Paintings of Rita Angus 6.4.1983

Rita Angus (12 March 1908 – 25 January 1970) was a New Zealand painter born in Hastings. Along with Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston, she is credited as one of the leading figures in twentieth century New Zealand art. She worked primarily in oil and water colours, and is well known for her portraits and landscapes.

This issue of stamps featured the works of Rita Angus whose meticulous compositions in oil and water-colours earned her the reputation as a leader of the modern school of New Zealand painting. Rita Angus, born in Hastings, trained as a painter in Christchurch where she lived until 1954 when she moved northwards to settle in Wellington.   During her career she made frequent painting trips throughout New Zealand, especially to Central Otago, Waikanae and Hawke's Bay.

A brief descriprtion about the stamps on the cover and the paintings depicted on them is given below.

Boats - Island Bay - 24c
Painted 1962-63, an oil 610mm x 610mm - belongs to a private collection in Auckland. The Italian fishing boats at Island Bay, Wellington emphasised the complex pattern of shapes and colours created by the moored boats.

Central Otago Landscape - 30c
Painted 1954/65/1969, an oil 524mm x 636mm - hangs in the National Art Gallery, Wellington. The "composite" landscape in Central Otago was made up of separate views recorded first in water-colours.  These range from Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables to Cromwell and Alexandra.  It was begun in the 1950s and completed in 1969.

Wanaka Landscape - 35c
Painted 1939, a watercolour 228mm x 276mm - hangs in the Rita Angus Loan Collection, National Art Gallery, Wellington. Vivid colours and clearly defined forms were hallmarks of Rita Angus' style and these feature in her Wanaka landscape.

Tree - 45c
Painted 1943, a watercolour 300mm x 286mm - hangs in the Rita Angus Loan Collection, National Art Gallery, Wellington.  Rita Angus made numerous water-colour studies of flowers and plants and in 1943 painted a tree which grew in her sister's garden in Greymouth.  

These four stamps on the cover honour Rita Angus and her paintings depicted on the stamps. Thank you Maria for this pretty FDC.

Cyprus 17.5.1965 - 100th Anniversary of the founding of the ITU 17.5.1965

On 24 May 1844, Samuel Morse sent his first public message over a telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore, and through that simple act, ushered in the telecommunication age.

On 17 May 1865, after two and a half months of arduous negotiation, the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris by the 20 founding members, and the International Telegraph Union (ITU) was established to facilitate subsequent amendments to this initial agreement. Today, some 145 years later, the reasons which led to the establishment of ITU still apply, and the fundamental objectives of the organization remain basically unchanged.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was founded in 1865 making it the oldest international organization in the UN family. ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services.

From its beginnings in 1865 up until the present ITU has produced a multitude of documents that chart the organization’s history and contribution to information and communication technology issues.

This FDC issued by Cyprus with the three stamps on it was given to me by Maria and were issued on 17.5.1965 to comemorate the 100^thAnniversary of the founding of the ITU.

Orchid 21.1.2013

The stylish Orchid stamp, designed by Susanna Rumpu and Ari Lakaniemi, also came out in January. The stamp is particularly suitable for purposes such as condolence cards. The stamp is printed with a delicate pearl lacquer, contributing to the dignity of the stamp. The stylish stamp is suitable for congratulations and printed condolences, for example. The orchid cultivar depicted in the stamp, Coilostylis parkinsoniana, is photographed by Jouni Seppänen, an all-round flower specialist.

The pretty Maxicard and the FDC were sent to me by my dear friend Ella.

Health Stamps - New Zealand 1.8.1984

The 1984 Health Stamp Issue of New Zealand issued on 1.8.1984 featured three popular breeds of horses - Clydesdales, Shetlands and Thoroughbreds. The proceeds of the 'Health' value of health stamps were donated to the Children's Health Camps movement.

Two se-tenant stamps depicting a Clydesdales and Shetland Ponies - 24c + 2c x 2
Clydesdales are distinguished by a combination of weight, size and activity, with exceptionally strong feet and limbs.  The history of the Clydesdale breed dates back to the early part of the 18th century.  Flemish stallions were imported into the Clyde valley area in Scotland, in an attempt to increase the size of the native draught horses.

