Beloved South African soprano Mimi Coertse (93) passed away on Monday.
On 17 March 1956, she made her debut at the Vienna State Opera as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by Mozart.
She remained with the Vienna State Opera until 1978.
After retiring in 1978, she devoted her time to exposing young South African singers to the neglected art of Lieder singing.
In 1996, Austria’s Federal Ministry for Science and Art awarded her the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art.
In 1998, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria.
Picture from the front page of South African newspaper Die Burger (The Citizen). ‘Goodbye, Our Mimi‘ says the headline, and ‘She was a true opera diva. When she entered a room, you knew you were in distinguished and important company. An era has come to an end. Rest in peace, dear Mimi.’Statement from the Vienna State Opera. KS stands for Kammersängerin, is a prestigious German honorific title for distinguished opera and classical music singers.
King Charles III is on his first state visit to the United States as monarch, and addressed congress today.
The Washington Post: As the king spoke, the White House posted an image of Trump and Charles on X, calling it “TWO KINGS,” with a crown emoji. My comment: The United States of America has no king.
Meanwhile, my latest purchase from an Ebay seller in London arrived yesterday, with a stamp on the envelope that features the king.
United Kingdom, 2026 Definitives Issued Apr. 7, 2026 Perf. 15×14½ syncopated | 39mm x 30mm | Design: Martin Jennings | Engraving: Cartor Security Printing | Gravure printing | Bar-coded | Phosphor bars, lettering | Self-adhesive 5194 FCP19 £3.60 Purple Heather | Profile of King Charles III [Sources: stampworld.com, royalmail.com, Google AI]Held at an angle, the embossed printing, the die-cut security holes (to prevent lifting and re-use of the stamp) and the phosphor lettering comes to light.
I am expanding my collection of stamps from Japan, and have bought some older ones on Ebay recently.
I love the graphic design of this one.
Check out its interesting history in the caption below.
Japan, 1923 ‘Earthquake Stamps’ Issued Oct. 25, 1923 Imperforate | Offset lithography | Granite paper with colored fibers, parallel lines watermark | No gum 183 A51 4 sen Gray-green | Mount Fuji, cherry blossoms and dragonflies around the Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal (the 16-petal flower at the top center) Text on the stamp: 日本郵便 Nippon Yūbin (Japan Postal Service) 四錢 Yon Sen (or Shi Sen) 4 Sen, equal to 1/100th of a Yen [Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, Vol. 4A, Google AI]
Historical Background These stamps were created following the Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1, 1923, which devastated Tokyo and Yokohama. The disaster destroyed the government’s Printing Bureau, along with its stamp-making equipment and stored inventory. To maintain postal services during reconstruction, the government commissioned a private corporation to produce these emergency definitives. Unlike standard stamps of the time, these were issued imperforate (no holes) and without gum (adhesive) on the back due to the emergency conditions. They were used until April 30, 1925, after the Printing Bureau was restored.
Here is my final installment of the flags for World Cup 2026 on the monorail pillars in downtown Seattle.
It seems as if all the flag images on the monorail have now been installed, and I found South Africa’s flag.
(Hint: the other two are from countries that are part of the United Kingdom. Do you know which ones?)
Here comes the train from the Space Needle— I’m looking north from the 11th floor of a building on Olive Way.And this time I am standing by the Westin Hotel on 5th Avenue.
Here in Seattle, we gathered at Cal Anderson Park at noon.
There were a few speeches, and then the crowd made its way along Pine Street, past the Seattle Convention Center and on to Seattle Center.
My two amigos and I made it to the Convention Center, from where we surveyed the long parade of protesters and their signs that kept on coming.
I was downtown this morning and parked by the monorail. These flag images on the monorail pillars are part of a major public art installation by SeattleFWC26, the local organizing committee, to celebrate Seattle’s role as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The project should be completed in early April. I will definitely have to go back and look for the Stars and Stripes— and for South Africa’s flag as well. Iran’s flag is already up, and there is a picture of it below. Of course: it is an open question if the Iranian team will actually come out to the United States and play.
I bought this set of stamps in Singapore.
It is a 2024 joint issue of stamps from ten ASEAN* countries. (Different stamps for each country but issued on the same day).
