Real Photo Postcard of Northbrook Street in Newbury, England

Northbrook Street, Newbury
street scene showing vintage cars, Timothy Whites and the Tudor Cafe

unused real photo postcard from Valentine and Son's - printed in Great Britain

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Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings.

Food in Jamaica - Ackee and Breadfruit

Ackee and Breadfruit.  The Ackee fruit is one of the ingredients that makes up our national dis, "Ackee and saltfish".  Breadfruit, another Jamaica Jamaican favourite.

Ackee y la Fruta de Pan.  La fruta de Ackee, es uno de los ingredientes con que se hace el platos nacional de Jamaica, "Ackee con bacalao".  La fruta de Pan es otra comide favorite de Jamaica. 

Photography - Ray Chen

postmarked in 2012 with a Jamaica 'Bob Marley' stamp

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Ackee and saltfish is a traditional Jamaican dish, known as Jamaica's national dish.

The ackee fruit was imported to Jamaica from West Africa before 1778. Because parts of the fruit are toxic, there are shipping restrictions when being imported to countries such as the United States.

To prepare the dish, salt cod (packet salt fish may need to be boiled down and should be free of 'pink' mould) is sautéed with boiled ackee, onions, Scotch Bonnet peppers (optional), tomatoes, and spices, such as black pepper and pimiento. It can be garnished with crisp bacon and fresh tomatoes, and is usually served alongside breadfruit, hard dough bread, dumplings, fried plantain, or boiled green bananas.

Santana, Madeira Archipelago in Portugal

Madeira
Santana

Casas tipicas
Typical houses
Maisons typiques
Typische Hauser

postmarked in 2013

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Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies just under 400 kilometres (250 mi) north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean.  It was discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1419.  Today, it is a popular year-round resort.

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Santana (a municipality of Madeira) is known for the traditional homes constructed with sloping triangular rooftops, and protected with straw. These were mainly rural homes, used by local farmers, during the settlement of the island, with white-paintd walls, red doors and windows with blue trim. Most of the surviving buildings are tourist attractions, and maintained (for example, the straw roofs are replace every four to five years).

Harare, Zimbabwe

New Meikles Hotel overlooking Cecil Square, Harare, Zimbabwe.

postmarked in 1985 with two Zimbabwe Rhinoceros 9 c stamps

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Harare is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,606,000 (2009).

The city is a trade centre for tobacco, cotton, and citrus fruits. Manufactures include textiles, steel, and chemicals, and gold is mined in the area.

Bahla Fort in The Sultanate of Oman - UNESCO Site

Bahla fort was built before Islam and enlisted in UNESCO

postmarked in 2013 with two stamps from the Sultanate of Oman

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Bahla Fort is one of four historic fortresses situated at the foot of the Djebel Akhdar highlands in Oman. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. The fort's ruined adobe walls and towers rise some 165 feet above its sandstone foundations.

The fort was not restored or conserved before 1987, and had fallen into a parlous state, with parts of the walls collapsing each year in the rainy season.

The fort became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It was included in the List of World Heritage in Danger from 1988. Restoration works began in the 1990s, and nearly $9m were spent by the Omani government from 1993 to 1999. It remained covered with scaffolding and closed to tourists for many years. (As seen in the postcard above) It was removed from the list of endangered sites in 2004.  The fort of Bahla has been semi-reopened to the public in September 2012.

 


Oman (Sultanate of Oman) stamps 2001
Traditional Omani dagger
Al-Khanjar A'Suri, 50 and 100 Baisa

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The khanjar is the traditional dagger of Oman.  The khanjar is curved and sharpened on both edges. It is carried in a sheath decorated in silver, on a belt similarly decorated in silver filigree. A khanjar appears on the flag of Oman, as part of the national emblem of Oman.

There are many uses of the khanjar. It is a symbolic weapon, worn by men after puberty. Nowadays, it is used as a type of formal dress item.

Traditional Cattle in Appenzell Switzerland

Alpfahrt auf die Schwagalp Im Appenzellerland

Traditionnelle Montee Du Betail a L'Alpage de Schwagalp, Pays D'Appenzell (French)
Alpeggio sulla Schwagalp nel Distretto de Appenzello (Italian)

translation is something like... Traditional livestock on the Schwagalp Pass in the canton of Appenzell

photo: Ronald Gerth

postmarked in 2013 from Switzerland

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Appenzell is a region and historical canton in the northeast of Switzerland

Schwägalp Pass (el. 1278 m.) is a high mountain pass in the Alps between the cantons of St. Gallen and Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland.

