USPS Bernardo de Gálvez

USPS on 10 April 2026 issued a commemorative First Day Cover stamp of Bernardo de Gálvez (1746–1786), the Spanish governor of Spanish Louisiana who covertly and overtly aided the American Patriots during the American Revolutionary War. This stamp was part of the figures of the American Revolution set released for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary). First Day cancellation was launched from Washington, DC 20066. 

The artwork features a portrait by artist Michael J. Deas and text highlighting Gálvez's alliance with American patriot Oliver Pollock to ship crucial supplies up the Mississippi River.

Bernardo de Gálvez executed one of the most successful and strategically critical naval and land actions of the American Revolutionary War, known as the Gulf Coast Campaign (1779–1781). 

As the Governor of Spanish Louisiana, he struck swiftly against Great Britain immediately after Spain declared war in 1779. His military actions forced the British to fight on a second southern front, preventing them from encircling the American rebels and diverting troops away from the eastern theater.

1. The Mississippi River Campaign (1779):

Gálvez mobilised a diverse militia consisting of Spanish regulars, French Acadians, free Black soldiers, and Native Americans. He swept up the Mississippi River to eliminate.

British strongholds: 

- Fort Bute: Captured on 7 September 1779, in a swift operation with zero Spanish casualties.

- Battle of Baton Rouge: Captured on 21 September 1779, after a heavy artillery bombardment.

- Fort Panmure (Natchez): Surrendered by the British as a direct term of the victory at Baton Rouge, clearing the lower Mississippi Valley entirely. 

2. The Capture of Mobile (1780)

Gálvez turned his attention eastward into West Florida. Despite facing a devastating hurricane that scattered his ships, he regrouped and laid siege to Fort Charlotte in Mobile, forcing its surrender in March 1780 and cutting off British naval mobility along the coast. 

3. The Siege of Pensacola (1781)

His crowning achievement was the conquest of Pensacola, the British capital of West Florida. It stood as one of the longest sustained sieges of the entire Revolutionary War (9 March – 8 May 1781):

The "Yo Solo" Incident: When the Spanish naval commander hesitated to navigate the treacherous, cannon-defended channel into Pensacola Bay, Gálvez single-handedly sailed his own brig, the Galvezton, through the crossfire to shame the rest of the fleet into following him. This earned him the motto "Yo Solo" ("I Alone") on his coat of arms. The Spanish successfully breached the fortifications, forcing the total British surrender of West Florida. 

By driving the British completely out of the Gulf of Mexico, Gálvez secured the southern trade routes. This allowed a continuous pipeline of supplies, medicine, and silver pesos to reach George Washington's Continental Army, directly facilitating the final American victory at Yorktown. 

USPS Agwalongdongwas

 

USPS issued on 10 April 2026 a First Day Cover featuring  the Agwalongdongwas commemorative stamp from the Figures of the American Revolution 250th-anniversary series. 

Agwalongdongwas (also known as Good Peter) was an Oneida Nation leader and advocate who supported Patriot forces during the American Revolution, believing an alliance would best protect Oneida communities and lands.

This stamp was part of the Figures of the American Revolution 250th-anniversary commemorative stamp pane. The artwork was designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler with original artwork by artist Tim O'Brien. It was first issued from Washington D.C.

USPS Cornplanter (Kiontwogy)

USPS issued on 10 April 2026 a First Day Cover featuring Cornplanter (Kiontwogy), a prominent Seneca war chief and diplomat.

Cornplanter (approx. 1732/1742–1836) Cornplanter (approx. 1732/1742–1836), also known bad John Abeel III, was the son of a Seneca woman and a Dutch trader. He fought in the American Revolutionary War as a war chief of the four nations that allied with the British: the Mohawk, the Seneca, the Onondaga, and the Cayuga. Cornplanter played a significant role during the 1777 Siege of Fort Stanwix, the 1778 Battle of Wyoming, and led the Seneca at the Cherry Valley Massacre in 1778.

