Places to Live in (on Stamps)

This is a post for Sunday Stamps - II. Today the topic is places to live. So I want to start showing you some castles I have recently received:

On a letter sent by Eva (Germany). It shows Ludwigslust Castle (18th century) The stamp was issued on January 2, 2015.


If you prefer more ancient castles, maybe you would like the Château de Boulogne-sur Mer (13th century) in France. Quite an important building that has deserved, at least, two recent stamps: one self adhesive issued on June 9, 2012; and another one issued on May 9, 2014.

What about Switzerland? This castle does not seem a bad place to live in...

The first stamp issued on May 26, 1977. It shows Schloss Sargans was the seat of the Count of Werdenberg-Sargans. The castle was built in the 13th century and is located in the town of the same name in Canton St. Gallen. On the right one (issued on May 13, 1997), you can see the Casa Patriziale Russo Ticino.


Definitely, a house is a better place to live. At least, cheaper. These stepped-gable Dutch houses look really nice. And you can even choose the colour. White or blue?

As self-adhesive stamps, they belong to the basic series of Dutch Icons issued on January 2, 2014.


Really on a budget? If you are not too big, you can try this little house issued by Posti (Finland) on January 24, 2011. I know it is a mail box, but... what could be better for a snail mail lover?

Also for small people, especially if you have a sweet tooth: gingerbread houses issued by USPS on November 6, 2013.

Daddy Long-Legs

Don't you love this postcard? It was sent by Laura (the UK).

This sweet illustration is the cover of the epistolary novel Daddy Long-Legs (Be careful! The page in English of the Wikipedia contains a spoiler), by the American writer Jean Webster. The protagonist is a young girl who lives in an old-fashioned orphanage, and writes letters to her benefactor, a rich man whom she has never seen.

The novel was written in 1912. I read it as a teenager. I loved it at that time, but I don't remember exactly the details. In fact, I had forgotten about it until I received this postcard.

The funny fact about the postcard is that it arrived without stamps! (And the sender don't remember whether she stuck them).

This Postmark Made Me Smile

Congratulations TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
on the birth of their daughter

On a letter sent by Laura (the UK).

I have read that is is the first time in the company's 500-year-long history that a postmark has been dedicated to a royal birth.

Oz Postcard Project

Theme 

Anything related to Oz world: books by L. Frank Baum, films, quotations, Kansas, maps, book covers, characters, etc. All languages are welcome.

Size

Postcard or envelope 10x15 cm / 4x6 in

Technique

Free. Commercial or altered postcards are also welcome. I don't mind to receive the same postcard twice. Sent by snail mail naked or in an envelope.

This is a personal project not to take part in any public exhibition. All works will appear in this blog (unless you don't want to, of course). You will receive a piece of mail back 

Address and/or more information

See the 51 postcards received so far

What Is an Island?

Postcard sent to Anna (Poland) for  her project Every Island in the World. Please, check it: I am totally in love with this project.

This is my very first pop-up card, made with repurposed materials (box of cereals and magazine), a little origami boat, stickers and tape. See more beautiful pictures in Anna's post.

Arabesques

Envelope sent to Phillip (the USA), made of a poster like this:

The colour looks quite different, probably because of different scanners/camera. It was greener to my eyes.

Also published here.

Orange Kings and Others

Letter sent to Heleen (the Netherlands) for the King's Day. Happily, it arrived on time. I added an orange stamp of the new Spanish King.

Philip V ascended the throne on June 19, 2014. The Spanish postal service issued a miniature set with two stamps on October 12, 2014. But it was not until January 19, 2015 that they issued the basic six stamps. The stamp on the envelope belongs to these. You can see below the first (and only) I have received so far. I am amazed because they still sell me stamps of the former king,

The series of 0,01 €, 0,04 €, 0,10 €, 1 € and 2€. There is also an useless stamp of 5 €.

This is post for Sunday Stamps - II. The theme for today is Royalty, from any country (but a bonus if it's Victoria). I wonder if there is also a bonus for the King Smurf or the Queen of Hearts (on the sticker-stamps)...

Update

While I was writing this post, I received another orange king... from the Netherlands. The stamp belongs to this set. It was issued on August 2, 2014 to commemorate King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima's copper wedding anniversary: 12 1/2 years of marriage. The picture shows the king and the queen rooting for Dutch athletes. I find it quite original.

Posting Laughing Cows

This is one of the most amazing contributions I have received to the Vache Qui Rit Postal Project.

It was sent by Sheila (the UK), inside a non less amazing cowcover.

Slippers

Folded card send by Eutrapèlia (the USA). It was bought in the Bata Shoe Museum of Toronto, and shows a pair of beaded slippers from Persia (19th century).

That (and the letter inside, of course) would be enough to make my day. By the real mail adventure is that I found these slippers on my mail box the same day as... this. How funny is it?

Old & New

Two more pictures taken by Ania in Budapest, last March. The first one inside the Postal Museum; the second one in the street. 

Which mail van do you prefer? 

Orange PO Box

Handmade envelope sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

I guess it was made of an advertisement, just to show how orange is Heleen's PO Box. The  way she put the stamps is rather original, and I love especially that sweet girl.