Switzerland (Helvetia) stamp 2012

Flower of the Allium cepa (Onion), 190

Provo, Utah

 Provo, Utah


postmarked in 2013 with a USS Constitution, War of 1812 stamp

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Provo is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Utah and has a population at the 2010 census of 112,488.

The city is home to Brigham Young University, one of the largest private higher education institutions in the United States.

USA stamp 2012

USS Constitution, The War of 1812

Forever a first class rate

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USS Constitution is a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. Named by President George Washington after the Constitution of the United States of America, she is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Launched in 1797, Constitution was one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. 

Nudibranch from the Red Sea in Egypt

 Red Sea - Egypt


the sender writes that this is a Nudibranch.

postmarked in 2013 with a LE 2.5 Egypt stamp

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A nudibranch is a member of Nudibranchia, a group of soft-bodied, marine gastropod mollusks which shed their shell after their larval stage. They are noted for their often extraordinary colors and striking forms.

The word "nudibranch" comes from the Latin nudus, naked, and the Greek βραγχια, brankhia, gills.

Nudibranchs are often casually called sea slugs, but many sea slugs belong to several taxonomic groups which are not closely related to nudibranchs.

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The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia.

The Red Sea is one of the most saline bodies of water in the world. This is due to several factors:
- High rate of evaporation and very little precipitation.
- Lack of significant rivers or streams draining into the sea.
- Limited connection with the Indian Ocean, which has lower water salinity.

More than 1200 species of fish have been recorded in the Red Sea, and around 10% of these are found nowhere else. The rich diversity is in part due to the 2,000 km (1,240 mi) of coral reef extending along its coastline.

A Woman with Real Blonde Hair, 1901, Germany

 Postcard of a woman with real blonde hair attached and two flower barrettes.

The back only reads the word Postcard in many languages.

Postmarked in 1901 with a Germany ' 1900 Reichspost' stamp

Map of Mali in Africa

Mali

This is a map postcard using the touchnote app courtesy of Samsung (with the olympics logo)

This was postmarked in 2012 with a machine stamp.

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Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa. Its has a population of around 14.5 million. The capital is Bamako.

At 1,242,248 square kilometres (480,000 sq mi), including the disputed region of Azawad, Mali is the world's 24th-largest country and is comparable in size to South Africa or Angola. Most of the country lies in the southern Sahara Desert.

University of Oxford in England

Oxford Spires from the North

(University of Oxford)

Photo: Chris Donaghue 1996

unused  

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Oxford

The Romance of Oxford Series
Central Oxford from Trinity College Tower
Insert: Magdalen College, rowing on the River Thames, Jesus College, Christ Church.

postmarked in 2013 with a Great Britain queen stamp for 88 p

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The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university located in Oxford, England. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096 making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world, and the second-oldest surviving university in the world.

Tuatara from The Otorohanga Kiwi House in New Zealand

Tuatara, Otorohanga Kiwi House

pikitia (company that made the postcard)

unused, from 2010

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The tuatara is a reptile from New Zealand.  They are greenish brown and gray, and measure up to 80 cm (31 in) from head to tail-tip and weigh up to 1.3 kg (2.9 lb).

The name "tuatara" derives from the Māori language, and means "peaks on the back".

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Otorohanga Kiwi House started in 1971 with the dream to rescue New Zealand's unique birds and reptiles from the ravages of predators and de-forestation. They now have New Zealand's largest private collection of native birds.

Smithsonian Museums on The Mall in Washington D.C.

Smithsonian Museums on the Mall

The Mall
The National Mall, a tree-lined, grassy space, was part of Pierre L'Efants 1791 plan for the city of Washington.  Today it stretches from the Capitol to the Washington Monument and is lined on either side  with buildings of the Smithsonian Institution.

unused, printed in 1990

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I have been here a few times, and each time I want to stay longer. There is sooooo much to see!

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela
Johannesburg 1952
Bob Gosani - Bailey's African Photo

unused postcard

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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (born 18 July 1918) is a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative, multiracial election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation.

to read more about his amazing life so far ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela

also, posted from Sandy B in the comments below... here is another link you might enjoy..
... Nelson Mandela International Day...

