UNITED STATES

UNITED STATES.

Nevada First Settlement Centennial.
Carson Valley arount 1850.
Stamp issued on 14.07.1951.
Face value: 3 cents of United States dollar.
Printing: Recess.
Print: 112,000,000 copies.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 617.
- Scott No. 999.
- StampWorld No. 808.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 996.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 550.

Currently, Carson Valley is included in the Nevada Micropolitan Statistical Area, within Douglas County. In 1851, the town of Genoa, situated within the Carson River Valley, approximately 68 km (42 mi) south of Reno, was the first permanent settlement in Nevada by Mormon traders selling goods to settlers on their way to California. The settlement originated as a trading post called Mormon Station. In 1856, Orson Hyde changed the name of the community to Genoa, after the Italian city. Genoa served as the first capital of the Nevada Territory in 1861, until it was moved that year to Carson City. Nevada's first newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise, was founded in Genoa in 1858, but moved to Virginia City in 1860. Douglas County is located in western Nevada and extends from Carson Valley to the Sierra Nevada.

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA.

Ramsar Wetlands.
Cobourg Peninsula.
First stamp in a set of 4, issued on 22.02.2021.
Face value: 20 cents of Australia dollar.
Design: Sonia Young.
Printed by Ego Print.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Size: 37.5 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 5271.
- Scott No. 5257.
- StampWorld No. 3979.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 5410.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 5046.

The Cobourg Peninsula is located 350 km (217 mi) east of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is deeply indented with coves and bays, covers a land area of about 2,100 km² (811 sq mi), and is virtually uninhabited with a population ranging from about 20 to 30 in five family outstations, but without any notable settlement or village. In the north is the Arafura Sea, and in the south the Van Diemen Gulf. The highest elevation is Mount Roe in the south with an altitude of 160 m (525 ft). All of Cobourg Peninsula is part of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, which also encompasses a few nearshore islands. Cobourg Peninsula was Australia’s and the world’s first Wetland of International Importance. The Site covers an area of approximately 220,000 hectares and is composed of terrestrial, riverine, permanent freshwater and brackish and intertidal and coastal/marine ecosystems. It supports over 800 plant species, 64 species of coral, 406 species of marine invertebrate from the coral reef or the intertidal zone, 35 mammals, 71 reptiles, 19 frogs and 236 bird species.

Thanks to Dragan Buškulić for his contribution (https://worldofstamp2.wordpress.com/).

CAMBODIA

CAMBODIA / ស្រុកខ្មែរ

Dragon Bridge.
First stamp in a set of 3, issued on 13.04.1999.
Face value: 500 Cambodian riel.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Size: 46 x 31 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 1927.
- Scott No. 1853.
- StampWorld No. 1949.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1867.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1638.

The road from Phnom Penh to Angkor crosses the Chi Kraeng River by the Dragon Bridge, officially Spean Pappos (Khmer: ស្ពានប្រាប់ទិស), also known as Kampong Kdei Bridge (ស្ពានកំពង់ក្ដី), in the town of the same name. It is the longest cantilever stone arch bridge in the world, at 87 m (285 ft), with more than twenty arches. It was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jayavarman VII and is one of the few bridges from the era of the Khmer empire that have survived to this day. It was restored between 1964 and 1966.

CYPRUS

CYPRUS / ΚΥΠΡΟΣ – KIBRIS

Scenes and landscapes.
Sunrise at Protaras coast.
Eleventh stamp in a set of 15, issued on 18.03.1985.
Face value: 25 Cypriot cents.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 1,000,000 copies.
Size: 27 x 37 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 636.
- Scott No. 650.
- StampWorld No. 648.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 658
- Yvert et Tellier No. 632.

Protaras (Greek: Πρωταράς) is a predominantly tourist resort which comes under the administrative jurisdiction of Paralimni Municipality in Famagusta District, eastern Cyprus. Protaras has clear sky-blue waters and sandy beaches, the most well-known of which is Fig Tree Bay. In 2011 the population of the town was 20,230 people. In ancient times, where Protaras is now located, stood the old city-state of Leukolla.

Thanks to Dragan Buškulić for his contribution (https://worldofstamp2.wordpress.com/).

FRANCE

FRANCE.

