#554 Cambodia 12/02/25

Thanks, Juris, for sending this nice cover from Cambodia! It was posted in Phnom Penh on February 25 and arrived on March 12, 2012.

The left stamp is part of the set “Ancient Locomotives”, which was issued on August 17, 1995. It depicts the 1937 Norris steam locomotive model “Lafayette”.

The middle stamp is part of the definitive set “Rice Cultivation”, which was issued on 1 March 2000, and the right stamp is a definitive of 1997.

See also: #131 Cambodia 09/02/28

#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

#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

#513 Russia 10/10/27

Alexander sent me this nice letter from Russia, thank you! It was posted in Kolomna on October 27, 2010.

The attached stamps are part of the set “50th Anniversary of Nuclear Russian Navy”, which was issued on June 18, 2009. It depicts the nuclear icebreaker “Lenin“.

See also: #459 Russia 10/10/27

#510 Oman 11/10/29

M. sent me this nice cover from Oman, thank you! It was posted in Muscat on October 29 and arrived on November 3, 2011.

The left stamp commemorates the 2nd Asian Beach Games, which were held in Muscat in December 2010. The right stamp is part of the set “Omani Vessels” and depicts a Sambuk.

#507 USA 11/07/28

AW Welch sent me these nice FDCs from the USA. They were issued and posted on July 28 and arrived on September 7, 2011.

The FDC and stamps commemorate the US Merchant Marine and depict a container ship, a clipper ship, a liberty ship, and an auxiliary steam ship.

#504 Turkey 11/06/03

Vural sent me this nice cover from Turkey, thank you! It was posted in Kuşadası on June 3 and arrived on June 8, 2011.

The left stamp is part of a set of 4 stamps and depicts a lily flower. The set was issued on February 7, 2011.

The right stamp was issued on September 2, 2010. It commemorates the Japan Year 2010 and depicts the frigate “Ertuğrul“, which visited Japan in 1890.

#500 Russia 11/06/29

The 500th cover, which I present, is a very special one. It is the official mail, which was on board of the Gagarin anniversary rocket RSM-54.

The rocket flight took place on June 29, 2011. The cover shows the blue boarding cancellation, the red space mail cancellation, and the cancellations of the start in Severomorsk (Северомо́рск) and landing in Viluchinsk (Вилючинск).

The stamp commemorates the 75th anniversary of the birth of Yuri. A. Gagarin (1934-1968). It was issued on March 6, 2009.

Less than 2000 copies of this cover were transported by the rocket.

#497 South Africa 11/08/26

Marten sent me this nice letter from South Africa, thank you! It was posted in Gillits on August 26 and arrived on September 12, 2011.

The top stamp commemorates the flight of the airplane Silver Queen (a Vickers Vimy) from London to Cape Town in 1920 (info here).

#492 Georgia 10/08/01

Thank you, Khatuna, for sending this nice cover from Georgia! It was posted in Tbilisi on August 1 and arrived on August 9, 2010.

Khatuna attached 8 different stamps commemorating theatres of the Caucasian region: the drama theatres of Kutaisi, Tskhinvali, Tbilisi, Sukhumi, and Batumi; and the Academic Theatre and Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi.

The two left stamps were issued on December 11, 2000, and commemorates the Georgian-Russian Reflector Project.

#483 Singapore 09/12/09

Thank you, Jean Pierre, for sending this beautiful cover from Singapore! It was posted on December 9, 2009.

The cover consists of a postal stationery and four stamps. The two stamps on the left were issued on January 9, 2008. They commemorate the Singapore Changi Airport. The two middle stamps are part of the mini-sheet, which I already described in this article. It was issued on October 28, 2009.

#479 Malaysia 10/11/10

Khor Kok Keong sent me this beautiful FDC from Malaysia, thank you! It was issued and posted on November 10 and arrived on November 18, 2010.

The stamps are entitled “WAU technology”, “Songket weaves Multimedia Magic”, “Basket of Bio Wealth”, and “Crafting Malaysia’s Skyline”.

#470 Turkey 11/03/17

Vural sent me this nice cover from Turkey, thank you! It was posted in Nazilli on March 17.

The left 2011 stamp depicts a flower of the lilium genus. The right stamp is part of the set “The Sultan’s Boats”, which was issued on June 14, 2010.

#462 Hong Kong 10/09/28

Brian sent me this nice first day cover from Hong Kong, thank you! It was posted on October 5 (postmark on back) and arrived on October 11, 2010.

The stamp was issued on September 28, 2010. It commemorates the “Centenary of Railway Service in Hong Kong”.

#459 Russia 10/10/27

Alexandr sent me this nice cover from Kolomna, Russia, thank you!

The stamp is part of the set “50th Anniversary of Nuclear Russian Navy”, which was issued on June 18, 2009. It depicts an atomic ice breaker.