Sunday, April 30, 2017

A King Cobra at The Miami Serpentarium

King Cobras at Miami Serpentarium
Venom is extracted for the manufacture of serum as a highlight of each tour several times a day.

The sender writes:
Here we are enjoying beautiful Miami.  We don't meet many snakes like this one fortunately.  We are enjoying the shops and streets so much.  I hope to go to the new Seaquarium and see the tropical fish before coming home.
(The Miami Seaquarium in Florida was founded in 1955.)

This postcard is postmarked in 1956.

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Still in operation today, The Miami Serpentarium was established in 1946 as the first-of-it’s kind premier venom production laboratory in the world.

Shown on the postcard is founder Bill Haast.
USA stamp 1938
John Adams 1797-1801
2 cents

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Farchant in The Werdenfelser Land, Germany

Farchant Im Werdekfelser Land, Oberbayern
(Farchant in The Werdenfelser Land, Upper Bavaria)
Bavaria

The tower shown on the postcard is from St. Andreas Church.

This postcard is postmarked in 2017 from Germany.

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Farchant is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany.

The Werdenfelser Land is a region of Upper Bavaria that extends from Mittenwald in the south to Farchant. It includes parts of the Bavarian Alps.
Germany (Deutschland) stamp 2005
Flowers - Tulpe (tulip) - 10 
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Germany (Deutschland) stamp 2011
The 100th Anniversary of 
The Hamburg Elb Tunnel
1911 - 2011
55

Friday, April 28, 2017

Colorful Piano Keys . . .

Life is .. Colourful

This 3-D Postcard is of a piano with keys made in many different colors.  The D, F, and A keys go up and down when you tilt the card.

It is postmarked in 2017 with two stamps, one of a cat and one of a mouse.
USA stamp 2016
Pets
Kittens 
Forever a first class rate 
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USA stamp 2016
Pets
Forever a first class rate

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Folkestone, England

Greetings from Folkestone
Photo: J. Salmon

This postcard is postmarked in 1989.

The sender writes:
Enjoying good weather.

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Folkestone is a port town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England.  It was an important harbour and shipping port for most of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Great Britain stamp 1988
Teal Blue, 14 P

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Pocahontas 1607-1907 Jamestown Exposition

Pocahontas

1607 - Jamestown Exposition  - 1907
Official Souvenir

No. 12 Pocahontas.
An idealized portrait made at the time she was in England.  Virginia cannot too much honor the memory of this lovely young woman, since to her more than once Virginia owed its existence.  And so long as history records deeds dared and hardships endured by the first settlers of Jamestown, so long will Pocahontas be remembered as the guardian angel of the colony.  Pocahontas, favorite daughter of the King, Powhatan, was born in 1587, christianized and baptized in 1612, and married in 1613.  She died in 1616, and was buried in Gravesend, England, in the chancel of St. George's Church, leaving one child, Thomas Rolfe, from whom many of the most distinguished families of Virginia have descended.  She was variously styled "the little snow feather of Powhata," the "Nonparella of Virginia," the "king's dearest daughter,", etc. etc., and bore three names, "Pocahontas" meaning bright stream between two hills "Amonate," and "Matoax," meaning "snow feather."  The last, her real name, was rarely uttered on account of the Indian superstition that knowledge of the real name gave their enemies power to cast spells upon them.

This postcard is unused.

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The Jamestown Exposition was one of the many world's fairs and expositions that were popular in the United States in the early part of the 20th century. Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, it was held from April 26 to December 1, 1907, at Sewell's Point on Hampton Roads, in Norfolk, Virginia. It celebrated the first permanent English settlement in the present United States. 

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

A Lousy Postcard from West Virginia

My friends went to West Virginia.  Al I got was this Lousy Postcard!

Graphic Design by David Nestmann.

The sender writes:
I figured you wouldn't mind a 'Lousy postcard" from our trip to West Virginia!

