P. R. CHINA

ARMENIA

This cover came from Armenia and depicts a joint issue with Russia issued in 2022. The blue stamp on the left shows a picture of Armyanskaya Apostolskaya Ekateriny armenian apostolic church, in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. Called The 'Venice of the North', St. Petersburg, with its numerous canals and more than 400 bridges, is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. Later known as Leningrad (in the former USSR), the city is closely associated with the October Revolution. Its architectural heritage reconciles the very different Baroque and pure neoclassical styles, as can be seen in the Admiralty, the Winter Palace, the Marble Palace and the Hermitage. Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments is the name used by UNESCO when it collectively designated the historic core of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, as well as buildings and ensembles located in the immediate vicinity as a World Heritage Site in 1991. The site was recognised for its architectural heritage, fusing Baroque, Neoclassical, and traditional Russian-Byzantine influences.

LITHUANIA

This cover from Lithuania depicts a miniature sheet showing a historical building in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. The Old Town of Vilnius, one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe, has an area of 3.59 square kilometres. It encompasses 74 quarters, with 70 streets and lanes numbering 1487 buildings with a total floor area of 1,497,000 square meters. It was founded by the Lithuanian Grand Duke and King of Poland Jogaila in 1387 on the Magdeburg rights the oldest part of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, it had been developed over the course of many centuries, and has been shaped by the city's history and a constantly changing cultural influence. It is a place where some of Europe's greatest architectural styles—gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical—stand side by side and complement each other. There are many Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox churches, residential houses, cultural and architectural monuments, museums in the Old Town. In 1994 the Vilnius Old Town was included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its universal value and originality. It has been recognised as one of the most beautiful cities of the Old Continent that also has the largest baroque Old Town in the whole of Eastern and Central Europe.

POLAND

EAST TIMOR (TIMOR LESTE)

SLOVAKIA

EUROPA 2023 from Slovakia

P. R. CHINA

This cover fom China depicts 5 stamps of same type celebrating the World Heritage Site South China Karst. The South China Karst, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since June 2007, spans the provinces of Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan. It is noted for its karst features and landscapes as well as rich biodiversity. The site comprises seven clusters Phase I: Libo Karst, Shilin Karst, and Wulong Karsit nscribed in 2007, and Phase II: Guilin Karst, Shibing Karst, Jinfoshan Karst, and Huanjiang Karst inscribed in 2014. UNESCO describes the South China Karst as "unrivalled in terms of the diversity of its karst features and landscapes.

SPAIN

This cover came from Spain and depicts a miniature sheet issued in 2023 celebrating the Old Town of Cáceres, an historic walled city in Spain. Cáceres was declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO in 1986 because of the city's blend of Roman, Moorish, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture. Thirty towers from the Islamic period still stand in Cáceres, of which the Torre del Bujaco is the most famous. There have been settlements near Cáceres since prehistoric times. Evidence of this can be found in the caves of Maltravieso and El Conejar. The city was founded by the Romans in 25 BC. The Old Town (Parte Antigua) still has its ancient walls; this part of town is also well known for its multitude of storks' nests. The walls contain a medieval town setting with no outward signs of modernity, which is why many television shows and films have been shot there.

BELARUS

MAURITIUS

This cover came from Mauritius, depicting 4 different stamps and featuring a joint issue Mauritius-China with pictures of 2 World Heritage Sites: Le Morne Cultural Landscape in Mauritius and The Great Wall in China. Le Morne Cultural Landscape contains the giant basaltic monolith of Le Morne Brabant, a mountain on the Le Morne Peninsula in the extreme south west of Mauritius. It was here that runaway slaves, known as ‘maroons’ came to shelter throughout the 18th and first part of the 19th centuries, forming small settlements on the summit and within the barely accessible caves which lie almost hidden on the mountain’s near-vertical slopes. The physical and oral evidence that supports this use of Le Morne has made the mountain a potent symbol of the slaves’ fight for freedom - one that is especially relevant to the regions from which they originated – India, South East Asia, Madagascar and the African mainland – and today represented by the Creole people of Mauritius and their shared memories and traditions. In modern times Le Morne – due to its favoured position and extreme natural beauty – is perhaps equally or better known as one of the island’s best beach destinations, and its importance as a symbol of resistance is only enhanced by its aesthetic appeal. The famous natural landmark is also home to a broad variety of endemic plant species, and is the only habitat in Mauritius where the national flower, the Trochetia boutoniana can be found. Having come to symbolize China, The Great Wall owns high status like the old saying that one who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero, and was listed as world cultural heritage in 1987 by UNESCO. Serving as the purpose of defense mostly, it went through different dynasties for destruction and construction, especially in Qin and Ming dynasty. Now with several sections of the Great Wall survived for tourists sightseeing to marvel at the massive architecture.

MOROCCO

This amazing cover from Morocco depict a single stamp with a picture of the Al Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem (Al Qods in arabic). The Old City of Jerusalem and its walls is also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1981. It was proposed as a site by Jordan. The site is not assigned to a state on the UNESCO listing. In 2011 UNESCO stated "The Old City of Jerusalem" is inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger.

ARMENIA

This excellent cover came from Armenia. It depicts 4 stamps of the same type (issued in 2022), celebrating the UNESCO World Heritage site Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley. The Monastery of Geghard is located in the Azat River gorge. Saint Gregory the Illuminator founded the monastery in the 4th century, according to tradition. This coincided with the introduction of Christianity as the state religion in Armenia. The main complex dates to the 13th century. It includes rock-cut churches, tombs, residential cells, and several khachkars (Armenian memorial stele with decorated crosses). The monastery was an important ecclesial and cultural centre of medieval Armenia. It was inscribed at UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000.