According to an entry on its blog, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has launched a new online exhibit, “Hunting for Wiesenthals: Postmarks from the Simon Wiesenthal Collection.” It goes on to say, “This unique online exhibit explores postmarks from towns in Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany. The postmarks are a part of Wiesenthal’s larger stamp collection, which he started in the late 1940s to occupy himself at night when he couldn’t sleep. The exhibit also features Wiesenthal’s own collecting tools, which were donated to the Postal Museum by his family…

Lately I’ve been re-organizing my collection of German stamps, and decided to share something not so common with You once again. This is 110 pfennig commemorative stamp from 1998 series displaying German State Parliaments. I’ts a pretty unimpressive looking stamp on the first view with some short perfs and machine cancellation. But if you

A fifth postcard is now available in the popular series promoting the London 2010: Festival of Stamps . This postcard looks at the stamps produced for the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935. The postcard features a photographic portrait of George V by Vandyk, alongside essays from 1934 that used this image at two different sizes. It also features an essay with an alternative portrait by Bertram Mackennal, which was much preferred by George V. It was this design that was eventually chosen by the King for the issued stamp. The fifth London 2010: Festival of Stamps postcard, featuring stamps produced…

According to an entry on its blog the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has launched a new online exhibit, “Hunting for Wiesenthals: Postmarks from the Simon Wiesenthal Collection.” It goes on to say, “This unique online exhibit explores postmarks from towns in Austria-Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany. The postmarks are a part of Wiesenthal’s larger stamp collection, which he started in the late 1940s to occupy himself at night when he couldn’t sleep. The exhibit also features Wiesenthal’s own collecting tools, which were donated to the Postal Museum by his family. “The memory of Wiesenthal’s lasting enthusiasm for stamp collecting is also a legacy for philatelists, as his interest in stamp collecting was well known during his lifetime and was a peaceful pursuit to contrast the violence he documented…

Several BPMA staff and Friends had a very enjoyable two days at Bletchley Park over the Bank Holiday weekend.  We were there as part of the Post Office at War weekend, an event organised as part of the London 2010 Festival of Stamps . BPMA Friend Richard West and Exhibitions Officer Alison Norris staff the BPMA table The BPMA had a table where we could meet visitors to Bletchley Park and let them know about the BPMA and its collections. Several of the…

This is very likely one of the most bizarre back-of-book items in my Swiss stamp collection – some sort of local revenue stamp from Rebublic of Canton Ticino. If you haven’t heard of Ticino, don’t worry, I’m sure You are not alone, LOL. Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Interestingly it is

On August 18, 2010 Belarus issued five stamps from the series “The Red book of the Republic of Belarus. Mushrooms”. The stamps feature: – Clavariadelphus pistillaris – Langermannia gigantea – Hericium coralloides – Sparassis laminosa – Polyporus umbellatus—splitterQSWEDFR—On August 18, 2010 Belarus issued five stamps from the series “The Red book of the Republic of Belarus. Mushrooms”.—splitterQSWEDFR—Belarus;

The first series of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics stamps will be issued from January 2011 to 2015. Stamps will depict Sochi, its sports and tourist facilities and Olympic sports. Olympic philately is rooted in the modern Olympics and was a means of attracting money and interest to the Games. Organizers of the first 1896 Athens Olympics faced financial difficulties and issued series of 12 stamps to save the situation. From 50 …

The postmaster of Yosemite Post Office is also an accomplished pianist who has entertained tourists, celebrities, royalty

The Israel Philatelic Service has released two new Greeting Stamps (definitive). The stamps are also issued in the “My Own Stamp” sheet format. “Happy Holidays” This stamp breathes new life into the traditional greeting and lends it a new and special twist. In Israel, people greet each other in this manner on seven different occasions each year, and the routine greeting becomes more festive and elegant when accompanied by a personalized stamp sheet. “With Compliments” This stamp is geared toward an esteemed individual who we would like to honor or thank, expressing these feelings through an official national stamp. The “With Compliments” stamp sheet lends an air of prestige and honor to the expression of this sentiment.—splitterQSWEDFR—The Israel Philatelic Service has released two new Greeting Stamps (definitive). The stamps are also issued in the “My Own Stamp” sheet …

Last week I asked for your help to create a special video revealing the full range of soldier’s secrets. In a matter of hours we exceeded our fund-raising goal and were able to donated $2,000 to The Veteran’s Crisis Hotline – VET2VET (877)838-2838. Thank You! The project no longer needs financial support but you can join the conversation and follow its progress on Facebook. PostSecret “Soldier’s Secrets” Project If you are an Active Service Member, Veteran, family member or friend there is still time to mail your secrets. PostSecret 13345 Copper Ridge Rd. Germantown, MD 20874

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune reports Colorado Springs artist Thomas Blackshear, who typically specializes in African-American themed art, illustrated the Mother Teresa

On 26 August, 2010, An Post issued a stamp to commemorate legendary stamp engraver, Czeslaw Slania. Czeslaw Slania was born near Katowice in southern Poland on 22 October, 1921, and became one of the world’s most prominent stamp engravers. In 1945, he enrolled at the Academy of Art in Krakow. The Government printing house was located nearby and for a time he worked there as a bank note engraver. In April, 1960, the Swedish Post Office employed him as a full-time designer and engraver. Slania used many different methods of engraving stamps and pioneered new production techniques. During his long career, he produced more than 1,000 stamps and …

Reporter Paul Nolan writes on the Radio France Internationale (RFI) website, “France’s post office is often held up to illustrate what’s best and worst about state ownership. But La Poste is about much more than banking and delivering letters. It is also an important patron of the arts.” According to Paul, “The postal museum in Paris’s Montparnasse district was inaugurated shortly after World War II. It has become not only a museum of the history…