The Most Medieval Street in England

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

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The Shambles is an old street located in the heart of the city of York, England. You can find many characteristic overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating back as far as the fourteenth century.

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Part of a set of six stamps depicting the beginning, the spread and the end of the fire (2016).

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Zvartnots Cathedral ruins | Armenia

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Zvartnots is a complex of structures built in the middle of the 7th century near Echmiatsin in Armenia.

Zvartnots remained standing until the end of the 10th century, but historical sources are silent as to the cause of its collapse. The ruins of Zvartnots remained buried until its remains were uncovered at the start of the 20th century. The site was excavated between 1901 and 1907.

The temple ruins are part of Unesco World heritage site inscribed under the name Cathedral and Churches of Echmiatsin and the Archaeological Site of Zvartnots.

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Isle of Iona | United Kingdom - Scotland

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Iona is a tiny island off the southwest coast of Mull in the Inner Hebrides. It is only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, with a population of around 120 permanent residents.

Located on the island is Iona Abbey, which origins date back to as early as the year 563.

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Mountainous Kazakhstan

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Belukha is a three-peaked mountain massif that rises along the border of Russia and Kazakhstan. This massif is located in the heart of the Altai.

The Altai mountains occupy an area that stretches 1,000 km from east to west and nearly 500 km from north to south. This area straddles four countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia.

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Historic Village of Shirakawa-gō | Japan

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The Shirakawa-go region in Japan is famous for the traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. The design is exceptionally strong to withstand the weight of the region's heavy snowfalls in winter.

The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Lofoten Islands | Norway

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Lofoten is an archipelago in northern Norway, located within the Arctic Circle. The archipelago is known for a distinctive scenery with mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. Winter scenery right out of a fairy tale, as you can see on the postcard picturing Hamnøy village.

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The stamp is part of a set of two bird stamps issued 2015 and shows the European Crested Tit. This bird is a widespread and common resident breeder in coniferous forests throughout central and northern Europe.

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Tongariro National Park | New Zealand

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Tongariro National Park in New Zealand has active and extinct volcanoes, a diverse range of ecosystems and some spectacular landscapes.

Mt Ruapehu is one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes, and the highest mountain on the north island. It last erupted in 2007. The majestic slopes of Mt Ruapehu accommodate New Zealand’s largest and most developed ski areas. Skiing on an active volcano! Not for the faint of heart I guess.

Stamps

(left) Round Kiwi stamp, issued 2011.The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand.

(right) Maori Crafts, Taniko Embroidery. Part of a set of 6 stamps, issued in 1996. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand.

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Te Waipounamu | New Zealand

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Te Waipounamu is the official Māori name for New Zealand's South Island, meaning "the place of greenstone". Named after the (green) Jade-like stones that can be found in this part of the world.

Te Waipounamu is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The site incorporates four national parks: Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring and Westland. Milford sound is a fjord is Fiordland National Park. Its highest peak is Mitre Peak with 1,695 metres.  

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Mount Taranaki is an active stratovolcano on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. The stamp is part of a set of 5 definitives, issued 2014. 

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West Norwegian Fjords: Geirangerfjord | Norway

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Situated in south-western Norway, Geirangerfjord is part of the west Norwegian fjord landscape. The fjord is among the world’s longest and deepest. The deep blue Geirangerfjord is surrounded by majestic, snow-covered mountain peaks, wild waterfalls and lush, green vegetation. The fjord is one of Norway's most visited tourist sites.

In 2005, Geirangerfjord was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with Nærøyfjord, located 120 km from one another.

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A matching stamp on the right. The stamp on the left depicts Urnes Stave Church, another Unesco site in Norway. 

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Detaille Island - British Antarctic Territory

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Detaille Island is a small island just south of the Antarctic Circle and 11 miles east of Liard Island. It is home to a colony of 1,000 pairs of Adelie penguins. In 1956 a British research station was established on the island. This base was abandoned in 1959.

In 2009 the world's most southerly post office re opened in Antarctica 50 years after it was abandoned.

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Stamps are produced by the British Antarctic Territory, a separate postal entity. 

Thx Ruben!

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Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic

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Transnistria or Pridnestrovien Moldavian Republic is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the River Dniester and the eastern Moldovan border with Ukraine.

The total population of the PMR is 550,000, with three major ethnic groups: Moldovans (31.9%), Russians (30.4%) and Ukrainians (28.8%). The capital of the Republic is the city of Tiraspol with a population of 144,000.

Since its declaration of independence in 1990, and especially after the War of Transnistria in 1992, it is governed as Pridnestrovie, a sovereign state with limited recognition. The Republic of Moldova does not recognize the secession and considers the territory to be part of Moldova's autonomous region of Stînga Nistrului ("Left Bank of the Dniester").

