MALAYSIA - COVER FROM RONNY WONG

Thank you Ronny

MALAYSIA - COVER FROM KOW SIEW LAN

Thank you Siew Lan

Palm Trees Technical Details Stamps Stamp Value :50 sen x 3 designs Sheet Content :20 Stamps Paper :Phosphor Coated Printing Process :Lithography Printer :Keselamatan Sdn Bhd Stamp Designer :Hazel Design Sdn. Bhd. First Day Cover First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen Miniature Sheet Miniature Sheet Value :RM 3.00 Folder Folder Value :RM 5.50 Date of Issue 19-May-2009

GERMANY - COVER FROM DIEDRA STRAUCH

Thanks Diedra

PRESENTATION OF THE STAMPS

A. The TOWNHALL of FRANKENBERG

Frankenberg an der Eder is a town in Waldeck-Frankenberg district in Hesse, Germany.

The mountain at a ford over the Eder north of the Burgwald range was for a long time a fortified place, playing an especially important rôle under the Franks in the Saxon Wars. The current town was built in 1233-1234 by the Thuringian Landgrave and quickly earned economic importance for its location at the junction of two trade routes.

In a fire on 9 May, 1476, about which the Frankenberg chronicler Wigand Gerstenberg compiled a detailed description, the town was almost utterly destroyed. Built anew in the 16th century, the town never did recover its former importance.

The downtown core consists of the renovated Old Town and the likewise renovated New Town with many half-timbered houses.

FROM WIKIPEDIA
More info about the town at :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenberg,_Hesse

B. Homage to Bernhard Klemens Maria Hoffbauer Pius Grzimek

24.4.1909 (Nysa Oberschleisen) - 13.3.1987 (Frankfurt am Main)

Bernhard Grzimek: 100th Anniversary of Renown German Nature Conservationist

Bernhard Grzimek was an early “green warrior,” fighting for the protection of nature and general environmental awareness in Germany. He was born 100 years ago, on April 24 and environmentalists use the celebration of his birthday to draw attention not only to his achievements, but to the various threats facing our planet today.

Grzimek was a trained veterinarian and studied animal behaviour. For over 30 years he was the Director of the Frankfurt Zoo, but was best known for his work with animals on television and his passion for Africa.

Nature Conservationist Bernhard Grzimek

(© picture-alliance/dpa)

According to Manfred Niekisch, Professor for International Nature Conservancy, without the work of Grzimek, the African Serengeti would have been lost.

“The Serengeti would not have become one of the most important nature reserves of the earth, but instead likely eroded from agricultural use and cattle breeding,” commented the academic.

Grzimek is considered a pioneer of nature conservancy in Germany and Africa. He was best known for his popular television show, “A Place for Animals.” Beginning in the 1950s, Grzimek brought live animals into the studio for the broadcast for almost 30 years. Through his immense media popularity he was able to appeal to his audience for the protection of nature and animal species. He also was able to collect millions for his projects in Africa, above all the preservation of the Serengeti National Park.

Grzimek filmed the documentary “The Serengeti Shall Not Die,” in 1959 and won an Oscar for the film in the category "Best Documentary" in 1960.

Grzimek preceded Green Peace in his activism, staging a well-known campaign against the

The Filming of "Serengeti"

(© picture-alliance/dpa)

consumption of Frog Legs. He would “adorn” the menus of restaurants offering the delicacy with stickers from the Zoological Society. He was also known for his quirky behaviour of placing these stickers in every location possible. He was most proud of getting them in any ladies' restrooms.

Grzimek was buried according to his wishes in Tansania, in the Ngorongoro crater next to the grave of his son who died during the shooting in Africa for "Serengeti shall not die".

On the anniversary of his birth, environmentalists and conservationist worldwide recognize his achievements and use the occasion to highlight the plight of endangered species and the numerous threats to the environment today.