This stamp was part of the Figures of the American Revolution 250th-anniversary commemorative stamp pane. The artwork was designed by USPS art director Ethel Kessler with original artwork by artist Tim O'Brien. It was first issued from Washington D.C.

USSR 20th Anniversary of the Battle of Kursk

USSR issued two stamps in 1963 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Kursk (1943–1963) during the Great Patriotic War.

4 Kopek stamp (left) features a tactical map of the Soviet my counteroffensive during the Battle of Kursk (highlighting locations like Kursk, Oryol, Belgorod, and Kharkov) alongside advancing T-34 tanks and a Soviet red flag.

6 Kopek stamp (right) depicts a triumphant Soviet soldier emerging from a tank hatch holding a flag next to a T-34 tank and the Soviet hammer and sickle.

USSR Soviet Heroes of World War II - 1962

USSR in 1962  honoured two highly decorated Heroes of the Soviet Union from World War II: 

Waldemar Shalandin (top stamp) was a Guard Lieutenant, Soviet Tank Commander. He is depicted alongside tanks and Yakovlev Yak-9T fighter aircraft. He famously fought and died in 1943 during the Battle of Kursk, where his crew continued fighting inside their burning tank to destroy multiple enemy tanks before being Killed in Action (KIA). 

Magomet Gadzhiyev (bottom stamp) was a Captain 2nd Rank (Frigate Captain), Soviet Navy Submarine Commander. He was the first person from Dagestan to receive the title "Hero of the Soviet Union." The stamp shows him alongside a K-class submarine and a sinking enemy vessel. He was KIA in May 1942 when his submarine, K-23, was attacked and sunk by German forces in the Barents Sea. 

USSR Heroes of the Soviet Union - 1964-1965

SOVIET UNION (USSR) postage stamps issued in 1964 and 1965 dedicated to Heroes of the Soviet Union (Герой Советского Союза) from the Great Patriotic War (World War II).

Ivan Sivko (И.М. Сивко): A naval infantryman of the Northern Fleet. During a defensive action in 1941, he covered the retreat of his unit, holding off a numerically superior enemy force single-handedly. When he ran out of ammunition, he blew himself up along with approaching enemy soldiers using his final grenade.

Ivan Polbin (И.С. Полбин): A highly decorated Twice Hero of the Soviet Union and Major General of the Aviation. He was a pioneering dive-bomber pilot and commander who developed advanced combat tactics (such as the "Polbin spinner" formation). He was killed in action in February 1945 during a combat mission over Breslau.

Vera Khoruzhaya (В.З. Хоружая): A veteran revolutionary and partisan activist. During World War II, she spearheaded an underground resistance network in German-occupied Vitebsk, Belarus. She was captured, tortured, and executed by the Gestapo in late 1942.

Yuri Smirnov (Ю.В. Смирнов): A young infantry guardsman who was severely wounded and captured during an assault in 1944. Despite undergoing brutal torture, he refused to disclose strategic details regarding his division's offensive direction. He was found crucified by enemy forces inside a bunker.

Nikolai Vilkov (Н.А. Вилков): A naval sergeant who fought during the Soviet–Japanese War in August 1945. During the assault on Shimushu Island (Kuril Islands), he and a comrade sacrificed their lives by physically throwing their bodies over the embrasures of an enemy pillbox to silence its machine guns.

Konstantin Zaslonov (К.С. Заслонов): A prominent partisan commander in Belarus. Utilizing his professional background as a railway engineer, he organized widespread sabotage operations by creating "coal mines"—explosive devices disguised as blocks of coal that destroyed numerous enemy supply trains. He died in battle in late 1942.

Finland Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim - 1941

FINNISH PHILATELIC COVER  issued on 31 December 1941 featuring six different values of the definitive stamp series of Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, the Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Defense Forces. 

