1956

Europe

Issue n° 1 - 1956

"Europe being rebuild"

Number of countries : 6
Debuting countries : Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands
Returning countries : none (first issue)
Withdrawing countries : none (first issue)
Common design : tower formed by the 6 letters of the latin word for Europe: Europa
Countries using their own design : none - same design used by all countries
Designer : Daniel Gonzagues (France)

Note : All stamps issued on 15th September 1956 - Luxembourg is the first country to issue a three stamps set

more here in the Europa stamps History - Part I

Vatican - [Vaticano]

Vatican - [Vaticano]

Capital: Vatican City
Languages: Italian
Population: 826
Currency: Euro - EUR
Internet code: .va
Status: Ecclesiastical, sacerdotal-monarchical

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican


Poste Vaticane



PostEurop member: no
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1969, 1993 ->

Official site: http://www.vaticanstate.va/EN/Services/Philatelic_and_Numismatic_Office/
info: order.ufn@scv.va

"The Vatican issued their first Europa stamps, for the 10 years anniversary of the CEPT, in 1969."

"It's only since 1993, that the Vatican issues Europa stamps each year."

Ukraine - [Україна]

Ukraine - [Україна]

Capital: Kiev
Languages: Ukrainian
Population: 46,179,226
Currency: Hryvnia - UAH
Internet code: .ua
Status: Unitary semi-presidential republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine


Ukrposhta



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1997 ->

Official site: http://www.stamp.kiev.ua/eng/news/
info: philatel@stamp.kiev.ua

"Ukraine issued their first Europa stamps in 1997 with a beautiful souvenir sheet ! And this, two year after Russia."

"In 2006 the Ukrainian Europa stamps was voted the best stamp Europa stamp during PostEurop's competition."

Turkey - [Türkiye]

Turkey - [Türkiye]

Capital: Ankara
Languages: Turkish
Population: 74,816,000
Currency: Turkish lira - TRY
Internet code: .tr
Status: Parliamentary republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey


Posta Telefon Telgraf



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1958, 1960 ->

Official site: http://www.ptt.gov.tr/tr/pulculuk/pul_galerisi.php
info: filateli@ptt.gov.tr

"The first Turkish issue was in 1958, but only since 1960 Turkey issues Europa stamps each year."

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."

Switzerland - [Schweiz - Suisse - Svizzera - Svizra]

Switzerland - [Schweiz - Suisse - Svizzera - Svizra]

Capital: Bern
Languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh
Population: 7,725,200
Currency: Swiss franc - CHF
Internet code: .ch
Status: Direct democracy Federal parliamentary republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland


Die Post - La Poste - La Posta



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1957, 1959 ->

Official site: http://www.post.ch/philatelie/en
info: stamps@post.ch

"The first Swiss issue was in 1957, but only since 1959 Switzerland issues Europa stamps each year."

"The CEPT was founded in 1959 in Montreux, Switzerland. On that occasion the Swiss post over printed their Europa issue. This set has now an high value."

Sweden - [Sverige]

Sweden - [Sverige]

Capital: Stockholm
Languages: Swedish
Population: 9,263,872
Currency: Swedish krona - SEK
Internet code: .se
Status: Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden


Posten AB



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: yes

Europa stamps: since 1960, 1969, 1974 ->

Official site: http://www.posten.se
info: kundservice@pf.posten.se

"Sweden issued their first Europa stamp in 1960. Then they waited 9 more years to issue their second Europa stamp in order to celebrate the 10 years of the CEPT, in 1969."

"We had to wait untill 1974 to have the next issue, but since then Sweden took always part with 2, 3 or 4 stamps."

"Sweden is famous for their roll-stamps, easily recognizable by the fact that the don't have any perforation on both sides of each stamp! They issue also most of their stamps in booklets."

Spain - [España]

Spain - [España]

Capital: Madrid
Languages: Spanish & recognised regional languages Aranese, Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician
Population: 46,661,950
Currency: Euro - EUR
Internet code: .es
Status: Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain


Correos (Spanish post)



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1960 ->

Official site: http://www.correos.es
info: Atcliente.filatelia@correos.es

"Spain issues Europa stamps since 1960."

"In 1962, 1963, 1965 & 1966 they didn't use the common design".

"In 1972 & 1973 only one stamp of the set depicted the common design."

Slovenia - [Slovenija]

Slovenia - [Slovenija]

Capital: Ljubljana
Languages: Sloven
Population: 2,053,355
Currency: Euro - EUR
Internet code: .si
Status: Parliamentary republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia


Pošta Slovenije



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1993->

Official site: http://www.posta.si
info: info@posta.si

"Slovenia issued their first Europa stamps in 1993."

