Balafon (Wooden Xylophone) Players in Gabon, Africa

Region du Woleu-Ntem (Gabon)
(Regions of Woleu-Ntem, Gabon)

Joueurs de Balafond.
(Players of Balafon.)

Photo: J. Trolez
This postcard is unused.

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Woleu-Ntem is one of Gabon's nine provinces. The provincial capital is Oyem.

The Balophon is a kind of wooden xylophone or percussion idiophone which plays melodic tunes and usually has between 16 to 27 keys.  It has been played in Africa since the 1300s.

A Glass of Wine at the City Cellar Restaurant in Florida

There is always Time
For a glass of Wine

City Cellar
Wine Bar and Grill

The back of this postcard (shown below) has a red wine stain on it.  Very clever.

The sender writes:
This is our favorite restaurant.  This weekend they had free advertising postcards!

I have two of these cards.  One is unused, and the other is postmarked in 2015 with a Julia child stamp.

USA stamp 2014

Celebrity Chefs, Julia Child

Forever a first class rate

A Multiview Postcard from Firenze (Florence), Italy

Firenze (Florence)

Incanto Notturno (Enchanted Evening)

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)

Panorama

La Catterdrale (The Cathedral) 

Photo's by Atlantide

This postcard is postmarked in 2015 with two Italy stamps. 

The sender writes:

So far my trip has been a great experience and the weather is absolutely amazing.  I'm constantly walking the streets and feeling surprised by all the wonderful views.  And some Italian men look quite nice too  ;-)

Italy (Italia) stamp 

Woman in Art, 0,90

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Italy (Italia) stamp 2004

P - Posta Prioritaria, Priority, 1,40

Guernsey 'Happy Postcrossing' Postcard

Guernsey

Post

This postcard features a Map of Guernsey with the words Happy Postcrossing and is postmarked on the first day issue of the matching stamp. 28th of May 2014.  

The back reads:

Love receiving postcards?  Then why not join Postcrossing to send and receive postcards from all over the world!  It is completely free to join and anyone with an address can create an account, just go to www.postcrossing.com.  The postcards themselves and postage fees to mail them are the responsibility of each user.

The Guernsey postcrossing stamp, designed by Guernsey Post's in-house marketing team, depicts an outline of Guernsey with a smiley face, giving the 'thugs up' to the hobby of Postcrossing. 

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This was sent to me and signed by the creators of Postcrossing, Ana and Paulo! 

Vieille Lighthouse and Raz de Sein in France

Bretagne (Brittany)

Le phare de la Vieille dans la tempete

Storm over the Virile lighthouse

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 from France.

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La Vieille ("The Old Lady") is a lighthouse in the département of Finistère at the commune of Plogoff, on the northwest coast of France. It lies on the rock known as Gorlebella, guiding mariners in the strait Raz de Sein*.

Initial planning talks began as early as 1861, though the construction project was not confirmed until twenty years later. Fierce tides limited the period in which building work could take place to less than half of each year. After five years, construction was complete and its beam first shone in 1887. A foghorn was installed in the early twentieth century.

* Raz de Sein is a very dangerous zone for navigation due to the violent sea currents from the tides (up to six knots during the spring tides).

France stamp 2014

Boulogne-sur-Mer (City in Northern France)

Pas-de-Calais (Department in Northern France) 0,61

The City Hall and Puijo Tower in Kuopio, Finland

Kuopio, Finland
Foto: Markku Wiik

This postcard is postmarked in 2015 from Finland.

The sender writes:
This card is a picture of our hometown Kuopio.  The biggest building is our townhall, the white one is our market hall and then there are 2 pics of "Puijon torni", the Tower of Puijo, where there is located also ski jumping ramps.

We have lots of snow now.  On Friday my children have an outdoor school day and they are going to ski, ice skate or slide down the hill for the whole school day!

Finland stamp 2012

Bottenhavets National Park, 1 LK KL

from the series: National Parks of Finland

Buy More War Bond

So We'll Meet Again
Buy more WAR BONDS

This postcard was mailed from a soldier in January of 1944 from the Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.
He writes:
Dear Mary,
Right now, I'm taking advantage of the free mail - the advantage of being a soldier.  I'm at the Jefferson Barracks in the middle of being processed and I'll be released from here Friday to return to school.  So far I haven't heard from you, but then I've been gone since Monday.  Hope to hear from you soon. Same address as before.
Lots of love

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Over the course of the war 85 million Americans purchased bonds totalling approximately $185 billion.

A Map of Iceland

Island
Iceland

This postcard is postmarked in 2009 with two Iceland stamps.

the sender writes:

Iceland has one main road around the whole island.  Above you see the road.  Except in the Highlands, it's quite hard to get lost in Iceland.  There are not so many roads at all.  Just 300,000 people live here.  Most of them in the area of the capital, Reykjavík.

Island (Iceland) stamp 2007 

Eystri Hagafellsjokull / Langjokull

(names of glaciers) - 60

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Iceland (Island) stamp 2007

Skograektarlog 1907-2007

This is from the series: 

The 100th Anniversary of Reforestation - 60 

Westminster Abbey in London, England

Westminster Abbey
West Front
Te Nave from the quire screen
The Lantern Roof
The Lady Chapel

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 with a Great Britain queen stamp.