Shetlands are one of the smallest and at the same time one of the strongest members of the equine world.  Their origin is unknown but their existence has been recorded in the Shetland Islands for many centuries.  The Shetland's docile nature and height make it an ideal saddle pony for small children.

Thoroughbred - 30c + 2c
The descriptive name "thoroughbred" is synonymous with racehorses.  All thoroughbreds are reputed to trace their ancestry back to three eastern sires - the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Barb and the Byerley Turk.  New Zealand's temperate climate is an ideal environment for breeding thoroughbreds and the colour and spectacle of a race day is part of the New Zealand way of life.

Thank you Maria for this pretty FDC with the set of horses’ stamps.

American Dogs 7.9.1984

These four stamps (one each on the four FDCs), were issued by the United States on September 7, 1984, features eight pedigreed dogsthat represent the types most often bred in the U.S. This stamp issue coincided with the centennial of the American Kennel Club. The following breeds are depicted: Beagle, Boston Terrier, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Alaskan Malamute, Collie, Black and Tan Coonhound, and American Foxhound.

Thank you Hemant for this lovely set of FDCs.

The New Social Insurance Scheme 12.4.1965

Merja sent me this nice FDC with three stamps issued on 12.4.1965 to commemorate The New Social Insurance Scheme which covered compulsorily every person gainfully occupied in Cyprus either as an employed person or as a self-employed person. Persons working abroad in the service of Cypriot employers and persons who interrupt their compulsory insurance are allowed, under certain conditions, to be insured voluntarily. The insured persons are classified in three categories; employed persons, self-employed persons and voluntary contributors.

The Scheme was financed by contributions payable by the employers, the insured persons and the State. The Scheme provides cash benefits for marriage, maternity, sickness, unemployment, widowhood, invalidity, orphan-hood, old age, death and employment injury. The Scheme provides also free medical treatment for persons receiving invalidity pension and for employed persons who sustain injuries as a result or an employment accident or an occupational disease.

Adamantios Diamantis (b Nicosia, 23 Jan 1900; d Nicosia, 28 April 1994). Who’s painting is portrayed on the 75M stamp and also depicted on the cover was a Cypriot painter and teacher. From 1921 to 1923 he studied painting at the Royal College of Art in London, and in 1926 he returned to Cyprus, where he combined his painting with extensive art teaching at numerous schools. His earlier works show a certain amount of experimentation with modernist styles, particularly Cubism, but he was also concerned with the rendering of the human form as he observed it in the villages of Cyprus. At the Festival of Our Lady of Araka showed his characteristically monumental and schematized female forms constructed of broad unified surfaces of colour with a similarly schematized but atmospheric landscape in the background. Diamantis had a major influence on succeeding generations of Cypriot artists.

Cyprus Scouts Association Centenary 30.1.2013

The Cyprus Scouts Association (C.S.A.) was founded in 1913 and is a member of the World Scout Movement Organisation.

Since its establishment, the C.S.A. - through its Scout training - has provided its members with the necessary skills for life, teaching them their duty towards God and their Country and love for others. As a result, all those who wore and continue to wear the Scout uniform, are active participants in and contributors to society. Many of our heroes were Scouts and sealed with their lives the Promise that they had made when becoming members of the Scout movement.

It is estimated that more then 100.000 youngsters in Cyprus have been Scouts during these 100 years, and today the C.S.A. has around 6.000 members, with 54 active Scout Groups.

This year 2013 the Cyprus Scouting Association celebrates its 100 Years. All Cubs, Scouts and Explorers have been given the 100 Year Knecker and Badge which we will wear for all of 2013.

On the 30th January the first issue of the Stamp Commemorating the 100 Years of the Cyprus Scout Association came into circulation. The Stamp has a value of  €0.43 and comes in a page of eight with the 100 Year Knecker in the left corner. On the Stamp the 100 Year Badge is located top left above two cubs looking from behind a tree. An open 
tent also shows the great outdoors. In the back round Scouts are building Pioneering Projects.

