Monaco - Sepac
Date of Issue: 9th July 2025
one stamp (2.78 €)
this stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of 10 stamps
europa, cept, norden and sepac stamps information blog
Thursday, May 22
Liechtenstein - Sepac 2025
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 2025
Greenland - Sepac
Date of Issue: 26th May 2025
one stamp (28.- DKK)
This stamp is issued in a mini-sheet of 10 stamps
Wednesday, May 21
Faroe Islands 2025
Faroe Islands
Date of Issue: 26th May 2025
two stamps (25.- & 35. DKK)
those stamps are also issued in a booklet of 6 stamps (3 of each) - NOTE the stamps from the booklet are self-adhesive
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.
Greenland 2025
Greenland
Date of Issue: 26th May 2025
two stamps (25.- & 28.- DKK)
both stamps are also issued in a booklet of 12 self-adhesive stamps (6x each stamp)
both stamps are also issued in mini-sheets of 10 stamps
stamp 1 - Qilakitsoq is an abandoned Inuit settlement on the Nuussuaq Peninsula on the West coast of Greenland, about 450 km north of the Arctic Circle. The settlement is renowned for the discovery of eight mummified bodies from the Thule culture in 1972. The discovery was made by two local reindeer hunters, Hans and Jokum Grønvold. In two graves were the mummies of six women and two boys. They comprise three generations with close familial links across the graves. Although the causes of death are unknown, they probably died at the same time in the Autumn shortly after arriving at the Winter settlement. They were wrapped in animal skins and fully clothed. They were equipped for a long journey to the underworld, carefully prepared according to ancient, traditional rites. They had extra skins and clothing to afford them a safe journey and a good life in the realm of the dead. The five oldest women have almost identical facial tattoos that can express both kinship and social status. The youngest woman of about 20 years is not tattooed. Perhaps she was either unmarried or childless. Tattoos have been in common use among Inuit women for thousands of years. There were amulets on and among their clothing. The Inuit probably employed these amulets to muster strength and protection from evil spirits. The mummies from Qilakitsoq have since afforded valuable insights into the life of the Inuit who lived in the area some 500 years ago. The stamp reproduces the most recognisable and most iconic of the eight mummies. It is presumed to be a small boy of about six months. While the gender is based on the clothing, the age has been ascertained from the development of teeth and bones through radiographic examination.
stamp 2 - The Kingittorsuaq rune stone was found in 1824 by a man called Pelimut. The discovery was made on top of the mountain on the small island of Kingittorsuaq about 20 km north of Upernavik. At the highest point of the island, he saw three collapsed cairns placed in a triangle formation. Near the largest of the cairns, he spotted a stone with several markings that he did not recognise. The stone, which is known as the Kingittorsuaq Runestone, bears medieval rune inscriptions. It is conclusive evidence that Norsemen in Greenland on their fishing trips along the West coast of Greenland reached as far North as North of the present-day town of Upernavik. The stone, which currently resides in the National Museum in Copenhagen, has been dated to the Middle Ages between 1250 to 1333 AD. The last part of the runic script remains undecipherable as it appears to be a group of meaningless characters. However, the first part of the writing on the runestone translated from Old Norse reads: “Erling, son of Sigvath and Baarne Thordar’s son and Enriði Á’s son, on Saturday before Rogation Day raised this stone and rode...”
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