Happy Bunday II

 Another rabbit arrived on an unseasonably spring like day a few weeks ago 70 F (21 C) on a postcard - this curious guy is thanks to Eva

Happy Bunday!

Sunday Stamps - Winter & Snow

 Today's prompt is winter and snow, and I took a photo of a pair of stamps I sent together on a postcard heading overseas.

The left stamp is one of the four postcard rate stamps issued in 2021 titled Barns. Each barn in the set represents a different season.

The right stamp is the 3oz stamp featuring author Ursula Le Guin (1929-2018) issued in 2021 as part of the literary arts series. The background features a scene from her award-winning science fiction novel, The Left Hand of Darkness. The story is set on planet that is much colder than Earth called Gethen, also referred to as Winter.

For more snowy and wintery stamps, visit See it on a Postcard.

Happy Bunday I

 It is the year of the rabbit, and the first rabbits to show up in the mail are thanks to Fabienne.

The Year of the Rabbit stamp minisheet is lovely.

And I love the design of this flier.

Google translated the title as "The Little Floor Tiles". Firstly, sounds much better in French, secondly, maybe it has a different meaning?

Happy Bunday!

Sunday Stamps - The Letter E

 I could not have received a more perfect stamp for today. This one is from a Finnish set of 6 (A to F) called Moomin ABC issued in 2022, and promotes writing and reading. Here's a link to more about the stamps. It's a bit hard to find out if this is the first of series, however I think more will be issued in future.

I also thought about España/Espanya for today. I'm always curious how language develops, and I find it interesting that in many languages the E is dropped when referring to the country e.g. Spain (English), Spanje (Dutch) etc. 

E is also for EUROPA, an annual common theme for stamps issued by many European countries. Eva sent me this stamp, which is Spain's entry for 2010: Children's Books, that shows a child enjoying reading.

For more philatelic connections to the letter E, head over to See it on a Postcard.

Quarantine?

 It isn't often that a Postcrosser asks for non-traditional postcards, so when someone wrote they would be interested in receiving upcycled food packaging sent as a postcard, I had the perfect piece in mind.

I used these stamps to compliment the theme (and cover the cost of the non-machineable size).

I was sure it was lost, as it was going to France and usually mail takes no more than 2 weeks to get there. 

Finally, after 40 days it arrived unscathed!

Sunday Stamps - islands

 I recently received this stamp showing the lighthouse on the island of Wangerooge, Germany. Wangerooge is one of the 32 Frisian Islands in the North Sea.

Wangerooge has an interesting history - here's the wikipedia link if you're interested.

For more islands on stamps, visit SeeItOnAPostcard.

Sunday Stamps - Anniversaries

 I have one anniversary to share... the 150th anniversary of theSpanish National Reference of Altitude, located in the port of Alicante.

It is a large stamp, and quite impressive. Eva sent it to me on this excellent envelope, where she recreated a toy from the 2000s that is a replica of a 1950s vintage toy. Martian Invader Space Monster Tin Windup Toy by Schylling, if you're interested.

For more anniversaries on stamps, head to See it on a Postcard.

Once upon a time...

 Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods in Egypt.

They have not forgotten this.

Amazing pyramid, stamps and contents arrived from Fafa, with a feline face on the back!

And more ancient Egypt via postcrossing

Thank you, and happy Caturday to those who celebrate.

Trees for Sunday Stamps

 Eva sent me a very green tree-related envelope a while back. The stamps show olive trees (the four se-tenant stamps), the botanical sciences, and a famous Holm oak (Quercus ilex) found in the municipality of Zarza de Montánchez in Spain. The Terrona Holm oak is thought to be 800 years old. Even the crowns in the background of the definitive stamp are green.

For links to more tree-themed stamps head to See it on a Postcard

Caturday II

 Today is the last day of the year of the tiger, so here are a some small tigers.

One via postcrossing

One from Fabienne

And a few from Heleen

Postage increases Sunday, January 22nd

 USPS is increasing most of its prices on Sunday

1 oz letter up 3c to 63c

Additional oz stays the same at +24c per oz

1 oz letter = 63c

2 oz letter = 87c

3 oz letter = $1.11

3.5 oz letter (the max weight for a letter) =  $1.35

Non-machineable surcharge up 1c to +40c. Non-machineable is a non-rectangular or non-flexible piece that won't bend as it goes through the sorting machines.

1 oz non-machineable letter = $1.03 

2 oz non-machineable letter = $1.27

3 oz non-machineable letter = $1.51

3.5 oz non-machineable letter = $1.75

Domestic postcard up 4c to 48c

International mail 1oz letters and postcards up 5c to $1.45

***

You can purchase stamps at the current price until Saturday, however if you're buying online note that the USPS website will be down from 11pm eastern time (8pm pacific) for maintenance.

Most other categories of mail (large envelopes, packages, etc) are going up as well. Check online or at your post office.

***

These otters and flowers look happier in the snow than I will be later this weekend - stay safe if you're subject to a storm in the next few days.

Sunday Stamps - Music Makers

 I like this theme as it has a wide interpretation.

I chose the stamps I used on this envelope to highlight three individuals who made contributions to music: Johnny Cash, Edith Piaf, and Miles Davis

The Johnny Cash stamp was issued in 2013 as part of the Music Icons series. This remains one of my favorite USPS stamps ever.

The Edith Piaf and Miles Davis stamps were part of a 2012 joint issue with La Poste (France).

Head over to Sunday Stamps for links to more Music Makers

Caturday I

 A cat from Heleen

and one via postcrossing

Joyeuses Fêtes

 Lovely holiday card from Fabienne

Some fab Christmas washi tape with gold accents was on the envelope

Cat and mice

 Another festive postcard from Heleen... a blue cat and two mice in a tree... in a tree :)

Let it Snow part two

 CJ commented on my Let it Snow entry that Eva's card looked like an envelope. Eva read the comment, and in turn sent me this amazing illustrated envelope. I think the stamps she used have a perfectly matching color palette that really adds to the atmosphere of the whole piece.

A Dutch Christmas Postcrossing Meet Up

 With many thanks to Heleen!

Holly and glitter

Beautifully addressed envelope from CJ - hard to show off the glittery decorations. I love the break in the crossbar on the H.

And the tree's still up, so here's the festive card inside.

Sunday Stamps on New Year's Day

 The theme today is archaeology, and you can see more stamps on this topic via the links at Sunday Stamps.

Royal Mail issued a set of stamps last year to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by archaeologist Howard Carter. Luckily for me, as they are a beautiful and vibrant set, I received one of the stamps on a postcard.

Joy has the full set on display today if you'd like to see more.

Happy new year, everyone!