TAIWAN

Another nice Bird cover from Taiwan, depicting a miniature sheet issued in 2008 with the Taiwan blue magpie.
The Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea), is a species of bird of the crow family. It is endemic to Taiwan Island.

TAIWAN

A nice Bird cover from Taiwan, depicting a miniature sheet issued in 2006 with the fairy pitta bird.
The fairy pitta (Pitta nympha) is a small and brightly colored passerine bird that mainly feeds on earthworms, spiders, insects, slugs and snails. The fairy pitta breeds in East Asia and migrates south to winter in Southeast Asia. Due to various habitat disruptions, such as deforestation, wildfire, hunting, trapping and cage-bird trade, this bird is classified as vulnerable and threatened species.

MEXICO

A colourful Fauna cover from México, depicting 3 different stamps on topic "Marine life protection". All stamps are part of big set of 25 stamps issued in 1998.

CANADA

A nice cover from Canada, depicting a miniature sheet issued in 2010 commemorating the 300th anniversary of a painting of Four Indian Kings sent as envoys to England. The stamps, like the original portraits painted by Dutch artist Jan Verelst, show the four Indian chiefs alongside their clan ‘dodem’ (animal entity which watches over a clan).
The four Indians chiefs were chosen by Peter Schuyler, a member of the New York Indian Commission, to make the sea voyage with him in order to request England’s assistance against the French in the New World. Schuyler had a good relationship with the Native American tribes of his region (they called him ‘Quidor’, or ‘brother’), and his status in the Commission gave him the right to negotiate with Indians. He hoped that they would be able to persuade Queen Anne to give her support to the colonies. At the same time, Schuyler hoped the visit would inspire the native tribes to be allies of the English. At least, he hoped, they would not join the French!
After the visit in 1710, Queen Anne commissioned paintings to mark the event. Interestingly, the Four Indian Kings are painted full-length, a pose normally only used for royalty or persons of distinction in the military. They were obviously warmly welcomed in England, and their visit could be considered a success.

BELGIUM

A very nice cover from Belgium, depicting an old complete set issued in 1962 on topic "Birds from  Antwerpen Zoo". Euro currency was introduced in many european countries in 2002, but belgian post still allows stamps with the old currency (belgian franc) as postage.

LATVIA

Another beautiful cover from Latvia, depicting a miniature sheet issued in 2009 on topic "Preserve the polar regions and glaciers". There are 2 endemic species presented in this nice minisheet: the Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri).

LATVIA

This is an amazing cover from Latvia, depicting a miniature sheet with 6 stamps (2 of each type), celebrating the centenary of the Riga Zoo. The animals showed in this beautiful minisheet issued in 2012 are: the Lion (Panthera leo), the Kiang (Equus kiang) and the small European tree frog (Hyla arbórea).

LATVIA

A Fauna cover from Latvia with one single stamp issued in 2011 on topic "Pets - Domestic Rabbit".

LATVIA

This one is a cover from Latvia with one single stamp on topic " Literature - latvian's fairytailes". This stamp was issued in 2009 and it shows a few animals on it.

NORWAY

Another nice UNESCO cover from Norway, depicting 1 stamp with the city of Bergen (Bryggen).
Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the town's importance as part of the Hanseatic League's trading empire from the 14th to the middle of 16th century. Many fires, the last in 1955, have ravaged the characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. Its rebuilding has traditionally followed old patterns and methods, thus leaving its main structure preserved, which is a relic of na ancient wooden urban structure once common in Northern Europe. Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape.
Bryggen is inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage site since 1979.

 

NORWAY

A nice UNESCO cover from Norway, depicting  2 stamps issued in 1996 on topic "Rock art of Alta".
This group of petroglyphs in the Alta Fjord, near the Arctic Circle, bears the traces of a settlement dating from around 4200 to 500 B.C. The thousands of paintings and engravings add to our understanding of the environment and human activities on the fringes of the Far North in prehistoric times.
The Rock art of Alta is inscribed as Unesco World Heritage site since 1985.

MEXICO

A colourful Fauna cover from México, depicting 4 different stamps on topic "Marine life protection". All stamps are part of big set of 25 stamps issued in 1998.

LATVIA

A nice Birds cover from Latvia, depicting a complete set issued in 1997 with 3 different species: the aquatic warbler on the left, the european nightjar in the middle and the greater spotted eagle on the right.

LATVIA

A nice Birds cover from Latvia, depicting a complete set issued in 1995 with 3 different species: the white-backed woodpecker on the left, the corncrake in the middle and the white-winged tern on the right.

BRAZIL

A beautiful and very interesting UNESCO set from Brazil, depicting a joint issue with Peru issued in 2014. In this set we can see 2 amazing UNESCO sites: The city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and the Machu Picchu in Peru:

Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the mountain and the sea:

The site, inscribed as Cultural Heritage by Unesco since 2012,  consists of an exceptional urban setting encompassing the key natural elements that have shaped and inspired the development of the city: from the highest points of the Tijuca National Park’s mountains down to the sea. They also include the Botanical Gardens, established in 1808, Corcovado Mountain with its celebrated statue of Christ, and the hills around Guanabara Bay, including the extensive designed landscapes along Copacabana Bay which have contributed to the outdoor living culture of this spectacular city. Rio de Janeiro is also recognized for the artistic inspiration it has provided to musicians, landscapers and urbanists.

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu:

Machu Picchu, inscribed as Cultural Heritage site since 1983, stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.