Monarchs on Holiday in Bad Ems (Germany)

Bad Ems is one of the most famous bathing resorts in Germany. It is located on the river Lahn in the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate. The city reached its heyday in the 19th century, when many monarchs and other famous persons came to spend their time in Bad Ems. Then it was known as "Weltbad" (Bathing Resort of the World). Famous visitors were for example Richard Wagner, Nicholas I of Russia, Victor Hugo, Clara Schumann and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

In 1870 King Wilhelm I of Prussia spent the summer months Bad Ems. There the French ambassador came to him to demand the waiver of the House of Hohenzollern of the Spanish throne. Otto von Bismarck was informed by an internal telegram, which he modified and reduced and which he finally released to the press. The translation of this Ems Dispatch, Emser Depesche, caused indignation in France and resulted in the Franco-Prussian War in July 1870.

In 1876 Tsar Alexander II of Russia signed the Ems Ukaz, which prohibited the use of the Ukrainian language, during his stay in Bad Ems.

Today is Bad Ems as one of the Great Spas of Europe on the UNESCO Tentative List. Other cities which are part of the nomination are for example Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic, Bad Ischl in Austria and Vichy in France. Altogether there are sixteen cities in seven countries part of the nomination.

Penny Black and Two Penny Blue (United Kingdom)

The Penny Black is a stamp from the United Kingdom. It was issued on 1st May 1840 and is thus the World's first stamp. It showed an profile of Queen Victoria on black background and had a face value of one penny. The introduction of stamps was part of the reform of the postal system by Sir Rowland Hill. The Penny Black was only in use for one year. Then it was replaced by the Penny Red due to problems with the cancellation.

On the same day also another stamp was issued, the Two Penny Blue. It showed an profile of Queen Victoria on blue background and had a face value of two pence. Although both stamps were issued on the same day, the Penny Black is the World's first stamp, as, like usual, the stamp with lower face value is the first to be listed in a stamp catalogue.

175 years Penny Black (issued 06-05-2015)

Imperium Romanum and its remains in Rome (Italy)

Ancient Rome was one of the largest empires of the ancient World. Once the complete Mediterranean area was under Roman rule. The modern day countries of Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Crimea, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Georgia, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Libya, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Vatican belonged at least in parts to the Roman Empire. The Empire existed for more than 1000 years and its remains can still be seen today in its former territory.

According to the legend Rome was founded in BCE 753 by Romulus, who introduced the monarchy. Romulus and his brother Remus were the sons of Mars, the Roman God of War, and Rhea Silvia. They were later abandoned in the Tiber, breastfed by a wolf and nursed by a shepherd.

In BCE 509 the monarchy was overthrown and the republic was established. The government was then headed by two consuls advised by the senate. Firstly only the aristocratic Patricians had political power, but over the years also the common Plebeians got more and more rights.

The Senate had it seat at the Forum Romanum, the heart of Ancient Rome and the centre of Roman public life. Today it is one of the most important excavation sites about Ancient Rome.

Until the 3rd Centenary BCE the Romans were able to bring the complete Italian peninsula under their control. In the following Rome was able to gain the control in the western Mediterranean area after they defeated Carthage in the three Punic Wars and also in the eastern Mediterranean area after they conquered the Kingdoms of the Diadochi. But the Republic did not have the ability to control the large territory. A time of civil wars followed. Caesar emerged victorious, abandoned the republic and put himself in charge. But not for long, in BCE 44 Caesar was killed and a new civil war broke out. Caesar's adopted son Octavius won and became monocrat. The principate was introduced and the Roman imperial period began, a period of peace and stability. The emperors led the Ancient Rome to a new heyday, although the principate was also weakened by scandals.

A famous monument from this time is the Colosseum. The construction was started in 72 by the Roman Emperor Vespasian. He want to ingratiate oneself with the people while staging panem et circenses (Bread and Games). His son Titus finished the construction. Inside was enough space for 50000 viewers. It is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.

Under the rule of Trajan the Roman Empire reached its largest expansion. Due to external pressure starting in the 3rd century the Romans became more and more impatient with the government. With the Edict of Milan, issued in 313, the Christianity was admitted.

Arch of Constantine commemorating the victory of
Constantin the Great in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312

In 395 the Roman Empire was divided. Constantinople became capital of the Eastern part, the government of the Western part was housed in Milan. The end of the Western part came in 476 with the dismissal of the last emperor, the Eastern part became part of the Byzantine Empire.

After the fall of the Roman Empire Rome fell under the control of the Pope. In the 8th Century it became the capital of the Papal States, in 1871 of the Kingdom of Italy and in 1946 of modern day Italy. Since 1980 is the Historic Centre of Rome on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Augustus II the Strong (Germany)

Augustus II the Strong was Elector of Saxony and from 1697 also King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania after he converted to a Catholic. He was born in 1670 in Dresden. He is known for his display of splendour and established Dresden's reputation as Baroque metropolis. He led Saxony to an economical, cultural and infrastructural heyday. On the other side he also involved the Electorate of Saxony in the Great Northern War. He died in 1733 in Warsaw.

