integrations: NATO EU, it was only after democratic changes began in 2000 that Croatia was invited to Partnership for Peace and the Euro Atlantic Partnership Committee.
That same year, Croatia became a member of PARP (Process for Peace Planning and Review) and only the year after that NATO accepted the first Croatian individual partnership program.
In 2003 Croatia along with Albania and Macedonia signed the American-Adriatic Charter, evidence that the USA is backing the accession of the three states in NATO.
By fulfilling all the criteria stated in the Membership Action Plan (MAO) Croatia received an invitation in Bucharest for meetings in Strasbourg and Kiel on 3-4- April 2009, which will enable Croatia to become a full member of a democratic, industrialized and far reaching Western World!

(Text extracted from the original stamp issue brochures)

CROATIA - Cover from Nedelišće, Croatia to Braga, Portugal

Cover with Souvenir sheet from the 2010 LUBENICE – Island Cres issue posted on September, 13 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Tomislav)


Date of Issue : 21-05-2010
Type : Commemorative souvenir sheet
Denomination : 10.00 kn
No. of Stamp in Set : 1
Size: 35.50x29.82 mm
Perforation: 14
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: Offset
Printer: "Zrinski" - Čakovec
Designer: Igor Konjušak
Graphic artist: Zagreb
Photographer: Petar Strmečki

LUBENICE – Island Cres

Lubenice - a town of stone The power of the ancient myth, in which the main characters are Apsyrtus, Jason, Medea and the Argonauts, introduces us into the pre-origin of the group of islands called Apsyrtides, to which also Cres belongs. At cultural level, on the island Cres there can be noticed for centuries present interaction between the landscape and the evidence of very different peoples (Illyrians, Greeks, Romans and Venetians) who in their historic eras and within their own civilisations created a cultural and historical matrix of this region.
The area of Lubenice and Pernat, called Gerbin (south-western wind) by local inhabitants, is bordered on its west side by the vast bay of Cres and by its position stands out as a separate micro-region of the island Cres. As concerns historic continuity here we find: settlements existing from the pre-historic period till today, settlements built next to cultivated soil and settlements of the scattered type, built at the seashore.
A Roman Hibernicia/Hibernitia, i.e. medieval Ljubljenice, and today’s Lubenice, is a settlement existing in an unbroken continuity for over 4000 years, situated in the central part of the island, at 378 m above sea level, on the high cliff dominating the open sea of the Kvarner Bay. Lubenice, like other pre-historic settlements has used its geostrategic position during history in order to control the entire Kvarner Bay through the Big Gate.
The castle of Lubenice falls under Venetian rule from 1409 to 1797 and remains urbis and logos, with the church seat and military garrison, for the inhabitants who escaped from the further away situated fields of Vransko Lake and the Pernat peninsula.
The prosperity of Lubenice is reflected in the huge territory belonging to the community, from the Cape Pernat to Ustrine and from Orlec to Belej, including also the villages mentioned. The autonomous community of Lubenice was abolished at the end of the 15th century, when it – with all its territory - passes under the administration of the community of Cres.
The flourishing, opulent period on the island at the end of the 17th century favours erecting of houses and sacral buildings also outside the castle, fortified for centuries.
Die inhabitants of the peninsula Pernat, and also of Lubenice have always been economically oriented to agriculture, livestock farming and forestry. Among the particularities of the island Cres are the huge estates with vast sheep economies - the so called shepherd’s dwellings.
Through the oval shape of Lubenice, elongated in the direction north-south, and beginning at the town square, there stretch three main winding paths (streets) leading into the medieval town space. In the far history Lubenice was fortified by walls from the east, that survive today in fragments while the south part of the settlement leans against a vertical, inaccessible cliff above seashore.
In a bounded space, between the renewed south and the original north town gate, the morphology of the construction art of Lubenice is found, spanning from the traditional functional minimalism to the renaissance-baroque elements with rare Venetian additions. In the first plan of the small town, at the town square and dominating it, there is a parish church dedicated to Our Blessed Virgin Mary. Next to the edge of the square and the former town loggia a new bell tower was erected in 1791. At the south end of the locality there is a renewed gothic church of St. Anthony the Eremite and a small Romanesque church of St. Sunday.
In the centre of the small town, next to the former rectory there stands a gothic church of St. Jacob (14th – 15th century). After the north city gate, at the town cemetery, there is a church of St. Stephen from the 17th-18th century.
As for the housing itself, it uses all the elements of autochtonous and organic art of building, combined with the elements used in the continental littoral. In the beginning of 2005 Lubenice was included into the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
A somewhat anticipatory concept design of an eco-park in the Pernat peninsula (1988) by the scientist Marijan Vejvoda, with the dynamic idea of including Lubenice in it, a detailed project for the adaptation and reconstruction of the building heritage with the concept for the revival and shaping of a varied tourist offer with compatible contents (1955), an always greater engagement and continuous presence (since 1999) of the Centre for Sustainable Development – Eco Park Pernat - are all important indicators showing that Lubenice is no "island", and that the ideas of its full-scale revitalization, supported by active participation of local inhabitants, will prudently and harmonically incorporate sociological, anthropological and architectural aspects in future, new concepts.
(text from the announcing stamps issue brochure)

