Best Europa stamps 2002-2020

Europe

2002 : Malta

2003 : Monaco (stamp 1/2)

2004 : Greenland

2005 : Iceland (stamp 1/2)

2006 : Ukraine (stamp 2/2)

2007 : Armenia

2008 : Hungary (stamp 1/2)

2009 : Hungary (stamp 2/2)

2010 : Hungary (stamp 2/2)

2011 : Turkey (stamp 1/2)

2012 : Hungary (stamp 1/2)

2013 : Turkey (stamp 2/2)

2014 : Serbia (stamp 2/2)

2015 : Turkey (stamp 2/2)

2016 : common design - no contest

2017 : Turkey (stamp 2/2)

2018 : Turkey (stamp 2/2)
 
2019 : Armenia

2020 : Turkey

The Europa stamps history - V

Europe

The Europa stamps history

part V - The new millennium (2000-)

2000 (55 countries ; 68 stamps), a new millennium, the right moment for PostEurop to celebrate this event with a common theme again! The design of the French artist, Jean-Paul Cousin has been selected. It represents a tower of six stars build up by children on a green field with the letter E of Europe on it. This Europa stamp edition will be a huge success! It's the last time until, that the Europa stamps used a common design. Most of the countries used that common design, some didn't like Yugoslavia or Bulgaria. Some countries used it but also issued a second stamp with another design like Croatia, Monaco or Hungary.

2001 (56 countries ; 92 stamps), the common theme was Water - A Natural Treasure.


In 2002 (58 countries ; 93 stamps), PostEurop decided to start a "Best Europa stamp" competition, that year the theme was the Circus and Malta won the contest. It's interesting to note that Malta is using on this stamps a wrong Europa logo, the letter R isn't correct. They never changed their logo since then and even other countries started to use that wrong logo... In 2002, the Netherlands and Norway took part again at the Europa stamps issue after a break of many years, since 1993 for the Netherlands and 1992 concerning Norway.

2002 was also the year of the introduction of a common European currency: the euro. Twelve countries from the European Union use the euro since the 1st January 2002 and some microstates as Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican and San Marino. For the first time Europa stamps have a facial value in euro, although some countries had already a dual facial value (euro and national currency) in the last years before the euro introduction (as the 2001 French stamp here above.

Poster Art was the theme for the year 2003 (57 countries ; 96 stamps) and Monaco won the contest that year. Until 2007, the best Europa stamp was selected only by the members of PostEurop during their yearly plenary assembly and maybe they liked the nice blonde girl depicted on the poster of Monaco :o). That year Yugoslavia become Serbia-Montenegro.

The common theme of 2004 (57 countries ; 96 stamps) was holidays. The theme that year wasn't understood by each country the same way. PostEurop chosed that theme with the meaning of "vacation" but countries as Georgia understood the theme as religious holidays with a stamp celebrating Christmas and another one for Easter. Greenland won the Best Europa stamp competition that year with a very nice stamp.


In 2005, the them was gastronomy (60 countries ; 103 stamps) an interesting theme for all food lovers. The Croat and Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina took part for the first time as official UPU members. Former ex-USSR republic : Kazakhstan took also part for the first time although only a few part of their territory is in Europe! Montenegro took part also that year for the first time being the last ex-Yugoslav republic to do so. Iceland won the Best Europa stamp competition with a original round shaped stamp representing a plate.

2006 (60 countries ; 105 stamps), Kosovo took part for the first time, even if they weren't independent at that time. The UN administration post office UNMIK issued the stamps that year. 2006 was the year of a quite large common theme: Integration through the eyes of Young People. Integration in a large meaning. It could be integration of people of another culture, country or of disabled people, like the Czech republic chosed for. The Ukraine won the contest that year with an allegoric stamp. In 2006 it was also the 50th anniversary of the Europa stamps. Many country around the globe decided to celebrate this event by issuing stamps but strange enough very few European countries did and none of the 6 first countries having issued the first Europa stamps in 1956.