The postage stamps on the envelope features the following denominations

50 p. (penniä) – Green

1:75 mk (markkaa) – Brown

2:- mk – Red

2:75 mk – Dark Brown

3:50 mk – Blue

5:- mk – Black/Grey

The stamps were cancelled with circular date from the town of Loviisa, reading 31.XII.41 (31 December 1941).

The Pharmacy Seal with the blue coat-of-arms cachet on the upper left belongs to the historic Apoteket Kronan (Kruunu-apteekki) in Loviisa, which was granted its operating privileges in 1754 (Privileg. Anno Dom 1754). Directly beneath it is the printed name of the pharmacist, O. T. S. Mether.

The Recipient of this letter was Fröken (Miss) Ulla Mether, residing at Bergmansgatan in Helsingfors (Helsinki). Because it bears a full set of the contemporary Mannerheim issue cancelled on the final day of the year, it was likely prepared by the pharmacist family as a philatelic souvenir.

Pošta Československá Definitive Cover - 1921

 

POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ issued in  1920–1922 definitive postage stamps depicting traditional and symbolic imagery like the "Dove and Letter" / chainbreaker and allegorical/national crests). It was  cancelled in Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic),  on 29 May 1921.

Brunner V. H. designed the stylised carrier pigeon. 'LAR BRENDA,' Benda J. designed the Chainbreaker, symbolising the country, shows a woman breaking free from the chain of bondage. 

The postcard shows Café Kaiserpark (later known as Cafésalon Pupp or Bar Arizona) situated in the Kaiserpark area of Karlovy Vary (historically Karlsbad), Czech Republic. The open-air cafe and salon operated under various names through the first half of the 20th century before changing uses around 1946.

USPS Herman Melville Commemorative Stamp

USPS on 1 August 1984 issued a First Day Cover of a 20-cent Herman Melville commemorative stamp, which was part of the U.S. Postal Service's Literary Arts Series, printed in sage green and designed by Bradbury Thompson. Postmark cancellation for FDC originated from New Bedford, Massachusetts—a historic whaling port closely tied to the setting and inspiration for "Moby Dick." ArtCraft.produced the cachet, featuring an artistic illustration of Herman Melville and a breaching whale with a copy of Moby-Dick.

Polska Joseph Conrad 100 Birthday Anniversary

 

POLSKA  issued on 30 December 1957 a First Day Cover (FDC) commemorating the 100th birth anniversary (1857–1957) of renowned novelist Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski). Postmark location originated at Warsaw (Warszawa 1).

The stamp set consisted of two denominations featuring Conrad's profile portrait alongside the clipper ship Torrens, a vessel on which he famously served as chief mate:

- 60 gr (Groszy) – Sepia/brown tone.

- 2.50 zł (Złoty) – Deep blue/teal tone.

Joseph Conrad was a Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and – though he did not speak English fluently until his twenties (always with a strong foreign accent) – he became a master prose stylist who brought a non-English sensibility into English literature.

He wrote novels and stories, many in nautical settings, that depicted crises of human individuality in the midst of what he saw as an indifferent, inscrutable, and amoral world. Writing near the peak of the British Empire, Conrad drew on the national experiences of his native Poland—during nearly all his life, parcelled out among three occupying empires — and on his own experiences in the French and British merchant navies, to create short stories and novels that reflect aspects of a European-dominated world — including imperialism and colonialism —band that profoundly explore the human psyche.

His writings include 'The Heart of Darkness," "Lord Jim," "Nostromo," "Victory" and more.

USPS Cover

 

USPS cover letter with the following stamps:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Black Heritage Stamp (15¢): A block of four 1979 U.S. 15-cent stamps  honouring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the Black Heritage USA series, featuring a sepia portrait above a crowd of civil rights marchers. 

• Thomas Wolfe Literary Arts Stamp (33¢): A 2000 U.S. 33-cent commemorative stamp  honouring American novelist Thomas Wolfe from the Literary Arts Series. 

