Butterflies, Nicaragua

We seem to be having a little snow this morning, but the kind that just fools you and never really stays so you just cant be joyful about it. Speaking of which, we haven't had any real snow this winter, unlike the previous one, when there had been snow in abundance, but of course, I wasn't here to see it.

Anyway, today's post has nothing to do with no, and is nowhere close to letter S, but being at letter B, here we have two Butterflies' sheets, that I actually totally overlooked when the theme of the week was butterflies, and it has been haunting me ever since, so no wonder it is the first thing that crossed my mind for the day :D

Plus I realized that this makes it my first post with Nicaraguan stamps, so I'll drink to that too :)

These were issued in the year 2000, showing different types of butterflies in Nicaragua. It is actually astonishing how many different types are out there, to me they are all just fragile and beautiful, but I could never really make any differentiation.

The first sheet above shows butterflies that can be found in The Mombacho Nature Reserve, and features the following beauties:

- Catonephele numilia also known as the blue-frosted banner, or Grecian shoemaker
- Marpesia marcella or pansy daggerwing
- Heliconius hecalesia, or the five-spotted longwing
- Actinote thalia
- Doxocopa laurentia or the turquoise emperor
- Napeogenes tolosa mombachoensis or the Tolosa tigerwing

In general, I would choose as a favourite something where the blue colour is dominant, but in this case, my absolute favourite is the first stamp - it is just full of splendour!

And down to the other sheet now, which features butterflies that can be seen in the Bosawás Biosphere Reserve.

- Heliconius cydno or the cydno longwing
- Nessaea aglaura or the common olivewing
- Godyris zavaleta or the Zavaleta glasswing,
- Caligo atreus or the yellow-edged giant owl
- Morpho amathonte  - and without a doubt this one is my absolute favourite here. I mean I just couldn't ask for more blue on a single butterfly ❤❤❤
- Eryphanis polyxena lycomedon

So that would be my B-contribution for today (could also use it under 'feeling Blah' but so far I haven't seen such stamps).

For more interesting stamps for today, head over to today's edition of Sunday Stamps!

PS. I have to thank Sissel for sending me these back from her trip in Nicaragua, cos she thought I may like them - I mean, of course I do :)))

Cultural Heritage, Macedonia

Hello Sunday Stampers! For today's episode we have the theme of folk-art...and if at first it all seemed easy peasy, in the end I realized I was stuck with what folk-art actually is...I mean, I know what the definition is and all, but where is the line drawn between folk-art and folklore...or folk-art and museum artifacts lets say...or do they overlap sometimes? what is what actually? As ignorant and ridiculous it may sound, I must admit I got stuck!
So with the potential to have totally gone wrong with my choices today, I still hope you will at least like the stamps =)

I have these three different issues, all representing Macedonian Cultural Heritage.

First we have four stamps issued in 2000, representing antique jewelry, in particular, from left to right, at the top, the 10 denar stamp shows a Bracelet from the 20th century from the region of Bitola (a Macedonian town), while the 5 denar stamp next to it shows a Pin with an Icon from the 19th century from the Ohrid region.
Below, the 30 denar stamp shows the Butterfly Brooch from the 19-20th century from the Bitola region, while the 20 denar stamp next to it shows 18th century Earrings from the Ohrid region.
Out of all these, the most famous one is the filigree butterfly...you can see it in all sizes sold around, sold either as a piece of jewelry or as an ornament to keep at home.

In the Christian religion, the metamorphosis a butterfly undergoes is symbolic of the spiritual evolution all Christians go through. In ancient mythology, the butterfly stands for wisdom and everlasting knowledge, while as a part of the jewelry dates back to the end of the 19 th century. It has been made according to the traditional Macedonian brooch and represents the most exquisite filigree work by the Ohrid Handicraftsmen School from the end of the 19 th and the beginning of the 20 th century. It has been made in a hard technique of filigree work, spinning round several thin handmade silver stripes into one remarkable whole. This kind of manufacture could be afforded only by the masters, wealthy tradesmen and other rich people from that period.


The FDC below shows two more pieces of jewelry...golden earrings with doves dating back from the II century B.C from the village of Marvinci, and а lion-head earring, dating from IV century B.C from the region of Demir Hisar.

And something a bit different...and FDC showing some textile, often used as a pattern for carpets or rugs as shown here. You can often see these in the houses in the rural areas especially.

well, that would be my contribution for today...again, sorry if I went somewhat astray with the topic :)

for more folk-art, click here:

Railways of 1900 and 2000, Czech Republic

Well, being a Sunday, I think I can finally participate in the Sunday Stamps! And being the theme for today is 'anything you wish', my choice fits in rather well I think :)
If you want to join as well, just follow this link:

Well, im posting today this fantastic cover that Radim sent me, featuring a railway mini sheet.

Unfortunately, the information with regards to it are rather scarce, but still, it shouldnt be an obstacle of posting it here, no? :) And I know I have some Czech readers here, so if they could provide some more detailed info, Id be very grateful!
These stamps were issued on 09.05.2000 where the stamps at the top show a train from 1900 with a steam locomotive, service coach and carriages for passengers, while the bottom ones show a type 371 locomotive. The coupon in the middle features a map of the main railway corridors which run across this country.
The face value of the sheet is 23 CZK.

Again, thanks a million to Radim for such a great contribution to my collection!