Maximum card from Belarus: The European Polecat (Mustela putorius), also known as a fitch, foumart, or foulmart

This species is the wild ancestor of the domesticated ferret, that you can see in pet shops.

"It s a member of the Mustelidae family, and is related to the stoats, otters, and minks."

The Romanian word for Polecat is Dihor.

While in high school in Romania, we used to have fun about that.

If something stinks, then "it smells like Christian Dihor" - in joking reference to the famous brand name of fine perfumes Christian Dior.

The pictorial postmark shows not a polecat, but a fox. 

I love http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, despite all its imperfections and controversy. You can read and research deeper and deeper, as you like, by clicking on hyperlinks.

WARNING!

If you click on certain hyperlinks below, you'll discover some mind-boggling facts, concepts, expressions and terms, all the way to the Bruce Effect and the Coolidge Effect.

There's a minefield of juicy comments that can be made, but this blog is rated G.

If there is such a thing as the Freedom of Speech, maybe I should create another blog, too.

With no speech restriction, like a stand-up comedian affords to do. :)

"Though polecats are chiefly polygynous, females can be polyandrous.^[5] The sexual conflict of the mating system can change with environmental conditions. Sexual conflict may result in sexually antagonistic co-evolution, in which one sex evolves a "manipulative" character which is countered by a "resistance" trait in the other sex."

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

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Maximum card from Romania: a subspecies of The Marbled Polecat, near Pontus Euxinus/The Black Sea (Vormela peregusna euxina)

I salute the passionate and experienced members of  The Maximaphily Club from Bucharest, who created this interesting maximum card about a rare animal in Romania! Toate cele bune ~ Best wishes! :)

MC with triple concordance, perfectly FIP-compliant.

However, the postcard they used was printed by the Sibiu Polygraphic Enterprise, in cooperation with the Buzau County Museum.

The backside of the postcard says Vormela peregusna cuxina.

But I know better. :)

It should be Vormela peregusna euxina, 'cause it's a subspecies that lives near Pontus Euxinus/The Black Sea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontus_Euxinus

"The marbled polecat (V. peregusna) is a small mammal belonging to the monotypic genus Vormela within the  Mustelinae subfamily. Vormela is from the German word Würmlein^[1], which means "little Worm". The term peregusna comes from pereguznya, which is Ukrainian for polecat.^[2] Marbled polecats are generally found in the dryer areas and grasslands of south-eastern Europe to western China. Like other members of Mustelinae, it can emit a strong smelling secretion from anal sacs under the tail when threatened."

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

In an unrelated story: the world economy, including any gold-man (man with a lot of gold), can emit a strong smell of recession from gold-man sacs (under the radar) when threatened.

Not a stripper, not a pole dancer, not a "Cat" on the catwalk, not "The 400-pounds Zorilla" - The Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus, also called the African Polecat, Zoril, Zorille or Zorilla)

It stinks worse than some politicians' hidden agenda. Certain exceptions apply.

"The Striped Polecat (Ictonyx striatus, also called the African Polecat, Zoril, Zorille or Zorilla) is a member of the Mustelidae family (weasels) which somewhat resembles a skunk. It is found in savannahs and open country in southern and west Africa."

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

Maximum card from Bophuthatswana, ex-bantustan, now part of the Republic of South Africa.

If a bantustan was able to have such nice pictorial postmarks, why can't ALL the "First World" postal administrations?

Notice the triple concordance: stamp, postcard, pictorial postmark. :)

Now, let's verify concordance from the standpoint of the FIP Commission for Maximaphily.
http://maximaphily.info/Articles/Regulations/MXLY%20regulations%20approved%20in%20Malaga%20conference.%20English%20version.pdf


"• The concordance of subject is the essential characteristic of a real maximum
card. This concordance between the illustration of the postage stamp and the one of the
picture postcard must be as close as possible and visually verifiable."
We already established that the subject is present here even on the pictorial postmark, right?

"• The concordance of place requires a connection between the name of the place or
the locality written in the postmark and the subject of the postage stamp and of the postcard.
The "first day cancellation" can only be used when it is in accordance with the above-mentioned condition."
Now, what about the place of postmarking? Is Mogwase good enough?
I don't know. Do you? How the hell should I know? :)
"Mogwase is a rapidly developing town located close to Sun City.
Attractions

Tourist attractions include Sun City and Pilanesberg National Park."

Well, that's good enough for me - close to a national park. Or you want me to find a post office right near a zorilla?


• "The concordance of time is defined by the date of the postmark, within the period

of validity of the postage stamp."

This zorilla stamp should be valid, for all I know (and for all I care).

After all, this is an official maximum card, issued by the Postal Administration.

Maximum card created for me by my philatelic partner/friend Kirsi (Finland), with her personalized stamp about Lauri, her smart and beautiful black cat

Beautiful maximum card (maybe Kirsi created more of this, or maybe it's the only one in the world -> the beauty of personalization, customization in maximaphily).

The postmark is barely visible above the stamp.

Many black cats have been villified in history. Not Lauri, this beautiful cat who made it to a good...Finnish. :)