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Bitter Grounds

exploring the stories stamps tell

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Cyprus 2025 stamp program – motorbikes and mosaics!

Jun 22, 2026

As promised in the 2026 article, here is the Cyprus 2025 stamp program. I don't believe it either, but let's just enjoy the moment. It's hard to go wrong when you start the year off with classic motorbikes. You don't meed to be a enthusiast to appreciate the beauty and design involved in them. And when you follow them up with a eye poppingly beautiful mosaic set, well, you have everything we...

This day in stamps

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Star Trek’s Montgomery Scott & WW2 vet James Doohan died July 20, 2005

July 20, 2026 Canada

Canadian actor, WW2 army vet, & “craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force”, James Doohan, aka Montgomery Scott, died on July 20, 2005 James Doohan entered TV history with his

Moon mail – anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing

It’s been 50 years since the Apollo Moon landing, and this little stamp captured the world’s excited glimpse of humans stepping out beyond earth. I remember watching this on a black and white tv. As a child, I had the barest awareness that I was watching an important moment in history. To celebrate this event, USPS issued an airmail stamp (Scotts #C76) in Sept 1969, 2 months after this watershed...

Catpaw's archive picks

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Cyprus stamps for 2026 – nice designs from mystery artists

Jun 20, 2026

Last time I posted Cyprus' stamps was way back in 2023. Somehow I missed them in 2024 and well, 2025 was a dead loss as far as work was concerned. HOWEVER ... I have already laid out and prepped the stamps for last year and you should see it up in a few days. Just...

2026 Jersey stamps – oh the journey we will take!

May 17, 2026

Buckle up mammals, we're off to see the 2026 Jersey stamps! How in hell do I find so much to write about them each year. It's a tiny island. I start with an innocent "just a few links, maybe a few cool facts". Before I hit the end of March I have over 900 words...

Japan 2026 stamps, cancels & pure joy

May 13, 2026

Ah Japan, the post mark cancel capital of the world. If you are a cancel hound, this is the country for you. Many countries create them, few attain the sheer delicate beauty and whimsy of Japan's. Here are a few samples from over the years: The little snowball...