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Europa postage stamp

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West German Europa stamp with the CEPT logo in the upper right corner. It is part of the Landscapes common theme for 1977.

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

History

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From 1956 to 1993

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The first Europa issue was on 15 September 1956. The postal administrations of the founding six members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) issued stamps with a common design: a tower made up of the letters of the word "EUROPA" and surrounded by construction scaffolding.[citation needed]

In 1959, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) was formed, and from 1960 the initials "CEPT" were displayed on the joint issue stamps. The stamps had a common design from 1956 to 1973, (with the exception of 1957). However, many countries issued a stamp that did not feature the common pattern but just displayed the word "EUROPA". From 1974, the common design was replaced by stamps with different designs, but with a common theme.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed] 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. The Isle of Man and Guernsey, Crown dependencies of the United Kingdom, first issued Europa stamps in 1976, with Jersey following in 1978. The number of participants reached 35 in the 80s. Turkey participated continuously since 1960, and Yugoslavia from 1969. The collapse of the communist bloc in 1989–90 brought new issuers, reaching 57 countries in the late 90s.[citation needed]

Since 1993

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Faeroese Europa stamp of 1993, part of the contemporary art common theme, with the new EUROPA logo in the lower left corner

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues.[citation needed] The CEPT logo was 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 chose the theme of "Integration as seen by young people" instead of a theme related to the 50th anniversary of Europa issues, several countries issued stamps showing the first common designs of the years 1950–1970. An anniversary logo (the number 50 in the middle of a star with 5 branches) is also featured on these stamps. Several non-European countries and non-PostEurop Members have issued stamps in connection with this anniversary. In Europe, some countries, including Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Armenia,[1] Moldova, Gibraltar, Cyprus, etc. also participated in these issues.

In order to promote Europa issues among philatelists, PostEurop created in 2002 an annual competition of the “Best Europa stamp”.[citation needed] Until 2006, only representatives of the various postal administrations were entitled to elect the best Europa stamp during the Plenary Assembly of PostEurop, but since 2007, the winner is elected through an open and public voting procedure on the PostEurop website.[citation needed]

From January 2011, the new EUROPA logo, preceded by a symbolic reminder of the mailbox, applies, and a Jury Prize Competition is designed by seven philatelic experts.[citation needed]

Common designs

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Common theme issues

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Faroese 1992 stamp, part of the Discovery of America common theme

The list includes the jury and online competition winners since 2002 when the EUROPA stamp competition started.