Returned to Sender!

It was the first time I received back correspondence I sent to someone.

The letter was sent by registered mail on May, 3 of 2010 to India and after some months travelling across India, has returned to me on September, 2 of 2010.
To my friend Ravanan, that is waiting for this cover for months I could just say that in a few days I will send it back with the hope that this time it reaches the right address…

SINGAPORE – Cover from Singapore to Braga, Portugal

Cover with stamp of 1$10 – ‘Merly Swimming’ from the Youth Olympic Games – Singapore 2010 issue posted on September, 30 2010.
(A very special thanks to my friend Terence Wong)

RUSSIA – Cover from Samara, Russia to Braga, Portugal

Registered cover with the stamp from the 2009 ‘200th Anniversary of Birth Of Vladimir Istomin’. Several additional definitive stamps from 2002, 2005 and 2009 are also present.
Interesting detail related with the flag of Samara!

The 200th anniversary of birth of Vladimir Istomin, the hero of the Sevastopol defense 1854-1855.

Vladimir Ivanovich Istomin (1809-1855) - the hero of Sevastopol defense, Rear Admiral. He participated in the naval Battle of Navarino in 1827, in the battle against the Turkish fleet in the Mediterranean Sea in 1828-1829. Since 1850 he was the commander of the battleship "Paris", which destroyed three Turkish ships and the central coastal battery of the enemy in the naval Sinop Battle in 1853. He was awarded the rank of Rear Admiral for the achievements in battle. From the beginning of the defense of Sevastopol he commanded the 4th range of Malakhov barrow. For his courage he was awarded the Order of St. George of 3rd degree. He was killed by a cannon ball on the Kamtchatka Lunette. The stamp presents the portrait of V.I.Istomin, a fragment of the battleship "Paris" with waving flag of St. Andrew, the scene of Sevastopol defense.
Designer: Kernosov A.
Date of issue: 14-10-2009
Printing method: offset Coated paper Colors: four Perforation: comb 12:11 ½ Sheets of 25 (5x5) stamps
Face value: 10.00

BANGLADESH – Cover from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Braga, Portugal

Registered cover with stamps of the issues ‘FIFA World Cup France 1996’ and ‘2010 ICC World Twenty 20’ posted on September, 13 2010.(Special thanks to my friend Tanvir Rahman)

ICC World Twenty 20 2010
Date of Issue: April 22nd, 2010
Type: CommemorativeDenomination: 15.00 TK
No. of Stamp in Set: 1
No. of Stamp in Each Sheet: 88
Size: 37x37 mm
Perforation: 12.5
Color: MulticolorProcess of Printing: OffsetPrinter: The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd., Gazipur
Designer: Aminul Haque Mallick
Post Office Issued : Dhaka Gpo, Chittagong Gpo, Rajshahi Gpo, Khulna Gpo, + All Head Post Offices (h.o.)

