The Europa postage stamp (also known as EuropaCEPT until 1992) is an annual joint issue of stamps with a common design or theme by postal administrations of member countries of the European Communities (1956–1959), the

European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations The European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) was established on 26 June 1959 by nineteen European states in Montreux, Switzerland, as a coordinating body for European state telecommunications and postal orga ...

(CEPT) from 1960 to 1992, and the PostEurop Association since 1993. Europe is the central theme. EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of

philately Philately (; ) is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection and appreciation of stamps and other philatelic products. While closely associated with stamp collecting and the study of postage, it is possibl ...

. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals. As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world. Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and cooperation.

History

From 1956 to 1993

The first Europa issue was on 15 September 1956. The postal administrations of the founding six members of the

European Coal and Steel Community The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was a European organization created after World War II to integrate Europe's coal and steel industries into a single common market based on the principle of supranationalism which would be governe ...

(ECSC) issued stamps with a common design: a tower made up of the letters of the word "EUROPA" and surrounded by construction scaffolding. In 1959, the

(CEPT) was formed, and from 1960 the initials "CEPT" were displayed on the joint issue stamps. The stamps had a common design from 1956 to 1973, (with the exception of 1957). However, many countries issued a stamp that did not feature the common pattern but just displayed the word "EUROPA". From 1974, the common design was replaced by stamps with different designs, but with a common theme. The success of Europa issues among collectors prompted many postal administrations of small countries or territories dependent of European countries (the Channel Islands for instance) to join the issuing countries in the 70s.

Andorra Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, is a Sovereignty, sovereign landlocked country on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees in Southwestern Europe, Andorra–France border, bordered by France to the north and Spain to A ...

has issued Europa Stamps since 1966 (French) and 1972 (Spain). Andorra cannot Join PostEurop as its Postal System is looked after independently by both France and Spain. The

Isle of Man The Isle of Man ( , also ), or Mann ( ), is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland. As head of state, Charles III holds the title Lord of Mann and is represented by a Lieutenant Govern ...

and

Guernsey Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...

Crown dependencies The Crown Dependencies are three dependent territory, offshore island territories in the British Islands that are self-governing possessions of the The Crown, British Crown: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Jersey, Bailiwick of Jersey, both lo ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, first issued Europa stamps in 1976, with

Jersey Jersey ( ; ), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is an autonomous and self-governing island territory of the British Islands. Although as a British Crown Dependency it is not a sovereign state, it has its own distinguishing civil and gov ...

following in 1978. The number of participants reached 35 in the 80s. Turkey participated continuously since 1960, and Yugoslavia from 1969. The collapse of the communist bloc in 1989–90 brought new issuers, reaching 57 countries in the late 90s.

Since 1993

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop, i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning to the right. Although in 2006 the member countries of PostEurop chose the theme of "Integration as seen by young people" instead of a theme related to the 50th anniversary of Europa issues, several countries issued stamps showing the first common designs of the years 1950–1970. An anniversary logo (the number 50 in the middle of a star with 5 branches) is also featured on these stamps. Several non-European countries and non-PostEurop Members have issued stamps in connection with this anniversary. In Europe, some countries, including Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Armenia, Moldova, Gibraltar, Cyprus, etc. also participated in these issues. Many counterfeit illegal stamps in the name of many countries, regions, territories and republics have been produced since 2000 as well. In order to promote Europa issues among philatelists, PostEurop created in 2002 an annual competition of the “Best Europa stamp”. Until 2006, only representatives of the various postal administrations were entitled to elect the best Europa stamp during the Plenary Assembly of PostEurop, but since 2007, the winner is elected through an open and public voting procedure on the PostEurop website. From January 2011, the new EUROPA logo, preceded by a symbolic reminder of the mailbox, applies, and a Jury Prize Competition is designed by seven philatelic experts.

