Message

Two short messages

1. I have received several envelopes in the past few days, but I can't show these immediately because I'm very busy with the preparations for the special advance sales of the new Belgian stamps on March 7. I need to write some letters and prepare some envelopes, so there's no time to post things on my blog at this moment.
   
   
   But I'm sure you'll understand :) Actually, now is the time to send me an envelope (preferably of one of my missing countries of course) or some WWF items, if you want to get a cover with special cancellation in return. If your envelope arrives before 07.03.2009 you will get such cover in return. :)
   
   
2. I am member of a stamp club that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. For this occasion, there will be a little exhibition and I was thinking to participate in this exhibition with some stamps on the topic of elephants (both African and Asian). If you have stamps (used/mint), FDC, MC, leaflets or other things on this topic and you don't really need them or you are willing to trade them at reasonable conditions, please contact me. Information on all kinds of initiatives (protection, nature reserves for elephants, ...) is also most welcome!
   

Thanks to all and CU later!

Hong Kong: Chinese white dolphin

Thank you very much Edward for your help to find me WWF items. This is a very nice FDC, picturing the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis).

More information on the Hong Kong WWF website: http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/pdf/references/factsheets/factsheet14.PDF

WWF Croatia: Orsini's viper and Purple heron

I was very happy when receiving these letters in the past few days. I have searched the 1999 Croatian WWF snake serie for some time, and now in 2 days time I have received the serie on cover 2 times! :) :) These are the covers (thanks Tommy and Zeljko!):

The snake pictured on the stamps is the Meadow Viper (Orsini's viper - Vipera ursinii). (read more: http://www.posta.hr/main.aspx?id=193&idmarke=322)


Zeljko also included a new FDC for me, which means I now have all 3 local fdc's from Croatia. :d The fdc shows the Purple Heron:

For more information, please check the excellent site of Croatian Post. (http://www.posta.hr/main.aspx?id=193&idmarke=496)

WWF stamps from Lithuania

Thank you Leonardas for this impressive cover from Lithuania.

The WWF stamps sheet was issued in 1996 and pictures the European bison or wisent (Bison bonasus). http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Bison_bonasus.html

Also on the cover: a stamp commemorating the 2008 Olympic Games and the escutcheon / coat of arms of Širvintos.

First cover from Estonia

Thank you very very much Kristiina for this wonderful cover from Estonia with 4 WWF stamps!

The stamps picture the European flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) and were issued in 1994. These animals have a membrane that extends between their fore- and hind limbs. Unlike some other species of flying squirrels, Pteromys volans do not have a membrane between their hind limbs and the base of their tail. Their limbs are relatively short and thick and their hind feet are significantly larger than their forefeet. The length of the head and body is 120-228 mm.

If you want to know more about these cute little animals, follow this link:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pteromys_volans.html

WWF Denmark

Charity stamp issued by Denmark on January 7, 2009. With this issue, Danish Post supports the work of World Wildlife Fund to improve conditions for impoverished peasant farmers in Vietnam.

The stamp also marks the 75th birthday of HRH Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort. The Prince has been president of Verdensnaturfonden, the Danish chapter of the World Wildlife Fund, since its inception in 1972. The stamp vignette was photographed by Sandra Greig and Kristian Jepsersen, and the drawing is by Martin Mörk.

(http://www.wwfstamp.com)

WWF Slovakia (2)

Thanks again to Robert for his cover and 4 first day covers picturing the European Wild Cat (Felis silvestris silvestris)!

Italian WWF cover

I have just received my first Italian cover. Thank you Lorenzo! :) And it's a very special one for me, as it is franked with one of the 1991 WWF stamps:

The animal pictured on the left stamp is the Abruzzo brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus). The brown bear is the most widespread member of the bear family, which is found throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Scientifically, more is known about brown bear than any of the other bear species except for the American black bear.

Despite its name, the brown bear ranges in color from black to yellow, reddish and even beige. In some areas, brown bears grow as large as polar bears and in other places they are less than half that size. Because of these differences in size and colour , people used to think there were many different species, not just on.

In the northern hemisphere the brown bear was long feared, admired and even worshiped as the king of beasts, taking a special place in folk tales.

(to read more, follow this link: http://www.bearplanet.org/brownbear.shtml)


The second stamp was issued to commemorate the historic university of Ferrara (1391-1991).

Endangered doves

Thank you André for the beautiful cover below, franked with a complete serie of Madeira WWF stamps!


The animal pictured on the stamps is the Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur). I don't know if this species is still endangered at this moment, I have seen a couple while going to my work lately... :) Also, I found this on the internet:

'This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km². It has a large global population, including an estimated 6,900,000-14,000,000 individuals in Europe (BirdLife International in prep.). Global population trends have not been quantified, but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.'

(http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2498&m=0)

Anyway, it would be great if this animal is no longer endangered. I think you all agree with me that nature has already suffered enough so far, so any positive change would be more than welcome.

cover from Slovakia

Another nice WWF cover to add to my collection, thanks to Robert.


The stamps picture the European Wild Cat (Felis silvestris silvestris).

The Wild Cat is extinct in most parts of Europe and today it can only be found in a few parts of Scotland, Germany and Slovakia. Its natural habitat is thick forest land. This fierce, handsome animal is heavier and larger than the domestic cat and although rarely seen, can be distinguished by its thick bushy tail. Its staple diet is mice, voles, rabbits, hares and small birds at night. Mating occurs in March and most litters, of between one and eight kittens, are born in May.
(http://www.pofis.sk)

These four stamps were actually printed in one sheet.