UN Definitives

Merja sent me this UN FDC. The stamps on it were part of a six stamp definitive set issued on 22.1.1982. The stamp has a picture of the flags of many countries, and the postmark has a depiction of the UN HQ building in Geneva.

I really wish most countries would make definitive stamps as attractive and collector friendly ;-))

Pro Juventute

Pro Juventute is a charitable foundation in Switzerland established in 1912. It is dedicated to supporting the rights and needs of Swiss children and youth.

Switzerland has issued Pro Juventute semipostals nearly every year since 1913. Like the majority of subsequent Swiss semipostal stamps, the nonpostal funds from this Pro Juventute 50-centime Helvetia stamp went to youth charities.

The stamps on this 1963 FDC from Switzerland issued on 30.11.1963 is part of a set of 2 stamps featuring different flowers. The flowers shown on this stamp are carnations. Thank you Maria for this nice FDC.

The Simpsons 7.5.2009

Maria what a wonderful set of FDCs. I don’t miss a single episode of these remarkable guys if I can help it.The Simpson family is a family of fictional characters featured in the animated television series The Simpsons. The Simpsons are a nuclear family consisting of the married couple Homer and Marge and their three children Bart, Lisa and Maggie. They live at 742 Evergreen Terrace in the fictional town of Springfield, U.S. and they were created by cartoonist Matt Groening who conceived the idea while waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks's office. He named the characters after his own family members, substituting "Bart" for his own name. The family debuted April 19, 1987 in the The Tracey Ullman Show show short "Good Night" and were later spun off into their own series which debuted on December 17, 1989.

Alongside the five main family members, there are a number of other major and minor characters in their family. The most commonly recurring characters are Homer's father Abraham Simpson; Marge's sisters Patty and Selma Bouvier; and the family's two pets, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II. Other family members include Homer's mother Mona Simpson, Homer's "Vegas wife" Amber, Marge's mother Jacqueline Bouvier, and other minor relatives.

The Simpson’s are a family who live in at 742 Evergreen Terrace in the town of Springfield in the United States. Homer, the father, works as a safety inspector at theSpringfield Nuclear Power Plant, a position at odds with his careless, buffoonish personality. He is married to Marge Simpson, a stereotypical American housewife and mother. They have three children: Bart, a ten-year-old troublemaker; Lisa, a precocious eight-year-old activist; and Maggie, a baby who rarely speaks, but communicates by sucking on a pacifier. The family owns a dog, Santa's Little Helper, and a cat, Snowball II. Both pets have had starring roles in several episodes. Despite the passing of yearly milestones such as holidays or birthdays, the Simpsons do not physically age and still appear just as they did at the end of the 1980s. Although the family is dysfunctional, many episodes examine their relationships and bonds with each other and they are often shown to care about one another.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations

This attractive First Day Cover and the four stamps on it, was issued to commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of WFUNA.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) was founded in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on 2 August 1946 by 22 United Nations Associations (UNAs).  This was one year after the UN Charter was proclaimed with the opening words “We the peoples of the United Nations”. Ever since, WFUNA has been the only global organization with the primary mission of supporting the principles and purposes of the United Nations. WFUNA’s founders had extensive experience in international cooperation and were aware of the fundamental importance of public understanding of the role of the United Nations in shaping international relations. Over the years, United Nations Associations have been established all over the world, as new nation states were formed and joined the UN.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) is a global non-profit organization representing and coordinating a membership of over 100 national United Nations Associations (UNAs) and their thousands of constituents. Guided by our vision of a United Nations that is a powerful force in meeting common global challenges and opportunities, WFUNA works to strengthen and improve the United Nations. We achieve this through the engagement of people who share a global mindset and support international cooperation – global citizens.

WFUNA is an independent, non-governmental organization with Category One Consultative Status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Associate Status with the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) and consultative or liaison links with many other UN organizations and agencies. Thank you Merja for this nice cover with the four lovely stamps.

Aphrodite 12.4.1982

This First Day Cover is dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite. The cover depicts the ruins of her temple at Kouklia in Cyprus. The stamp on the left is a damaged statue of Aphrodite and the stamp on the right is a painting of her in a museum. These stamps were issued on 12.4.1982.

Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. Her Roman equivalent is the goddess Venus. Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia. According to Hesiod's Theogony, she was born when Cronus cut off Uranus' genitals and threw them into the sea, and from the sea foam (aphros) arose Aphrodite. Thus, Aphrodite is of an older generation than Zeus.

