SLOVAKIA - Cover from Bystre, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Cover with Europa 2012 stamp and Christmas card posted on January 1, 2013.

(A very special thanks to my best friend Milos Leng)

SLOVAKIA – Cover from Bystre, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal.

Cover with stamps posted on January, 18 2011.

(Special thanks to my friend Milos Leng)

SLOVAKIA - Cover from Bystre, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Cover with stamp from the issue ‘Nature Protection: Muránska Plain - Primerose (Primula Auricula)’posted on Octoberber, 15 2010.

(Special thanks to my friend Milos Leng)

There are around 400 types in the Primula genus blooming in spring, which is also reflected in the scientific genus name – Primula, which in Latin shall mean early, or the first. This name for the genus was first time used in the botanical scripts already in the 14th century. Primula can be found by swamps and wetlands as well as in the alpine areas. The representatives of the genus are spread mainly in the northern hemisphere where almost half of the species originated in the Himalayas. There are seven species of this genus in Slovakia.
Except for the Carpathian region, Primula is also spread in the Alps and in the Apennines. In the Western Carpathians, there occurs endemic sub-species Primula auricula subsp. hungarica. In Slovakia, it is located in numerous limestone mountains where it grown in rocks, rock slits and on talus. They can be frequently found on the cliffs of Muránska plain, therefore, this species has become the motif of the issued stamps. It is a sun-exposed, or half-shade species. Early in spring (April to June) it beautifies the rocks with its bright yellow fragrant flowers. It blooms so early because floral buds start already in the autumn and they overwinter covered in leaves. Heterostyly is typical for Primula – it means that in flowers there is differently long stamen on the specimen which prevents self-pollination. The flowers are pollinated by various types of insect. Later small seeds are created which are distributed by wind (anemochory). The plant is 5 – 25 cm high. Fleshy, obovate, grey to dark-green leaves are located in the leaf rosette. The whole plant is glandulous, villose and floury. This cover protects the plant against excessive water vaporization, whereby the plant can survive also a longer dry period. It belongs to so-called dealpine species. These plant species during the ice ages descended from the alpine level to the lower mountainous where they have stayed also after the end of unfavourable period due to suitable conditions. Apart from the decorative use, it is also used as the medicinal plant, which is referred to in numerous folk’s names (e.g. kaška, bear’s ear, etc.). It has the same healing effects as the less rare and not protected Primula veris. For its rarity this species in Slovakia belongs to the legally protected plants. This species is also included in the Red List of higher plants in Slovakia and it is listed in the category of endangered species.
Jaromír Kučera

(Source:  POFIS - Postal Philatelic Service of the Slovak Post)

Nature Protection: Muránska Plain - Primerose (Primula Auricula)

Date of Issue: 15-10-2010
Type: Commemorative
Denomination: 2x 0.80€
No. of Stamp in Set: 2
Size: 44.4 x 30.7 mm
Perforation:
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: Recess printing from flat plate combined with offset
Protection of the stamp:
Printer: Poštovní tiskárna cenin Praha, a. s.
Designer: Igor Piačka

SLOVAKIA - Cover from Roznavske Bystre, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Cover with two stamps from the ‘Castle Betliar’ stamp issue, posted on June, 18 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Milos Leng)

Castle Betliar

Date of Issue: 18. 06. 2010
Face value: 0,40 €
Dimensions: 44,4 x 27,2 mm
Layout/Format: TL
Stamps per TL: 50
Number in set: 2
Stamp designer: Júlia Piačková
Stamp engraver: Arnold Feke
Printer: Poštovní tiskárna cenin Praha, a. s.
Print technology: Rotary recess printing combined with gravure
Stamps edition: 1 mil.

Originally a hunting castle, with its permanent specialized exhibition of Housing Culture of the Nobility in the 18th and 19th Century, the Castle Betliar has belonged to the administration of the Slovak National Museum – Museum Betliar since 1996. From the point of view of attractiveness, it belongs to the most visited ones and from the point of view of monument preservation, it belongs to the most preserved cultural historical monuments of Slovakia. It has been included into the network of Slovak museums since 1952.

The origins of the castle history date back to the first half of the 15th century and they are connected with the Hungarian family of Bebek. František Bebek built a small fortification in the period of the approaching Turkish threat.

The greatest construction for the castle was noted in the period of the Transylvanian-Hungarian noble family of Andrássy which played an important part not only in the life of Gemer but the entire Hungary.The castle experienced several reconstructions over some centuries.

The biggest and most extensive was the reconstruction of 1880 – 1886 under the control of the count Emanuel Andrássy and the castle obtained its present look. Previous owners furnished the castle with luxury and gathered a lot of works of art and craft there creating a present-day precious artistic and historic collection fund of the museum. What is really valuable is the movables of the exhibit of domestic and foreign provenance dated in the 16th to 19th centuries. Interiors are supplemented with gallery collections, ceramics collections, china and porcelain from various European manufactures.
(Source: Slovenská Posta)

(FIFA World Cup 2010 souvenir sheet)

SLOVAKIA - Cover from Bystré, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Registered cover posted on April, 6 2010.

(Special thanks to my friend Milos Leng)

SLOVAKIA – Postcard from Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Postcard posted on November, 23 2009.

SLOVAKIA – Cover from Bistre, Slovenia to Braga, Portugal

Cover posted on October, 15 2009.

SLOVAKIA – Cover from Bustré, Portugal to Braga, Portugal

Cover posted on March, 18 2009.

(A special thanks to my friend Milos)

(postcard of the 2009 folklore festival of Kežmarok)

SLOVAKIA – Postcard from Kežmarok, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Postcard posted on July, 10 2009

(A special thanks to my friend Milos)

Sent Today July 1st, 2009

Postcards sent from Santiago de Compostela, Spain to my frends in:

POLAND, SLOVAKIA, AZERBAIJAN, CHINA, MALAYSIA and INDIA

SLOVAKIA - Cover from Bystre, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

Cover posted on April 2009.

Sent … Yesterday

Ta Nowy Sacz, Poland
FDC Souvenir sheet of the 800 Years of the Order of Franciscans stamp issue.
To Bystré, Slovakia
Sent & Received Cover with stamp pair from the 800 Years of the Order of Franciscans stamp issue.
To Hyderabad, India
FDC the 800 Years of the Order of Franciscans stamp issue and additional stamp from the Charles Darwin stamp issue (Lisbon Zoo edition) .
To Kerala, India
FDC the 800 Years of the Order of Franciscans stamp issue and additional stamp from the Charles Darwin stamp issue (Lisbon Zoo edition) .

SLOVAKIA – Cover from Bystre, Slovakia to Braga, Portugal

First Day Cover of the Slovakian Easter 2009 stamp issue, posted on March, 4 2009.