150 Years of the UPU

On 9 October 1874, 22 countries gathered to sign the Treaty of Bern, creating the General Postal Union, which would later become known as the Universal Postal Union. A century and a half later, the UPU now unites the postal networks of 192 member countries, having realized its founders’ vision of establishing a single postal territory to serve people everywhere.

The UPU’s theme for its 150th year – “150 years of enabling communication and empowering peoples across nations” – recognizes this accomplishment, and reinforces its commitment to serve all peoples for the decades and centuries to come.

(From UPU's website) 

Throughout 2024, the UPU has been rolling out a series of events and campaigns in celebration. Among them, the issue of commemorative stamps by country members.

Bryon sent me this one from the New York UN's post office, printed by himself.

States Project | The Great Lakes State

I know Michigan is a big state but... 129 lighthouses? That sounds like paradise to me!

(See here all the postcards I have got so far from Bryon's States Project.)

Autumn Colours

Arbutus Wallpaper (Morris & Co.)

Mail sent by Laura (the UK),  Norbert (Germany) and Phillip (the USA).

Sunday Stamps | Underground Railroad

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Cincinnati, Ohio

From the USPS page:

From the time slavery was introduced to the Colonies until it was abolished in 1865, enslaved people tried to escape. This stamp issuance commemorates the Underground Railroad, as their resistance efforts became known. The pane of 20 stamps features 10 sepia-toned portraits of men and women who escaped slavery and/or helped others escape: Catharine Coffin, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Garrett, Laura Haviland, Lewis Hayden, Harriet Jacobs, William Lambert, Jermain Loguen, William Still and Harriet Tubman. Below each portrait are eight lines of text: BLACK/WHITE; COOPERATION; TRUST/DANGER; FLIGHT/FAITH; COURAGE/RISK; DEFIANCE/HOPE; UNDERGROUND; RAILROAD/USA. On the pane’s verso is a map showing the general routes freedom seekers followed and a list of individuals pictured on the stamps with a few words of biographical information about each. Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing images.

Catharine Coffin / Lewis Hayden

Jermain Loguen / Harriet Tubman

William Still / Harriet Jacobs / Jermain Loguen

Catharine Coffin / Laura Haviland / Harriet Tubman

Mail sent by Phillip (the USA). I added it to Sunday Stamps, today's theme being Headshots.

Where to Begin

«Yale tended to wait a few days before opening a letter. He'd sit, finally, on Saturday morning with coffee, consider the thickness of the envelope, and finally slide a finger under the flap. He'd never written back. Not out of spite of stubbornness so much as the fact that he couldn't imagine where to begin.»

Rebecca Makkai, The Great Believers

Calendars | Italy (II)

Sent to Bryon (the USA) and Imma (PC).

(More envelopes from this calendar.)

Thursday Postcard Hunt | The Book Loft

Different views of a bookstore in Columbus (Ohio, the USA), sent by Phillip.

 It seems like the paradise of books: 32 rooms!

I believe their slogans are true:

• A Bookstore Unlike Any You Have Ever Seen!
• Not just a bookstore, a destination

Do you think is is possible to walk this street and not to enter the bookstore?

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
November theme: URBAN

• Week 1 - Aerial views
• Week 2 - Street views
• Week 3 - Harbours, port views
• Week 4 - Multiviews

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Pigeon Post

On this envelope drawn by Heleen (the Netherlands), I am not sure if the pigeon is helping the sender to put the envelope in one of those mail boxes, or the pigeon brought it until my house!

States Project | The Old Line State

The first you notice when you look at Maryland is its odd shape. And then, that the postal machines do not like the flag stamp!

Maybe because it reflects a non accurate colour?

Like the rest of the series, sent by Bryon (the USA) for the States Project.

Out of Service

This is the mail box I  post my the most of my letters in. It is very old, and out of service since last week (probably, due to water leaks). I wonder if they are going to repair it, or it will just disappear.

Sunday Stamps | Victoria Cross

Jack Cornwell is the third-youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces.

More that the theme itself , I like the design of the stamp and the fact that you can read the story on it. 

See the whole series here, and go to Sunday Stamps to see more stamps about the Military.

States Project | The Pine Tree State

How much time you spend thinking of the peculiarities of each state until you realise Maine is the "only state with one syllable"?

I would really like to visit Maine. Because of the big lobsters (of course!), the lighthouses and, now I know, the pine trees and the blueberries.

 

See all the States Project's postcards sent by Bryon.

Never Too Busy

 Collage on envelope sent by Laura (the UK).

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Basel from Above

A beautiful view from Basel (Switzerland), sent by Ania.

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
November theme: URBAN

• Week 1 - Aerial views
• Week 2 - Street views
• Week 3 - Harbours, port views
• Week 4 - Multiviews

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Zoetermeer

This postcard from a 2022 Postcrossing meeting reached me more than two years after it was written. However, this time, the postal services are not to blame...

It was the sender who waited until she get the perfectly matching stamps!