Because of her beauty, other gods feared jealousy would interrupt the peace among them and lead to war, so Zeus married her to Hephaestus, who was not viewed as a threat. Aphrodite had many lovers, both gods such as Ares, and men such as Anchises. Aphrodite also became instrumental in the Eros and Psyche legend, and later was both Adonis' lover and his surrogate mother. Many lesser beings were said to be children of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite is also known as Cytherea (Lady of Cythera) and Cypris (Lady of Cyprus) after the two cult-sites, Cythera and Cyprus, which claimed her birth. Myrtles, doves, sparrows, horses, and swans are sacred to her. The Greeks further identified the Ancient Egyptian goddess Hathor with Aphrodite. Aphrodite also has many other local names, such as Acidalia, Cytherea and Cerigo, used in specific areas of Greece. Each goddess demanded a slightly different cult, but Greeks recognized in their overall similarities the one Aphrodite. Attic philosophers of the fourth century separated a celestial Aphrodite of transcendent principles with the common Aphrodite of the people.

Thank you Merja for this wonderful card.

Icelandic Horse

The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland. Although the horses are small, at times pony-sized, most registries for the Icelandic refer to it as a horse. Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy. In their native country they have few diseases; Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return. The Icelandic displays two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. The only breed of horse in Iceland, they are also popular internationally, and sizable populations exist in Europe and North America. The breed is still used for traditional farm work in its native country, as well as for leisure, showing, and racing.

Developed from ponies taken to Iceland by Scandinavian settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries, the breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history; the first reference to a named horse appears in the 12th century. Horses were venerated in Norse mythology, a custom brought to Iceland by the country's earliest settlers. Selective breeding over the centuries has developed the breed into its current form. Natural selection has also played a role, as the harsh Icelandic climate eliminated many horses through cold and starvation. In the 1780s, much of the breed was wiped out in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption. The first breed society for the Icelandic horse was created in Iceland in 1904, and today the breed is represented by organizations in 19 different nations, organized under a parent association, the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations.

Thank you Maria for this nice cover.

EUROPA - Aland - Smugglers' Bus and Tired Theodor 19.9.2012

The history of public transportation in Åland started some 90 years ago. Quite a few buses have rolled on the Åland roads since then. Two stamps issued on  19.09.2012 now feature two of them - a Ford TT and a Volvo L224. The Ford TT from 1924 was initially owned by Rafael Virtanen in Saltvik. The nickname ‘Smugglers' bus' derives from an incident in August 1925, during the Prohibition when it was illegal in Finland to sell alcoholic beverages. One night, the bus, its passenger and driver Rafael Virtanen were stopped in a small road in Saltvik by a police constable, the head of the enforcement district and the county sheriff. The bus as well as the cargo of "crayfish", which proved to be liquor, was confiscated. The case was treated in the district court twice, Mr Virtanen and his partner being sentenced to pay a fine for complicity in trickery with liquors. The other bus stamp shows a Volvo L224 from 1954. It had 29 + 1 seats and was owned by Toivo Williams in Lumparland between 1954 and 1967. The bus was out of use until 1978, parked in a coach house in Lumparland. It was later displayed at various shows in Stockholm and Helsinki, and in 1999 it was inspected to operate as a classic bus. It is currently owned by Roland and Rolf Lundström in Inkoo in southern Finland. Tired Theodore got its nickname because of its original weak 90 horsepower engine. Presumably, the vehicle was not meant for quite as heavy loads as it turned out to carry.

Thank you Ella for these pretty cards and the FDC. The vehicles do tell a good story!

75th Anniv. of Finland's Unicameral Parliament 25.5.1982

The Parliament Act that came into force on 1 October 1906 was a monumental reform. It replaced the old Diet dating back to the 17th century with a 200-seat unicameral Parliament.

The new Parliament Act introduced universal suffrage. No longer was the right to vote dependent on social status or gender. The reform increased the electorate tenfold. The minimum age for voting and standing for election was set at 24.

When parliamentary elections were held in the spring of 1907, Finnish women became the first in the world to exercise full political rights, including the right to stand for election. Nineteen women were returned as MPs. The unicameral Parliament held its first session on 23 May.

The new Parliament Act called for Members of Parliament to be elected directly and by secret ballot according to a proportional system based on districts. Parliament began meeting annually, placing legislative work on a regular and permanent basis.