*Not, not Asian— ASEAN: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
It is a regional intergovernmental organization established on August 8, 1967, to promote economic growth, social progress, cultural development, and regional peace. It comprises 11 member countries—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
The theme for the joint issue is not super-exciting: general post office buildings.
Some of the stamps have cool security features, though.
And I was reminded where in the world the Brunei is.
Here’s tiny Brunei (pop. 462,000), on the island of Borneo. It is a fabulously rich country, wealthy from oil and gas. From Google: Brunei is a tiny nation on the island of Borneo, in 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. It’s known for its beaches and biodiverse rainforest, much of it protected within reserves. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is home to the opulent Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque and its 29 golden domes. The capital’s massive Istana Nurul Iman palace is the residence of Brunei’s ruling sultan..Shining a UV light on the stamp from Brunei reveals the logo from Brunei Postal Services on the stamp.The paper used for the stamp from Indonesia has fibers in that lights up under UV light.The image of the Grand Postal Building in Bangkok is embossed on the stamp .... and the paper also has fibers in that lights up under UV light.The stamp from Malaysia has a watermark that shows up only under UV light. The SPM lettering is an abbreviation for Security Printer of Malaysia. The SPM watermark has been applied a long time on stamps from Malaysia, and is found on stamps as early as 1986.
Here is a sample of beautiful architecture that had caught my eye the last few days as I walked around Centro de Mazatlán (the old center of Mazatlán).
Casa Paredes Herrasti was designed by a young French architect and built in 1907 as a family home for Doña Francisca Rojas de Paredes, a direct descendant of Don Bonifacio Rojas who discovered the prosperous gold and silver mine of El Tajo in 1655. [Source: oceanblueworld.com]It need a a lot of restoration work..Founded in 1845 by the company Heymann Sucesores, in this building was the commercial house known as La Merceria Alemana. It operated as a store for luxury furnishments (pianos, porcelain from Dresden and Meissen, Baccarat and Bohemian crystal), until the beginning of World War II. The orange building opened as a commercial house in 1900 and is called La Casa Elorza. It exported products to Guatemala and Chile. The property functioned as a renowned high school at the end of the 20th century. A colorful mural. The deer is the primary symbol of Mazatlán, rooted in the Nahuatl* word mazatl (“deer”) and tlan (“place of”), translating to “Place of Deer”. *Nahuatl is a vibrant Indigenous language family with approximately 1.5 to 1.7 million speakers, primarily in central Mexico. As the historic language of the Aztec Empire, it remains the most spoken indigenous language in Mexico, known for its agglutinative structure, unique “tl” sound, and influence on English words like chocolate and coyote.The apartment building at 1402 Blvd Niños Héroes. ..The Hotel Freeman, built between 1945 and 1950 overlooking Olas Altas beach, was the first skyscraper in Mazatlán and northwestern Mexico. With 13 floors, it became an icon of modernity for its time. Its presence marked a turning point in the port’s urban landscape, playing a key role in the transformation of the historic center during the 20th century. Despite its innovative design, locals viewed its height with skepticism and often joked about its collapse. [Source: Alfredo Velazquez on Facebook]The flags of the U.S.A., Mexico and Canada are on the flagpoles on the top.Elementary school Benito Juárez on 20 Campana Street, serves children in grades 1-6. Benito Juárez was the 26th president of Mexico, from 1858 until his death in 1872.
Here is a closer look at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Mazatlán (La Catedral Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción en Mazatlán).
It is a Roman Catholic Church that was built in the Baroque-Revival style from 1856 to 1899. Approximately 78% of Mexico’s population identifies as Catholic, according to the 2020 Mexican government census.
Based on available history for the city’s central public spaces, the notable iron gazebo located in the plaza directly in front of the Cathedral (Plaza República) was built around 1870.
Happy Lunar New Year— the Year of the Horse.
I bought this coin recently while I was in Singapore from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), as a souvenir.
It is not silver, but a nickel-plated proof-like zinc coin.
Majulah Singapura (on the back of the coin) is a Malay phrase meaning ‘Onward Singapore’ or ‘Forward Singapore’.
This ensemble of US presidents on postage stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service is from my modest collection of US stamps.
