Sunday Stamps | O is for Oosterwijck

Maria van Oosterwijck (1630-1693) was a Dutch painter, specialising in richly detailed flower paintings and other still lifes.

I like when they include so much information on the stamp, or the selvedge, like in this case. According to an online traductor, it says:

Still life painter, working n Delft and Amsterdam. Her father was a  minister, but through her mother she had connections to the artistic world. She sold her work to Jan Vorster, from all over Europe, at a reasonable price. 

This is my O-stamp for A-Z Sunday Stamps.

Three Benefits

«Així i tot, escriure té tres avantatges, si més no per a mi: primer, es pot escriure absolutament tot, sense censura; segon, es pot fer a mesura que les paraules llisquen sota els dits, desordenades, sense coherència, lliurement; i tercer, fins a l'últim moment no saps si enviaràs la carta.»

Leila Kasra, Nusos entre els dits

Why Do Not Postal Services Realise How Dull These Labels Are?

Two more examples provided by Bryon. From Belgium and Serbia to the USA:

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Somewhere

Somewhere in France

Somewhere in Ireland

Somewhere in Canada

Postcards sent by Fabienne (France), Leeann (Ireland) and Rosemary (Canada).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
November theme: SCENERY/LANDSCAPES

• Week 1 - With animals
• Week 2 - With people
• Week 3 - With buildings
• Week 4 - Multiviews

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

When You Get an Envelope from an Illustrator

From Erica Fustero (PC).

Baby Wild Animals in Autumn Colours

Wise Words (VI): Friendliness Will Do No Harm

«Sec. 3. How to end a Letter

[...]
If doubtful whether to end with 'yours faithfully', or 'yours truly', or 'yours most truly', &c. (there are at least a dozen varieties, before you reach 'yours affectionately'), refer to your correspondent's last letter, and make your winding-up at least as friendly as his; in fact, even if a shade more friendly, it will do no harm!»

Lewis Carrol, Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing

Sunday Stamps | N Is for Nèvejean

Yvonne Nèvejean (1900 – 1987) was one of the leaders of an organisation that helped hide Jewish children in Nazi-occupied Belgium during World War II. She was instrumental in hiding about 4000 children. After the war she was honoured inside and outside Belgium, and in 1996 this stamp was issued.

See more N-stamps on today's Sunday Stamps post.

Is a Postal Drought Approaching Again?

(This month's update of my 2025 postal project: counting the days I get mail.)

Nevermore

Sent by Phillip (the USA).

The frightening back of a Postcrossing postcard sent by L. J. (the USA).

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Halloween

Two postcards from last Halloween sent by Heleen (the Netherlands) .

With a terrific hand-drawn stamp!

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
October theme: COLOURS OF AUTUMN

• Week 1 - Orange
• Week 2 - Yellow
• Week 3 - Red
• Week 4 - Brown
• Week 5 - Halloween or Black

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

MA Zine #2 | Why Do People Send Mail?

The second MA Zine is out!

As the previous one, just 8 pages DIN A7, printed in black and white. I have some spare ones. If you feel curious, just send me a postcard or a letter* and I will send it to you by snail mail.

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*If you do not have my address, contact me via e-mail or the contact form.

Wise Words (V): Enclose It

«Sec. 3. How to go on with a Letter
[...]

My eighth Rule. When you say, in your letter, "I enclose cheque for L5", or "I enclose John's letter for you to see", leave off writing for a moment—go and get the document referred to—and put it into the envelope. Otherwise, you are pretty certain to find it lying about, after the Post has gone!»

Lewis Carrol, Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter-Writing

Sunday Stamps | M Is for Mukhina

Vera Mukhina (1889 – 1953) was a famous sculptor, the creator of the monument Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, the winner of the Grand Prix at the exhibition in Paris for a collection of women's clothing decorated with painted peas and, according to the legend, the designer of Russian faceted glass.

The stamps was sent by Eduard (Russia) on the back of this matching postcard:

Portrait by Mikhail Nesterov

My Sunday Stamps A-Z is dedicated to women on stamps. See here more M-stamps!

Autumn Envelopes

Envelopes sent by Laura (the UK).

Bishop's Rock Real Photograph

The Bishop Rock Lighthouse is located in the westernmost part of the Isles of Scilly. The Guinness Book of Records lists it as the world's smallest island with a building on it.

