Postcard from Lithuania - Lithuanian Maritime History

Thanks to Lithuanian Postcrossing user myjoy63 / Eddie for this stamp sent on picture postcard.

This stamp issued in 17.07.2023, designed by A.S.Kazdailis.

The stamp features a wind rose (graphical charts that characterize the speed and direction of winds at a location) and a sable. A wind rose is a star-shaped figure whose rays indicate the direction of the wind. Usually, these are 32 geographical directions, to which sometimes the names of the winds of that area are listed.

Here is the front side of the postcard I received, depicting a bottle showpiece with tall ships race stamp, Baltic 2009 - which is already explained in this post - Click here

Text Source: Wopa-Plus.com
Click Here to see other picture postcards I have received.

Postcard from China - Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP)

Received this postage-paid picture postcard today from Mr.Ling, depicting Hainan Free Trade Port. We can see two tugs moving a container ship to unload containers, and another container ship doing loading / unloading containers.

The Hainan Free Trade Port (HFTP) is a special economic zone (SEZ) on the island of Hainan in China. 

The HFTP was established by the Hainan Free Trade Port Law, which was passed on June 10, 2021. The law's goal is to transform the island into a globally influential free trade port.

Hainan, an island roughly the size of Taiwan that has been dubbed China's Hawaii for its tropical scenery and beaches, is being transformed into a world-class free-trade hub.

Click Here to see other picture postcards received by me.

Spanish Transatlantic Steamship - Jose Gallart - Postcard

Received this wonderful picture postcard today, from Spanish Postcrossing user - luiseme, showing Spanish Transatlantic Steamship - Jose Gallart, Barcelona. The advert says Regular direct services offered, stopping at various ports in the Mediterranean and the South American Coast.

Postcard from Ireland - Tall Ships

Colorful postcard from Ireland sent by postcrossing user Claudia, showing Tall Ships decorated in lights, at the Dublin Docks on the River Liffey with the Samuel Beckett Bridge in the background.

Maori War Canoe - Ngatokimatawhaorua - Postcard

This wonderful picture postcard sent by my swap friend in New Zealand, Ms. Corinne Pegler, depicting Maori War Canoe.

the information found on reverse side of the card -

Ngatokimatawhaorua (The Adzes which shaped it twice). This, the largest war canoe in the world was built for the 1940 centennial commemoration of the Treaty of Waitangi. Three massive kauri trees were felled in Puketi Forest and it is of the same design, materials, and construction methods used for smaller versions which carried raiding parties on long coastal voyages both before and following European settlements.

The 35 meter canoe carries a crew of 90 paddlers and is regularly launched for annual commemorations of the Treaty signings.

NRP Sagres III

Received this postcard from a postcrossing user in Netherland, depicting the tall ship NRP Sagress III school ship of the Portuguese Navy since 1961. It is the third ship with this name in the Portuguese Navy, so she is also known as Sagres III. It is also depicted in a postage stamp issued by France in 1999. Click here to see the stamp.

Following a number of international training voyages, the ship was used as a stationary office ship after the outbreak of World War II and was only put into ocean-going service again in 1944 in the Baltic Sea. On 14 November 1944 she hit a Soviet mine off Sassnitz and had to be towed to port in Swinemünde. Eventually transferred to Flensburg, she was taken over there by the Allies when the war ended and finally confiscated by the United States.

In 1948, the U.S. sold her to Brazil for a symbolic price of $5,000 USD.[1] She was towed to Rio de Janeiro, and for Brazil she sailed as a school ship for the Brazilian Navy under the name Guanabara. In 1961, the Portuguese Navy bought her to replace the old school ship Sagres II (which was transferred to Hamburg, where she is a museum ship under her original name Rickmer Rickmers). The Portuguese Navy renamed her Sagres (the third ship of that name), and she is still in service.

Source: Wikipedia

The Gondolas of Venice

Thanks to postcrossing user -  Dall'Acqua Sergio from Italy for this nice card showing the famous Gondolas of Venice.

