We care

Cover destroyed (partially!)

Today I've received this printed apologies request by the US Postal Service! It was my first time.

Is it common for you to get this? Or you just don't care that they care?

Naked Heart

Hello!

How was your Xmas eve? Hope you had a great time with lots of stampy presents!

Recently a fellow collector sent me this amazing picture of a heart tattoo! What do you think of it?

Hearts are the most common symbol for love, passion, and adoration. This doesn't change with heart tattoos.

Each heart tattoo will mean something different to each person.

For me, as a stamp collector, it reminds me of the 2008 US Wedding Hearts stamps featuring vines that form the shape of a heart.

These stamps are designed especially for mailing wedding invitations and RSVPs.

The stamps are available in two denominations to cover both the one-ounce and the two-ounce mailing rates.

Did you ever receive a wedding invitation with these stamps?

Are you the "I would sooner make a tattoo than getting married ever?" type of person? Or are you pro-marriage?

Happy Holidays!

Cloudscapes

Cloudscapes:
Netherland Antilles vs. USA

A fellow collector from the Netherland Antilles sent me some great pictures of cloudscapes.

The above images reminded me of a set of stamps from USA. (If any of you fellow collectors want to trade the sheet please let me know since I still don't have it on my collection!)

So which ones are most beautiful?

The pictures from the Netherland Antilles or the stamps from the US?

US Polination - Birds and Bees

Pollination stamps showing
4 wildflowers and 4 pollinators

If the other day I've said that Canada will issue one great stamp set than US sure did issue another amazing one... It's the Pollination 4v stamps set issued this summer.

Today I've received a cover with 2 of those stamps.

But the most interesting fact is that these stamps consist of four images arranged in two alternate and interlocking patterns. You can see it perfectly bellow.

Fantastic 4 little pieces of paper, aren't they?

In and Out with Halley's Comet

Mark Twain and Halley's Comet

In 1909, Twain is quoted as saying:

“I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.'”

He died of a heart attack on 21 April 1910.

Halley's Comet appears only every 75-76 years. The last time it appeared was in 1986.

I can kick myself for not getting up in the early hours of the morning when it was here last, to see this beautiful comet - but at the time i was a young mum and very tired. Fortunately there have been other comets since then, and the last one, the McNaught comet, we went to watch most nights. It was stunning so i am told.

FDC from Jamestown

400th anniversary of the settlement
of Jamestown

In the FDC above you can see the triangular 0.41USD stamps featuring a painting of the three ships that carried the first English colonists in 1607 to Jamestown, Virginia.

Do you know why the stamp is triangular shaped? Well... at first... me neither! But after doing some online research I've found out that the Jamestown settlers shortly after their arrival built a fort in a triangular formation with circular bulwarks, or watch towers, at each point. You can literally (virtually, that is!) visit the Fort at Virtual Jamestown! I'm sure you'll enjoy it... it's a return to the past in just a few minutes!

"the fort is called, in honor of His Majesty's name, Jamestown."

William Strachey,
Jamestown Secretary, 1610