How Is Your Summer? - VII

Letter sent by Catherine (France).

Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight

Enys Dodnan Isle, and Armed Knight, Land's End, Cornwall
Photo: E. Ludwig, John Hinde Studios

«For Parr [Our True Intent Is All For Your Delight, by Martin Parr], Hinde's images of Butlin's offer 'everything a good photo should. They are entertaining, acutely observed, and have great social historial value.' Parr also observes that 'the most remarkable thing of all is that the cards were painstakingly produced not for any aspirational ideas or as a great art, but as humble postcards to sell for a few pence to holidaymakers'. Commercially motivated and ephemeral in nature, the postcard does not look to the future. It aims only to please you here and nou -its true intent is all for your delight.»

James Ward, Adventures in Stationery

How Is Your Summer? - VI

Carnival Nights is a series of stamps issued on 6 June 2024. 

[...] A panoply of rides is shown in vibrant neon hues against the black, night sky. Fireworks burst from behind a panorama of lights, and a row of glittering amusement booths invite passers-by to try their luck. 

The sights, sounds, and smells of a carnival at night all combine to create a magical experience that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Whether you're a thrill-seeker looking for an adrenaline rush or a family looking to create lasting memories, there is something for everyone.

Letters sent by Phillip (USA).

Sunday Stamps | Wild West

Western wear on these stamps issued by USPS in 2021 (More information).

For today's Sunday Stamps: Western Hemisphere.

Postbox Saturday | Melbourne

Picture sent by Bree, from Melbourne (Australia).

As Seen in Postsecret

More secrets on postcards.

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Japanese Tower

This Gotochi card features the temple of Aizu Sazaedo in the prefecture of Fukushima (Japan). It is a 16,5 m high, three-storied, hexagonal Buddisht pagoda.  Built in 1796 it is one of the oldest wooden structures of its kind, but perhaps most notable for its unique double helix-shaped stairway: entering inside and turning to the right-hand side, you'll follow a singular, spiral path that takes you right up to the top and back down again without ever encountering anybody going in the opposite direction.

I got this directly from Japan, inside an envelope with beautiful stamps.

(If you feel curious, you can see all the Gotochi cards here).

-----------------------------------------------

Thursday Postcard Hunt
July theme: WAYMARKERS

• Week 1 - Maps
• Week 2 - Lighthouses
• Week 3 - Cathedrals
• Week 4 - Towers

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

How Is Your Summer? - V

Hand-made envelope sent by Fabienne (France).

How Is Your Summer? - IV

Postcard sent by Bryon (the USA).

States Project | The Grand Canyon State

A new state from Bryon's project! 

There is a lot of information on each one of these postcards. I am familiar with some concepts, mostly because of books, films, and mail. And, of course, there are always some surprises (120 wineries?!?), curiosities (World's oldest rodeo) and unusual places (Four Corners, for instance). 

Sunday Stamps | South Pole

Although they do not came from the Southern Hemisphere countries, these are the southernmost stamps I found for today's theme in Sunday Stamps: Southern Hemisphere.

Ad Envelope

Envelope made with a page of a magazine. It is an electoral advertisement, to encourage people to vote. However,  what I see is people carrying letters around!

(Honestly, it looks better in person!)

States Project | The Constitution State

Connecticut's official nickname, the "Constitution State" confused me. According to the Wikipedia, it refers to the Fundamental Orders adopted by the Connecticut Colony in 1639. But then, it is unofficially known as the "Nutmeg State",  which is still more puzzling!

I am learning a lot with Bryon's postal project!

 

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Canterbury Cathedral

This is the latest postcard I have got from the Canterbury Cathedral. I think the colours match with the stained-glass windows from the same building.

-----------------------------------------------

Thursday Postcard Hunt
July theme: WAYMARKERS

• Week 1 - Maps
• Week 2 - Lighthouses
• Week 3 - Cathedrals
• Week 4 - Towers

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Send More Packaging Postcards!

From rice to shoe boxes or coffee packaging... You can make postcards out of almost everything!

Sent from and to Bryon (the USA).

States Project | The First State

Delaware is the first state, but the postcard from there was not the first of Bryon's States Project to reach me! Actually, three postcards arrived together on 18 June, although postmarked on 1, 3, and 11 June.

The Blue Hen caught the attention of the sender. The one on the stamp and the one on the postcard seem very different to me! 

But the postcard includes other interesting facts about Delaware, like the Punkin Chunkin (an annual pumpkin launching contest) or the Nemours Estate (the largest French-style formal gardens in the USA). 

How Is Your Summer? - III

Postcard sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

Sunday Stamp | Eastern Tales

Yadori Gi
1000th anniversary of The Tale of Genji
Japan, 2008

Morality Tales: Yangxu Refuses Gifts
Honesty and Uprighteness
China, 2018

Tang monk makes vows, Journey to the West

China, 2015

For today's Sunday Stamps, the theme being Eastern Hemisphere.

Penny Penates

«The first postcard ever sent, addressed to Theodore Hook Esq, of Fulham, London in 1840, was sent by Theodore Hook Esq of Fulham, London. The hand-drawn picture on the card caricatures the postal service and it is thought that Hook sent it to himself as a joke (there was no internet in those days, people had to make their own fun). Hook's card is also the only postcard known to exist which has sent using the extremely rare Penny Black stamp. The postcard was sold at auction in 2002 for a record-breaking £31,750 to postcard collector Eugene Gomberg.»

James Ward, Adventures in Stationery

(Read more about it in Wikipedia. Pictures also taken from Wikipedia website.)

14 Juillet 1789

French stamp issued on 12 July 1972, designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Latest Lighthouses

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you might know that I have a collection of lighthouses on postcards and stamps (my only proper collections, actually). 

These are the latest I have got:

"Pingelturm" lighthouse, mouth of the Weser, Bremerhaven
Germany

Whiteford
UK

Il-Fanal ta' Ġurdan, Gozo (Malta)

Texel
The Netherlands

Westkapelle (I think)

Sent by Brigitte (Germany), Laura (the UK), Fabienne (France) and Heleen (the Netherlands).

-----------------------------------------------

Thursday Postcard Hunt
July theme: WAYMARKERS

• Week 1 - Maps
• Week 2 - Lighthouses
• Week 3 - Cathedrals
• Week 4 - Towers

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!