The gondola is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. For centuries gondolas were the chief means of transportation and most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times the iconic boats still have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (ferries) over the Grand Canal. They are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. The gondola is propelled like punting, except an oar is used instead of a pole. Their primary role today, however, is to carry tourists on rides at fixed rates.

Tin Hau Festival - Prepaid Postcard

Date of Issue: May 22, 2012

Thanks to my Facebook friend - Tracy Chen from Hong Kong sent me this postage-paid postcard issued by Hong Kong Post on May 22, 2012, posted on issue date with special postmark.

This card design shows one from the set of four stamps issued on title 'Hong Kong Festivals'.

A predominantly Chinese community, Hong Kong maintains many of the customs of traditional Chinese festivals. Hongkong Post issues “Hong Kong Festivals” special stamps to present five traditional festivals and the way people celebrate them, highlighting the distinctive culture and social customs of the city. Tin Hau Festival ($1.40) – Tin Hau Festival falls on the 23rd day of the third month in the lunar calendar. Tin Hau, Goddess of the Sea, is regarded by fishermen and seafarers as their protector. Every year, festive celebrations such as parades and lion dance performances are held in various districts in Hong Kong. The stamp shows a statue of Tin Hau and the fishing boats on parade to pay homage to Tin Hau.

Source: ShopThruPost.hk

Steamship K.K.Priv of First Danube Steampship Company

Received this postcard from my Facebook friend, Cees Prins from Netherlands.

The card shows steamship K.K.Priv of the First Danube Steamship Company. The Erste Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft, or Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft (DDSG) (the word means Danube Steamboat Shipping Company) was a shipping company founded in 1829 by the Austrian government for transporting passengers and cargo on the Danube. In 1880, the DDSG was the world's largest river shipping company with more than 200 steamboat ships and about 1000 cargo tubs.

In 1991 the company was split into a passenger transportation enterprise and a cargo transport company. The company was sold to a private owner in 1993. Today the DDSG exists in the form of the two private companies DDSG-Blue Danube Schiffahrt GmbH (passenger transport) and the DDSG-Cargo GmbH.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Titanic Postage paid Postcard - Canada

Apart from the stamps, Canada Post also issued set of 2 prepaid (postage paid) postcards with the same design as of the stamps. The above is one such postcard sent by Postcrossing.com user, Carole.

Titanic Postcard with Titanic Stamp from Canada

Picture collage showing postcard to commemorate Centenary of RMS Titanic; stern view and the recently issued stamp of Canada. The card was posted on same day of issue of the stamp, on April 05, 2012.

The details about this stamp on miniature sheet is already available in another post. Click here to read.

Thanks again to my friend in Toronto, Canada - Emilia Moon-De Kemp.

Postcard from U.S.A. - Titanic and Captain Edward J. Smith

Received this postcard from my friend in U.S.A., Natalie Gordon, showing R.M.S. Titanic and Captain Edward J. Smith and on the right is seen the musical notes of the hymn "Nearer My God to Thee!" - played by the Bandsmen on board as she sank on April 15, 2012.

Postcard from U.S.A. - USS Doyle (FFG-39)

Many thanks to postcrosser from U.S.A., Dan (airships) for this card, showing USS Doyle - (FFG-39) - the 30th ship to be constructed in the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided missile frigates of the United States Navy. The Doyle was named after Vice Admiral James Henry Doyle (1897-1982) Vice Admiral Doyle was most known for his contributions during the Korean War as Commander Amphibious Group One.

The USS Doyle was decommissioned at Naval Station Mayport on July 29th, 2011 after completing 27 years of service.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Postcard from Russia - Monument of Peter the Great, Moscow

Lyudmila from Movomoskovsk, Russia sent this card showing the monument for Peter the Great or Peter I at Moscow.

This was designed by Zurab Tsereteli (Georgian-Russian painter, sculptor, and architect) to commemorate 300 years (1696 - 1996) of the first Russian Navy, which was started by Peter I of Russia. At 94 meters, it is the eighth tallest statue in the world. The symbols of the Russian Navy, the St. Andrew's flag and ensign, and most of its traditions were established personally by Peter I.

