Veel liefs!

So glad that this typewriter sent by Heleen (the Netherlands)... arrived to join its sisters!

The Solar System in My Mailbox

I should have uploaded these letters sent by Phillip (the USA) long time ago. So finally I am showing them because of Sunday Stamps - II's theme today: Outer space.

The stamps are one of the best set issued by USPS, they look fantastic in person (better than in my poor-lighted pictures, anyway). But the display on the envelopes (see in Phillip's blog) couldn't be cleverer!

Hello, Rooster!

Letter sent by Phillip (the USA) with a sweet illustration and the USA stamps issued to commemorate the Chinese Year of the Rooster (or the Chicken?) that starts today.

I have received more good wishes for the year 2017 by snail mail, not uploaded. Like this postcard sent by Catherine (France):

And this original collage made by Laura (the UK). Nothing bad can happen in 2017, with these gargoyles protecting me...

Bye, Monkeys!

I think that tomorrow starts the Chinese Year of the Rooster. So time to show the last monkeys sent to Phillip (the USA) and Heleen (the Netherlands).

When I saw that amazing chocolate packaging (by Mayan Monkey Mijas)... I just had to made mail art with it. And, you guessed... a good excuse to buy and eat good chocolate!

Phillip's arrived in perfect condition, just with the postmark upside down. But it took more than three weeks! You can see it on his Year of the Monkey blog.

Saving the World

This is not a letter from a friend, but the envelope that contained a purchase of postcards from Jan von Holleben (Germany). I loved the care put on the sending, that it was not just a plain envelope. Oh, and the slogan: saving the world... a letter a time!

Eduardo Munez Opening Ceremony

Alan (the UK) attended the Eduardo Munez Opening Ceremony, and, with his latest letter, sent me a picture of some of the 500 envelopes on display. Can you spot two of my letters (this and one of these)?

Tea & Blue Letter

Envelope sent to Laura (the UK).

(The inspiration for this also arrived by snail mail...)

The Tales of Beatrix Potter

This postcard is an illustration from Beatrix Potter's book Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes (1917), and features the amiable guinea-pig "and his whiskers and buttons very big". It arrived with matched stamps on the back, from this set, issued by Royal Mail on 28 July 2016.

The Tale of  Petter Rabbit (1902)
The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle (1905)

I confess I had not read Beatrix Potter tales as a child. As a lot of illustrators, I discovered and enjoyed them as an adult. Petter Rabbit, however, has been a very popular character since 1893. It was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, son of Potter's former governess Annie Carter Moore; then published in 1902. Royal Mail considered he deserved a special set of four stamps (issued the same day).

But also in 1993, he had appeared on a stamp:

And it wasn't the only time. Even Japan has issued stamps about Beatrix Potter's characters!

The rest of the stamps of 2016's set that I have got:

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (1908)

The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907)

The Tale Of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)

Update: 16 January 2018. Now I have the whole set!

The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)

All the stamps and postcards of this post (except the Japanese) have been sent by John and Laura (the UK).

I added this post to Sunday Stamps - II. The theme today is books/authors.

And Christmas Is Gone...

I was silly enough (or in a hurry) not to take pictures of the Christmas-themed envelopes I sent. This is the only sent Christmas envelope I can show, sent to Phillip (the USA).

Some Orange on Postcards

Sent by John (the UK)

St. James's Way
Sent by Laura (Spain)

Flaming June (detail), Frederic Leighton, 1895
Sent by Laura (the UK)

A selection of postcards for Maria's linky Postcards for the Weekend, today's theme being Sunrise/Sunset.

Joyeuses Lettres

I hope that this picture allows you to get an idea of the amazing painting work on this black envelope, sent by Philippe (France). The relief of red and gold makes the impression that some precious gems have ben escaped from the reliquary (on the stamp), and have been scattered on the surface of the envelope... 

I mean, the envelopes... I do not know if they were posted together, but the second arrived three days later than the first. I really loved the first... but as a diptych they are just perfect!

Some Postal Projects

These days I am reading a lot about New Year resolutions. And, of course, on the sites I frequent, or on my friends' letters, some of these resolutions have to do with snail mail. As my eternal resolution is to send less mail* (as strange as it might sound), some massive projects never fail to impress me. For instance:

The thousand postcard project 

Naomi is going to send out to the world not less than 1000 postcards. These vintage postcards, dating from 1900 to 1970, are a present of her husband, with the challenge of sending them during 2017.