• Forever U.S. Flag Stamp: A contemporary United States "Forever/USA" flag stamp affixed near the top center.

Deutschland Alte Rheinbrücke & 75 Jahre Tag der Briefmarke

 

GERMAN postage stamps from the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland):

• Alte Rheinbrücke (Bad Säckingen – Stein Aargau) stamp (Left) issued on 4 September 2008, as a joint issue between Germany and Switzerland depicting the historic wooden covered bridge over the Rhine River.

• 75 Jahre Tag der Briefmarke in Deutschland stamp (Right) issued on 11 August  2011, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of "Day of the Stamp" in Germany, designed by Julia Warbanow.

US WWII-era Stamp: Corregidor / Manila Bay

This World War II-era Fluegel/Staehle patriotic cover is affixed with 3-cent Corregidor / Manila Bay stamp. This U.S. postage stamp was issued in September 1944 to honour the defense and resistance in the Philippines. 

The cachet commemorated the Liberation of Manila on 4 February 1945. It featured a full-colour patriotic illustration, depicting the American flag, a bridge scene in Manila, an eagle emblem, and the text: "Manila - Freedom Rings Again for the Philippines Capital - 'As Manila is Burning - So Shall Tokyo Burn' - Signed G.I. Joe". 

The postmark, dated 4 February 1945, marked the second day of the brutal month-long Battle of Manila, during which U.S. and Filipino forces fought to liberate the capital from Japanese occupation. The stamp was cancelled in Washington, D.C. on that day, corresponding directly to the date of that historic event.

The Battle of Manila (3 February – 3 March 1945) was a devastating, month-long urban conflict fought between American-Filipino forces and the occupying Imperial Japanese Army. Often described as the "Stalingrad of Asia," it resulted in the liberation of the Philippine capital but at a horrific human and cultural cost.

The battle comprised 35,000 U.S. troops and 3,000 Filipino guerrillas who fought to reclaim the capital from 17,000 Japanese defenders.

Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita had initially ordered his troops to withdraw to the northern mountains. However, Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji refused to evacuate and ordered his naval garrison to fight to the death for every block, building, and room.

Expecting a swift victory, U.S. forces instead faced heavily fortified reinforced concrete structures, minefields, and subterranean tunnels. To minimise American infantry casualties, ground commanders relied heavily on devastating tank and artillery barrages. 

Trapped behind enemy lines, desperate Japanese forces engaged in a systematic campaign of scorched-earth arson, mass executions, torture, and rape against the civilian population. 

The climax of the battle occurred at Intramuros, the ancient Spanish walled city where the last Japanese forces held out. Heavy artillery reduced the centuries-old district to rubble, destroying irreplaceable cultural artifacts. 

By the time the last pocket of Japanese resistance collapsed on 3 March, Manila had become one of the most physically devastated capitals of World War II, alongside Warsaw and Berlin.

US WWII-era Stamps: Nations United for Victory and Win the War

This envelope cover has two WWII-era US postage stamps affixed to it: the 2-cent Nations United for Victory stamp and the 3-cent Win the War stamp. 

The postmark originated from Cologne, Minnesota, dated on 6 March 1945 (7 PM), which was the exact date the U.S. 1st Army captured the German city of Cologne during World War II.

The cachet (illustrated artwork on the envelope) depicts General Courtney Hodges of the U.S. 1st Army, a sketch of the Cologne Cathedral skyline, an American flag, and the title "Cologne: Our Prize Of Victory".

The patriotic cachet design was credited to artist L.W. Staehle (marked L.W. Staehle NY City).