This postcard is picturing the building of the Presidential Administration and the Supreme Council of the PMR.

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Originally a fiscal stamp, but now these are used as a stamp. It is a real PMR stamp but it cannot be used to send mail outside Moldova. 

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Mount Kazbek and Gergeti Trinity Church | Georgia

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Mount Kazbek is one of the highest peaks of the Caucasus, a dormant stratovolcano with a height of 5,047 meters.

If you look very closely you can see Gergeti Trinity Church on this postcard. The church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri, at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbek.

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In 2013 Georgia issued a set of four stamps themed Cultural Heritage of Georgia. 

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Yerevan, the capital of Armenia

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Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia. It is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Being a former Soviet Republic it gained its independence in 1991.

The city is located in the Ararat Valley, the mountain that you can see in the background. Mount Ararat, with an elevation of 5,165 meters, is the highest mountain in Turkey but it is still an important national symbol of Armenia. Ararat was a part of Armenia until 1915 when Turkey took over that part of Armenia. 

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(left) In 2013 issued a set of seven stamps with characters of the Armenian alphabet.

(right) Endangered animals, issued in 2009 as a set of two stamps. 

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Bulguksa Temple | 불국사 South Korea

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Bulguksa Temple, meaning "Temple of the Buddha Land" is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province of South Korea. The temple was built in 528 during the Silla Kingdom. Once the wooden buildings completely burnt down to the ground. Although much-restored, it is still an important example of Silla architecture and is home to no less than seven Korean national treasures.

In 1995, Bulguksa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Seokguram Grotto, which is located four kilometers to the east.

Stamps

Three more stamps from the department of tiny stamps.

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Kinkaku-ji Temple | 金閣寺 , Japan

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Kinkaku-ji, commonly known as the Golden Pavilion, is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.The temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

The temple is part of the Unesco WHS, inscribed as “The Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)”. This site consist of seventeen parts that are situated in Kyoto and surroundings. 

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From the Switzerland of Pakistan: Kalam Swat

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Swat is a valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Kalam is a village along the upper reaches of the Swat River in the Swat Valley.

Swat was a princely state in the North West Frontier Province until it was dissolved in 1969. It's natural beauty of high mountains, green meadows and clear lakes has earned Swat a reputation as "the Switzerland of Pakistan.”

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(left) 75th death anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal (1877 – 1938) was a philosopher, poet and politician in British India who is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement. 

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Illimani mountain, Bolivia

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The mountain Illimani overlooks the city of La Paz, capital of Boliva. The mountain itself has many peaks that are permanently snow capped; three of them are above 6000m and the highest reaches an astounding altitude of 6.438m.

Here you see a postcard of La Paz with Illimani in the background.  

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2013 Christmas stamp

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Wrangel Island

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Wrangel Island is an uninhabited island off the northern coast of far eastern Siberia. It's 37 miles from the nearest island and 87 miles from the Russian mainland. Wrangel Island, together with Herald Island and surrounding waters, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

 

Wrangel Island Reserve is home to many polar bears, seals, walrus and lemmings. During the summer it is visited by many types of birds including the endangered  Snow Goose. And did you know that until about 4,000 years ago Wrangel Island supported the world's last mammoth population?

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(right) Part of a set of four stamps about Russian Uniforms. 

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Becharre | بْشَرِّيْ‎ a city near the Qadisha Valley in North Lebanon

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Becharre is a town at an altitude of about 1,500 m located in the Qadisha Valley in northern Lebanon. The valley is known as the Holy Valley because of the number of monasteries, churches and hermit caves there.

 

The scenery is really dramatic, with all the townships clinging to the sides of the steep valley and the middle east’s tallest mountain, the snowcapped Cornet El-Saouda, towering overhead.

Becharre is the birthplace of the famous poet, painter and sculptor Khalil Gibran who now has a museum in the town to honor him.

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Jökulsárlón-Glacier lagoon, Iceland

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“Ice and fire” – these are two words, which perfectly grasp the nature of Iceland. This postcard is about the Ice-part. Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in southeast Iceland.

This lagoon is a result of a warming climate. Situated at the head of Breiðamerkurjökull-glacier, it evolved into a lagoon after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean about 90 years ago. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of melting of the Icelandic glaciers. The lagoon is not very wide but it is over 200 meters deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland.

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In May 2013 Iceland issued a sheet of four stamps with the Northern Lights as its theme. The northern lights can be seen anywhere in Iceland when the so-called aurora collar is over the country on a dark cloudless night. 

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