Europa postage stamp

Europa stamps have been issued annually since 1956. First sets representing the founding 6 members of the ECSC, European Coal and Steel Community, then by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) in 1959, (first stamps issued in 1960) and by PostEurop since 1993. Initially in 1956 a total of 13 stamps were issued with a common design from 6 different countries. A common theme of Peace and Welfare through agriculture and industry was used for 1957. The common design reappeared in 1958 and continued until 1973. From 1974 the designs reflect a common theme. The common design idea replaced the common theme in 1984, which was the CEPT 25th Anniversary (1959–84) and shows a symbolic bridge, said to represent Liaison, Exchange and Communication. With the split of posts and telecoms providers in most countries, CEPT is no longer responsible, but the postal authorities under the guidance of PostEurop continue the Europa tradition. From 1993 all the stamps have "Europa" inserted into the design in small print. For the new millennium in 2000, the common design once more replaced the common theme. The stamp design for 2000 clearly shows a column of 6 stars representing the original 6 members of the ECSC. 4 Children,(of different heritage) represent Europe's future and are adding to the Vertical Star Column with the background depicting the GREEN letter E meaning a fertile Europe. CEPT is from the French acronym Conférence Européenne des administrations des Postes et des Télécommunications.

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  Faeroese Europa stamp 1979 with the CEPT logo

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  Faeroese Europa stamp 1996 with the EUROPA logo

Common design issues (With the exception of 1957)

Year	Countries	Topic
1956	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands	A tower in the form of the 6 letters of the word Europa. Designed by Frenchman Daniel Gonzague. [1]
1957	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Saarland, Switzerland	A common theme of Peace and Welfare through Agriculture and Industry. [2]
1958	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Saarland, Turkey	A dove flying above the letter E of Europe. Symbolising the co-operation of the European Postal Services as a vehicle of realizing a United Europe. Designed by Dutchman Andre Van der Vossen [3]
1959	Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland	A interlocking keychain made of 4 circles and 4 squares alternating. Designed by Germany's Walter Brudi. [4]
1960	Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey	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 Finnish artist Pentti Rahikainen. [5]
1961	Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Stylised dove made up of 19 individual doves. 1 for each 1961 member of CEPT. Designed by Dutch Artist Theo Kurpershoek.[6]
1962	Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	A stylised tree with 19 leaves. 1 leaf for each 1962 member of CEPT. Designer was Lex Weyer from Luxembourg.[7]
1963	Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	A stylised cross design composed of 4 3-sided U shapes with CEPT inlaid. Designed by Arne Holm of Norway. [8]
1964	Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Flower with 22 petals. 1 petal for each 1964 member. Designed by Georges Betemps of France. [9]
1965	Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Tree sprig. Designed by Hoerder Karlsson from Iceland. Three leaves said to represent Posts,Telegraphs and Telephones. [10]
1966	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Symbolic Ship. Representing CEPT steady progress on a Calm Sea. Designed by German brothers Josef and Gregor Bender. [11]
1967	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Cogwheels.CEPT Wheel has 22 teeth, one tooth for each 1967 members of CEPT. Belgian Designer was Oscar Bonnevalle. [12]
1968	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Key with CEPT in handle, said to be opening the door to a United Europe. Designer was Swiss Painter Hans Schwarzenbach. [13]
1969	Andorra Fr., Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Vatican	'EUROPA' & 'CEPT' inset on 2 sides of an architectural type Colonnade. Designed by Italians Luigi Gashara & Giorgio Belli. [14]
1970	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Sun composed of 24 interwoven fibres. 1 for each 1970 CEPT member. Designed by Irish Artist Louis Le Brocquy.[15]
1971	Andorra Fr., Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Chain of Os with CEPT in the links. Icelandic Designer was Helgi Haflidason. [16]
1972	Andorra (Fr. & Sp.), Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Designed by Finnish Artist Paavo Huovinen. [17]
1973	Andorra (Fr. & Sp.), Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jugoslavia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey	Stylised Post horn. Design of 3 Arrows represent Posts,Telegraphs & Telephones.Norwegian Designer was Leif Frimann Anisdahl. [18]

Common theme issues of CEPT (With the Exception of 1984)

Year	Participating Countries	Topic
1974	23	Sculptures [19]
1975	24	Paintings [20]
1976	27	Handicrafts [21]
1977	28	Landscapes [22]
1978	30	Monuments [23]
1979	31	Post & Telecommunications [24]
1980	32	Famous People [25]
1981	32	Folklore [26]
1982	35	Historic Events [27]
1983	35	Inventions [28]
1984	35	Common Design. 25th Anniversary of CEPT [29]
1985	35	European Music Year [30]
1986	35	Nature conservation [31]
1987	35	Modern architecture [32]
1988	35	Transportation and communications [33]
1989	35	Children's games [34]
1990	37	Post offices [35]
1991	41	European aerospace [36]
1992	42	Voyages of discovery in America [37]

Common theme issues of PostEurop.(With the Exception of 2000).

Year	Participating Countries	Topic
1993	46	Contemporary art [38]
1994	49	Great discoveries [39]
1995	49	Peace and freedom [40]
1996	52	Famous women [41]
1997	54	Tales and legends [42]
1998	57	Festivals and National Celebrations [43]
1999	57	Nature reserves and parks [44]
2000	56	Common Design. Tower of 6 stars [45]
2001	57	Water, treasure of nature [46]
2002	58	The Circus [47]
2003	58	Poster art
2004	59	Holidays
2005	59	Gastronomy
2006		Integration through the eyes of Young People
2007		Scout Centenary
2008		Writing Letters
2009		Astronomy
2010		Children Books
2011		Forests - International year of forests
2012		Visit... (for instance "Visit Finland" or "Visit Spain" etc.)
2013		Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary)
2014		Musical instruments - national musical instruments

Sources

• Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues
• Encyclopaedia of Postal History
• Stuart Rossiter & John Flower: The Stamp Atlas

External links

• CEPT. Conference of European Postal & Telecommunications
• PostEurop Web site
• Images of most Europa issued stamps
• SelloSpain.com: Spanish Europa issued stamps
• Europa stamps news and information blog
• Philatelism.com: Europa stamps of Cyprus