Common designs

File:DBP 1956 241 Europa 10Pf.jpg, 1956: A tower in the form of the 6 letters of the word Europa. Designed by Daniel Gonzague of France. File:Nederlands Europa zegel 1958, Bestanddeelnr 909-4178.jpg, 1958: A dove flying above the letter E of Europe. Designed by Andre Van der Vossen of the Netherlands. File:DBP 1959 321 Europa 40Pf.jpg, 1959: An interlocking keychain made of 4 circles and 4 squares alternating. Designed by Germany's Walter Brudi. File:DBP 1960 337 Europa 10Pf.jpg, 1960: The letter O of the word Europa is a Roman mail-coach wheel with 19 spokes, 1 for each 1960 member of CEPT. Design by Pentti Rahikainen of Finland. File:DBP 1961 368 Europa.jpg, 1961: Stylised dove made up of 19 individual doves. 1 for each 1961 member of CEPT. Designed by Theo Kurpershoek of the Netherlands. File:Europa 1962 Cyprus 03.jpg, 1962: A stylised tree with 19 leaves, one for each 1962 member of CEPT. Designer was Lex Weyer from Luxembourg. File:DBP 1963 406 Europa 15Pf.jpg, 1963: A stylised cross design composed of 4 3-sided U shapes with CEPT inlaid. Designed by Arne E. Holm of Norway. File:Europazegels ontwerp van George Botemps, Bestanddeelnr 916-7763.jpg, 1964: Flower with 22 petals. 1 petal for each 1964 member. Designed by Georges Betemps of France. File:DBP 1965 484 Europa.jpg, 1965: Tree sprig. Three leaves said to represent posts, telegraphs and telephones. Designed by Hoerder Karlsson from Iceland. File:DBP 1967 534 Europa.jpg, 1967: Cogwheels. CEPT Wheel has 22 teeth, one tooth for each 1967 members of CEPT. Designer was Oscar Bonnevalle of Belgium. File:DBP 1968 559 Europa.jpg, 1968: Key with CEPT in handle, said to be opening the door to a United Europe. Designer was Swiss Hans Schwarzenbach. File:Europa 1969 Yugoslavia 02.jpg, 1969: EUROPA & CEPT inset on 2 sides of an architectural type colonnade. Designed by Italians Luigi Gasbara & Giorgio Belli. File:Europa 1971 Finland.jpg, 1971: Chain of O with CEPT in the links. Designer was Helgi Haflidason of Iceland. File:DBP 1972 716 Europa.jpg, 1972: ''Aurora borealis'' designed by Finnish artist Paavo Huovinen. File:Europa 1973 Finland.jpg, 1973: Stylised

post horn The post horn is a valveless cylindrical brass instrument with a cupped mouthpiece. The instrument was used to signal the arrival or departure of a post rider or mail coach. It was used by postilions of the 18th and 19th centuries. Use and co ...

. Design of 3 Arrows represent posts, telegraphs & telephones. Designer was Leif Frimann Anisdahl of Norway. File:LIE 1984 MiNr0838 mt B002a.jpg, 1984: Bridge designed by the French engraver Jacky Larrivière. 25th Anniversary of CEPT. File:Europa 2000 Latvia.jpg, 2000: Tower of 6 Stars File:Stamp of Ukraine s1495.jpg, 2016:' "Think Green" design by Doxia Sergidou of Cyprus File:Stamp of Ukraine s2042.jpg, 2023: “The New Peace Symbol”. Designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A DESIGNERS' COLLECTIVE.

Common theme issues

Faroe stamp 226 Discovery of America - Kristoffur Kolumbus

The list includes the jury and online competition winners since 2002 when the EUROPA stamp competition started. RUSMARKA-1910

References

Sources

AskPhil – Glossary of Stamp Collecting Terms

External links

CEPT. Conference of European Postal & Telecommunications

SelloSpain.com: Spanish Europa issued stamps
(archived)
Europa stamps news and information blog

Philatelism.com: Europa stamps of Cyprus
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831131144/http://www.philatelism.com/searched.php?lstCountry=CY&txtTitle=Europa , date=2010-08-31 Postage stamps 1956 introductions