NOTE: The introduction to this article appeared in a slightly different form on my personal website, on 26 October 2022. This article will — eventually — include details of ALL of the 2023 Europa stamp issues with navigation buttons to each nation or territory (both official and unofficial).
The Europa postage stamp 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 promote philately through building 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.
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.
From 1974, the common design was replaced by stamps with different designs, but with a common theme. 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, the word “EUROPA” leaning to the right.
In order to promote Europa issues among philatelists, in 2002 PostEurop created an annual competition to select “Best Europa stamp”. Until 2006, only representatives of the various postal administrations were allowed to participate in the voting during the Plenary Assembly of PostEurop, but since 2007 the winner has been elected through an open and public voting procedure on the PostEurop website. In January 2011, a new Europa logo, preceded by a symbolic reminder of the mailbox was introduced and a Jury Prize Competition was designed by seven philatelic experts.
Each year, PostEurop’s Stamps & Philately Working Group selects the EUROPA stamp theme. “Endangered National Wildlife” was the 2021 theme and this year, 2022, has seen stamps portray the theme of “Stories and Myths”. “Underwater fauna and flora” was to have been the subject of Europa stamps in 2023 but, according to a PostEurop press release on 29 April 2022, the theme for the following year was changed to “Peace — the highest value of humanity” at the request of Ukraine’s postal administration.
The decision was made at the 25 April 2022 meeting of the PostEurop board of directors after Ukrposhta proposed a change “to show solidarity with Ukraine and to promote the universal value for all humanity — peace.” A contest was then held to select a common design to be used by all participating nations. Public online voting ran from 9 May until 9 September. There were 29 designs submitted in the competition with 44 postal administrations participating in the voting.
During their General Assembly meeting in Dublin, PostEurop announced the winning design on 5 October. The winning motif is the one submitted by Luxembourg : “The New Peace Symbol”, created by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A Designers’ Collective. According to PostEurop’s press release:
“The world needs a new Peace symbol, uniting all nations. Cultural differences perchance a barrier for a state of Peace. If only mankind could respect each other’s differences by understanding their significance and responding to them with consideration, the world would be a better place. This design shows a visual metaphor for a peacefully integrated, cooperative society in which people embrace each other’s culture. It was inspired by the Celtic Love Knot symbol, with interlocking hearts. The colour palette illustrates all the nations in the world. By adding hands with intertwined fingers, it conveys the message of mutual respect.
“The designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A DESIGNERS’ COLLECTIVE respond: ‘We are extremely honoured that our design has been selected to represent the visual of Peace in over 50 countries. We hope this symbol will be sent all over the globe and make people reflect on what is the highest value of humanity: Peace.’
“‘I would like to congratulate all Members on their beautiful entries of the 2022 EUROPA stamps. The theme revealed the treasures of European tradition and a new understanding of the common cultural heritage. We encourage all collectors and admirers of EUROPA stamps to explore the national written and imaginative references to the 2022 EUROPA stamps’ said Agnieszka Trząskowska, Chairwoman of the PostEurop Stamps & Philately Working Group.
“’All submitted entries for the 2023 EUROPA design motif competition presented various artistic interpretations of the issue theme, which, however, share a common understanding of the idea of peace among people. And this unity is the greatest success of the project’ continued Agnieszka.
PostEurop
As of this writing (on 2 April), one postal administration has already released their 2023 Europa stamps (Gibraltar on 30 March) and five have announced plans to release stamps in April. The bulk will be issued in May with 22 entities having announced their release dates as 9 May. The European Union celebrates Europe Day on this date which marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, considered to be the first official step in the creation of what is now the European Union. Amazingly, in October 2022 Belarus announced two Europa stamps were to be released sometime in May despite not being allowed to participate in the competition. These were removed from Белпошта/Belposhta‘s stamp issuing plan sometime in March 2023. Russia has been banned outright.
NOTE: The Åland section was first published on my personal website on 14 November 2022.
Åland Post announced the full details of its 2023 Stamp Programme including all of the stamp designs in early November 2022. Their Europa stamps were released on Europe Day, 9 May. The first stamp portrays the chosen common design, “The New Peace Symbol”, created by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A Designers’ Collective. The second stamp in this set features Åland’s entry in the competition, an image showing a sunrise over the Islands with a peace symbol. This is the first stamp design by Helsinki-based Sofia Pusa, an award-winning illustrator, graphic designer and motion graphics artist. In addition to having a BA in graphic design and illustration, she has a master’s degree in business and worked in strategic branding and communications.
Sofia is known for her nature-inspired illustrations, clever ideas and bold color use. She has produced a wide range of work for clients in several industries, including music festivals, lifestyle, advertising, technology and fashion and her work has received awards from national and international competitions such as ADC Awards (US), Applied Arts Design Awards (CA) and Best of the Year Design and Advertising Awards (FI) among others.
According to Åland Post’s press release,
Peace is the theme for the 2023 “Europa” stamp series. For this issue, PostEurop, the cooperation body for the European postal operators behind the series, chose to arrange a design motif competition among the postal services. Post Luxembourg and artists Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir won the competition. The design shows a new peace symbol, a metaphor for a peacefully integrated, cooperative society in which people embrace each other’s culture. On Europe Day, Åland Post also releases its own design proposal for the competition, created by stamp debuting illustrator Sofia Pusa. A sunrise above the Åland granite cliffs illustrates the peace sign.
For more about these stamps, including an interview with the designer, please see my article on Åland Post’s May stamps.
