#443 Sweden...Thanks Hansson!

The 75 ore stamp was issued in 1974 showing Street in Ystad,which is a locality in the southernmost of Sweden.

The two stamps on the right were issued in 2010 illustrating popular flower:Pansy.

#442 India...Thanks Anubhav!

#441 Latvia...Thanks Juris!

This FDC is from Latvian Timber Resources issue illustrating Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) which is a species native to Europe and northern Asia.

#440 Portugal...Thanks Nuno!

#439 El Salvador...Thanks Sergio!

The $1 stamp was issued in 2008 celebrating XVIII Ibero-American Summit.

Ibero-American Summit is a yearly meeting, organized by the Iberoamerican Community of Nations, of the heads of government and state of the Spanish-, Portuguese-speaking nations of Europe and the Americas. Although Spanish and Portuguese are the languages of the organization, other languages are spoken by members, such as Catalan in Andorra, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Country, Basque in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and Galician in the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Guaraní in Paraguay or Quechua in Peru.

#438 Cuba...Thanks Pedro!

The souvenir sheet is from 2004 Minerals issue illustrating Copper.

The 2.05p stamp is from 2007 National Zoo issue showing Bornean Orangutan.The Bornean Orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus, is a species of orangutan native to the island of Borneo. Together with the slightly smaller Sumatran Orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia.

The Bornean Orangutan has a life span of about 35 to 40 years in the wild; in captivity it can live to be 60.

#437 USA...Thanks Ira!

The 44c stamp on the right is the ninth issuance in the American Treasures series features Boys in a Pasture, an 1874 painting by Winslow Homer.

Winslow Homer (1836-1910) is considered one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century. According to the Museum of Fine Arts, the boys in this painting—companionable, idle, at peace—may be seen as emblems of America's nostalgia for a simpler, more innocent time as well as of its hope for the future. Their faces are averted, a device Homer often used to make his figures less individual and, therefore, more universal.

The painting is part of the Hayden Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

#436 Slovenia...Thanks Adam!

This nice FDC was issued in 2004 celebrating 1000th anniv. of Bled,a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola.

Bled is known for the glacial Lake Bled, which makes it a major tourist attraction. Perched on a rock overlooking the lake is the iconic Bled Castle. The town is also known in Slovenia for its vanilla-and-cream pastry called kremna rezina or kremšnita.

Due to its mild climate, Bled has been visited by aristocratic guests from all across the world. Today it is an important convention centre and tourist resort, offering a wide range of sport activities (golf, fishing, horseback-riding) and is a starting point for mountain treks and hikes especially within the nearby Triglav National Park.

A small island in the middle of the lake is home to the Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church; visitors frequently ring its bell for good luck. Human traces from prehistory have been found on the island. Before the church was built, there was a temple consecrated to Živa, the Slavic goddess of love and fertility. One can get to the island on a traditional wooden row barge called Pletna. The island on Lake Bled has 99 steps. A local tradition at weddings is for the husband to carry his new bride up these steps, during which the bride must remain silent.

The 0.92€ stamp was issued in 2010 showing Izola,which is an old fishing city and a municipality in southwestern Slovenia on the Adriatic coast of the Istrian peninsula. Its name originates from the Italian Isola, which means island.The coastal areas of Istria came under Venetian influence in the 9th century.It became definitely the territory of the Republic of Venice in 1267, and the centuries of Venetian rule left a strong and enduring mark on the region.

#435 South Africa...Thanks Rosemary!

The stamp on the right was issued in 2009 honoring President Jacob Zuma.

Zuma (born in 1942) is the President of the African National Congress (ANC), the governing political party, and was Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005.Zuma is also referred to by his initials JZ and his clan name Msholozi.Zuma became the President of the ANC on 18 December 2007 after defeating incumbent Thabo Mbeki at the ANC conference in Polokwane. Zuma was also a member of the South African Communist Party (SACP),briefly serving on the party's Politburo until he left the party in 1990.On 20 September 2008, Thabo Mbeki announced his resignation after being recalled by the African National Congress's National Executive Committee, following a conclusion by Judge Nicholson of improper interference in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), including the prosecution of Jacob Zuma for corruption.

#434 Thailand...Thanks Terdsak!

This set of 4 stamps was issued in Apr.2010 to commemorate Thai Heritage Conservation Day 2010 showing famous palaces in Thailand.

#433 Croatia...Thanks Josip!

#432 Luxembourg...Thanks Klaus!

The 0.35€ stamp is from 2004 "Food Products Made in Luxembourg" issue illustrating Baked goods and Beer

The other 0.35€ stamp is from 2005 Butterfly issue depicting The Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon).It is the type species of the genus Papilio and occurs throughout the Palearctic region in Europe and Asia; it also occurs across North America, and thus, is not restricted to the Old World, despite the common name.

