Europa postage stamp

Europa stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations/ enterprises under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.

EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.

Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation and in 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps. Over the years, EUROPA stamp has gained more interest within the Postal community as well as with philatelist, and reflects the engagement from the members in diligently participating in the competition.

• Faroe stamp 038 europe (provisional stamp 1919, overprint).jpg

  Faeroese Europa stamp 1979 with the CEPT logo

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  Faeroese Europa stamp 1996 with the EUROPA logo

History

From 1956 to 1993

The Europa issue (also known as Europa - CEPT until 1992) is an annual joint issue of stamps with a common design or theme by postal administrations member of the European Communities (1956-1959), the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT from 1960 to 1992), then the PostEurop Association since 1993.

The first Europa issue dates back to 15 September 1956. The postal administrations of the founding six members of the ECSC issued stamps with a common design: a tower made up of the letters of the word "EUROPA" and surrounded by construction scaffolding.

In 1959, these stamps are jointly issued by the member countries of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications, the initials of which (“CEPT”) are displayed on the stamps of the joint issue as of 1960.

There is a common design theme from 1956 to 1973, (with the exception of 1957). However, many countries issue a stamp that does not feature the common pattern but just displays the word "EUROPA". Common theme issues ran out of steam and after 1973, CEPT allowed countries to issue stamps with different designs.

It should be noted that Andorra has issued Europa Stamps since 1966 (French) and 1972 (Spain). Andorra cannot Join PostEurop as its Postal System is looked after independently by both France and Spain.

As before from 1974, the designs freely reflect a common theme. Of note is the CEPT logo indicating it is a Europa CEPT stamp issue. The success of Europa issues among collectors prompted many postal administrations of small countries or territories dependent of European countries (the Channel Islands for instance) to join the issuing countries in the 70s. The number of participants reaches 35 in the 80s. Turkey has participated continuously since 1960, and communist Yugoslavia from 1969. The collapse of the communist bloc brings new issuers as of 1990 to reach 57 countries in the late 90s.

Since 1993

When the CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues as well as the responsibility for perpetuating the tradition of the EUROPA stamps and ensuring its evolution. Therefore, the CEPT logo has been replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop, i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning to the right.

Although in 2006 the member countries of PostEurop have chosen the theme of “Integration as seen by young people” instead of a theme related to the 50th anniversary of Europa issues, several countries have issued stamps or stamps on stamps showing the first common designs of the years 1950-1970, most often with the CEPT logo which was no longer found on Europa stamps since 1993. An anniversary logo (the number 50 in the middle of a star with 5 branches) is also featured on these stamps.

In order to promote Europa issues among philatelists, PostEurop created in 2002 an annual competition of the “Best Europa stamp”.

Since 2005, several non-European countries and non-PostEurop Members have issued stamps in connection with this anniversary. In Europe, some countries, including Serbia-and- Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, Gibraltar, Cyprus, etc. also participated in these issues.

Until 2006, only representatives of the various postal administrations were entitled to elect the best Europa stamp during the Plenary Assembly of PostEurop.

Since 2007, the winner is elected through an open and public voting procedure on the PostEurop website.

By January 2011, the new EUROPA logo, preceded by a symbolic reminder of the mailbox, applies, and for the first time, a Jury Prize Competition is designed by seven philatelic experts.

Common design issues (with the exception of 1957)