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | Two gummed stamps |
| Denomination: | 2 x Europa |
| Designers: | Linda Bos, Runa Egilsdottir & Sofia Pusa (artists); Johanna Finne (design) |
| Printer and Process: | Cartor Security Printers, Wolverhampton, England by 4-color offset lithography on 110 g/m² paper |
| Perforations: | 13 per 2 cm |
| Stamp Size: | 35mm x 35mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 2 x 15 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 45,000 each design |
Sheets of 30 Stamps (2 x 15 with Center Gutter)
First Day of Issue Postmark
First Day Cover
On 9 May, LaPoste of France and Correos of Spain — the two administrating postal administrations for Andorra — each issued separate Europa 2023 stamps for the principality. Each stamp utilizes the common design, “The New Peace Symbol”, created by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir albeit in different dimensions and denominations. The French administration stamp measures 40.85 x 30mm and be valued at €1.80, sold in sheets of 15, while the Spanish version measures 40 x 40mm with a denomination of €1.65 and printed in sheets of 25. Each is printed using offset lithography. Stéphanie Ghinéa is credited for the layout of the French stamp.
According to LaPoste,
Peace is the state in which a society enjoys justice, freedom and social equality, and is neither in a situation of violence nor war. From the point of view of international law, peace is a fundamental value, an instrument of international relations, a channel for rationalizing the political power of States, establishing as a fundamental legal principle the prohibition of the use of armed force. We can also speak of “social peace” in the case of understanding and good relations between groups, classes or social strata within a country. On an individual level, peace can refer to an inner state free from anger or hatred. In this sense, it can be found in the traditional greeting “peace be with you” (or shalom in Hebrew, salam in Arabic). Related to the concept of peace is pacifism, which is the attitude that wars can never solve problems better than negotiations.
The winning visual of the competition organised by PostEurop for the visual of the EUROPA 2023 stamp on the theme “PEACE – the highest value of humanity”, is that of POST Luxembourg, directed by Ms Linda Bos and Ms Runa Egilsdottir. This visual will illustrate all EUROPA 2023 stamps. The 2 artists explain their visual: “The world needs a new symbol of peace, uniting all nations. Cultural differences can be an obstacle to a state of peace. If only humanity could respect each other’s differences by understanding their meaning and responding to them with consideration, the world would be a better place. This conception shows a visual metaphor for a peacefully integrated and cooperative society in which people embrace each other’s culture. It was inspired by the Celtic Love Knot symbol, with interlocking hearts. The color palette illustrates all the nations of the world. By adding hands to intertwined fingers, it conveys the message of mutual respect. According to PostEurop’s opinion, the motif is a successful attempt to create a new sign representing peace based on the centuries-old European visual pattern of a knot, a symbol of infinite unity, friendship and love. This universal sign is also a perfect philatelic representation in relation to the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of PostEurop in 2023.
LaPoste
French Administration
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | €1.80 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir (Europa); Stéphanie Ghinéa (layout) |
| Printer and Process: | Philaposte, Boulazac, Dordogne, France by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40.85mm x 30mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 15 stamps (143mm x 185mm) |
Sheet of 15 Stamps
Spanish Administration
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | €1.65 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir |
| Printer and Process: | Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre, Madrid, Spain by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 40mm |
| Sheet Size: | 25 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 55,000 |
The Republic of Artsakh has been issuing its own stamps since 1993. Also known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, prior to April 2017 its stamps were inscribed “Republic of Mountainous Karabakh”. The breakaway state in the South Caucasus is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and controls a part of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, including the capital of Stepanakert. Predominately Armenian, its only overland access route to Armenia is via the 5 km (3.1 mi) wide Lachin corridor which is under the control of Russian peacekeepers.
Artsakh has issued Europa stamps since 2008 despite not being a member of PostEurop. Due to the unofficial status of their releases (and the illegal usage of the Europa logo), the stamps of Artsakh are not eligible to vote upon during the annual design contests. These stamps are listed in the German-published Michel stamp catalogues and many collectors add them to their Europa stamp collections.
Two stamps will be released by Artsakh on 25 May portraying the 2023 theme of “Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity”, both denominated at 500 Armenian drams (֏) in sheets of 10 stamps — one sheet of each design and one combination sheet bearing five copies of each design.
Österreichische Post AG of Austria issued a single Europa 2023 stamp on 5 May bearing the denomination of 120 euro cents. Marion Füllerer is credited as an additional designer after Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir, responsible for the typography and layout of the issue.
Austria Post’s promotional material states,
“Peace – the highest value of humanity” is the motto of this year’s EUROPA stamp – a theme that this year is more topical than ever.
Since 1956, EUROPA stamps have been issued with a common motif or Europe-related theme. For 30 years, PostEurop has been the responsible organisation for issuing these stamps. In a design competition in which ideas from many countries were submitted, the design now executed by Post Luxembourg was chosen as the winner.
The design is by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir (A Designersʼ Collective), who see it as a new peace sign uniting all nations, a metaphor for a cooperative society in which people appreciate each other’s culture. It is inspired by the “Celtic Love Knot” of two intertwined hearts, the intertwined fingers symbolising mutual respect, the colours the different nations. Based on this motif, all European postal services had the option to design their own stamps.
Österreichische Post AG
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 5 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | €1.20 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir (artists); Marion Füllerer (typography and layout) |
| Printer and Process: | Royal Joh. Enschedé, Brussels, Belgium by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 30mm x 40mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 50 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 190,000 |
Black Print
Pack of 4 Stamps
First Day of Issue Postmark
First Day Cover
Information Sheet
Belgium’s postal administration will release its 2023 Europa stamp using the common design on 12 June in a sheet of five. These were printed using offset lithography at the bpost Stamps Factory in Malines, Belgium. Further details are coming soon.