Superman - Man of Steel - from Taiwan

Superman
Man of Steel

postmarked in 2013 from Taiwan

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Man of Steel is a 2013 American superhero film directed by Zack Snyder. Based on the DC Comics character Superman, the film is a reboot of the Superman film series that portrays the character's origin story. The film stars Henry Cavill in the title role.

As of July 14, 2013, Man of Steel has earned $280,995,000 in North America and an estimated $338,200,0000 in other countries, for a worldwide total of $619,195,000, making it the highest grossing Superman film ever. The film earned $202.1 million on its opening weekend, including $17.5 million from IMAX theaters.

 

Milwaukee Wisconsin Public Libray and Museum 1906

Milwaukee. Public Library and Museum

Raphael Tuck and Sons Post Card Series No 2175, "MIlwaukee"

the sender writes:
The largest building in Milwaukee as it has more "stories" than any other.

postmarked in 1906 with a one cent stamp

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The library opened on Oct. 3, 1898. It shared the building with the Milwaukee Public Museum until the museum completed its move to its own building in the mid-1960s.

It was designated a Milwaukee Landmark in 1969.

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka with Rankot Vihara (a Stupa)

Island of Sri Lanka

Photograph by Juergen Schreiber

Polonnaruwa

postmarked in 2013 with a Sri Lanka Christmas stamp 

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Polonnaruwa is a town in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka.

The second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I in 1070.

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A stupa (literally meaning "heap") is a mound-like or semi-hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of Buddhist monks and used by Buddhists as a place of meditation.

Shown in the postcard above is the stupa: Rankot Vihara 

Sri Lanka stamp 2012

Christmas 25.00

featuring a mother and her two children in a rickshaw 

up in the corner is the Nativity scene with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus

Easy Rider and The Motorcycles

Easy Rider

unused

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Easy Rider is a 1969 American road movie written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, and Terry Southern, produced by Fonda and directed by Hopper. It tells the story of two bikers (played by Fonda and Hopper) who travel through the American Southwest and South with the aim of asserting their freedom.

The motorcycles for the film were designed and built by two chopper builders - Cliff Vaughs and Ben Hardy.

In total, four former police bikes were used in the film. The 1949, 1950 and 1952 Harley Davidson Hydra-Glide bikes were purchased at an auction for $500, equivalent to about $3300 in current money. Each bike had a backup to make sure that shooting could continue in case one of the old machines failed or got wrecked accidentally. One "Captain America" was demolished in the final scene, while the other three were stolen and probably taken apart before their significance as movie props became known. The demolished bike was rebuilt by Dan Haggerty and now resides at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa. Many replicas have been built since the film’s release.
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Here is a postcard of the motorcycle

The Art of the Motorcycle
Harley-Davidson Easy Rider Chopper
1200 cc
1969 (1993 replica)
United States
Power output: 61 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Top speed: 100 mph
Anonymous Lender

2005 Wonders Photograph: Randy Leffingwell

unused

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A chopper is a radically customized motorcycle,  a perfect example is the customized Harley-Davidsons seen in the 1969 film Easy Rider. (shown above)

Before there were choppers, there was the bobber, meaning a motorcycle that had been "bobbed," or relieved of excess weight by removing parts, particularly the fenders, with the intent of making it lighter and thus faster, or at least making it look better in the eyes of a rider seeking a more minimalist ride.

Two Postcards of Union Station in Washington D.C.

Union Station, Washington D.C.
The Union Station was built by the U.S. Government, the Pennsylvania R.R. and the Baltimore and Ohio R.R.  The cost of the land building and terminal improvements exceeded $18,000,000. and the structure is the finest railway station in the world.  The building is of white granite, is 760 feet long, and 343 feet wide.

unused
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Washington D.C.

Union Station
This is the main hall of Union Station

Photo 1997 by Werner J. Bertsch

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Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses. It opened in 1907 and is also the headquarters for Amtrak.

Zadar, Yugoslavia - 1975

Pozdrav Iz (Greetings from) Zadar (now in Croatia)

Izdavac (Publisher) / Tisak Nip / Vjesnik - Zagreb

postmarked in 1975 with a Yugoslavia 5,00 stamp

The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn

The African Queen
Starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn
Directed by John Huston
Color by Technicolor

This is an unused reproduction postcard that was bought in 2013.

