WOA TALLEST CACTUS NON-AUTOGRAPHED MAXIMUM CARD (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

- Condition:  UNCIRCULATED WONDERS OF AMERICA SAGUARO MAXIMUM CARD (19X13cm, 7.5x5.25inches) WITH FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK.
- Year: 2006

- Catalog value: (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

I sold this for $ 12.00+5. 
09-05-08 05:26:29 (GMT-5.0)


"The saguaro, pronounced /səˈwɑroʊ/ (Carnegiea gigantea), is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. stateof Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and an extremely small area of California, U.S. The saguaro blossom is the state flower of Arizona.
The common name saguaro came into the English language through the Spanish language, originating in the language of the Tohono O'odham native American nation."
"The major pollinators are bats, primarily the lesser long-nosed bat, feeding on the nectar from the night-blooming flowers, which often remain open in the morning.".

"Harming a saguaro in any manner, including cactus plugging, is illegal by state law in Arizona, and when houses or highways are built, special permits must be obtained to move or destroy any saguaro affected.".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saguaro

WOA LARGEST FLOWER LOTUS FLORA NON-AUTOGRAPHED MAXIMUM CARD (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

- Condition:  WONDERS OF AMERICA AMERICAN LOTUS UNCIRCULATED MAXIMUM CARD (19X13cm, 7.5x5.25inches) WITH FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK
- Year: 2006
- Catalog value: (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)


"Nelumbo lutea, the American Lotus, also known as Yellow Lotus or Water-chinquapin, is a flowering plant of the order Proteales."
"Like the Asian species Nelumbo nucifera, the American Lotus is an emergent aquatic plant. It grows inlakes and swamps, as well as areas subject to flooding. The roots are anchored in the mud, but the leavesand flowers emerge above the water's surface. The petioles of the leaves may extend as much as 2 m (6.6 ft) and end in a broad round leaf blade."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_lotus

WOA TALLEST TREES NON-AUTOGRAPHED MAXIMUM CARD (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

- Condition:   WONDERS OF AMERICA COAST REDWOODS UNCIRCULATED MAXIMUM CARD (19X13cm, 7.5x5.25inches) WITH FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK; I AFFIXED A WHITE PAPER MAILING LABEL ONTO WHICH THE POSTMARK CAME TO BE MORE VISIBLE.
- Year: 2006
- Catalog value: (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)


"Sequoia sempervirens (pronounced /sɨˈkwɔɪ.ə ˌsɛmpərˈvaɪrənz/, latin pronuntiation /sɛkwɔɪ.ə ˌsɛmpərˈvɪrənz/)^[1] is the sole living species of the genus Sequoia in the cypress family Cupressaceae (formerly treated in Taxodiaceae). Common names include Coast Redwood and California Redwood (it is one of three species of trees known as redwoods, but "redwood" per se normally refers to this species). It is an evergreen, long-lived, monoecious tree living for up to 2,200 years, and this species includes the tallest trees on Earth, reaching up to 115.5 m (379.1 ft) in height and 8 m (26 ft) diameter at breast height. It is native to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon within the United States.

The name sequoia is sometimes used as a general term for the subfamily Sequoioideae in which this genus is classified, together with Sequoiadendron (Giant Sequoia) and Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood); as a common name, it usually refers to Sequoiadendron."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_redwoods

WOA LARGEST PLANT NON-AUTOGRAPHED MAXIMUM CARD (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

- Condition:  WONDERS OF AMERICA QUAKING ASPEN UNCIRCULATED MAXIMUM CARD (19X13cm, 7.5x5.25inches) WITH FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK
- Year: 2006
- Catalog value: (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)


"Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree native to cooler areas of North America. The species is referred to Quaking Aspen, Trembling Aspen, and Quakies, names deriving from its leaves which flutter in the breeze.^[1] The tree-like plant has tall trunks, up to 25 metres, with smooth pale bark, scarred with black. The glossy green leaves, dull beneath, become golden to yellow, rarely red, in Autumn. The species rarely flowers, often propagating through its roots to form large groves."
"As all trees in a given clonal colony are considered part of the same organism, one clonal colony, named Pando, is considered the heaviest^[2] and oldest^[1] living organism at six million kilograms and approximately 80,000 years old. Aspens do produce seeds, but seldom grow from them. Pollination is inhibited by the fact that aspens are either male or female, and large stands are usually all clones of the same sex. Even if pollinated, the small seeds (three million per pound) are only viable a short time as they lack a stored food source or a protective coating.^[3]".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaking_aspen

