Love stamps for Valentine´s day

Today´s theme proposed by Viridian is LOVE stamps. I had to search a little bit, but I found these ones:

Slovenia (28.01.2011) - Love entry in a Journal

Slovenia (30.01.2009) - Kiss

Finland (1999) - Valentine (it´s a set of 2 values, I only have one of them)

Romania (2002) - Valentine´s day (2 stamps, only one I have)

 I think the Finland stamps are the most unusual illustration for Love. What do you think?

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY - CANADA

Since the dawn of time, we’ve looked to the sky for hints of our cosmic roots—our place in time and space. The celestial jewels above have been an oracle for religions, a muse for poets and a compass for explorers. They continue to form the basis of our calendars, our clocks and our seasons. Our modern world is clearly indebted to the contributions of the world’s astronomers.

On April 2, 2009 Canada Post issued two domestic rate (54-cent) stamps to celebrate 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy and recognize the significant role that Canadians have played in uncovering the mysteries of outer space.

Each stamp pairs an important Canadian observatory with a nebula. 

One stamp features the National Research Council’s Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) in Saanich, BC. Completed in 1918, the DAO was the first Canadian observatory of international calibre and, for a brief period, it was the largest operating telescope in the world. It is pictured before the Horsehead Nebula, an evocative cloud of cold gas and dust silhouetted against bright, swirling gases in the constellation of Orion. View short film here: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/tours/tour-orion/

The dark molecular cloud, roughly 1,500 light years distant, is visible only because its obscuring dust is silhouetted against another, brighter nebula IC434. The prominent horse head portion of the nebula is really just part of a larger cloud of dust which can be seen extending toward the bottom of the picture.

The other stamp features the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). This world-class 3.6 metre telescope is located atop the summit of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano rising 4,200 metres above the Pacific Ocean. Opened in 1979, the highly-successful CFHT is Canada’s first partnership in an international observatory, in this case between the University of Hawaii, France’s Centre national de la recherche scientifique, and the National Research Council of Canada. The observatory is featured before the Eagle Nebula, a massive tower of cold gas and dust shaped like a mythical beast in the constellation of Serpens. The Eagle Nebula is a region of our galaxy where stars are currently forming out of dusty hydrogen gas. Ultraviolet light from newly-formed stars in the vicinity of the nebula is pumping energy into these gas clouds, causing them to glow in visible light. Find out more about its colours here: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/behind_the_pictures/meaning_of_color/eagle.php

and a short movie with facts here:

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/tours/tour-m16/

These stamps are also included in the MS I have received from Kimberly.

In the background you can see the Carina Nebula. A Bok globule nicknamed the "caterpillar" appears in the middle upper part. Its glowing edge indicates that it is being photoionized by the hottest stars in the cluster. It has been hypothesized that stars may form inside such dusty cocoons. 


The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) is the only international Mauna Kea observatory belonging to Hawai`i as well as to its two other international partners, Canada and France. CFHT played a leading role in establishing Mauna Kea as one of the best astronomical sites in the world. Canada's participation in the CFHT project has also been a very important step in the development of the Canadian astronomical community and placed Canada at the forefront of the international scene.


More astronomical images by CFHT can be found at: www.cfht.hawaii.edu/HawaiianStarlight/HawaiianStarlight.html

Title: INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY
Date of Issue: 2 April 2009
Country: Canada
Denominations: 2 x 54 cents
Source: http://www.canadapost.ca

BIRDS FROM THE DANUBE DELTA

Romfilatelia introduced into circulation in 2009 the postage stamps issue “Birds from the Danube Delta”, having four stamps and a perforated souvenir sheet.
By editing this philatelic issue, Romfilatelia joins the UNESCO project for the Danube Delta protection, project sustained also by other nongovernmental organizations from Romania and from Europe, which fight to protect and to save this invaluable natural habitat. 

The Danube Delta lodges over 3,400 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, many national, European but also world unique species living here. The ornitho-fauna from the Danube Delta totals more than 300 species, from which around 70 species are extra European ones.
Birds (the Aves Class) represent a group of four-footed vertebrates, which developed from reptiles, nevertheless preserving certain features of these ones. They are the first vertebrates which can maintain a constant body temperature. The most obvious feature of the birds is the adaptability to flight. Due to this fact, the birds are Globe´s most spread species, passing over geographical obstacles, travelling long distances, conquering even the regions with severe climate. Many species of birds migrate during winter and summer.

The postage stamps of the philatelic issue illustrate the following birds from the Danube Delta, which are legally protected:
The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis athis) - illustrated on the stamp with the face value of 50 Bani
It is just 16-18 cm long and it has a vivid color, so that it looks like a jewel, blue-green on upperparts, red-orange on underbelly and white on gizzard and the scruff side parts. It nestles on sweet water banks. Twice a year (in April and in June) it lays 6-7 eggs which it batches around 20 days. He feeds with small fishes and his flight is fast as an arrow.
The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) - 1.60 RON
It can be easily recognized by its very long dark red or pink legs. Its general plumage is white and only the wings are seen black when it flies. Its beak is long, black, flat and thin. It is a summer guest in the Danube Delta, where it nestles in small colonies, formed in salting areas. 
The Great Egret (Egretta alba) -  2.10 RON
It is also called the Great White Heron. It is the rarest heron from the Romanian fauna and it was declared nature´s monument. It is a member of the Ciconiiformes order, Ardeidae (herons) family. It is 90 cm long and can be seen in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In Romania the bird is a summer guest and can be seen mostly in the Danube Delta.
The Danubian Falcon (Falco cherrug) -  3.10 RON
It is around 50 cm long and his wingspan is over 120 cm. It is lightish brown on upperparts and white on the head. It lives in steppe areas. It nestles in trees on water banks. In the Danube Delta it uses the White-tailed Eagle´s nests. It usually feeds with ground squirrels and birds.

The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) - illustrated on the souvenir sheet  8.10 RON
It is 77-92 cm long and its wingspan has between 190 and 240 cm. It prefers isolated areas, wet or flooded zones, like the deltas. It is one of the biggest birds of prey from our country, with very wide spanned wings and strong unfolded at the cap. The adults are brown and have white tail, chisel-shaped. It feeds with slow flying birds, fish, carcasses and sometimes with reptiles and rodents. It nestles in trees. Usually it has one or two chicks per year.


Title: BIRDS FROM THE DANUBE DELTA
Date of Issue: 28 February 2009
Country: Romania
Denominations: 50 Bani, 1L60, 2L10, 3L10 and Souvenir Sheet 8L10

Source: www.romfilatelia.ro