#479 India...Thanks Syed!

This FDC was issued on 3rd October,2010 on the inaugural day of the XIX Commonwealth Games held in Delhi between 2010.10.03 to 10.14, illustrating tennis,archery,hockey and athletics.

The XIX Commonwealth Games is the largest multi sport event in Delhi after the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982.It is also for the first time that the Commonwealth Games held in India.

85 Commonwealth Nations participated in 260 games in 17 disciplines.These events will take place in the upgraded existing stadiums and new stadiums constructed specially for the games.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games took place at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium,New Delhi.It showcased the spirit,talent and rich fiber of Indian culture.The mascot of the game,"Shera",combines modern and traditional India and embodies the values,majesty,power,charisma,intelligence,grace and elegance of the tiger.

The official slogan of the Commonwealth Games 2010 is "Come out and Play".The logo tagline is an invitation to every person across all divides Indian and Commonwealth to participate in the Games to the best of their abilities,in the true spirit of the Games.

India Post has already issued two sets of stamps on themes:One set on the Queen's Baton Relay and a second set on the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium and Talkatora Stadium.

#478 Russia...Thanks Starkova!

The 2 RUB and 5 RUB stamps are from 2009 Sixth Definitives Series:Russian Kremlins depicting Kazan Kremlin and Novgorod Kremlin respectively,both listed as World Heritage Sites.

Built on an ancient site, the Kazan Kremlin dates from the Muslim period of the Golden Horde and the Kazan Khanate. It was conquered by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 and became the Christian See of the Volga Land. The only surviving Tatar fortress in Russia and an important place of pilgrimage, the Kazan Kremlin consists of an outstanding group of historic buildings dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, integrating remains of earlier structures of the 10th to 16th centuries.

Situated on the ancient trade route between Central Asia and northern Europe, Novgorod was Russia's first capital in the 9th century. Surrounded by churches and monasteries, it was a centre for Orthodox spirituality as well as Russian architecture.

#477 Taiwan...Thanks Chang!

This stamp is from 1991 Chinese Traditional Gods issue showing Fu star,namely God of Good Fortune.

Fu Lu Shou (simplified Chinese: 福禄寿; traditional Chinese: 福祿壽; pinyin: Fú Lù Shòu) refers to the concept of Good Fortune (Fu), Prosperity (Lu), and Longevity (Shou). This Taoist concept is thought to date back to the Ming Dynasty, when the Fu Star, Lu Star and Shou Star were considered to be personified deities of these attributes respectively. The term is commonly used in Chinese culture to denote the three attributes of a good life.

The Fu star (福) refers to the planet Jupiter. In traditional astrology, the planet Jupiter was believed to be auspicious. Alternately, according to Taoist legend, the Fu Star is associated with Yang Cheng, a governor of Daozhou. Yang Cheng risked his life by writing a memorial to the emperor to save the people from suffering. After his death, the people built a temple to commemorate him, and over time he came to be considered the personification of good fortune.
He is generally depicted in scholar's dress, holding a scroll, on which is sometimes written the character "Fu". He may also be seen holding a child, or surrounded by children.

#476 France...Thanks David!

#475 France...Thanks David!

#474 Poland...Thanks Juris!

This souvenir sheet was issued in 2008 celebrating World Stamp Show - EFIRO 2008.

The first EFIRO (Romanian Philatelic Exhibition) had taken place in 1932 on an occasion of the 70th anniversary of unification of the Moldavian and Multanian Post Services. That event was inspired by the "Philatelic Tribune" magazine, and was carried out under patronage of the king Carol II.

The occasion to organize the next EFIRO Exhibition (1998) had been given by the 150th anniversary of 1848 revolution and the 140th anniversary of issue the first Romanian post stamp. Finally the third EFIRO Exhibition (September, 2004) took place on an occasion of the 130th anniversary of establishing the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in connection to its 23rd congress.

The actual EFIRO exhibition is therefore the fourth one in that line, accompanying at the same time the World Philatelic Exhibition, being hosted by Romania for the first time. The exhibition organized under the motto "Time goes by, stamps remain" was held in an exhibition centre Romexpo on June 20-27, 2008, where one day after its final conclusion the FIP (Fédération Internationale de Philatélie) congress was assembled.

Immediately on the opening day of the EFIRO 2008 exhibition Poczta Polska has issued the stamp in block, featuring an open envelope, out of which the fragment of the Romanian Athenaeum building can be seen. Off the stamp's frame there is an image of fountain-pen with its nib decorated with the engraved aurochs' head.

The concert hall, built partially thanks to the public subscription to become a national temple of sciences and art. Currently it is a home of the Romanian Philharmonic. Nowadays the Atheneaum is a symbol of the national tradition and culture in dominated by the social-realistic architecture Bucharest. It was built at the end of the 19th century in neoclassical style by the design of French architect, A. Galleron.

#473 Latvia...Thanks Jelizaweta!

The 4.5Ls stamp is from 2007 Latvia-Germany joint issue:UNESCO Cultural Heritage illustrating Hanseatic cites Stralsund and Wismar.

The medieval towns of Wismar and Stralsund, on the Baltic coast of northern Germany, were major trading centres of the Hanseatic League in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 17th and 18th centuries they became Swedish administrative and defensive centres for the German territories. They contributed to the development of the characteristic building types and techniques of Brick Gothic in the Baltic region, as exemplified in several important brick cathedrals, the Town Hall of Stralsund, and the series of houses for residential, commercial and crafts use, representing its evolution over several centuries.