Togo Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) of Queen Sālote's Accession - 1943

KINGDOM OF TONGA (spelled TOGA on the stamp) issued a stamp around 1943–1944 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee (25th anniversary) of Queen Sālote's accession to the throne. Similar designs were originally released for her 20th anniversary (1918–1938).Que@en Sālote Tupou III (who reigned from 1918 to 1965). It featured the Queen in royal regalia standing next to the Tongan royal chair and a palm tree. The bottom text reads "UANIMA TA'U 'OE PULE 'A 'ENE 'AFIO 1918-1943" (marking years of the reign of Her Majesty). It carried a face value of 2d (2 pence) in purple and black.

Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (Jajce) - 1943

DEMOCRATIC FEDERATION OF YUGOSLAVIA issued on 29 November 1943 this 50 para / 0.50 dinars (marked as 50 and D.5) stamp depicting the town of Jajce and the historical date 29-XI-1943, commemorating the second session of AVNOJ (Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia) held in Jajce.

Post Italian Social Republic King Vittorio Emanuele III Overprint - 1944

POST ITALIAN SOCIAL REPUBLIC (Poste Repubblica Sociale Italiana or RSI / Republic of Salò) issued a series of Express (Espresso) mail stamps , such as this 1.25 Lire (green), in 1944. Originally an express stamp of the Kingdom of Italy showing King Vittorio Emanuele III, it was overprinted in red with a fasces symbol and the text "Poste Italiane Repubblica Sociale Italiana".

Bulgaria Statue of the Republic

BULGARIA (НАРОДНА РЕПУБЛИКА БЪЛГАРИЯ) issued on 8 September 1946 a series of post-war commemorative stamps after the 1946 referendum that transitioned Bulgaria from a monarchy to a people's republic. These stamps featured a symbolic representation of the Statue of the Republic designed by artist Boris Angelushev, depicting a woman with a raised sword.

Bulgaria Legend of Khan Kubrat

KINGDOM OF BULGARIA (ЦАРСТВО БЪЛГАРИЯ) issued on 7 August 1942 a 14-stamp historical series. This 10 Stotinki (10 СТ.) stamp is one from the series depicting the Legend of Khan Kubrat (illustrating his sons breaking or tied by bundles of arrows/rods symbolising unity).

USPS Franklin D Roosevelt's Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell and WWIi era Stamps

USPS in 1994 depicted Franklin D Roosevelt's Four Freedoms painted by American artist Norman Rockwell. The series was famously illustrated for Saturday Evening Post in 1943, which traveled across the United States to promote war bonds. 

Also included on this First Day Cover:

- Franklin D. Roosevelt 5¢ stamp released in 1945–1946 to honour President Franklin D. Roosevelt, featuring his portrait and the Four Freedoms text. 

- U.S. 1¢ "Four Freedoms" postage stamp issued on 12 February 1941 featured a profile of the Statue of Liberty holding the torch of freedom, accompanied by the Four Freedoms slogan: "FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND RELIGION, FROM WANT AND FEAR".

President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) outlined the FOUR FREEDOMS in his State of the Union Address to Congress on 6 January 1941.

FDR defined these fundamental rights as essential for people everywhere in the world:

• Freedom of speech and expression

• Freedom of worship (every person's right to worship God in their own way)

• Freedom from want (economic understandings for a healthy peacetime life)

• Freedom from fear (a worldwide reduction of armaments to stop physical aggression)

Roosevelt used the speech to challenge American isolationism and build support for aiding Great Britain and other Allied nations fighting the Axis powers in World War II.

These principles influenced the Atlantic Charter in 1941, the United Nations Declaration in 1942, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which was championed by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Deutsches Reich Elderly and Children Charity Stamps - 1922

 

DEUTSCHES REICH (German Empire) in 11 December 1922 during the inflation period. These semi-postal charity stamps from the Weimar Republic era of the German Empire (Deutsches Reich), were issued to raise funds for the elderly and children (Alters- und Kinderhilfe).

Designed by Professor Johann Vincenz Cissarz, the stamps depicted a woman kneeling in a field next to a shovel while tending to a young sapling, symbolising growth, renewal, and care. The stamps had a waffle type watermark.

