USA - Maryland - Flag & State Flower

MARYLAND 

The Black-Eyed Susans are the State Flower, and the Maryland flag has been recognized as the most beautiful flag of all 50 United States. 

Sent by Arnold from Texas, USA.

 

Canada - Flag of Nova Scotia

Flag of Nova Scotia.

Sent by Buffy, a postcrosser from Nova Scotia, Canada.

This is from Wikipedia : The flag of Nova Scotia, created in 1858, is a banner of the coat of arms of Nova Scotia, which were granted to the Scottish colony by Charles I, in 1625.

The flag of the modern Canadian province, a blue saltire on a white field, is a simple figure-ground reversal of the flag of Scotland (a white saltire, Saint Andrew's cross, on a blue field), charged with an inescutcheon bearing the royal arms of Scotland, a gold shield with a red lion rampant surrounded by a royal double tressure (a double border decorated with fleurs de lis). The royal arms do not appear on Scotland's flag - they were added to Nova Scotia's to distinguish the flag from the Naval Ensign of Russia which is also a blue saltire on a white field.

The similarity to the Scottish flag reflects the province's name, which is Latin for "New Scotland.' Nova Scotia was one of the few Canadian colonies to be granted its own Coat of Arms, and the flag is the only one of the Canadian provinces dating back to before confederation.

The flag is ranked #12 in the North American Vexillological Association's survey of North American state and provincial flags.

United Kingdom - Union Jack

The Union Flag or Union Jack.

Sent by Dan from England.

This is from Wikipedia : The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas territories. The current design dates from the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

Whether to use "Union Flag" or "Union Jack" is a matter of debate by many.

The Flag Institute, the vexillological organisation for the United Kingdom, stated that the term Union Flag is a "relatively recent idea". Jack was a word previously used to denote any flag. It also noted that "From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908 a government minister stated, in response to a Parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag". Nevertheless, the term "Union Flag" is used in King Charles's proclamation of 1634, and in King George III's proclamation of 1 January 1801 concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. One theory is that the "Jack" part of the name may also have come from the name of King James I/James VI of Scotland.

When the first flag representing Britain was introduced on the proclamation of King James I in 1606, it became known simply as "the British flag" or "the flag of Britain". The royal proclamation gave no distinctive name to the new flag. The word "jack" was in use before 1600 to describe the maritime bow flag. By 1627 a small Union Jack was commonly flown in this position. One theory goes that for some years it would have been called just "the Jack", or "Jack flag", or "the King's Jack", but by 1674, while formally referred to as "His Majesty's Jack", it was commonly called the Union Jack, and this was officially acknowledged.

Amongst the proclamations issued by King George III at the time of the Union of 1801 was a proclamation concerning flags at sea, which referred to "Our Flags, Jacks, and Pendants" and forbade merchant vessels from wearing "Our Jack, commonly called the Union Jack" nor any pendants or colours used by the King's ships. In contrast, the King's proclamation of the same day concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom, not colours at sea, called the new flag "the Union Flag".

The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and colonies, it is possible that the term "Jack" occurred because of its regular use on all British ships using the "Jack Staff" (a flag pole attached to the bow of a ship). Even if the term "Union Jack" does derive from the jack flag (as perhaps seems most likely), after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by use, has appeared in official use, and remains the popular term.

The term "Union Flag" is less well-known outside the United Kingdom,[11] and may refer to other union flags.

Flag of Canada

Sent by Richard, a postcrosser from Canada. Richard bought the postcard at UN Office in New York, flew it home to Canada and mailed it to UN via Washington. Terima kasih Richard.

United Kingdom - Union Jack

UNION JACK or UNION FLAG

Sent by Char, a postcrosser from England.

This is from Wikipedia : The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas territories. The current design dates from the Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

Whether to use "Union Flag" or "Union Jack" is a matter of debate.

The Flag Institute, the vexillological organisation for the United Kingdom, stated that the term Union Flag is a "relatively recent idea". Jack was a word previously used to denote any flag. It also noted that "From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. In 1908 a government minister stated, in response to a Parliamentary question, that "the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag" . Nevertheless, the term "Union Flag" is used in King Charles's proclamation of 1634, and in King George III's proclamation of 1 January 1801 concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. One theory is that the "Jack" part of the name may also have come from the name of King James I/James VI of Scotland.

When the first flag was introduced in 1606, it became known simply as "the British flag" or "the flag of Britain". The royal proclamation gave no distinctive name to the new flag. The word "jack" was in use before 1600 to describe the maritime bow flag.[citation needed] By 1627 a small Union Jack was commonly flown in this position. One theory goes that for some years it would have been called just "the Jack", or "Jack flag", or "the King's Jack", but by 1674, while formally referred to as "His Majesty's Jack", it was commonly called the Union Jack, and this was officially acknowledged.