From: http://www.germanyandafrica.diplo.de/Vertretung/pretoria __dz/en/_ _PR/2009__PR/04/04__grzimek,archiveCtx=2004826.html

SWITZERLAND - COVER FROM VURAL OGUZ

Thank you Vural

PRESENTATION OF THE STAMPS

UNESCO and the "International Astronomical Union" (IAU) have proclaimed 2009 the "International Year of Astronomy". And astronomy is also the theme of this year's Europa stamp which depicts the inner solar system and the small planet with the name "(113390) Helvetia" discovered in Winterthur in 2002. Date of issue: 08.05.2009

1972 - Pro juventute 4v

SWITZERLAND FLOWERS & PLANTS , ROSES

SWISS PRO JUVENTUTE STAMPS

TO FEATURE FAMOUS ROSES

The four Swiss Pro Juventute stamps to be issued on Dec . 1 will depict in full natural color four of the world's most famous roses as designed by noted floral artist, Anne Marie Trechslin, of Bern, after paintings by Redoute .

Roses seem particularly appropriate for the 1972 set, since it will be just 60 years since the first of these popular annual semi- postals have been issued to help raise funds for child-caring institutions.

Printed by Heliogravure on white stamp paper with a luminescent substance coating and violet fibres from two cylinders of 50 subjects each and identified as "A" and "B", the margins are inscribed with the names of the individual roses, the stamps: purpose and indications of value.

Values will be :

10+10 centime, the brilliant yellow "McGredy's Sunset;

20+10c, salmon colored "Miracle" ;

30+10o, dark red "Papa Meilland" ; and

40+20a, pale pink "Madame Dimitriu".

In addition to the stamps in normal sheets, the Swiss P.T.T. will prepare booklets, especially for the Pro Juventute Foundation. These will comprise panes containing eight 10+10c ; eight 20+10c, and four 30+10c stamps . These may be obtained from the Pro Juventute Foundation or the Swiss Philatelic Service Office,at six francs a piece, representing face value plus a 40o production cost.

First-day covers, with an official, engraved cachet and an illustrated postmark, both showing "Miracle" rose, and franked with the entire set of stamps,cost, 2 francs . Both of these and mint stamps are available from responsible stamp dealers, here, or may be ordered from the Philatelic Service Office, Parkterrasse 10, CH-3000, Bern, Switzerland.

As usual, 90% of the surtax will be given to the Pro Juventute Foundationand the remaining 10% to other national youth welfare programs of Switzerland.

The stamps will go on sale at all, Swiss postoffices on Dec . 1, and remain available until stocks are exhausted, but not later than Jan . 31, 1973 . If supplies last, they Will be on sale at the Swiss Philatelic Service Offices, in Basel, Bern,Lausanne, Lucern, Geneva, St . Gall, and Zurich . Only Bern will handle mail order! .

FROM :

USA - STAMPS OLYMPIONICS 6 JULY 1990

FRANCE - COVER FROM JEAN CONSUEGRA

A. 2007 - SPORTS -Rugby 1v - FRANCE

B. 2007 - Protected animals 4v - FRANCE

Gastronomy on board

Thank you Jean

RUSSIA - COVER FROM VLADIMIR MERZIN

Thank you very much Vladimir.

Is it possible someone to give me some more info on the above items and about the subject of the cover from Russia? Thanks

KOSOVO - COVER FROM ZDENEK MACOUN

Independence Day - 19 March 2008

KOSOVAR COSTUMES - 7 JULY 2007

Thank you Zdenek

SWITZERLAND - COVER FROM A VERY GOOD FRIEND

With its wealth of original exhibits testifying to the history of transport, the Swiss Museum of Transport is an entertaining, stimulating place of discovery. Opened in 1959, it attracts more than 870,000 visitors a year, making it Switzerland's most-visited museum. This year, the Museum of Transport is adding new attractions, and Swiss Post is dedicating three special stamps to it. Date of issue: 05.03.2009

Hans Erni is one of Switzerland's best-known painters. Over a period spanning some eighty years, this Lucerne citizen has achieved an international reputation as a committed, creative artist. On 21 February 2009, Erni - who still paints every day - celebrates his 100th birthday. And he has designed two new special stamps for Swiss Post. Date of issue: 05.03.2009

The Great Tit (Parus major) is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common species throughout Europe and Asia in any sort of woodland. It is resident, and most Great Tits do not migrate.

WILLISAW :

Former Monastery St. Urban

St. Urban

The magnificent Baroque church is part of the extensive monastery complex, which includes a beautiful park and impressive buildings. Its renovated twin turrets are visible in their new glory from afar.

