Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

unused, bought in 2010

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Violet Beauregarde: Well, they can't be real people.

Willy Wonka: Why, of course they're real people.

Mr. Salt: Stuff and nonsense!

Willy Wonka: No, Oompa Loompas.

The Group: [turning around] Oompa Loompas?

Willy Wonka: From Loompaland.

Mrs. Teevee: Loompaland? There's no such place.

Willy Wonka: Excuse me, dear lady, but...

Mrs. Teevee: Mr. Wonka, I am a teacher of geography.

Willy Wonka: Oh, well, then you know all about it and what a terrible country it is. Nothing but desolate wastes and fierce beasts. And the poor little Oompa Loompas were so small and helpless, they would get gobbled up right and left. A Wangdoodle would eat ten of them for breakfast and think nothing of it. And so, I said, "Come and live with me in peace and safety, away from all the Wangdoodles, and Hornswogglers, and Snozzwangers, and rotten, Vermicious Knids."

Mr. Salt: Snozzwangers? Vermicious Knids? What kind of rubbish is that?

Willy Wonka: I'm sorry, but all questions *must* be submitted in writing. And so, in the greatest of secrecy, I transported the entire population of Oompa Loompas to my factory here.

Veruca Salt: Hey, Daddy, *I* want an Oompa Loompa! I want you to get me an Oompa Loompa right away!

Mr. Salt: All right, Veruca, all right. I'll get you one before the day is out.

Veruca Salt: I want an Oompa Loompa now!

Violet Beauregarde: Can it, you nit!

Cat Eating Candy

What a fun postcard!  I love the cat's purple tongue.  I wonder what type of candy that is?  A lolly pop would be smooth.

This was bought this in Germany in 2011

Space Shuttle from Kennedy Space Center

What takes off like a rocket, flies like a spacecraft, and lands like a plane?
The Shuttle

Kennedy Space Center

Two solid rocket boosters provide six million pounds of thrust for shuttle liftoff.  The space shuttle orbits at approximately 17,500 mph.  Or 10 times faster than a rifle bullet.  The shuttle orbiter has no engines like a regular airplane does - so it lands like a glider.  It can't circle the runway and try again.  It has to land perfectly the first time!

This unused postcard was bought in 2011.

A Troll Making New Islands, Bror Eric

 Kykskolan, Bjuraker, Haisingland, Sweden

Sa blev det en ny o i Siljan.  (from translator: Said there was a new island in Lake Siljan.)

postmarked in 2011 with a Sweden dragonfly and lily pads stamp

The sender writes that this postcard is the artwork of Bror Eric, and it is of a troll throwing stones in the lake to make new islands and that you can also see small white elves dancing.  

                                           

Market in Doha, Qatar

Shopping inside the the Old Souk, Doha, Qatar.  (Yes, on the card the word 'the' is written twice)
From the original painting by Rosemary Morrell

This is postmarked in 2011 with a 'Military Postal Unit' - Free Mail - machine stamp.

What a fantastic postcard!!!

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Since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate known mostly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues, which enable Qatar to have a per capita income almost above the leading industrial countries of Western Europe. Qatar is rapidly gaining interest among foreigners as it hosted the 2006 Asian Games and is now scheduled to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The Original Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels

unused, bought in 2010

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Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men. The series was broadcast in the USA from 1976 to 1981 and was one of the most successful series of the 1970s.

Charlie's Angels was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. In pre-production, the original proposed title was The Alley Cats, with the idea being that the show would be a vehicle for upcoming actress Kate Jackson who had proved very popular with viewers in another police drama, The Rookies. Jackson was initially cast as Kelly but the actress was more attracted to the role of Sabrina and her request to switch roles was agreed.

The original Angels were: Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett-Majors, and Jaclyn Smith

Quaibrucke Bridge and Zurich, Switzerland

 Zurich, Switzerland

Quaibrucke mit Skyline von Zurich
(Quaibrücke (the Bridge) with Zurich skyline)

postmarked in 2011 with two Switzerland (Helvetia) stamps - one of World Circus Geneva 2010 for 140 and one of wheat for 20

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About the Bridge:
It is approximately 121 m long and in the middle it has a 5.8 m wide tram route, two 5.9 m wide carriageways for motorized traffic, two 1.5 m wide cycle tracks on both sides, and one each 4.95 m wide sidewalk. In one day it will be used for over 50,000 vehicles and 1530 tram trains.

                            


From this angle, the two churches look like they are right next to each other, but check out this view ...

Kirche Fraumunster und Kirche St. Peter, Zurich
(Fraumunster Church and St. Peter Church in Zurich, Switzerland)

unused, from 2011

Woman with Real Hair on the Postcard

P-C Paris
Made in France

The hair on this woman is made with real hair! Also, she has a pearl earring and a dot of glitter where her button is on her dress  

unused, from 1928

Ranch in Northern Tibet

Ranch in Northern Tibet
The People's Republic of China

Photographedby Zhaxi Cideng

unused, from 2009

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Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north of the Himalayas. It is home to the Tibetan people, and to some other ethnic groups such as Monpas and Lhobas, and is inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people.

