This month’s VCoM is straight off of my Top 10 Wanted
list, the 1961 Leaf Famous Discoveries & Adventures Lhasa The Forbidden
City. This has to be one of my longest card names. The card comes from Leaf’s
Famous Discoveries & Adventures release and was released during Leaf’s
confectionary days.
The set consists of 50 cards and covers some of the most
important adventures in the world including the adventures of Marco Polo, the
first Moon rocket, the Vikings and Lindbergh’s solo flight over the Atlantic
Ocean. The cards are also a bit larger than modern cards at roughly 2 ¾ by 3 ¾
in size.
The card is on my Top 10 Wanted list because of my
interest in Tibet, as a Buddhist I have a cultural connection to the country.
The card front depicts the Potala Palace, which was the
Dalai Lama’s home, towering above the city of Lhasa. Lhasa, founded around 650
AD, has been Tibet’s capital since 1642 and due to its elevation, 11,500 ft.
above sea level, it has been extremely difficult to travel to before modern
travel made it easier to reach.
The back includes a write up describing the history of
the city through Western adventurers. Sadly the information is very one-sided.
Tibet has been quite isolated following the expulsion of the Mongol invaders in
the 1300s, its geography made that quite easy. When Westerners did make their
way in to the country they were actually treated very well. The Tibetan people
are friendly and even now still will invite foreigners in for Butter tea.
I hope to some day visit Lhasa.
Great card. The guy in blue seems to be saying, "Well, there it is."
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