Thank you Pia for sending me this very informative FDC which was issued to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of the Finnish Parliament on 25.5.1982. The stamp shows the hall of Parliament and one of the sculptures there.

Garden Plants and Greenhouses 16.4.1982

The stamp was issued to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Aura Trädgårdsvänner i Åbo (the society of "gardening friends" in Turku) on 16th April 1982. Thank you Pia for this lovely cover.
Many vegetables, berries, and fruits would grow better in Finland if the climate was warmer. Climate change may improve the conditions for horticulture in Finland. Nevertheless there is need to prepare for the changes by adapting the current and more southern plant species to suit the future climate, by developing new varieties, and by adopting new means of controlling pests that may be introduced as a result of climate change.
Many root and non-root vegetables, berries, and fruits are also grown outdoors and in greenhouses, albeit that annual crops are limited to tens of millions of kilograms. Of these horticultural products, the most common outdoor-grown vegetable is carrot, followed by onions, white cabbage, swede, and beetroot. Strawberries make up the largest outdoor berry crop, and strawberries are also the only berries produced on the same scale as the most common vegetables. Other berries that are grown in relatively large quantities are currants and raspberries. The only fruit trees to produce substantial harvests in Finland are apple trees. The most commonly cultivated greenhouse plants are tomato and cucumber. In addition to edible plants, greenhouses are also used to grow flowers, such as tulips, roses, and poinsettias.

Fauna in Iceland

The Fauna of Iceland is determined mostly by the climate, physiography and vegetation of the place. The availability of food due to the presence of the water bodies nearby makes Iceland the home of over 300 species of birds.

Thank you Maria for these two FDCs which depict part of the Fauna of Iceland. The stamps on the FDC above depict the river salmon, and the stamps on the FDC below show the tufted duck in the foreground. This set of stamps and the FDCs were issued on 25.11.1959.

The salmon season in Iceland lasts for three months over  the period June – September, varying slightly according to region. Around twenty Icelandic salmon rivers are in the first-class bracket, ranking with the finest in the world.   Free from industrial pollution, Iceland’s rivers, lakes and senaerie prime habitat for wild fish, and internationally acclaimed stock management  programs give the chance of outstanding catches. Iceland is a unique combination of a modern society with vast areas of unspoilt and sparsely populated countryside. Anglers therefore have a wide choice of places to fish, but with top-rate comforts and facilities at close hand as well. Geologically speaking, Iceland is one of the youngest countries in the world, the product of volcanic activity which began on the seabed 25 million years and is still going on today. The landscape is mountainous with valleys, plains and fjords, and abounds in glacial and freshwater rivers and lakes. More than one-tenth of the surface is covered with glaciers, including the largest ice cap in Europe, the 8,000 km3 Vatnajokull. Summer on the rim of the Arctic Circle is a season of unrivaled beauty. Wildlife and flora spring to life in the mild northerly summer weather, and twenty-four-hour daylight in scenery of mountains, glaciers and lava fields creates a spell-binding sense of timelessness. There are almost 100 salmon rivers in Iceland, most of them permitting 6-14 rods daily during the three-month summer angling season. On average around 30.000 salmons are caught by anglers in Iceland each year. In addition, trout, Arctic char and brown trout can be caught at numerous rivers and lakes all around the country.

The Tufted Duck is a medium-sized diving duck with a population of close to one million birds. The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name. The adult female is brown with paler flanks, and is more easily confused with other diving ducks. In particular, some have white around the bill base which resembles the scaup species, although the white is never as extensive as in those ducks.

Pink Ribbon - International Breast Cancer Charity 1.10.2012

In many parts of the world, October is pink. This is the month when various organisations arrange fundraising activities to benefit breast cancer research and to promote awareness about the disease. 2012 sees the first Åland charity stamp. The Åland Cancer Society receives part of the selling price. The stamp is issued in connection with the Pink Ribbon awareness campaign in October. Åland graphic designer Carina Sommarström, previously a breast cancer patient herself, has created the stamp. The Åland charity stamp sells at €1.20, €0.20 of which is awarded in full to the Åland Cancer Society. Carina’s stamp motif holds a great deal of symbolism, featuring an Amazon, a female warrior without her right breast. The woman’s right breast has been replaced by a tattoo with many different symbols representing important issues to consider when going through cancer treatment. Thank you Ella for this important FDC.