WOA OLDEST TREES BRISTLECONE PINE NON-AUTOGRAPHED MAXIMUM CARD (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

- Condition: WONDERS OF AMERICA BRISTLECONE PINES UNCIRCULATED MAXIMUM CARD (19X13cm, 7.5x5.25inches) WITH FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK

- Year: 2006
- Catalog value: (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

The bottom one is the only copy I have in that configuration.

"The bristlecone pines are a small group of pine trees (Family Pinaceae, genus Pinus, subsection Balfourianae) that are thought to reach an age far greater than that of any other single living organism known, up to nearly 5,000 years.
There are three closely related species of bristlecone pine:

• Rocky Mountains Bristlecone Pine Pinus aristata in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona
• Great Basin Bristlecone Pine Pinus longaeva in Utah, Nevada and eastern California
• Foxtail Pine Pinus balfouriana in California

Bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves at and just below the tree line. Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, the trees grow very slowly. The wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests. As the tree ages, much of its vascular cambium layer may die. In very old specimens, often only a narrow strip of living tissue connects the roots to a handful of live branches.".

"The oldest single living organisms known are bristlecone pines, though some plants such as
creosote bush or aspen form clonal colonies that may be many times older. Recently, Swedish researchers discovered a self-cloning spruce in Dalarna that has been dated to just under 10,000 years old[1] [2]. The existing growth in clonal colonies sprang as shoots from older growth so there is an unbroken chain of life that sometimes dates back several tens of thousands of years. However, the original ancient growth in these colonies is long dead. The oldest bristlecone pines are single plants that have been alive for a little less than 5,000 years. These very old trees are of great importance in dendrochronology or tree-ring dating.

The oldest (acknowledged) living organism known is a bristlecone pine tree nicknamed "Methuselah" (after Methuselah, the longest-lived person in the Bible). Methuselah is located in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of eastern California, however its precise location is undisclosed by the U.S. Forest Service to protect the tree from vandalism.^[1] The age of Methuselah was measured by core samples in 1957 to be 4,789 years old.

In the Snake Range of eastern Nevada Donald R. Currey, a student of the University of North Carolina, was taking core samples of bristlecones in 1964. He discovered that "Prometheus" in a cirque below Wheeler Peak was over 4,000 years old. His coring tool broke, so the U.S. Forest service granted permission to cut down "Prometheus". 4,844 rings were counted on a cross-section of the tree, making "Prometheus" at least 4,844 years old, the oldest non-clonal living thing known to man.^[2]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristlecone_pines

WOA LONGEST REEF NON-AUTOGRAPHED MAXIMUM CARD (I CREATED ONLY A HANDFUL)

WONDERS OF AMERICA "OFF THE FLORIDA KEYS" MAXIMUM CARD (19X13cm, 7.5x5.25 inches) WITH FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK.


I also show here (bottom image) another version of the LONGEST REEF maximum card, with a Gray Angelfish non-USPS postcard - I received only 1 like this.

December the 1st - National Day of Romania! :)

http://www.zazzle.com/romania_flag_2_customized_romanian_spelling_postage-172533934811247818?rf=238693463283865848




http://www.zazzle.com/romania_flag_1_customized_postage-172464502838062408?rf=238693463283865848



http://www.zazzle.com/romania_flag_2_customized_coat_of_arms_postage-172830508747888699?rf=238693463283865848








http://www.zazzle.com/usa_romania_flag_customized_postage-172307917364418153?rf=238693463283865848





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania
"Romania (pronounced /roʊˈmeɪniə/ ( listen); archaic: Rumania, Roumania; Romanian:România [romɨˈni.a]  ( listen)) is a country located in Southeastern and Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea^[3]. Almost all of the Danube Delta is located within its territory. Romania shares a border with Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the south.