2015 competition-winning Russian stamp, with the current EUROPA logo
Year Number of countries New countries (post administrations) Number of different stamps Topic Competition winners ref
1956 6 Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands 13 common design
1957 8 Switzerland, Saarland 17 Peace and Welfare through Agriculture and Industry
1958 8 Turkey 17 common design
1959 8 Austria 15 common design
1960 20 Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden 36 common design
1961 19 Cyprus, San Marino 34 common design
1962 Monaco common design
1963 - common design
1964 19 - 36 common design
1965 19 - 36 common design
1966 19 Andorra (French post) 37 common design
1967 19 - 37 common design
1968 18 - 35 common design
1969 26 Vatican, Yugoslavia 48 common design
1970 19 - 42 common design
1971 21 Malta 44 common design
1972 22 Andorra (Spanish post) 46 common design
1973 24 - 50 common design
1974 23 - 49 Sculptures
1975 24 Northern Cyprus (unofficialy) 50 Paintings
1976 27 Guernsey, Isle of Man 58 Handicrafts
1977 28 - 56 Landscapes
1978 30 Jersey 65 Monuments
1979 31 Faroe islands, Gibraltar 68 Postal history
1980 32 - 67 Famous People
1981 35 Azores, Madeira 69 Folklore and feasts
1982 35 - 70 Historic events
1983 35 - 71 Inventions
1984 35 - 67 common design (25th Anniversary of CEPT)
1985 35 - 73 European Music Year
1986 35 - 74 Nature conservation
1987 35 - 74 Modern architecture
1988 35 - 79 Transportation and communications
1989 35 - 80 Children's games
1990 37 - 78 Post office buildings
1991 41 Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania 83 European aerospace
1992 42 Albania, Croatia 90 500 years of the European discovery of America
1993 45 Lithuania, Moldova, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belarus (unofficially), Croat post of Bosnia and Herzegovina (unofficially) 92 Contemporary art
1994 48 Åland, Greenland, Estonia, Latvia 85 Great discoveries
1995 48 Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina 90 Peace and freedom
1996 52 Macedonia 89 Famous European women
1997 54 Armenia, Ukraine, Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina (unofficially) 96 Tales and legends
1998 56 Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus 94 Festivals and national celebrations
1999 56 - 100 Nature reserves and parks
2000 55 - 68 Common design: Tower of 6 Stars (not all followed the common design)
2001 56 - 92 Water, a treasure of nature
2002 58 - 93 The circus Malta MaltaPost
2003 57 Yugoslavia becomes Serbia-Montenegro 96 Poster art Monaco La Poste Monaco
2004 57 - 96 Holidays Greenland Post Greenland
2005 60 Croat post of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Montenegro 103 Gastronomy Iceland Íslandspóstur
2006 60 UNMIK Kosovo 105 Integration as seen by young people Ukraine Ukrposhta
2007 62 - 111 100 Years of Scoutism Armenia HayPost (jury)
2008 63 Nagorno Karabakh 107 Writing letters Hungary Magyar Posta
2009 63 - 112 Astronomy (International Year of Astronomy) Hungary Magyar Posta
2010 Children Books Hungary Magyar Posta
2011 Forest (International Year of Forests) Cyprus Cyprus Post (jury)
Turkey Turkish PTT (online)
2012 Visit... (for instance "Visit Russia", "Visit Hungary" etc.) Russia Russian Post (jury)
Hungary Magyar Posta (online)
2013 Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary) Finland Itella Posti (jury) [4]
Turkey Turkish PTT (online) [5]
2014 National music instruments Belgium bpost (jury) [6]
Serbia Pošta Srbije (online) [6]
2015 Old toys Russia Russian Post (jury) [7]
Turkey Turkish PTT (online) [7]
2016 Ecology in Europe – "Think Green" Cyprus Cyprus Post [2]
2017 Castles[8] Finland Posti Group (jury) [9]
Turkey Turkish PTT (online) [9]
2018 Bridges[8] Belgium bpost (jury) [10]
Turkey Turkish PTT (online) [10]
2019 Birds[8] Slovenia Pošta Slovenije (jury) [11]
Armenia HayPost (online) [11]
2020 Ancient postal routes[8] Poland Poczta Polska (jury) [12]
Turkey Turkish PTT (online) [13]
2021 Endangered wildlife Poland Poczta Polska [14]
2022 Stories and myths[15] Luxembourg POST Luxembourg [3]
2023 PEACE – The highest value of humanity[15] Luxembourg POST Luxembourg [3]
2024 Underwater fauna and flora[15]
2025 Archaeological discoveries[15]
2026 Common design: 70th anniversary of EUROPA stamp
2027 Street art

References

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  1. ^ "EUROPA Collections".
  2. ^ a b "PostEurop announces the winner of the "Think Green" joint design competition". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  3. ^ a b c "News". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  4. ^ "Itella Posti Oy is winner of the EUROPA 2013 Jury Prize Competition". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  5. ^ "Turkish PTT adds a second trophy in three years by winning the EUROPA 2013 Competition". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  6. ^ a b "PostEurop Announce the winners of the 2014 EUROPA Stamp Competition in San Marino". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  7. ^ a b "Winners of the 2015 EUROPA Stamp Online and Jury Competition announced at the PostEurop Plenary Assembly in Cyprus". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  8. ^ a b c d "EUROPA Stamps". Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  9. ^ a b "Turkish Post and Posti our Top Winners of the 2017 Most Beautiful EUROPA Stamp Competitions". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  10. ^ a b "The 2018 Most Beautiful EUROPA Stamp Competitions winners are Turkish Post and bpost". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  11. ^ a b "The 2019 Most Beautiful EUROPA Stamp winners are Haypost and Pošta Slovenije". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  12. ^ "Poczta Polska declared winner of the 2020 EUROPA Stamp Jury Competition". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  13. ^ "The 2020 Most Beautiful EUROPA Stamp winner for the online competition is Turkish Post PTT". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  14. ^ "The 2021 Most Beautiful EUROPA Stamp Competition winner is Poczta Polska". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  15. ^ a b c d "Experience European Stories, Myths and Legends through EUROPA Stamps". www.posteurop.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.

Sources

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Further reading

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  • Europa CEPT, PostEurop 2005: Thematic Stamps Catalogue; specialized. Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain: Domfil, 2004 ISBN 8495615231, 392p.
  • Europa Study Unit. Europa Stamps. Milwaukee, WI.: American Topical Association, 1962, 35p.
  • Schneider, Andreas. Europa-Thematik Spezialkatalog. Essen: A. Schneider, 1982, 267p.
  • Staedal, Paul. Europe-Philatelie III: Spezial Katalog der Europaischen Briefmarken und Sonderstempel. Strasbourg: Europa F. D. C. Service, 1976–77
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