Not only the world famous carved choir stalls are worth a trip. But also the largest and most beautiful Baroque staircase in Switzerland that leads to an ornate festival hall. Here, like in the church, concerts frequently take place. The magnificent library is an elegant testimony to the former abbey's participation in festive events.

From:
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/offer.cfm?category=Activities_Excursions&subcat=Sights&id=43016

Thank you Judit for the nice items
you have send me

GREECE - STAMP SET No. 3/2009 - ANNIVERSARIES - EVENTS

With some delay
I present you here
the STAMP SET No. 3/2009
"ANNIVERSARIES - EVENTS"

Here is the Data of the stamp set.

COMMEMORATIVE STAMP SERIES
"ANNIVERSARIES - EVENTS "
THE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS

SPECIAL NOTE

As you can read from the above DATA SHEET, the HELLENIC POST was going to issue three enveloppes. By mistake the first day the third enveloppe with the coin was issued with the old coin of two Euro instead of the celebration coin which was different on the back. A little later the Hellenic post circulate the cover with the celebration coin. So for this stamp set we have four enveloppes instead of three.

UNOFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS FOR THE 200 YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF LOUIS BRAILLE

OFFICIAL MAXIMUM (PREPAID POSTCARD)
FOR THE 200 YEARS
FROM THE BIRTH OF LOUIS BRAILLE

If you are interested for any of the above items please let me know

PRESENTATION
OF
THE STAMPS

SIVITANIDIOS SCHOOL
80th anniversary

Sivitanidios School is active and present in technical education since 1927.

• In the 80s, following the national policy directives on education, Sivitanidios School changes its profile and initiates the operation of three Technical Vocational Lyceums (Τ.Ε.L.), two postmeridian Technical Vocational Schools (Τ.Ε.S.) and one Unified Multibranch School (Eniaio Polykladiko Lykeio). After 1998 they are converted to five Technical Vocational Educational Schools (Τ.Ε.Ε.) and a Unified Upper Secondary School (Law no. 1566/85 and 2640/98).
• 1995: An independent Vocational Training Institute (Ι.Ε.Κ.) is founded on the basis of the directives and organizational procedures of the Organisation for Vocational Education and Training (O.E.E.K.).
• 1998: The National Accreditation Centre of Continuing Vocational Training accredits Sivitanidios’s Vocational Training Centre (Κ.Ε.Κ.).

More info at;

ΙΒΙΤΑΝΙΔΕΙΟΣ ΔΗΜΟΣΙΑ ΣΧΟΛΗ ΤΕΧΝΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΑΓΓΕΛΜΑΤΩΝ

http://www.sivitanidios.edu.gr/index.asp?a_id=127

UNIVERCITY OF PIRAEUS
70 years

The University of Piraeus was founded in 1938 under the title of the “School for Industrial Studies”, by the Industrialists and Tradesmen Association.

In 1945 it was renamed to “Higher School for Industrial Studies” and its aim was defined to be the systematic, theoretical and practical training of managerial executives.

In 1958, the “Higher School for Industrial Studies» was again renamed to “Graduate School of Industrial Studies”, with its headquarters in Piraeus. Starting from 1966, the University operated in the form of a public legal entity.

In 1989, the “Graduate School of Industrial Studies” was renamed to University of Piraeus.

More info at;

University of Piraeus - Main Page

http://www.unipi.gr/eng_site/default.php

National Archaeological Museum-
180 years since is founding

The National Archaeological Museum is the largest museum in Greece and one of the world's great museums. Although its original purpose was to secure all the finds from the nineteenth century excavations in and around Athens, it gradually became the central National Archaeological Museum and was enriched with finds from all over Greece. Its abundant collections, with more than 20,000 exhibits, provide a panorama of Greek civilization from the beginnings of Prehistory to Late Antiquity.

The museum is housed in an imposing neoclassical building of the end of the nineteenth century, which was designed by L. Lange and remodelled by Ernst Ziller.

More info in Google Search "Hellenic National Archaeological Museum " and at

Hellenic Ministry of Culture | National Archaeological Museum

http://www.culture.gr/h/1/eh151.jsp?obj_id=3249

Greek Presidency of the
Postal Operations Council of U.P.U.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU, French: Union postale universelle) is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, and hence the worldwide postal system. Each member country agrees to the same set of terms for conducting international postal duties. Universal Postal Union's headquarters are located in Berne, Switzerland.

