Sunday Stamps # 151

We are so close to Christmas!  Sadly it has been raining all day and all our snow is gone here in the Midwest.  And it looks like the warmish weather will continue and no more snow. :-(

Anyway, it's Saturday evening and time for Sunday Stamps.  Our theme this week is fantasy, especially children's fantasy.  I have some fun and yes controversial stamps to share with you.  First, a scan from the stamp booklet:

"Just before his eleventh birthday, a boy received a letter that would change his life.... and captivate the imaginations of fans for generations."

 

 

 Yes, it is Harry Potter! [a quibble here: Peter Pan has been around for generations, Harry Potter not so much.  Will this series of books be so popular in 100 years?]

I am showing 8 of the 20 different stamps in this booklet. The stamps feature images from the series of movies - from the very first (the kids are so young!) to the most recent.

Now for the controversy.  There is some talk that these stamps are "un-American."  Let me quote from the LA Times:

"Some members of the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, which for 56 years has researched and recommended subjects for new stamps, are upset after the Postal Service bypassed that panel in its decision to run 100 million Potter stamps, the Washington Post reports.
“Harry Potter is not American. It’s foreign, and it’s so blatantly commercial it’s off the charts,” said John Hotchner, a former president of the American Philatelic Society, who served on the committee for 12 years until 2010. “The Postal Service knows what will sell, but that’s not what stamps ought to be about. Things that don’t sell so well are part of the American story.”
But after declining revenue as Americans switch to the Internet, the USPS “needs to change its focus toward stamps that are more commercial,” Postmaster General Patrick R. Don­ahoe told the Post."

Oh dear.  Well they are issued now and I think they will be popular.

Please join me with your fantastical stamps, of any sort.

Theme next week:  No Sunday Stamps, I am taking the week off.
Theme two weeks from now: Olympics stamps, featuring Sochi or any other Games.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps #150

It has been a snowy day here in the American Midwest, and now the snow has turned to rain.  I am afraid it will turn into freezing rain tonight.

I have fixed part of my computer problems: a loose cable connection on the wireless router box.  This makes my life so much happier!

We are at a milestone too: #150!  Thank you Sunday stampers, for joining in each week, and visiting others and leaving a comment.  Now on to the holiday stamps:

 

This is one of the Christmas stamps available this year from the US Postal Service.  There always is a Madonna and Child stamp, based on an older painting.

 

I just received via Postcrossing, a similar stamp from Germany, published in 2006:

 

 

And another stamp, this time from Russia, published in 2011:

 

 

You might not be able to tell from the scan, but the stamp is sparkly!  Please join me with your Holiday stamps - I hope you did not display them all last week!

 

Theme next week:  Fantasy, including children's fantasy.

Two weeks from now: A week off.  I will be away and unable to post.

 

Viridian

 

 

Sunday Stamps #149

Oh the computer problems I have had this week with this home computer!  But there is so much antiviral software on my work computer that I cannot access this blog with it.

Time to take a deep breath, relax, and share some postage stamps of the season.

Theme this week: Christmas or holiday stamps.

 

This stamp was recently issued by the US Postal Service and it's legal for international (global) postage.  I purchased a number of these stamps for my Postcrossing cards.  I think it has beautiful detail and is appropriate for the season.

 

Please join me with any holiday stamp this week.  It does not have to be Christmas, or Christian.

 

Theme next week: More holiday Stamps.  Let's space these out.

Theme two weeks from now: Fantasy, including children's fantasy.

 

Viridian

 

I am done with Linky tools, as they are not working again this week.  We will be using Simply Linked.  The procedure for linking up your post is similar, but please pay attention to the prompts.

 

 

Sunday Stamps # 148

It is the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend here in the USA.  I will pause and be thankful for my many blessings, though around me many will be indulging in rampant consumerism.

The theme this week is unusually shaped or oversized stamps (by suggestion)
My contribution is just a little oversized.

