Featured

Interesting places in Russia to collect mail from

Many philatelists and postal history collectors like to receive mail from unique and interesting places: remote islands, south pole stations, mountain-peak mailboxes, underwater mailboxes, unrecognized countries, etc.

Russia is a whole World of its own! Highest peaks, oldest cities, remote islands, coldest places, disputed territories, exclaves, scientific stations, and much more! And many of these places have a post office : )

So, here’s some interesting places to collect from Russia! >>

Continue reading “Interesting places in Russia to collect mail from”

Russian Post Tools: Support Bot in VK

VK Russian Post Bot

After being a target of multiple hacker attacks, Russian Post website disabled access to international visitors. This makes life a bit harder for collectors interested in mail items from Russia: tracking registered mail, including mail from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, finding current postal rates, checking mail exchange limitations between Russia and other countries, finding out post office address – you now need to find alternative, unofficial sources and tools for all these things, and hope they are up to date.

Here I want to share a way to get official info without getting a Russian VPN or looking for a person in Russia for help with this: official Russian Post support bot (with fallback to a human) in Russian social website VKonakte (VK).

Continue reading “Russian Post Tools: Support Bot in VK”

Few cities of Algeria

A few postcards from Algeria I received inside an envelope:

Algeria postcard

 

Tiaret

Tiaret is a historic city whose name means “station” or “stop” in Berber, and is known for its archaeological sites, including Roman ruins and pre-Islamic monuments. It has been inhabited since antiquity and gained prominence during the Roman period as Tingartia. In the 8th century, it became the capital of the Rustamid dynasty, a center of Ibadi Islam and trade.

Algeria Constantine postcard

Constantine

Constantine, Algeria, often called the “City of Bridges,” (for its breathtaking suspension bridges) is one of the oldest cities in the world, with origins dating back over 2,500 years. Originally founded by the Phoenicians, it became an important Roman stronghold and was renamed after Emperor Constantine the Great in 313 CE.

Algeria Algiers postcard

Algeria Algiers postcard

Martyrs Memorial in Algiers

Maqam Echahid, or the Martyrs’ Memorial, is a striking monument in the capital city Algiers, inaugurated in 1982 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Algeria’s independence from French colonial rule. At its base are three statues representing Algeria’s military forces: the army, navy, and air force. Inside lies the Museum of Mujahideen, which documents the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962).

Algeria postcard

Sete Cidades’ Lake, São Miguel Island, Azores

Sete Cidades’ Lake, located in the crater of a dormant volcano on São Miguel Island in the Azores, is a breathtaking natural wonder. Its historical and cultural significance is rooted in an old legend: the “Legend of the Seven Cities,” which tells of a blue-eyed princess and a green-eyed shepherd whose forbidden love caused their tears to fill the caldera, forming two lakes—one green and one blue—named Lagoa Verde and Lagoa Azul. While the colors are actually due to different depths and the presence of algae, the legend adds a romantic layer to the site.

Azores postcard

Azores stamp postmark

Ascension Island

Ascension Island, a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic, is part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1501, it was uninhabited until the British established a garrison in 1815 to prevent Napoleon’s escape from nearby Saint Helena. During World War II, it served as a key Allied air and naval base, and later as a vital communications hub for NASA’s Apollo missions. Today, it is known for its unique wildlife, including nesting green turtles, and landmarks such as Green Mountain National Park and Wideawake Airfield. The island has no indigenous population; residents are mostly temporary workers.

Ascension island

Ascension island stamp postmark

Aruba

Aruba is a Dutch Caribbean island just off the coast of Venezuela. It was claimed by Spain in 1499 before coming under Dutch control in 1636, a status it largely retains today as a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Unlike many Caribbean islands, Aruba has a dry, desert-like climate with unique landscapes like the Arikok National Park. The island is also famous for Oranjestad’s colorful Dutch colonial architecture and its vibrant Carnival celebrations, making it a cultural and tourist hub. Fun fact: Aloe vera cultivation has been a major industry since the 19th century.

Aruba postcard

Aruba stamp postmark

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation in the Caribbean. Шt was colonized by the British in 1632 and became a key sugarcane producer worked by enslaved Africans. The islands gained independence in 1981 but remain part of the Commonwealth. Antigua, the larger island, is famous for Nelson’s Dockyard (the only continuously working Georgian dockyard in the world), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while Barbuda is celebrated for its bird sanctuary and pink-sand beaches.

Antigua Barbuda postcard

Antigua Barbuda stamp postmark

Andorra, French post

Andorra is the only country in the world with a political system based on co-princes, that is, with two heads of state. The two co-princes are the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell (a Catholic bishop from Catalonia, Spain). This arrangement dates back to the Pareage of 1278, a medieval treaty that settled disputes between local rulers and gave joint sovereignty to both French and Spanish leaders. Today, both co-princes are largely ceremonial heads of state, while real political power lies with the elected parliament and prime minister.

The two heads of state might be ceremonial, but Andorra does use two postal administrations for it’s mail services (it has no national postal service): the French post office La Poste and the Spanish postal service Correos. Both postal administrations issue their own unique stamps for mail sent from Andorra.

This card appears to be sent via French post.

Andorra french post postcard

Andorra stamps postmark

Scrub Island, Anguilla

Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, is renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Inhabited by Indigenous Arawaks before European arrival, it was later colonized by the British in the 17th century. Anguilla has a history of resistance, most notably the 1967 Anguilla Revolution, when locals rejected incorporation into St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, leading to direct British rule. Today, tourism is its main industry, complemented by fishing. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself, the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays, mostly tiny and uninhabited. Pictured on this postcard is the Scrub Island.

Anguilla postcard

Anguilla stamps postmark

Alderney of the Channel Islands

Alderney, the northernmost of the Channel Islands, lies in the English Channel close to France. Despite its small size, it boasts a rich history shaped by strategic importance. In World War II, Alderney was the only British island to host Nazi concentration camps, leaving a lasting mark on its past. Known for its Victorian forts, scenic cliffs, and abundant wildlife, it attracts visitors seeking tranquility and history. The island also features the Alderney Lighthouse and ancient Roman remains.

The highlight of the islands events calendar is Alderney Week. It’s the island’s big annual carnival and is crammed with entertainment, events and competitions, culminating in a dramatic torchlight procession and quarry party.

Alderney postcard

Alderney stamps

Band-e Amir in Bamiyan, Afghanistan

Band-e Amir, located in Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, is the country’s first national park and a natural wonder renowned for its striking chain of six deep blue lakes. Formed by natural dams of travertine deposits, the lakes sit high in the Hindu Kush mountains, surrounded by dramatic cliffs and rugged landscapes. Steeped in legend, locals believe the lakes were created by Hazrat Ali, the cousin of Prophet Muhammad. Once a Silk Road crossroads, Bamiyan is also famous for the destroyed giant Buddhas, linking history to spirituality.

Afghanistan postcard

Afghanistan stamps postmark