#548 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 11/04/20

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for sending this amazing cover from the Île Amsterdam! It was cancelled on Martin-de-Viviès on April 20 and arrived on September 16, 2011.

The left stamp was issued on January 1, 2009, and depicts the minerals pyrite.The second stamp commemorates the mineral tourmaline and was issued on January 1, 2010. The two stamps at the right are part of the set “Amsterdam Seals”, which was issued on June 2, 2010.

The cover also has a mission cancel of the 62nd mission to St. Paul and Amsterdam, which is signed by the ornithologist Benjamin Callard.

See also: #505 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 11/01/01

#505 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 11/01/01

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for sending this beautiful cover from Martin-de-Viviès on Amsterdam Island! It was cancelled on January 1 and arrived on September 16, 2011!

The left stamp was issued on January 1, 2009, and depicts the mineral pyrite. The right stamp was issued on January 7, 2011, and therefore was cancelled before its issuing date! It depicts the station Martin-de-Viviès.

The cover also has two mission cancels of the 62nd mission to St. Paul and Amsterdam, which are signed by the ornithologist Benjamin Callard and Romain Buenadicha resp. Mr. Callard has a nice blog (in French) about the expedition.

#502 United Nations 11/09/03

This special Austrian cover was delivered by balloon post in Vienna on September 3, 2011. The cover was on board of the Nivea balloon OE-ZN1.

The special delivery took place in the course of the 22th balloon post event, which was organised by the stamp collectors club BSV Pinkafeld. The sales revenu is used to aid the St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute.

The stamp is part of a set, which was issued on July 1, 2011. It commemorates the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

#471 French Polynesia 11/01/26

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for sending this nice cover from French Polynesia! It was posted in Arue (Tahiti) on January 26 and arrived on February 2, 2011.

The left stamp was issued on October 14, 2010. It depicts a moth of the sphinx genus. The two right stamps were issued on December 9, 2010. They commemorate the Legend of Moua Puta. It is said that the god Hiro wanted to steal the mountain Rotui, which is the most beautiful place on the island of Moorea. At the Rotui the dead make a rest before they go to underworld. One night Hiro wanted to steal the mountain, but the warrior Pai drove him back by throwing a lance at him. The lance pierced the other famous mountain of the island, which since then is called Moua Puta, “pierced mountain”

#465 Mayotte 11/01/20

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for sending this nice cover from Mayotte! It was posted in Mamoudzou on January 20 and arrived on January 26, 2011.

#448 French Polynesia 11/01/03

Jean Pierre sent me again a nice cover from French Polynesia, thank you! It was posted in Papeete (Tahiti) on January 3 and arrived on January 12, 2011.

The left stamp depicts the Tiare Apetahi, a plant, which is endemic to the island Ra’iatea. The right stamp commemorates the mango fruit.

See also posts #245 and #436.

#445 United Nations 11/01/31

This nice cover from the United Nations Geneva was posted on January 31 and arrived on February 3, 2011.

The attached stamps commemorate the UN Volunteers program and the first Secretary-General Trygve Lie (1896-1968).

Thank you, Soichiro, for sending this cover!

#436 French Polynesia 10/11/04

Jean Pierre sent me this nice cover from Tahiti, French Polynesia, thank you very much!

The two 2010 stamps commemorates the 1948 airmail stamps issue of French Oceania (Français de L’Oceanie). The special cancellation commemorates the 64ème Salon philatélique d’automne (64th Philatelic Salon of Autumn), which was held in Paris from November 4 to 7, 2010.

See also: #245 French Polynesia 09/11/24

#431 Mayotte 10/09/11

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for sending this nice FDC from Mayotte! It was issued on September 11, 2010. It commemorates the dance chigoma.

#428 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 10/05/18

Thank you very much, Jean Pierre, for sending this nice cover from the Juan de Nova Island. It was posted on May 18 and arrived on June 1, 2010.

#318 French Southern and Antarctic Lands 10/02/07

This beautiful and exotic cover from the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) was sent to me by Jean Pierre, thank you very much!

It was posted at Dumont d’Urville Station on February 7, 2010. The attached stamp sheet is one half of the sheet “Évolution des Moyens de Transports en Région Polaire” (Evolution of Means of Transport in Polar Region), which was issued on January 1, 2010. The cover commemorates the 60th French Antarctic Expedition 2010. The cover also shows the name of the 2010 Gérant Postal (postal administrator) of Adélie Land: Dominique Génin.

#310 United Nations 10/03/22

Dorothy sent me this nice cover from the United Nations, New York, thank you! The cover was posted on March 22 and arrived on March 29, 2010.

The left stamp is an older definitive issued on November 19, 1976. The right stamp was issued on October 2, 2009, and commemorates the International Day of Non-Violence.

#300 Îles Glorieuses 10/02/12

Celebrating my 300th article I am presenting you a very special cover from the Îles Glorieuses (Glorioso Islands), which are part of the Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean (Îles Éparses) and belong to France. Jean Pierre sent me this truly marvelous cover on February 12, 2010. It arrived in Graz on March 8 (thus travelled 24 days).

The left stamp is part of the set “Scattered Islands Birds”, which was issued on July 1, 2008. It depicts the Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor).

#295 Guadeloupe 10/02/26

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for this beautiful postal stationery from Guadeloupe!

The stationery was posted in Saint-Barthélemy on February 26, 2010. The cover—as well as the cliché of the cancellation—depicts a view on the town. The  imprinted stamps depicts a sugarcane.

#281 Pitcairn 10/02/08

Jean Pierre sent me this nice postcard with beautiful stamps from the Pitcairn Islands, thank you very much!

The card was posted on February 8 and arrived on Feb. 15.

The middle stamp depicts a grasshopper of the genus Enconocephalus; the stamp was issued on October 9, 1975.

The other three stamps are of the set “Stunning Scenery of Henderson“, which was issued on February 15, 2006.