Thank you Dear Merja for this very nice FDC.

2009 Endangered Species - Butterflies

This lovely cover with the three pretty stamps were issued by the UN in the 2009 Endangered Species Series. This issue is about butterflies. This cover and stamps were issued on 16.4.2009. This cover is a Limited Edition FDC of the UN Postal Administrstion. A point to note here is that each of the three stamps has been cancelled by a distinctive postmark of the three cities from which UN stamps are issued, namely, New York (in English), Vienna (in German) and Geneva (in French). A brief description of the butterflies depicted is given below.

The Emperor Dragonfly or Blue Emperor, Anax imperator, is a large species of hawker dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae, averaging 78 millimetres (3.1 in) in length. It is found mainly in Europe  and nearby Africa and Asia. 

Males have a sky blue abdomen marked with a diagnostic black dorsal stripe and an apple green thorax. Females have a green thorax and abdomen. The male is highly territorial, and difficult to approach. The species lives by larger ponds, gravel pits, and slow rivers.

The dragonfly is in Europe. They frequently fly high up into the sky in search of prey, which includes butterflies, Four-spotted Chasers and tadpoles; small prey is eaten while flying. The females lay the eggs into plants such as pondweed, and always lay alone.

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana) is a distinctive black and electric-green birdwing butterfly from the rainforests in the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Natuna, Sumatra, and various small islands west of Sumatra (Banyak, Simeulue, Batu and Mentawai). The butterfly was named by the naturalist Alfred R. Wallace in 1855, after James Brooke, the Rajah of Sarawak. Its wingspan is 15–17 cm (5.9–6.7 in).

The wings of the male butterflies are mainly black. Each forewing has seven teeth-shaped electric-green markings, while there is a relatively large electric-green patch on the hindwings. The head is bright red and the body is black with red markings. The wings of the female butterflies are browner with prominent white flashes at the tips of the forewings and at the base of the hindwings. Both genders resemble the more restricted relative, the Palawan Birdwing, but (among others) males of the Rajah Brooke's Birdwing have more green to the rearwings. The larval host plants are Aristolochia acuminata and A. foveolata. Adults sip flower nectar from plants such as Bauhinia.

Rajah Brooke's Birdwing is a protected species, listed under Appendix II of CITES, meaning that international trade is restricted.

It is the national butterfly of Malaysia.

The Large Blue (Phengaris arion, also known as Maculinea arion and Glaucopsyche arion) is a blue butterfly resident in Europe, the Caucasus,  Armenia, West Siberia, Altai, North-West Kazakhstan and in Sichuan. This butterfly is also portrayed on a Silk cloth on the cover also.

Thank you Hemant for this wonderful FDC.

150th Anniversary of the discovery of gold in Australia 9.8.2001

The stamp on this FDC given to me by Maria, portrays Edward Hargraves, and was issued to commemorate the 150^thAnniversary of the discovery of gold in Australia. On January 7, 1851, two men disembarked the Emma in Sydney. Although Edward Hargraves and James William Esmond were strangers, both had made the arduous journey to America during the 1848 Californian gold rush in search of fortune. America's gold country had reminded many Australians of the hills and gullies of Victoria and New South Wales, and both men returned home determined to find gold. After reaching Sydney, Hargraves headed straight for the Bathurst plains, while Esmond boarded a coastal steamer to Melbourne. 

Hargraves was the first to realise his ambition when, in February 1851, he became the first Australian to officially discover gold at Summerhill Creek, near Bathurst, New South Wales. Hargraves’ success lured thousands of hopefuls from other states to New South Wales. 

The Australian Gold Rush began in 1851 when Edward Hargraves and his companions , the Tom brothers and John Lister, found specks of gold near Bathurst in New South Wales. By December 1851 gold had been found in various places in Victoria including Clunes, Castlemaine, Bendigo and Ballarat. Many men left their jobs and headed for the diggings, followed by a tide of people from elsewhere in the world in 1852. Most people walked to the gold fields and once there lived in tents or shanty huts made from canvas, wood and bark. In September 1851 the first gold licences were issued. Although women were at the goldfields from the beginning and in various occupations, it was initially a very male society.

