Jamaica

Prime Minister Percival James Patterson of Jamaica became the 47th world to hoor my request. As can be seen the enclosed photo was hand-initialed by the Prime Minister himself.

As with the correspondence recieved from other former and current British commonwealths the envelope is marked on Jamaica Government service. I wonder if letters marked 'on government service' are treated differently than ordinary letters.

The envelope was also of the few to actually be 'air mail style' with red and blue markings on the side. If anyone has any idea why the airmail envelope was designed this way and why it is mostly not used anymore please let us know. I'm curious to know about the origins and disuse of this postal tradition.

Mexico

President Vincente Fox of Mexico became the 46th world leader to respond to my request. The correspondence was sent via registered mail and enclosed in an elaborate folder that included no less than three photographs of the President.

One wonders why the response was so long in coming; after all, the US and Mexico are close neighbors. Whatever the reason may be, I am grateful for the response and glad the correspondence arrived at all.

It's also interesting to note the lengthy return address on the envelope. Perhaps that explains the delayed response as I my envelope to the President was simply addressed President Vincente Fox, Mexico City, Mexico. It would seem corresponding with the President could very well give ordinary Mexicans writers cramp simply from addressing the envelope...

Kyrgyzstan

President Kurmanbek Bakiev of Kyrgyzstan became the 45th world leader to respond to my request.

The postmark is mostly illegible but it seems to indicate the letter was mailed over three months ago. The enclosed letter was also on a short piece of paper. I wonder if perhaps there is a paper shortage in Kyrgyzstan...

Looking at the stamps you'll see that the biggest and the brightest of the stamps features two men on horseback. As it turns out horsemanship is a national sport that culminates each year with the National Horsemanship Games of Kyrgyzstan.

The stamp to the right features an illustration of the Burana Tower in Tokmok. If you read up on it you'll learn that that it is actually a minaret that was originally almost double as tall until the 15th century when the top 20 meters was lost in an earthquake.

Can anyone help me identify the birds pictured in the other stamps? I want to find out more about them...