 

This stamp is a painting by a Czech artist, and is a Czech stamp, but shows a scene in Montmartre Paris, in 1856.

 

Theme next week:  Christmas or holiday stamps.

Theme after that: More holiday stamps.  Let's space these out.

 

Viridian

 

Linky tools is not working at the moment.  I am going to publish this post and try again early Sunday morning to get it set up.  In the meantime, you may leave your link in the comments section.

Sunday Stamps # 147

Brr!  It's cold, and a few snow flurries are coming down from the sky.  Are you out there, Sunday Stampers?  Good, let's get going.

Today's theme is singers.  I remember the time I had Music as a theme and I learned about Fado, about which I knew nothing.  I am looking forward to learning more this week.

I have two stamps to share from the US Postal Service.

The amazing Ray Charles, and

The Man in Black, Johnny Cash.

These scans are from the USPS, as I don't have these stamps actually in hand.  I plan on ordering them soon.  I also plan on ordering some controversial stamps!  More on that in a few weeks.

Theme next week: unusually shaped or oversized stamps (by suggestion)
Theme two weeks from now: Christmas or holiday stamps.

Please link in below with your contribution.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 146

Hello, how are you?  Good I hope.  Are you here for Sunday Stamps?  Me too!  Let's get started.

Our theme this week is bo-o-o-o-ring stamps.  Dull, everyday issues. ( I think this is by suggestion.) But, maybe they will be new to someone visiting this blog this week.

First: a stamp from the USA that we used so many times over the last 5 years to pay bills and send correspondence.  And it came in to us, many times.

You could buy this in booklets or rolls of 100 stamps.  It's still available too.  It's really too bad that a symbol of American Independence becomes boring, and essentially not noticed anymore.

 

Here is another one:

 

 

I have been a member of Postcrossing for a long time, exchanging many postcards, including almost 180 from the Netherlands.  Many of them have this stamp on them. It is a good stamp, but boring over time.

Come and join me, if you are not too bored by this post!  Share your everyday issues.  I hope to see a Machin or two!

Viridian

Theme next week: Singers.
Theme two weeks from now: unusually shaped or oversized stamps (by suggestion)

Sunday Stamps # 145

Hello again, Saturday night! It must be time for my Sunday Stamps Post.

I was struggling with our scanner today but I do have a stamp scanned for this week's theme: Ships and boats of all sorts.

This stamp is from South Korea and is celebrating the 60th anniversary of something... having to do with the navy.  Anyway, great detail in this stamp!!

We haven't had this theme before so let's see who will join me with interesting stamps this week.  As for next week, it's the opposite of interesting.

Theme next week:  B-o-o-o-r-ing stamps.
Theme two weeks from now: Singers.

Thank you for your suggestions.  I will try to use them as soon as I get some of those stamps via Postcrossing.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 144

Hello again after a week away. My conference was very busy, as I had anticipated.  This morning I raked lots of leaves, and this early evening rain came down and knocked down so many leaves, it looked as if I hadn't done anything.  Ah well, that is Fall!

Time for Sunday Stamps!  I hope I have not lost you, with a week off!

Our theme this week is the Arctic or Antarctic.  I am sharing a stamp from Latvia today.

This stamps shows an Emperor Penguin and a small chick.  More information on this species can be found at the Wikipedia entry.  Why they are on a Latvian stamp, I haven't a clue.

Please join me this week with a polar stamp - I do hope you have one.

Theme next week:  Ships and boats of all sorts.

Theme two weeks from now: ???? Help me Sunday Stampers, I need some suggestions!

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 143

It is Saturday night, and as I am sure you know, the USA government shutdown ended earlier this week. At the last second the government also avoided sending the world economy into a tailspin. However, this may all start over again in a few months.

Well, we can enjoy sharing some stamps this Sunday.  This week's theme is anything you wish.  In my opinion, there can never be enough stamps of birds.

The bird on the left is known as the Japanese white eye or mejiro.  It is native to many areas in east Asia.   The bird on the right is The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world,  according to Wikipedia.  Both these stamps are from South Korea.

