Finland 1974 - Focus

Finland

29th April 1974 - "Sculpture"
design : Pirkko Vahtero
printer: Bank of Finland Security Printing House

Finland has chosen the relief The Goddess of freedom bestows laurel wreath of victory on youth by Wäinö Aaltonen (1894-1966), one of the one of the leading Finnish sculptors, for their single Europa stamp that year.

image source Ibolli

This marble work, created in 1940 to decorate the walls of the ballroom at the University of Helsinki, was badly damaged during a bombing raid in February 1944.

Aaltonen made in 1959 a new version, which he considered more successful than the original. It is still on display in the lobby of the new side of the main building of the University of Helsinki.

image source Finna.fi

1974

Europe

Issue n°19 - 1974

"Sculptures"

Number of countries : 23
Debuting countries : none
Returning countries : Sweden
Withdrawing countries : the Netherlands, Norway

Since 1974, a common theme replaces the common design system used since 1956! Only the CEPT logo (or letters) on each stamp indicates that the stamp is a "Europa stamp".

27.04.1974 Andorra (French post)

29.04.1974 Andorra (Spanish post) 

08.05.1974 Austria

04.05.1974 Belgium

29.04.1974 Cyprus

29.04.1974 Finland

22.04.1974 France

10.05.1974 Greece

29.04.1974 Iceland 

29.04.1974 Ireland 

29.04.1974 Italy

21.03.1974 Liechtenstein

29.04.1974 Luxembourg

13.07.1974 Malta

08.05.1974 Monaco

29.04.1974 Portugal

09.05.1974 San Marino 

29.04.1974 Spain 

29.04.1974 Sweden

28.03.1974 Switzerland

29.04.1974 Turkey 

17.04.1974 West-Germany 

29.04.1974 Yugoslavia 

 

Note : The theme for the years 1974-76 was "Work of art" subdivided like this : 

"Sculptures" in '74 ; "Paintings" in '75 and "Handicrafts" in '76.

 

Interesting to note, that the CEPT logo is depicted on the stamps of only 15 countries, the other 8 countries just add the CEPT letters on their stamps. 

 

Most stamps issued on the 29th April.

more here in the Europa stamps History - Part III

Eurovision Song Contest 1974
Brighton (Great-Britain)
Winner: ABBA "Waterloo" (Sweden)

 

my personal favourite that year: Gigliola Cinquetti "Si" (Italy) 

Cyprus 1974 - Focus

Cyprus

29th April 1974 - "Sculpture"
design : unknown
printer: unknown

Cyprus Post has selected only one design to appear on its three stamps (10 ; 40 & 150 Cypriot mils).

It is not strictly speaking a sculpture but an ancient coin.

A 4th-century BC Cypriot coin of the Kingdom of Marion depicting the rape of Europe by Zeus transfigured into a bull, the inscription "King Timocharis" in Cypriot syllabary.

What better way to illustrate a Europa stamp than with Europe!

This coin also appeared on the Cypriot 50 cent coin in use until Cyprus adopted the euro in 2008.

Malta - Sepac 2026

Malta - Sepac

Date of Issue: 7th August 2026

one stamp (2.21 €) out of a set of two stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo).

 this stamp is issued in a mini sheet of 10 stamps

Sepac 2026

Europe - Sepac

Sepac 2026
"Iconic Landmarks"

06.01.2026 Jersey - 1 stamp (4.- GBP) out of a set of 8 stamps & 1 souvenir-sheet of 8 stamps

18.03.2026 Åland - 1 stamp (4.30 €)

08.05.2026 Greenland - 1 stamp (28.- DKK)
27.05.2026 Guernsey - 1 stamp (1.45 GBP) out of a set of 4 stamps

01.06.2026 Liechtenstein - 1 stamp (1.90 CHF)

10.07.2026 Monaco - 1 stamp (2.25 €)

07.08.2026 Malta - 1 stamp (2.21 €) out of a set of 2 stamps

07.09.2026 Faroe Is. - 1 stamp (37.- DKK)
15.09.2026 Luxembourg

??.??.2026 Gibraltar
??.??.2026 Isle of Man
??.??.2026 Vatican 

Belgium 1974 - Focus

Belgium

4th May 1974 - "Sculpture"
design : Jean Malvaux
engraver : Jean de Vos
printer: Zegeldrukkerij van Mechelen - Belgium

The first stamp (5 Belgian francs) shows the work De verwoeste stad (The Destroyed City) by the French naturalized Belarusian artist Ossip Zadkine (1888-1967).

image source Ibolli

This sculpture conceived in 1947 represents a man without a heart. It is a memorial to the destruction of the centre of Rotterdam in 1940 after the Luftwaffe bombing.

The figure holds both hands aloft, with its head thrown back as if crying in grief, and a gaping hole in its chest and abdomen. The absence of a heart is said to symbolize the destruction of the centre of Rotterdam. Zadkine described it as "A cry of horror against the inhuman brutality of this act of tyranny".

 

image source Wikimedia

At the 1958 Brussels World Fair (Expo 58), a smaller bronze version (128 × 57.5 × 56.5 cm) was exhibited and acquired by the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

The second stamp (10 Belgian francs) shows the work Solidariteit (Solidarity) by the Flemish artist George Minne (1866-1941).

image source Ibolli

This work of 1934 represents two men supporting each other. The bronze work is located in the centre of a pond in the municipal park of Boom.

Austria 1974 - Focus

Austria

8th May 1974 - "Sculpture"
design : Adalbert Pilch
engraver : Rudolf Toth
printer: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei - Austria

The stamp of Austria shows the statue of King Arthur - König Artur -  from the imperial tomb "Cenotaph" of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I in the Court Church - Hofkirche - in Innsbruck.

image source Ibolli

With this group of figures, the church houses the most important funerary monument in the West. The centrepiece is the cenotaph on which the emperor kneels, facing the altar in a prayerful posture. Relief paintings by the Dutch master Alexander Colin depict the colourful and eventful life of the emperor.
 

image source Wikimedia

The cenotaph is surrounded by 28 large bronze statues (200–250 cm) of ancestors, relatives and heroes. Their creation took place between 1502 and 1555, and occupied a number of artists. The statue of and King Arthur was made by Albrecht Dürer in 1513.

image source Wikimedia