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

Georgia 2009

Georgia

Date of Issue: 15th October 2010 [!]

two stamps (2.- & 3.- GEL) & souvenir-sheet of two stamps (2.- & 3.- 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)

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)

Albania 2009

Albania

Date of Issue: 11th December 2009

two stamps (200.- & 250.- ALL) and one souvenir-sheet (350.- ALL)



both stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps

both stamps and the souvenir sheet are also issued in a booklet (6'000 ex only !)

Europa stamps 2009

Europe

Europa 2009
"Astronomy"

08.05.2009 Åland - 1 stamp (Europa value)
11.12.2009 Albania - 2 stamps (200.- & 250.- ALL) & 1 souvenir-sheet (350.- ALL)
04.05.2009 Andorra (French post) - 1 stamp (0.56 €)
23.04.2009 Andorra (Spanish post) - 1 stamp (0.62 €)
01.07.2009 Armenia - 1 stamp (350.- AMD)
14.09.2009 Armenian post of Nagorno-Karabakh - 3 stamps (120.-, 350.- & 650.- AMD)
05.06.2009 Austria - 1 stamp (0.65 €)
13.04.2009 Azerbaijan - 2 stamps (0.20 & 0.60 AZM) and 1 souvenir-sheet (1.- AZM)
08.05.2009 Azores - 1 stamp (0.68 €) + 1 souvenir sheet (2x 0.68 €)

15.04.2009 Belarus - 2 stamps (2x 1000.- BYR)
06.04.2009 Belgium - 1 souvenir-sheet (0.90 €)
10.09.2009 Bosnia and Herzegovina - 2 stamps (2.- & 3.- BAM)
05.04.2009 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post) - 2 stamps (2x 3.- BAM)
23.04.2009 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serb post) - 2 stamps (1.- & 2.- BAM)
28.04.2009 Bulgaria - 2 stamps (0.60 & 1.50 BGL)

09.05.2009 Croatia - 2 stamps (2x 8.- HRK)
04.05.2009 Cyprus - 2 stamps (0.51 & 0.68 €)
05.05.2009 Cyprus (Turkish post) - 2 stamps (2x 0.80 YTL)
06.05.2009 Czech Rep. - 1 stamp (17.- CZK)

25.03.2009 Denmark - 2 stamps (5.50 & 8.- DKK)

05.05.2009 Estonia - 2 stamps (2x 9.- EEK)

25.05.2009 Faroe Is. - 2 stamps (10.- & 12.- DKK)
06.05.2009 Finland - 2 stamps (2x 0.80 €)
04.05.2009 France - 1 souvenir-sheet (2x 0.70 €)

15.10.2010 Georgia - 2 stamps (2.- & 3.- GEL) & 1 souvenir-sheet (2.- & 3.- GEL)
07.05.2009 Germany - 1 stamp (0.55 €)
01.06.2009 Gibraltar - 4 stamps (0.10, 0.42, 0.44, 1.50 GBP)
08.10.2009 Great-Britain - 1 stamp (1st class value = 0.39 GBP)
11.05.2009 Greece - 2 stamps (0.70 & 3.20 €)
19.01.2009 Greenland - 2 stamps (6.25 & 8.- DKK)
28.05.2009 Guernsey - 2 stamps (0.43 & 0.51 GBP) out of a set of 6 stamps

08.05.2009 Hungary - 1 souvenir-sheet (100.- & 230.- HUF)

07.05.2009 Iceland - 2 stamps (105.- & 140.- ISK)
15.05.2009 Ireland - 2 stamps (0.55 & 0.82 €)
12.04.2009 Isle of Man - 2 stamps (0.33 & 0.56 GBP) out of a set of 6 stamps
07.05.2009 Italy - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.65 €)

10.02.2009 Jersey - 2 stamps (0.39 & 0.43 GBP) out of a set of 4 stamps

03.04.2009 Kazakhstan - 2 stamps (2x 230.- KZT)
08.05.2009 Kosovo - 2 stamps (1.- & 2.- €) + 1 souvenir sheet (2.- €)

02.04.2009 Latvia - 2 stamps (0.50 & 0.55 LVL)
02.03.2009 Liechtenstein - 1 stamps (1.30 CHF)
25.04.2009 Lithuania - 2 stamps (2x 2.45 LTL)
12.05.2009 Luxembourg - 2 stamps (0.50 & 0.70 €)

06.05.2009 Macedonia - 2 stamps (50.- & 100.- MKD) + 1 souvenir-sheet (150 MKD)
08.05.2009 Madeira - 1 stamp (0.68 €) + 1 souvenir sheet (2x 0.68 €)
09.05.2009 Malta - 2 stamps (0.37 & 1.19 €)
07.05.2009 Moldova - 2 stamps (4.20 & 4.50 MDL)
04.05.2009 Monaco - 2 stamps (0.56 & 0.70 €)
16.04.2009 Montenegro - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.90 €) + 1 souvenir-sheet (0.60 & 0.90 €)

07.04.2009 the Netherlands - 2 stamps (2x 0.77 €)
12.06.2009 Norway - 1 souvenir-sheet (10.- & 12.- NOK)