The territory's recorded history includes periods of rule by Dacians, the Roman Empire, theBulgarian empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. As a nation-state, the country was formed by the merging of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859 and it gained recognition of its independence in 1878. Later, in 1918, they were joined by Transylvania,Bukovina and Bessarabia. At the end of World War II, parts of its territories (roughly the present day Republic of Moldova) were occupied by the USSR and Romania became a member of the Warsaw Pact.

With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, Romania started a series of political and economic reforms. After a decade of post-revolution economic problems, Romania made economic reforms such as low flat tax rates in 2005 and joined the European Union on January 1, 2007. While Romania's income level remains one of the lowest in the European Union, reforms have increased the growth speed. Romania is now an upper-middle income country economy.

Romania has the 9th largest territory and the 7th largest population (with 21.5 million people)^[4] among the European Union member states. Its capital and largest city isBucharest (Romanian: Bucureşti [bukuˈreʃtʲ]  ( listen)), the 6th largest city in the EU with 1.9 million people. In 2007, Sibiu, a city in Transylvania, was chosen as a European Capital of Culture.^[5] Romania also joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and is also a member of the Latin Union, of the Francophonie, of the OSCE and of the United Nations, as well as an associate member of the CPLP. Romania is a semi-presidential unitary state."

Let's not forget about Moldova :)  
- the Eastern half of Moldova = currently the independent (still Russia-dependent) Republic of Moldova.
http://www.zazzle.com/republic_of_moldova_flag_1_customized_postage-172093497503303300?rf=238693463283865848


Best wishes to all the (rather) good people of the world!
As for those (rather) bad, there are other wishes available!
:)

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR MAXIMUM CARD #13, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK, NAPLES, FL

- Condition: uncirculated freestyle/ non-traditional/ non-FIP Maximum Card; the postcard is comprised of 2 large pages from a book, still separated.

- Year:  the beautiful First Day of Issue pictorial postmark is dated October 4, 2006.
- Catalog value: I created only ONE!  Most probably, it is the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD!

The reptile is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The stamp is part of the Southern Florida Wetland series. Most of that area is in the Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS).
This close-up portrait image shows stunning details,  impossible to see on a regular postcard.

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR MAXIMUM CARD #12, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK, WASHINGTON, D.C.

- Condition: uncirculated freestyle/ non-traditional/ non-FIP Maximum Card; the postcard is an irregular-shaped commercial postcard that I bought from Myrtle Beach, SC.
The postmark was applied over a transparent mailing address label. This way, the ink did not smear onto the glossy postcard surface. 

- Year:  the beautiful First Day of Issue pictorial postmark is dated May 27, 2006.
- Catalog value: I created only ONE in this exact configuration!  Most probably, it is the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD!

The reptile is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The stamp is part of the Wonders of America series.

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR MAXIMUM CARD #11, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK, WASHINGTON, D.C.

[Test: large font]
- Condition: uncirculated freestyle/ non-traditional/ non-FIP Maximum Card; the postcard is an irregular-shaped commercial postcard that I bought from Myrtle Beach, SC.
The postmark was applied over a white mailing address label. This way, the ink did not smear onto the glossy postcard surface.

- Year:  the beautiful First Day of Issue pictorial postmark is dated May 27, 2006.
- Catalog value: I created only ONE in this exact configuration!  Most probably, it is the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD!

The reptile is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The stamp is part of the Wonders of America series.  

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR MAXIMUM CARD #10, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK, NAPLES, FL

- Condition: uncirculated freestyle/ non-traditional/ non-FIP Maximum Card; the postcard is a  page cut-out from a book.

- Year:  the beautiful First Day of Issue pictorial postmark is dated October 4, 2006.
- Catalog value: I created only ONE in this exact configuration!  Most probably, it is the ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD!

The reptile is the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The stamp is part of the Southern Florida Wetland series. Most of that area is in the Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS

AMERICAN ALLIGATOR MAXIMUM CARD #9, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE PICTORIAL POSTMARK, NAPLES, FL

Probably it's not hungry anymore - it doesn't need to keep a low profile, like this: