#553 France 11/07/01

Roland sent me this nice FDC from France, thank you! It was issued and posted in Paris on July 1 and arrived on July 4, 2011.

The stamp and cancellation commemorates the 2011 World Judo Championship, which was held in Paris from August 23 to 28, 2011.

#544 Russia 11/07/15

Thank you, Tanya, for sending this nice cover from Moscow (Москва́), Russia! It was posted on July 15 and arrived on July 25, 2011.

The top left stamp is part of the set “Old Carriages”, which was issued on July 25, 2002. It depicts a closed sleigh of Moscow 1732.

The top middle stamp was issued on September 26, 2007. It is part of the joint issue set Russia/PDR Korea and depicts the flower Gladiolus gandavensis.

The stamp top right is part of the bridges set (issued on November 28, 2008) and commemorates the Zhivopisnyi Bridge (Живописный Мост) across Moskva River.

The two definitives on the left were issued on August 29, 2008, and depicts a hare and a fox. The bottom middle stamp is part of the beetles set and depicts a Lucanus cervus. It was issued on July 22, 2003.

Finally, the last stamp commemorates the 1946 bicycle ZiCh-1 (ЗиЧ-1). This bicycle stamp set was issued on December 11, 2008.

See also: Russia 08/11/28

#543 Estonia 10/11/01

Janek sent me this nice cover from Estonia, thank you! It was posted in Saue on November 1 and arrived on November 4, 2010.

The left stamp was issued in 1994 and depicts the Urvaste Church.

The right stamp is the EUROPA 2004 stamp, which was issued on May 4, 2004.

#541 Latvia 11/04/08

Juris sent me this nice FDC from Latvia, thank you! It was issued and posted on April 8.

The cover commemorates the philatelic exhibition Baltica 2001, which was held from September 14 to 16, 2001.

The stamp is part of the 2011 EUROPA stamp set.

#540 Poland 12/02/27

Thank you, Roman, for sending this beautiful cover from Poland! It was posted on February 27 in Kraków and arrived on March 1, 2012.

The cover and cancel commemorate the 11th Nationwide Week of Cystic Fibrosis and the MATIO foundation.

The left stamp is part of the set “Polish People around the World”, which was issued on August 29, 2011. It depicts the alchemist Michał Sędziwój (1566-1636).

The right stamp was issued on February 28, 2011. It commemorates the National Day of Cystic Fibrosis.

#539 Latvia 11/05/05

Thank you, Juris, for sending this beautiful FDC from Latvia! It was posted and issued on May 5 and arrived on May 9, 2011.

The cover commemorates proclamation of Latvian independence on November 18, 1918. The stamp is part of a set, which commemorates the Struve geodetic arch.

#537 Armenia 09/??/??

Thanks to my friend collector in Armenia for sending this nice FDC! The stamps and FDC was issued on December 14, 2007, but the cover was posted in 2009.

The stamp set is an Armenian-Greek joint issue. The stamps depict sculptures of the goddesses Aphrodite (left) and Anahit (right).

#536 Poland 11/09/22

Thank you, Kazimierz, for sending this beautiful FDC from Poland! It was posted in Tarnobrzeg on September 22 and arrived on October 6, 2011.

The FDC and stamps are entitled “Traces of Karol Wojtyła” (Pope John Paul II) and commemorate the village Niegowić.

See also: #130 Poland 08/12/24

#535 Serbia 10/12/02

S. Marković sent me this nice cover from Serbia, thank you! It was posted in Niš (Ниш) on December 2 and arrived on December 7, 2010.

The 2009 stamp and cover commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Čegar. The images depict the Serbian commander Stevan Sinđelić (Стеван Синђелић; 1770-1809), who lost his life in this battle against the Ottoman Empire.

#534 Germany 12/01/24

Thank you, Simon, for sending this very nice cover from Hamburg, Germany! It was posted on January 24 and arrived on January 26, 2012.

The cover is a postal stationery, which was issued on May 4, 2006. It commemorates the 800th anniversary of the Godesburg. This German castle was founded on October 15, 1210. The cover depicts an aquatint print by Friedrich Salathé reproducing a painting by Karl Bodmer (1809-1893).

#532 France 11/11/17

Thank you, Thomas, for sending this nice cover from France! It was posted at Paris-Louvre on November 17 and arrived on November 21, 2011.

The left stamps are part of the definitive set, which was issued on November 9, 2009. The right stamp is the 2011 EUROPA stamp (issued on May 9).

#530 France 11/06/15

On June 21, 2011, I received this nice cover from Montpellier, France. It was posted on June 15 and the three stamps are part of the set “Purebred Dogs”, which was issued on May 2, 2011. They commemorate the dog breeds German Shepherd Dog (Berger Allemand), Labrador Retriever, and poodle (caniche).

#529 France 11/02/26

Thank you, Eric, for sending this beautiful first day cover from France! It was issued and posted on February 26 and arrived on March 8, 2011.

The mini-sheet and the two stamps commemorate the Stamp Day 2011. They are part of a set of 12 designs.

#527 Åland 11/07/21

John sent me this nice cover from the Åland Islands, thank you very much! It was posted in Mariehamn on July 21 and arrived on July 25, 2011.

The stamps are part of the set “Passenger ferries” and depict the ferries S/S Viking, M/S Alandia, and M/S Apollo. The left stamp was issued on June 1, 2009, and the two right stamps on February 1, 2011.

See also: #488 Åland 11/07/21

#526 France 11/05/28

Thank you, Jean-Pierre, for sending this nice FDC from France! It was posted in Rouen on May 28 and arrived on June 1, 2011.

The stamp set commemorates the regional festivals and traditions “La Saint Nicholas“  and “Le mariage de l’ami Fritz” (The Marriage of L’ami Fritz).