In 2007 (62 countries ; 111 stamps) PostEurop decided to celebrate the 100 years of Scouting and chosed it as common theme. Russia decided, not to take part that year. Since the same year, my webpage moved to this blog :o) We are also doing a Best Europa stamp poll on it and Norway won that year, Armenia won PostEurop's contest. It was the first year that people around the world could vote through the internet to select the best Europa stamp.

2008 (63 countries ; 107 stamps) had writing letters as topic. A nice way to promote postal communication in the age of the internet and e-mails writing. No post, means no stamps and it's quite obvious that our hobby will suffer of it in the next decades... Hungary won PostEurop's Best Europa stamp contest and Åland won this blog's one.

That year the region of Nagorno Karabakh issued Europa stamps for the first time. This region located in the Caucasus is disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since 1992, the Armenian majority living in Nagorno Karabakh declared them self independent.


The 2009 (63 countries ; 112 stamps) common theme was the international year of astronomy. Hungary for a second year in a row won the PostEurop's Best Europa stamp contest and Liechtenstein won the contest organised on this blog :o)

2010: Children Books 
2011: Forests - International year of forests
2012: Visit... (for instance "Visit Finland" or "Visit Spain" etc.)
2013: The postman van (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary - 1993-2013)
2014: National music instruments
2015: Old toys
2016: Ecology in Europe - "Think Green"

Part I - The early years (1956-1959)~
Part II - The birth of the CEPT (1960-1973)~
Part III - The common themes (1974-1989)~
Part IV - The new Europe (1990-1999)

Georgia 2008

Georgia

Date of Issue: 5th December 2008

two stamps (0.90 & 1.- GEL)


both stamps are issued in mini sheets of 10 stamps




both stamps are issued in a booklet of 8 stamps (4 stamps of each)

Europa stamps 2008

Europe

Europa 2008
"Writing Letters"

09.05.2008 Åland - 1 stamp (1.- €) 200'000 ex
15.07.2008 Albania - 2 stamps (100.- & 150.- ALL) and 1 souvenir-sheet (250.-)
09.05.2008 Andorra (French post) - 1 stamp (0.55 €)
23.04.2008 Andorra (Spanish post) - 1 stamp (0.60 €)
01.06.2008 Armenia - 1 stamp (350.- AMD)
06.06.2008 Austria - 1 stamp (0.65 €) 800'000 ex
13.03.2008 Azerbaijan - 2 stamps (0.20 & 0.60 AZM) + 1 souvenir-sheet (1.- AZM)
28.10.2008 Azerbaijan (Armenian post of Nagorno-Karabakh) - 3 stamps (120.-, 350.- & 550.- AMD)
09.05.2008 Azores - 1 stamp (0.61 €) and 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps (2x 0.61 €)

28.05.2008 Belarus - 2 stamps (2x 1000.- BYR)
19.05.2008 Belgium - 1 stamp (0.80 €)
08.03.2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina - 2 stamps (2.- & 3.- BAM) + 1 souvenir-sheet
05.04.2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post) - 2 stamps (2x 3.- BAM)
24.04.2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serb post) - 2 stamps (1.- & 2.- BAM)
22.04.2008 Bulgaria - 2 stamps (0.55 & 1.- BGN)

09.05.2008 Croatia - 2 stamps (3.50 & 5.- HRK)
02.05.2008 Cyprus - 2 stamps (0.51 & 0.68 €)
08.05.2008 Cyprus (Turkish post) - 2 stamps (0.80 YTL)
07.05.2008 Czech Rep. - 1 stamp (17.- CZK)

04.06.2008 Denmark - 2 stamps (5.50 & 7.75 DKK)

30.04.2008 Estonia - 1 stamp (9.- EEK)

19.05.2008 Faroe Is. - 2 stamps (5.50 & 7.50 DKK)
09.05.2008 Finland - 2 stamps (2x 0.70 €)
05.05.2008 France - 1 stamp (0.55 €)

05.12.2008 Georgia - 2 stamps (0.90 & 1.- GEL)
08.05.2008 Germany - 1 stamp (0.55 €)
01.06.2008 Gibraltar - 4 stamps (0.08, 0.40, 0.42 & 1.- GBP)
26.05.2008 Greece - 2 stamps (0.67 & 3.17 €)
31.01.2008 Greenland (5.75 & 7.50 DKK)
05.02.2008 Great-Britain (1st class value)
15.05.2008 Guernsey - 2 stamps (0.40 & 0.48 GBP)

