#253 Argentina...Thanks Ricardo!

The $5 stamp showing a Tracktor is from 2009 Mercosur Products for Export issue.

Mercosur (Southern Common Market) is a Regional Trade Agreement between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay founded in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción, which was later amended and updated by the 1994 Treaty of Ouro Preto. Its purpose is to promote free trade and the fluid movement of goods, people, and currency. The official languages are Portuguese and Spanish.

Mercosur origins trace back to 1985 when Presidents Raúl Alfonsín of Argentina and José Sarney of Brazil signed the Argentina-Brazil Integration and Economics Cooperation Program or PICE.The program also proposed the Gaucho as a currency for regional trade.

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru currently have associate member status. Venezuela signed a membership agreement on 17 June 2006, but before becoming a full member its entry has to be ratified by the Paraguayan parliament. The founding of the Mercosur Parliament was agreed at the December 2004 presidential summit. It should have 18 representatives from each country by 2010.Israel is currently the only non-South American free trade partner.

The $1 stamp in the middle was issued in 2009 commemorating 150th Anniversary of the Children of the Holy Virgin at the Orchard Congregation, in Argentina representing one of the apostolic work of the Congregation: teaching in schools. Downtown, San Antonio Maria Gianelli blessing to the sisters and students. The work belongs to the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Garden.

The next $1 stamp was also issued in 2009 commemorating 100th Anniversary of Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish in Santa Cruz showing view of the facade and detail of the stained glass of the main rosette.

#252 China...Thanks Shou!

The 1.20 Yuan stamp is from 2007 Nianhua (New Year Woodprints) of Mianzhu,Sichuan Province issue.

Until the mid-20th century, nianhua (New Year woodblock prints) were the most common form of household decoration in China. As the title of the genre suggests, most nianhua were designed to facilitate New Year celebrations, and with their themes of enduring optimism and brilliant colours they brought a spark of light into an otherwise dreary mid-winter environment. Once posted, however, they would stay in place, continuing to influence the spiritual, social and cultural values of the family long after the initial festival had passed.

The 20fen and 40fen stamps are from 1996 Selection of Works of Huang Binhong issue.

Huáng Bīnhóng (黃賓虹) (1865-1955) was an art historian and literati painter born in Jinhua in Zhejiang province. He is considered one of the last innovators in the literati style of painting and is noted for his freehand landscapes. His painting style showed the influence of the earlier painters Li Liufang (李流芳), Cheng Sui (程邃), Cheng Zhengkui, and Kun Can.

He also had significance for creating several societies devoted to painting and calligraphy.

#251 Spain...Thanks Klara!

The 0.34€ stamp is from 2010 Fauna series showing a moth (Artimelia latreillei),which, from the order of the lepidopetrans, belongs to the family of the Arciidae and the genus ocnogyna.

This moth is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and its colonies, although scattered over Spain and Portugal, are geographically isolated in mountainous areas (up to 1.500-1.800 high) as well as lower regions and the coastline. The males are very active during the day, even during the hottest hours in the morning and with their low, fast and erratic flight chase the females which remain still on the ground or on low branches. They are very active and polyphagous butterflies feeding in May and June from plants and petals from different species. Its hibernating chrysalis is of a reddish colour and barrel shaped and remains on the ground protected by a lightweight silky cocoon. The image is based on a photograph by Enrique Aguilar Gil depicting a female species belonging to the collection of entomologist Tomás Latasa.

#250 USA...Thanks Alp!

With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service honors Bill Mauldin, one of America’s favorite cartoonists. During World War II, military readers got a knowing laugh from Mauldin’s characters Willie and Joe, who gave their civilian audience an idea of what life was like for soldiers. After the war, Mauldin became a popular and influential editorial cartoonist.

In 1945, he won a Pulitzer Prize “for distinguished service as a cartoonist” and the Allied high command awarded him its Legion of Merit. His illustrated memoir, Up Front, was a bestseller. That same year, his “dogface” Willie appeared on the cover of Time.

U.S. Postal Service art director Terry McCaffrey chose to honor Mauldin through a combination of photography and an example of Mauldin’s art. The photo of Bill Mauldin is by John Phillips, a photographer for Life magazine; it was taken in Italy on December 31, 1943. Mauldin’s cartoon, showing his characters Willie and Joe, is used courtesy of the 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

#249 France...Thanks Jean Pierre!

The 1.25F stamp was issued in 1977 commemorating 500th anniv. of Annexation of Burgundy by the French Crown.

