Portugal – Sailing

Cátia sent me this nice card showing people enjoying sailing in the seas of Azores.

UK - Sailing as a Sport

Merja sent me this pretty maxi card about the Racing Keel boats. This stamp was designed by Andrew Restall and issued by British Post on 11 June 1975 to commemorate sailing as a sport.

Italy – Italian Monarchs

Merja sent me this maxicard, that feature Italian monarchs who reigned between 1861 and 1946. The fairly large stamp in deep white has pictures of four stamps issued during the Reigns of Italian monarchs. Three of the four stamps are arranged as per the colors of the Italian flag. The picture of the stamp on the left of green color, value of five cent depicts the reign of Umberto I; In the center of the fifteen value cent of 1863 represents Vittorio Emanuele II; - to right the stamp in red color of the value of 10 cent emitted in 1901 represents Vittorio Emanuele III. Below to the center is the fourth stamp of the value of 20 cent in 1930 on occasion of the wedding of Prince Umberto with Prince Maria Josè of Belgium and, on the left and to right, in stilizzata design are the coat of arms sabaudo. The legend “EXTENSION - the REIGN D' ITALY - MONTECITORIO”, written “ITALY” and value “€ 0,60” complete the stamp.

Netherlands – Land of Windmills

From Holland - The land of picturesque windmills. This one is really picture book perfect. This is a hollow post mill with stage (a rare type). It has a radius of 22.50 metres. It was built around 1810. This lovely card was sent to me by Nico.

Germany - OLD LIGHTHOUSE. NORDSEEBAD WANGEROOGE

This is a picture of the old lighthouse at Wangerooge, Lower Saxony in Germany. Below one can study the reverse of the postcard sent to me by My good friend Stan, whom I sometimes refer to as the modern day Marco Polo. Its Height Above the North Sea is nil. This card has a special postmark or cancellation of the lighthouse it is dated 19.3.2011. There are two nice German stamps too.

Finland - MS Bore

MS Bore is a combination museum and hotel ship docked permanently Turku, Finland. She was originally built in 1960 by Oskarshamn shipyard, Oskarshamn, Sweden as the car/passenger ferry SS Bore for Steamship Company Bore, Finland, then the last commercial steam ship built in Scandinavia and the first ferry on the route between Finland and Sweden where cars could drive aboard. She was later known as SS Borea, before being rebuilt as cruiseship in 1988. 1988 to 2010 she was owned by the Finnish shipping company Kristina Cruises and known as MS Kristina Regina until she was retired. Sointu sent me this card amongst others.

USA – Bobby" McFerrin, Jr

Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American vocalist and conductor. He is best known for his 1988 hit song "Don't Worry, Be Happy". He is a ten-time Grammy Award winner. My friend Stan sent me this card with the extraordinary stamp (shown) on it.