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The Europa postage stamp (also known as Europa – CEPT 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 (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. 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 (ECSC) issued stamps with a common design: a tower made up of the letters of the word "EUROPA" and surrounded by construction scaffolding.^{[citation needed]}

In 1959, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} Andorra 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 and Guernsey, Crown dependencies of the United Kingdom, first issued Europa stamps in 1976, with Jersey 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.^{[citation needed]}

Since 1993

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues.^{[citation needed]} 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,^[1] Moldova, Gibraltar, Cyprus, etc. also participated in these issues.

In order to promote Europa issues among philatelists, PostEurop created in 2002 an annual competition of the “Best Europa stamp”.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Common designs

1956: A tower in the form of the 6 letters of the word Europa. Designed by Daniel Gonzague of France.
1958: A dove flying above the letter E of Europe. Designed by Andre Van der Vossen of the Netherlands.
1959: An interlocking keychain made of 4 circles and 4 squares alternating. Designed by Germany's Walter Brudi.
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.
1961: Stylised dove made up of 19 individual doves. 1 for each 1961 member of CEPT. Designed by Theo Kurpershoek of the Netherlands.
1962: A stylised tree with 19 leaves, one for each 1962 member of CEPT. Designer was Lex Weyer from Luxembourg.
1963: A stylised cross design composed of 4 3-sided U shapes with CEPT inlaid. Designed by Arne E. Holm of Norway.
1964: Flower with 22 petals. 1 petal for each 1964 member. Designed by Georges Betemps of France.
1965: Tree sprig. Three leaves said to represent posts, telegraphs and telephones. Designed by Hoerder Karlsson from Iceland.
1967: Cogwheels. CEPT Wheel has 22 teeth, one tooth for each 1967 members of CEPT. Designer was Oscar Bonnevalle of Belgium.
1968: Key with CEPT in handle, said to be opening the door to a United Europe. Designer was Swiss Hans Schwarzenbach.
1969: EUROPA & CEPT inset on 2 sides of an architectural type colonnade. Designed by Italians Luigi Gasbara & Giorgio Belli.
1971: Chain of O with CEPT in the links. Designer was Helgi Haflidason of Iceland.
1972: Aurora borealis designed by Finnish artist Paavo Huovinen.
1973: Stylised post horn. Design of 3 Arrows represent posts, telegraphs & telephones. Designer was Leif Frimann Anisdahl of Norway.
1984: Bridge designed by the French engraver Jacky Larrivière. 25th Anniversary of CEPT.
2000: Tower of 6 Stars
2016:' "Think Green" design by Doxia Sergidou of Cyprus^[2]
2023: “The New Peace Symbol”. Designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A DESIGNERS' COLLECTIVE.^[3]

Common theme issues

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

2015 competition-winning Russian stamp, with the current EUROPA logo

Year	Number of countries	New countries (post administrations)	Number of different stamps	Topic	Competition winners	ref
1956	6	Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands	13	common design
1957	8	Switzerland, Saarland	17	Peace and Welfare through Agriculture and Industry
1958	8	Turkey	17	common design
1959	8	Austria	15	common design
1960	20	Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden	36	common design
1961	19	Cyprus, San Marino	34	common design
1962		Monaco		common design
1963		-		common design
1964	19	-	36	common design
1965	19	-	36	common design
1966	19	Andorra (French post)	37	common design
1967	19	-	37	common design
1968	18	-	35	common design
1969	26	Vatican, Yugoslavia	48	common design
1970	19	-	42	common design
1971	21	Malta	44	common design
1972	22	Andorra (Spanish post)	46	common design
1973	24	-	50	common design
1974	23	-	49	Sculptures
1975	24	Northern Cyprus (unofficialy)	50	Paintings
1976	27	Guernsey, Isle of Man	58	Handicrafts
1977	28	-	56	Landscapes
1978	30	Jersey	65	Monuments
1979	31	Faroe islands, Gibraltar	68	Postal history
1980	32	-	67	Famous People
1981	35	Azores, Madeira	69	Folklore and feasts
1982	35	-	70	Historic events
1983	35	-	71	Inventions
1984	35	-	67	common design (25th Anniversary of CEPT)
1985	35	-	73	European Music Year
1986	35	-	74	Nature conservation
1987	35	-	74	Modern architecture
1988	35	-	79	Transportation and communications
1989	35	-	80	Children's games
1990	37	-	78	Post office buildings
1991	41	Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania	83	European aerospace
1992	42	Albania, Croatia	90	500 years of the European discovery of America
1993	45	Lithuania, Moldova, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belarus (unofficially), Croat post of Bosnia and Herzegovina (unofficially)	92	Contemporary art	—
1994	48	Åland, Greenland, Estonia, Latvia	85	Great discoveries
1995	48	Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina	90	Peace and freedom
1996	52	Macedonia	89	Famous European women
1997	54	Armenia, Ukraine, Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina (unofficially)	96	Tales and legends
1998	56	Azerbaijan, Georgia, Belarus	94	Festivals and national celebrations
1999	56	-	100	Nature reserves and parks
2000	55	-	68	Common design: Tower of 6 Stars (not all followed the common design)
2001	56	-	92	Water, a treasure of nature
2002	58	-	93	The circus	MaltaPost
2003	57	Yugoslavia becomes Serbia-Montenegro	96	Poster art	La Poste Monaco
2004	57	-	96	Holidays	Post Greenland
2005	60	Croat post of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serb post of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Montenegro	103	Gastronomy	Íslandspóstur
2006	60	UNMIK Kosovo	105	Integration as seen by young people	Ukrposhta
2007	62	-	111	100 Years of Scoutism	HayPost (jury)
2008	63	Nagorno Karabakh	107	Writing letters	Magyar Posta
2009	63	-	112	Astronomy (International Year of Astronomy)	Magyar Posta
2010				Children Books	Magyar Posta
2011				Forest (International Year of Forests)	Cyprus Post (jury)
2011				Forest (International Year of Forests)	Turkish PTT (online)
2012				Visit... (for instance "Visit Russia", "Visit Hungary" etc.)	Russian Post (jury)
2012					Magyar Posta (online)
2013				Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary)	Itella Posti (jury)	^[4]
2013				Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary)	Turkish PTT (online)	^[5]
2014				National music instruments	bpost (jury)	^[6]
2014				National music instruments	Pošta Srbije (online)	^[6]
2015				Old toys	Russian Post (jury)	^[7]
2015				Old toys	Turkish PTT (online)	^[7]
2016				Ecology in Europe – "Think Green"	Cyprus Post	^[2]
2017				Castles^[8]	Posti Group (jury)	^[9]
2017				Castles^[8]	Turkish PTT (online)	^[9]
2018				Bridges^[8]	bpost (jury)	^[10]
2018				Bridges^[8]	Turkish PTT (online)	^[10]
2019				Birds^[8]	Pošta Slovenije (jury)	^[11]
2019				Birds^[8]	HayPost (online)	^[11]
2020				Ancient postal routes^[8]	Poczta Polska (jury)	^[12]
2020				Ancient postal routes^[8]	Turkish PTT (online)	^[13]
2021				Endangered wildlife	Poczta Polska	^[14]
2022				Stories and myths^[15]	POST Luxembourg	^[3]
2023				PEACE – The highest value of humanity^[15]	POST Luxembourg	^[3]
2024				Underwater fauna and flora^[15]
2025				Archaeological discoveries^[15]
2026				Common design: 70th anniversary of EUROPA stamp
2027				Street art