I hope you will join me with any stamp you wish this week.  Go crazy if you wish!

No Sunday Stamps next week as I am away at a big and busy professional meeting.
 We'll start again on November 3, with the theme the Arctic and Antarctic.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 142

It's Saturday, Day 12 of the USA government shutdown.  I  was sure that the politicians would come to an agreement before this.  For those keeping track, my daughter's field trip to Washington DC was postponed to the first week in June.  Hopefully everything will be back to normal by then!!

Anyway, time for Sunday Stamps.

Our theme this week is cars.  My contribution is a recent offering from the US Postal Service (still delivering despite the shutdown).

 

These are four "muscle" cars, as they were and are called, beloved of young men then and now.  Clockwise from the top left: the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, the 1967 Shelby GT-500, the 1970 Chevelle SS, and the 1966 Pontiac GTO.  All had huge engines with very high horsepower, especially by today's standards.

 

Please join me this week with any car or cars you wish.

 

Viridian

 

Theme next week: Open, anything you wish.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Stamps # 141

Is it Saturday again? How did that happen?  This week went by so fast!

This week will also be known as the start of the USA government shutdown, which started Oct. 1 2013.  I do hope it is resolved soon.  Even our family is affected.  My daughter has an eighth-grade field trip to Washington DC October 11 - 14 - except the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon, and various monuments will be closed.  Apparently the plan is to go anyway, and look at the monuments from afar.  They will still be able to enter Arlington National Cemetery, though the visitor's center is closed.

Anyway, no politics on this blog, just postcards and stamps.  Yes, it's time for Sunday Stamps.

Out theme this week is Industry, interpreted broadly.  I was thinking of the following stamps, issued recently by the US Postal Service.

 

This is a group of four stamps from a larger set.  Most of the photographs were taken by Lewis Hine, a famous photographer.  According to Wikipedia, "Lewis Wickes Hine (September 26, 1874 – November 3, 1940) was an American sociologist and photographer. Hine used his camera as a tool for social reform. His photographs were instrumental in changing the child labor laws in the United States."

More images can be found at http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/nclc/.

 

And wouldn't you know, last week I received a postcard from Thailand, with the following stamps on it:

 

 

Engineering!  Coincidence?

I hope you will interpret this theme broadly and creatively!  Join in below.

Viridian

Theme next week:  Cars
Theme two weeks form now: Open, anything you wish.

Sunday Stamps # 140

The beautiful days and clear nights in the American Midwest just keep on going on.  It's been a great weekend so far.  Well, it must be time for Sunday Stamps.

Our theme this week is birds, and I am pretty sure one of my readers suggested this theme.  Luckily I received a card recently from China with two appropriate stamps, side by side:

 

I cannot figure out the species, but they are beautiful.  This postcard was sent to me from Wuhan China.

 

Please join me this week, with a bird stamp of your choice.

 

Theme next week: Industry, interpreted broadly.

Theme two weeks from now: Cars.

 

Viridian

Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Viridian61/347674418583948.

 

 

Sunday Stamps # 139

More beautiful fall weather this week in the Midwest USA. Another beautiful day today. It's Saturday evening, and time for Sunday stamps.

I apologize for not commenting on your blog entries last week.  I did visit your blogs (in the morning, before church) but then the day became very busy and I could not visit again later.

The theme this week is ethnic or national costumes.  I once again have a wonderful stamp from a Russian Postcrosser to share with you.

 

An amazing headdress, perhaps a wedding headdress?  I cannot understand the Cyrillic script.  I wonder how much it weighs.

 

Please join me with ethnic or national costumes, interpreted broadly, for this week.  (If there was a USA national costume, it would be jeans and a t-shirt, worn with sneakers/tennis shoes!)

 

Theme next week: birds.

Theme two weeks from now: Industry (interpreted broadly).

 

Viridian

 

 

Sunday Stamps # 138

If you have been reading my blog, you noted last time that I commented that my blog list disappeared.  Well I am happy to say that was a momentary burp and it is back again.

