Postage is up again

 As of yesterday:

Domestic 1oz letters: forever stamps up 4c to 82c 

Domestic postcards: postcard stamps up 4c to 65c

International postcards and 1oz letters: global forever stamps up 5c to $1.75

First class postage 25 years ago was 34c

X is for Xixón, Y is for Yacimiento, and Z is for Zoriontsuak

 Xixón (in Asturian), Gijón (in Spanish) is the largest city and municipality of the autonomous community of Asturias in northwest Spain.

This stamp celebrates the Gijón/Xixón International Film Festival, which originated in 1963. Link to the whole stamp sheet, which was issued. in 2019.

Yacimiento can be a deposit, as in natural resources (oil, gold, etc), or, as in this case, a site, referring to archeological finds. This stamp, issued in 2024, shows 2500-year-old sculptures of Tartessian faces found at Casas del Turuñuelo, located in Guareña in the Spanish province of Barajoz. You can read more at the wikipedia entry.

Zoriontsuak translates to happiness, as seen on this 2025 Christmas stamp. Eguberri zoriontsuak is Basque for merry Christmas (happy Christmas in also common in the UK and Commonwealth nations). 

I think this is the first A-Z I managed to complete! As Eva guessed earlier in this run, I was aiming for all the letters to represent Spanish words - I didn't quite manage that, with a few coming from other languages spoken in Spain. There was also the Flemish koning - not many words begin with k in Spanish, and I didn't find any stamps celebrating the metric system's kilometers or kilograms :)

In the end the common thread of this A-Z was stamps sent by Eva, with 26 non-English words. Huge thanks to Eva for all the interesting stamps she sends me!

For more X, Y, Z stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

W is for Wolframio

 W is an uncommonly used letter in Spanish. Luckily, wolframio (tungsten in English), was discovered by Spanish brothers José and Fausto Elhuyar in 1783, and celebrated on this stamp. Tungsten (from Swedish meaning hard stone) is an exceptionally hard metal, with the highest known boiling point of the known metallic elements at 3,422°C (6,192°F).

Thanks again to Eva for sending this one.

For more W stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Happy 250th birthday, America!

I received a postcard yesterday with a Freedom 250 postmark.  The stamp issued last year shows a revolutionary battlefield scene.

The postcard shows Manistique East Breakwater Light, a lighthouse on Lake Michigan in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan.

Happy Fourth of July!

Sunday Stamps: V is for Valencia

 The majority of Eva's mail is postmarked from Valencia.

And she also sent me a stamp featuring this beautiful city by the sea, founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC. It was issued in 2004, the year the World Philatelic Exhibition was held in Valencia.

For links to more V stamps, visit See it on a Postcard

U is for unión and universal

 We're up to the letter U, and here's a stamp from Spain commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union in 2024. Founded in 1874, the UPU is based in Berne, Switzerland, and since 1948 has been part of the UN. If you're interested, the website for the UPU is here. 

Thanks to Eva for sending the stamp.

For more U stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

And happy solstice!

T is for Tierra

 Tierra is Spanish for earth (terra) as featured on this great stamp from 2008 celebrating International Year of Planet Earth sent by Eva.

For more T stamps, visit the links at See it on a Stamp

S is for Sagrada

 The stamp issued in 2002 shows the Basilica and Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family, one of the most famous places of worship in the world and a landmark of Barcelona. Sagrada can translate as sacred, in this case it means holy. Designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí, who sadly died after being hit by a tram almost exactly 100 years ago on June 10th, 1926. My understanding is that Sagrada Familia reached its final height this year, and the external structure is complete. There is still work happening inside, due for completion in the 2030s. Only about 25% was completed at the time of Gaudí's death.

Thanks to Eva for sending this lovely stamp. I have had the privilege of visiting this incredible place, and. would love to go back. I am not a religious person, however it was a very moving experience to sit and contemplate the amazing structure of the building, as well as the light within it.

For links to more S stamps, visit See it on a Postcard

Sunday Stamps on Monday: R is for redescubrimiento and rural

 We're up to the letter R, and there are two on this D rate stamp from Correos issued this year, sent by Eva. The stamp, showcasing Spanish tourism, shows Rediscovery of Rural Heritage.