Anniversaries and Events 9.6.1971

This 1971 Commemorative Stamp Issue marked the 10th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty and the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations Children's Fund. Maria gave me this nice FDC. A brief description of the two stamps on it are given below.

The 10th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty - 6c
The symbolic design is based on an impression of the constant high winds and swirling movement of the landscape - mountains, snowdrifts, storm-whipped seas and the transparent blues and greens which abound in Antarctic.

25th Anniversary of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund - 7c
UNICEF was established in 1946 with the object of protecting children all over the world against hunger, disease and ignorance.  The stamp design features a child on a swing symbolising the celebration of what has been achieved.

The Cyprus Red Cross 23.2.2013

The commemorative stamp is being issued on the occasion of the recognition of the Cyprus Red Cross (C.R.C.) by the International Committee of the Red Cross as the 188th member of the International Movement  on 23/2/2012. The C.R.C. was founded in 1950 and is registered as a legal entity under Law 39 of 1967. It is the largest humanitarian organisation in Cyprus and its biggest project is the Children’s Convalescent Home in Limassol for children with serious disabilities. It offers moral and material support to the poor, the sick and the disabled, provides wheelchairs and special aid, and, since 1974 has covered the needs of the enclaved. It offers First Aid lessons, organises blood donations, helps in dealing with crises, covers the needs of migrants and organises campaigns on social, environmental, health and other issues. It provides humanitarian assistance in dealing with disasters and undertakes large projects abroad, such as building a hospital and funding a second one in Sri Lanka, constructing community clinic in Karatoula in fire-ravaged Elia in the Peloponnese, funding the construction of an emergency telephone centre in Haiti and building two ambulance centres in Gaza.

Thank you Dear Merja for this nice FDC.

Greetings From Wisconsin 4.4.2002

"Greetings Form America" commemorative postage stamp program by the United States Postal Service that started April 4, 2002. This program celebrated the 50 states that make up the USA.  A stamp from each state formed a sheet of 50 stamps.

The Wisconsin State Postage Stamp Depicted here is the Wisconsin state 34 cent stamp from the Greetings From America commemorative stamp series. The United States Postal Service released this stamp on April 4, 2002. The retro design of this stamp resembles the large letter postcards that were popular with tourists in the 1930's and 1940's.

Thank you Hemant. And season’s greetings to you too.

Year of the Ox 7.1.1997

As one of the first countries to issue stamps for the Chinese New Year, Canada first released the Year of the Ox stamps in 1997.

Chinese New Year is a time for family gatherings and rituals that emphasise good fortune, health and prosperity for the coming year. Festivities in Canada provide Chinese-Canadians with an opportunity to renew their group identity and to share their culture with other Canadians.

In 1997, the Chinese Lunar year began on February 7. It marked the begining of the Year of the Ox.

Are you patient, trusting and down to earth? Do you inspire confidence and disdain laziness? If this sounds like you, you may be an Ox ... according to Chinese astrology, that is. Once again, the Lunar New Year is upon us and Canada Post has issued a number of special philatelic products to mark the beginning of the Year of the Ox.

Since the first release in 1997, the Lunar New Year stamps have proven to be one of the most successful stamp series ever at Canada Post. 

People born in the Year of the Ox are highly responsible, independent and inspire confidence, but at times may tend to be eccentric and somewhat gullible. Like their animal namesake, they are patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

You are an ox if you were born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, or 2009. Famous oxen include Wayne Gretzky, Michael J. Fox, Douglas Coupland, Oscar Peterson, Margaret Thatcher, and President Barack Obama.

Thank you Hemant for this lovely FDC.

Libyan Arab Airlines

Libyan Airlines, known as Libyan Arab Airlines over several decades, is the oldest and the national flag carrier airline of Libya. Based in Tripoli, it operates scheduled passenger and cargo services within Libya and to Europe, North Africa and theMiddle East, the majority of which leave from Tripoli International Airport. Benina International Airport in Benghazi serves as a secondary base. The company is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization and the International Air Transport Association.