Cool weather these few days in the American Midwest, so fall is here.  It's Saturday, and time for Sunday Stamps.

Out theme this week is: Se-tenant stamps.  If you are a non-collector (me!), this means two or more stamps where the design flows and connects from one stamp to another.  Here is my contribution for this week:

This stamp came on a Postcrossing postcard all the way from Vladivostok, Russia.  I cannot read the Russian but I am assured that this is Yuri Gagarin, Russian cosmonaut and first man in space.  Also on the card was this stamp:

Of Valentina Tereshkova, first woman to have flown in space (in June 1963). This stamp is for the 50th anniversary of that flight.  Please join me this week!

Theme next week: ethnic or national costumes.
Theme two weeks from now: birds.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps #137

In getting this post ready,  I note that Blogger has changed yet again.  All the blogs I was following have disappeared from the listing I am used to seeing!  How am I going to find them again?  Some blogs I remember, but others, which are updated infrequently, I may forget.

Anyway, hopefully you haven't lost me, and can participate in Sunday Stamps.

Our theme this week is open, anything you wish.

I just received this stamp on a card from Japan.

 

It is an slightly over-sized stamp, the better to show the detail.  Thank you to the Postcrosser who sent me this.

Please join me with any stamp you wish this week.
Theme next week: Se-tenant stamps.
Theme two weeks from now: ethnic or national costumes.

Viridian
P.S. I am on Facebook too: just search for Viridian61.

Sunday Stamps # 136

Kids are back in school! I am back to University work and very tired. Despite this, let's enjoy Sunday Stamps.

Out theme this week is the post, letters, post boxes, etc.  And the etc. can cover a lot of ground.  I have two stamps to share with you.

1. a happy postbox accepting letters and packages (from South Korea)  and

2. a stamp issued for the Philanippon 2011 stamp expo (from Japan).  This is the second one from this series that I have received.

I wonder, if the USA had more youthful stamps promoting stamp collecting, if  they might attract more younger people.

Please join me with any post or stamp-related stamp you may have.

Theme next week:  Open, anything you wish.
Theme two weeks from now:  Se-tenant stamps.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 135

Well, it is Saturday night, and the chicken is baking in the oven, and I have about an hour. It's time to put up my Sunday Stamps post.

It's back to school time for me!  The children will follow on Tuesday next week. No more sleeping in for them.

Our theme this week is Wild Animals.

I thank the Russian Postcrosser who included this lovely stamp on their card.  Look at those horns!

 

According to Wikipedia: "The wild goat (Capra aegagrus) is a widespread species of goat, with a distribution ranging from Europe and Asia Minor to central Asia and the Middle East. It is the ancestor of the domestic goat."  There are several sub-species.

 

I hope you can join me with a stamp of a wild species.

 

Theme next week: the post, letters, post boxes, etc.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 134

It's mid-August and Saturday, so it must be time for Sunday Stamps.

This week's theme is mini-sheets  (or a whole sheet of stamps if you wish).
I immediately thought of this theme when I received an amazing maxi card from Dresden, Germany.  I'll just share the back with the mini sheet.

 

Wow!  Such detail of this famous painting (the Sistine Madonna) by Raphael.  Thank you  to a Postcrosser from Dresden.

 

I hope you haven't shared all your mini-sheets last week!  Please share this week if you can.

 

Theme next week: Wild animals.

Theme two weeks from now: the post, letters, post boxes, etc.

 

Viridian

 

 

Sunday Stamps # 133

It's the hot and quiet days of August, when many people go on vacation. Let's see who shows up for Sunday Stamps this week.

Our theme this week is really colorful stamps.

Sadly the scan above does not truly catch the bright red with the yellow in the foreground, and the red-orange of the building against the green and blue!  But together these two stamps from Japan are very colorful, I think.  What do you have to share?  Feel free to join me with a colorful stamp of your choice.