Nope - They are correct, I don't mind it at all, in fact I think it is quite spectacular!

This funny and 'not-so-lousy' postcard is postmarked in 2017.
USA stamp 2016
Colorful Celebrations
Forever First Class

Monday, April 24, 2017

Mount Rushmore in South Dakota

Mt. Rushmore at Sunset

Silhouetted in a gorgeous South Dakota sunset America's "Shire of Democracy" is strikingly beautiful.  It is impossible to view this magnificent sculpture without having our faith in our country's purpose and principles renewed and re-invested.

This postcard was printed in 1984 and postmarked in 1989.

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Mount Rushmore features 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
USA stamp 1988
Great Americans
Buffalo Bill Cody
15 cents

Sunday, April 23, 2017

William Shakespeare's Grave Stone

The Grave of the Poet
William Shakespeare
1564 - 1616
Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon, England

The curse set in stone upon the grave of William Shakespeare

Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare,
To digg the dvst encloased heare.
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.

Modern spelling:
"Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear,"
"To dig the dust enclosed here."
"Blessed be the man that spares these stones,"
"And cursed be he who moves my bones."

This is postmarked in 2011 with a great Britain stamp.
Joh Henry Dearle 1901 
(from the Morris and Company series) 76

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Brad Pitt on the Cover of 'The Onion' Magazine

The Onion
Weekender
March 9, 2008

Brad Pitt:
"I could rip this shirt off, crumple it up, and toss it in the corner"

This unused postcard is from 2010.  It is part of a set, 'Greetings from the Onion: 100 postcards.

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How did the Onion get it's name?? . . .

Reportedly, it was co-founder Chris Johnson's uncle—Nells Johnson—who came up with the idea to name the paper 'The Onion'. "People always ask questions about where the name The Onion came from", said former President Sean Mills in an interview, and when I recently asked (co-founder) Tim Keck, he told me... that his uncle said he should call it The Onion when he saw him and Chris Johnson eating an onion sandwich. They had just cut up the onion and put it on bread.  According to former editorial manager, Chet Clem, their food budget was so low when they started the paper that they were down to white bread and onions. This account was recently disputed by an editor of The Onion, Cole Bolton. Bolton called Mills's account "the dumbest explanation" and asserted that it is likely wrong. According to Bolton, the most plausible explanation is that The Onion was mocking a campus newsletter called The Union.

Friday, April 21, 2017

Fort Necessity in Pennsylvania

Fort Necessity
Fort Necessity National Battlefield along U.S. 40 southeast of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, at Farmington, abounds in history of the French and Indian War.  George Washington hurriedly built the stockade at Great Meadows with a small cabin inside for first aid station and storage of ammunition, for defense agains the approaching French.  Pictured also is the Visitor Center and a military camp scene which is part of the summer programs presented for visitors.

This postcard is unused and was printed in 1989.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Two Postcards about Cupcakes

I Love (Heart) Cupcakes

Designed by Alicja Mucha

The sender writes:
My name is Alicja and I'm from Poznan in Poland.  I'm a graphic designer.  I hope you enjoy my postcard because I designed it  :D

The answer is yes... I like it very much  :D 

This is postmarked in 2017 from Poland. 
- - - 
Here is another postcard that features cupcakes . . . 
You Say It's Your Birthday ...

Happy Birthday to You!!

This postcard is unused.
- - -
Poland (Polska) stamp 2016
Christmas
Madonna and Jesus
6 ZL

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

ALMA Telescope Array in Chile

ALMA Telescope

Photo by Daniil Korzhonov

This postcard is from Chile, and postmarked from Russia in 2017.

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The Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) is an array of separate telescopes in the Atacama desert of northern Chile.

Consisting of 66 12-metre (39 ft) and 7-metre (23 ft) diameter radio telescopes observing at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, ALMA is expected to provide insight on star birth during the early universe and detailed imaging of local star and planet formation.