Sheet of 5 Stamps
Česká pošta added its Europa 2023 stamp to its “Future Issues” online listing on 7 April, a single stamp scheduled for release on 9 May and using the common design. Kamil Knotek is listed as the graphic designer for this issue although it does mention that the winning common motif was designed by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from Luxembourg. The stamp bears a non-value indicator of the letter “E” which corresponds to the price of regular mail up to 50 g – European countries in international service. This is currently equal to CZK 39.
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One (1) gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | “E” |
| Designers: | Linda Bos, Runa Egilsdottir (artists); Kamil Knotek (graphic design) |
| Printing Method: | Multi-colored offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 33mm x 33mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 6 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 75,000 |
Sheet of 6 Stamps
First Day Cover
Denmark’s branch of Postnord chose to stay with the familiar for their Europa 2023 set, but renamed the issue “Together For Peace” rather than inscribing the stamp with “Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity”. Issued on 4 May, the Europa stamp again uses the common “New Peace Symbol” design and is only sold in a miniature sheet, accompanied by a reprint of a stamp originally issued on the same date in 1970 to mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Denmark following World War II. Recess-printed and found in the Scott catalogue as #467, the features a drawing of a candle in a window by Povl Christensen and was engraved by the master himself, Czeslaw Slania. After the end of the German occupation of Denmark in 1945, it became a Danish tradition to put candles in windows on the evening of 4 May.
The version of the stamp released in 1970 bears the years 1945-1970 above the candle and a denomination of 50 Danish øre. There are two varieties of this design released in 2023. On 27 April, a booklet containing 10 self-adhesive copies of the stamp — each denominated at 12 Danish krone — was issued. These include the legend Sammen for Fred (Together for Peace) above the design.
First Day Cover
On 4 May, a gummed miniature sheet was issued with one copy of the stamp (12 kr. but not including the inscription) se-tenant with the common-design Europa stamp (valued at 34 kr.). The Europa stamp has the Sammen for Fred inscription on the upper left.
On its sales pages for the issue, Nordfrim says that,
This year’s EUROPA publication is not only a common theme among participating countries, but also a common design with a particular focus on cooperation for the benefit of peace. PostNord has chosen to combine the joint design with the 1970 Peace Light stamp on a mini sheet, which was issued to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The Peace Light is also published in a self-adhesive version in 10-strip. Here, the text Together for Peace has been added at the top of the stamp. Lighting the window of peace and freedom has been a tradition since Liberation Day on May 4, 1945. The self-adhesive stamp will be issued on April 27, 2023.
Nordfrim
Miniature Sheet
First Day Covers
Faroe Islands released a single Europa 2023 using the common design on 9 May in both gummed and self-adhesive varieties. On the same date, Posta also issued a single gummed stamp titled “Hymn for Peace” stating that “The soldier with the bassoon, the flowers, and the Dove of Peace could just as well have stepped out of Ed McCurdy’s ‘The Strangest Dream’”. Although not part of the Europa issue, I have included it here as the theme remains the same.
As always, Posta Faroe Islands provided a detailed background to the issues:
2023 EUROPA Stamps theme “PEACE – the highest value of humanity” will be based on a common design motif to be issued by all postal companies in 2023.
Out of the 29 entries submitted for the design competition, 44 postal companies participating in the voting have selected the design motif of POST Luxembourg, depicting “The New Peace Symbol”.
Story of the design
The world needs a new Peace symbol, uniting all nations. Cultural differences perchance represent a barrier for a state of Peace. If only mankind could respect each other’s differences by understanding their significance and responding to them with consideration, the world would be a better place.
This design shows a visual metaphor for a peacefully integrated, cooperative society in which people embrace each other’s culture. It was inspired by the Celtic Love Knot symbol, with interlocking hearts. The colour palette illustrates all the nations in the world. By adding hands with intertwined fingers, it conveys the message of mutual respect.
The designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A DESIGNERS’ COLLECTIVE respond: “We are extremely honoured that our design has been selected to represent the visual of Peace in over 50 countries. We hope this symbol will be sent all over the globe and make people reflect on what is the highest value of humanity: Peace.”
More about EUROPA Stamps
Since 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation. These special stamps are issued by the European postal administrations/enterprises and bear the EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark. Since 1993, PostEurop has been the responsible organisation for issuing EUROPA stamps and each year, philately experts within the Stamps and Philately working group organise the competition amongst other philately initiatives.
See more information on www.posteurop.org/europa
Posta
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp, one self-adhesive stamp |
| Denomination: | 31.00 DKK |
| Designers: | Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir |
| Printer and Process: | bpost Stamps Factory, Malines, Belgium by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 30mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 20 stamps; also booklet of six self-adhesive stamps |
Sheet of 20 Stamps
Booklet of 6 Stamps (Self-Adhesive)
First Day of Issue Postmark
First Day Cover
Postcard & Maximum Card
Hymn for Peace
On 9 May — Europe Day — Posta Faroe Islands released a single stamp under the theme of Peace. While not officially part of the Europa 2023: Peace — The Highest Value of Humanity issue, I felt that it should be included in this listing. In fact, I was wholly unaware of it until I began researching the Europa stamp as none of the other sites covering this year’s series mentioned it. Since the primary reason for PostEurop changing this year’s Europa theme to one of peace was to show support for the beleaguered nation of Ukraine, I feel this stamp should be included in the collection.
