Hanseatic City of Königsberg | Prussia

Postcard

Kaliningrad is a seaport city and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania. Before WWII Kaliningrad was the East Prussian city of Königsberg. After World War II Königsberg was placed under Soviet administration and renamed Kaliningrad.

During World War II the city of Königsberg was largely destroyed by a British bombing attack and the Soviet offensive. Here you see a picture from the same point of view as on the postcard.

Königsberg joined the Hanseatic League in 1340 and developed into an important port for the south-eastern Baltic region.

t Huys Optenoord in Hanseatic City Doesburg | Netherlands

Postcard

Doesburg is a small city in the eastern part of The Netherlands, situated on the right bank of the river IJssel. Doesburg was granted city rights in 1237. Even today the medieval street-pattern is still completely intact. 

The city center has 150 listed monuments, reflecting Doesburg’s rich history. One of these monuments is t Huys Optenoord. Doesburg is one of the seven Dutch ‘Hanzesteden’ (Hanseatic Towns) situated along the river ‘IJssel’. 

Stamp

Part of a large series of stamps with flowers and butterflies.

Hanseatic City of Toruń | Poland

Postcard

Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The city is located in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. It is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. The old town of Toruń is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 1280 the city joined the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns.

One of the smallest primates: Philippine Tarsier

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Tarsiers are primates (a group including lemurs, monkeys, apes and humans) found only in the islands of Southeast Asia. 

The Philippine Tarsier can be found in the southeastern part of the archipelago, particularly on the islands of Bohol. It measures only about 85 to 160 mm (3.35 to 6.30 inches) in height, making it one of the smallest primates. 

Stamp

Bandera newspaper 25th Anniversary commemorative stamp. 

Common Brushtail Possum | Australia

Postcard

Common Brushtail Possums live in urban areas, forests and woodlands all over Australia. These possums were introduced to New Zealand in the 1830s but are considered a pest there. While in Australia it is a protected species.

 

Stamp

This stamp commemorates the founding of the first "official" settlement in Victoria at Portland by the Henty family, on the 19 November, 1834. The stamp shows the Leadbeater's Possum, only to be found in Victoria. (issue 1984)

Thx Steve!

Tkon village, Pašman island | Croatia

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Tkon is a typical fishing village and port, located on the island of Pašman, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia.  Pašman is surrounded by the islands Ugljan, Iž, Dugi otok and Kornati. It is the 12th island in Croatian archipelago by land area.

The uninhabited islets surrounding Pašman island are frequented by bottlenose dolphins.

Ngalawa boat on the shore of Pangani river | Tanzania

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Pangani River is located in northeastern Tanzania. Ngalawas are sailingboats (actually canoes) with a double outrigger for stability and a triangular sail. Used for short distance transport of goods or people or serving as a fishing boat.

View from Thethi | Albania

Postcard

Theth is a community in northern Albania, located at the centre of the Theth National Park. Surrounded by the Albanian Alps the area has wonderful landscapes with waterfalls, caves and canyons.

Stamp

The stamps on the left is part of a series of 4 stamps titled Cultural Heritage Day.

September 29 marks the National Day of Cultural Heritage in Albania. The day to commemorate restorers, architects, researchers, and scientists, folklore handlers and handicraftsmen, who have contributed in shaping and studying Albanian heritage.

The stamp on the right is part of a set of four stamps about antique silver, issued 2011.

Luanda, the Capital of Angola

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Luanda is the capital and largest city in Angola with about 6 million inhabitants. The city is the world's most expensive city for expatriates because of the high cost of rent, imported goods and security.

Stamp

This is actually a prepaid postcard. Maianga is one of the six municipalities of the administrative division of the province of Luanda.

The Ruins at Sarmizegetusa | Romania

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About 2,000 years ago the Roman Empire spread its territories towards eastern Europe. Sarmizegetusa Regia was the capital of the Roman Province of Dacia, located in today’s Romania.

Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains is an UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Stamps

Both stamps are part of a series of six stamps issued in 2013: “Flowers Clock”. Each stamp shows a flower and its blooming time on the clock featured on the stamp.    

Picture-Postcard Perfect: Hallstatt | Austria

Postcard

Hallstatt is one of Austria's most picturesque villages. It is located in the Salzkammergut in the upper part of the country. This region has been inhabited for thousands of years because of the salt mining.

Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Big 5 of South Africa

Postcard

The "Big 5" refers to the African Cape buffalo, lion, rhino, leopard and elephant. The origin of the Big Five is at the beginning of the twentieth century. The white settlers went on hunting safaris. The Big Five refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot! The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved.  

Here you see similar cards sent from Tanzania and Lesotho.

Stamp

Critically endangered birds, the Taita Falcon. Part of a set of 5 stamps, issued 2014. 

Baranof Island, Alaska | USA

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Baranof Island is an island in the northern Alexander Archipelago in Alaska. The island was named after Alexander Andreyevich Baranov, the first governor of Russian America. Baranov Island was the center of Russian activity in North America during the period from 1804–1867.

Located on Baranof Island, Sitka was once the capital of Russian America and the fur-trading center of Alaska. Russian America was the name of the Russian colonial possessions in the Americas. In 1867 Russia sold its last remaining possessions to the United States. 

Ai-Petri Mountains Cable Car in Crimea

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Ai-Petri is a peak in the Crimean Mountains. There is a Cable Car that takes passengers to the main area in Ai-Petri. The upper station is located at an altitude of 1153 meters and offers spectacular views of the southern coast of Crimea. 

 

The peak is actually the weathered remains of a huge coral reef formed millions of years ago, when this area was under the sea.

Stamps

On the left you see “Swallow’s Nest”, a castle built in the late XIX century near Yalta, in the South of Crimea.