"One year before, in 1992, their neighbor Croatia was the first former Yugoslav republic to issue Europa stamps."

Slovakia - [Slovensko]

Slovakia - [Slovensko]

Capital: Bratislava
Languages: Slovak
Population: 5,379,455
Currency: Euro - EUR
Internet code: .sk
Status: Parliamentary republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia


Slovenská pošta



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1993->

Official site: http://www.pofis.sk
info: pofis@slposta.sk

"Slovakia issued their first Europa stamps in 1991 as most of the other ex-communist countries of Central Europe."

"In that year the stamps where still issued under the name of Czechoslovkia and this till 1993 year of the separation between the Czechs (Bohemia and Moravia) and the eastern neighbours the Slovaks to form 2 new countries Slovakia and the Czech Republic."

"Slovakia issues Europa stamps since 1993 under their own name and traditionaly only one single stamp per year."

Serbia - [Србија]

Serbia - [Србија]

Capital: Belgrade
Languages: Serbian
Population: 7,365,507
Currency: Dinar - RSD
Internet code: .rs
Status: Parliamentary republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbia


Pošta Srbije



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: yes
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 2007->

Official site: http://www.jugomarka.rs
info: jumarka@ptt.yu

"Serbia issued their first Europa stamps in 2007, but Yugoslavia issued their first Europa stamps in 1969 already, being the first Communist country to take part."

"In 2003, Yugoslavia's name was replaced by Serbia and Montenego : "Srbije i Crne Gore" for the last two former Yugoslav republics how stayed together. The name was written in both Latin and Cyrillic alphabet."

"Since 2007 Serbia issue Europa stamps under their own name alone."

San Marino

San Marino

Capital: San Marino
Languages: Italian
Population: 29,973
Currency: Euro - EUR
Internet code: .sm
Status: Parliamentary republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_marino


Poste e Telecomunicazioni



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: yes
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1961->

Official site: http://www.aasfn.sm
info: aasfn@omniway.sm

"San Marino issued their first Europa stamp in 1961."

"They issued Europa stamps with their own design until 1968. Only in 1969 they started to use the same common design."

Russia - [Россия]

Russia - [Россия]

Capital: Moscow
Languages: Russian official throughout the country; twenty-seven others co-official in various regions
Population: 142,008,838
Currency: Ruble - RUB
Internet code: .ru
Status: Federal semi-presidential republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia


Почта России



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1995-2006, 2008->

Official site: http://www.rusmarka.ru
info: office@marka-art.ru

"Russia issued their first Europa stamp in 1995. The three Baltic States and Moldova issues Europa stamps before them."

"Russia didn't take part at the 2007 issue with the "100 years Scouting" theme."

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.

Europa stamps Printers

Europe

Did you ever ask yourself where your stamps were printed ?

We all saw in the under edge of each stamps the issue year or the name of the artist who designed the stamp but sometimes also the name of the printing house : Courvoisier - La Loupe - Joh. Enschedé - Matzoukis - the House of Questa - Printex - etc.

But do you know in which country they are ?

Some postal authorities have their own printing house : Belgium, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, etc. But most of the others must print their stamps with the help of privat printers and they are not always located in the same country !

For example the 2009 Europa stamps of Greenland, Guernsey and Norway are printed by Joh. Esnschedé in the Netherlands and the ones of Switzrland and Liechtenstein by the State printer of Austria. Azerbaijan stamps are printed in France by Cartor so did Portugal and Jersey.

But some Europa stamps aren't even printed in Europe ! So the Faroe Islands and the Isle of Man decided to let their Europa stamps being printed in Canada by the Lowe Martin Group and Slovenia have their Europa stamps being printed in ... Bahrain ! We are in the middle of globalization and liberalized markets !

Romania - [România]

Romania - [România]

Capital: Bucharest
Languages: Romanian
Population: 21,504,442
Currency: Leu - RON
Internet code: .ro
Status: Unitary semi-presidential republic

more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania


Poşta Română



PostEurop member: yes
UPU member: yes
Sepac member: no
Norden member: no

Europa stamps: since 1991->

Official site: http://www.romfilatelia.ro
info: office@romfilatelia.ro

"As many other former communist countries, Romania issued their first Europa stamps in 1991. Since then they issue two stamps each year and many souvenir sheets."

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.

Gibraltar - Sepac 2009

Gibraltar - Sepac

Date of Issue: 2nd November 2009

one stamp (0.44 GBP) out of a set of five stamps (only this stamp is bearing the official Sepac logo) and one souvenir-sheet