Anker Eli Petersen wrote the very interesting background about the Hymn for Peace stamp published on the Posta website:
And the people in the streets below
Were dancing round and round,
And swords and guns and uniforms
Were scattered on the ground.
Ed McCurdy 1950
Almost instinctively all the anti-war poetry of my youth passed before the inner eye when I saw Edward Fuglø’s new postage stamp with the title: ”Hymn for peace.” The soldier with the bassoon, the flowers, and the Dove of Peace could just as well have stepped out of Ed McCurdy’s ”The Strangest Dream” (1950), Boris Vian’s ”Le déserteur” (1954), Pete Seeger’s ”Where Have All The Flowers Gone” (1955) or Bob Dylan’s ”Blowing In The Wind” (1962).
Those of us growing up during the Cold War remember with horror the macabre nuclear ”standoff” between East and West in the aftermath of World War II, not to mention the bizarre nuclear armament, where both sides were constantly developing more powerful, longer-range, and more effective weapons of mass destruction that could wipe out all life on earth countless times over.
It was only with the inevitable collapse of the Eastern Bloc in the late eighties – that both sides could breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy the warm breeze of spring. The walls fell and the nations of Europe could once again meet as equals and brothers. It may have been an expression of boundless naivety, but to most of us, it seemed as if the imminent threat had been removed once and for all.
However, there were soon signs in the heavens that old habits are hard to break. The transition to liberal democracy had its ups and downs – and for us in the Western world, it was perhaps not quite obvious that it can be difficult to adjust to untraditional settings. The nineties and the first two decades of the 21st century were turbulent times, especially for Eastern Europe. However, for most countries, a democratic form of government was, after all, a logical consequence of social development. But where mistrust and tradition blocked development, democratic reforms floundered.
As a consequence of this development, the tensions between East and West have flared up again – with massive military armament as a result. Shocked by the development and with saddened hearts, we must confirm that the war is once again raging in the eastern parts of Europe.
It is good and right to dream of a world where soldiers are equipped with bassoons and other musical instruments instead of weapons. For, as the Norwegian poet Nordahl Grieg says in his Hymn to Youth (1936): Imagine all the deeds that bold minds can accomplish if they are spared the anguish of war’s cruel annihilation:
Silent the weapons go
Rows upon rows,
call halt to their deadly drift,
our spirit grows!
War is contempt for life
Peace is creation
Throw all your power in,
to death’s true damnation
Love and enrich by dream
our mighty past!
Unveil new answers to
all questions asked
Water wheels still not built
Unrevealed planets –
The brave and ingenious
will make a difference!
Nordahl Grieg, 1936
English translation: Solveig Tofte
However, even Nordahl Grieg had to admit that pacifism only works if all parties agree that conflicts can be resolved without resorting to arms. Only four years after he had written his poem entitled “Hymn to Youth”, his homeland, Norway, was invaded by Nazi Germany. He decided to join the Norwegian forces fighting bravely against a superior power. After the fall of Norway, he ended up, along with so many others, in Great Britain, where he was trained as an officer.
And, in one of history’s many grim ironies, the poet of one of the world’s most beautiful pacifist hymns died while on board a British bomber shot down over Berlin in 1943.
Posta Faroe Islands
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | 47.00 DKK |
| Designer: | Edward Fuglø |
| Printer and Process: | bpost Stamps Factory, Malines, Belgium by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 30mm x 43.44mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 20 stamps |
Sheet of 20 Stamps
First Day of Issue Postmark
First Day Cover
On 12 October 2022, Posti of Finland became the first to announce their Europa 2023 stamp, a single non-denominated self-adhesive issue using the common design. It was printed in sheets of 10 stamps and released on 9 May 2023. Non-denominated, it is sold at the national value, currently €2.10.
Sheet of 10 Stamps
First Day Cover
France’s 2023 Europa stamp was initially sold by La Poste at the Strasbourg Foundry Post Office, 1 rue de la fonderie, 67000 Strasbourg, France on Friday, 5 May from 10am to noon and from 14:00 to 16:00 and at Carré d’Encre, 13 bis rue des Mathurins, 75009 Paris on Friday, 5 May and Saturday, 6 May from 10am to 19:00 (cancellation until 5pm). Nationwide general sales began on 9 May.
The stamp with a denomination of €1.80 bears “The New Peace Symbol” design, created by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir from A Designers’ Collective; Ségolène Derudder is credited with the layout of this stamp and also designed the first day of issue cancellations. It is was released in a sheet of 15 stamps.
In describing the issue, Anne Maurel of LaPoste wrote:
On 9 May 2023, The Post is issuing a stamp from the EUROPA series on the theme “Peace: the most important human value”, illustrated by a work by Linda BOS and Runa EGILSDOTTIR.
In 1956, the Europa programme was created to promote Europe, its culture and history to philatelists. Each year, a single theme is put out to competition and proposed to the participating countries. For 2023, almost a year after the start of Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022, which continues, the theme chosen is peace, the most important human value. This choice sounds like a reminder of the will that presided over the creation of Europe at the end of the Second World War in 1950, summed up by Robert Schuman in a now famous formula: to make Europe to make peace. But eleven years after the award to the European Union of the Nobel Peace Prize, which recognized the real efficiency of the European project, it is necessary to rethink the reflection on the conditions for lasting peace on a global scale, as the situation has changed. Terrorism, the rise of religious extremism, the foreseeable increase in migration caused by climate change and the number of refugees make it necessary to think about peaceful relations between different cultures. The image that won the competition, the work of the two artists Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir, depicts, through intertwined hearts and hands with intertwined fingers, the union in the bosom of a common humanity of the different peoples of the world: opposite and complementary, as are the colors used here, red and green, blue and orange. The eye follows the path of a sky blue turning to a deep blue announcing the night before springing back into the red of a rising sun, to the point of making the smooth passage from one culture to another the equivalent of an exit from night to day.