Tibet is the highest region on earth, with an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft). It is sometimes referred to as the Roof of the World.

Today is the 1st Day of Summer!

Life's a Beach!
Florida

unused, from 2010
This is a shaped postcard  :D

Enjoy your summer everyone!!!!

The Blues Brothers

The Blues Brothers

This unused postcard was bought in 2010.

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Maybe it is just me, but they look a bit older than when they made the movie.

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues, characters developed from a musical sketch on the NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. It features musical numbers by R&B and soul singers James Brown, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and John Lee Hooker.

The story is a tale of redemption for paroled convict Jake (Belushi) and his brother Elwood (Aykroyd), who take on "a mission from God" to save from foreclosure the Catholic orphanage in which they grew up. To do so they must reunite their rhythm and blues band, The Blues Brothers, and organize a performance to earn $5,000 to pay the tax assessor. Along the way they are targeted by a destructive "mystery woman" (played by Carrie Fisher), Neo-Nazis, and a country and western band—all while being relentlessly pursued by the police.

Released in the United States on June 20, 1980, it received generally good reviews. It earned just under $5 million in its opening weekend and went on to gross more than $115 million in theaters worldwide before its release on home video.

Sweden's Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel Westling

Hennes Kungliga Hoghet Kronprinsessan Victoria och Herr Daniel Westling
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling

Den Officiella Brollopsserien
The Official Wedding Series
(This is one of their official engagement photos)

Foto: Mikael Jansson 2010

unused

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On 24 February 2009, Westling and the Crown Princess received official permission to become engaged from King Carl XVI Gustaf and the Government of Sweden. Such permission is necessary according to the terms of the Swedish Act of Succession.

Westling suffered from a congenital (but not hereditary) ailment causing impaired renal function. Three months after his engagement, on 28 May 2009, Westling underwent a kidney transplant at Karolinska University Hospital. His father was the donor. The operation was a success. Victoria could not be present when the operation took place because she was performing royal duties in Greenland.

The wedding took place in Stockholm Cathedral on 19 June 2010, the 34th anniversary of her parents' wedding.
After their wedding on 19 June 2010, the Duke and Duchess of Västergötland moved in to Haga Palace.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida

  

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Universal Studios 

Orlando, Florida

both postcards are unused and bought in 2011

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter forms part of Universal Parks and Resorts' Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida. It is one of seven themed areas within the park. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was officially opened to the public on June 18, 2010.

The area's flagship attraction is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey which exists within a re-creation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It takes riders on a journey through Harry Potter's wizarding world. Other attractions include Dragon Challenge: a pair of dueling roller coasters, and Flight of the Hippogriff: a family roller coaster. The area also features a re-creation of Hogsmeade which includes many gift shops and restaurants from the series of Harry Potter books including Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes, Ollivanders, Zonko's Joke Shop, The Three Broomsticks and The Hog's Head.

Cameron Highlands, Tea Plantation in Malaysia

 Cameron Highlands
Early morning view of the Sungai Palas Tea Plantation.

Photography: Dennis M. Allen

This postcard was postmarked in 2011 with a Malaysia 50 sen flower stamp.

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from their official website:
More than 5000ft above sea level, on the main mountain range of Malaysia, is one of the most fertile agricultural spots in the country: Cameron Highlands.

Nicknamed ‘Malaysia’s Green Bowl’, the highlands possess all the right attributes of prime cropland - moderate temperatures, high altitude, abundant rainfall, long hours of sunshine and well-drained soil.

These features were not lost on J.A. Russell, an established businessman who owned substantial tin and rubber investments in Malaya during the early 1900s. A man of keen business acumen, J.A. noticed that the demand for high quality tea remained high even during slumps.

So in 1929, J.A. established Boh Tea Garden, the country’s first highland tea garden in Cameron Highlands. Today, BOH Plantations owns two more tea gardens in Cameron Highlands: Fairlie and Sungei Palas.

Yi Ethnic Minority in China

Yi Ethnic Minority, Liangshan, Sichuan Province, China

Photography by Geng Yunsheng

postmarked in 2011 with a China 4.50 stamp

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The Yi people are a modern ethnic group in China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Numbering 8 million, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. 

The Yi speak Yi, a Tibeto-Burman language closely related to Burmese, which is written in the Yi script.