The sender writes:
Today we went to church in Westminster Abbey! The choir sounded beautiful.  We sang along when we were told to, the music and words were in the church program.  So now we can say we sang with the choir in London's Westminster Abbey.  :D

Great Britain stamp 2014

Queen Elizabeth II

Purple 97 p

Lace Making in Brugge, Belgium

Brugge

Spellenkussen

Coussin de dentelliere

Lake-Maker Cushion

Spitzenklopplerin-Kissen

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 from Belgium.  

The sender writes:

There are lace stores all over Brugge! (Chocolate stores too :D )

There are some beautiful pieces here.  I bought a little Christmas ornament, but it wasn't hand made.

Belgium (Belgique - Belgie) stamp 2013

Butterfly, Red Admiral 

1 - A Prior

Here is a short video of someone making lace...

Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah

Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

Within the walls of the world-famous Temple Square, in the heart of Salt Lake City, stands the spired "Mormon" Temple which required forty years of pioneer labor to build, and the domed Tabernacle, seating capacity 8,000 and housing the world-renowned Tabernacle organ.  Temple Square is open to the public daily and free guided tours are provided.
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The Salt Lake Temple
The famous Mormon Temple (requiring 40 years to complete) with one of the many beautiful flower gardens found on Temple Square.

Color photo by Hubert A. Lowman

Three Postcards of The Quantum of the Seas Cruise Ship

 Quantum of the Seas

Inaugural Season
Royal Caribbean

This is a magnet postcard that is almost solid glitter inside the card.  It was mailed in May of 2014 with a boat stamp.
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 Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International

Registry - Nassau, Bahamas
GRT: 167,800
Length: 1,141 Feet (382 meters)
Width: 136 Feet (41 meters)
Draft: 28 feet (8.5 meters)
Cruising Speed: 22 Knots

This is postmarked in November, 2014 with a USA Ship stamp.  The sender wrote:

We were on the maiden voyage, the transatlantic from Southampton, England.  To tell you how good it was, we both got a free 'future cruise' certificate worth $563.00.  Even though the ship wasn't ready, we still had a good time.
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Quantum of the Seas
Royal Caribbean

These words are written on the back:
This is a gift from the book on the Maiden Voyage (transatlantic) 2014.

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This is The North Star on Quantum.  It rises more than 300 feet above the sea for a 360-degree view.

USA stamp 2011

Ships of the Merchant Marine

Liberty Ship

Forever a first class stamp

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USA stamp 2011

Ships of the Merchant Marine

Clipper Ship

Forever a first class stamp

A Farm in South Dakota

South Dakota
Photo by Chad Coppess

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 with two vintage USA stamps.

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Although other industries have expanded rapidly in recent decades, agricultural production is still very important to the state's economy, especially in rural areas. The five most valuable agricultural products in South Dakota are cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, and hogs.

USA stamp 1988

Special Occasion

Thinking of You

Flowers, 25 cents

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USA stamp 1986 -1991 

Great Americans

Red Cloud, 10

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Red Cloud (1822 – December 10, 1909) was a 

war leader and a chief of the Oglala Lakota. 

Great British Breakfast, Sausage, Bacon, Eggs and Tomatoes

Great British Breakfast

This oval shaped postcard is postmarked in 2014 from England.

The sender writes:
We are staying at The Corinthia Hotel in London.  This morning we went to eat breakfast at the hotel restaurant and just said, "We'll have the buffet.".  They said ok, but to hurry and that they were closing soon.  Of course we did (It is us after all)  People came in after us too - so there was nothing to worry about.  When we were done they gave us the bill... almost $150.00!  Yes!  150. U.S. dollars! OUCH!!  It was good, but not that good.

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 with a purple 97 Queen Elizabeth II stamp.

Great Britain stamp 2014

Queen Elizabeth II

Purple 97 p

The City of Maastricht in Limburg, The Netherlands

Maastricht

the sender writes:
Here you see two of the most beautiful places of my city, Maastricht.  You see Vrythot three times, one as it is now from the front, one aerial view, and one with the Maas River.  This is the river that gave our city its name.  The fourth picture is one of the Bonnefanten Museum with its bullet-shaped tower.  It contains mostly modern art.

This is postmarked from The Netherlands with a machine stamp in 2008.

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Maastricht is a town and a municipality in the Netherlands. It is the capital city in the province of Limburg.

The churches in the upper right hand corner are St. John's (left) and St. Servatius at Vrijthof Square (right). 

Using an Outhouse at Night While Camping

There's a ghost around here
And you better shoo it -
I've got something to do
But I'm scared to do it!

I have been to many camp grounds growing up, but I've never seen a single use Ladies outhouse.  ;-)

This poor woman in her high heels and pajamas is scared of the owl.  And there is G-George skulking in the window on the camper not offering any help.  Maybe that is why she has the Male Help Wanted at the bottom of this postcard!

