0004 GERMANY (Lower Saxony) - Borkum Island

The first postcard I received after I joined to the postcrossing system has come from a island from... Germany. Borkum is the westernmost of the German islands situated along the coast of Lower Saxony Land (The East Frisian Islands), placed on the border with the Netherlands. In fact the island is closer to Dutch coast than to German one. An interesting detail is that the island surface has changed several times throughout recorded history: during the reign of Charlemagne (8th century) was united with Juist and Norderney neighbors, in 1781 a violent storm fragmented it and in the second half of the 19th century it was again united with a nearby piece of land.

Inhabitants were busy for a while with piracy, then whaling, and in the 19th century the island was saved from depopulation by the new and pleasant discovery of the modern world: tourism. Currently there are about 5,100 people on 36 sq km, concentrated in one city, with the same name. Does’t missing the railroad, but neither seals, sea sports and the opportunity to marry in the tower room of the Other Leuchtturm (new lighthouse on the island - in image). On the postcard can also be seen the king prawns, which are called Granat, the main Borkum culinary specialty.

About the stamp

The stamp, depicting a balloon flower, also known as Chinese Bellflower, is part of the series of definitive stamps Blumen, dedicated to the traditional flowers. This series, issued by Deutsche Post starting with 1 January 2005, replaced the series Women in German history and Touristic Curiosities, in use since 1986 and 1987 respectively.:

2017.04.13 - Showy phlox (0.05 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3165
2005.08.11 - Crocus (0.05 EUR) - It's on the postcard 0012
2005.09.08 - Tulipe (0.10 EUR) - It's on the postcard 0206
2017.06.08 - Winter Aconite (0.10 EUR)
2005.07.07 - Tagetes (0.20 EUR) - It's on the postcard 0143
2017.06.08 - Bluebells (0.20 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3400
2005.06.02 - Malva (0.25 EUR)
2008.10.09 - Clove Pink (0.25 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2001
2014.07.03 - Centaury (0.28 EUR)
2006.01.02 - Dahlia (0.35 EUR)
2005.09.08 - Anemone hepatica (0.40 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3215
2005.04.07 - Oxeye Daisy (0.45 EUR)
2010.05.06 - Lily of the Valley (0.45 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2946
2017.05.11 - Nymphaea alba (0.45 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3078
2005.06.02 - Aster (0.50 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3215
2005.07.07 - Field Poppy (0.55 EUR)
2008.06.12 - Rose (0.55 EUR)
2012.12.06 - Pasque (0.58 EUR)
2013.12.05 - Kaiser's crown (0.60 EUR)
2014.12.04 - Peony (0.62 EUR) 
2006.03.02 - Orange Coneflower (0.65 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3060
2006.04.13 - Carthusian Pink (0.70 EUR)
2015.12.03 - Chocolate Cosmos (0.70 EUR)
2011.01.03 - Balloon Flower (0.75 EUR) - It's on the postcard 0004
2014.12.04 - Primula denticulata (0.80 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2436
2014.12.04 - Dianthus plumarius (0.85 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3004
2006.01.02 - Narcissus (0.90 EUR) - It's on the postcard 2303
2017.05.11 - Stinking tutsan (0.90 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3083
2005.01.03 - Sunflower (0.95 EUR)
2019.07.01 - Centaurea (0.95 EUR) - It's on the postcard 3440 
2006.07.13 - Dutchman's Trousers (1.00 EUR)
2006.01.02 - Iris (1.45 EUR)
2014.06.05 - Granny's Bonnet (1.80 EUR)
2006.11.09 - Golden Poppy (2.00 EUR)
2006.04.13 - Edelweiss (2.20 EUR)
2012.12.06 - Lindheimer's Beeblossom (2.40 EUR)
2016.01.02 - Plumeless Thistles (2.50 EUR)
2016.02.11 - Madonna lily (2.60 EUR)
2006.05.04 - Orange Lily (3.90 EUR)
2014.12.04 - Coral Bells (3.95 EUR)
2015.12.03 - Fuchsia (4.00 EUR)
2010.01.02 - Lady's Slipper (4.10 EUR)
2005.01.03 - Larkspur (4.30 EUR)
2014.12.04 - Turk's Cap Lily (4.40 EUR)
2015.12.03 - Bee Orchid (4.50 EUR)
2011.07.07 - Gentiana (5.00 EUR)

Sender: Gabi Lübben (postcrossing)
Sent from Westoverledingen (Lower Saxony / Germany), on 26.09.2011