Best Europa stamps – the collector’s choice 2021 - Group 2

Europe

Best EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021

Results of GROUP 2:

1. Faroe Is. 14.8 % of the votes

2. Norway 9.9 %

3. Estonia 8.8 %

4. Åland 8.5 %

Those top 4 countries go to the Big Final.

5. Hungary 7.4 %

6. Belarus 7 %

7. Finland 6.4 %

8. Azores 6 %

9. Switzerland 5.7 %

= Andorra (Spanish post) 5.7 %

11. Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.3 %

12. Germany 3.9 %

13. Greece 3.5 %

= Armenia 3.5 %

15. Ireland 2.8 %

16. Cyprus 1.8 %

Best Europa stamps – the collector’s choice 2021 - Group 1

Europe

Best EUROPA Stamps - The Collector's Choice 2021

Results of GROUP 1:

1. Poland 16.1 % of the votes

2. Jersey 11.4 %

3. Czech rep. 9.6 %

4. Russia 7.4 %

Those top 4 countries go to the Big Final.

5. Artsakh (Armenian post) 7.1 %

6. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat post) 6.8 %

7. Romania 5.6 %

8. Sweden 5.3 %

9. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serb post) 4.9 %

= San Marino 4.9 %

11. Liechtenstein 4.6 %

= Gibraltar 4.6 %

13. Latvia 4 %

14. Lithuania 3.7 %

15. Isle of Man 2.8 %

16. Guernsey 1.2%

Belgium 2022

Belgium

Date of Issue: 13th June 2022

one souvenir-sheet of two stamps (2x Europe 3rd class value)

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 2021

Kazakhstan

Date of Issue: 29th November 2021

one souvenir-sheet of 2 stamp (2x 800.- KZT)

Italy 2021

Italy

Date of Issue: 15th November 2021

two stamps (B & B50g values = 1.10 & 2.60 €) - NOTE both stamps are self-adhesive

 

 

Åland - Sepac 2022

Åland - Sepac

Date of Issue: 6th September 2022

one stamp (1.90 €)

Åland 2022

Åland

Date of Issue: 9th May 2022

one stamp (2.30 €)

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