# Europa postage stamp

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.
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.
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 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.

### 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.
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

* 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
* 2023: “The New Peace Symbol”. Designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A DESIGNERS' COLLECTIVE.

## Common theme issues

The list includes the jury and online competition winners since 2002 when the EUROPA stamp competition started.
| Year | Number of countries | New countries (post administrations) | Number of different stamps | Topic | Competition winners |
| 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 (unofficially) | 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 | | | | Visit... (for instance "Visit Russia", "Visit Hungary" etc.) | Magyar Posta (online) |
| 2013 | | | | Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary) | Itella Posti (jury) |
| 2013 | | | | Postal vehicles (celebrating PostEurop's 20th anniversary) | Turkish PTT (online) |
| 2014 | | | | National music instruments | bpost (jury) |
| 2014 | | | | National music instruments | Pošta Srbije (online) |
| 2015 | | | | Old toys | Russian Post (jury) |
| 2015 | | | | Old toys | Turkish PTT (online) |
| 2016 | | | | Ecology in Europe – "Think Green" | Cyprus Post |
| 2017 | | | | Castles | Posti Group (jury) |
| 2017 | | | | Castles | Turkish PTT (online) |
| 2018 | | | | Bridges | bpost (jury) |
| 2018 | | | | Bridges | Turkish PTT (online) |
| 2019 | | | | Birds | Pošta Slovenije (jury) |
| 2019 | | | | Birds | HayPost (online) |
| 2020 | | | | Ancient postal routes | Poczta Polska (jury) |
| 2020 | | | | Ancient postal routes | Turkish PTT (online) |
| 2021 | | | | Endangered wildlife | Poczta Polska |
| 2022 | | | | Stories and myths | POST Luxembourg |
| 2023 | | | | PEACE – The highest value of humanity | POST Luxembourg |
| 2024 | | | | Underwater fauna and flora | |
| 2025 | | | | Archaeological discoveries | |
| 2026 | | | | Common design: 70th anniversary of EUROPA stamp | |
| 2027 | | | | Street art | |