150th anniversary annexation voluntary Mayotte to France.
Landscape and stylized map of Mayotte Island.
Stamp issued on 20.12.1991.
Face value: 2.50 French francs.
Design: Thierry Cheminet (b. 1958).
Engraving: Jacky Larrivière (b. 1946).
Printing: Recess.
Print: 12,176,397 copies.
Size: 40 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 2970.
- Michel No. 2870.
- Scott No. 2271.
- StampWorld No. 2862.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 3051.
- Unificato No. 2725.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 2271.

Mayotte (Shimaore: Maore; Kibushi: Maori) is an overseas department of France (French: Département de Mayotte). It is located in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Southeastern Africa. Mayotte consists of a main island, Grande-Terre (or Maore), a smaller island, Petite-Terre (or Pamanzi), as well as several islets around these two. Mayotte's land area is 374 km² (144 sq mi) and its population is 299,348 people according to January 2022 official estimates. Mayotte was purchased by France in 1841, in 1885 it was integrated into the colony of the Comoros, and it remained voluntarily with France after the Comoros declared its independence in 1974. After a referendum, it became an overseas department of France on 31 March 2011.

Thanks to Daniel Mathieu for his contribution (http://lettresdumonde.blogspot.com/)

JAPAN

JAPAN / 日本.

National Parks. 
Mount Hotaka, in Chūbu-Sangaku National Park.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 10.08.1972.
Face value: 10 Japanese yen.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 32,000,000 copies.
Size: 36 x 26 mm.

Catalogs 
- Michel No. 1157.
- Sakura No. P137.
- Scott No. 1120.
- StampWorld No. 1147.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1298.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1061.

Mount Hotaka or Hotakadake (Japanese: 穂高岳) is one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains as coined by the median, reaching a height of 3,190 m (10,466 ft). It is situated within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, in Hida Mountains (Northern Alps) between Toyama and Gifu prefectures.

Thanks to Krystyna Betiuk for his contribution (https://pocztowkowezbiory.blogspot.com/)

GREECE

GREECE / ЕΛΛΑΣ.

Edessa Waterfalls (Καταρράκτες Έδεσσας).
Second stamp in a set of 3, issued on 04.07.1988.
Face value: 60 Greek drachma.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 700,000 copies.

Catalogs
- Karamitsos No. 1801.
- Michel No. 1693A.
- Scott No. 1629.
- StampWorld No. 1675.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1792A.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1676A.

The Edessa or Edessis Waterfalls (Greek: Καταρράκτες Έδεσσας) are located in Edessa city (Central Macedonia), inside the Waterfall Geopark. The falls are a natural phenomenon that arose after a strong earthquake that struck the surrounding area in the 14th century. Since then, many changes have taken place in their morphology due to earthquakes of smaller scale. The main source of these waterfalls is the wetland of Agra-Nissiou, from which flows the main river, Edessaios. At the end of the 19th century several factories were built on the rock of the city as waterfalls could be used to produce electricity. Altogether, five large textile factories and several labs and tanneries were erected. The waterfalls are an interesting tourist attraction.

SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA / ශ්‍රී ලංකා - இலங்கை

Lighthauses.
Devinuwara Lighthouse.
Third stamp in a minisheet of 4, issued on 22.01.1996.
Face value: 2.00 Sri Lankan rupee.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Size: 29 x 40 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 1100.
- Scott No. 1149.
- StampWorld No. 677.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1317.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1089.

Devinuwara (Sinhala: දෙවිනුවර) Lighthouse is located on Dondra Head, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka's tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. The name Dondra is a synonym for "Devi-Nuwara" in the local Sinhala language, "Devi" meaning "Gods" and "Nuwara" meaning "City". The 49-meter (161 ft) lighthouse, designed by James Nicholas Douglass, began construction in November 1887 and became operational in March 1890. It is an octagonal tower with balcony and lantern. The rotating lens was removed in 2020 and replaced by a static flashing LED light.

WALLIS AND FUTUNA

WALLIS AND FUTUNA / WALLIS ET FUTUNA - UVEA MO FUTUNA.

Landscapes.
Lake Lalolalo, in Wallis ('Uvea) Island.
Airmail. First stamp in a set of 4, issued on 01.12.1975.
Face value: 10 CFP francs.
Design: Pierrette Lambert (b. 1928).
Printed by Edila.
Printing: Photogravure.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 269.
- Scott No. C65.
- StampWorld No. 269.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 249.
- Yvert et Tellier No. PA67.