75th Anniversary of World Scouting and the 125th Anniversary of the Founder Lord Baden Powell

Scouting is a youth organisation founded in the United Kingdom, with affiliations in various countries. Baden-Powell Scouting focuses on the importance of tradition in the Scout movement. Japan, Argentina, Malaysia, Germany, Denmark, Ghana, Canada and the United States have traditional organisations that are affiliated to the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (B-PSA).

The Baden-Powell Scout Association shares the heritage of the youth Scouting Movement, however they believe in a more traditional way of Scouting which closely follows the program set out by General Robert Baden-Powell in his book: Scouting for Boys.

It was formed in the United Kingdom in 1970 when it was felt that rest of the Scout Movement was abandoning the traditions and intentions set out by Baden-Powell in 1907. The Baden-Powell Scouts retain the belief that essence of the movement should be based on outdoor activities related to the skills of explorers, backwoodsmen and frontiersmen.

It is a voluntary, non-formal educational charity movement for young people. It is independent, non-political, non-military, and open to all without distinction of origin, race, creed or gender, in accordance with the purpose, principles and method conceived by Robert Baden-Powell.

As an independent Scout Association, they are members of the World Federation of Independent Scouts (WFIS). The WFIS was formed in Laubach, Germany, in 1996 by Lawrie Dring, President of the B-PSA, a British Scouter with the independent Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (B-PSA). This is a world body that recognises Independent Scouts Associations in countries across the globe which teach traditional Baden-Powell Scouting values. Their aim is to improve the standard of our future citizens with the object of using their efficiency for service for their fellows.

This FDC issued on 21.7.1982 with four stamps depicting the scouting emblem, scouts at an evening bon-fire, scouts map-reading and finally a picture of Lord Baden Powell himself. The issue was made to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of World Scouting and the 125^th Anniversary of the Founder Lord Baden Powell of Gilwel. Thank you Maria for this lovely cover.

Environment & Anti tuberculosis 16.8.1982

These three stamps on the First Day Cover were issued on 16.8.1982, not only to raise funds for the Finnish Red Cross, but also to highlight the plight of certain endangered animals. The surcharge shown on the stamps went to the Red Cross for fighting the scourge of tuberculosis. The details of the animals in question are given below. Thank you Pia for this pretty FDC.

The Garden dormouse (0.90+0.10). In spite of its name, the garden dormouse's main habitat is the forest, though it can also be found in fruit-growing regions. It is particularly common in southern Europe, but its range extends into the north. Garden dormice are often found in the Alps, in the Bavarian Forest, and in the Ore Mountains.

Flying squirrel (1.10+0.15).  Flying squirrels are not really capable of powered flight like birds or bats; instead, they glide between trees, and manoeuvre in the air using the body and the tail.

European mink. The European mink is mostly restricted to Europe. Its range was widespread in the 19th century, with a distribution extending from northern Spain in the west to the river Ob (just east of the Urals) in the east, and from the Archangelsk region in the north to the northern Caucasus in the south. However, over the last 150 years it has severely declined and been extirpated or greatly reduced over most of its former range.

Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon railway 1913 - 1963

The Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon (BLS) railway, known since the merger of the "old" BLS with the Bern–Neuenburg-Bahn (BN), the Gürbetal–Bern–Schwarzenburg-Bahn (GBS) and the Simmentalbahn (SEZ) in 1997 as the BLS Lötschbergbahn, is a Swiss railway company. It is the largest standard gauge network on the Swiss Railway system apart from the Federal Railways, SBB-CFF-FFS. The railway had not been built at the time that the Federal government took control of the five big Swiss standard gauge railway companies in 1902 and so it led a separate existence, being considered the largest of the Swiss "private" railways, although the majority of its capital was owned by the cantonal government of Bern and also the Confederation held about 1/5. In 2006 the company merged with Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG to form a new company called BLS AG.

The stamp on this FDC was issued by Switzerland to commemorate the 50^th Anniversary of the Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon (BLS) railway inon 21.3.1963.

Thank you Maria for this nice cover.

The Red Panda

The stamps on this WWF cover was issued by Bhutan on 1.10.2009 for the World Wildlife Fund depicting the red panda.

 The red panda (shining-cat), is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China and related to raccoons, skunks and weasels. It is the only extant species of the genus Ailurus and the associated family. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It feeds mainly on bamboo, but is omnivorous and may also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day.

The red panda has been classified as Vulnerable by IUCN because its population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. Although red pandas are protected by national laws in their range countries, their numbers in the wild continue to decline mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression.

The red panda has been previously classified in the families of raccoons and bears. Thank you Shashi for this lovely FDC.

