vintage and contemporary postcards and stamps from around the world


21 June 2026

ungulates

I have full sheets of these stamps and have often thought they were rather strange...
When I did a little research, I found that they were designed by Emanuel Hahn (who has done several stamps as well as the caribou on our quarter) in 1956.  
They were not well received.

The above one is known as 'dancing caribou' by collectors (a Can-Can, maybe?)

this one was described as "the most diabolical animal I have ever seen" by a Member of Parliament (with similar, and worse, descriptions by a few others)
maybe these frolicking young goats are more pleasing


18 June 2026

lines

 I appreciate the crispness and precision of the lines in the windows above, though they might be too perfect

but then we head outdoors, and I could sit and look at this view for hours and not feel somehow the need to also be perfect in its presence


14 June 2026

tulips

 Tulips are maybe my favourite flower. There are so many sizes and styles and colours.  And I love that they close up at night and reopen in daylight, so each one looks like two different flowers

By the time you read this, I will be off on a road trip for two weeks.  All Sunday Stamps and Thursday Postcard Hunt posts have been scheduled so nothing will be missed.  Carry on as usual and I will check in with you all when I return.

13 June 2026

soccer

 

CATURDAY

Now that the World Cup is in my own back yard, I am, oddly, less interested.  The shine has worn off.  Doesn't mean I won't get caught up in the matches at some point...

11 June 2026

swans, again

A cygnet from the Abbotsbury Swannery.  This time presented as a postcard, not a stamp

Some royal curves...

We have our own Stratford swans.  Many of these are descendants of of a pair of mute swans gifted by Queen Elizabeth in 1973, but the origins go back to 1918.

07 June 2026

swans

1993 

illustrations by David Gentleman
Mute swans from Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset, which has an interesting - and ancient - history!


04 June 2026

fonts and letters

there are several fonts, and languages, in this message for our June theme of 'shapes', this week: the shape of letters
information cards are always interesting, even if you already know all the information...

and a busy movie poster from 1943