If this sounds like something you’d like to discover in your letterbox, I’d like to send a postcard to YOU. You don’t have to do anything, pay anything, acknowledge receipt or reply. All I ask is that you share the snail-mail love by writing something to somebody else, just to make their day. (...) Simply fill in the form.

There is no doubt that it is a wonderful present and an exciting challenge. But... she is going to need 1000 stamps!

The Year of Letters

Someone (?) in Bombay is writing a letter a day during this year, as part of a creative challenge.

I am going to be writing a letter a day to people as the new year starts. If you are a person who enjoys snailmail as much as I do, there's a link in my profile to fill in your details. You could be anywhere on the planet. You could be anyone and you can send a letter to anyone. You only have to ask! 💙

If you want one of her letters, you just have to fill this form. (Even the most horrible guy ever has signed up...!)

Michelle Houts’s 52 Letters in a Year Challenge

Her challenge consists in write letter/note/card a week during 2017. If you do not know who to write to (That is not exactly my problem...), she suggests a list. What I love the most about this challenge is that the first and the last letters are for... Michelle Houts.

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*Don't worry about this: Of course I am going to reply to your letters!

Reading in the Snow

Today's theme in Sunday Stamps- II is Winter Sports... Does reading in the snow count?

Let's Get Away from It All

Postcards are a way of travelling, aren't they?

This was sent by Laura (the UK). I thought I could add it to Maria's linky Postcards for the Weekend, because today's theme is Transportation (other than trains).

It Is Cold, It Is Knitting Season

Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands)
(I published another postcard with their neighbours...)

Sent by Laura (the UK)

Stamp from the UK

Stamp from Australia

Postal Postcards

I like postcards about postal workers and everything postal, and I am lucky to receive them now and then...

Postcard sent by John (the UK), from the National Postal Museum. Ralph Allen (1693-1746) was the Postmaster of Bath. He revolutionised the postal service by setting cross posts between the major post roads. This gave a direct link between major provincial towns.
And he is reading (a letter?), of course.

Postcard sent by Heleen (the Netherlands). The title of this painting by Pieter de Hooch (1629-1684) is Het aanreiken van een brief in een voorhuis ('A Man handing a Letter to a Woman in the Front Hall of a House'). After a quick Google searching, I learned that letters appeared often in his paintings...

Snail Mail, by Hexagonwonders

Another postcard sent by John (the UK), with a real snail mail carrier...

Felix Mit Brief und Koffer,
by Constanza Droop

I am not sure if this rabbit (Felix?) is going to post the letters before engaging in a long trip, or finding the letters when he arrives home, or... I should read the book!

A red pillar box full of letters,sent by Laura (the UK)!

Ice & Snow on Stamps

The theme for Sunday Stamps II is Winter White. I have got some stamps showing snow and ice, that I particularly love...

Canada

Issued on 3 July 2015, this stamp shows the Kluane National Park and Reserve, and belongs to a set depicting five Canadian UNESCO WHS.

Germany

Issued on 2 January 2016, the stamp above is part of the series Castle, a winter view of Löwenburg Kassel. Contrary to its appearance of a medieval fortress, this castle was built in the late 18th century.

Finland

The Ice Crystal stamp was issued on 22 January 2016. Not easily appreciated on a picture,but the holographic foil printed on the foil sheet reflects all the colors of the spectrum when light hits it from different angles. (See here better picture.)

The Netherlands

Above, Greeting stamp issued on 25 November 2004.

I hope that someone could help me to identify the painting on the stamp below (I am sure it is very well-known!). (Thanks, Sheila!). This stamp features a detail of this picture by Hendrick Avercamp:

Some snowy December stamps I have recently got:

The UK

Scottish artist and sculptor Andy Goldsworthy travelled to Japan to create this Wall of ice blocks. The glowing globes of light at the heart of the blocks were created by carving at the snow with a stick almost through to the other side. Where the block is thinnest, the sun is brightest.

This stamp is the only one I have got from a 6-stamps series showing ice and snow sculptures, including one created at the North Pole, issued in 2003. Look here at the whole set; these are really amazing.

The USA

Read here more about this stamp, issued on 1 October 2013, along with other four snowflakes.

I have received the stamps below more than once separately. But this is a perfect combination for winter mail...