Prior to the establishment of the UPU, a country had to conclude a separate postal treaty with each other country that it wished to carry international mail to or from. The United States called for an international postal congress, which was held in 1863. This led Heinrich von Stephan, Royal Prussian and later German Minister for Posts, to found the Universal Postal Union, the third oldest international organization (after the Rhine Commission and the ITU). It was created in 1874, under the name "General Postal Union", as a result of the Treaty of Berne signed on 9 October 1874. In 1878, the name was changed to "Universal Postal Union".

The UPU established that

1. there should be a more or less uniform flat rate to mail a letter anywhere in the world;
2. postal authorities should give equal treatment to foreign and domestic mail; and
3. each country should retain all monies it collected for international postage.

One of the most important results of the UPU treaty was that it ceased to be necessary, as it often had been previously, to affix the stamps of any country through which one's letter or package would pass in transit; the UPU provides that stamps of member nations are accepted for the whole international route.

After the foundation of the United Nations, the UPU became a specialized agency in the UN.

In 1969 the UPU introduced a new system of payment by which fees were payable between countries according to the difference in the total weight of mail between the respective countries. These fees were called terminal dues. The new system was fairer when traffic was heavier in one direction than the other. As this affected the cost of the delivery of periodicals, the UPU devised a new "threshold" system, which was implemented in 1991.

The system sets separate letter and periodical rates for countries which receive at least 150 tonnes of mail annually. For countries with less mail, the original flat rate has been maintained. The United States has negotiated a separate terminal dues formula with thirteen European countries that includes a rate per piece plus a rate per kilogram, and has a similar arrangement with Canada. The UPU also operates the system of International Reply Coupons and addresses concerns with ETOEs.

Philatelic activities

The Universal Postal Union, in conjunction with the World Association for the Development of Philately (WADP), has developed the WADP Numbering System (WNS), launched on 1 January 2002. The web site (www.wnsstamps.ch/en/) has entries for some 160 countries and emitting postal entities, with over 25,000 registered stamps since 2002. Many of them have images, which generally remain copyrighted by the issuing country, but which the UPU and WADP permit to be downloaded.

(From Wikipedia)

200 years from the birth
of Louis Braille

Louis Braille (English pronunciation: /ˈbreɪl/; French: [bʁɑj]; January 4, 1809 – January 6, 1852) was the inventor of braille, a world-wide system used by blind and visually impaired people for reading and writing. Braille is read by passing the fingers over characters made up of an arrangement of one to six embossed points. It has been adapted to almost every known language.

(From Wikipedia)

10 years since the European Monetary Union of Europe

The European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) consists of three stages coordinating economic policy and culminating with the adoption of the euro, the EU's single currency. All member states of the European Union are expected to participate in the EMU. Sixteen member states of the European Union have entered the third stage and have adopted the euro as their currency. The United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden have not accepted the third stage and the three EU members still use their own currency today.

(From Wikipedia)

PHIHELLENISM
AND
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY DAY
LORD BYRON

George Gordon Byron, later Noel, 6th Baron Byron FRS (22 January 1788– 19 April 1824) was a British poet and a leading figure in Romanticism. Amongst Byron's best-known works are the brief poems She Walks in Beauty, When We Two Parted, and So, we'll go no more a roving, in addition to the narrative poems Childe Harold's Pilgrimage and Don Juan. He is regarded as one of the greatest European poets and remains widely read and influential, both in the English-speaking world and beyond.

Byron's fame rests not only on his writings but also on his life, which featured upper-class living, numerous love affairs, debts, and separation. He was famously described by Lady Caroline Lamb as "mad, bad, and dangerous to know". Byron served as a regional leader of Italy's revolutionary organization, the Carbonari, in its struggle against Austria. He later travelled to fight against the Ottoman Empire in the Greek War of Independence, for which Greeks revere him as a national hero. He died from a fever contracted while in Messolonghi in Greece.

(From Wikipedia)

NATIONAL REAL ESTATE REGISTRY

Last year (2008) started in Greece a serious effort in order to be organized the National Real Estate Registry (ethniko ktimatologio)