© La Poste – Anne Maurel – All rights reserved
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 5 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | 1 gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | €1.80 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir (Europa); Ségolène Derudder (layout) |
| Printer and Process: | Philaposte, Boulazac, Dordogne, France by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40.85mm x 52mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 15 stamps |
| Perforations: | 13 |
| Quantity Printed: | 720,000 |
Sheet of 15 Stamps
First Day of Issue Postmarks
First Day Cover
First Day Folio
On 4 May, Deutsche Post AG of Germany issued a single stamp denominated at 85 euro cents as its entry in the 2023 Europa theme of Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity. It will be released in a sheet of 10 stamps using the common design with the layout credited to Goldstein, Rheinstetten.
According to the promotional material,
This year’s special postage stamp from the “EUROPE” series is dedicated to a topic that is equally important and literally vital for all people on earth: peace. Although peace is a universal basic need and all 193 members of the United Nations have committed themselves to “saving future generations from the scourge of war”, “to practice tolerance and to live together as good neighbours in peace”, war and violence are raging in some regions of the world, including our immediate neighbourhood. With its colourful motif based on a Celtic love knot and the symbolism of unity and solidarity linked to it, the EUROPA stamp sets an example for the positive significance of cultural diversity, for a coexistence characterised by respect and appreciation, for the joint overcoming of violence and war.
Peace is in the interest of all people. Because without peace, there are no stable societies and no life-enhancing communities. Peace is and remains – the highest good of humanity.
Deutsche Post
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 4 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp |
| Denominations: | €0.85 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos, Runa Egilsdottir (artists); Goldstein, Rheinstetten (layout) |
| Printer and Process: | Bundesdruckerei GmbH, Berlin, Germany by offset lithography on coated white and fluorescent postage stamp paper DP II |
| Stamp Size: | 46.40mm x 34.60mm |
| Sheet Size: | 112.80mm x 193mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 10 stamps |
Sheet of 10 Stamps
First Day of Issue Postmarks
On 30 March, Gibraltar’s Post Office became the first entity to release their Europa 2023 issue which consisted of two designs each in sheets of 10 and included in a miniature sheet consisting of both stamps. The non-common design stamp and miniature sheet, first day covers, etc. were designed by Stephen Perera. The promotional material explains the background of Europa stamps and defines Peace:
EUROPA stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations. They bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme. EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world and have been issued for over 60 years. Every year a new theme is assigned by PostEurop and all participating countries issue stamps with their own interpretation of the theme. The theme for 2023 is ‘Peace – the highest value of humanity.’
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. Throughout history, leaders have used peacemaking and diplomacy to establish a type of behavioral restraint that has resulted in the establishment of regional peace or economic growth through various forms of agreements or peace treaties. Such behavioral restraint has often resulted in the reduced conflict, greater economic interactivity, and consequently substantial prosperity.
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 30 March 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | 2 gummed stamps, 1 miniature sheet of 2 stamps |
| Denomination: | £1.96, £3.16 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir (Europa); Stephen Perera (Peace) |
| Printer and Process: | bpost Stamps Factory, Malines, Belgium by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 30mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 10 stamps per sheet each design; miniature sheet of 2 (1 of each design) |
Sheets of 10 Stamps
Miniature Sheet
Presentation Packs
First Day Covers
Maximum Cards (Unofficial)
On 24 May, Guernsey Post will release six stamps under the theme of “Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity” and all are inscribed with this slogan. Issued in denominations of 56p, 79p, 87p, £1.21, £1.39, and £1.50, these have been printed using offset lithography in sheets of 10 stamps for each design. Only the middle two designs — 87p “Peace in Space” and £1.21 “New Peace Symbol” common design — are official Europa stamps bearing the logo. Additionally, these two stamps will be released in a miniature sheet. Interestingly, NONE of the promotional material that I have seen from Guernsey Post (nor does the stamp) mention Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir as the designers of the common design stamp.
The issue description explains,
EUROPA stamps are issued by European postal administrations and bear the official EUROPA logo, a registered trademark supported by PostEurop, the trade association representing European postal operators since 1993.
Each year PostEurop select a stamp theme for postal administrations to interpret and the issues that follow are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.
The theme of the 2023 EUROPA stamps issue is Peace: the highest value of humanity, to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Chris Griffiths, creative director at Two Degrees North in Guernsey, who designed Guernsey’s Europa stamps, says that the stamps designs are “completely hand-drawn and bespoke, and intended to appear slightly naive and child-like to represent a certain sense of innocence and wonder.
“The overall concept is one of humanity and peace on earth. The idea of the astronauts looking back on a happy earth allows for a lot of symbolism. The earth shows outward love towards humanity; the astronauts themselves represent a non-gender or political/racial bias – and they are holding one another to represent peace and harmony among all of humanity. They look back at earth and at each other, showing how humanity is reflecting upon itself.
“Being set in ’space’ symbolises what the future may hold and also looking at humanity from the perspective that we are all in this together, and that peace is crucial for the existence of humanity.”