The Four Virtues

Thank you Merja for this pretty FDC displaying one of the stamps out of a set of four issued by Liechtenstein, extolling the Four Virtues. The virtues are also depicted on the cancellation, and in fact on the cover itself. 

The stamp on the FDC displayed, namely the 70 Rappen stamp represents, cleverness, intelligence, wisdom, judiciousness, sensibleness, insightfulness, judgement, sagacity, or insight. The other stamps in the series (not shown on this cover) represent virtues as given below:-

35 Rappen - equity, fairness, justice, righteousness, justness, correctness, rightfulness, lawfulness, legitimacy, equitableness, or appropriateness.

50 Rappen - moderation, continence, self-control, temperance, or restraint.

100 Rappen - braveness, boldness, courageousness, bravery, courage, doughtiness, gallantry, or spunkiness or guts.

Birth Centenary of Toivo Timoteus Kuula 7.7.1983

Toivo Timoteus Kuula (7 July 1883 – 18 May 1918)  was a Finnish conductor and composer. He was born in the city of Vaasa, when Finland still was a Grand Duchy under Russian rule. He is known as a colourful and passionate portrayer of Finnish nature and people.In 1909, Kuula became Jean Sibelius's first composition student. He is best remembered for his large output of melodic choir and vocal works. His instrumental works include two Ostrobothnian Suites for orchestra, a violin sonata, a piano trio, and an unfinished Symphony. Kuula's major choral work is the Stabat Mater, which remained unfinished at the time of his death. He also wrote a few dozen highly artistic piano works.

A Swedish critic once said that Kuula's music reaches parts of the human spirit where one is forced to deep examination of one's self.

Kuula was known to be a fierce Fennoman. He died in the provincial hospital in Voopuri in 1918 after being mortally wounded 18 days earlier on Walpurgis Night by a bullet fired by a Jager. The bullet was fired as a result of a quarrel that happened at the Hotel Seurahuone in conjunction with the first victory celebration of the White victory in the Civil War of Finland. Kuula is buried in Hietaniemi cemetery, Helsinki. 

Pia gave me this FDC issued to commemorate the 100th Birth Anniversary of this well known musician on 7.7.1983.

National Museum of Iceland

The National Museum was established on 24th of February 1863. And the stamps on this FDC were issued to commemorate the National Museum and honour the man, namely Sigurður Guðmundsson who was the brain behind its modernization. Up until that time Icelandic museum pieces had been kept in Danish collections. Jón Árnason librarian was made curator of the Icelandic collection. Several months later he was given permission to hire another curator; Sigurður Guðmundsson 'the painter', who was the first to advocate the establishment of an antiquarian collection in Iceland.

The museum was called the Antiquarian Collection up until 1911 when the name was changed to the National Museum of Iceland. During the first decades it was housed in several attics in Reykjavík - in the Cathedral, House of Corrections, Parliament and National Bank - and finally the attic of the National Library building on Hverfisgata (now the Culture House) where it remained for four decades. When the Republic was formed in 1944, Parliament decided to give the nation a museum at Suðurgata, into which the collections were moved in 1950. Six decades later it has been entirely refurbished to meet present standards and requirements.

The role of the National Museum is varied, reflecting its legal obligation as national centre for the preservation and management of cultural heritage, cultural reaearch programmes and promulgation of knowledge and information which relates to the cultural heritage of the nation. The role of the museum is to increase and relay knowledge of Icelandic cultural heritage, from the nation´s earliest settlement through to the modern day.

At the National Museum the present meets the past. It is healthy for the Icelandic people to ask who they are, where they are going and what they want to represent. What can they learn from past generations?

The National Museum displays objects that provide insight into Icelandic cultural history - displays that encourage visitors to dwell on the past, present and future. The museum aims to nurture knowledge and innovation while maintaining a wide perspective and sense of community. Thank you Maria for this FDC.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 9.11.2009

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries (formally Member Economies) that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence of Asia-Pacific economies and the advent of regional trade blocs in other parts of the world, initially, with the notion to the likely dominance of the sphere of economic influences of the highly industrialized Japan (a member of G8) in the Asia-Pacific region and for the economic interests of Australian agricultural/raw material products to search for new buyers other than the demand-declining European market, APEC works gradually (to include members of Newly industrialized economy at the time, although the agenda of free trade was a sensitive issue for the developing NIEs, and for ASEAN economies to explore new export market opportunities of the natural resources such as natural gas and seek regional economic integration (industrial integration) by means of foreign direct investment on the behalf of ASEAN) to raise living standards and education levels through sustainable economic growth and to foster a sense of community and an appreciation of shared interests among Asia-Pacific countries. Members account for approximately 40% of the world's population, approximately 54% of the world's gross domestic product and about 44% of world trade. 

An annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is attended by the heads of government of all APEC members except Republic of China (represented under the name Chinese Taipei) by a ministerial-level official. The location of the meeting rotates annually among the member economies, and until 2011, a famous tradition involved the attending leaders dressing in a national costume of the host member. This First Day Cover postmarked 9.11.2009 commemorates the 2009 Meetings which were hosted by Singapore from February to November.

150th Anniversary of The University of Zurich

The University of Zurich, located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy.

Currently the University has faculties of arts, economics, law, medicine, science, theology and veterinary medicine. The university claims to offer the widest range of subjects and courses at any Swiss higher education institution.

The University of Zurich was founded on April 29, 1833, when the existing colleges of theology (founded by Huldrych Zwingli in 1525), law and medicine were merged with a new faculty of Philosophy. It was the first university in Europe to be founded by the state rather than a monarch or church. The university allowed women to attend philosophy lectures from 1847, and admitted the first female doctoral student in 1866. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was added in 1901, the oldest such faculty in the world. In 1914, the university moved to new premises designed by the architect Karl Moser on Rämistrasse 71.

The university is scattered all over the city of Zurich. There are several libraries available for use by members of the university, including the ETH-library, and the Zurich Central Library, with over 5 million volumes. The Institute and Museum for the History of Medicine is part of the university.

This FDC and the stamps on it were issued on 17.2.1983 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of The University of Zurich. Thank you Maria.

Christmas 1982 Issues

The block of stamps on this First Day Cover given to me by Merja are part of a set of three stamps, issued during Christmas 1982. All the stamps depict sculptures in Churches in Liechtenstein. The FDC is post marked 6.12.1982.

175th Anniversary of Reykjavík (Smoke Bay)

Reykjavík (Smoke Bay) is the capital and largest city in Iceland. Its latitude, at 64°08' N, makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay. With a population of around 120,000 (and over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík Area), it is the heart of Iceland's  economic and governmental activity.

Reykjavík is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland, which Ingólfur Arnarson is said to have established around 870 C.E. Until the 18th century, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was founded in 1786 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the next decades, as it transformed into a regional and later national centre of commerce, population, and governmental activities.

The Danish Crown abolished monopoly trading in 1786 and granted six communities around the country an exclusive trading charter, Reykjavík was one of them and the only one to hold on to the charter permanently. The year 1786 is regarded as the date of the city's founding. These two stamps were issued on 27^th August 1961 in celebration of the 175^th Anniversary of Reykjavik. This nice cover was given to me by Maria.

760th Anniversary of Klaipeda

"The city that started with a wooden castle has grown into a power that inspires the country's economic and cultural life. The port of Klaipėda has an important role of reinforcing energy independence and trade relations with the world. Development of marine industry and energy will provide the country and residents of the Klaipėda region with a number of economic and social advantages," said the President Grybauskaitė. Since morning on Wednesday Klaipeda celebrated its 760^thbirthday. At 7:30 in the morning, the port city residents were awakened to a theatrical performance. After a festive flag raising at the castle, Klaipeda citizens and guests gathered at the concert hall, where there was a festive meeting commemorating the 760^th anniversary of the city’s establishment.

To commemorate the 760th anniversary of Klaipeda (formerly known as Memel), the oldest city in Lithuania, Lithuanian Post  released a 2 Litas stamp of the  Klaipeda Lighthouse  on 14-Jul-2012. The lighthouse was re-built in 1953.

Klaipėda (Memel) is the oldest city of Lithuania and the third in terms of size. 1252 is considered to be the year of its foundation when the Livonian Order and the bishop of Curonia concluded an agreement regarding the building of the Memelburg Castle and the city. Memel was named after the River Nemunas that Curonians used to call Memele (meaning “silent river”).

The official day of the city is the first of August. Every year at the end of July the city hosts the Sea Festival. The port is also famous for its annual international Klaipėda Castle Jazz Festival. This nice FDC was given to me by Kristina.

