Writing up the Cyprus 2023 stamps was a satisfying experience this year. Not only did I dig up most of the designer/artist names, which are often elusive, I was able to find details on one of Cyprus’ most intriguing and long running series.
First the news about designers. It took a bit of digging, but I’ve finally found the artists involved in the Cyprus stamp program. Cyprus Post is one of those countries that doesn’t do a good job in promoting their artists. It can be hit and miss finding names, but courtesy of the Hellenic Philatelic Society of The Netherlands, I hit the jackpot. I’ll be working backwards adding details to the 2021 and 2020 lists, so if you collect Cyprus you might find the new info useful. FYI: the Hellenic Philatelic Society has a beautifully designed website. Worth bookmarking.
The second breakthrough was researching Cyprus’ Refugee stamp series. Although it doesn’t always appear in catalogue lists, each year Cyprus releases a Refugee Stamp using the same artwork.
Cyprus 2023
Woodcut by A. Tassos
“For 49 years a tearful child, curled up in front of the barbaric barbed wire fence of shame has accompanied every parcel we send through the Post Offices in and outside Cyprus while sending to the whole world the message of the ‘Nightmare’ that appeared and the ‘Medes’ that crossed the 20th of July 1974 bloodying the sacred soil of our homeland,” Christos Zanettou, Mayor Ayia Napa
Refugee stamp exhibition opens in Ayia Napa | Cyprus Mail (cyprus-mail.com)
The stamp uses a woodcut by renowned Greek engraver and sculpture A. Tassos. Since the invasion in 1974, a refugee tax stamp has been issued to mark the war and raise funds for refugees. The first iteration of the tax stamp appeared September 12, 1974. A 1971 stamp (woodcut of Saint George on horseback) was overprinted with “REFUGEE FUND”.
The stamp was quickly replaced in December with a stamp specifically designed to reflect the trauma refugees were experiencing. It was more powerful and poignant than the above overprint.
The image, based on a photo by Bambis Avdelopoulos, depicts a crying refugee mother holding her son. It remained in use until 1977. For some reason it’s often titled “Old woman and child” which downplays the images impact.
In 1977 a new design replaced the Avdelopoulos stamp. The Girl behind barbed wire has remained in use for 49 years.
From 1977 to 1984 the only change to the stamp was the inclusion of a small date in one of the corners. In 1984 the price was changed to 1c and reissued. Further changes were made in 1988 that shifted more focus on the image with a darker grey framed background. As well, the date 1974 became part of the overall design.
In 1991 the colour moved to an olive grey background, although the colour seems to shift a little from year to year. In 2008 Cyprus joined the Euro and changed the value of the stamp, while retaining the olive grey background. The following year Cyprus introduced the last change, one that makes it easier to identify year.
Each year sees a different colour used, starting with Lilac grey in 2009.
So far 2023 has been a satisfying year when it comes to learning about Cyprus and its stamps. Next job is to track down better information on the designers. But that will take time.
February
Dragonflies
2 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 8
- Slender skimmer (Orthetrum sabina) Slender Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina) · iNaturalist
- Oriental damselfly (Epallage fatime) Odalisque (Epallage fatime) (inaturalist.org)
Designer: Nikos Ieradiakonou
Previous designs include 2016 Traditional Cypriot Popular Crafts and 2021 50 Years of The Theatrical Organization of Cyprus
Release date: February 23, 2023
Refugee stamp 2023
Artist: Alevizos Anastasios Tassos (1914-1985)
National Gallery, Alexandros Soutzos Museum of Greece has a substantial page of Tassos’ woodcuts Tassos (Alevizos Anastasios) – National Gallery
Tassos was an engraver, etcher and sculptor
Release date: February 23, 2023
April
Anniversaries and Events
3 stamps, 3 sheets of 8, FDC, cancel
50 Years of the Pancyprian Antianemic Association
This organisation educates the public on thalassaemia (also called Mediterranean anemia or Cooley anemia), a condition that causes too much iron to be stored in the blood.
The idea for the establishment of an organized association of people suffering from Thalassemia was developed since 1969, by parents of children with Thalassemia, facing family and social problems along with economic exploitation. The support from the scientific world was rare. The first meeting was on May 14, 1973, at the 1st Elementary School of Pallouriotissa with about 30 parents. The organization was founded at the time “Association of Parents of Mediterranean Anemia Children”, based in Nicosia with the aim of mass mobilizations to find a solution to current problems. The Cyprus Thalassaemia Association (ENG)
70 Years of the Pancyprian Organisation of Greek Teachers (POED)
Founded April 9, 1953. “Priority for the Organization is the defense and upgrading of Public Education and Public School. Every day, POED supports teachers, fights to upgrade their prestige and dignity as well as to ensure their employment benefits.” Anniversaries & Events 2023 (cypruspost.post)
50 years of Cyprus Ports Authority
Home – CPA
Designer: Saki Vasileiou and Andrea Smila
Release date: April 4, 2023
Cyprus – Israel, Aerial Firefighting
Joint Issue
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 8
Designer Tal Huber wrote an interesting, and fun article on stamps and their design. It is a LinkedIn page, so you may not be able to see it. But this is the best bit of insight into her views on stamps. The stamp – the whole world in the palm of your hand | LinkedIn
Even if it seems as though traditional mail is becoming obsolete and a stamped envelope and a stamp collector are endangered species…it turns out that the internet has not only failed to wipe them out, but has become a tool for swapping stamps and building collections. According to estimates, there are tens of thousands of stamp collectors in Israel and worldwide their numbers are estimated at over two hundred million.
Designer: Designer: Tal Huber, Giraff – Creating Brands (Israel)
EUROPA 2023 – Peace, the highest value of humanity
2 stamps, 2 sheets of 8
Designers Peace knot: Linda Bos / Runa Egilsdottir, Esch-sur-Alzette
Designer: Antonia Hatziorgiou
Release date: May 9, 2023
July
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 8
Rose Festival of Argos celebrated it’s 15th year in May of 2023
Rose festival returns to Agros | Cyprus Mail (cyprus-mail.com)
Designer: unknown
Release date: July 10, 2023
Old Buses
3 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 FDC, cancel, 3 sheets of 8
November
Michalakis Yiassemides 1923 – 2019
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 8
Release date: November 17, 2023
Christmas
3 stamps, 2 FDCs, 3 sheets of 8, 3 maxicards
Release date: November 17, 2023
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