For more R stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Sunday Stamps on Monday: Q is for Quebrantahuesos

 This one is a blast from the past, as I blogged it in the beforetimes (2019).

It's an impressivve stamp for an impressive bird - a vulture. In Spanish it is quebrantahuesos - bonebreaker!

Thanks to Eva for sending it on this great Halloween/fall related envelope.

For links to more Q stamps, visit See it on a Postcard

Sunday Stamps: P is for peseta

 The peseta was the currency of Spain from 1868 to 2002 when it was replaced by the euro. It had been replaced by the euro on currency exchange boards since 1999. Pesetas could be exchanged for euros until 2021. Pesetas worthh an estimated 1.7 billion euros were not exchanged.

 Eva sent me two stamps featuring pesetas - a large stamp with a 1 peseta note, and a round stamp with a 1 peseta coin.

For more P stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard. 

Sunday Stamps on Monday - O is for Obra

 This stamp issued in 2021 celebrates Selected Works of the 5th International Exhibition of Mail Art, Avilés: The Earth.

It was sent by Eva, and I was very impressed that Correos issued a stamp dedicated to this artform.

You can read (in Spanish) and see more about the exhibition online.

For links to more O stamps, head over to the links at See it on a Postcard.

Sunday Stamps: N is for Negocios

 Turismo de negocios translates to business tourism, which accounts for over 6 billion euros in Spain each year - people who travel to Spain for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition spend more per person than tourists on vacation. Spain ranked 3rd in the world for business travel in 2025. Correos issued the stamp in 2024.

The stamp arrived on a matching envelope sent by Eva.

For more N stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Sunday Stamps on M is for Monday: M is for museos and moros

We're at the letter M.

Eva sent both these stamps on the same letter:

The top stamp, issued in 2018, celebrates 150 years of the Faculty of Museum Curators (formerly known as the Faculty of Archivists, Librarians and Archaeologists).

The other stamp,  issued in 2024, celebrates the. three day Festival of Moors and Christians held in Alcoi/Alcoy, and centered around St Georges Day.

For links to more M stamps, head over to See it on a Postcard

Sunday stamps on Monday - L is for Lunnispark

 L is for Lunnispark, Lulila, Lublu, Lupita and Lucho!

These wonderful stamps all arrived together from Eva, celebrating the children's TV show Los Lunnis. Read more about this puppet show broadcast from 2003-2011 in Spain.

For more L stamps, visit See it on a Postcard

K is for Koning

 Eva sent me this stamp from Belgium featuring Koning Philippe, King of the Belgians.

For more K stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Thursday postcard hunt - Spring colors: yellow

Most of the postboxes on this postcard from Heleen are yellow.

Explore the links for more yellow postcards at See it on a Postcard

J is for JUVENIA

 JUVENIA 2023 was the National Exhibition of Youth Philately held in conjunction with the National Philatelic Exhibition (EXFILNA) in Teruel. Correos issued this fun stamp in celebration of the event. It features a dinosaur, Aragosaurus Ischiaticus, known as the Reptile of Aragon, reflecting the important findings of some of the oldest dinosaur fossils on the Iberian peninsula there. Thanks to Eva for sending it!

For links to more J stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Thursday postcard hunt: Spring colors - pink

 I love the background colors in this moonrise scene received via postcrossing.

Explore the links to more pink postcards at See it on a Postcard

I is for instituto, and innovación

 It's the letter I in the latest journey through the alphabet. This stamp issued by Correos in 2025 celebrates science, technology and innovation with the 40 year anniversary of the Institute of Astrophysics in the Canary Islands.

I just noticed that the stamp has perforations - does that mean the top part could be sent on its own? (I'm glad Eva sent me the whole thing!)

This is a large stamp and has some nice foil effects that are hard to appreciate in photos.

For more I stamps, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Thursday postcard hunt: Young animals

 For today's theme, here's a card for the Year of the Tiger that I like:

For more postcards featuring young animals explore the link at See it on a Postcard

H is for Hortensia

 Hortensia is the Spanish (and French) word for hydrangea, as seen on this lovely stamp from 2009, sent by Eva.  H is also for Happy Spring in the northern hemisphere, with the equinox being yesterday.