Year	Countries	Topic
1956	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands	A tower in the form of the 6 letters of the word Europa. Designed by Frenchman Daniel Gonzague. [1]
1957	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Saarland, Switzerland	A common theme of Peace and Welfare through Agriculture and Industry. [2]
1958	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Saarland, Turkey	A dove flying above the letter E of Europe. Symbolising the co-operation of the European Postal Services as a vehicle of realizing a United Europe. Designed by Dutchman Andre Van der Vossen [3]
1959	Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland	An interlocking keychain made of 4 circles and 4 squares alternating. Designed by Germany's Walter Brudi. [4]
1960	Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey	The letter O of the word Europa is a Roman mail-coach wheel with 19 spokes, 1 for each 1960 member of CEPT. Design by Finnish artist Pentti Rahikainen. [5]
1961	Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Stylised dove made up of 19 individual doves. 1 for each 1961 member of CEPT. Designed by Dutch Artist Theo Kurpershoek.[6]
1962	Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	A stylised tree with 19 leaves. 1 leaf for each 1962 member of CEPT. Designer was Lex Weyer from Luxembourg.[7]
1963	Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	A stylised cross design composed of 4 3-sided U shapes with CEPT inlaid. Designed by Arne Holm of Norway. [8]
1964	Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Flower with 22 petals. 1 petal for each 1964 member. Designed by Georges Betemps of France. [9]
1965	Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Tree sprig. Designed by Hoerder Karlsson from Iceland. Three leaves said to represent Posts,Telegraphs and Telephones. [10]
1966	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Symbolic Ship. Representing CEPT steady progress on a Calm Sea. Designed by German brothers Josef and Gregor Bender. [11]
1967	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Cogwheels.CEPT Wheel has 22 teeth, one tooth for each 1967 members of CEPT. Belgian Designer was Oscar Bonnevalle. [12]
1968	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Key with CEPT in handle, said to be opening the door to a United Europe. Designer was Swiss Painter Hans Schwarzenbach. [13]
1969	Andorra Fr., Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican	'EUROPA' & 'CEPT' inset on 2 sides of an architectural type Colonnade. Designed by Italians Luigi Gasbara & Giorgio Belli. [14]
1970	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Sun composed of 24 interwoven fibres. 1 for each 1970 CEPT member. Designed by Irish Artist Louis Le Brocquy.[15]
1971	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Chain of Os with CEPT in the links. Icelandic Designer was Helgi Haflidason. [16]
1972	Andorra (Fr. & Sp.), Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Designed by Finnish Artist Paavo Huovinen. [17]
1973	Andorra (Fr. & Sp.), Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Stylised Post horn. Design of 3 Arrows represent Posts,Telegraphs & Telephones.Norwegian Designer was Leif Frimann Anisdahl. [18]

Common theme issues of CEPT (with the exception of 1984)

Year	Participating Countries	Topic
1974	23	Sculptures [19]
1975	24	Paintings [20]
1976	27	Handicrafts [21]
1977	28	Landscapes [22]
1978	30	Monuments [23]
1979	31	Post & Telecommunications [24]
1980	32	Famous People [25]
1981	32	Folklore [26]
1982	35	Historic Events [27]
1983	35	Inventions [28]
1984	35	Common Design. 25th Anniversary of CEPT [29]
1985	35	European Music Year [30]
1986	35	Nature conservation [31]
1987	35	Modern architecture [32]
1988	35	Transportation and communications [33]
1989	35	Children's games [34]
1990	37	Post offices [35]
1991	41	European aerospace [36]
1992	42	Voyages of discovery in America [37]

Common theme issues of PostEurop (with the exception of 2000)

Year	Participating Countries	Topic
1993	46	Contemporary art [38]
1994	49	Great discoveries [39]
1995	49	Peace and freedom [40]
1996	52	Famous women [41]
1997	54	Tales and legends [42]
1998	57	Festivals and National Celebrations [43]
1999	57	Nature reserves and parks [44]
2000	56	Common Design. Tower of 6 stars [45]
2001	57	Water, treasure of nature [46]
2002	58	The Circus [47]
2003	58	Poster art
2004	59	Holidays
2005	59	Gastronomy
2006		Integration through the eyes of Young People
2007		Scout Centenary
2008		Writing Letters
2009		Astronomy
2010		Children Books
2011		Forests - International year of forests
2012		Visit... (for instance "Visit Finland" or "Visit Spain" etc.)
2013		Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary)
2014		Musical instruments - national musical instruments
2015		Old toys
2016		Ecology in Europe - "Think Green". Common Design (celebrating the 60th anniversary of Europa Stamps)

Sources

• Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues
• AskPhil – Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms
• Encyclopaedia of Postal History
• Stuart Rossiter & John Flower: The Stamp Atlas
• PostEurop's website

External links

• CEPT. Conference of European Postal & Telecommunications
• PostEurop Web site
• SelloSpain.com: Spanish Europa issued stamps (archived)
• Europa stamps news and information blog
• Philatelism.com: Europa stamps of Cyprus