Guernsey Stamps and Collectibles
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 24 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | Six gummed stamps, 1 miniature sheet |
| Denominations: | 56p, 79p, 87p, £1.21, £1.39, £1.50 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir; Two Degrees North |
| Printer and Process: | Brebner Print, Onekawa, Napier, New Zealand by offset lithography on Arconvert Securpost Premium Gummed 110gsm paper |
| Stamp Size: | 40mm x 35mm |
| Sheet Format: | 10 stamps per sheet each design |
| Miniature Sheet Size: | 100mm x 140mm |
| Perforation: | 13.33 x 13.33 |
Miniature Sheet
Sheets of 10 Stamps, Each Design
Presentation Pack
First Day Covers
Malta Post released a single €1.50 Europa stamp on 9 May utilizing the “New Peace Symbol” designed by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir, winners of the PostEurop competition last fall. According to the postal administration’s web site:
Annually the postal administrations of member countries of the PostEurop Association, issue stamps bearing a common design or theme. EUROPA stamps promote philately through building awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and shared goals.
The EUROPA stamp theme for 2023 aims to promote Peace – the universal value for all humanity. This was chosen to show solidarity with the postal administration and population of Ukraine in the incredibly challenging circumstances. A contest was held to select a common design to be used by all participating countries. There were 29 designs submitted in total and the winning motif was the one proposed by Luxembourg, titled “The New Peace Symbol”, created by designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir.
The winning design shows a visual metaphor for a peacefully integrated, cooperative society in which people embrace one another’s culture. It was inspired by the Celtic Love Knot symbol, with interlocking hearts. The colour palette illustrates the nations of the world. The hands with intertwined fingers were added to convey the message of mutual respect.
While cultural differences may be an obstacle to the creation of a peaceful society, the world would be a better place if only people could accept each other’s differences. MaltaPost proudly participates in this noble pan-European initiative and issues the Peace stamp on 9 May 2023. On this date, the European Union celebrates Europe Day which marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration of 1950, considered to be the first official step in the creation of a united Europe.
Malta Post Philately
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | 1 gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | €1.50 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir |
| Printing Process: | Printex Limited, Qormi, Malta by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 31mm x 44mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 11 stamps + 1 label; booklet of 5 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 38,500 |
Sheet of 11 Stamps + 1 Label
Booklet of 12 Stamps
Presentation Packs
First Day Cover
The Office des Émissions de Timbres-Poste released Monaco’s Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity stamp for Europa 2023 on 9 May. According to their website,
“The winning design, by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir (A Designers’ Collective), shows a visual metaphor for a peacefully integrated, cooperative society in which people embrace each other’s culture. It was inspired by the Celtic Love Knot symbol, with interlocking hearts. The colour palette illustrates all the nations in the world. By adding hands with intertwined fingers, it conveys the message of mutual respect.”
Office des Timbres
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | 1 gummed stamp |
| Denomination: | €1.80 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir |
| Printing Process: | Offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 40.85mm x 30mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 10 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 40,000 |
Poczta Polska S.A. released a single stamp in the common design on 25 April, denominated 3.90 Polish złotego.
The stamps were printed using the offset technique, on fluorescent paper, in the format of 43 x 31.25 mm, in a circulation of 144,000 pcs. The sales sheet contains 12 stamps.
Poland Post
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 25 April 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | One gummed stamp |
| Denominations: | PLN 3.90 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir |
| Printer and Process: | Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych S.A., Warsaw, Poland by offset lithography on flourescent paper |
| Stamp Size: | 43mm x 31.25mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 12 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 144,000 stamps |
Sheet of 12 Stamps
First Day of Issue Postmark
First Day Cover
Serbia released two designs for its 2023 Europa issue on 5 May. In addition to the Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdóttir common design on a 48-dinar stamp, there is a portrayal of the Dove of Peace designed by the Zamurović Brothers on a stamp bearing a denomination of 120 Serbian dinars. Both were printed by offset lithography in separate sheets of 10 stamps each. According to the Public Enterprise Post of Serbia,
Life without fear of conflict, development of free society based on justice and freedom, mutual cooperation of people and nations of different cultures, customs and beliefs are not possible without global peace. Only in peace can societies based on the principles of justice, freedom and equality develop. That is why peace is the highest value of humanity and a common challenge for all people and nations and requires the cooperation and solidarity of all.
Bearing in mind the challenges of modern times and the current global circumstances, PostEurop, the association of postal operators of Europe, has decided that the motif of the traditional issue of commemorative postage stamps EUROPA in 2023 will be dedicated to peace as the highest value of humanity and will be shared by all members of the association. In a special competition in 2022, the jury of the PostEurop association chose the proposal for the motif of the Post of Luxembourg and it is the motif on the 48 dinars stamp of this issue. The motif was created by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdóttir, and is a visual metaphor for a peaceful integrated society where people accept each other’s culture. It is inspired by the symbol of the Celtic love knot, with intertwined hearts, while the colour palette illustrates all the peoples of the world, and hands with intertwined fingers carry a message of mutual respect.
The motif on the second stamp of the issue is a vision of peace as the highest value of humanity, as an original artistic solution of every postal operator, so the motif on the 120 dinar stamp and the FDC envelope is the White dove of peace, an artistic solution by the world-famous artists from Serbia, the Zamurović brothers. The white dove is a universally recognizable symbol of peace that emerges with an olive branch from the dark forest, symbolizing all the security challenges of modern humanity, bringing hope that global peace, as a universal and highest human value, is still possible.