FINLANDIA 95 - 27.1.1994

Pia sent this lovely FDC which celebrated Finlandia-95 (an international stamp exhibition) with the  miniature sheet shown on the cover. This was also the occasion to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the International Olympic Committee, and XVII Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 1994. The stamps and the cover were issued on 27.01.1994. The Designer was Pirkko Juvonen-Valtonen.

The sports men and women on the stamps are:- Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi and Marjo Matikainen.  Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi (née Hämäläinen; born 10 September 1955 in Simpele) was a former Finnish cross country skier.  

Marjo Tuulevi Matikainen-Kallström (born February 3, 1965 in Lohja) was a politician and former Finnish cross-country skier.  

Arnold Clas Robert Thunberg (5 April 1893 – 28 April 1973) was a Finnish speed skater who won five Olympic gold medals  He was born and died in Helsinki.

Veikko Kankkonen  (born 5 January 1940 in Sotkamo) is a Finnish ski jumper who was active in the 1960's. Kankkonen earned two ski jumping medals at the 1964 Winter Olympics with a gold in the individual normal hill and a silver in the individual large hill.  

Veikko Hakulinen (4 January 1925 – 24 October 2003) was a Finnish forestry technician and cross country skier, triple champion in both the olympics and world championship competition in cross country skiing.  Hakulinen was born in Kurkijoki (now part of the Republic of Karelia), Viipuri Province and died in Valkeakoski after a traffic accident.

Safety at Sea - Lighthouses

This UN First Day Cover regarding Safety at Sea was issued on 18.3.1983 with an official Geneva cachet, was given to me by my friend Merja.

 

The importance of lighthouses is that they help ships out at sea to find the harbour safely, especially when there are rocks or icebergs which the ships may bump into.

Some may question the need for lighthouses in the present days of GPS and other forms of electronic navigation at sea. I think they are Still pretty important. Not as much as they used to be perhaps, when they were the only option but still important as navigational beacons and as warning for hazardous conditions for boats (and aircraft) that don't have (or have inoperative) the latest electronics. If your ship has the so called high tech equipment, and if it works, you may not need a lighthouse. In all other cases you'll need one. And that is why the UN decided to issue this stamp to highlight the importance of Lighthouses for Safety at Sea.

Jon Sigurdsson

Jón Sigurðsson (June 17, 1811 – December 7, 1879) was the leader of the 19th century  Icelandic Independence movement. Þjóðernishyggja is the Icelandic term for  nationalism; nationmindedness is a rough translation of the term. Its use was instrumental in the Icelandic movement for independence from Denmark, led by independence hero Jón Sigurðsson. He became an expert on the sagas and on Icelandic history. He never graduated from university, as Icelandic politics grew to consume all his time.

The home of Jón and Ingibjörg in Copenhagen became a centre for all Icelanders in the city. They had no children except for one foster-son who was Jón's nephew. However, a contemporary remarked that "all Icelanders are their children". He died in Copenhagen in 1879.

His birthday, June 17, was chosen as  Iceland's National holiday to recognize his efforts toward Icelandic independence, and a picture of Jón graces the 500 Icelandic Krónur banknote.

He is often referred to as President ("Jón forseti") by Icelanders. The main reason for this is that since 1851 he served as President of the Copenhagen Department of the Icelandic Literature Society. He was also the president of Althing several times, for the first time in 1849. He is currently pictured on Iceland's 500  kronur bill, and has been honoured on Icelandic postage stamps on the centenaries of his birth and death, the 150th anniversary of his birth, and on the creation of the Republic of Iceland (on his 133rd birthday). Maria sent me this FDC which marks the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Jon Sigurdsson on 17th June 1961.

Slovenia 29.1.2010 - Valentine's Day - Squirrel's in Love

These squirrels are so cute. They're so in love and want to celebrate Valentine's Day together.

What a wonderful thought. But, that is exactly what is depicted on this cover and on the Love Greeting on the stamp itself. Slovenia issued this delightful cover and stamp on 29.1.2010. Thank you Maria for this lovely First Day Cover.

EUROPA - inventions - Finland -Temppeliaukio Church

This Finnish FDC (EUROPA CEPT) postmarked 2.5.1983 is about Pieces of work of human genius and “inventions” which was the theme for EUROPA stamps in 1983.

The stamp which is one of a set of two depicts the Temppeliaukio Church. Temppeliaukio Church is a Lutheran church in the Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki. The church was designed by architects and brothersTimo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969.

