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07 April 2017

#AtoZChallenge | F is for Flags

The UK


Postcard sent by John (the UK). Illustration by Martin Wiscombe.

The Netherlands


Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands). This is the Friesland flag, and it arrived with a matched stamp on the back. By the way, the red hearts are not so, but leaves of a water lily, the symbol of the region.


I like the series of Dutch stamps that show the flags and important things (or people!) of every region. Heleen has sent me also the stamps of Zeeland and Flevoland (and maybe more, but I am not able to find them right now...). The background is made of poems, but you need a magnifying glass to read them (and some knowledge of Dutch to understand them!).



The USA


Postcard sent by Bryon (the USA). As it say on the back: "Postal flag made entirely from stamps and envelopes. The stars feature postmarks from each state in the order that they were inducted to the Union. Created by a U.S. Army Quatermaster during World War II.". This is an amazing artwork. Have a closer look!



And the latest stamps I have got with the USA flag:


I am amazed by the different stamps that the USPS issues every year with different design around the flag. Does your country issue stamps with flags? What would you like to see more on stamps?


38 comments:

  1. Wow, the US stamps/postmarks flag card indeed is amazing!
    Thank you for sharing the Dutch flag stamps. I'm not sure if one can see that they have been made out of words (poems or so - I should re-read them :-) )

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    1. The Friesland flag is really cheerful! I like that series of stamps. They made me look at the Netherlands map every time!

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  2. These are pretty cool actually. Like the flags

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  3. I love the idea behind the Dutch flash stamps, and so cool that they are made up of poetry.

    I like the abstract design of those last flag stamps, but I think I read they weren't well received. Definitely there are enough flag stamps in the US!

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    1. I don't think USPS has any intention to stop issuing flag stamps...

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    2. Did you know that the postmark found in the center of each star is from the capital of each state?

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    3. I had read so. That collage is simply amazing.

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  4. That Dutch postcards with poems and people - wow, how cool are they? Loved today's entry especially!

    Nilanjana
    Madly-in-Verse

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    1. Those with the poems aren't postcards, but stamps. Anyway... I'm glad you like today's post!

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  5. I loved the collection today! If you hadn't said so, I'd have thought they are red hearts!

    Shubhangi @ The Little Princess

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    1. They seemed so to me too, but the sender explained on the back. This makes a nice flag!

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  6. Very cool. The US flag features 48 stars. I tried to blow it up, but couldn't tell ... I assume those are the 48 continuous states, yes?

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    1. If it was made during the WWII... wasn't the number of states 48, then? The postcard is too small, I can't show it better, sorry.

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  7. Very cool postcards especially the one made of stamps and envelopes for the US. Canada does issue flag stamps sometimes.

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    1. Yes, I have received some from Canada, too.

      I've been trying to post in your blog (yesterday, and today), but it seems impossible for an unknown reason. I feel curious about the 2017 Postcard adventure.

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  8. I might prefer plants, flowers, or animals to flags, but that's just me.

    F is for Fascist Takeover of the US

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    1. Flags aren't my favourites either, and I usually don't send these kind of postcards. But I thought that these aren't simply flags; they have something special, and I like them.

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  9. I've never seen the stamp and envelope flag, but they're all cool.

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  10. Replies
    1. As big as you collection of street art pictures? ;)

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  11. I'll bet the people from Friesland spend a lot of time explaining about those lily-pads... :-)

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  12. The Friesland flag is especially lovely.

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    1. Yes, it is. I like the idea of having flowers on the flag.

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  13. Those are really amazing! There are so many stories behind flags, and stamps!

    My "theme" - A Thirty-Word Story, revealing one word of the story each day of the challenge.
    #AtoZChallenge The Letter F

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    1. That's what I like about postcards and stamps:the little (or big) story that is always behind!

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  14. What a fun way to find out about flags. I shall have to check my stamps for them. None that I cn remember on GB. lots for USA.

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    1. Yes, the USPS is especially fond of stamps depicting the flag. I have received quite a few of those.

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  15. So many marvelous and colorful flag stamps. I collected stamps for years, the kind that come in groups. None are quite as impressive as yours.

    Food For Thought

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    1. I don't collect stamps seriously. But I hope one day I would organise all those that I have received. It will be full of fun!

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  16. La carte postée par Bryon fait penser au tableau de Jasper Johns appelé Flag (1958 Encaustique sur toile de 103.1 par 151 cm )

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    1. J'ai dû le chercher. Et oui, tu as raison!

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  17. Excellent post! Those are some impressive stamps. It's neat when authors are on stamps. Anything that's really obscure and on a stamp is also fun to find.

    operationawesome6.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks. Yes, I like to discover things hidden on stamps. For mysterious stamps, these, issued by Royal Mail, bet everything on Earth!

      By the way, the name of your blog is... aw.

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  18. Oh that's cool, they're water lilies and not hearts! I wonder if they made them red to have a double meaning. :)

    That American flag postcard is amazing! The work that must have gone into that... wow.

    Here's my "F" post :) http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/forest-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer

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    1. I'm not a big fan of flags, but I confess I would like to see that, the American one made of postmarks, in person.

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Thank you for coming. All your comments make me extremely happy.