The airline was established in 1964 as Kingdom of Libya Airlines, and the first revenue flights took place in October 1965. From the beginning, it concentrated on providing services from Tripoli and Benghazi to Europe and the neighboring countries of Libya, as well as operating a multitude of domestic routes. By 1968, the international network included destinations like Athens, Beirut, Cairo, Geneva, London, Paris, Rome or Tunis, which were served using either Caravelle or Fokker F27 aircraft. There were interline agreements with Alitalia, Middle East Airlines and BOAC.

Thank you Maria for this interesting FDC dated1.10.1966.

Centenary of the birth of Ethnarch Makarios III 30.1.2013

Ethnarch Makarios III was a reformer and the first Presedent of the Republic of Cyprus and is highly regarded as one of the most important personalities in Cyprus’ modern history. He was born in Panayia in Paphos and was accepted as a novice monk at Kykko Monastery at a very young age. He attended the Pancyprian Gymnasium and the Theological School at the University of Athens and continued his studies in Religious Sociology in Boston USA. In 1948 he was elected Metropolitan of Kition and in 1950 he was elected Archbishop of Cyprus.

As Archbishop he inspired the liberation efforts of the Greeks of Cyprus to overthrow the British rule and unite Cyprus with Greece. Following the E.O.K.A. liberation struggle (1955-1959), he was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus, laid the foundations for organising the new state and guided Cyprus into the U.N. He followed a non-aligned foreign policy and succeeded on securing an identity for the Republic of Cyprus, continuously battling against internal and external enemies, always with the interests of its people as his main concern.

Unfortunately, the 1963 Turkish rebellion and the aggressive actions and manipulations of Turkey, which where always aimed at the division of Cyprus, interrupted the new Republic’s smooth course.

The treacherous coup perpetrated by the Athens junta in July 1974 provided Turkey with the pretext to invade Cyprus and take over 36% of its territory, displacing 200.000 Greek Cypriots in their own land. The tragic events broke his heart and he breathed his last on the 3rd August 1977, and is now included in the pantheon of immortals.

Thank you Merja for this historic FDC.

Year of the Tiger 8.1.1998

The year of the Tiger was about to begin and would be the Earth Tiger and it began on 28 Jan at 06:19 Greenwich Time, according to the ephemeris. The last Earth Tiger came in 1938 and it will be 2058 before we see another one. The year just ending was been the Fire Ox. The year following will be the Earth Rabbit. The Ox marks the end of old things. It is the sign of winter, of sleep, of death and extinction. The Tiger is the opening of new things. It is the sign of Thunder, of the new dawn, of springtime, when life and warmth return to the land.

The Tiger corresponds to the Western Aquarius. Its natural element is Wood, here mated with Earth. The Tiger is the symbol of earthly raw power in untamed nature, even as the Dragon is the symbol of heavenly creative forces. It is a sign of the eastern sky and of the springtime. This is the planting season in the agricultural almanac of ancient China, when the ground becomes workable once more and nourishing rains begin to fall. It is also the sign of the pre-dawn hours, when birds and a few other animals sense the coming dawn and bestir themselves. It is a time of new life, new beginnings and a trembling wakefulness.

This Earth Tiger was to be a very special year for a number of reasons. The Tao is deeply correct and its energies are much accelerated --- the pace of change in this year and next will be the greatest our generation can expect to experience, especially the winter months of each year. Only 1988 (Earth Dragon) can compare. Before that, we must look to the early 1800s and the Industrial Revolution to find a comparable group of years. After this, we must wait until the Metal Horse year of 2050 to get it again.

Moreover, because this is an Earth year, Earth shall come into direct contact with itself during the Earth Season in the summer months. Because no animal year claims Earth as its native element, this can only happen for less than 150 days out of each decade --- the rarest of all elemental configurations and essential to our evolution as a species because it is in these times that most meaningful and lasting change takes root.

What can we expect from such a year? Plenty! When the Tiger comes, we must always expect the unexpected.Thank youHemant for this wonderful FDC and the stamps on the minisheet on it issued by Canada on 8.1.1988.