Popular legend states that the Statue was initially of Christopher Columbus, but that after being rejected by the U.S. Government, its head was replaced, and it was sold to the Russian government as a nautical statue of Peter the Great. In November 2008, it was voted the tenth ugliest building in the world by Virtual Tourist.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Postcard from Greece - Galleys

Postcard sent by my Facebook friend from Greece - Mr. Spyros Soulimiotis, showing different types of Galleys - a type of ship unique to the Mediterranean countries as early as 8th Century BC and were in use until 16th Century AD.

Postcard from Netherland - RMS Titanic advert

Received this great postcard through Postcrossing.com, sent by user Esso71 (Esther), from Netherland.

The card design is an advertisement poster for RMS Titanic of White Star Line.

Receiving a Titanic related postcard in its 100th Anniversary year is something very special.

Bluenose II postcard from Canada

My dear friend Laura sent me this postcard from Halifax. She knows Bluenose is my favorite, in any form, be it stamp, postcard, etc.,

The postcard says it all, so no description needed I guess.

TSS Earnslaw - card from New Zealand

Postcard from New Zealand received through postcrossing.com, showing TSS Earnslaw at Queenstown, New Zealand.

The TSS Earnslaw is a 1912 Edwardian vintage twin screw steamer plying the waters of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand. It is one of the oldest tourist attractions in Central Otago, and the only remaining passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere. As of 2011, the Earnslaw is still in routine operation carrying tourist passengers across Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country Farm, a tourism operation with farm tours, horse treks, heritage tours, barbecue lunches and evening dining at the historic Colonel's Homestead.

The Earnslaw is the only working coal-fired steamship on the Lloyd's Register.

Card from Sri Lanka - SLNS Sayurala (P623)

Received this postcard as a surprise from blogger friend, Mr. Ravindra Ratnapala, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The card shows the flag of the Sri Lankan Navy and Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) SLNS Sayurala (meaning: sea waves), with pennant number P623. It was named as the CGS Vigraha (39), a Vikram class offshore patrol craft of the Indian Coast Guard. She was in service in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2011, during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Source: Wikipedia

Ships of Finland, postcards - Paintings by Håkan Sjöström

Håkan Sjöström (born 1933) - is considered to be one of the foremost marine painters in Scandinavia today.  Painting was an important part of Håkan’s years of growing up. Upon completing his Bachelor of Science degree (Econ.), he started working at a shipyard in Turku, where he remained until retirement. Parallelly with his work, he even painted the newbuildings of the shipyard. Håkan has also had commissions for several  shipping companies, Viking Line among others. A few seascape commissions remain. In addition, he has  illustrated magazines and books.* He also has designed few stamps for Aland Post.

*Source: Aland Post bulletin No.1/2009

Suomen Joutsen (Swan of Finland in English) - is a three-mast, steel hull, full rigged ship. She was built in 1902 in St. Nazaire, France to serve in the trade between Atlantic and Pacific ports. In 1930 she was bought by the Government of Finland to serve as Finnish Navy training ship. Before World War II she made eight long ocean voyages. From 1956 she was a stationary Seamen's School for the Finnish Merchant Navy. Since 1991, she has been a museum ship owned by City of Turku, Finland.

Sigyn (1887) - built in Göteborg 1887, now museum ship in Turku, is the last remaining wooden barque used for trade across the oceans. At the time she was built there were thousands of similar vessels, but she was one of the last ones built. She was quite small even for her time, considering she was built for long-distance trade, but well built and considered fast and beautiful.

Herzogin Cecilie - was a German four mast barque, built in 1902, was one of the fastest merchant sailing ships of her time, on a par with the Flying-P-Liners. The trip around Cape Horn from Portland (Oregon) to The Lizard (England) was done in 1903 in only 106 days.

Thanks to postcrosser Sirpa in Finland for sending me these artistic cards.

Source: Wikipedia