09.05.2008 Hungary - 2 stamps (100.- & 230.- HUF) issued in a souvenir-sheet of 4 stamps

08.05.2008 Iceland - 2 stamps (85.- & 110.- ISK)
09.06.2008 Ireland - 2 stamps (0.55 & 0.82 €)
12.05.2008 Isle of Man - 2 stamps (0.31 & 0.50 GBP)
09.05.2008 Italy - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.65 €)

14.02.2008 Jersey - 2 stamps (0.39 & 0.43 GBP) out of a set of four stamps

06.05.2008 Kazakhstan - 2 stamps (2x 150.- KZT)
09.05.2008 Kosovo - 2 stamps (0.70 & 1.- €) and 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps

26.04.2008 Latvia - 2 stamps (0.45 & 0.85 LVL)
03.03.2008 Liechtenstein - 1 stamp (1.30 CHF)
03.05.2008 Lithuania - 2 stamps (2x 2.45 LTL)
20.05.2008 Luxembourg - 2 stamps (0.50 & 0.70 €)

09.05.2008 Macedonia - 2 stamps (50.- & 100.- MKD) + a booklet of 4 stamps
09.05.2008 Madeira - 1 stamp (0.61 €) and 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps (2x 0.61 €)
08.05.2008 Malta - 2 stamps (0.37 & 1.19 €)
30.04.2008 Moldova - 2 stamps (3.50 & 4.50 MDL)
05.05.2008 Monaco - 2 stamps (0.55 & 0.65 €)
02.04.2008 Montenegro - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.90 €) + 1 souvenir-sheet (1.50 €)

20.05.2008 the Netherlands - 1 stamp (0.75 €)
08.02.2008 Norway - 2 stamps (inland & europa value)

05.05.2008 Poland - 1 stamp (3.- PLN)
09.05.2008 Portugal - 1 stamp (0.61 €) and 1 souvenir-sheet of 2 stamps (2x 0.61 €)

08.05.2008 Romania - 2 stamps (1.60 & 8.10 ROL)
05.05.2008 Russia - 1 stamp (8.- RUB)

13.06.2008 San Marino - 2 stamps (060 & 0.65 €)
05.05.2008 Serbia - 2 stamps (46.- & 50.- RSD)
07.05.2008 Slovakia - 1 stamp (21.- SKK)
29.05.2008 Slovenia - 2 stamps (0.45 & 0.92 €) 160'000 ex of each
23.04.2008 Spain - 1 souvenir-sheet (0.60 €)
27.03.2008 Sweden - 2 stamps (2x 11.- SEK)
08.05.2008 Switzerland - 1 stamp (1.- CHF)

09.05.2008 Turkey - 2 stamps (0.65 & 0.80 YTL)

12.03.2008 Ukraine - 2 stamps (2.47 & 3.33 UAH)

06.03.2008 Vatican - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.85 €)

Best Europa Stamp 2008

Hungary


this 100.- HUF stamp is in fact part of a pair of stamps issued tête-bêche in a souvenir sheet of four stamps. Only this stamp took part at the contest although Spain and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part at the contest with their full souvenir-sheet...



The Best Europa stamp design competition is a yearly event that takes place during the Plenary Assembly of PostEurop. The first competition took place in 2002. All official Europa stamp issues can enter the competition.

The result of this competition was announced during the Plenary Assembly in Brussels on the 27th November.

The stamp has been selected via the internet ! All people could vote through PostEurop's website !

Here you can find the full list of winning stamps since the first contest in 2002 when Malta won.

On this blog we had also our own Best Europa stamp contest and the issue of Åland won.

Armenian post of Nagorno-Karabakh 2008

Armenian post of Nagorno-Karabakh

Date of Issue: 28th October 2008

three stamps (120.-, 350.- & 550.- AMD)

those stamps are published in mini-sheets of 10 stamps


NOTE : the stamps issued by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic aren't recognized on an international level, not by the UPU nor by PostEurop.