PACIFIC 97 International Stamp Exhibition.

The United States Postal Service issued two 32-cents PACIFIC 97 commemorative stamps in a pane of 16 on 13^th March, 1997, in New York. Designed by Richard D. Sheaf of Norwood Massachusetts, the stamps feature two designs, one of a US Mail Stage coach and one of of a Clipper ship (as shown in this FDC), both of the 1800’s. These marked the first triangular stamps the USPS has ever issued. The sheet of sixteen stamps formed an unusual configuration of four squares, each square formed by four connecting triangles. There is also a small type header identifying the place and dates of the PACIFIC 97 International Stamp Exhibition.

The Banknote Corporation of America Inc., printed the stamps through the Intaglio process. Thank you Dear Pia for this lovely FDC.

Algerian independence - Burning of the Library

On June 7, 1962, the Organisation de l'armée secrète (better known as the OAS), a militant underground organization opposed to Algerian independence, burned down the library of the University of Algiers destroying 112,500 books. This was one of the culminating acts of the 1954-1962 Algerian War which included many atrocities on both sides. On July 1, 1962 Algerians in overwhelming numbers voted in favor of independence from France. 
The burning of the library was seen as a symbol of the rightness of Algerian independence and resulted in a number of Muslim countries issuing postage stamps commemorating the tragic event. This cover and the stamps on it were issued by Libya, and sent to me by my dear friend Maria.

Joys of Winter in Finland 21.1.2013

Finland post started the New Year with three issues on 21.1.2013. This issue is one of them.

The Sledging 1st class stamp is perfect for winter greetings. It was issued as a foldable sheet of ten stamps. The designer, Georgi Eremenko, wanted to illustrate the joys and light of winter. “I found inspiration from watching colorfully dressed people sledging in Kaivopuisto Park in Helsinki on a sunny January weekend,” Mr. Eremenko comments.

Thank you Dear Ella for this lovely FDC.

New Zealand – Health Stamps 31.7.1985

1985 Health Stamps featured photographs by Lord Snowdon of Prince Charles, The Princess of Wales, Prince William and Prince Henry.

Royal children appeared on the annual Health issue for the first time in 1943.  

The proceeds of the 'Health' value of health stamps were donated to the Children's Health Camps movement.

Thank you Maria for this lovely FDC.

25c + 2c x 2
Two se tenant stamps, one depicting The Princess of Wales and Prince William, the other The Princess of Wales and Prince Henry.

35c + 2c_a
This stamp depicted Prince Charles, The Princess of Wales, Prince William and Prince Henry.

Gutenberg Castle in Balzers

Perched on a hillside in the country's southernmost municipality, Balzers, Gutenberg Castle was built in the High Middle Ages.

The castle stands about 70m above the nearby village, on a hill which has been inhabited since the Neolithic Period. Indeed, many interesting archaelogical discoveries have been made near the building,  the most significant of which - the 'Mars von Gutenberg' figurine measuring just 12cm - is on display in the Liechtenstein National Museum.

From its origins as a church with an accompanying graveyard, the building fell into ruin over the course of many centuries before being restored between 1905 and 1912. Visitors can walk to the castle from the nearby village, and the bailey ('Vorburg') is open throughout the year. Since opening in 2010, the chapel and rose garden welcome visitors between 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m. A number of cultural events and activities take place at the castle during the summer months.

The four stamps on this cover portray this castle’s exterior and interior very vividly. The cover itself has the coat of arms of four castles. Namely, Hapsburg, Gutenburg, Frauenburg and Ramschwag.  Thank you Dear Pia for this lovely FDC

Xth Anniversary of Libyan Independence.

The three stamps on this cover were issued by Libya on 24^th December 1961 to commemorate the Xth Anniversary of Libyan Independence.

The Kingdom of Libya, originally called the United Libyan Kingdom, came into existence upon independence on 24 December 1951 and lasted until a coup d'état led by Muammar Gaddafi on 1 September 1969 overthrew King Idris of Libya and established the Libyan Arab Republic.

Thank you Maria for this nice FDC.

