States Project | The Volunteer State

This is the first of the States Project postcards sent by Bryon that bears a 2025 postmark: 2 January 2025, and it arrived on 23 January 2025 (along with other 7 delayed postcards!).

I would always associate Tennessee with music, but other facts caught my attention, like Dollywood, S'mores (without the mess?), the nickname The Volunteer State...

Sunday Stamps | Charles de Gaulle

These stamps were issued on 9 November 1971, as an hommage to French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle.

Today's theme in Sunday Stamps is Military.

Postbox Saturday | Santes Creus

An almost hidden post box in a medieval cloister! It is the old cloister of the hospital Sant Pere dels Pobres (13th century) in the village of Aiguamúrcia (Catalonia). It belonged to the complex of the Royal Monastery of Santes Creus.

I did not use it, but it is a working mailbox.

States Project | The Ocean State

There are several facts that I find fascinating about these postcards. The first one in the nickname of the states. Why Rhode Island is The Ocean State, and not any of the states close to the oceans? Another one is the variety of postmarks. So far, I think I have not received two identical postmarks (And... how dirty is this one!).

All in all, this is a very interesting postal project!

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Doctors

Nadezhda Prokofyevna Suslova (Надежда Прокофьевна Суслова, 1843 – 1918) was Russia's first woman medical doctor. She arrived in Russia in 1854, and a year later received a diploma of Doctor in Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics.

"Not only was [Jane Wright's work scientific,
but it was visionary for the whole science of oncology."
Dr. Sandra Swain, The New York Times

Jane Cooke Wright (1919 – 2013) was a pioneering cancer researcher and surgeon, whose new chemo techniques saved millions of lives.

This postcard was matched with the most appropriate stamps:

Sent by Eduard (Russia) and Phillip (the USA).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
March theme: WOMAN

• Week 1 - Working
• Week 2 - Relaxing
• Week 3 - Reading, Handwork
• Week 4 - Famous Women

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

March Drop

I had not received mail since February 10th. Two days ago a mountain of postcards and letters reached me, sent from different countries between Octubre (?!) and March.

It will take ma a while to get through this pile. If you are expecting a reply from me... please, be patient.

States Project | The Keystone State

Probably you have not noticed, but this the only postcard of this project that have the flag stamp above the Greetings from stamp!

A lot of interesting facts about this state, and important inventions. I especially enjoyed the reference to Punsxutawney. 

Bryon's States Project postcards and stamps.

I Follow You

I am not on social media, but there are some blogs I read regularly, and some newsletters I suscribe to.

Elan Ullendorff, of Escape the Algorithm*, announced the Escape the Algorithm ᵐⁱᶜʳᵒsupporter Program in February. Contrary to other newsletters, to become a paid subscriber of the newsletter, you can pay money, but also "perform a tiny act of codependence". Suggestions include sending a postcard; although my postcard cannot compete with gifts like a jar of Danish raw honey... I really like the idea of "soften the para part of our parasocial relationship".

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*Escape the Algorithm is a newsletter about taking control of our attention and finding a more human side of the internet.

Sunday Stamps | Kampen

Not Campen, but Kampen lighthouse on the island of Sylt (Germany), for my favourite theme on Sunday Stamps: Lighthouses!

States Project | The Sooner State

I always feel curious about the US states nicknames. I found this explanation about The Sooner State:

In 1889, people poured into central Oklahoma to stake their claims to nearly 2 million acres opened for settlement by the U.S. government. Those who entered the region before the land run’s designated starting time, at noon on April 22, 1889, were dubbed “sooners.”

I like that on the back of this postcard appears Mr ZIP! There is also a postmark indicating it has been missent, but I am not sure about this point. It was postmarked on 10 December, and reached me on 23 January. 

See all the Bryon's States Project postcards.

The Public Must Be Served Well

«"The post-office is a wonderful establishment!" said she.-- "The regularity and despatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing!"

"It is certainly very well regulated."

"So seldom that any negligence or blunder appears! So seldom that a letter, among the thousands that are constantly passing about the kingdom, is even carried wrong--and not one in a million, I suppose, actually lost! And when one considers the variety of hands, and of bad hands too, that are to be deciphered, it increases the wonder."

"The clerks grow expert from habit.--They must begin with some quickness of sight and hand, and exercise improves them. If you want any farther explanation," continued he, smiling, "they are paid for it. That is the key to a great deal of capacity. The public pays and must be served well."»

Jane Austen, Emma, II, 16

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Kirghiz Girl

The Daughter of Soviet Kirghizia, by S. Chuykov. Postcard sent by Eduard (Russia), with a vintage matching stamp.

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
March theme: WOMAN

• Week 1 - Working
• Week 2 - Relaxing
• Week 3 - Reading, Handwork
• Week 4 - Famous Women

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Spring Is Coming

(By train?)

Postcard sent by Yaya-Zhang (China), via Postcrossing.

No Matter of Indiference

«"Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive course."

"You are speaking of letters of business; mine are letters of friendship."»

Jane Austen, Emma, II, 16

States Project | The Peace Garden State

Every postcard from Bryon's States Project brings along many data, but also a lot of questions. For instance, according from this one, North Dakota is the Sunflower Capital of the USA. So.. what about Kansas? Was not Kansas supposed to be The Sunflower State?

There are other curious facts. It is nice to know that the world's largest buffalo monument is in North Dakota. But I wonder if there is a real competition about this matter.

Sunday Stamps | Pražský hrad

 

Issued in 2019, this stamp shows Prague Castle, the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic, built in the 9th century.

I have chosen it for today's theme on Sunday Stamps: Cold Vacation Locations. But, actually, there is another stamp showing the same view in the summer.

Postbox Saturday | New Box

I am so used to mail boxes being removed forever that I was really surprised to see a renovated one! The picture above above was taken last month, in the same spot that the postcard below, from December 2021. 

(Actually, the whole area is being renovated. And the pillar box has a new companion.)

Some of you have already got mail posted in the new one!

States Project | The Tar Heel State

A new installment of Bryon's States Project brought the North Carolina postcard. I had to look up the origin of the nickname, the Tar Heel State.

I wonder if there is a rivalry between the states of North Carolina and Georgia, because of Pepsi/Coke.

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Women Relax

Art photographer Kim Taylor Reece is best known for the Hula Haniko images. This card was sent by Lilli from Hawaii.

Lady Agnew of Lochnaw is an oil on canvas portrait painting of Gertrude Agnew. The painting was commissioned in 1892 and completed the same year by the American portrait artist John Singer Sargent.

Postcard sent by Laura (the UK).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
March theme: WOMAN

• Week 1 - Working
• Week 2 - Relaxing
• Week 3 - Reading, Handwork
• Week 4 - Famous Women

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Sad News From Denmark

PostNord will deliver its final letter at the end of 2025

Mail from Denmark, received in 2013 and 2002, from Heleen and R.