The Lake Lalolalo is a volcanic crater lake surrounded by jungle to the Mu'a district, southwest of Wallis (’Uvea), a French island in Polynesia, in the South Pacific. The 15.2-hectare lake is almost a perfect circle with rocky cliffs that drop 30m (98ft) into dark waters 80m (262ft) deep, and the largest of several on the island. It is important to the local mythology of Wallis and Futuna, as the indigenous population considers it a vital force that regenerates life, which they call vao tapu, which is why its surroundings are considered sacred. At the end of World War II, the US Army dumped equipment and ammunition. Scuba dives in the lake have found various calibers of ammunition from that era. The surrounding jungle is inhabited by tropical birds and flying foxes, and the waters have a significant population of eels, which in traditional religious beliefs are tutelary deities who protect freshwater sources. In 2018, a viewpoint was built from which tourists can see the lake.

BULGARIA

BULGARIA / БЪЛГАРИЯ.

Landscapes.
Smolyan Lakes (Смолянските езера).
First stamp in a set of 8, issued on 17.05.1968.
Face value: 1 Bulgarian stotinka.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 25,000,000 copies.
Size: 26 x 36 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 1802.
- Scott No. 1681.
- StampWorld No. 1802.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1795.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1618.

The Smolyan Lakes (Bulgarian: Смолянските езера) are located in the Bukova Mountains, Western Rhodopes, north of the Orpheus Rocks and Snezhanka Peak. They are scattered along the left slope of the Cherna River valley to the town of Smolyan. They were formed by a large landslide that occurred as a result of contact between rhyolitic rocks and water-resistant sedimentary rocks located below them. In the past there were more than twenty lakes, but now there are only 8 left, the others today are swamps.

BULGARIA

BULGARIA / БЪЛГАРИЯ.

Landscapes.
Malyovitsa Peak.
Third stamp in a set of 6, issued on 26.10.1964.
Vace value: 3 Bulgarian stotinski.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 6,000,000 copies.
Size: 22 x 32 cm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 1472.
- Scott No. 1374.
- StampWorld No. 1484.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1483.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1287.

Malyovitsa (Bulgarian: Мальовица) is a peak in the northwestern part of the Rila Mountain in southwestern Bulgaria. It is 2,729 m (8,953 ft) high. The Malyovitsa region is the cradle of Bulgarian rock climbing and mountaineering. The imposant north wall of the summit was first climbed in August 23, 1938 by Konstantin Savadzhiev and Georgi Stoimenov.

GREECE

GREECE / ЕΛΛΑΣ.

Plastira Lake and Martagon lily (Lilium martagon).
Sixth stamp in a set of 8, issued on 27.06.2001.
Face value: 200 Greek drachma / 0.59 euro.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 26,000,000 copies.
Size: 38 x 30 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 2091.
- Karamitsos No. 2163.
- Michel No. 2076.
- Scott No. 1998.
- StampWorld No. 2058.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 2163.
- Unificato No. 2054.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 2063.

Lake Plastiras (Greek: Λίμνη Πλαστήρα) also called Tavropos Reservoir (Greek: Τεχνητή Λίμνη Ταυρωπού) is an artificial lake fed by Megdovas river, located in Karditsa regional unit (Thessaly). It is named after the Greek general and politician Nikolaos Plastiras, who was the first to visualize the construction of an artificial lake in the area. The building of the dam started on December 14, 1955, and on October 30, 1960 it was officially inaugurated. The surface área of the lake is 24 km2 (9.3 sq mi). It is used for irrigation and as a power source of a hydroelectric plant, but also as the main water source to the city of Karditsa.

The martagon Lily or Turk's cap Lily (Lilium martagon), is a Eurasian species of lily. It has a widespread native region extending from Portugal east through Europe and Asia as far east as Mongolia. It is stem-rooting, growing between 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) tall. The flower colour is typically a pink-purple, with dark spots, but is quite variable, extending from near white to near black. The flowers are scented.

FRANCE

FRANCE.

Tourism.
Gulf of Morbihan.
Stamp issued on 06.05.2005.
Face value: 0.53 euro.
Design: Michel Bez (1951-2018).
Printed by ITVF (Imprimerie des Timbres-Poste et des Valeurs Fiduciaires), Périgueux.
Printing: Photogravure.
Print: 3,779,242 copies.
Size: 80 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 4026.
- Michel No. 3936.
- Scott No. 3108.
- StampWorld No. 3901.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 4085.
- Unificato No. 3761.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 3783.