05.05.2009 Poland - 1 stamp (3.- PLN)
08.05.2009 Portugal - 1 stamp (0.68 €) + 1 souvenir sheet (2x 0.68 €)

06.05.2009 Romania - 2 stamps (2.40 & 9.10 RON)
05.05.2009 Russia - 1 stamp (9.- RUB)

08.05.2009 San Marino - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.65 €)
05.05.2009 Serbia - 2 stamps (46.- & 50.- RSD)
28.05.2009 Slovakia - 1 stamp (0.90 €)
29.05.2009 Slovenia - 2 stamps (0.45 & 0.92 €)
23.04.2009 Spain - 1 stamp (0.62 €)
29.01.2009 Sweden - 2 stamps (2x 12.- SEK) issued in a booklet of 4
08.05.2009 Switzerland - 1 stamp (1.- CHF)

16.06.2009 Turkey - 2 stamps (0.80 & 1.- YTL)

17.04.2009 Ukraine - 2 stamps (3.75 & 5.25 UAH)

20.05.2009 Vatican - 2 stamps (0.60 & 0.65 €)

Best Europa Stamp 2009

Hungary

As last year, it's Hungary who won the Best Europa stamp contest organized by PostEurop. It was an easy victory with 270 votes more than second Malta !

It's also amusing to see that one third of the voters were Hungarian... that may explain the final result.


this 230.- HUF stamp is in fact part of a pair of stamps issued tête-bêche in a souvenir sheet of four stamps.



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 Bled, Slovenia on the 8th October.

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.

Maybe later this year, if I have time, I'll organize our own contest on this blog.

Jersey - Sepac 2009

Jersey - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16th September 2009

one stamp (0.45 GBP) out of a set of six stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo).


this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of 10 stamps

Malta - Sepac 2009

Malta - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16th September 2009

one stamp (0.37 €) out of a set of four stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo).

this stamp is issued in a mini sheet of 10 stamps

Guernsey - Sepac 2009

Guernsey - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16th September 2009

one stamp (0.51 GBP) out of a set of six stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo).

Sepac stamps 2009

Europe - Sepac

Sepac 2009
"scenery II"

16.09.2009 Åland - 1 stamp (Europa value = 0.80 €)
16.09.2009 Faroe Islands - 1 stamp (10.- DKK)
16.09.2009 Gibraltar - 1 stamp (0.44 GBP) out of a set of five stamps
16.09.2009 Greenland - 1 stamp (7.- DKK)
16.09.2009 Guernsey - 1 stamp (0.51 GBP) out of a set of six stamps
16.09.2009 Jersey - 1 stamp (0.45 GBP) out of a set of six stamps
16.09.2009 Iceland - 1 stamp (120.- ISK) out of a set of two stamps
16.09.2009 Isle of Man - 1 stamp (0.56 GBP)
16.09.2009 Liechtenstein - 1 stamp (1.30 CHF)
16.09.2009 Luxembourg - 1 stamp (0.70 €)
16.09.2009 Malta - 1 stamps (0.37 €) out of a set of four stamps
16.09.2009 Monaco - 1 stamp (0.85 €)

no issue of San Marino this year

Greenland - Sepac 2009

Greenland - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16th September 2009

one stamp (7.- DKK)

Luxembourg - Sepac 2009

Luxembourg - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16th September 2009

one stamp (0.70 €)

this stamp is issued in a mini sheet of 10 stamps

Sepac folder 2009

Europe - Sepac

"Beautiful corners of Europe 2", this special folder contains the 12 Sepac stamps to be issued this year.



This folder will be on sale by any of the Sepac countries philatelic offices !

I'll put here under the price asked by each Philatelic office :

• Åland : 15.- € (if ordered in September, a FDC is offer as present)
• Luxembourg : 15.- €
  
• Iceland : 2'700.- ISK (= 15.03 €)
• Greenland : 112.- DKK (= 15.05 €)
• Liechtenstein : 24.- CHF (= 15.83 €)
  
• Gibraltar : 13.95 GBP (= 16.16 €)
• Jersey : 14.75 GBP (= 17.18 €)
• Guernsey : 14.75 GBP (= 17.18 €)
• Isle of Man : 14.75 GBP (= 17.18 €)

Isle of Man - Sepac 2009

Isle of Man - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16th September 2009

one stamp (0.56 GBP) out of a set of six stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo).

"six stamps showcasing the virtuosity and expressive range of Archibald Knox, great Manx artist. While he is best known internationally as a designer of metalwork, through his work for Liberty’s, in the Isle of Man he is remembered mostly as a watercolourist."

Monaco - Sepac 2009

Monaco - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16 September 2009

one stamp (0.85 €)


this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of eight stamps

The Monaco stamp represents a watercolour highlighting the Place de la Mairie located in the old town.

Liechtenstein - Sepac 2009

Liechtenstein - Sepac

Date of Issue: 16 September 2009

one stamp (1.30 CHF)



this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of eight stamps

The stamp shows the well-known “Chapel of St. Mamerta, Triesen”, which is preserved as an ancient monument. The Chapel of St. Mamertus, which stands on a plateau above the village of Triesen and is named after St. Mamertus, the patron saint against earthquakes, conflagrations and landslides, dates in its original form from the 9th or early 10th century and is thus Liechtenstein’s oldest chapel. The distinctive tower is however of more recent origin. It is thought to have been erected only in the 15th century. The building fragments within the 90cm thick curtain wall suggest moreover that the original building may also have served as a dwelling. Possible occupants could have been the legendary “Noblemen of Trisun” (13th/14th century), who were in the service of the Counts of Montfort-Feldkirch and from whom the name of the village and the coat-of-arms also derive. The Chapel is also one of the most frequently pictured symbols of the Oberland (alongside Vaduz Castle and Gutenberg Castle). Like the SEPAC 2007 stamp this stamp is based on a photograph by Marco Nescher.