Hans Huckebein

On Sunday I visited the Birth House of Wilhelm Busch in Wiedensahl and was able to buy an old souvenir sheet showing his character Hans Huckebein.

This is it:

175th birthday of Wilhelm Busch (issued 14-06-2007)

Hans Huckebein celebrates the 150th anniversary of his first publication in 2017 and a special postmark was available in Wiedensahl.

German Maxicards

Recently I was able to buy two German maxicards.

These they are:

500 years Reformation (issued 13-04-2017)
It is a joint issue with Brazil.

EUROPA (issued 11-05-2017)

Journey to the West

On Saturday I got a stamp set from China on a postcard.

This is it:

Journey to the West (issued 30-03-2017)
- White Dragon Horse Is Reined In
- Zhu Bajie Recruited by Sanzang
- Friar Sand Joins the Pilgrims
- In the Wuzhuang Temple Monkey Steals Manfruit

Thank You very much Mo!

Spanish Stamp Design Contest

On Friday I got a stamp set from Spain on a postcard.

This is it:

Stamp Design Contest (issued 01-02-2017)

Thank You very much Mario!

Estonian Castles

On Tuesday I got a stamp set from Estonia on a postcard.

This is it:

EUROPA (issued 08-05-2017)
- Maarjamäe Castle
- Castle of Keila

Thank You very much Jaan!

Reformation Maxicard from Italy

On Tuesday I got a maxicard from Italy.

This is it:

500 years Reformation (issued 24-04-2017)

Thank You very much Renato!

Belgium during World War I

On Friday I got a stamp from Belgium which I needed to complete its set.

This is the set:

Centenary of World War I (issued 13-06-2016)
- Clandestine Newspapers
- Gebrielle Petit
- Henri Pirenne
- Battle of Tabora
- Deportations

Thank You very much Gerda and William!

Wartburg Castle

On Thursday I bought the new German stamps.

This is one of them:

EUROPA (issued 11-05-2017)

New and Old German Definitives

On Thursday I bought the new German stamps.

This is one set I bought:

Definitives (issued 11-05-2017)
- Water Lily
- St John's Wort

These are the old stamps of the same values:

Dutch Castles

On Saturday I got a stamp set from the Netherlands on a postcard.

This is it:

EUROPA (issued 20-02-2017)
- Doornenburg Castle
- Ammersoyen Castle

Thank You very much William!

World's Longest Stamp

Usually I just show mint stamps and complete sets on this blog, but on Friday I got a stamp from Thailand which I just have to show here.

This is it:

70 years of King Bhumibol's Accession to the Throne (issued 01-04-2017)
This stamp is said to be the longest stamp in the World.

Thank You very much Cherry!

Centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge

On Friday I got two French FDCs.

This is one of them:

Centenary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge (issued 08-04-2017)
It is a joint issue with Canada.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought in 1917 between the German Empire and the British Empire and is a part of the Battle of Arras. It was the first battle in which the four divisions of Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together. It ended with a victory of the British Empire.

Thank You very much William!

Centenary of the Battle of Chemin des Dames

On Friday I got two French FDCs.

This is one of them:

Centenary of the Battle of Chemin des Dames (issued 14-04-2017)

The Battle of Chemin des Dames, also known as Second Battle of the Aisne, was fought between the German Empire and France in April and May 1917. The battle began as part of a meticulously planned Franco-British offensive, but had to be abandoned after many French divisions mutinied and ended with a tactical victory of the German Empire.

Thank You very much William!

500 years Reformation

On Thursday I bought the new German stamps.

This is one of them:

500 years Reformation (issued 13-04-2017)
It is a joint issue with Brazil.

Are you interested in learning more about the Reformation? Check out my history blog for monthly posts about this interesting period!

Unfortunately the First Day Sheet, which will also bear the Brazilian stamp, will not be available until early May. So I bought a FDC for my collection instead. ^___^

Phlox and Crocus

On Thursday I bought the new German stamps.

This is one of them:

Phlox (issued 13-04-2017)

After many years, German Post finally issues some new definitive stamps. The first one to be newly issued is the 5c stamp. 10c, 20c, 45c and 90c will follow in the next months.

This is the old 5c stamp:

Crocus (issued 11-08-2005)

Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System

On Thursday I bought the new German stamps.

This is one of them:

Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System (issued 13-04-2017)

Saint Michael's Castle in Saint Petersburg

On Wednesday I got a mint stamp from Russia in an envelope.

This is it:

EUROPA (issued 15-03-2017)

The stamp shows the Saint Michael's Castle in Saint Petersburg. The Saint Michael's Castle was built between 1797 and 1801 as a residence for Emperor Paul I. It was built in a combination of French Classicism, Italian Renaissance and Gothic. Due to his fascination with medieval knights and his constant fear of assassination Paul I ordered the new royal residence to be built like a castle, but ironically he was killed in his own bedroom just 40 nights after he moved to his new residence. Today the Saint Michael's Castle houses the Portrait Gallery of the Russian Museum.

The stamp was sent in a FDC of the same stamp.

Thank You very much Elena!

Special Roosters from Japan

On Wednesday I got a great cover from Japan with great cards and stamps inside.

This is a stamp set from the cover:

Year of the Rooster (issued 01-11-2016)

The two stamps bear a number for the stamp lottery whose third prize was the great souvenir sheet used as postage on the cover (issued 16-01-2017).

Thank You very much Yuko!

Cossack Mamay and his kobza

On Monday I got a stamp set from Ukraine on a postcard.

This is it:

EUROPA (issued 25-07-2014)

The stamps show Cossack Mamay and his kobza. Cossack Mamay is a folkloric hero found in legends, folk stories and proverbs and the national personification of Ukraine. He is usually shown with his horse and the kobza, a music instrument.

Thank You very much Sergey!

Thomas Müntzer

Yesterday I was on the flea market and there I bought some old East German FDCs for my collection.

This is one set I bought:

500th birthday of Thomas Müntzer (issued 22-08-1989)