Most Yi believe they have the same ancestor named Apu Dumu. It is said that Apu Dumu married three wives and had six sons: each of the wives bore two sons. In the legend, the oldest two sons leading their tribes conquered other aborigines of Yunnan and began to reside in most territory of Yunnan. The youngest two sons led their tribes eastwards and were defeated by Han, before finally making western Guizhou their home and creating the largest quantity of Yi script documents. The other two sons led their tribes across Jinsha River and dwelled in Liangshan. 

Disney's Mars Needs Moms - from Russia

Disney
Mars Needs Moms advertising postcard from Nescafe Imax 3D

postmarked from Russia in 2011 with 4 Russian stamps

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Mars Needs Moms is a 3D computer-animated sci-fi adventure comedy film directed by Simon Wells (the great grandson of H. G. Wells) and based on a book of the same title by Berkeley Breathed. The film is centered around a nine-year-old boy who realizes he was wrong to be rude to his mother, and has to rescue her after she is abducted by Martians. It was released on March 11, 2011 by Walt Disney Pictures.

                 

Royal Swazi Hotel and Spa, Swaziland, Africa

The Royal Swazi Hotel and Spa

Private Bag Ezulwini

Swaziland

postmarked in 1983 with Swaziland 10c stamp

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The Royal Swazi Spa Hotel was originally built in 1965 and maintains a central position in the Ezulwini Valley. It is still open today.

Benny Goodman

Benny Goodman

unused, bought in 2010

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Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, clarinetist and bandleader, known as "King of Swing", "Patriarch of the Clarinet", "The Professor", and "Swing's Senior Statesman".

In the mid-1930s, Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America. His January 16, 1938 concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City is described by critic Bruce Eder as "the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's 'coming out' party to the world of 'respectable' music."

Goodman's bands launched the careers of many major names in jazz, and during an era of segregation, he also led one of the first racially-integrated musical groups.

American Graffiti

American Graffiti

Where were you in '62?

Starring:
Richard Dreyfuss
Ronny Howard
Paul Le Mat
Charlie Martin Smith
Candy Clark
Mackenzie Phillips
Cindy Williams
and
Wolfman Jack

Written and Directed by George Lucas
Produced by Francis Ford Coppola

A Universal Picture

unused

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American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film co-written/directed by George Lucas. Set in 1962 Modesto, California, American Graffiti is a study of the cruising and rock and roll cultures popular among the post–World War II baby boom generation. The film is a nostalgic portrait of teenage life in the early 1960s, featuring the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures within one night.

The story of American Graffiti was in Lucas's own teenage years in early 1960s Modesto. He was unsuccessful in pitching the concept to financiers and distributors, but finally found favor at Universal Pictures after United Artists, 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Paramount Pictures turned him down.

American Graffiti was released to universal critical acclaim and financial success, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The movie was produced on a budget of only $775,000, and since its initial release, it has made over $200 million in box office gross and home video sales, not including merchandising. In 1995, the United States Library of Congress deemed the film culturally significant and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.

The Titanic - pre-sinking postcard and matching memorial card

White Star Liner "Titanic."

National Series, Made in Gt. Britain

This unused postcard is from 1912.
Most Titanic postcards you will see are memorial postcards with the facts of how many died and the dates.  This one doesn't have any of that, so I think it might have been made before it sank!   If anyone knows anything about this card, please let me know.  Thanks

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RMS Titanic was the largest passenger steamship in the world when she set off on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, U.S.A., on 10 April 1912. Four days into the crossing, at 23:40 on 14 April 1912, she struck an iceberg and sank at 2:20 the following morning, resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.
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I found and bought this postcard at an auction house.... It is the same as above only now the information about the sinking has been added.

Magic Kingdom Metallic Postcards from 2009 and 2010

Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World
with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Michael "Mike" Wazowski from Monsters Inc.

unused, from 2009 and 2010 - metallic postcard

As far as I can tell, there are only 3 differences between the two.

Metropolis, Illinois, Hometown of Superman

Truth - Justice - The American Way

Hometown of Superman
Metropolis, Illinois

The familiar image of Superman presides over the business district of Metropolis which in the popular comic strip is known as his hometown. Building on the unique name, Metropolis now has a summer weekend Superman Days and the newspaper is appropriately 'The Metropolis Planet'.

postmarked in 2010 with a 32 cent 'Tweety and Sylvester' stamp

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Metropolis is a city located along the Ohio River in Massac County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,482.

On January 21, 1972 DC Comics declared Metropolis "Hometown of Superman". On June 9, 1972 the Illinois State Legislature passed Resolution 572 that declared Metropolis the "Hometown of Superman," the comic book superhero who is based in the fictional city of Metropolis. Among the ways it celebrates the character are a large Superman statue in the city, a small Superman museum, and an annual Superman Celebration that is always held the second weekend in June.