The Duchy of Burgundy was a feudal territory in Medieval Europe. It roughly conforms to the modern Bourgogne, although it grew to have considerable possessions in the Low Countries as well. Existing between 843 and 1477, the Duchy was ruled by a succession of dukes, whose extinction with the death of Charles the Bold in 1477 led to the southern part of the Duchy being absorbed into the French crown by King Louis XI, while the Low Countries fell under Habsburg control.

The origins of the Duchy lie in the far older Kingdom of Burgundy. The kingdom had evolved from the territory ruled over by the Burgundians, a Scandic people who settled in Gaul in the late 4th century; they lived in the area around Dijon, Chalon-sur-Saône, Mâcon, Autun, and Châtillon-sur-Seine, and their name was applied to the region. This first Kingdom of Burgundy would be annexed to the dominions of the Merovingian Kings of the Franks in the era of Clovis and his sons; it would, however, be recreated on several occasions whenever it was necessary to divide the Frankish territories between the sons of a deceased Frankish King.

Although the Kingdom of Burgundy did not always exist as an independent entity during this time, it continued a semi-autonomous existence as a part of the Kingdom of the Franks: the Burgundians maintained their own law codes.

From these counties would emerge both the Duchy of Burgundy and the County of Burgundy, aided by the collapse of Carolingian centralism, and the division of the Frankish domains brought about by the Partition of Verdun in 843.

The 1.10F stamp was also issued in 1977 commemorating 500th anniv. of Battle of Nancy between the Dukes of Burgundy and Lorraine.
The Battle of Nancy was the final and decisive battle of the Burgundian Wars, fought outside the walls of Nancy on 5 January 1477 between Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, and René, Duke of Lorraine. René's forces won the battle, and Charles' mutilated body was found three days later.

The 0.55€ stamp is 2009 Braille issue and the information could be read in the previous post.

#248 Malaysia...Thanks Saravanan!

This Medical Excellence issue highlights the excellence achieved by Malaysia in the medical field at the international level.These fields include Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency where the stem cell on the outer most layer of the cornea is destroyed which results in severe loss of vision;whereas the Premaxilla Retractor which has been modified and made in Malaysia gives new hope to children born with cleft lip and the first successful Limb Transplant in the world which made the world record.

#247 Macedonia...Thanks Simeon!

These two stamps were issued in 2010 featuring Pets-Parrots.

Parrots are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions. The order is subdivided in three families: the Psittacidae ('true' parrots), the Cacatuidae (cockatoos) and the Strigopidae (New Zealand parrots). Parrots have a pan-tropical distribution with several species inhabiting the temperate Southern Hemisphere as well. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South America and Australasia.

Parrots, along with ravens, crows, jays and magpies, are some of the most intelligent birds, and the ability of some parrot species to imitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets. Trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade, as well as other hunting, habitat loss and competition from invasive species, have diminished wild populations, and parrots have been subjected to more exploitation than any other group of birds.

Parrots are popular as pets due to their sociable and affectionate nature, intelligence, bright colours, and ability to imitate human voices.Parrots can make excellent companion animals, and can form close, affectionate bonds with their owners. However they invariably require an enormous amount of attention, care and intellectual stimulation to thrive, akin to that required by a three year old child, which many people find themselves unable to provide in the long term. Parrots that are bred for pets may be hand fed or otherwise accustomed to interacting with people from a young age to help ensure they will be tame and trusting. However, parrots are not low maintenance pets; they require feeding, grooming, veterinary care, training, environmental enrichment through the provision of toys, exercise, and social interaction (with other parrots or humans) for good health. Some large parrot species, including large cockatoos, Amazons, and macaws, have very long lifespans with 80 years being reported and record ages of over one hundred. Small parrots, such as lovebirds, hanging parrots, and budgies have shorter life spans of up to 15–20 years. Some parrot species can be quite loud, and many of the larger parrots can be destructive and require a very large cage, and a regular supply of new toys, branches, or other items to chew up. The intelligence of parrots means they are quick to learn tricks and other behaviors—both good and bad—that will get them what they want, such as attention or treats.

The popularity, longevity, and intelligence of many of the larger species of pet parrots has led to many of these birds being re-homed during the course of their long lifespans.

A common problem is that large parrot species which are cuddly and gentle as juveniles will mature into intelligent, complex, often demanding adults that can outlive their owners. Due to these problems, and the fact that homeless parrots are not euthanized like dogs and cats, parrot adoption centers and sanctuaries are becoming more common.