President George Washington appeared on one of the very first U.S. postage stamps issued in 1847 (a 10-cent stamp). He subsequently appeared on over 300 different U.S. postage stamps— more than any other individual in U.S. postal history, and more often than all other U.S. presidents combined.
U.S. presidents on stamps. (The U.S. Postal Service has not issued a stamp yet of President Obama— nor of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. A key USPS policy rule is that a person must be deceased before their likeness can appear on a stamp, similar to the rule that is in place for coins and banknotes at the US Mint.)
I made my way to the south end of the waterfront late this afternoon and walked up to Pike Place market.
The day was brilliant and bright out— but with the air temperature still sharp at 48°F/ 9°C.
I took the sunset picture from Elliot Avenue and Lenora Street.
Happy Friday The Thirteenth.
The postage stamps I had bought from an Ebay seller in Mumbai, India, made it into the mailbox on my porch this morning.
Here are some of my favorite ones.
Sixth series of South African Railway parcel stamps Issued 1929 | Perf. 14 | Size 18×22½ mm | Afrikaans or English inscriptions | Background 14 vertically aligned rows of text | No watermark PS 6.2 | 2d Pale mauve | Afrikaans text Overprinted PMB (code for Pietermaritzburg, Natal railway station) Postmarked Sept. 6, 1932 [Source: Railway Stamps of South Africa, 1985, by H.S. Hagen and S.P.Naylor]German inflation stamps from circa 1923, primarily from the Weimar Republic era. These represent a period of hyperinflation where postage costs skyrocketed from 20 marks to 50 billion marks in less than a year. (Confession: I don’t have a collection of stamps from Germany, but I love the elaborate numeral designs on these, and added them into my purchase).
Brittania, QE II Issued by Royal Mail, Great Britain, Mar. 2, 1993 | Perf. 14 | Design B. Craddock | Lithography | Printer: House of Questa | Silver die-stamped w. Braille symbol for “10” embossed | Paper contains fluorescent colored fibers which, together with the ink on the shield, react under ultraviolet light 1658 1088| £10 Greenish grey, rosine, yellow, new blue, reddish violet, vermilion, violet, bright green and silver [Source: Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogue Part 1, British Commonwealth 1997, Vol.1]
Britannia is the ancient Roman name for Great Britain and the national personification of the United Kingdom, often depicted as a helmeted woman with a trident and shield. Originating from the 1st century BC, it became a enduring symbol of British strength, power, and identity. It frequently appears on coins, on stamps and on artwork. – Google AIRoyal Mail Postage Labels, issued 1984-85 These imperforate labels, printed in red on phosphorized paper with grey-green background design, were first issued on 1 May 1984 as an experiment by the Post Office. Special microprocessor controlled machines were installed at post offices in Cambridge, London, Shirley, (Southampton) and Windsor to provide an after-hours sales service to the public. The machines printed and dispensed the labels according to the coins inserted and the buttons operated by the customer. Values were initially available in ½p steps to 16p. In addition, the labels were sold at philatelic counters in two packs containing either 3 values (3½, 12½ or 16р) or 32 values (½p to 16p). From 28 Aug. 1984 the machines were adjusted to provide values up to 17p. After 31 Dec. 1984 labels ending in ½p values were withdrawn. On 30 Apr. 1985, the machines were withdrawn from service. P.S. I asked Google AI why these stamp labels were discontinued. The answer: Automated stamp label machines generally failed to achieve widespread success due to high operational costs, inconsistent print quality, and frequent technical failures. [Source: Stanley Gibbons stamp catalogue Part 1, British Commonwealth 1997, Vol.1]
It is a time-honored tradition for countries and postal agencies over the world to issue postage stamps to commemorate the Olympic Games.
The Unites States Postal Service has not issued stamps for the 2026 Games, though.
Here is host country Italy’s stamps.
Very abstract— compared to say, the issue from Japan for the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.
From olympics.com:
Sapporo 1972 was significant for both Japanese and Asian winter sport.
As the first Winter Games held in Asia, they inspired people across the continent to watch, and take up, snow and ice disciplines.
The success of the Japanese ski jumpers– known as the Hinomaru Squadron– created national heroes and showed that Asian winter sports athletes could compete with the best from Europe and North America.
