Åland - Norden 2012

Åland - Norden

Date of Issue: 21th March 2012

1 stamp (världen value) issued in one souvenir sheet

Finland 2012

Finland

Date of Issue: 7th May 2012

two stamps (2x 2nd class value) - NOTE both stamps are self-adhesive


both stamps are issued in a mini-sheet of 10 stamps (five of each)

Jersey 2012

Jersey

Date of Issue: 10th January 2012

two stamps (0.49 & 0.59 GBP) out of a set of four stamps (only those two stamps are bearing the official Europa logo).


Both stamps are issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps

Switzerland 1979 - focus

Switzerland

30th April 1979 - "Postal history"
design: Klaus Oberli
engraving: Max Müller
printer: Wertzeichendruckerei PTT - Bern
FDC (picture on Zasa-stamp blog)

The first Swiss stamp was issued in 1850, but before that stamps were issued in Switzerland by Cantons. Zurich was the first canton to issue post stamps in 1843 followed by Geneva. But the most famous Swiss stamp ever is the cantonal stamp issued by Basel in 1845: the "Basel Dove". This stamp was really modern for that time, was multi-colored and the dove was white embossed on a red field. Until today it is considered as "one of the most beautiful stamps ever produced" !


In the city of Basel where this stamp come from, the local post asked the architect Melchior Berri to design a mailboxes inspired by the Basel Dove stamp. One of the two 1979 Europa stamps issued by Switzerland is reproducing one of those famouse mailboxes. Today in Basel they are still six of those mailboxes remaining of 1845 and still in use ! Go to Basel and try to find them !

source of the images : http://www.ibolli.it/indexes/cept/index.php & http://www.basel-virtuell.ch

Finland - Norden 2012

Finland - Norden

Date of Issue: 21st March 2012

2 stamps (2x 1 Klass value) issued in one souvenir sheet

Best Europa stamp 2011 - Public prize

Turkey

Turkey is the winner of this year's Best Europa stamp contest organised by PostEurop. The winner of the last three editions, Hungary finished second and Portugal third.

[UPDATE] number of votes:

1. TURKEY 1288
2. HUNGARY 791
3. PORTUGAL 385

this 0.90 TRY stamp is part of a two stamps set designed by Bülent Ates.

Turkey receiving the Public prize during PostEurop's plenary assembly in Istanbul



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 this year's Plenary Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey on the 12th October.

The stamp has been selected via the internet ! All people could vote through PostEurop's website ! This year's Best Europa Stamp competition reached a new record high of 5,576 number of public votes registered from all over the world, a sharp increase of 300% from last year's total number of votes due to the growing public interest and popularity.

A jury of 7 members (stamp designers, philatelic design directors) awarded earlier this year, the first Best Europa stamp - Jury prize to Cyprus ! This award don't replace the Best Europa stamp prize selected by the internet voting but is a second prize starting from this year.

Postcrossing.com wrote about the contest on their blog, asking their members which stamp the voted for.

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

Best Europa stamp 2011 - Jury prize

Cyprus


This Saturday was awarded the 1st Best Europa stamp - Jury prize ! This prize won't replace the Best Europa stamp awarded after an online voting but will be a more neutral and artistic prize.

A jury of seven members of the postal, philatelic, stamp design world elected the best 2011 Europa stamp (here some pictures of the jury in action !)


The first stamp to win this new award is the 0.68 € stamp issued by Cyprus and designed by Stelios Karamallakis


From a graphic point of view, this stamp can be read on different levels. The first impression is it's "greenness", the brightness of it's colours and the fact that it directly refers to this year's them and give a great positive impact on a letter. The second level is the forest depicted on the stamp, the deepness the graphic effect gives. Trees are coming out of the edge of the design giving a growing effect. You can also consider the name of the country in three languages being roots. The third level are the details you get by having a closer look to the stamp. You can see many different animals living in this forest and especially the Cyprus mouflon which is a typical animal from that country. The animals and the trees are designed as a shadow play and remains on pop-up effects of children books which give an extra 3D design to this stamp.

Official statement on Cyprus post website (in greek)

Cyprus receiving the Jury prize during PostEurop's plenary assembly in Istanbul