- Blue stamp - 6 Mark + 4 Mark surcharge for Alters- und Kinderhilfe / old age and youth welfare). 

- Orange/Red.stamp - 12 Mark + 8 Mark surcharge for Alters- und Kinderhilfe).

Belgie Stamp Cover

Belgian postage stamp cover received from a Belgian philatelic dealer.

Stamps shown: 

- Belgian Lion Rampant (Leo Belgicus) in 1 F (rose)  and 5 F (green) denominations 

- "Birds of Buzin" definitive series designed by artist André Buzin

- Europa sports-theme

- King Leopold III, issued in 1951

- 50th Anniversary of Belgian Television series, issued in 2003

- Belgian cattle breed

- 50th anniversary of the Royal Ardennes Horse Society (Société Royale du Cheval de Trait des Ardennes) and depicting traditional draft horses, issued in 1976

POSTI (Finland)150th anniversary of The Finnish National Theatre

 

POSTI (Finland) in 2022 issued a series of stamps celebrating the 150th anniversary of The Finnish National Theatre featuring the phrase "Sinä siellä!" ("You there!").

Shown is a performer or theatrical scene set against a swirling, patterned background with the shape of Finland in the top right corner.

Posti Finnish Artist Kim Simonsson

 

POSTI (Finland) on 7 September  2022 issued two postage stamps by artist  Kim Simonsson (born 1974). The left stamp shows  "Sleeping Girl Reading Moss" (2022), whereas the right stamp portrays  "Girl with a Bubble" (2008).

USPS Alden Partridge from “Great Americans” - 1985

 

USPS issued on 12 February 1985 an 11-cent honouring Alden Partridge, as part of the Great Americans Series.

Alden Partridge was seen as a controversial choice for a “Great Americans” stamp – he was once court-martialed for nearly launching a mutiny when he was replaced as head of West Point.  However, he went on to found Norwich University, the first nonmilitary school in the western hemisphere, as well as seven other schools. 

Designer Robert Anderson created the portrait on this stamp, based on an old engraving of Partridge in his fuss-and-feathers “Peacock” uniform.

USPS Dance Series - 1978

USPS Dance Series postage stamps issued by the U.S. in 1978. Each 13-cent stamp featured a colourful silhouette celebrating a style of American dance: Theatre, Ballet, Modern, and Folk.

Nippon Post Butterflies

 

• Left Stamp: NIPPON 60 (60 Japanese Yen). It features the Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita), known for its translucent light blue-green wings and its remarkable long-distance migratory behavior across Asia.

• Right Stamp:  NIPPON 40 (40 Japanese Yen). It features the Great Purple Emperor (Sasakia charonda ), which is recognized as the national butterfly of Japan.

Cote Française Des Somalis - Somali Woman

COTE FRANÇAISE DES SOMALIS stamps issued from 1915/22. On the left side of the postcard is a A purple/rose 15-centime stamp. The stamp on the right is a blue 75-centime stamp. Each stamp depicted a finely engraved portrait of a Somali woman in traditional jewelry and dress, designed by B. Montader and engraved by G. Hourriez, which was one of the most appealing colonial pictorials of the early 20th century.

The antique postcard from French Somaliland (Côte Française des Somalis), now Djibouti, featured a scene labeled "12 - Martyre de Saint Pierre (à gauche) and de Saint-Paul (à droite)" (Martyrdom of Saint Peter on the left and Saint Paul on the right), flanked by the two aforementioned stamps from the territory. The illustration was credited to Cliché J. B. 

La Poste France Le siècle au fil du timbre – Société" Series d

 

LA POSTE cover from the 2000 "Le siècle au fil du timbre – Société" series depicts major 20th-century social milestones.

• 1901 Le lave-linge: Commemorates the invention/spread of the washing machine.

• 1944 Le droit de vote des femmes commemorates women's right to vote in France.