Theme next week: Mini-sheets (or a whole sheet of stamps if you wish).

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 132

Hey, guess what? It's time for Sunday Stamps.

Our theme this week is anything you wish.

My contribution: a fun stamp from Finland, a country with interesting stamps.

Some polar bears enjoying themselves!
Please join me with any stamp you wish to share, from Finland or anywhere!

I base my themes on what I have on hand, usually recent stamps from Postcrossers, so my themes jump all over the place.  This week I have received some great stamps and can plan ahead.  So just for this week I can give a two week's heads up.

Theme next week: really colorful stamps.
Two weeks from now: mini-sheets ( or a whole sheet of stamps if you wish).

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 131

Our theme this week is a bit easier than last week!
This week: our theme is trees.

I just received the following stamps on a card from the Ukraine.  There must be a series of leaf stamps, I'm thinking.

 
On the left: I believe is a horse chestnut, and on the right an ash?  I must admit my botany is nearly non-existent.  Feel free to correct me.

Please, also feel free to join me this week with any tree stamp.

Theme next week: Open, anything you wish.  I am tapped out at the moment.

I am on Facebook if you want to keep up with my posts: just search for Viridian61.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps #130

It is a warm day at the end of a hot week here in the midwestern USA. Let's cool down with a challenge for Sunday Stamps.

Our theme this week is by suggestion and could prove to be difficult: Birth, marriage, death, and other life changes.

Hmm, marriage and weddings I can do with USA stamps, not sure about any other life event.  Below is a current one for sale at the US postal service.

 

According to the USPS website: "Sure to add a touch of beauty and romance to wedding correspondence, the Wedding Cake stamp, first introduced in 2009, is a timeless addition to the U.S. Postal Service's Wedding stamp series. Often the centerpiece of a wedding reception, the cake has been a wedding tradition for many generations.

This two-ounce wedding stamp features a photograph of a three-tier wedding cake topped with white flowers, their green stems and leaves a delightful contrast to the cake's creamy white frosting.

Pastry chef Peter Brett created and designed the cake, which was photographed by Renée Comet. The stamp was designed by art director Ethel Kessler."

 

Wedding invitations in the USA may be oversized, and/or may include a reply card and reply envelope, making them overweight.  Therefore the higher postage on this stamp.

 

Are you up to the challenge this week?  Join me by adding your link below.

 

Theme next week: Trees.

 

Viridian

 

Sepia Saturday # 186 - chorus girls

A call on Sepia Saturday gets me going, out of my summer sloth.

According to this week's prompt: "This fine figure of a woman is either ‘Boadecea or Mother England’ or possibly Britannia. You can choose; or go with armour, helmets, shields, fancy dress, pantomime, theatricals, warlike women or big sticks".  

I thought of chorus girls, from an earlier age. and went to my favorite on-line resource, American Memory of the Library of Congress.

 

From the archives of the Chicago Daily News: "Full-length portrait of Marie Saxon wearing a devil costume, standing with two women, with three chorines, also known as chorus girls, standing behind her. Text on image reads: Miss Marie Saxon and Chorines."  There is no further explanation for this picture and I am unable to answer any of your questions, sorry.  I have plenty myself!

 

This is a post for Sepia Saturday - joining rather late this week!

 

Viridian

 

Sunday Stamps # 129

I am back from my 'geologizing' back east, and that went very well. Not so well: my dad got sick and had to visit the emergency room. I am glad I was there to help. He is fine now - just some adjustments to his medications.

So, it is late on Saturday, and time to post this week's Sunday Stamps.

This week's theme: Presidents and kings.  And I wish to quickly add, queens too.

 

Below is a stamp that arrived after my theme of unusually-shaped stamps:

 

 

This stamp from Thailand is honoring "The Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King's 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary."  Speaking of royal birthdays, I wonder when Will and Kate's baby will make an appearance?

 

Join me this week and add your link below.

 

Theme next week, by suggestion: Birth, marriage, death, and other life changes.

 

Viridian