Mushrooms & Mail Art

Because of the latest Sunday Stamps - II, dedicated to mushrooms and fungi, Heleen attracted our attention about this mail art call: 

Don't you feel like participating?

Bonjour, Bonjour...!

Envelope sent to Raphael'L (France).

Mushrooms on Stamps

I was not sure about my participation in Sunday Stamps - II , because I have received only one stamp about today's theme: Mushrooms, fungi. It was issued on January 20, 1998 and belongs to a set of endangered species. The name of Devil's bolete or Boletus satanas is quite intriguing. Certainly it doesn't encourage to taste it!

I am not a serious stamp collector. So big collections always impress me, and especially if they are so specific. I discovered the blog Mushrooms on Stamps some time ago and I became an instant follower. I am truly fascinated by the popularity of this topic on stamps worldwide.

Une Vie, un arbre

Postcard sent by Christophe (France). Illustration of an envelope made by the artist himself for Une vie, un arbre. Have you noticed the Spanish stamp?

4th Bloganniversary!

(I am saying congratulations to myself with these stamps from the Netherlands, USA and Portugal!)

Bunny Doll

Letter sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

It contained (among others) a funny Easter bunny doll. I still need to colour it!

Don't Be So Burdened!

«Dear readers and fellow letter-writers, don't be so burdened! Write, or don't write, but enjoy it when you do. It's nice to reply a letter, but there is no need to turn it into a chore; after all, if there's a message that can't wait, you can always send an e-mail. (Remember e-mail?) One of our editorial board members, the poet and publisher Éireann Lorsung, put it very well: 'A letter,' she tweeted recently, 'is not a system of debt.'»

The Letters Page 1

Black & White Riddle

Two envelopes sent to FinnBadger (the USA).

They were made of posters. The first one is from an exhibition about architecture. The second one is announcing a lecture about a writer. Can you name him?

Maybe is it easier if I show you the shaped postcard I put inside?

(The solution is here.)

The Jolly Postman

Postcard sent by Bryon (the USA). I wrote about this book long time ago, and I was more than happy to receive this postcard!

The Jolly Postman (1986) by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is a very special interactive book. The plot: a mail carrier delivers letters by bicycle to several famous fairy tales characters. Twelve of the pages have been made into six envelopes. They contain the real letters and cards that may be removed from their envelope page and read separately.

There are two sequels: The Jolly Christmas Postman (1991) and The Pocket Jolly Postman (1995). I have read only the first. Actually, I do not own the book myself: I have bought more than once, but I always finish to offer it as a gift.

Temperance Envelope

Postcard sent by John (the UK). It says:

Temperance Envelope engraved and printed by J Valentine of Dundee, posted St. Andrew's on 11th February 1851.The design was based on William Hogarth's 'Gin Lane'. / A reduction from the original in the National Postal Museum, R M Phillips Collection, Vol. IX, P. 46

I had not heard about these Temperance Societies that appeared in the UK and the USA in the nineteenth century. calling for moderation in alcohol consuming (then advocating for legal prohibition).

They printed their own envelopes sold for 1 penny or half penny in order to supporting the societies. Then the buyers would use these for their letters.. Sadly, few of these have survived since most recipients threw the envelopes away even if they kept the letters.

The Post Office Project

The Post Office Project evolved from a simple, one off assignment to photograph a few post offices to go along with a story on the proposed closing of several hundred branches as part of cost cutting efforts by the Postal Service. It was a slow news week so I decided to visit a number of them. The more I photographed them, the more I wanted to photograph them.
[...] Think about it, when you mail a letter or package it spends a brief moment in a human hand. It’s then put into an automated system of sorters, conveyor belts, vehicles and planes where it crosses the imaginary lines drawn by zip codes and street numbers. When it finally arrives at its destination it’s placed there by a human hand. It’s a system unlike anything else and I am truly fascinated by it.

Kristoffer Tripplaar

Californian Oranges

Sent by Bryon (the USA).

Why Don't You Write Me?

Why Don't You Write Me?

Simon & Garfunkel

Why don't you write me

I'm out in the jungle

I'm hungry to hear you.

Send me a card,

I am waiting so hard

To be near you.

Why don't you write?

Something is wrong

And I know I got to be there.

Maybe I'm lost,

But I can't make the cost

Of the airfare, ooh

Tell me why (Why)

Tell me why (Why)

Why don't you write me,

A letter would brighten

My loneliest evening.

Mail it today

If it's only to say

That you're leaving me.

Monday morning, sitting in the sun

Hoping and wishing for the mail to come.

Tuesday, never got a word,

Wednesday, Thursday, ain't no sign,

Drank a half a bottle of iodine.

Friday, woe is me

Gonna hang my body from the highest tree.

Why don't you write me?

Maintenance of Order in the Universe

«For him, delivering post was a mission he accomplished conscientiously, knowing he contributed in this way to the maintenance of order in the universe. He wouldn't have wanted to swap places with anyone in the world. Except perhaps with another postman.»

Dénis Thériault, The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman

The Giraffes Eat Rainbows

Drawn envelope sent to Heleen (the Netherlands), also published in her blog about Weird Existing Animals. The letter inside was also rainbow-like, but it seems that giraffes prefer the real rainbows, and not the paper ones... luckily!