(World Heritage Site - Historical Shat Gombuj Mosque, Bangladesh)

(Fisherman throwing net for fishing in Bangladesh)

MALAYSIA - Cover from Ipoh, Malaysia to Braga, Portugal

First Day Cover of the ‘Lifestyles of the Aboriginal People’ stamps issue posted on September, 27 2010.
(A very special thanks to my friend Khor Kok Keong)

Lifestyle of the Aboriginal People of Malaysia

Malaysia's indigenous communities represent a small but important part of the nation's multi-cultural milieu. These communities are disproportionately spread out between the small and frequently isolated communities found in the peninsular and the Malaysian Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah where they make up 50 to 60 percent of the respective state's population. The "Orang Asli" are made up of nearly a hundred different ethnic sub-groups. These include around twenty in Peninsular Malaysia although administratively, they are categorised as Negrito, Senoi and Aboriginal Malay. Sabah and Sarawak, on the other hand, has between 30 to 40 distinct sub-groups each with an even more amazing number of languages and dialects. The Department of Orang Asli Affairs or JHEOA is entrusted with the care and administration of the indigenous communities. Its mandate includes the eradication of poverty, improvement of health, promoting education and improving their general livelihood and where possible and desired, their integration with mainstream Malaysian society.

The Proto Malays
The 60 sen stamp portrays two women of the Proto-Malay tribe playing a traditional musical instrument known as the "Ketuk Buluh" or a slotted bamboo pipe previously used to scare away birds during the harvesting season. It is nowadays mostly used as a musical instrument for community dances including weddings, the arrival of guests and so on.

The Negrito
A Negrito man hunting with his blowpipe adorns the 70 sen stamp. Silent and highly accurate in the hands of an expert, it fires poisoned darts and is well suited for shooting birds, monkeys and other small animals out of trees. Primarily hunter-gathers, the Negrito people subsist on the bounty of Peninsular Malaysia's abundant rainforests for food as well as shelter.

The Senoi
A native of the Senoi tribe is depicted on the 80 sen stamp applying his skills at woodcarving. Well known for their woodworking abilities, the Senoi most often sculpt spirit gods and effigies that are used both for worship as well as decoration. The "harimau berantai" (a mythical tiger holding a chain in its mouth) is their most popular artistic choice.

Date of Issue: 27. 09. 2010
Face value: 60sen; 70sen; 80sen
Dimensions: 35 x 35 mm
Perforation: 13 Layout/Format: Sheets
Stamps per Sheet: 20
Number in set:
Stamp designer: World Communications Network Resources (M) Sdn Bhd
Stamp engraver:
Paper: SPM Watermarked, Phosphor Coated
Printer: Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn Bhd
Print technology: Lithography

Welcome the 11000th Visitors

Aqui ficam as melhores saudações Filatélicas, para os visitantes de todo o mundo, que diariamente visitam o meu blog.

(English version)
Here are the best Philatelic greetings to visitors from all over the world who daily visit my blog.

RUSSIA – Cover sent from Krasnodar, Russia to Braga, Portugal

Registered FDC cover of the 2006 - ‘The 50th anniversary of the Russian Research of Antarctica’ commemorative issue and to complete the postal rate, one stamp from the 2009 - ‘The 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty’ commemorative issue and 5 stamps of 5.00 from the 2005’s definitive issue, posted on September, 03 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Vladimir Gritsay)

In 2009 the Antarctic Treaty celebrates its 50th anniversary.The document came into force on December 1st, 1959 after its ratification by 12 countries - first members. The main purpose of the Treaty - to ensure the peaceful exploration of Antarctica to the benefit of the whole mankind; it provides the freedom of scientific researches and promotes international cooperation.
The stamp presents the attributes of Russian Antarctic investigations – cross-country vehicle "Kharkovchanka-2", weather balloon, solar battery, automatic weather station - on the background of the contours of the Antarctic Region and the flag of the Russian Federation.

Designer:Date of issue: 30-11-2009
Printing method: offset + silver paste
Coated paperColors: four
Perforation: comb 12 ½: 12
Sheets of 36 (6x6) stamps

The diesel-electric ship Obj became the ensign ship of the complex Antarctic expedition, which was delivered by it to the shore of Antarctica on the 5th of January 1956.From here on the construction of “Mirni” observatory, which was the main base of the Soviet Antarctic expeditions from 1956 to 1971, began.
The observatory was opened on the 13th of February, 1956, because of conducting of the International geophysical year. Twenty main buildings, special magnetic, seismic and upper-air stations, geophysical, geological, gravimetrical and other laboratories, radio station, which had the direct connection with Moscow, were constructed in “Mirni”.
The scientific village is situated on the shore of Deivis’s sea, on a small projection named “Mirni” peninsula.
The observatory is situated on the height of 35 meters above the sea level.