Hydrangeas are a favorite of mine, although my yard does not have the best conditions for growing, so I only have 2 small bushes.

Do you like hydrangeas? Apparently pop star Madonna despises them, so if they're not your favorite you have famous company :)

For links to more stamps with an H theme, head over to See it on a Postcard

Postcard hunt - Animals: pets

 Received via postcrossing, this postcard showcases Taiwanese night market culture.

To be fair, the cats here seem to be entrepreneurs rather than pets :)

For more postcards featuring pets, head over to See it on a Postcard.

G is for Almudena Grandes

 Almudena Grandes (1960-2021) was a Spanish author, whose work includes 14 novels and three short story collections, many of which won literary awards. Her work has been adapted for the big screen, and translated into multiple languages. From her English Wikipedia page: she wrote about the Spanish experience in the last quarter of the 20th and first part of the 21st centuries, with her style being that os realism and psychological introspection. Grandes also wrote several novels about resistance to the Franco regime. Her characters are not typically cast as heroes or anti-heroes, rather people muddling through as best they can. Her last completed book, La madre de Frankensstein (2020), was about Aurora Rodriguez Carballeira, who shot her daughter, Hildegart. I have shown Hildegart's stamp in the past.

For more stamps with a G theme, explore the links at See it on a Postcard

Thursday postcard hunt: Animals - On the farm

 Well, these animals have taken a moment to step away from the farm to get to the mailing box.

This is a Postcrossing meetup card sent and designed by Heleen! And it has a matching personal stamp :)

Head over to See it on a Postcard for links to more postcards on this theme.

F is for Faro

 F is for Faro, lighthouse in English. Faro has its origins in the Latin.ancient Greek Pharos, the name of the island on which the Great Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in the 3rd century BC.

This lighthouse stamp sent by Eva was issued in 2010 and features the Avilés lighthouse located in. Asturias in northwestern Spain on the Bay of Biscay.

For more F stamps explore the Sunday Stamps links at See it on a Postcard

Thursday postcard hunt: Animals - In the wild...west

 Today's theme is 'in the wild', and here's my interpretation. I received this postcard from a postcrosser living in Arizona.

For links to more postcards with this theme, head over to See it on a Postcard

E is for España

 I'm always fascinated with country names in different languages. Somehow in English the word for España is just one syllable - Spain. This stamp translates to Spain is Philately. A large stamp (57.6 x 40.9 mm) issued in 2025, I love the retro design. Thanks to Eva for sending it.

Explore the links at See it on a Postcard for more E stamps.

Thursday postcard hunt - north American city

 It's the last city-themed week of the month, and I've chosen Nashville, Tennessee. The main feature of this postcard is the AT&T building at 333 Commerce St, also known as The Batman Building.

For links to more postcards with a north American city theme, head over to See it on a Postcard

D is for Deporte para todos

 Deporte para todos translates to sport for everyone. These two stamps, issued by Correos in 2013, feature amateur running events and bicycle touring. Eva sent them some time ago. I like the small detail of a foot and a wheel on the white border of the stamps.

For more stamps related to the letter D, explore the Sunday Stamps links at See it on a Postcard.

Thursday postcard hunt - northern European city

 Today's postcard theme is northern European cities.

Via postcrossing, here's a lovely view of Prague. Founded in the 8th century, it is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic.

Explore the links at See it on a Postcard for more cities on postcards.

Year of the Fire Horse

 The Lunar New Year starts today, and it's the turn of the horse.

This stamp from Korea looks even better in person, and if you look carefully it has a special postmark.

C is for Calidad Turistica

 For today's Sunday Stamps, C is for Calidad Turistica - Quality Tourism. This concept focuses on maximizing the visitor experience while promoting sustainability, responsibility, and high-standard services, moving beyond mass tourism to create meaningful, authentic, and low-impact journeys. It prioritizes quality over quantity, fostering economic, social, and environmental benefits for both tourists and local communities.

There are 5 Cs associated with this concept - culture, cuisine, community, craftsmanship, and convenience.

The stamp was issued in 2019 as part of a tourism series, and sent to me by Eva.

For links to more C stamps, head over to See it on a Postcard

Beep, boop, beep

 Happy Valentine's Day!