Amongst the proclamations issued by King George III at the time of the union of 1801 was a proclamation concerning flags at sea, and which referred to "Our Flags, Jacks, and Pendants" and forbade merchant vessels from wearing "Our Jack, commonly called the Union Jack" nor any pendants or colours used by the King's ships. In contrast, the King's proclamation of the same day concerning the arms and flag of the United Kingdom, not colours at sea, called the new flag "the Union Flag".

The size and power of the Royal Navy internationally at the time could also explain why the flag was named the "Union Jack"; considering the navy was so widely utilised and renowned by the United Kingdom and colonies, it is possible that the term "Jack" occurred because of its regular use on all British ships using the "Jack Staff" (a flag pole attached to the bow of a ship). Even if the term "Union Jack" does derive from the jack flag (as perhaps seems most likely), after three centuries, it is now sanctioned by use, has appeared in official use, and remains the popular term. Members of the Royal Navy only refer to the flag as the Union Jack when it is flying on their ships, commonly phrased as 'at sea'. Even the same flag, before it is flying will be called the Union Flag.[citation needed]

The term "Union Flag" is less well-known outside the United Kingdom,[11] and may refer to other union flags.

Estonia - 125th Anniversary Of The Estonian Flag

125th Anniversary Of The Estonian Flag

Sent by Ülle, a postcrosser from Estonia.

Åland Islands

A postcard with various stamps of Åland Islands.

Sent by Paulina, a postcrosser from Finland.

Australia - Queensland (The Sunshine State)

The flag, Cooktown Orchid and Koalas are emblems of Queensland.
Left, top to bottom : The Goodwill Bridge, a pedestrian thoroughfare in Brisbane, the State's capital; the palm fringed beach and clear blue Great Barrier Reef waters of Palm Cove, north of Cairns.

Sent by Emma, a postcrosser from Australia.

Finland

Sent by Sari, a postcrosser from Finland.

South Africa - Flag

SOUTH AFRICA
The Republic's new flag is ethnic in design and concept and heralds an era of optimism, progress and peace for all its varied race groups.

Sent by Caylee from South Africa.

Flag of Canada

The flag of Canada.

Sent by Olivia from Montreal in Canada.

USA - Virginia - Mapcard (1)

VIRGINIA was named after England's Queen ELIZABETH I, the virgin queen. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in 1607. Nicknamed : Mother of Presidents and The Old Dominion. State Song : Carry Me Back to Old Virginia. Statehood : June 25, 1788. Area : 40,815 square miles.

Sent by Micky from Arlington in Virginia, USA.

Australia - Flag of Australia

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FLAG
On the top left-hand corner is the Union Jack, below is the seven-pointed Federation Star, and on the right is the Southern Cross.

Sent by Emma, a Swap-Bot partner from Australia.

United Kingdom - England - The Cross of Saint George

The flag of England.

Sent by Alicia, a Swap-Bot partner from Bristol in England.

Soumi

Sent by Eija, a postcrosser from Southern Finland.

Sweden - Västervik

Various spots in Västervik, a city and the seat of Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden.

Sent by Jonna, a TravBuddy friend from Västervik.

Västervik is a city and the seat of Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden, with 36,747 inhabitants in 2021.^[1] Västervik is one of three coastal towns with a notable population size in the province of Småland (read further).

Flag of Argentina

The first of the three postcards sent by Sebastián from Argentina. This one shows a flag of Argentina.

This is from Wikipedia : The national flag of Argentina is a triband, composed of three equally wide horizontal bands coloured light blue, white and light blue. There are multiple interpretations on the reasons for those colours. The flag was created by Manuel Belgrano, in line with the recent creation of the Cockade of Argentina, and was first raised at the city of Rosario on February 27, 1812, during the Argentine War of Independence. The National Flag Memorial was later built on the site. The First Triumvirate did not approve the use of the flag, but the Asamblea del Año XIII allowed the use of the flag as a war flag. It was the Congress of Tucumán which finally designated it as the national flag, in 1816. In 1818, a yellow Sun of May was added to the center.

The full flag featuring the sun is called the Official Ceremonial Flag (Spanish: Bandera Oficial de Ceremonia). The flag without the sun is considered the Ornamental Flag (Bandera de Ornato). While both versions are equally considered the national flag, the ornamental version must always be hoisted below the Official Ceremony Flag. In vexillological terms, the Official Ceremonial Flag is the civil, state and war flag and ensign, while the Ornamental Flag is an alternate civil flag and ensign.

Canada - Our Home And Native Land

I sent one postcard to any Canadian soldiers who serves in Afghanistan via KaeEhm in Canada, who sent me this postcard. Hopefully, one soldier will read and send one to me from Afghanistan.