The Temppeliaukio/Tempelplatsen (Temple square) was selected as a location for a church in the 1930s, but the plan by J. S. Siren, the winner of the second competition to design the architecture of the church, was interrupted in its early stages when World War II began in 1939. After the war, there was another architectural competition, which was won by Timo Suomalainen and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1961. For economic reasons, the suggested plan was scaled back and the interior space of the church reduced by about one-quarter from the original plan. Construction finally began in February 1968, and the rock-temple was completed for consecration in September 1969.

The interior was excavated and built into the rock but is bathed in natural light entering through the glazed dome. The church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its excellent acoustics. The acoustic quality is ensured by the rough, virtually unworked rock surfaces. Leaving the interior surfaces of the church exposed was not something that was in the original plans for the church. Conductor Paavo Berglund told the brothers of his experiences in the best music halls, and the acoustical engineer Mauri Parjo set out requirements for the wall surfaces. The architect brothers discovered that they could fulfill all the requirements by realising their own idea of leaving the rock walls exposed in the Church Hall. This idea the brothers already had when planning the competition entry, but they had been afraid to present it thinking it too radical for the competition jury.

The Temppeliaukio church is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city; half a million people visit it annually. The stone-hewn church is located in the heart of Helsinki. Maintaining the original character of the square is the fundamental concept behind the building. The idiosyncratic choice of form has made it a favorite with professionals and aficionados of architecture.

The church furnishings were designed by the architects. Organ builder Veikko Virtanen manufactured the church organ, which has 43 stops. There are no bells at the church; a recording of bells composed by Taneli Kuusistois played via loudspeakers on the exterior wall. Thank you Merja for this nice FDC.

Travel in the North - Gold panning & White Water Rafting 24.3.1983

Norden stamps are a common issue amongst Nordic countries. It is as old as the Europa stamps. The idea of a Norden issue with a common motif was bred by Foreningen Norden [the Norden Association] in 1951. At the conference of the Nordic Postal Association in March the same year the consensus was to accede to the idea, but for  practical reasons it could only be accomplished later. In 1980 it was decided to issue Norden stamps every three years and (as the Europa stamps since 1974) to follow a common theme instead having a common design.

The inscriptions on the cover namely, Matkaile Pohjolassa and the same in Swedish "Res i Norden" meansTravel in the North (the theme for the year 1983).  

Gold panning (the stamp on the left) is very popular in Lapland's rivers. And gold is found there. European Goldpanning Championships 2012 were held in Finland. The postmark on the stamps read "Kultaperinne elää" in English it would mean "Gold tradition lives".

Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this activity as a leisure sport has become popular since the mid-1970s. It is considered an extreme sport, as it can be dangerous. The stamp on the right depicts this sport being enjoyed by enthusiasts on the Kitkanjoki River.

Kitkanjoki is a river of Finland. It begins from the lake Ala-Kitka that is connected to the lake Yli-Kitka in the municipalities of Posio and Kuusamo in the province of Northern Ostrobothnia and flows then towards Russia joining the river Oulankajoki near the Russian border. It is a part of the Kovda River system in Russia and Finland from which the waters flow to the White Sea.

Thank you Merja for this interesting and pretty FDC.

40th Anniversary of ICELAND Air Post

This cover and the stamps on it commemorate 40 Years of Iceland Air Post. Thank you Maria for this FDC.

Icelandair traces its roots back to 1937, when Flugfélag Akureyrar was founded in Akuryei on the north coast of Iceland. Flight operations started in 1938 with a single floatplane of the type Waco YKS-7. In 1939 the airline had to be grounded when the aircraft was destroyed in a capsizing accident. The company moved to Reykjavik, were it acquired another Waco aircraft and was re-launched in 1940 as Flugfélag Íslands, which translates asFlight Company of Iceland. Previously, two unrelated airlines of the same name had existed in the country (from 1919 to 1920, and between 1928 and 1931).

 For international purposes, the name Iceland Airways was adopted. The fleet was expanded with a Beechcraft Model 18 in 1942, and with two de Havilland Dragon Rapide as well as one U.S.-made Consolidated PBY Catalina in 1944, the latter being the first ever aircraft registered in Iceland to be flown to Iceland by an Icelandic crew from North America. On 11 July 1945, this aircraft operated the first commercial flight over the Atlantic Ocean for the airline, which led from Reykjavík to Largs in Scotland with four passengers and four crew members on board. Regular flights to Prestwick Airport, Scotland and Copenhagen in Denmark, using B-24 Liberator aircraft leased from Scottish Airlines were launched in 1946.