Sunday Stamps #116

It is still not Spring here in the Midwest USA, though it is slowly getting warmer.
However it is time for Sunday Stamps.
Our theme this week: Christian symbols, Easter symbols, or flowers, esp. cherry blossoms.

It is Easter, but I did not have any stamps with Christian symbols.  I do have some se-tenant stamps from the US Postal Service website however, which are very pretty:

"The U.S. Postal Service commemorates the 500th anniversary of the naming of Florida with the release of the La Florida (Forever®) stamps that celebrate the state's floral abundance. During the Easter season of 1513, Spanish explorers first visited the state we now know as Florida. They named the land “La Florida” for Pascua Florida (“Feast of the Flowers”), Spain's Easter celebration, and for the verdant display of vegetation that they could see from their ship.

The four se tenant stamps contain a cascade of blossoms that evokes the feeling of a tropical garden. Each stamp shows a particular variety of flower: red and pink hibiscus; yellow cannas; morning glories in white, red, and shades of purple; and white and purple passionflowers."

Hmm.  I guess there is an Easter connection after all.

Theme next week:  minerals, rocks, geology, environment.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps #115

This computer is having problems and is running slow so I will have to make this short.

You would think it would be Spring but my part of the midwest will be overrun by a snowstorm in a day or so.  No matter, I have some pretty flowers on stamps to share with you.  Remember, our theme this week is pink.

 

These, as you can tell, arrived from Japan.  The postcard was of a lovely painting by Utagawa of some geisha.

Next week:  It's March 31 and Easter for much of the world.  It is also close to the time of the cherry blossoms (Hatami) in Japan.
So Theme next week:  Christian symbols, Easter symbols, or flowers, esp. cherry blossoms.

I hope I have some stamps for this!  I am picking this theme without the actual stamps on hand!  I guess I could use the left hand stamp above.

Viridian61

Sunday Stamps #114

Welcome to Sunday Stamps.
When I picked the theme of Stamps from Ireland, or green stamps, in honor of St. Patrick's day, I was sure I had a recent card from a Postcrosser in Ireland, and I would find it in the photo album I use to store my postcards, and just scan the stamp.  No such luck!  So I have for you today a green stamp, but for the Christmas season.

I should also remember that St. Patrick's day is not such a big deal in other parts of the world.  March 17 is indeed the Saint's day for St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but honestly you would think he is the patron saint of this part of the midwest USA, and especially the college I work for.  Unless there is a patron saint of basketball (is there??)

So maybe you can find a green stamp, such as this one from Belarus.

Viridian

Theme next week: continuing the color theme - let's go pink.

Sunday Stamps # 113

Oh my, Saturday night is getting on! It's time for me to get ready for Sunday Stamps.

Today involved family birthdays and a little shopping, so I am little late but still plugging along.

Today's theme: Abstract designs.

This was by suggestion but I knew I could do this when I saw the new higher denomination stamps on the US Postal Service website:

According to the Postal Service: "The One Dollar Waves of Color stamp shows variously colored undulating lines against a white background. A portion of the left side of the stamp provides white space to display the numeral 1. The stamp also includes its denomination written out as One Dollar. In order to suggest its status as a high-denomination issue, this stamp benefits from a highly detailed printing process that creates dense, abstract patterns similar to an engraved bank currency. ... Art director Antonio Alcalá and designer Michael Dyer created these unusual and handsome stamps which were printed using offset lithography and intaglio processes."

There are similar stamps for $2, $5 and $10 denominations.

This may be a more difficult theme to follow, but do look through your collection - you may be surprised.  Please add your link below.

Theme next week:  Stamps from Ireland, or green stamps, in honor of St. Patrick's day.

Viridian

Sunday Stamps # 112

Welcome again to Sunday Stamps!  It's a gray day with a few snow flurries here in the Midwest USA.  Where are you Sun?  Maybe you have better weather where you are.

Our theme this week is open, anything you wish.  I have for you  some stamps I just purchased at the Post Office - and the scan is from them too.

The stamp is much smaller of course and much of the detail is not visible.  From the US Postal Service: "In 2013, the U.S. Postal Service introduces Global Forever®, a new international rate stamp. The Global Forever® stamp offers a single price for any First-Class Mail International 1-ounce letter to any country in the world. For the January 27, 2013, price change, the Global Forever® stamp may also be used to mail a 2-ounce letter to Canada.

This stamp features a rendering of Earth composed of images created from satellite data and redesigned with 3D computer technology. The view of our planet shows the Atlantic Ocean flanked by the Americas, Africa, and part of northern Europe. In the stamp art, the globe is isolated on a white background. The shape of the stamp is round. The text, which surrounds the image of Earth, includes the words “Global Forever.”

Artist Leonello Calvetti used a variety of maps, primarily from NASA, to create his design. With 3D computer technology he was able to modify depth, vary color, and create subtle light and shadow details on terrain surfaces to achieve a high level of photorealism while also attaining something new. “I always have been fascinated by space and what astronauts could see from out there,” Calvetti says. “As an artist, an illustrator, I wanted to make my own representation of the Earth.” "

I do not know if the US has issued a round stamp before - if so they are uncommon.  The Postage rate for international letters or postcards is $1.10 now, for the moment, up from $1.05 last year.

I bought two sheets of these stamps for my Postcrossing postcards.  I am number 49 for the USA - pretty good considering the number of active Postcrossers in this country.  However my postage bill is pretty large each month!  I love receiving mail from all around the world, and I feature some of the stamps here each week.  I may have to cut back a bit.  I have been a Postcrossing member for 4 years, and I don't think I will stop completely.  It's getting harder to find postcards too.  I recently stopped in at a truck stop (!) to find State postcards.  My local grocery store and big box stores (including Walmart) have stopped carrying any type of postcard.

Anyway.  It's time for me to ask you to share a stamp on anything you wish, and link up below.

Theme next week (by suggestion): abstract designs.

Viridian