The 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games XXV, Milano Cortina, Italy Issued by Poste Italiane, Jan. 21, 2026 Miniature sheet of 2 stamps | Perf. 11 Die Cut | Engraving by I.P.Z.S. S.p.A. – Roma | Self-adhesive | No watermark 4877 FLV | €3.35 Multi-colored shades of green, yellow-green | Milano Cortina 2026 “Futura” emblem 4878 FLW | €3.35 Multi-colored shades of dark blue, purple, violet | Milano Cortina 2026 “Futura” emblem [Sources: stampworld.com, Google AI Overview]The 1972 Winter Olympic Games XI, Sapporo, Japan Issued by Japan Post, Feb. 3, 1972 Miniature sheet of 3 stamps | Perf. 13¼ | Photolithography | No watermark 1103 A730 | 20 yen Ultramarine & multi-colored |Downhill Skiing 1104 A730 | 20 yen Ultramarine & multi-colored |Bobsledding 1105 A730 | 50 yen Ultramarine & multi-colored |Figure skating, pairs and Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink (now known as the Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena) [Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol. 4A, stampworld.com]
Here is the traditional Vietnamese lacquer artwork (called sơn mài) that I had bought in Ho Chi Minh City.
I love the bright colors and the gold background.
By the way: the Vietnamese have a long tradition of holding their wealth in gold. Vietnamese savers are estimated to have collectively socked away around 400 tons of gold items at home.
So what also happens is that a person building a home or starting a business, would borrow money from a relative in the form of gold— rather than taking out a loan at a bank.
The meteoric rise of the gold price has made a world of trouble for these borrowers, because they have to pay back their debts in gold, as well. They now have to buy it back at almost double what it was say, a year ago. The gold price has tumbled by 10% these last two trading days, but is still up by about 90% over the last 12 months.
Water buffalo are called con trâu in Vietnamese. They are a deeply symbolic animal in Vietnam, often referred to as a “living tractor of the East” due to their role in agriculture. The boy with the kite, and the people on the bridge are all wearing their nón lá (the traditional Vietnamese leaf hat). Works of sơn mài art done can be very meticulously crafted and time-intensive. It is a traditional, 800-year-old technique. I don’t know how much time went into making this piece. The price was US$45. (The minimum hourly wage in Viet Nam is the equivalent of about US $1.00). It is possible that the gold background in the artwork was done with gold leaf. The artist also used a little bit of mother-of-pearl eggshell— in the flower baskets and above the thatched roof.
Here’s a cartoon from today’s Seattle Times.
(Yes, bullfighting is still legal and protected as part of the cultural heritage in most of Spain, although its popularity is declining and it is banned in specific regions like the Canary Islands.)
Happy Friday.
It’s finals weekend at the 2026 Australian Open.
World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz (22, 🇪🇸) survived his marathon 5½ hour 5-setter semifinal match against Alexander Zverev (28, 🇩🇪) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (4-7), 7-5.
He will meet Novak Djokovic (38, 🇷🇸) in the final.
Djokovic was not supposed to beat world No 2 Jannik Sinner (24, 🇮🇹) in the semis, but he did: 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
In the women’s final Aryna Sabalenka (27) will meet Elena Rybakina (26, 🇰🇿).
P.S. There are AI-animated versions of the matches posted on espn.com in addition to the real ones. Why? Just for fun, I guess. Alcaraz is in green.
The animated players play with an oversized tennis ball. The AI engine is still a work-in-progress when it comes to the finer detail, though— such as showing the hands of the players gripping the racquets.
Every time I look, the gold price is up by hundreds of dollars.
Is there an impending upheaval that buyers of gold expect and that the rest of us are unaware of?
Last year some traders predicted the gold price will cross $5,000 in 2026, and they were right.
It’s only January and it already sits at $5,313.30.
That was+192.70 (3.76%) just for today.
The stamp from Japan is just for fun.
Even the goldfish looks shocked 😲.
From the Definitive Series 1967-69: Fauna, Flora and Japanese Motifs Issued by Japan Post, 1967 Perf. 13½ | Photolitho. | National Printing Bureau 913 A564 | 7 yen | bright yellow-green & deep orange | Goldfish [Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol. 4A, stampworld.com]
