europa, cept, norden and sepac stamps information blog
Jersey
Both stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps
NOTE : this issue is also the 3rd part of the "Jersey myths and legends" series. Part one was issued in 2016 and part 2 in 2020.
Russia
This stamp is issued in a sheet of 12 stamps
In Russia, mythology is closely and inextricably linked to pagan culture; it is filled with tales of gods, rituals, and customs. Over the course of history, people had been inventing various mystical creatures to explain the unknown world around them. As time went on, many of the characters took root and became part of the culture of the peoples; they safeguarded, helped to gather a rich crop, to bring prosperity, recover from diseases and donated happiness.
Many of them are described in the narratives of Russian writers. For example, in poem Ruslan and Lyudmila by Aleksander Pushkin we read a passage about a sacred place Lukomorye and fairy tale personages living there: a learned cat, a mermaid, Kashchey, Baba-Yaga, and a warlock.
The postage stamp provides images of fairy tale personages from poem Ruslan and Lyudmila by Aleksander Pushkin.
Liechtenstein
Date of Issue: 7th March 2022
two stamps (2x 1.80 CHF)
"The White Woman" is a figure that appears in numerous legends and myths in these parts. As a rule, she appears as a harmless being whom observers see by chance or notice by their having an uneasy feeling. On the stamp, the white woman floats through a field full of mulleins and slowly dissolves into thin air, just as she is said to have done, according to legend, when children encountered her. The mullein stands for fearlessness and protection from evil spirits.
The Liechtenstein alpine region is the setting for many eerie legends. A figure to be found in one such legend is "The Tälibudel". The spirit in dog-like form with fiery red eyes is said to have chased an alpine shepherd out of his hut. The illustration by Liechtenstein artist Eliane Schädler shows the scene of this tale with the fearsome creature in the background.
Austria
Date of Issue: 7th May 2022
one stamp (1.- €)
Legend of the Waterman of Eisenerz : According to legend, the discovery of the iron deposits at Erzberg is due to the knowledge of a water man. He lived in a grotto northwest of Eisenerz and was captured by the inhabitants near Lake Leopoldstein with the help of a pitch-soaked cloak. To buy his freedom again, he offered "gold for ten years, silver for a hundred years or iron for ever". The clever people of Iron ore are said to have chosen the latter, whereupon the water sprite showed them the ore mountain. After they had convinced themselves of the ore deposits, they released the water sprite and he disappeared into a karst spring, which has since been called Wassermannsloch. source : Wikipedia
Europe
A few weeks ago PostEurop launched their new logo !
Just as a reminder, PostEurop took over from the CEPT the responsibility for issuing EUROPA stamps.
You can read more about it in the part IV of my Europa stamps' history.
This new logo doesn't have a huge impact for us Europa stamps collectors, as it is not used on Europa stamps issues.
Though, the former logo was used once only (if I'm not wrong). On the second stamp of the 2000 Europa issue of Monaco
And Belgium used it in the edge of the mini-sheet of their 2003 issue. They did it to celebrate the 10 years of PostEurop.
AustriaBest EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021
Austria
The winner of the 1st edition was Moldova ; Ukraine won the 2nd edition and Denmark won last year.
Announce on the Austrian post philatelic bulletin of March 2022 and on the Austrian post LinkedIn account !
Europe
Best EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021
Results of GROUP 4:
Those top 4 countries go to the Big Final.
Europe
Best EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021
Results of GROUP 3:
Those top 4 countries go to the Big Final.
Europe
Best EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021
Results of GROUP 2:
Those top 4 countries go to the Big Final.
Europe
Best EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021
Results of GROUP 1:
Those top 4 countries go to the Big Final.
Belgium
Legend of St Hubertus : Legend holds that on a Good Friday morning, while the faithful were in church, Hubert was hunting in the forest. As he pursued a magnificent stag or hart, the animal turned and Hubert was astounded to see a crucifix floating between its antlers. He heard a voice saying: "Hubert unless thou turnest to the Lord and leadest a holy life, thou shalt quickly go down into Hell." Hubert dismounted and prostrated himself, and after asking "Lord, what wouldst Thou have me do?" is told, "Go and seek Lambert, and he will instruct you." - source : Wikipedia
Legend of Brabo : Silvius Brabo was a mythical Roman soldier who was said to have killed a giant, and by this would have created the name Brabant.