This is a Genuine Curteich card that is postmarked in 1942 with 'free - US Army' written in the stamp box.  

Postcrossing Meet-up Postcard from Koln, (Cologne) Germany

Koln
14 - 3 - 2015
Postcrossing Meeting
Cologne

This postcard is signed by many  people from the meet-up.  The sender (Isa) knows I am not a fan of stickers on postcards.  They turn the paper brown over time and ruin the cards.  So she put a pull tab sticky note on the back saying "Bitte Keine Sticker"  (Please, no stickers).  The only thing is, she forgot to remove it before she sent it.  It made it all the way to the states with the sticky still on it!

Isa saw a scan of the back and said that the sticky note actually was long and covered up the address.  So someone in the post office must have cut the bottom off but put the words part of the sticky back on the card.  How wonderful that they did not just throw the whole note away!

An Ugly (senders words) Blurry Postcard

 The Sender Writes:
I hope the cute teddy bear stamp softens the fact that I'm sending you the ugliest card I have ever seen!

hahaha!
This very blurry woman postcard is postmarked in 2014 from Finland.  The card was printed in Portugal.  And yes, The stamp is adorable....

Finland stamp 2014

Teddy Bears 

Winter Scene 

Sledding with the mail

1 LK KL

Castillo San Cristobal in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico
San Juan National Historic Site
Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal was built to guard enemy approaches by land to the walled city of Old San Juan.  Construction on San Cristobal began in 1634 and finished in 1790, although modifications were made well into the 18th century.  Covering 27 acres, San Cristobal is the largest Spanish fortification built in the New World, and from a perch 150 feet above the Atlantic shoreline, it provides panoramic views of the coast from Old San Juan to Condado and beyond.

Photo: J. Scott Graham

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 from San Juan Puerto Rico.

USA stamp 2013

Global

Christmas Evergreen Wreath

Forever an International Rate stamp

A Dutch Boy Rescuing a Cat from a Well

Art by W. Romijn

The sender writes:
A card from Holland.  The picture is from 75 / 100 years ago.  No modern things and material things.  Life was simple but also hard and difficult.  Was it better or not than nowadays?

This 'boy with wooden shoes rescuing his cat from the well' is postmarked in 2015 from the Netherlands.  The stamp has a bicycle on it so it kind of matches the postcard.  :D

Netherlands (Nederland) stamp 2014

Dutch Icons, Bicycle, 1

A 1952 Dodge in Havana, Cuba

Dodge 1952.
Havanna, 2008. marcius 4.
(Havana, March 4th, 2008)

Foto: ifj. Kovach Laszlo
(Photo: jr. Laszlo Kovach)

This postcard is unused.  The original language is Hungarian. 

Happy Mothers Day - A Panda Bear Mom Hugging Her Cub in 3D

Giant Panda - cub in mother's lap (China)
BroBer Panda - Mutter und Junges (China)
Panda gigante- Madre y cria (China)
Panda géant - Femelle et jeune (Chine)

Photo: Steve Bloom

This 3D postcard is unused and was bought in 2014. 

Closing Niagara Falls in 1969 - This Card is for International Postcard Week

International Postcard Week
October 5 - 11, 2014

This postcard feats the artwork of Rick Geary and shows the Canadian and the USA side of the Niagara Falls.  The US side was turned off in 1969.

The back of the card reads:
For six months in 1969 Niagara's American Falls were turned off by the Army Corps of Engineers.  Part of that time workers cleaned the former river-bottom of unwanted mosses, drilled test-cores in search of instabilities and a temporary walkway was built twenty feet from the edge of the dry falls.  Tourists were able to explore the landscape.

This card is postmarked in 2014 with a USA Hummingbird stamp.

The sender of this card is Demaris.  She is the person who organizes National Postcard Week. If you would like more information on that the web site is: www.NationalPostcardWeek.com

Click this link if you would like more information on International Postcard Week.  

WWI Hospitals in Germany, Real Photo Postcards

1914

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postmarked in 1915

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Erinnerung an (Memory of)

Nurnberg (Nuremberg) 

Bismarkschule

1914-1916 

Ziner 39 ?? (I can't make out these letters for sure on the sign.)

This one is postmarked in 1916. 

This postcard is postmarked in 1917.  

Please note the man in the front, sitting second, is wearing an Iron Cross 1st Class Medal. 

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Iron Cross Medal - If the cross uses a pin or screw posts on the back of the medal instead of a ribbon, and is worn on the left side of the uniform it is an Iron Cross 1st Class. You had to already have the 2nd Class medal in order to receive the 1st Class.

The medal was awarded to recognise acts of heroism, bravery and leadership.  In spite of its evident prestige it was a widely issued medal: almost six million were awarded during wartime, although by far the majority of these (5,500,000) were awarded to the lowest of three classes of the medal, the Iron Cross (Second Class).  Above this the Iron Cross (First Class) was issued to approximately 220,000 men.

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If anyone can translate any of the writing on these real photo, WWI postcards, please send me a message or leave a comment below.  Thank you!