Пошта Србије
Sheets of 10 Stamps Each Design
First Day of Issue Postmark
First Day Cover
On 9 May, the postal administration of Slovakia released their 2023 Europa stamp, a single using the common design, in gummed sheets of eight and self-adhesive booklet panes of six. According to the Postal Philatelic Service and the Postal Museum of Slovakia,
A military conflict began in the Ukraine on 24th February 2022 and international community has imposed a number of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation and several countries have helped the Ukraine, not only through the supply of humanitarian material but also military equipment. Through the issue of postage stamps demonstrating our solidarity with the Ukraine, as early as 2022 the “philatelic front” was joined, independently of each other, by several European countries such as Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Poland, Austria and Slovakia.
PostEurop, the association of European public postal operators, also decided to respond to the situation in Ukraine and selected “PEACE – the Highest Value of Humanity” as the theme for the EUROPA 2023 stamps. The PostEurop work group, The Stamps and Philately Working Group, established the conditions for a design competition for the series. 28 postal operators from more than 60 member countries participated. The competing entries were prepared by stamp artists from the respective countries. The winners were selected through an anonymous poll with the participation of all 44 postal operators, who rated the three best designs on a scale of 1 – 3.
The highest scoring design was submitted by Post Luxembourg. It depicts a motif of interwoven hearts inspired by a prehistoric Celtic knot ornament. According to the authors, it embodies “the need for a new symbol of peace to unite all nations”. The Ukrposhta came in second and the entry from Slovak Post was third. It became the motif of the FDC surcharge and collection sheet.
Slovak Post POFIS
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 9 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | 1 gummed stamp; 1 self-adhesive stamp |
| Denomination: | €2.10 |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir; Daniela Olejníková (art manager) |
| Printing Process: | Tiskárna Hradištko, s.r.o., Hradištko, Prague West, Czech Republic by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 44.1mm x 26.5mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 8 stamps; booklet pane of 6 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 160,000 |
Sheet of 8 Stamps
Booklet of 6 Stamps
First Day Cover
Collection Sheet
On 27 April, Postnord Sweden issued a self-adhesive stamp in coil rolls of 100 under the Europa 2023 theme of Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity using the common design in a vertical format. In addition, the postal administration will release five stamps under the title “Together For Peace”. While the Europa stamp has a denomination of SEK 30, the additional peace stamps are non-denominated with the NVI “Brev” indicating domestic usage. While not officially Europa stamps — as such, they do not bear the logo — they correspond with the overall theme. According to Postnord, “the stamps feature well-known symbols of peace and provide a positive message suitable for all your greetings.”
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 27 April 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | Europa 2023: 1 self-adhesive stamp in coil roll of 100; Together in Peace: 5 self-adhesive stamps in coil roll of 100 |
| Denomination: | 1 x SEK 30; 5 x BREV for domestic letters |
| Designers: | Linda Bos & Runa Egilsdottir (Europa); Carina Länk (typography); Jesús Verona (Together in Peace) |
| Printing Process: | Offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 36.6mm x 26.5mm |
Coil Strip and Europa Single
Collector Sheet
First Day Cover
On 9 May, Switzerland released two stamps in the 2023 Europa theme of Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity including the common design of Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir on a CHF 0.90 stamp and a design by Elisa Debora Hofmann on a stamp denominated at 1.10 Swiss francs. They were printed in sheets of 16 stamps for each design.
Swiss Post stated that:
The new EUROPA stamp is dedicated to peace. In the international stamp competition held for postal organizations under the umbrella of PostEurop, the “Peace knot” design from Luxembourg struck the greatest chord. The Swiss nomination depicts an olive branch held aloft as a symbol of peace. A theme for this year’s EUROPA stamp had in fact already been decided. In light of current events, however, it was changed to allow the new stamp issue to carry a message of peaceful coexistence. PostEurop, the association of the 48 major European postal operators, launched a competition inviting each member country to submit a design on the theme of peace and to choose three favourites from among all of the entries. The “Peace knot” design from Luxembourg received the most votes and is now being issued as a postage stamp by all affiliated postal organizations. It depicts interlocking hearts inspired by the Celtic love knot. The different colours stand for the nations of the world – united by the new peace symbol into a cooperative society in which people join hands to work together. Swiss Post also submitted a design for the European vote. It had been chosen in an internal competition in the run-up to the international contest and is being published in Switzerland on a separate sheet, as an accompaniment to the Luxembourg stamp. It features the olive branch, a cross-cultural symbol of peace that goes back many centuries. The complementary colour composition of the hand-drawn illustration gives the branch a special vibrancy. The hands holding it aloft with their combined strength are an emblem of our collective effort to achieve a better world, and the stamp symbolizes the importance of peace as the highest value of humanity.
Swiss Post
Sheets of 16 Stamps, Each Design
First Day Cover
Folder/Collection Sheet
On 9 May, the Ukrainian Postal Service or Ukrposhta (Укрпошта) released a set of three stamps titled “Glory to the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine!” honoring its recently established Offensive Guard consisting of the National Police, the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service. It is to honor the brave men and woman who continue to defend the Republic of Ukraine that all of the other Europa stamps promoting “Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity” have been issued.
Ukraine’s participation in Europa 2023 will come 24 May with the items now on pre-sale. The set will consist of two designs — the common design by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir on the no-value indicator stamp inscribed with the letter A (currently equal to one U.S. dollar) and the design by Maria Suslova which took second place in last year’s PostEurop design competition appears on the NVI stamp with a letter U (equal to 12.00 Ukrainian hryvnia,). These will be released in a miniature sheet of six stamps — three of each design.