The Gulf of Morbihan (French, golfe du Morbihan; Breton, Mor Bihan) is an inland gulf or sea located at the bottom of Quiberon Bay, on the Atlantic coast of the Brittany region. It has a length of 20 km (12.4 mi) and a maximum width of 15 km (9.3 mi) and includes numerous islands and islets. Due to the presence of numerous species of migratory birds, its ancient marshes have been classified as a nature reserve. The gulf receives the waters of four main rivers: the Auray, the Vincin, the Marle and the Noyalo. It is an interesting area for the study of prehistory and especially the Neolithic period from 7500 years before our era; Numerous megalithic monuments (menhirs, dolmens and cairns) are found in it.

Thanks to Daniel Mathieu for his contribution (http://lettresdumonde.blogspot.com/)

CUBA

CUBA.

Lighthouses of Cuba.
Morro de Santiago de Cuba Lighthouse and simplified map of Cuba.
Last stamp in a set of 3, issued on 25.10.1982.
Face value: 30 centavos of Cuban peso.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 288,000 copies.
Size: 33.5 x 45 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 2704.
- Scott No. 2555.
- StampWorld No. 2708.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 2861.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 2405.

The Morro lighthouse is located next to the San Pedro de la Roca Castle, better known as Castillo del Morro, built by the Spanish colonizers in the 17th century south of the city of Santiago de Cuba, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, on the southernmost coast of the island. Its height is 18 m (59 ft), 83 m (272 ft) from sea level. It is the work of French builders and was put into operation in 1842. It was destroyed during the Spanish-American War in 1898, and was rebuilt in a short time. The lighthouse was modernized in 1914 but, due to disruptions caused by World War I, its optical equipment was not installed until 1923. Its lamp emits beams of light through lenses, which rotate 360 degrees. Its range is 27 nautical miles (approximately 50 km or 31 mi).

LITHUANIA

LITHUANIA / LIETUVA.

EUROPA Issue.
Trakai in Lake Galvė.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 14.04.2001.
Face value: 1.70 Lithuanian litas.
Design: G. Pempė.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 500,000 copies.
Size: 35.5 x 30 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 753.
- Michel No. 756.
- Scott No. 691.
- StampWorld No. 757.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 756.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 663.

Lake Galvė (Lithuanian: Galvės ežeras) is located in southeastern Lithuania, within the Trakai Historical National Park, at an altitude of 148.5 m (487.20 ft). Its length from northwest to southeast is 3.28 km (2.03 mi), and its maximum width is 1.96 km (1.21 mi). It has a perimeter of 20.1 km (12.5 mi) and a depth of 13.6 m (44.62 ft). It contains 21 islands, among which the 2.2-hectare Castle Island (Pilies sala) stands out for its historical importance, where the Trakai Castle (Trakų salos pilis), built in the 14th century, is one of the main tourist attractions from Lithuania. On the southern shore of the lake is the Trakai peninsula, with the city of Trakai (5,375 inhabitants in 2022) and the ruins of another castle (Pusiasalio pilis), from the second half of the 14th century. In Trakai there is a significant Karaite community.

COMOROS

COMOROS / UNION DES COMORES - UDZIMA WA KOMORI.

Port Mamutzu (Mamoudzou).
Airmail. Ninth stamp in a set of 17 (overprinted), issued on 01.08.1975.
Face value: 100 (over 90) Comorian francs.
Design: Pierrette Lambert (b. 1928).
Printing: Photogravure.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 238.
- Scott No. C84.
- StampWorld No. 219.
- Yvert et Tellier No. PA84.

Mamoudzou is, since 1977, the capital of Mayotte, a French overseas region and department in the Indian Ocean. When the referendum for the independence of the Comoros Islands was held (December 22, 1974), Mayotte voted to remain linked to France, while the State of Comoros proclaimed its independence on July 6, 1975. Mamoudzou is the most populated commune (municipality) of Mayotte (71,437, according to the 2017 census). It is located on Grande-Terre (or Maoré), the main island of Mayotte. In the background of the seal you can see the promontory of Pointe de Mahabou.