#431 Korea...Thanks Ahn!

The two stamps are from the 1st series of The Age of Dinosaurs issued in Aug.2010 illustrating Herrerasaurus and Coelophysis.

This fascinating animal appeared hundreds of millions years ago to dominate life on earth for 160 million years only to abruptly go extinct.During the next three years,dinosaurs of each epochal period (The Triassic period,the Jurassic period and the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era) will be introduced in Korean stamps.

Herrerasaurus

Known as one of the oldest kinds of dinosaurs,Herrerasaurus had carnivorous features:a big jaw,sharp teeth,and features favorable for hunting such as long claws and quick and nimble legs.Being about 3-4 m long and weighing 250-300 kg,it was a biped ambulatory animal.It inhabited the northwestern areas of Argentina during the latter part of the Triassic period.

Coelophysis

As a quick and agile dinosaur,its front legs were very short and its body except for the tail was a little bigger than a turkey.In 1947,hundreds of Coelophysis fossils were found in Ghost Ranch,New Mexico.Unlike other large,carnivorous dinosaurs,Coelophysis seemed to have lived in groups,moving in herds.Its body was 3 m at longest and weighed 15-30 kg.

#430 Monaco...Thanks David!

The 0.51€ stamp was issued on Feb.24,2010 to celebrate the Centenary of Akira Kurosawa's Birth.

Akira Kurosawa was born in Tokyo in 1910 and died in 1998. Descended from an illustrious samurai family, he is one of the greatest Japanese filmmakers. In 1950, Rashōmon brought consecration and, through it, recognition of Japanese cinema all over the world (Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and Oscar for the best foreign film in the United States). The stamp illustrates the film Seven Samurai, which inspired The Magnificent Seven in 1960.

The 0.87€ stamp was issed in July 2010 celebrating 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Singapour was the host of the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from 14 to 26 August 2010 with the participation of 3600 athletes aged from 14 to 18. More than a simple sporting competition, the YOG shall develop a "culture and education" programme which aims for the athletes to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

#429 Austria...Thanks Florian!

This FDC was issued on Aug.26,2010 commemorating 100th birthday of Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa (1910–1997), born Agnes Gonxhe Bojaxhiu(now Skopje,the Republic of Macedonia),was a Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship,who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries. Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and given the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

By the 1970s, she was internationally famed as a humanitarian and advocate for the poor and helpless, due in part to a documentary and book Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980 for her humanitarian work. Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity continued to expand, and at the time of her death it was operating 610 missions in 123 countries, including hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counselling programs, orphanages, and schools.

She has been praised by many individuals, governments and organizations; however, she has also faced a diverse range of criticism. These include objections by various individuals and groups, including Christopher Hitchens, Michael Parenti, Aroup Chatterjee, Vishva Hindu Parishad, against the proselytizing focus of her work including a strong stance against contraception and abortion, a belief in the spiritual goodness of poverty and alleged baptisms of the dying. Medical journals also criticised the standard of medical care in her hospices and concerns were raised about the opaque nature in which donated money was spent.

#427 Italy...Thanks Alfredo!

The 0.52€ stamp is from 2003 Futurist Art issue featuring "Linee-Forza del Pugno di Boccioni (Force line of Boccioni's Fist)" by Giacomo Balla.

Giacomo Balla (1871-1958) was an Italian painter born in Turin.Influenced by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Giacomo Balla adopted the Futurism style, creating a pictorial depiction of light, movement and speed. He was signatory to the Futurist Manifesto in 1910 and began designing and painting Futurist furniture and also created Futurist "antineutral" clothing. He also taught Umberto Boccioni,who was also an Italian painter and sculptor.In painting, his new style is demonstrated in the 1912 work titled Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash. In 1914, he also began sculpting and the following year created perhaps his best known sculpture called Boccioni's Fist.

The 0.23€ stamp was issued in 2007 celebrating Father Lodovico Acernese (1835-1916),the founder of The Congregation of the Franciscan Immaculatine Sisters.

#427 Myanmar...Thanks Thitar!

#426 Singapore...Thanks Stephen!

The 1st Local stamp on the left is from 2008 Festivals issue featuring Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

One of two main festivals celebrated by the Muslims in Singapore,Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a joyous occasion marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Signifying openness of mind and heart,it is customary on this day for Muslims to attend prayers in the mosque and to seek forgiveness from one another.Then,decked in their finest clothes,they'd visit family and friends for feasting and community bonding.

The 65c stamp on the right was issued in 2010 celebrating Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games held between 14 to 26 August 2010.

It was the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics, a major sports and cultural festival celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games. A total of 3,531 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 201 events in 26 sports.Singapore 2010 is not just about sports,competition and breaking records.It's about doing one's best;about participating as much as about winning; about forging friendships in spite of diversity;about respecting oneself and others,rules and regulations and the environment.

