The Europa postage stamp (also known as EuropaCEPT 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 underline 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 From 1956 to 1993
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.
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.
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. 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.
Since 1993 When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. 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, 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”. 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.
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.
Common designs
Common theme issues
The list includes the jury and online competition winners since 2002 when the EUROPA stamp competition started.
Year Number of countriesNew countries (post administrations)Number of different stamps TopicCompetition winnersref19566Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands13 common design19578Switzerland, Saarland17Peace and Welfare through Agriculture and Industry19588Turkey17 common design19598Austria15 common design196020Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden36common design196119Cyprus, San Marino34 common design1962Monacocommon design1963 -common design196419 -36common design196519 -36common design196619Andorra (French post)37common design196719 -37common design196818 -35common design196926 Vatican, Yugoslavia48 common design197019 -42common design197121 Malta44 common design197222Andorra (Spanish post)46 common design197324 -50common design 1974 23 -49 Sculptures 1975 24 Northern Cyprus (unofficially)50 Paintings 1976 27 Guernsey, Isle of Man58 Handicrafts 1977 28 -56 Landscapes 1978 30 Jersey65 Monuments 1979 31 Faroe islands, Gibraltar68 Postal history 1980 32 -67 Famous People 1981 35 Azores, Madeira69 Folklore and feasts 1982 35 -70 Historic events 1983 35 -71 Inventions 198435 -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, Romania83 European aerospace 1992 42 Albania, Croatia90 500 years of the European discovery of America 199345Lithuania, Moldova, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belarus (unofficially), Croat post of Bosnia and Herzegovina (unofficially)92 Contemporary art—199448Åland, Greenland, Estonia, Latvia85Great discoveries199548Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina90Peace and freedom199652Macedonia89 Famous European women199754Armenia, Ukraine, Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina (unofficially)96Tales and legends199856Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus94Festivals and national celebrations199956 -100Nature reserves and parks200055 -68 Common design: Tower of 6 Stars (not all followed the common design)200156 -92Water, a treasure of nature200258 -93The circus MaltaPost200357Yugoslavia becomes Serbia-Montenegro96Poster art La Poste Monaco200457 -96Holidays Post Greenland200560Croat post of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Montenegro103Gastronomy Íslandspóstur200660UNMIK Kosovo105Integration as seen by young people Ukrposhta 200762 -111100 Years of Scoutism HayPost (jury)200863Nagorno Karabakh107Writing letters Magyar Posta 200963 -112Astronomy (International Year of Astronomy) Magyar Posta 2010Children Books Magyar Posta 2011Forest (International Year of Forests) Cyprus Post (jury) Turkish PTT (online)2012Visit... (for instance "Visit Russia", "Visit Hungary" etc.) Russian Post (jury) Magyar Posta (online)2013Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary) Itella Posti (jury) Turkish PTT (online)2014National music instruments bpost (jury) Pošta Srbije (online)2015Old toys Russian Post (jury) Turkish PTT (online)2016Common design: Ecology in Europe"Think Green" Cyprus Post2017Castles Posti Group (jury) Turkish PTT (online)2018Bridges bpost (jury) Turkish PTT (online)2019Birds Pošta Slovenije (jury) HayPost (online)2020Ancient postal routes Poczta Polska (jury) Turkish PTT (online)2021Endangered wildlife Poczta Polska2022Stories and myths POST Luxembourg2023Common design: PEACEThe highest value of humanity POST Luxembourg2024Underwater fauna and flora2025Archaeological discoveries2026Common design: 70th anniversary of EUROPA stamp2027Street art
References
Sources
Encyclopaedia of Postal History
Further reading Europa CEPT, PostEurop 2005: Thematic Stamps Catalogue; specialized. Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain: Domfil, 2004 , 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
External links
CEPT. Conference of European Postal & Telecommunications SelloSpain.com: Spanish Europa issued stamps (archived) Europa stamps news and information blog Philatelism.com: Europa stamps of Cyprus