Year of the Snake - 2013 4.1.2013

2013 in the Chinese New Year is the Year of the Snake, which begins on February 10, 2013 and ends on January 30, 2014.  The Snake, also called Junior Dragon, is the sixth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal Signs.  Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means that your family will not starve.  People born in the Year of the Snake are keen and cunning, quite intelligent and wise. They are great mediators and good at doing business.  
Therefore, you should have good luck if you were born in the Year of the Snake.

There are a total of 12 animal signs in the Chinese calendar based on five cycles of 12 years each, with each cycle tempered by one of the five Chinese elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. According to Chinese astrology and belief, the traits of these zodiac animals not only shape the personalities of people born under the respective sign but also their lives and the events of the year. Apart from the Snake, the other Chinese zodiac animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The intelligent, analytical and graceful Snake, sixth in the Zodiac Cycle, starts off yet another New Year on the Chinese zodiac calendar in 2013. Three graphic illustrations of this powerful Snake ushering in the new Lunar Year 2013 are shown in this set of stamps of 1st Local, 65c and $1.10 issued by Singapore.

Birds 24.4.1985

 New Zealand has the highest number of endangered birds of any single country in the world.

The two stamps featured on this FDC are part of a set of ten such stamps issued as definitives on 24^thApril,1985. Thank you Maria for this pretty FDC.

The native birds featured on this series of stamps are among the rarest and most beautiful in the world.  While imported predators and destruction of their native habitats threaten their extinction, concerned New Zealanders are acting to ensure the survival of these elegant and engaging bush-residents. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find and view in the wild, the unique beauty of New Zealand's native birds which have been captured on these stamps.

This series of stamps was issued progressively over a four year period 1985 - 89.

Kokako: Issued 24 April 1985 - $1.00
The kokako (Callaeas cinerea) illustrated is a North Island variety and is also known as the blue wattled crow, referring to the two blue bags which hang from the head of the bird and steel-grey plumage.  The kokako grows to about 38 cm long.  With two legs and a disproportionately long tail, it is not a good flier but tends to hop along branches and trunks and glide from one tree to another or move across the forest floor with a clumsy bounding gait.  Living in dense pockets of kauri trees and rain forest, the kokako is usually well away from the sight of man feeding on young leaves, flowers and berries.  The North Island kokako is now quite rare - barely surviving its orange-wattled South Island cousins, considered today to be extinct.

Black Robin: Issued 24 April 1985 - $2.00
One of the world's rarest birds, the Chatham Islands black robin (Petroica traversi), is a forest and scrub dweller of about 16cm in length.  This species is one of the smallest in numbers and most endangered in the world and during the summer of 1976/77 the New Zealand Wildlife Service transferred the entire population from Little Mangere Island to nearby Mangere Island (in the Chatham Islands group) after planting 150,000 trees in an effort to rejuvenate the habitat.  In 1980/81, the first clutches of the remaining birds were transferred to nearby nests of Chatham Island warblers, where three chicks were raised to fledging by the warblers before being returned to the robins for rearing.

Castles

Liechtenstein post portrayed the following palaceshas on these four stamps on the FDC dated 8^th September 1977. My friend Merja sent me this nice FDC.

Frauenthal Castle. Schloss Frauenthal (Schloss Frauenthal) is a castle in Styria (Steiermark), Austria.  Prince Franz Josef was born on the 16th of August 1906 in the Frauenthal Castle in Styria as the first son of Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Elisabeth Amalie of Austria. Emperor Franz Josef I was godfather of the little prince.

Castle Ullersdorf. The Gross-Ullersdorf Castle, Czech Republic.

Lichtenstein Castle In Mödling. Mödling is the capital of the Austrian district of the same name located approximately 14 km south of Vienna.

Liechtenstein Palace Alserbach Vienna. The Liechtenstein Garden Palace is a baroque palace of the Prince Street in the 9th district of Vienna , Alsergrund . Between the palace in which the end of 2011, the Liechtenstein Museum , was designed as Belvedere and the summer palace of the Alserbachstraße is a park. Since early 2012, the Liechtenstein Garden Palace is the place for events. Part of the private art collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein is still in the gallery rooms of the palace. 2010 has begun, the palace, to avoid future confusion, officially called the Garden Palace, since 2013 the Liechtenstein City Palace will be renovated in the very center and then also equipped with a part of the Liechtenstein art collection.