SRI LANKA

SRI LANKA / ශ්‍රී ලංකා - இலங்கை

Lighthouses.
Galle Lighthouse.
Last stamp in a minisheet of 4, issued on 22.01.1996.
Face value: 20 Sri Lankan rupee.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Size: 29 x 40 mm.

Catalogs
- Michel No. 1101.
- Scott No. 1150.
- StampWorld No. 678.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1318.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1090.

The Galle Lighthouse (also known as Pointe de Galle Light) is Sri Lanka's oldest light station. The first lighthouse at Galle was built by the British in 1848 from cast-iron plates, imported from England, designed by British architect Alexander Gordon. In July 1936 it was destroyed by fire. The current 26.5-metre-high (87 ft) concrete lighthouse was erected about 100 m (330 ft) from the original site in 1939.

GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC / DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK.

Tourism.
Lilienstein Mountain and Elbe River.
First stamp in a set of 2, issued on 14.03.1961.
Face value: 20 East German pfennig.
Design: Erich Gruner (1881-1966).
Engraving: Oswin Volkamer (1930-2016).
Printed by Deutsche Wertpapierdruckerei (VEB).
Print: 83,000,000 copies.
Size: 21.5 x 26 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 617.
- Michel No. 815.
- Scott No. 537.
- StampWorld No. 557.
- Stanley Gibbons No. E549.
- Unificato No. 815.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 530.

Lilienstein is a highly distinctive mountain of 415.2 m (1,362 ft) in Saxony. It is one of the few table mountains on the east of the river Elbe and constitutes the symbol of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. The Elbe flows around the Lilienstein on three sides, which here describes a 180° loop. Lilienstein was first mentioned in a document in 1379, it was called Ylgenstein. In the High Middle Ages (around 1200) there was a small Bohemian castle in Lilienstein, which was probably abandoned around 1550.

POLAND

POLAND / POLSKA.

Tourism.
Świętokrzyski National Park and Larix polonica.
First stamp in a set of 8, issued on 20.05.1969.
Face value: 40 Polish grosz.
Design: Andrzej Heidrich (1928-2019).
Printed by PWPW (Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych), Warszawa.
Printing: Offset lithography.
Print: 6,841,000 copies.
Size: 55 x 28 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 1802.
- Fischer No. 1769p.
- Michel No. 1916Zf.
- Scott No. 1650.
- StampWorld No. 1911.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 1896.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 1766.

Świętokrzyski National Park (Polish: Świętokrzyski Park Narodowy), established in 1950, is located in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in central Poland. It covers the highest ridge of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains with its two highest peaks: Łysica at 612 m (2,008 ft) and Łysa Góra at 595 m (1,952 ft). The Park has its headquarters in Bodzentyn, covers an area of 76.26 km² (29.44 sq mi) and is famous for its trees, of which 674 are regarded as monuments of nature and as such are under protection.

Larix decidua var. polonica, first described in 1930, is commonly known as Polish larch. It is a specific variety of European larch native to Poland's river Vistula headwaters and beyond.
-

Thanks to Krystyna Betiuk for his contribution (https://pocztowkowezbiory.blogspot.com/)

SLOVENIA

SLOVENIA / SLOVENIJA.

EUROPA Issue.
Triglav National Park.
Stamp issued on 23.03.1999.
Face value: 90 Slovenian tolar.
Photo: Jože Mihelič (b. 1946).
Design: studioBotas.
Printed by Delo tiskarna.
Print: 320,000 copies.
Size: 40.32 x 28.8 mm.

Catalogs
- AFA No. 276.
- Michel No. 259.
- Scott No. 349.
- Slovenika No. 259.
- StampWorld No. 259.
- Stanley Gibbons No. 406.
- Unificato No. 259.

The Triglav National Park (Slovene: Triglavski narodni park) was officially established in 1981, and it is the only national park in Slovenia. It has an area of 880 km² (340 sq mi), and it is located in the northwestern part of the country, respectively the southeastern part of the Alpine massif. Mount Triglav, the highest peak of the Julian Alps, stands almost in the middle of the national park. Waters in Triglav National Park consist of two watersheds: the Sava River watershed and the Soča River watershed. Many waterfalls can be found in the park, and most of them are located in the valleys of the Soča River and its tributaries. The highest waterfall is Boka Falls (106 m). In the park are located also the Tolmin Gorges on the Tolminka River. The lakes in the park are all of glacial origin; The largest among them is Lake Bohinj.