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            | Saturday, April 30, 2022Staying in Shape at 69 11:06 am cdtPracticing is one way to stay in shape at 69.  A couple of pics after a workout.  
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 Monday, April 11, 2022Ukraine 8:01 pm cdtUkraine gained it's independence from Soviet Russia in
                  1991.  The
                  "Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine" was adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR on August
                  24th 1991.  Items from my collection are provided  with addtional details.  Clicking each image will
                  link to information about Russia and Ukraine. This is the cover of a letter announcing the "Dynamo-Atlantic"
                  treaty with Russia allowing air transport between our nations.   
 Translated:  
 The First Item Postmarked October 10th 1991:  
 Details Include: Russia 1976 Scott Catalog #4520 brick
                  red 4 kopek Coat of Arms and "CCCP"
 Russia 1988 Scott Catalog #5726 red 5 kopek National Flag & Crest
 
 Russia 1987 Scott Catalog #5593 multicolored 5 kopek V.I. Lenin with pencil painted by P.V. Vasilev
 
 Circular
                  Date Postmarked October 10th 1991 "Kiev SSR"
 
 Second Item Postmarked October 10th 1991 
 Details Include: Russia 1976 Scott Catalog #4520 brick red 4 kopek Coat of Arms
                  and "CCCP"
 Russia 1986 Scott Catalog #5467 multicolored 5 kopek "View of the Kremlin in Foul Weather"
                  painted in 1851 by A.K. Savrasov
  
 War Is Hell ! 
 
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       For the next few weeks I'll be talking
         about the first day covers of ArtCraft along with everything else.
ArtCraft closed it's doors recently after 76 years of making philatelic history.
I'm  predicting a sudden, salubrious escalation in the value
         of the ArtCraft  cachet, all ArtCraft first day covers and ArtCraft portrait cards.
Including those connected to the Postal Commemorative Society
Their  departure signals the end of an extraordinarily crucial,
         very  important, highly significant and exceedingly meaningful period in  philately
A mournful signal which will be heard around the world and
         lamented throughout the multitude of collectors
Leo
         and Sam August treasured their associations with the world's greatest philatelists
Leo's  contributions to our hobby were significant enough
         to earn the coveted  Luft Award and a place in the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame.
ArtCraft has well-earned it's place in the great chronological
         record in the history of philately.
Their
         raised ink, line-engraved intaglio printed cachets rank among the most aesthetic in the world.
ArtCraft cachets are not just beautiful. 
They are works
         of art that showcase the wonders of the world and illuminate the powers of human creativity and ingenuity.
         The Coober Pedy Cover
One of the World's Great Philatelic Rarities 

Could this become la pièce
         de résistance de toute la modern Australian philatélie ? 
Coober  Pedy is a town in northern South Australia. The town is sometimes   referred to as the "opal
         capital of the world" because of the quantity   of precious opals that are mined there. Coober Pedy is renowned for its
           below-ground residences,called "dugouts", which are built in this   fashion due to the scorching daytime heat.
         The name "Coober Pedy" comes   from the local Aboriginal term kupa-piti, which means "white man's   hole".
Opal was found in Coober Pedy on 1 February 1915; since   then the town has been supplying most of the world's gem-quality
         opal.   Coober Pedy today relies as much on tourism as the opal mining industry   to provide the community with employment
         and sustainability. Coober  Pedy  has over 70 opal fields and is the largest opal mining area in the   world.
Coober
         Pedy - no village, no buildings, no roads, just   desert, mountains dotted with boulders. A bizarre lunar landscape, but 
          for opal seekers is the most exciting place on earth, where again every   day is the true challenge, happiness and luck just
         a shovel width apart   and where life is defined by two words: winners and losers. Coober  Pedy,  grab your hat, throw it
         into the air and where it lands start  digging ! 
 

 
 
      
          “The Scott
         Numbers are the copyrighted property of Amos Press Inc., dba Scott 
Publishing Co. The marks Scott and Scott’s are Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 
and are trademarks of Amos Press, Inc. dba Scott Publishing Co. No
         use may be 
made of these marks or of
         material which is reprinted from a copyrighted 
publication
         of Amos Press, Inc., without the express written permission of Amos 
Press, Inc., dba Scott Publishing Co., Sidney, Ohio 45365.”