Those stamps are listed in the most stamps catalogue (Gibbons, Yvert & Tellier, Michel) and most Europa stamps collectors collect those stamps anyway, I decided to publish them on my blog, from now on, even if they aren't official stamp issues.

Cyprus (Turkish post) 2008

Cyprus (Turkish post)

Date of Issue: 8th May 2008

two stamps (2x 0.80 YTL)


NOTE : the stamps issued by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus aren't recognized on an international level, not by the UPU nor by PostEurop.

But as most Europa stamps collectors collect those stamps anyway, I decided to publish them on my blog, from now on, even if they aren't official stamp issues.

Best Europa stamp of the year 2008

Europe

As most of this year's Europa stamps are issued, PostEurop is again organizing an on-line vote to select the "Best Europa" stamp of the year 2008.

Two persons picked out from those that have selected the winning stamp will be granted special prizes – a full set of the 2008 Europa stamp issues!

The winning stamp will be announced on 13 November during PostEurop’s Extraordinary Plenary Assembly that will be held in Brussels, Belgium.

A few comments about this competition:

1. Some countries are missing ! Andorra (French post) ; Ireland ; Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post) ; Azerbaijan ; Georgia ; Isle of Man ; the Netherlands ; Serbia. I really don't know why ? Kosovo and Gibraltar are also missing, but as they aren't member and even don't use the official Europa logo on their stamps, I can understand why they are not on this list.
2. The voting is open since early May and some countries are only on this list since a few days ! Which isn't fair at all.
3. PostEurop selected which stamps within a set would take part at this contest. The choice isn't the best each time.
4. Some countries have two stamps taking part at this contest as the issue is composed of a "pair", for example Macedonia, the Ukraine or Finland. Greece which also issued a pair of stamps have only one stamp shown !
5. Souvenir-sheets: Bosnia and Herzegovina & Spain have their full souvenir-sheet taking part at this contest, Hungary only one stamp out of it !
6. One last comment, the size and quality of the stamps isn't the same for each country ! Bulgaria has a very low quality stamp as Cyprus have a tiny image of their stamp...

As last year, this blog will also organize it's own contest later this year ! ;o)

Albania 2008

Albania

Date of Issue: 15th July 2008

two stamps (100.- & 150.- ALL) and one souvenir-sheet (250.- ALL)



! note that the stamp of the souvenir-sheet doesn't bear the official Europa logo !


both stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps

Europa stamps 2008 - issue rates

Europe

My Italian friend Massimiliano who is also an Europa stamps collector and has his own blog in italian, gave me the following issue rates of 2008 Europa stamps

Macedonia - souvenir-sheet : 10.000 ex


Kosovo - souvenir-sheet : 20.000 ex


Bulgaria - booklet : 12.500 ex


What to think about it ? For me it's a real scandal ! That's taking the stamp collectors for idiots ! 10'000 copies for an Europa stamp issue is of course by far less than the total number of Europa stamps collectors !

I really don't understand why PostEurop isn't able to deal with it ? They are owner of the Europa logo and Macedonia and Bulgaria are even PostEurop members.

Each year it's getting worse. More and more issues of higher facial values and/or of lower issuing numbers !

Of course as long as collectors are ready to pay such high amounts to get those stamps, those postal authorities will keep doing like that ... money makes the World go round...

Ireland 2008

Ireland

Date of Issue: 9th June 2008

two stamps (0.55 & 0.82 €)

Both stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps

Armenia 2008

Armenia

Date of Issue: 1st June 2008

one stamp (350.- AMD)

Greece 2008

Greece

Date of Issue: 26th May 2008

two stamps (0.67 & 3.17 €)


both stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 16 stamps (8 of each)


both stamps are also issued in one booklet of 4 stamps (2 of each)

Andorra (French post) 2008

Andorra (French post)

Date of Issue: 9th May 2008

one stamp (0.55 €)

San Marino 2008

San Marino

Date of Issue: 13th June 2008

two stamps (0.60 & 0.65 €)