ALMA is an international partnership among Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile.
Russia stamp 2009
Europa
Space, Astronomy, 9.00
- - -
Russia stamp 2016
The 50th Anniversary of The 
Pushkin State Russian Language Institute
 - Moscow, Russia
24 R
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  Russia (Rossija) stamp 2005
Christmas stamp, Ded Moroz
5.00
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Russia stamp 2009
Kremlins
Kazan Kremlin
2.00

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

An Amazing Novelty Postcard of the Barcelos Rooster (with video)

The Barcelos Rooster

Slide to see more (Below is a picture of what the postcard looks like when you 'slide' the top of the postcard over).

The sender writes:
Greetings from Portugal. I just found this lovely postcard for you.  I have never seen anything like it! 
(I agree!  It is lovely and I too have never seen one exactly like it).

This very unique novelty postcard is postmarked in 2017 from Portugal.


The Portuguese Sea
Energia Mar, 0,80
- - -
Here is a video of the postcard . . .

Monday, April 17, 2017

Chinatown, New York City

Chinatown

Chinatown, in South Manhattan, houses more than 6,000 Americans of Chinese descent.  A touch of the Orient is maintained in the many restaurants and curio shops.

The sender writes:
We are here for  Gloria Estefan's new musical (On Your Feet) and also to see Aladdin.  

This postcard is postmarked in 2016 with a USA Flag stamp. 
- - -
Here is one more card....
Chinatown 
New York City

This postcard is unused. 
USA stamp 2016
U.S. Flag
Forever a first class rate

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Open a Window of Thy Soul for Easter

Open the window of thy soul, and cast it's cares away.
When Easter gilds the dreaming hills, the shadows flee away.
HBG (Griggs)

L. & E. Postcard Series 2254

This is postmarked in 1912.
Benjamin Franklin
1 cent

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Friday, April 14, 2017

Route Industriekultur (Industrial Heritage Trail) in Germany

Route Industriekultur  (Industrial Heritage Trail)

(1) Henrichshutte Hattingen 
(2) Deutsches Bergbau - Museum Bochum
(3) Gasometer Oberhausen
(4) Aquarius Mulheim
(5) Zeche Zollern Dortmund
(6) Tetraeder Bottrop
(7) Zeche Zollverein Essen

This postcard is postmarked in 2017 from Germany.

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The Industrial Heritage Trail links tourist attractions related to the industrial heritage in the Ruhr area in Germany. It is a part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

(1) The Henrichshütte is a former hut factory in Hattingen and is now operated as a museum .

(2) The German Mining Museum in Bochum is the largest mining museum in the world.

(3) The Gasometer Oberhausen is a former gas holder in Oberhausen, Germany, which has been converted into an exhibition space.

(4) The Aquarius Water Museum is a water tower that has been shut down.  In 1989 it was renovated and converted into a museum.

(5) The Zeche Zollern II/IV Colliery (Coal Mining) is located in Dortmund, Germany. In 1969 it was recognized as Germany's first technical building and a monument of international importance. Since 1981, it has been the headquarters of the Westphalian Industrial Museum.

(6) The Tetrahedron in Bottrop is a walkable steel structure in the form of a tetrahedron with a side length of 60m, resting on four 9m tall concrete pillars. 

(7) The Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex is a large former industrial site in the city of Essen, Germany. It has been inscribed into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since December 14, 2001.
Germany (Deutschland) stamp 2016
Tourism
Germany's Most Beautiful Panoramas
90

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Atlantis Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle Atlantis
Visitor Complex

The fourth orbiter to join the fleet, Atlantis was delivered to Kennedy Space Center April 13, 1985.  Atlantis would fly 33 missions and would travel more that 125,935,769 miles in space prior to its final landing July 21, 2011.  

This postcard is postmarked in 2016. 
USA stamp 2016
Pluto ;-) - Explored
New Horizons
Forever a first class stamp

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Quilting verses Housework

Quilting Forever
Housework Whenever

Design: Rainbow Cards

The sender writes:
This postcard is in honor of all those beautiful quilts you made and the ones yet to come!