The decision to prepare the transport aircraft Il-76 TD for flights to Antarctica was made in 1985 with the aim of reduction of time and costs connected with the delivery of participants of Antarctic expedition, cargo and equipment to the 6th continent and back.
The job and the checkout connected with the 1st flight equipment had been finished by the beginning of the 1986.
The ice-airfields near the “Molodjozhnaja” and “Novolazarevskaja” polar stations had been prepared at the same time.
The scientific expedition ship “Akademician Feodorov” was launched in 1987. This ship is unique in its own way.
It has no analogues in supplying the Antarctic expeditions worldwide. The amount of cargo and the number of people, delivered to the ice continent on board the “Academician Feodorov” is uncountable.

The interest in Antarctica research has not been weakening during the last half of the century.
The important researches relating to our planet the Earth in general may be executed in Antarctica (especially in its remote parts).
The snow beddings contain information about the climate history during tens of thousands of years.
The huge lake (the Earth’s forth according to size) of very old origin was found under the 400 kilometers of ice at the place of the deposition of the Russian Antarctic station “Vostok”.
The analysis of the bacterium which has been evidently remained in the water may clarify the problem of origin of life on our planet.

Designer: Fedulov A.
Date of issue: 26-01-2006Printing method: offset
Coated paper
Colors: four
Perforation: comb 12 : 12
Sheets of 36 (6x6) stamps
Face value: 3 x 7.00
Description: The Obj Diesel-electric Ship.The Il-76TD transport aircraft and the research expedition ship “The Academician Feodorov”.
The scientific investigations, the under the ice research, the sledge transport train.

(2005 definitive stamps)

CHINA – Cover from Jiangsu, China to Braga, Portugal

Registered cover with the 2008 round stamp of the ‘Celebrating the Opening of Olymplex souvenir sheet and the 2004 ‘Celery wormwood’ set of stamps and at the back two other stamps from the 1998 ‘The Nine-village Valley (Jiuzhaigou)’ and the 1994 ‘The Dunhuang Murals’ (5th series) stamp issues, posted on August, 29 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Wang Yi from the blog Gone with Postcards)

(Olympic stamps of Greece 1896 and Olympic stamps of Portugal 1928)

Celebrating the Opening of Olymplex, the Olympic Expo Beijing 2008 Serial number: 2008-19
Values in set: 2 + 1
Date of issue: August 8th, 2008
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Ma Gang
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5 * 13
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process of stamps: Photogravure
Size of S/S Stamp: diameter 56mm (circle)
Size of S/S: 140 * 95 mm
Perforation of S/S: 11.5Printing process of S/S: OffsetPrinting House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

(Special notes: a limited edition of the souvenir sheet made of silk was issued and a special attention to the reproduction of the 1928 Olympic Games Portuguese stamp that just circulated between 22 and 24 of May 1928!)

Celery wormwood Serial number: 2004-18
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 440 fen
Date of issue: September 19, 2004Designer: Zeng Xiaolian, Xu Yanbo
Size of stamp: 30*40mmPerforation: 13.5*13
Sheet composition:
12 for Sheet I;8 (4 sets) for Sheet II
Printing process: Gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

Fangcao Lake, Wuhua Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Nuorilang Waterfalls and the Long Lake

The Nine-village Valley (Jiuzhaigou)
Serial number: 1998-6
Values in set: 4
Souvenir sheet: 1
Date of issue: March 26, 1998
Designers: Li Rongqing; Li Changqing; Zhang Yueju
Size of stamp: 50*38 mm
Size of S/S: 150*85 mmSize of S/S stamp: 93*52mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: offset

The Dunhuang Murals (5th series)
Serial number: 1994-8
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: July 16 , 1994
Designers: Wu Jiankun; Ren yu
Size: 54*40mm
Perforation: 11
Sheet composition: 28
Printing process: gravure