Andorra (French post) 1974 - Focus

  Andorra (French post)

27th April 1974 - "Sculpture"
design & engraving : Albert Decaris
printer: Imprimerie des Timbres-poste et des ValeursFiduciaires (ITVF) - France

Andorra is rich in Romanesque churches. In 1974, the French Post of Andorra selected two "Virgins in Majesty" from this period to illustrate the common theme of "Sculpture".

These reliquary virgins were carried in procession and then placed on altars or embedded in the tympanums of churches.

 

image source Ibolli

The first stamp represents La Vierge de Pal (the Virgin of Pal, or it's exact name the Verge del Remei in Catalan) which is kept in the church of Sant Clement in Pal. This 12th century sculpture was restored in 1988. The virgin is holding an apple - symbolic of power - in her right hand.

  image source Diari d'Andorra

The second stamp shows La Vierge des remèdes de Santa Coloma (the Virgin of the Cures of Santa Coloma) from the 13th century and kept in Andorra's oldest church in Santa Coloma.

image source Ibolli

The child Jesus holds the apple in his left hand and extends his right hand in a gesture of blessing. Mary is carrying a container interpreted by tradition as the "vase of heavenly ointments".

 

 image source Wikimedia Commons

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) 

Ukraine 2026

Ukraine

Date of Issue: 10th July 2026

two stamps (A value = 1.20 USD & W value = 1.80 USD)

both stamps are issued in mini sheets of 4 stamps

NOTE 1 - A booklet of 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamp (A & W value) has also been issued

NOTE 2 - this block has been issued at 4'400 ex (1'700 ex as a booklet) and it's only reserved to whom subscribed to a premium subscription for all 2026 Ukrainian issues ! 

Europa 2026

Europe

Europa 2026 
"70th Anniversary of the Europa stamp - 
United in..."

common design issue
-
celebrating Europa stamps 70th anniversary - 1956-2026

 

 

02.03.2026 Liechtenstein - 1 stamp (1.90 CHF) 

03.03.2026 San Marino - 1 stamp (3.30 €) 

30.03.2026 Gibraltar - 1 stamp (1.96 GBP) & 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps (1.96 & 3.16 GBP) 

 

01.04.2026 Guernsey - 1 stamp (1.54 GBP) & 1 souvenir-sheet of 1 stamp (1.54 GBP) 

03.04.2026 Moldova - 1 stamp (12.- MDL) 

05.04.2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post) - 1 stamp (4.- BAM) & 1 souvenir-sheet of 1 stamp (4.- BAM)  

09.04.2026 Romania - 1 stamp (16.- RON) 

10.04.2026 Armenia - 1 stamp (400.- AMD)  

10.04.2026 Hungary - 1 souvenir-sheet of 4 stamps (4x 1020.- HUF) 

10.04.2026 Lithuania - 1 stamp (2.05 €) 

13.04.2026 Belgium - 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps (2x Europe 3rd class value) 

15.04.2026 Azerbaijan - 1 stamp (1.- AZN) 

22.04.2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serb post) - 1 stamp (3.60 BAM) & 1 souvenir-sheet (3.60 BAM) 
24.04.2026 Austria - 1 stamp (1.25 €) 

27.04.2026 Kazakhstan - 1 stamp (1'800.- KZT) 

27.04.2026 Poland - 1 stamp (10.- PLN) 

30.04.2026 Bulgaria - 1 stamp (0.80 €) & 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps (0.80 & 1.65 €) 

 

05.05.2026 Luxembourg - 2 stamps (1.20 & 1.70 €) 

05.05.2026 North Macedonia - 1 stamp (184.- MKD) 

05.05.2026 Slovakia - 1 stamp (3.20 €) 

05.05.2026 Andorra (Spanish post) - 1 stamp (2.- €) 

05.05.2026 Spain - 1 stamp (Tarifa B value) 

06.05.2026 Czech rep. - 1 stamp (E value) 

06.05.2026 Finland - 1 stamp (National value) 

07.05.2026 Germany - 1 stamp (0.95 €) 

07.05.2026 Latvia - 1 stamp (3.- €) 

07.05.2026 Monaco - 1 stamp (2.25 €) 

07.05.2026 Serbia - 2 stamps (67.- & 160.- RSD) 

07.05.2026 Sweden - 1 stamp (44.- SEK) 

07.05.2026 Switzerland - 2 stamps (2x 1.20 CHF) 

08.05.2026 Åland - 2 stamps (2x Europa value) 

