Europa Post Horn Stamps 1973

Europa stamps are among the most popular stamps to collectors. They are the result of countries in Europe joining together to coordinate their postal and other communications systems. In the years after World War II, the countries of France, Luxembourg, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands, and West Germany, began to coordinate economic activities, a process that eventually led to the creation of the European Union. Those six countries formed the European Coal and Steel Community and in 1956, they created a joint stamp emission. That year, a common design by French artist Daniel Gonzague of a tower formed of the letters in EUROPA was used on thirteen stamps issued by those six countries.

The organization grew to include more countries countries and then in 1959, twenty-three postal administrations met in Montreaux, Switzerland. As a result, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) was formed. The organization was to coordinate communications systems across the continent. From that year until 1973, each member country of the organization would issue a stamp featuring a common design (not all countries followed this practice). In subsequent years, a common theme was adopted and each country created their own designs.

The 1973 Issue

The final year of the joint stamp issues featured a stylized post horn made of three arrows. It was the creation of the Norwegian artist Leif Frimann Anisdahl. He said that the three arrows represent the organizations primary objectives: postal systems, telegraphs, and telephone communications. Twenty four countries participated with a total of fifty stamp issues, though several made stamps using their own designs. Learn more here.

Post horns are, of course, the international symbol of the postal service. Make sure to check out my main page devoted to the topic.

Below are the stamps in my collection from this international project.

Andorra

Austria

Austria was one of the countries that made a stamp of their own design. At least they feature a post horn!

Belgium

Cyprus

Finland

France

France made two stamps for this Europa project. One of the stamps used the shared design. The other post features the Hotel de Ville in Brussels, the town hall. It is also a world heritage site in the middle of the capital of the European Union. It is an unusual choice for a French issue, although it is a beautiful stamp.