The stamp highlights the mascots of the Games:Lyo and Merly, a fire-themed lion and a water-themed female merlion respectively.

#425 Liechtenstein...Thanks Vural!

The 140 CHF stamp is from 2010 Butterfly issue showing False Ringlet (Coenonympha oedippus),which is an endangered species of butterfly in the Satyridae family.

It is found in Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine. It is extinct in Bulgaria, Germany and Slovakia.

#424 Belgium...Thanks Lucas!

The stamp on the top was issued on Apr.15,2010 celebrating 50th birthday of Prince Philippe,who is the eldest son and heir apparent of Albert II, King of the Belgians and Queen Paola.

The stamp below is from the 2010 issue of Literature: European Writers in Brussels in the 19th century showing Charlotte & Emily Brontë.

Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855) was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters whose novels are English literature standards. She wrote Jane Eyre under the pen name Currer Bell.

Emily Jane Brontë (1818–1848) was an English novelist and poet, now best remembered for her novel Wuthering Heights, a classic of English literature. Emily was the second eldest of the three surviving Brontë sisters, between Charlotte and Anne. She published under the androgynous pen name Ellis Bell.

In 1842 Charlotte and Emily travelled to Brussels to enroll in a boarding school run by Constantin Heger (1809 – 1896) and his wife Claire Zoé Parent Heger (1814 – 1891). In return for board and tuition, Charlotte taught English and Emily taught music. Their time at the boarding school was cut short when their aunt died of internal obstruction in October 1842. Charlotte returned alone to Brussels in January 1843 to take up a teaching post at the boarding school. Her second stay at the boarding school was not a happy one; she became lonely, homesick and deeply attached to Constantin Heger. She finally returned to Haworth in January 1844 and later used her time at the boarding school as the inspiration for some of The Professor and Villette.

#423 Czech Republic...Thanks Robert!

The 7.50kc stamp was issued in 2005 for the Handicraft relics series featuring two bells: one from BENEŠOV 1322 and another from HAVLÍCKUV BROD 1335.

The voices of bells have accompanied our everyday life for almost five thousand years. Even though they are almost hidden from our sight, they measure our time, announce the arrival of holidays, sound the alarm, invite for prayers, accompany us also on our last way. Their voice did not change throughout the thousands of years, it still evokes the same emotions in us as it did in our predecessors. The shape of bells did not change either, nor did the old craft of bell-founding. Bells are founded of bronze in the same way as they used to be. A bell sounds with many different, unevenly sonorous tones which have to chime in harmoniously. In addition to the musical aspect bells have also an important artistic aspect; they bear inscriptions and plastic decorations of artistic value.

The bell from the belfry in Benešov by the ruined Minor Franciscan monastery from the 13th century; this is the oldest bell from 1322, signed "Rudger".

The bell from the belfry of the dean´s church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Havlíckuv Brod, dated 1300, 1305, or most recently 1335 according to a different interpretation of the Latin abbreviations. These two bells represent the oldest relics of the highly developed bell-founding craft in the territory of the Czech Republic.

#422 USA...Thanks Ira!

The 44c stamp in the middle is from 2010 Sunday Funnies issue featuring Dennis the Menace.

Dennis the Menace follows the antics of Dennis Mitchell, a good-hearted but mischievous little boy who is perpetually “5-ana-half” years old. His curiosity tests the patience of his loving parents and neighbors, guaranteeing that their lives are anything but dull. The comic debuted in March 1951 as a single-panel gag.

The 44c stamp on the right was issued in June,2010 paying tribute to the all-black professional baseball leagues that operated from 1920 to about 1960.

In 1920, Andrew “Rube” Foster (1879–1930)—who began his baseball career as a pitcher—established the Negro National League, the first successful league of African-American teams. Nicknamed “Rube” after defeating major-league pitcher George Edward “Rube” Waddell in 1902, Foster is considered the “father” of Negro leagues baseball. He is featured on the stamp.

#421 Russia...Thanks Sergey!

The two 9 Rub stamps are from 2009 Culture of Russian People issue featuring National Head dress of Yaroslavl Province (left) and Nizhniy Novgorod Province in Middle of XIX Century.

The 5 Rub stamp is from 2004 Signs of the Zodiac issue illustrating Virgo.

Virgo (♍) is the sixth astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Virgo. In western astrology, the sign is no longer aligned with the constellation as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. In astrology, Virgo is considered a "passive", negative (introvert) sign. Virgo is traditionally ruled by the planet Mercury, but Ceres and several other planets have been suggested as the ruler of Virgo by some modern astrologers.Being the sixth sign of the zodiac, Virgo has been associated with the astrological sixth house.

Individuals born when the Sun was in this sign are considered Virgo individuals. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun is in Virgo roughly from August 23 to September 23, leaving it at the moment of autumnal equinox, by definition.