Stamps

Jean Pierre sent me this nice letter from St. Kitts, thank you! It was posted in Basseterre on March 25 and arrived on April 4, 2013. The 2009 stamp commemorates the 20th anniversary of the ship MV Freewinds cruising the Caribbean. See also: #657 St. Kitts 13/03/25

    A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. There are many different designs that all serve unique purposes and apply to different situations. Designs of bridges vary depending on the function of the bridge, the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed, the material used to make it and the funds available to build it. The first bridges were made by nature itself — as simple as a log fallen across a stream or stones in the river. The first bridges made by humans were probably spans of cut wooden logs or planks and eventually stones, using a simple support and cross beam arrangement. Some early Americans used trees or bamboo poles to cross small caverns or wells to get from one place to another. A common form of lashing sticks, logs, and deciduous branches together involved the use of long reeds or other harvested fibers woven together to form a connective rope capable of binding and holding together the materials used in early bridges. Bridges can be categorized in several different ways. Common categories include the type of structural elements used, by what they carry, whether they are fixed or movable, and by the materials used. Bridges of Spain The Bridges of Spain 2013 issue by Spanish Correos is made up of two stamps depicting a modern suspension bridge, Puente de Sancho el Mayor (Navarra), and another of Roman origin, the Puente de Puentecillas (Palencia). The Bridge of Sancho el Mayor, in Navarra, crosses the river Ebro and is part of the A-15 highway. It was built in 1978 by civil engineers Javier Manterola and Leonardo Fernandez Toyano and as a cable-stayed bridge. It has a total length of 204 meters, a width of 29 m and a main light span of 142 m, to which are added two side openings on the left bank of the river. It was built with precast keystones using the “cantilever” technique (the bridge is constructed in outward projections that are added on). This suspension bridge is supported on a single pier located on the axis of the road with 35 pairs of twin cables. At the time it was built it was one of the most innovative bridges in design and materials. A typical cable-stayed bridge is a continuous girder with one or two towers erected above piers in the middle of the span. From these piers, cables are attached diagonally to the girder to provide additional support. Engineering wise they stand in between counter steel bridges and suspension bridges. This type of bridge began to be built in the late 19th century and its use was widespread after World War II, thanks to the technical development of the construction materials and the structural empowerment via computers. Over the river Carrion in the city of Palencia stands the historic Puente de Puentecillas, the oldest bridge in town. Its original layout dates back to Roman times and it has undergone many changes since the 11th century, the most important of which took place in the 16th century when the current outline of the bridge was set and the remains of the Roman bridge disappeared. It stands in the city center close to the Cathedral and other monuments and has become a popular walking area with plenty of green spaces. At the entrance of the bridge is the famous Bolo de la Paciencia, where washerwomen leaned their baskets of clothes while chatting. For years it has been a town’s meeting place.

Malta - SepacDate of Issue: 20th June 2013one stamp (0.37 MTL) out of a set of two stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo).this stamp is issued in a mini sheet of 10 stamps

Known today, because it is pollen free, and therefore an ideal holiday destination for allergy sufferers, but better known to stamp collectors as Heligoland. One will invariably find a few reprints of the Victorian era issue in old albums. I thought a map of this strategic island, claimed mostly by Germany, would be of interest [...]

  Turkish post issued a sheet of four stamps dedicated to the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin.The 2013 Mediterranean Games, officially known as the XVII Mediterranean Games, is an international multi-sport event due to be held in the tradition of the Mediterranean Games, as governed by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG). The host city of the Games will be Mersin, Turkey, as announced after an on-line poll conducted on 23 February 2011 by the ICMG. They are scheduled to be held from 20 to 30 June 2013. Mersin is the second city in Turkey after Izmir to host the Mediterranean Games. All 24 member National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the ICMG are expected to participate in the Games. The official programme for the Games will feature events in 27 different sports. The official logo of this edition of the Mediterranean Games features a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) getting out of sea, with water underneath it. An orange is shown above its back, which represents the dry summer subtropical climate of Mediterranean. Karetta is the official mascot of the Mersin Games. The organizers of the 2013 Games have taken steps to promote the Games through its mascot. It was used in various events like the 34th Istanbul Marathon, Third Citrus Festival and others. Music Icons Date of issue : June 5, 2013 The Cash stamp was unveiled this month by US postal service, coinciding with the opening of a new Johnny Cash museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Johnny Cash, the  music superstar who was known as “The Man In Black,” is featured on new US stamp in the Music Icon series. That stamp features artwork based on a promo photo for his 1963 greatest hits  collection “Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash.” Johnny Cash (1932 – 2003) is best remembered internationally as a country music artist, but we feel his influence everywhere — from rock and folk to blues and gospel. In his unmistakable bass-baritone voice, Cash sang of love, loss, hardship, and faith, telling the story of the nation one person at a time.

Stamps on Synagogues -Israel Israel issued a set of three stamps on Synagogues in 1987. The Three Synagogues featured on the stamps are The Aleppo Great Synagogue  in Syria -Byzantine Period The Altneuschul Synagogue in Prague-13th Century The Florence Synagogue in Italy-19th Century