The original iron lighthouse was begun in 1847 but was washed away before it could be completed. The present building was completed in 1858 and was first lit on 1 September that year. Before the installation of the helipad, visitors to the lighthouse would rappel from the base (with winches installed at the lamp level and at the base) to boats waiting away from the lighthouse.

On the back of these black and white postcards you can read: "Guaranteed real photograph".

Postcards sent by Alan and John (the UK).

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Autumn in Paris

I got this postcard from Germany, thanks to Postcrossing. I found the picture very pretty, and I wondered where it had been taken. There were no clues on the back. After a short online research, I found that the photographer is Daria Obymaha (Vilnius, Lithuania). The city is Paris (France) in 2015.

It had been posted here with the indication "free to use". Which mean it has been used in all kinds of articles, magazines and who knows what. Even for postcards!

I would like to know why the sender choose it.

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
October theme: COLOURS OF AUTUMN

• Week 1 - Orange
• Week 2 - Yellow
• Week 3 - Red
• Week 4 - Brown
• Week 5 - Halloween or Black

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Time and Miracles

«Les cartes, perquè puguin arribar al seu destinatari, necessiten temps i miracles. El camí és incert i ple d'emboscades. Si l'afortunat —suposant que sigui una carta desitjada— la rep, necessita un temps abans de respondre. La guardarà, la llegirà unes quantes vegades. Tu segur que la tornaries a llegir alguns cops abans de respondre. Després el destinatari es transforma en remitent, i quan finalment la resposta assoleix el seu objectiu, haurà passat un temps més o menys llarg. Què farem, amb aquest espai buit? És temps d'espera perdut?»

Leila Kasra, Nusos entre els dits

PC Meet-ups

Postcard sent by Jutta (Germany) on World Postcard Day.

I got this postcard from Heleen (the Netherlands), with an identical stamp on the back. Cool!

Same with this one!

This one is from a 2020 meeting, but it was sent and received this month (not by the first time). Snail mail is all about slowness, isn't it?

Indian Gods

Lord Ganesh, the son of Lord Shiva and Paarvati, was blessed by Lord Shiva that he will be worshipped first in all the religious functions and festivities. 

Radha-Krishna in a Lotus Pond.

Kali, the goddess of transformation (or so the back of the card says).

Postcards sent by Amita (India) and Phillip (the USA).

Sunday Stamps | L is for Lewis

Edmonia Lewis, also known as "Wildfire" (1844 – 1907), was an American sculptor. She was the first African-American and Native American sculptor to achieve national and then international prominence. Among her more popular works: Old Indian Arrowmaker and His Daughter, Forever Free, Hagar and The Death of Cleopatra.

This is my L-entry for this round of A-Z Sunday Stamps.

This Girl

Sometimes she is lost in her dreams...

...and sometimes she has to go down on earth, take the tote bag, and do the shopping.

She loves reading and tea/coffee, and then reading a bit more, and having another cup. And writing letters, of course, mostly with her fountain pens. Also, taking care of indoor plants and the garden, knitting or just sitting in front of the fireplace... Unfortunately, her life is not as perfect as one might think; she studies a lot and sometimes has housework or plumbing problems. Anyway, she is very happy all year round: autumn, winter, spring and summer. And Christmas! Oh, and she can fly. Do you think she is always the same girl?

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Autumn Reading

Postcard sent by Bryon (UN).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
October theme: COLOURS OF AUTUMN

• Week 1 - Orange
• Week 2 - Yellow
• Week 3 - Red
• Week 4 - Brown
• Week 5 - Halloween or Black

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

250 Years of US Postal Service (5, 6)

In 2025, the United States celebrates a milestone: 250 years of postal service. This collection of postcards have been released one a month. All 12 align to form a timeline spanning from 1775 to 2025.

5.

Rural Free Delivery (RFD) was established in 1902 to provide direct mail delivery to rural areas, eliminating the need for residents to travel to distant post offices.

6.

Introduced in 1913, Parcel Post made it easier and more economical for Americans to send and receive packages.

Postcards sent by Bryon, the USA.

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[1-2, 3*, 4...]

*Not arrived yet

Mushroom Time

Letter sent by Alan (the UK). 

Fly agaric (Amanita muscaria)

The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) seems to be popular on stamps. Last year, I got it from the Netherlands:

Vliegenzuam (Amanita muscaria)

And other mushrooms:

Inktzwam (Coprinus comatus)

Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum rufescens)