Golden Horseman in Dresden

Dresden, the capital of the Electorate of Saxony, became a Baroque metropolis at the behest of Augustus II the Strong. The reconstruction started with his accession to the throne in 1694. Dresden was particularly suitable for the reconstruction due to its attractive location at the Elbe and the mild climate in the Elbe Valley. The style of the new city was influenced by French and Italian models. Augustus II the Strong built among others the Frauenkirche and the Zwinger. His son followed his ideas and constructed more buildings. The time of the Dresden Baroque ended with the beginning of the Seven Years' War in 1756.

Instead of one large palace, Augustus II the Strong built many small palaces which all had their own purposes.

One of them is the Moritzburg Castle. It was built between 1723 and 1736 as hunting lodge. Others are for example the Zwinger in Dresden for the court festivals, the Dresden Castle as residence and the Pillnitz Castle for the river festivals on the Elbe.

Augustus II the Strong is also known for opening Europe's first porcelain manufacture. The creation of porcelain, which earlier had to be imported from Asia, was originated by Friedrich Böttger and Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. The production of porcelain was started in the Albrechtsburg in Meißen in 1710. It was for a long time Europe's leading porcelain manufacture.

The Vikings in Þingvellir and their Assembly (Iceland)

The Althing is the oldest extant parliamentary institution in the World and was the the first assembly representing whole Iceland. It was founded by the Viking settlers of Iceland at a place which then became the capital of the Icelandic Commonwealth in 930. It came together for two weeks a year and set laws. It was an open-air assembly. It also came together after the Union with Norway in 1262 and thus survived the end of the Icelandic Commonwealth. In 1800 the Althing was disbanded by royal Danish decree, but it was already revived by another royal decree in 1843. Election were held the next year and the new Althing came together in 1845, but now in Iceland's present day capital Reykjavik.

Friedrich Fröbel's Pioneering Idea (Germany)

Friedrich Fröbel was born in Oberweißbach in 1782. His birth house (upper right corner) is today used as museum. His mother died when he was just nine months old and due to this incident he had a loveless childhood. In 1797 he began an apprenticeship as forester, but already left it in 1799 to study mathematics and botany in Jena. He then worked in various caring and educating professions and also went to war against Napoleon. In 1816 he founded the German General Education Institute in Griesheim, which he moved to Keilhau one year later. It is said that Fröbel invented the term "Kindergarten" at a place now known as Fröbel's view near Keilhau (lower right corner). In 1818 he married for the first time. In 1840 he opened the World's first kindergarten in Bad Blankenburg. He later trained kindergarten teachers and also invented more games and songs. He died in 1852 in Schweina.

The card shows also the Fröbelkindergarten (upper left corner) and the Fröbel Museum (upper row middle) in Bad Blankenburg and the Fröbel Tower in Oberweißbach (lower left corner).

This special postmark is about the 175th anniversary of the opening of the first Kindergarten. It shows Friedrich Fröbel and the famous Fröbel Gifts ball, cylinder and dice. He realised the worth of games for the children's education and introduced the concept of free work. Activities in the first kindergarten were singing, dancing, gardening and playing with the Fröbel Gifts.

Karlsruhe, a former capital (Germany)

Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 and became the capital of the Margraviate of Baden-Durlach in 1718. 

The Margravate of Baden-Durlach originates from the division of the Margraviate of Baden in 1535. In 1771 the Margraviate of Baden-Durlach was again unified with the Margraviate of Baden-Baden to form again the Margraviate of Baden, of which Karlsruhe became the capital. In 1803 it was raised to an electorate and in 1806 it formed with newly added territories the Grand Duchy of Baden. In 1918 it became a republic, which it stayed until the abolition of the German States under the Nazi rule in 1933. After World War II and the following decentralisation the former territories of the Republic of Baden were split between South-Baden in the French occupation zone and Württemberg-Baden in the United States occupation zone. Karlsruhe was then part of Württemberg-Baden. In 1952 South Baden, Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern were merged into the new German State of Baden-Württemberg.

Karlsruhe is today the second largest city of Baden-Württemberg and the twenty first largest in Germany. Its traditional layout has remained in big parts until today earning it the name "fan city". The city is home to Germany's two highest courts, the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice. In 2015 celebrates Karlsruhe its 300th founding anniversary.

Potsdam Conference (Germany)

Exactly 70 years ago on 17th July 1945 representatives of  the main Allies came together in the Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam to consult about the way forward. This meeting became known as Potsdam Conference. 

Nine weeks earlier Nazi Germany agreed the unconditional surrender and the Allies took the governmental power in Germany. The planned themes for the conference were the borderlines in Europa, the war reparations, the administration of the occupied Germany and the Pacific War. The participants were Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the USA. On 2nd August the conference was over and the results were put down in the Potsdam Agreement. It included the denazification, demilitarisation, democratisation and the decentralisation of Germany, but also the geographical reorganisation, including the Oder-Neisse line as new German-Polish border, and the resettlement of the German population in East Europa. The Potsdam Conference marks the end of World War II in Europa. 