Fragile Forest and the 25th Anniversary of the Singapore Zoological Gardens 5.6.1998

The above set of stamps was launched on the 5th June 1998 in conjunction with the launch of the Fragile Forest and the 25th Anniversary of the Singapore Zoological Gardens. The Fragile Forest is a new ecological display in the Singapore Zoological Gardens, based on the various rainforest ecosystems. The display is primarily on invertebrates but will also include small mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. The 10 animals featured on the stamps are: Rhino Beetle, Surinam Horned Frog, Atlas Moth, Green Iguana, Giant Scorpion, Hissing Cockroach, Two-toed Sloth, Archer Fish, Cobalt Blue Tarantula and Greater Mouse deer.
Originally intended as an exclusively invertebrate exhibit, Fragile Forest has metamorphosed into an ecological experience bringing together plants and animals; both vertebrates and invertebrates, with a major emphasis on the latter. Some of the main ecosystems showcased include tropical rainforest, coral reef as well as mangrove habitats. With the setting up of Fragile Forest, it is hoped that guests will have an increased awareness and appreciation of the remarkably diverse and delicate relationships existing in an ecosystem.

Designs in Finland in 9.10.1998

My Dear Friend Ella gave me this delightful First Day Cover showing some popular designs in Finland in 1998. The details of the stamps on the cover are as follows:-

Savoy vases, by Alvar Aalto. The Aalto Vase, also known as the Savoy Vase, is a world famous piece of glassware and an iconic piece of Finnish design created by Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Marsio. It became known as the Savoy vase because it was one of a range of custom furnishings and fixtures created by Alvar Aalto and Aino for the luxury Savoy restaurant in Helsinki that opened in 1937.

Karuselli chair, by Yrjö Kukkapuro. Karuselli is a swivelling and rocking armchair that was designed by Yrjö Kukkapuro in 1964. Karuselli is a classic of Finnish design and is present in several museum collections around the world.

Tasaraita knitwear, designed by Annika Rimala for Marimekko. Sip with Good Company. Sami Ruotsalainen designed this mug as part of the Oiva dinnerware collection created just for Marimekko. The simple, clean shape will inspire new conversation at your table. Mix and match with other cups in the collection for a medley of flavors. Made with hard, glazed porcelain, it has a long lifespan and a color that won’t fade or wear off.

Keep in mind the collection is dishwasher, freezer and microwave safe.

Kilta tableware set, by Kaj Franck. Kaj Franck's (1911-1989) famous Teema tableware originates in the 1940s. The series of dishes were originally entitled Kilta (Guild) and were finally brought into production in 1953 however the response was not immense due to the design’s drastic differences from typical dishware of the day. Stackable and versatile, Kilta was re-released in 1981 and given the name Teema.  The series became hugely popular and is now the best selling Arabia series of all time. The timeless and elegant Teema series has remained popular year after year, and it's one of the most prestigious Nordic dishware series.

Cast Iron Pot by Timo Sarpaneva. An icon of Finnish Design. The Sarpaneva cast iron pot, saught after by collectors, is now back in production. This pot is an excellent example of the ability of Finnish design to combine practicality and beauty. It has outstanding characteristics for cooking, and will turn heads even as a serving dish. The detachable wooden handle that allows you to lift and move its lid is a true stroke of genius.

Carelia cutlery set, by Bertel Gardberg. The refined Carelia has an air of festivity, but is also versatile enough to adorn an everyday table setting - giving you the chance to enjoy this elegant set of cutlery more often.  Carelia’s designer, Bertel Gardberg, is one of the major forces in Finnish design and a recipient of the coveted Lunning design prize, among others. The classic range, which was inspired by the Finnish archipelago, remains as modern and pleasing in design today as it was at the beginning of the 1960s, when it was first introduced.