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The African Queen is a 1951 adventure film adapted from the 1935 novel of the same name by C. S. Forester.
It stars Humphrey Bogart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor – his only Oscar), and Katharine Hepburn.

The African Queen has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Plot:
In Africa during WW1, a gin-swilling riverboat owner/captain is persuaded by a strait-laced missionary to use his boat to attack an enemy warship.

Fort Fincastle in Nassau, Bahamas

Fort Fincastle

Nassau, The Bahamas

Located on Bennett's Hill, Fort Fincastle was used to protect the city of Nassau from invasion.  It was built in the shape of a paddle steamer in 1793 by Lord Dunmore who's second title was "Viscount Fincastle' and was also used as a lighthouse until 1817.

Photo Credit - Rashad Penn

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Fort Fincastle

This fort is shaped like an old paddle wheel steamer and was built to protect the city from invasion but saw little action.  the fort was mounted with 24, 12, and 2 lbs cannons, which are still on display at the fort and facing the Nassau Harbor.

Photo Credit - Rashad Penn

He autographed the back for me in Nassau and gave me permission to post his postcards.

This unused postcard was bought in 2013.

Hold-To-Light - New U.S. Custom House in New York City

Hold Card To The Light.

New U.S. Custom House.
New York City.

undivided back, Hold-to-Light postcard (hold it up to the light, and the windows, moon and flag light up)

postmarked in October, 1907 from New York, N.Y, Sta. A - with a 1 cent stamp

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The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House (originally U.S. Custom House) is a building in New York City, built 1902–1907 by the federal government to house the duty collection operations for the port of New York.

The building is now the home of the New York branch of the National Museum of the American Indian as well as the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Greetings from Oostende, Belgium (Ostende) - three postcards from three different years

Oostende, Belgium

Groetin uit, Bonjour de, GruBe aus, Greetings From...

Oostende

postmarked in 2011 with a Belgium Christmas stamp 

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Greetings from Oostende (shaped postcard)

postmarked in 2013

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Lighthouse in Oostende (Ostend), Belgium

postmarked in 2010 with a Belgium stamp of Belgian King Albert II

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Ostend (Dutch: Oostende) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders.

In earlier times, Ostend was nothing more than a small village built on the east-end of an island between the North Sea and a beach lake. Although small, the village rose to the status of "town" around 1265 when the inhabitants were allowed to hold a market and to build a market hall.

The major source of income for the inhabitants was fishing. The North Sea coastline has always been rather unstable and in 1395 the inhabitants decided to build a new Ostend behind large dikes and further away from the always-threatening sea.

Very important for the image of the town was the attention it started to receive from the Belgian kings Leopold I and Leopold II. Both liked to spend their holidays in Ostend. Important monuments and villas were built to please the Royal Family. The rest of aristocratic Belgium followed and soon Ostend became known as "The Queen of the Belgian sea-side resorts".

Cats In a Tree, Friends Do Stupid Things Together

Hyvat ystavat eivat anna sinun tehda mitaan typeraa ... Yksin.

translation from Finnish:

Good friends do not let you do anything stupid ... Alone.

postmarked in 2013 with a Finland cat food stamp (birds). 

Finland stamp 2013

Parrots 1 LK KL

From the Series of six stamps: Sweet Valentine's Day

Map of Alaska: The Biggest State with a Map of the USA

Alaska is the BIGGEST State

- 19 Mountains over 14,000 ft.
- Highest point in North America, Mt McKinley 20,320 ft.
- More area than the 26 smallest states
- Purchased from Russia in 1867 for less than 2 cents an acre
- Longest days, 24 hours of daylight
- Longest nights, 24 hours of night
- More than 3 million lakes, larger than 25 acres
- 586,400 square miles
- 1/5 the land mass of the entire continental U.S.
- More than two times the size of Texas
- 29 active volcanoes, half the world's total
- More coastline than the lower 48 states, 33,000 miles
- More than 1/2 of the world's glaciers
- One glacier larger than Switzerland

Discovered and colonized by the Russians in 1741 and purchased by the United States in 1867 for $7,200.600.  Alaska covers 586,400 square miles and its coastline exceeds the combined coastline of the entire U.S.

unused Curteich Postcard