The Reichstag building (Germany)

The Reichstag building was constructed between 1884 and 1894 to house the Imperial Diet of the German Empire. It was later also used to house the parliament of the Weimar Republic. Between the 27th and 28th February 1933 the building was destroyed by a set fire. Adolf Hitler, who was in office for around four weeks, and his party used the fire for their purposes. Already on 27th February President Paul von Hindenburg issued the Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State, the Reichstag Fire Decree, which nullified many of the key civil liberties of German citizens and allowed the creation of an one-party state led by the Nazi Party. In 1945 the Red Army hoisted the Red Flag on the building. During the time of the German Division the building was not used by the parliament. On 3rd October 1990 the German reunification was celebrated on the place in front of the Reichstag building and one day later the first all-German parliament sat there. Since 1999 the German Bundestag sits again in the Reichstag building, after it moved back from the West-German capital Bonn.

"Long live the New! Long live the German Republic!"

With this historic words Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the German Republic on 9th November 1918 from one of the balconies of the Reichstag building. The proclamation of the republic was needed after Emperor Wilhelm II abdicated after the end of World War I. Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed the republic just a few hours before a planned proclamation of a Soviet Republic by Karl Liebknecht. One day later an interim government was formed, which planned the elections for a constituent National Assembly. The Weimar Republic arose from this event, which was the first modern democratic republic in Germany.
To honour this important person of the German history a special stamp was issued on 1st July 2015 in commemoration of his 150th birthday.

Palmanova - A Venetian Fortress (Italy)

Palmanova was built in 1593 by the Republic of Venice as planned city. It is one of the best preserved examples of late Renaissance military architecture, as its star shape remained until today.

The Republic of Venice existed between the 7th century until 1797. It was an maritime and trading power centred in Northeastern Italy. Its capital was Venice. Today its territories are located in Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine.

The Fortress Town of Palmanova was built in a time when the Turkish hordes ruled on the Balkans. The Fortress of Gradisca, which earlier secured the eastern borders of the republic, was taken over by Austria in 1500. Because of this new dangers from the Turkish hordes and the Austrian Empire the government decided to built a new fortress at the junction of important trading routes. The Republic of Venice planned to develop Palmanova to the most important inland base of its troops, but that never happened. In 1797 the fortress was conquered by the French troops under Napoleon, who later gave it to Austria. The surrender of the Republic of Venice in this war against Napoleon was signed in the city. Between 1806 and 1814 it was a part of the Kingdom of Italy. After Napoleon's fall it remained a part of the Hapsburg Empire until it became a part of Italy in 1866. 

Hanseatic League and its Queen (Germany)

The Hanseatic League existed between the 12th and the 17th century. First it was only a union of merchants, but since the 14th century it was organised by the cities itself. Since then also Hanseatic Days were held frequently. The Hanseatic League was not only an important factor in the development of the Northern European economy but also of its politics and culture. At its climax nearly 300 coastal and inland cities joined the league. In the 15th century the demise of the Hanseatic League began with the strengthening of the local sovereigns, the shift of trade route and the new competitors developing due to the discovery of America. In 1669 only the nine cities Braunschweig, Bremen, Cologne, Gdańsk, Hamburg, Hildesheim, Lübeck, Osnabrück and Rostock came together for the last Hanseatic Day. 

Lübeck was founded in 1143, but had already to be founded for a second time in 1159 after it was destroyed by fire. Henry the Lion, who rebuilt the city in 1159, relocated a diocese to Lübeck and built the cathedral in 1173. The city got the imperial immediacy in 1226 and soon controlled the trade in the Baltic Sea as Germany's leading Hanseatic city, The Queen of the Hanseatic League. The Lübeck law and the brick Gothic spread from Lübeck in the Baltic area. Lübeck withstood the Thirty Years' War in the 16th century and the end of the Hanseatic League, but suffered an economical setback in the Napoleonic Era during the French occupation between 1806 and 1811. In 1937 Lübeck lost its independence and became a part of the German State of Schlesweig-Holstein. Today is Lübeck Germany's most important port on the Baltic Sea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Hanseatic League of Cities Germany and Sweden issued a joint stamp on 7th September 2006. The stamp uses as indicator for the change from merchant to city league the first Hanseatic Day in 1356, where representatives from all cities were present.

The History of a Botanic Garden (Singapore)

The history of botanic gardens in Singapore began in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles (the founder of Singapore and a keen naturalist) founded a botanic garden on Government Hill. This first botanic garden had to close in 1829, but the British government and trading companies initiated the development of botanic gardens for the research, cultivation and preservation of native plants. Today’s Botanic Gardens were established in 1859 by an agri-horticultural society on a 23ha large area. In 1866 the Garden was extended and the Swan Lake was dredged. In 1874 the society got financial problems and gave the Botanic Garden to the government. In 1875 the garden got a new Superintendent. He set up a library and a herbarium.

Today the Singapore Botanic Gardens are circa 74ha large and there are 8300 taxa in cultivation in the Botanic Garden, 650000 specimens in the herbarium and 30000 books and 41000 rare books in the library. The Botanical Gardens are since 2015 Singapore's first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site.