• 1969 Le premier pas sur la lune commemorates the Apollo 11 moon landing.

• Les congés payés commemorates paid leave holidays.

• Vintage red emergency fire truck "Véhicule de premier secours".

• Comic book character Fantasio from Spirou et Fantasio, running with a megaphone/clock.

Imperial Japan Military Postcard

 

GUJI YŪBIN FŪKAN HAGAKI (Imperial Japan Military Postcard) wasq postal mail designated for Japanese soldiers in the early Shōwa period (World War II era). 

These were official, often free-of-charge stationery items issued to Imperial Japanese soldiers during WWII to write letters home to family members in Japan or occupied territories.

The Japanese woman featured on this postcard is Kinuyo Tanaka who was a powerhouse actress and a pioneering director whose career spanned over 50 years. She starred in Japan's very first talkie film, The Neighbor's Wife and Mine (Madamu to nyōbō), a 1931 Japanese comedy film, and frequently collaborated with legendary directors like Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujirō Ozu.

During the WWII era, postcards featuring prominent film stars and theatre beauties were highly popular inclusions in wartime military mail packets to boost the morale of deployed soldiers.

Additionally, Kintoto Cosmetics (a pre-war Japanese cosmetics brand that produced items like face powders and hair oils) sponsored postcards like this one.

As for the illustration of the soldier,  in the centre of the postcard, there is a caption or a morale-boosting poem designed to comfort soldiers serving in freezing northern regions (such as Manchuria or Northern China).

The poem reads In the freezing cold, even the cloak turns white. Protecting under the Orion constellation, it pierces the body, but holding the rifle, fighting spirit burns.

The facsimile of a green stamp at the top left of the postcard depicts a military helmet (Type 90 helmet) with a star emblem and a rifle/bayonet beneath flying aircraft.

[REVERSE SIDE]

Lyrics to wartime Japanese songs

Fluegel "Mass Crossing of the Rhine" & "Win the War" Stamp -1945

WORLD WAR II PATRIOTIC POSTAL COVER, produced by Captain Herman Fluegel, shows a cachet commemorating the "Mass Crossing of the Rhine" on 24 March 1945. A colourised map illustrates the Allied crossing of the Rhine river into Germany, accompanied by text detailing participating American and British-Canadian armies and the phrase "The Beginning of the End". A United States 3-cent "Win the War" postage stamp was affixed to this cachet.

OPERATION PLUNDER was a massive World War II military operation launched on the night of 23 March 1945, to establish a major Allied foothold across the Rhine River into the German heartland. Planned and executed by the 21st Army Group under the command of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, it stood as one of the largest and most meticulously coordinated assault crossings of the war. 

The operation went practically like clockwork, completely fracturing the German defense north of the industrial Ruhr region. Within four days, the Allies consolidated a bridgehead 35 miles wide and 20 miles deep, capturing over 30,000 German soldiers.

This successful breach shattered Nazi Germany's final hope of a prolonged western defense, prompting high-ranking officials like Joseph Goebbels to declare that the situation in the West had entered a "deadly phase". It directly paved the final path for the Allied "blitz" toward Berlin.

Sverige Post John Bauer Nordic Trolls and Gnomes

SVERIGE POST on 16 February 1982 issued four stamps with Nordic motifs affixed to matching maximum cards  featuring the artwork of illustrator John Bauer (1882–1918) and engraved stamps by Czesław Słania. A special postmark originated from Jönköping, Sweden.

John Bauer's famous folklore and fairy tale illustrations shown here include:

- "Here is a piece of a troll herb which nobody else but me can find" (1912) — Depicting an enormous troll mother sitting near a small child in the forest. 

- "Princess Tuvstarr gazing down into the dark waters of the forest tarn" (1913) — One of Bauer's most iconic works, showing the blonde princess sitting at the edge of a reflective woodland pool. 

- "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass" (1913) — Showing the massive moose ("Skutt") standing over the tiny princess resting on the moss. 

