How appropriate is it that the Year of the Tiger Stamp first-day issue was celebrated at the El Pueblo Historical Monument in Los Angeles, where Chinatown originated?  There are several Chinatowns throughout the United States but Los Angeles is also home to the Chinese American Heritage Museum.  The first day issue occurred on February 14, 2010, the start of a new lunar year.  The Year of the Tiger will last until February 2, 2010, at which point it will be the Year of the Rabbit.  The United States Postal Service will also feature the other 11 animals in its series, “Celebrating Lunar New Year.”  The Year of the Tiger stamp is the third in this series.

The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and is celebrated by nations all over the world.  The Chinese tradition uses one of 12 animals to signify a year, cycling through them.  2010 is the Year of the Tiger, a year of luck to those who are born under this sign.  Those born under the tiger possess many of the same traits of the tiger such as power, vigor, nobility, and independence.  The Chinese associate the tiger to Army generals, similarly to how they identify the dragon with their emperors.

With the forming of the Commonwealth of Australia on January 1st, 1901 laws were passed for the newly formed postal system to issue a uniform postage stamp series, then postal rates also became uniform on May 1st, 1911. Prior to this, Australia had six colonies who were self-governed. Each began operating their own postal systems and issued stamps. New South Wales and Victoria issued their first stamps in 1850, followed by Tasmania in 1853, Western Australia in 1854, South Australia in 1855 and Queensland in 1860.

In 1913, the first (one penny) Kangaroo and Map design stamp was issued with "Australia" defined as the origin. Later the King George V series was issued in December 1913. Depiction of monarchs and Australian flora and fauna were featured until early 1970's. Featured were birds and marine life distinctive to Australia and early maritime explorers. Designs since 1971 have focused on Australian flora, fauna, marine life, reptiles, butterflies, visual art, handicrafts, gemstones. The Olympic Games of 2000 brought the creation of many stamps featuring Australian Gold Medal winners.

Australian postcards are as varied and unique as any you will find anywhere. Some of the Australian colonies postcards, the oldest found to date originated in 1873. Many of the postcards over the years follow the same themes as stamps issued. World War I and World War II were very popular and still very collectible. One series is, "Ships of the Orient" mostly of modern ships. One of the largest number of postcards printed relate to the Austrian airlines, with probably over a hundred or more issued. Sheep stations, scenic landscapes and aboriginal scenes and landmarks, such as Old Parliment Houses also were issued.

When looking for interesting stamps to collect, stamps involving the Vatican are among some of the coolest to collect. There are several different types of stamps that represent the Vatican, the Pope, and religious aspects involving those two. There are three different stamps of Pope Benedict XVI. There is a stamp of him in a red religious robe, known as “Habemus Papam” which means “We have a Pope.” There is another stamp of the Pope in a white religious robe. This stamp is known as “Tu Es Petrus” which means “You Are Peter.”

It represents a part of the Bible taken from Matthew, verse 16, lines 18 and 19. There is a stamp of the Pope, waving, wearing the traditional gold crown that he wears when he is on television performing his religious duties. This last stamp is known as “Episcopus Romae” or “Bishop of Rome.” There are other stamps that deal with the Vatican. There is a long rectangular 0.62 Euro stamp of Madonna and Child that is outlined in a lilac purple with the words Citta’ del Vaticano underneath.

It is a stamp of the famous painting that is hanging in the Saint Peter Basilica within the Vatican. This stamp was the first ordinary postage for the Vatican in Euros. The first stamp that was made available at post office vending machines within Vatican City was a stamp of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The four men are on a purple background with the words “San Giovanni” underneath and the same “Citta’ Del Vaticano” going down on the right hand side. This stamp was worth 0.41 Euros.

A pyramid is a structured building that can be polygon, trilateral or quadrilateral shaped. Pyramids converge at a point. The square pyramids have a square base and four triangular outer surfaces. These type of square pyramids are very common versions. The design of a pyramid will have much of the weight closer to the ground. Early civilizations built them like this in order to add or create monumental structures. Some of the world's largest pyramids are from Egypt.

The largest and oldest pyramid in Egypt is the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops. It was constructed in around 2551 BC. It was built over a 20 year period and remained the tallest pyramid for over 3,800 years. It was built as a tomb for the Egyptian Pharaoh Khugu. The Pyramid consists of three chambers. One was for the king, another for the queen, and apparently the other was not occupied. They say the architecture of the pyramid was built with a type of unique precision that is unmatched to any other.

The Pyramids of Giza are an artistic and dominant feature in the Middle East which are often used in postage stamps. They appear in about 159 kinds of stamps. One of the most dramatic are the ones that show planes flying over the Pyramids. They symbolize a beautiful contrast between new and old. Presently, the pyramids are honored as the only remaining wonder of the ancient world.

You might need the luck of a three-leaf clover to find St. Patrick's Day postcards.  Similar to Halloween postcards, these are a rare find for collectors.  Well-known for their St. Patrick's Day postcards, Ellen Clapsaddle and Frances Brundage creations are captivating and unique, to say the least.  These early 1900 pieces of art primarily featured children, as seen here.  The image of the vintage stamp of St. Patrick is also pictured here.  St. Patrick's death on March 17, 461 celebrates the extraordinary life of this once nonbeliever.  Though there are many legends about St. Patrick, the most notable is his accomplishment of banishing the snakes from Ireland.  The image shown on the stamp represents him doing just that by standing on the snakes.  Another legend of St. Patrick is that he used the shamrock, the symbol of St. Patrick's Day, to teach the holy trinity, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as one.  The three-leaf clover grows all over Ireland.  Maybe embark upon a new tradition for St. Patrick's Day this year and take a trip to your local used bookstore and shuffle through the old postcard boxes to see if you can find one of these treasures...find your pot of gold without the help of a leprechaun!