New Belgian stamps (21/09, 5/10 and 3/11/2009)

1. Rogier Van der Weyden - museum 'M' in Leuven
   
   
   
   
2. Art - art on the 'Kunstberg' / 'Mont des Arts' in Brussels
   
   
   
   
3. Trees of the 'Zoniën forest' (pine-tree, beech, birch, 'lork' (translation unknown) and oak tree)
   
   
   
4. 20th anniversary of the comic strip museum
   
   
   
   
5. Miniature trains
   
   
   
   
6. Canonization of Jozef De Veuster, better known as Father Damien or Saint Damien of Molokai (who looked after the people with leprosy)
   
   
   
   
7. This is Belgium - books and writers
   
   
   
8. Promotion of philately
   
   
   
9. Europalia China
   
   
   
10. Christmas 2009
    
    

Netherlands

New covers from Sri Lanka

Many thanks to my friend Ravindra for sending me a very nice cover and for helping me with the WWF cover!

The first cover is franked with 6 stamps from a serie on the Polonnaruwa Era:

1. 5.00: language
   
2. 10.00: ethnic and religious unity
   
3. 15.00: irrigation civilization
4. 25.00: architecture
5. 30.00: health care
6. 40.00: hindu sculpture
   

The WWF stamps picture the Ceylonese elephant (Elephas maximus ceylonensis).

First covers from Bangladesh

Many thanks to Fahim for these two covers from Bangladesh, country # 88 in my covers collection. Unfortunately some stamps got damaged, but these are still nice covers. Both covers are franked with the very nice sheet 'World Heritage - The Sundarbans'.

The second cover is franked with the 1990 WWF stamps picturing the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).

UAE

I'm happy to show you this very nice cover sent from the United Arab Emirates, a new country to add to my collection (# 87). The stamps picture women's traditional jewellery in the UAE. Fortunately this time the postman decided not to stick the note on the stamps, but on my address...

Indonesia

Cover from Indonesia, courtesy of Hariri.

First cover from Denmark

Thank you very much Lars for returning my WWF stamp on a very nice cover. This is my first cover from Denmark, country # 86 in my covers collection!

This WWF stamp has not been authorised by Groth AG, worldwide lisencee for the WWF Conservation Stamp Collection.

As you see, the stamp does not picture endangered species, but poor farmers in Vietnam. The surcharge of 50 Öre will be used to help these poor farmers.

Croatia

New cover from my friend Zeljko. Thanks a lot Zeljko, not only for this cover but also for the nice WWF items enclosed.

Stamp on the left: 125th anniversary of the birth of Ivan Meštrović
(http://www.posta.hr/main.aspx?id=193&idmarke=1746)

Stamp on the right (sheet): 500th anniversary of the death of Ivan Duknovic
(http://www.posta.hr/main.aspx?id=193&idmarke=1860)

Indonesian Pos(t) FDC's picturing Javan and Sumatran rhinoceros.

WWF cover from Maldives!

Thank you very much George for your help with this nice cover. The 2004 WWF stamps picture dragonfish (Eurypegasus draconis).

Brazil

Thanks to my friend Gabriel from Argentina and his cousin, who lives in Brazil, for sending me this nice cover!

WWF cover from India

I was really very happy to receive this cover with the 1999 WWF serie from India, picturing the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Lion) Only a pity that the stamp on the left is damaged (left top corner).

Some Indian collectors promised me this kind of cover with WWF stamps before, in return for an envelope from Belgium, but only Nagendra (Nagi) kept his promise so far, so I am really very grateful. Thank you Nagendra!

Luxembourg

Nice cover with sheet, sent by Amarilis. Thank you! Well received, even though my address was not written correctly.

The stamps have been issued to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Philatelic federation society.

Cover from Latvia

My second cover from Latvia, thanks to Oleg! The commemorative stamp in the right top corner pictures a wolf (canis lupus). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Wolf)

Furthermore we see definitive stamps with the coat of arms of Staicele, Auce and Zemgale.

Romania

Cover received last month. On the stamps we see (L-R):

1. Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) - WWF stamp issued in 2006
2. 10th anniversary of European Central Bank
3. 50 years Europa stamps (portrait of Columbus)
   

Country # 85: Macau

Thank you very much Myron for this wonderful cover from Macau, country # 85 in my cover collection!

Greece

USA

Thanks to Irwin for this cover from AAT. A pity that Anerican Post made such a mess from the cover: I had to fix 2 stamps, and another one is damaged too. Furthermore, the postmarks are just terrible... what a way to ruin a nice cover... :s

Belgium

Germany

Netherlands

'Ballonpost'

What a nice surprise to receive this very special cover, delivered by balloon post from Kirchberg to Brixen im Thale. The special delivery took place in the course of the 20th Tyrol Balloon Cup, as you can see on the panda label in the left top corner. Thank you very much Florian for this lovely item!

And that's not all, because Florian had another surprise for me... inside this cover I found a WWF maximumcard, thank you very much Florian!

Turkey

New material from Turkey, courtesy of Ahmet.

Animal festival on cover from Algeria

Thank you Ouari for this great animal cover from Algeria!

Hong Kong

Thanks to my friend Edward for these wonderful covers from Hong Kong!

The stamps on the first cover picture the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis), and were issued in 1999 as part of the WWF stamp collection.

The second cover is franked with stamps commemorating the centenary of customs and excise service.

WWF Brazil

New WWF cover received from Brazil, thank you José Luiz for your help to return the WWF stamps on an envelope.

The WWF stamps picture muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides).

(http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Brachyteles_arachnoides.html)

First cover from Maldives (# 84)

Thank you very much George for sending me my first and colourful cover from Maldives!