europa, cept, norden and sepac stamps information blog
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 !
NorwayNorway (stamp 1) is the winner of the 2025 Best Europa stamp contest organized by PostEurop. The Netherlands finished second and Greece (3€ value) is third.
The designer tells about the image: “I have tried to recreate how the objects have been frozen, and how they have gradually emerged. The images are first processed, then printed out and then frozen in an ice bath. I have then photographed in the studio while the ice melts and the motifs emerge. This is a visual move in addition to reinforcing the theme, namely what appears when the ice melts.”
watch hereunder the story of Norway’s winning stamp
As written earlier on this blog, PostEurop changed the rules for this contest. 3 voting panels (public, jury and operators) are selecting the best Europa stamp. The results of these three panels are compiled and gives an overall winner.
Norway wins the overall contest and won also the jury voting :
Public voting (16'814 votes) :
1. Serbia
2. Turkey
3. Armenia
Jury voting :
1. Norway
2. Cyprus
3. The Netherlands
Postal operators voting :
1. Greece
2. The Netherlands
3. Latvia
Consolidated result of all three panels - top 10 :
1. Norway
2. The Netherlands
3. Greece
4. Faroe Islands
= Serbia
6. Åland
= Armenia
= Cyprus
= France
= Turkey
Note that Belarus and Russia were excluded of this contest due to their aggression of Ukraine.
Great-Britain, Iceland & Albania didn't issue 2025 Europa stamps.
Europe - Sepac
"Architecture 16", this special folder contains the 10 Sepac stamps issued in 2025.
This folder will be on sale by any of the Sepac countries philatelic offices !
Luxembourg - Sepac
Europe - Sepac
27.03.2025 Jersey - 1 stamps (3.- GBP) out of set of 8 stamps
09.05.2025 Åland - 1 stamp (4.20 €)
26.05.2025 Faroe Is. - 1 stamp (35.- DKK)
26.05.2025 Greenland - 1 stamp (28.- DKK)
02.06.2025 Liechtenstein - 1 stamp (1.90 CHF)
09.07.2025 Monaco - 1 stamp (2.78 €)
23.07.2025 Guernsey - 1 stamp (2.08 GBP) out of a set of 4 stamps
29.07.2025 Malta - 1 stamp (1.91 €) out of a set of 3 stamps
16.09.2025 Gibraltar - 1 stamp (1.- GBP) out of a set of 6 stamps & 1 souvenir-sheet of 6 stamps.
19.09.2025 Luxembourg - 1 stamp (1.70 €)
no issue Isle of Man
no issue Vatican
Gibraltar - Sepac
Date of Issue: 16th September 2025
one stamp (1.- GBP) out of a set of 6 stamps (only this stamp bears the Sepac logo)
this stamp is issued in a miniature-sheet with the five other stamps of this set
this stamp is also issued in a mini-sheet of 9 stamps
Kosovo
Date of Issue: 9th May 2025
two stamps 2 stamps (1.- & 2.- €) and one souvenir-sheet (2.- €)
NOTE - those stamps don't bear the official Europa stamps logo neither the word "Europa" - Kosovo isn't a PostEurop member !
the stamps are issued in a mini-sheet of 6 stamps (3 of each) - NOTE : the word "Europe" is written in the edge
NOTE : the stamps issued by Kosovo aren't recognized on an international level, not by the UPU nor by PostEurop.
Those postage stamps presents one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Kosovo, in the Ulpiana archaeological park.
The postage stamp motifs bear images dedicated to the founding of Iustiniana secunda (the second Justinian), described as an urbs Dardaniae by the emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora (535-545 AD), as well as of the houbara bustard (outis), a migratory bird, on the mosaic floor of the episcopal basilica of Iustiniana secunda (535-545 AD), discovered by A. Hajdari, C.J. Goddard and M. Berisha.
Ukraine
Date of Issue: 15th August 2025
one stamp (A value = 1.20 USD)
NOTE 1 - A booklet of 1 souvenir-sheet of 1 stamp (W value) has also been issued
NOTE 2 - this block has been issued at 5'000 ex (2'000 ex as a booklet) and it's only reserved to whom subscribed to a premium subscription for all 2025 Ukrainian issues !
The Ukrainian postal issue under the program "Europa", the theme of which in 2025 is "National Archaeological Discoveries", presents unique exhibits of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: anthropomorphic Scythian stele (V century BC), which reproduces the image of a Scythian warrior; Scythian sword-akinaq (V-IV centuries BC) and dagger-akinaq. The statue of a Scythian warrior comes from a Scythian mound near the village. Novovasylivka, Mykolaiv region.