Later this story was also used to explain the name Antwerp ('Antwerpen' in Dutch) which, according to the story, is a derivative of 'handwerpen' (meaning hand throwing). Brabo once killed a giant, called Druon Antigoon, who asked money from people who wanted to pass the bridge over the river Scheldt. When they didn't want to or couldn't pay, he cut off their hand and threw it in the river. Because of this, Brabo also removed the hand of the giant, and threw it into the river.
This mythical story is still shown by the statue in front of the Antwerp City Hall. - source : Wikipedia
Kazakhstan
Italy
Åland
The sjörå (in Swedish), (lake Rå) or the Sjöfru (Mistress of the Lake) was a mythical creature of the lake, or Rå, in Swedish folklore. She is a female, humanoid water spirit. She is a seductive creature, often featured sitting and combing her long, sweeping hair with delight, and often lures and drowns men who are unkind, unfaithful or otherwise disrespectful to her or the lake. Like all other rå (keepers) she protects her domain and awards those kind to her with good fishing luck and saves them from drowning. In wintertime she would sometimes stick her hand up from the waters. If the visitor then gave her a mitten she would thank him for his kindness with gifts or protect him in his time of need. source : Wikipedia
Finland
those stamps are issued in a mini-sheet of 10 stamps (2 stamps of each)
Päivätär and Kuutar are luonnotars (feminine personifications of nature) or goddesses of the Sun and the Moon in Finnish mythology. They own the gold of the Moon and the silver of the Sun, spin golden and silver yarns, and weave clothes out of them. In Kalevala, young maidens ask Päivätär and Kuutar to give them some of their golden and silver jewellery and clothes.
Both luonnotars are mentioned in Finnish folk poetry, but there is little information of them. Päivätär and Kuutar are emuus (origin mothers) of bees, wasps and hornets and appear in spells that were sung in order to prevent these insects from stinging. There is also one spell from Finnish Karelia that states that the world tree grew from the golden and silver tears of Kuutar and Päivätär. source : Finnish Folklore Wiki
Poland
The 2021 Best Europa stamp has been announced by PostEurop in this press release.
Poland is the winner of the 2021 Best Europa stamp contest organized by PostEurop. Åland finished second and Ukraine (2nd stamp) is third.
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.
Poland wins the overall contest in a deserved way by finishing in the top 3 of the three voting panels :
Public voting :
1. Turkey
2. Armenia
3. Poland
Jury voting :
1. Germany
2. Poland
= Norway
Postal operators voting :
1. Poland
2. Åland
3. Hungary
Consolidated result of all three panels - top 10 :
1. Poland
2. Åland
3. Ukraine
4. Armenia
= Hungary
= Norway
7. Germany
= Netherlands
= Spain
= Turkey
Europe
New rules from this year for electing the Best Europa stamp ! Coming into force in 2021 !
A single winner will be chosen resulting from a combination of 3 different voting panels, each having the same weight !
1. General public votes on digital images of the stamps via a dedicated PostEurop website, 9 May - 9 September
2. Postal operators votes on digital images of the stamps via a dedicated PostEurop intern website. Each company votes for 3 preferred stamps, except its own stamp.
3. Jury voting on physical stamps. Each jury member votes for his/her 3 preferred stamps.
The 10 best placed stamps in each of the 3 voting panels are allocated the following number of points (Eurovision Song Contest system) :
1st = 12 points ; 2nd = 10 points ; 3rd = 8 points ; 4th = 7 points ; 5th = 6 points ; 6th = 5 points ; 7th = 4th points ; 8th = 3 points ; 9th = 2 points and 10th = 1 point.
The points from the 3 voting panels are added up to obtain the overall winner and the two runners-up.
Note : only the country having send his digital and physical stamp to PostEurop can win the contest !
The Best Europa stamp 2021 will be announced during PostEurop's plenary assembly on the 6th of October 2021.
Georgia