08.05.2026 Croatia - 2 stamps (2x B value) 

08.05.2026 Georgia - 1 stamp (5.- GEL)  

08.05.2026 Greece - 1 stamp (3.- €) 

08.05.2026 Greenland - 1 stamp (25.- DKK) 

08.05.2026 Jersey 1 stamp (2.35 GBP) & 1 souvenir-sheet (2x. 2.35 GBP) 

08.05.2026 Montenegro - 2 stamps (2x 1.- €) & 1 souvenir-sheet (2.- €) 

08.05.2026 the Netherlands - 1 stamp (1 international value) 

08.05.2026 Slovenia - 2 stamps (C & D value) 

08.05.2026 Vatican - 1 stamp (1.35 €) 

09.05.2026 Azores - 1 stamp (1.30 €) & 1 souvenir-sheet (3.75 €) 

09.05.2026 Estonia - 1 stamp (3.90 €) 

09.05.2026 France - 1 stamp (2.25 €) 

09.05.2026 Italy - 1 stamp ((B zona 1 value) 

09.05.2026 Kosovo - 2 stamps (1.- & 2.- €) & 1 souvenir-sheet (2.- €) 

09.05.2026 Madeira - 1 stamp (1.30 €) & 1 souvenir-sheet (3.75 €) 

09.05.2026 Malta - 1 stamp (2.- €) 

09.05.2026 Portugal - 1 stamp (1.30 €) & 1 souvenir-sheet (3.75 €) 

09.05.2026 Turkey - 1 stamp (45.- TRY) 

11.05.2026 Andorra (French post) - 1 stamp (4.85 €) 

11.05.2026 Cyprus - 1 stamp (0.64 €) 

14.05.2026 Cyprus (Turkish post) - 2 stamps (50.- & 64.- TRY) and 1 souvenir-sheet (50.- & 64.- TRY) 

22.05.2026 Isle of Man - 5 stamps (2x 1.96 ; 2.33 ; 2.63 & 3.62 GBP) 

26.05.2026 Faroe Is. - 1 stamp (37.- DKK) 

 

25.06.2026 Bosnia and Herzegovina - 2 stamps (2x 4.- BAM) and 1 souvenir-sheet (2x 4.- BAM)

 

10.07.2026 Ukraine - 2 stamps (A & W value) NEW

10.09.2026 Ireland - 2 stamps 

  

??.??.2026 Albania

no issue from Belarus (PostEurop membership suspended)

no issue from Denmark (stopped issuing stamps)

no issue from Great-Britain

no issue from Iceland (stopped issuing stamps)

no issue from Norway
no issue from Russia (PostEurop membership suspended)

   

Any news regarding the 2026 Europa stamps is welcome 🙂

 

 

Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Date of Issue: 25th June 2026

two stamps (2x 4.- BAM) and one souvenir-sheet (2x 4.- BAM)

both stamps are issued mini-sheets of 10 stamps

NOTE : The tree motive took the second place in PostEurop's common design competition !

Best Sepac stamp 2025

Europe

We have a winner in the best Sepac stamp 2025 contest !

Malta wins for the 2nd time this contest. No more details were given by Sepac about the number of votes and so on.

 

In the past, the Isle of Man won in 2017, Guernsey won once in 2016, Greenland won once in 2013 so did Monaco in 2018. The Faroe Islands won this contest 3 times : in 2007-09, in 2011 and in 2015 so did Åland in 2014 ; in 2019 and in 2023. Malta won the first time in 2022.

NOTE - 2024 winner is unknown !

Faroe Islands 2026

Faroe Islands

Date of Issue: 22nd May 2026

one stamp (37.- DKK)

this stamp is also issued in a booklet of 6 stamps - NOTE the stamps from the booklet are self-adhesive