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The Best of Saranda & Butrinti (folio, 20 photos)
See our description for item 20501045. Same thing. Unused. Grade: 1
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Bylis, view from ancient city
Not quite as old (1st century BC) as Butrinti, but still well back there in history. Unused Arba card 622. Grade: 1
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Durresi Beach
The first of several similar-looking cards. We see references to Durrës (Albania’s second-largest city, and not far from Tirana) as “ancient” and indeed a mostly unexcavated site in the centre qualifies as that. But the rest of Durrës seems like most of any mid-range coastal resort towns around the world. Don’t let that put you off going there, since it’s a good contrast with other cities in the southern part of the country. Unused Arba card 362. Grade: 1
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Durresi, view of Amphitheater (Cen. II AD)
Although this unused Arba card 400 is aging and has started to curl a bit, it’s one of the very few we found in Durres to show the extent of this historical site. Grade: 2
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Ancient Objects found in Durrës
Unused Arba card 608. Grade: 1
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Durresi, multiple views
We’re guessing this unused Arba card 324 is just old enough to pre-date the explosion of resort facilities that now seem to have swallowed up this city. Grade: 1
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Durrësi beach
This Arba card 442, unused and slightly rumpled, shows the city as we (mostly) experienced it during our brief visit. Party on!! Grade: 2
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Durrësi, “View from Durrësi Beach”
Unused Arba card 403. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, twilight view
One of the more flattering views of Durrës, on an unused Arba card 877. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, view from Venetian Castle (V-VI C. AD)
Unused Arba card 458. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, view
Unused Arba card 319, the 5th-century castle. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, multiple views with Teuta
In the center of this unused Arba card 321, see the statue of Teuta, the Illyrian queen. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, view from seaside
Unused Arba card 528. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, view, docking point
Not really the most flattering view, on unused Arba card 533. Grade: 1
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Durrësi beach, sunset
This unused Arba card 313 somehow manages to capture the atmosphere of Durrës’s beaches as it feels when you’re there. Kudos for that. Grade: 1
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Durrësi, view with covered promenade
Unused Arba card 578. Grade: 1
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Durresi, multiple views
Unused Arba card 77, with a linear smudge near the stamp area. Grade: 2
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Durresi, statue
Can’t help but think the photographer might have gone a little closer to the statue, which is not identified in the bilingual caption of this unused Arba card 318. We thought we might help you out by searching who that is. Apart from learning that Durresi’s most famous statue is arguably one of John Lennon, we went down a few blind alleys, including one saying this statue represents Bajram Curri. Most accurate answer seems to be that it is a Communist-era statue of an unknown partisan fighter. Grade: 1
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Durresi, Palace of King Zog
Apart from that wonderful name, King Zog was a seminal figure in Albanian history. Wikipedia tells us: “Zog I, King of the Albanians, born Ahmet Muhtar Zogolli, taking the surname Zogu in 1922, was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. He first served as Prime Minister of Albania, then as President, and finally as King.” Unused Arba card 237. Grade: 1
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Durresi, The Palace of King Zog
Unused Arba card 378, with a vertical smudge in the message area. Grade: 2
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Elbasani, overview and clock tower
Nice, clear view of the small city, on unused Arba card 487. Grade: 1
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Elbasani Castle (cen. II-III AD), night view
Unused Arba card 892. Grade: 1
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Elbasani Castle (cen. II-III AD), day view
Unused Arba card 893. Grade: 1
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Gjirokastra, view from Viroi Lake
Unused Arba card 773. Grade: 1
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Gjirokaster, Museum of National Liberation War
This ever-so-slightly decrepit building, lovingly hosted by a sweet young lady who was a week away from emigrating, is former dictator Enver Hoxha’s birthplace. Think of it more as a house kept intact as a museum, though many of the items seem to be replicas. That doesn’t make it any less atmospheric, or spooky, and the construction alone is well worth the visit. This unused older Albturist card is Grade: 1
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Gjirokastra, The Castle
Gjirokastra (Gjirokaster) is a charming place. Distinctly divided into much older and much newer areas, and with this impressive castle dominating everything, the card gives you a good idea of how it feels to be there. The castle, by the way, is far from a “relic,” with music festivals and a captured US “spy plane”, and who-knows-what else. Unused Arba card 781. Grade: 1
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Gjirokastra, roof view
Unused Arba card 479. Grade: 1
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Gjirokastra, newer area, overview
Unused Arba card 740, showing Gjirokastra’s newer area, with this view probably shot from the Castle. Grade: 1
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Gjirokastra by Night
Right in the heart of the town’s older area. Unused Arba card 780. Grade: 1
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Rainy Day in Gjirokastra
Our header is the unused Arba card 771’s caption, but to be honest it’s hard to see that it’s raining. Grade: 1
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Gjirokastra, daytime street view
Unused Arba card 252. Grade: 1
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The Best of Gjirokastra (folio, 20 photos)
We’re assuming this item is similar to our entry 20501018, but it’s still sealed in its original cellowrap so we can’t say for certain if these are postcards or what. Very likely the individual (connected) photos could be used that way. Unused. Grade: 1
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Golemi Beach
Golem (Golemi) is quite near both Durres and Tirana. The Wikipedia entry for Golem somewhat laconically writes that “The area along the coast is one of Albania’s major beach destinations where many resorts, hotels, and vacation homes are located. Golem has experienced rapid urban development and the problems associated with it.” Unused Arba card 443. Grade: 1
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Himare-Vlore, multiple views
Unused Klea Kolor card 96/4269. Grade: 1
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I Love Albania
We have a small number of unused Arba or Aedition cards #921 (Grades: 1, $5) and one that was mailed from Tirana with two different stamps, Albanian airmail label, and postmark (Grade: 1, $9).
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View of Spile Beach, Kavaja
If ever a postcard made a beach say “run from me as fast as you can,” it would be this one. But not having been there, we should reserve judgement. Unused Arba card 78. Grade: 1
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Korca, Orthodox Cathedral
We liked Korca (Korçë) a lot, more than some of the other more touristy cities. Though this unused Arba card 662 does not name the cathedral, it dominates the center of town and is easy to identify. Grade: 1
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Korçë, Characteristic Buildings
Unused Arba card 55. Grade: 1
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Korçë, Sainte-Marie Odigitria
This is an older, unused, Albturist card, unnumbered, of a 12th-century fragment: Grotte de Blashtonje, Prespe, Korçë. Aging card, but clean. Grade: 2
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Pamje nga Korça
Our header just means “view from Korçë” in Albanian, and this is clearly a factory. Two of these unused cards from 1979 are available. Both are heavily aged–really–and one (Grade: 3, $16) is in better condition than the other (Grade: 4, $14), which is abraded and water-stained from long ago.