Saint Martin in the Caribbean

St. Martin

both are unused and from 2010

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Saint Martin is an island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles) east of Puerto Rico. The island is divided roughly 60/40 between France (53 km2) and the Netherlands (34 km2); however, the Netherlands side has the larger population. It is one of the smallest sea islands divided between two nations, a division dating to 1648. The southern Dutch part comprises Sint Maarten and is one of four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The northern French part comprises the Collectivité de Saint-Martin (Collectivity of St. Martin) and is an overseas collectivity of France.

On January 1, 2007 the population of the entire island was 74,852 inhabitants, 38,927 of whom lived on the Dutch side, and 35,925 on the French side.

Booth's Amphitheatre in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

 Saltpetre Vats and Booth's Amphitheatre in Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

During the War of 1812, saltpetre was mined in Mammoth cave and converted into gunpowder.  It was also at this point that Edwin Booth recited to a group of cave visitors in 1872.

postmarked in 1982 with a 13 cent 'Crazy Horse' stamp

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Edwin Thomas Booth (November 13, 1833 – June 7, 1893) was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time.

However, he is today often remembered as the brother of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

Silver Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II

1952 - 1977
Silver Jubilee

postmarked in 1977 with 6 Great Britain stamps (three maroon, two light blue and one light green)

Where the writing on the back is, it is mostly covered up with stamps, I can make out this:
Windsor Castle
Westminster Abbey
The Tower of London at Night

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The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms. It was celebrated with large-scale parties and parades throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth throughout 1977, culminating in June with the official "Jubilee Days," held to coincide with the Queen's Official Birthday.

On 6 June, the Queen lit a bonfire beacon at Windsor Castle, whose light spread across the night in a chain of other beacons throughout the whole country. On 7 June, crowds lined the procession to St Paul's Cathedral, where the royal family attended a Service of Thanksgiving alongside many world leaders, including United States President Jimmy Carter, as well as all of the living former Prime Ministers, stretching back from Harold Macmillan all the way to Harold Wilson. The service was followed by lunch in the Guildhall.

          

Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End

Pirates of the Caribbean

At World's End

Unused, from 2007

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Here is the same card mailed to me from Brazil in 2008 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is a 2007 movie, the third one in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. The plot follows Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and the crew of the Black Pearl rescuing Captain Jack Sparrow, from Davy Jones's Locker, and then preparing to fight the East India Trading Company who plan to extinguish piracy.

Starring: (in order on the postcard above)
Geoffrey Rush
Orlando Bloom
Johnny Depp
Keira Knightley
Chow Yun-fat

Valencia, Spain - City of Arts and Sciences

Valencia
ciudad de las artes y las ciencias
(city of arts and sciences)

unused, from 2011

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The City of Arts and Sciences is an entertainment-based cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain.

Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, the project underwent the first stages of construction in July, 1996 and the finished "city" was inaugurated April 16, 1998.

1. El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia — an opera house and performing arts center. It contains four large rooms: a Main Room, Magisterial Classroom, Amphitheater and Theater of Camera. It is dedicated to music and the scenic arts.

2. L'Umbracle — a landscaped walk with plant species indigenous to Valencia (such as rockrose, lentisca, romero, lavender, honeysuckle, bougainvillea, palm tree). It harbors in its interior The Walk of the Sculptures, an outdoor art gallery with sculptures from contemporary artists. (Miquel from Navarre, Francesc Abbot, Yoko Ono and others).

3. L'Oceanogràfic — an open-air oceanographic park. It is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe with 110,000 square meters and 42 million liters of water. It was built in the shape of a water lily and is the work of architect Félix Candela.

4. L'Hemisfèric — an Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium. Built in the shape of the eye and has an approximate surface of 13,000 m²

The Bridge of Victor Emanuel II, Rome, Italy

 Roma (Rome)

Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
The Bridge of Victor Emanuel II

postmarked from Egypt in 1955

the sender writes:
We are now on the plane flying from Rome to Cairo, Egypt.  Wish you were here with me.  Rome is full of images.  Saw prison Paul was kept where he wrote some of his epistles.  Also place of burial.  Visited Vatican - St. Peters -- saw and heard Pope give blessing.  Saw sacred step they claim was brought to Rome from Jerusalem that Jesus waled on for trial before Pilot.  Steps were filled with people on knees climbing up to top and kissing each step.

Write to me, love dear,
....

Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, June 2, 1953

The Duke of Edinburgh pays homage to the queen.

The scene in Westminster Abbey at the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, June 2nd, 1953

A Tuck Card - Real Photo

unused

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The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which the newly ascended monarch, Elizabeth II, was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth ascended the thrones of these countries upon the death of her father, the late King George VI on 6 February 1952, and was proclaimed queen by her various privy and executive councils shortly afterward. The coronation, however, was held more than a year after the accession, on 2 June 1953; this followed the long-standing tradition that a joyous festival such as a coronation was inappropriate during the period of mourning that followed the death of the preceding sovereign.