 - "En riddare red fram" ("A knight rode forth") (1915) — Featuring a small, shining knight riding a charging horse beneath a starry sky.

These scenes were originally published in the famous Swedish fairy tale anthology Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls).

USPS "Post Office Murals", "Moving Camp"

USPS  on 10 April 2019 issued a series of stamps representing the "Post Office Murals" painted during New Deal-era. The First Day Cover stamp here featured the 1936 mural entitled "Moving Camp" by Stephen Mopope, James Auchiah, and Spencer Asah, who were members of the renowned group of Native American artists known as the Kiowa Six. This mural was painted at the US post office in Anadarko, Oklahoma, hence the first day of issue postmark.

The postcard highlights the "Piegans" (painted in 1918), depicting members of the Piegan Blackfeet band on horseback by Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926) who was famous for his depictions of the American Old West.

US General George S. Patton Jr. - 1953

UNITED POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT issued on 11 November 1953 a commemorative  First Day Cover 3 cent stamp honouring General George S. Patton Jr. and the Armored Forces of the U.S. Army. The postmark originated from Fort Knox, Kentucky.

The cachet on the envelope is a Herman F. Fluegel's design. This distinctive patriotic and colourful border artwork like this one of Patton makes his covers more sought after by military history buffs than mass-produced alternatives like standard Artcraft covers. 

Nasu-no-Yoichi Hitting the Fan-mark Aboard, Yashima-no-kassen Battle and The Illustrated Tale of Heiji

The postcard depicts Nasu-no-Yoichi Hitting the Fan-mark Aboard, Yashima-no-kassen Battle (12C) by Chikanobu Yoshu.

Nasu-no-Yoichi was one of the most prominent archers in feudal Japan. He was a samurai archer of the late Heian and early Kamakura periods (1169–1232), known for his exceptional skill with the bow. 

Nasu no Yoichi is best known for his remarkable feat during the Battle of Yashima in 1184, part of the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans. 

During the battle, the Taira forces placed a fan atop a pole on one of their ships, challenging the Minamoto to shoot it. Nasu no Yoichi, on horseback, stepped forward and, with great precision, shot the fan from the ship. This impressive display of archery skill and coirage is often depicted in Japanese art and literature.

NIPPON POST on 6 October 1992 issued a stamp commemorating The Heiji Monogatari Emaki (The Illustrated Tale of Heiji) is a masterpiece of Japanese narrative handscroll (emaki) painting created during the Kamakura period (13th century). It vividly depicts the brutal political and military clashes of the Heiji Rebellion of 1159, a brief but pivotal civil war that set the stage for the rise of samurai dominance in Japan.

Nippon Post Random Stamp Cover

 

NIPPON POST stamps:

- Top Left & Middle Right (62 yen): Features pears labeled "二十世紀梨・鳥取県" (20th Century Pear, Tottori Prefecture).

- Top Right (62 yen): Commemorates the 450th anniversary of Japan-Portugal relations (平成5年・1993, 日本・ポルトガル友好450年記念), showing a traditional lacquered box.  

- (Middle Left (62 yen): Features a stylised character with glasses and a hat, labeled "めがね・福井県" (Glasses, Fukui Prefecture) from a regional/letter-writing collection.

- Bottom Left (62 yen): Commemorates the 100th Tenno Sho horse race (第100回天皇賞競走記念, Heisei 1 / 1989).

- Bottom Right (70 yen): Commemorates the Europalia Japan festival in 1989 (平成元年 1989, ユーロパリア日本祭記念), featuring a traditional performer with a fan.

Nippon Post Insects

NIPPON POST on 12 March  1987 issued a series of stamps dedicated to insects, among these being (shown on the left) Ascalaphus Ramburi (yellow-spotted owlfly), valued at 60 yen and (on the right) the Polyphylla Laticollis (a species of scarab beetle), valued at 60 yen.