Writing about the issue on her Facebook page on 9 May, Natalia Mukhina of Ukhrposhta had this to say about the issue:
On Europe Day about stamps Europe
I could tell a lot about this issue, but political tolerance does not allow me to do so
. Well, at least for now…
I can only say:
– that the fact that this year all PostEurop member countries are issuing postage stamps on the theme of PEACE is an undeniable merit of Ukrposhta, which in the first days of the war initiated the replacement of the already approved topic for 2023;
– that at the final international stage we were forced to replace the work that won the national selection, due to criticism of the organizing committee regarding the image with elements of war. With sunflowers by Andriy Sagach, we later released a stamped envelope;
– that the work – silver medalist of the national stage, who was put up as a replacement, won silver in the international competition. Congratulations Maria Suslova!
– that one of the two stamps of this issue, the one on which our silver medalist is depicted, is called MIR. VICTORY. UKRAINE, because we are not only about PEACE, but only about PEACE through VICTORY;- that the denominations of the two marks, which constitute a hitch, form the well-known abbreviation UA
;
– that the perception of PEACE among those who live with war and those who read about it in the news is completely different…For today, everything, the rest is in the memoirs
And you can pre-order stamps Europe right now, and envelopes “First day” also https://postmark.ukrposhta.ua/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2919
In describing Maria Suslova’s Ukrposhta’s website says,
The sketch depicts a harmonious girl dreaming of peace. Bright shades, thoughtful and enthusiastically depicted symbols to the smallest detail –- it is difficult to ignore . . .
Укрпошта
Technical Information
| Date of Issue: | 24 May 2023 |
| Number of Stamps: | Two gummed stamps |
| Denomination: | “U” equal to ₴23.00 on date of issue + ₴7.00 charitable surcharge |
| Designer: | Linda Bos, Runa Egilsdottir, Maria Suslova |
| Printer and Process: | SE Integrated Printing Plant “Ukraina” for Production of Securities (Державне підприємство «Поліграфічний комбінат «Україна» по виготовленню цінних паперів»), Kyiv, Ukraine by offset lithography |
| Stamp Size: | 30mm x 37.5mm |
| Sheet Size: | 116mm x 101mm |
| Sheet Layout: | 6 stamps |
| Quantity Printed: | 100,000 stamps |
Sheet of 6 Stamps
C4 Envelope for First Day Covers
First Day Covers
Postcard
Magnet
Brochure
Despite PostEuropa changing the theme of the 2023 Europa competition to “Peace: The Highest Value of Humanity” at the request of Ukraine, the vast majority of designs released have not referenced the ongoing conflict at all. However, for one of its two stamps, the Direzione delle Telecomunicazioni e dei Sistemi Informatici for the Vatican City State (Stato della Città del Vaticano) chose to portray His Holiness Pope Francis displaying a battle-scarred flag which was carried by Ukrainian troops during the Battle of Bucha.
The battle had begun on 27 February 2022, part of the Kyiv offensive. The city of Bucha (Буча) itself is located just 15½ miles (25 km) west of Kyiv, bordering the cities of Irpin and Hostomel and three small villages. Bucha was captured by Russian forces on 12 March and recaptured by Ukrainian forces on 31 March. These three cities were each given the honorary title of Hero City of Ukraine (Місто-герой України). A special souvenir sheet marking these Hero Cities was released by Ukraine on 31 March 2023.
Photographic and video evidence of a massacre began to emerge shortly after Russian forces withdrew from Bucha. According to local authorities, 458 bodies have been recovered from the town, including 9 children under the age of 18; among the victims, 419 people were killed by weapons and 39 appeared to have died of natural causes, possibly related to the occupation. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented the unlawful killings, including summary executions, of at least 73 civilians in Bucha. Photos showed corpses of civilians, lined up with their hands bound behind their backs, shot at point-blank range, which ostensibly gave proof that summary executions had taken place. Many bodies were found mutilated and burnt, and girls as young as fourteen reported being raped by Russian soldiers. Russian authorities have denied responsibility and have claimed that the footage and photographs of dead bodies were “fake news”. These assertions by Russian authorities have been debunked as false by various groups and media organizations. Eyewitness accounts from surviving residents of Bucha said that the Russian Armed Forces carried out the killings.
On 16 April 2022, during his weekly audience at the Vatican, Pope Francis deplored the alleged inaction of international bodies in the face of the Russian aggression. “After the Second World War, attempts were made to lay the foundations for a new history of peace, but unfortunately the old history of competing great powers continued,” he said. “And in the current war in Ukraine, we are witnessing the powerlessness of international organizations,” he added.
The audience was attended by a group of school children from Ukraine who presented the Pope with a flag which he said “comes from the war, straight from that battered city Bucha”. His Holiness kissed the flag and then blessed the Ukrainian children.
Vatican City’s Europa 2023 stamps are scheduled for release on 16 May. Although the designs have been revealed, further details including the actual format have not. I am guessing the two will be included as part of a miniature sheet with decorative selvedge but time will tell. The 10 euro-cent denomination portrays the Pope holding the flag from Bucha along with the inscription “Al fianco degli ucraini, popolo nobile e martare” (“Alongside the Ukrainians, noble people and martyrs”. The photographer and/or graphic designer is not included on the stamp. The €1,25 value depicts the “New Peace Symbol” common design by Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir. Both stamps were printed using offset lithography by Cartor Security Printers in Meaucé, France.
© 2023 by Mark Joseph Jochim
Philatelic Pursuits 
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