Europe
Malta - Sepac
Date of Issue: 29th July 2025
one stamp (1.91 €) out of a set of three stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo). NOTE - the other 2 stamps from this set bear the word "sepac" but not the Sepac logo !
Guernsey - Sepac
Date of Issue: 23rd July 2025
one stamp (2.08 GBP) 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
Kazakhstan
Vatican
the stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps
The ‘Europe 2025’ series consists of three values and depicts details of some finds discovered in the Vatican during excavations in 1941 at the level of the ancient Constantinian Basilica and more recently in the cemetery area of the ancient Via Triumphalis. To the former belongs the so-called Sarcophagus of Jonah, on the sides of which are carved the figures of the Apostles Peter and Paul, depicted on the 0.10 and 0.15 euro values respectively. To the Necropolis on the Via Triumphalis belongs the aedicule of Tiberius Natronius Venustus, depicted in the €1.30 value. It is named after the child who was buried there and whose beautiful marble portrait has been preserved in excellent condition.
Monaco - Sepac
Date of Issue: 9th July 2025
one stamp (2.78 €)
this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of 10 stamps
Liechtenstein - Sepac
Date of Issue: 2nd June 2025
one stamp (1.90 CHF)
this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of 9 stamps
Greenland - Sepac
Date of Issue: 26th May 2025
one stamp (28.- DKK)
Faroe Islands
Date of Issue: 26th May 2025
two stamps (25.- & 35. DKK)
Settlement in the Faroe IslandsDuring the Viking Age (AD 800–1050) in Scandinavia, the Vikings set sail towards 18 remote islands in the Atlantic Ocean: the Faroe Islands.Archaeological investigations in the Faroe Islands indicate that the first Norse settlement began in the 8th century, and by the 9th century, permanent settlements had been established across the islands. Analyses of barley grains suggest that human activity on the Faroes predates this period. By dating burnt barley grains found beneath a Viking-age house in the village of Sandur, we can confirm activity in the 4th and 6th centuries as well as in the 6th and 8th centuries. However, the dating cannot determine the extent of this activity, or the origins of the people involved.Findings from archaeological excavations show that Viking-age settlers in the Faroe Islands built large farms with longhouses, outbuildings, and stone enclosures along fjords and straits. The farms were located near the sea, making it easy to pull boats ashore for fishing and travel between islands and to other lands. In addition to being close to the sea, access to freshwater was also crucial for both household use and livestock. This is evident in Viking settlements such as Niðri á Toft in Kvívík and Toftanes in Leirvík, where both farms are positioned near the shore and a stream.A variety of artefacts have been uncovered, shedding light on daily life in these settlements. For instance, soapstone vessels, spindle whorls, animal bones near fireplaces, sharpening stones for knives, and decorative beads have been found, indicating activities such as wool working and food preparation. Other intriguing discoveries include children’s toys. At Niðri á Toft in Kvívík, wooden toy horses and boats have been found, reflecting the real-life activities of their parents, who rode horses and sailed boats. Alongside children's toys, game pieces and board games have also been unearthed.At the Viking-age farm at Toftanes in Leirvík, a chessboard with two carved game boards has been discovered. One side features a board for the Viking game hneftafl (a strategy game similar to chess), while the other side displays a board for the game Nine Men’s Morris. These finds suggest that people in the Viking Age also engaged in leisure activities. Other excavations and finds provide insight into religious practices of the period.In Tjørnuvík, Yviri í Trøð, Viking graves have been discovered, with burials oriented in different directions. Some of the deceased were buried with objects, including a young woman who was laid to rest with a dress pin—a long needle used to fasten clothing. These pins provide the earliest evidence of settlement in the Faroe Islands during the Viking Age.At Toftanes in Leirvík, a well-preserved wooden crucifix has been found. Meanwhile, excavations at Yviri í Trøð have revealed evidence of Norse paganism (pre-Christian beliefs), while the crucifix at Toftanes symbolizes Christianity. This suggests that both Norse paganism and Christianity were practiced simultaneously during the Viking Age. Through archaeological excavations and discoveries, we gain insights into what was significant for both children and adults in Viking society. These artefacts, along with the objects depicted on the stamps, can be seen in the exhibition halls of the National Museum of the Faroe Islands in Tórshavn.
