Jan. 5, 2023 Year of the Rabbit On January 5, 2023, China Post released two stamps in a variety of formats, some of which include additional designs, to mark the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit. The main stamps were designed by 99-year old artist Huang Yongyu. Huang Yongyu is a contemporary Chinese artist known … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: China (Year of the Rabbit)
Author: Mark Joseph Jochim
Stamps of 2023: Austria (January 2023)
Jan. 18, 2023 Cello The cello is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G2, D3 and A3. The viola's four strings are each an octave higher. Music for the cello is generally written in the … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: Austria (January 2023)
Stamps of 2023: Guernsey (January 2023)
Jan. 5, 2023 Year of the Rabbit The animals of the Chinese zodiac are more than lucky numbers and personalities, they symbolize a deep connection with China’s ancient cultural heritage. Like all the Chinese zodiac animals, rabbits have a unique place in Chinese history, mythology, and customs. When Westerners gaze at the 月亮 (yuèliang; moon), … Continue reading Stamps of 2023: Guernsey (January 2023)
Sunday Summary #16
Welcome to Sunday Summary, the meme in which I attempt to summarize the week that came before. The BIG NEWS is that my Lovely Lady Kanchana finally touched-down last night in Phuket following a separation in distance but certainly not love that stretches back to mid-August. Something that has been here for quite some time … Continue reading Sunday Summary #16
December 2022
I was born in December some 57 years ago, on this very day -- December 3 -- in fact. If I had to pick a favorite month, it would probably be this one. In Thailand, it is a month of holidays -- National Day on the 5th, Constitution Day on the 10th, and three days … Continue reading December 2022
Christmas Stamps 2022: Netherlands
PostNL of the Netherlands does not issue traditional Christmas stamps. Instead, they release what are termed "December stamps", holiday-themed emissions that can be used to send Christmas and New Year cards at a reduced rate. The special December rate of € 0,91. per stamp applies from 14 November 2022 up to and including 6 January … Continue reading Christmas Stamps 2022: Netherlands
Thainess Part 10: The Thai Smile
Many people think of Thailand as a warm, happy, and welcoming nation because of the constant smiles. Indeed, Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles! But... Smiles in Thailand don’t always show happiness and are sometimes used as a mask. That’s not to detract from the fact that many Thai people are, in fact, … Continue reading Thainess Part 10: The Thai Smile
Christmas Stamps 2022: Brazil
On October 31, Correios released a single-stamp souvenir sheet as its issue for Christmas 2022. The main design element is the Star of Bethlehem, from which positive words emanate. The figures represent the diversity of peoples, ages and gender and are looking directly at the Christmas Star, symbolizing the hope and feeling of brotherhood that … Continue reading Christmas Stamps 2022: Brazil
Sunday Summary #15
Welcome to Sunday Summary, the meme in which I attempt to summarize the week that came before. This was a relatively uneventful week with one major exception: my Lovely Lady is finally returning to Phuket after a prolonged flood-induced exile to the east of Thailand. Yet, as she readies her return to coincide with my … Continue reading Sunday Summary #15
Christmas Stamps 2022: Germany
On November 2, Deutsche Post released the two designs for Germany's 2022 Christmas stamps, each in perforated gummed and self-adhesive varieties. Prof. Annette Le Fort and Prof. André Heers designed the religious stamp, with the legend "The Message of the Angels: I Announce to You a Great Joy", while the secular stamp -- "Winter Forest" … Continue reading Christmas Stamps 2022: Germany
Mark Joseph Jochim 