This funny card is postmarked in 2013.

(It looks like the 'whenever' is now!  If not, the bear would be quilting instead of cleaning).
USA stamp 2012
Aloha Shirt 
Surfers at Sunset, 32 cents

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Hotel Bristol in Havana, Cuba in 1939

Hotel Bristol

We are stopping at the Hotel Bristol.  Two blocks from the Capitol building and Central Park, on San Rafael Street, Best Shopping Street.

A Distinctive Hotel
Where Service Predominates
Compania Hotelera Bristol, S.A.

The sender writes:
This is a great place if you could drive down and understand what people were saying about you.

This is postmarked in 1939 from Cuba. 
Cuba Stamp (1925 -1945)
Jose Marti
Republica de Cuba
1 Correos

Monday, April 10, 2017

Two 3D Postcards of the Titanic

Titanic
The Artifact Exhibition

100th Anniversary
1912 - 2012

Titanic's three colossal propellers were installed February 3, 1912.

One view of the card is a vintage view of the propellers and the other is an art view of the Titanic. 
- - -
Titanic
100th Anniversary
1912 - 2012

White Star Line
RMS Titanic Ship of Dreams

Titanic's maiden Voyage
April 10, 1912


Both views of this card are art views of the ship.
- - -

I bought both of these unused 3D postcards at the Titanic Museum in Orlando, Florida.  

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Mitad del Mundo, Monument to the Equator in Ecuador

Ecuador
Mitad del Mundo

Foto Estudio Bodo Wuth / Esabel de Wuth

This unused postcard is from 2015.

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The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (Spanish: City in the Middle of the World) is a tract of land owned by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador.

The building shown is The Monument to the Equator, which highlights the exact location of the Equator (from which the country takes its name) and commemorates the eighteenth century Franco-Spanish Geodesic Mission which fixed its approximate location.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

A Horse from a Merry-Go-Round in Venice, Italy

Photo by Katri Kuusimaki

The sender writes:
This picture was taken in the 80's in Venice, Italy by my friend.  I suppose it's the Grand Canal and that is a horse from a Merry-Go-Round.

This postcard is postmarked in 2017 from Finland.
Finland stamp 2016
Wooden Pauper Tradition
A Church, Soini

Friday, April 7, 2017

Three Postcards of Bobcats (Kentucky Wildcats)

North American Wildlife
Colorado

Bobcat (Felis rufus).
The bobcat is secretive as well as curious.  It has keen eyesight and hearing that enable it to ambush its prey.  It is a small cat, wieghing (error - should be weighing) approximately 20 pounds and its 6-inch tail accounts for its name.  Its tufts of hair rising from its ears are used as a form of communication with other bobcats.

Photographer -Tom Stack and Associats / Robert Winslow

This unused postcard is from 2015.
- - -
North American Wildlife
Colorado

# 6674 Bobcat (Felis rufus).
The young bobcat will leave its range of birth at 11 months and will seek out a range of its own.  A bobcat mother has been known to abandon her young because of the scarcity of food for her and her kittens.  Its ability to adapt to habitat and diet has made it possible for it to survive from swampland to wooded mountainsides.

Photographer -Richard Stacks

This unused postcard is from 2015.
- - -
University of Kentucky Wildcats
(The mascot is a bobcat)

The unmatched excellence of UK basketball is a long standing tradition and a source of great pride to all Kentuckians.

This postcard is from 2009.

- - - - - - -

The University of Kentucky has three official mascots:

Blue — A live bobcat. He lives at the state-operated Salato Wildlife Education Center near the state capital of Frankfort. Unlike the school's two costumed mascots, he never attends games, because bobcats are very shy by nature and do not react well with large crowds.

The Wildcat — A costumed student, he made his debut in the 1976–77 school year.

Scratch — A later addition, he is a more child-friendly version of The Wildcat.