The EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes competition produced a spectacular thematic year. The only thing that could have made it more exciting would be changing it to “Early Airmail Routes”. Although Europa stamps date to 1952, the competition didn’t start until 2002. Each year a theme is picked and participating countries design stamps that capture the topic. Not all Europa members participate in the competition, and a few stamps were issued too late to be included in the voting.
As well, not all stamps are considered in the voting process. I’ve opted to post all the stamps, not just the ones under consideration. Sometimes a set expresses a bigger story than a single stamp can fully explain.
Europa competition themes
Subjects are announced well in advance, giving postal authorities plenty of time to plan their entries. Topics offer countries the chance to showcase their nation & stamp designers. It’s an interesting competition, which has gone from strength to strength. Well, with the exception of the first year – Circuses. Far too many clowns to enjoy the year. Thanks Stephen King for ruining clowns forever.
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EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes
2020’s theme was Old Postal Routes. Some post offices called it ancient, some old. The topic was titled Ancient Postal Routes, but I’ve opted to use old for most of the article because shifting between ancient and old became irritating so I picked one format and stuck with it throughout the article.
Regardless, this theme turned into a fascinating trip through the evolution of mail services across Europe. Along the way, I learned quite a bit about early mail delivery. I often think of the post office in modern terms – use a stamp and off it goes. Many of the stamps in this series pay tribute to routes that predate the use of postage stamps and allude to the dangers messengers faced during their journeys.
55 countries can compete in 2 categories: juried & popular. The popular category is picked by the public. No specific criteria is required in this category. Online voting takes place over a number of months with the stamp with the most votes winning.
Juried voting considered two questions:
- What was it like when “mobility was quite reduced, and travelling a dangerous activity”?
- How did the Postal systems start?
This year’s EUROPA Stamps theme will answer these questions by depicting some of the most famous routes and traveling methods which paved the way to improve connectivity throughout the globe. From famous ships to wonderful carriages, we will see a historical variety of beautiful elements which constitute the rich postal heritage. Travelling the Ancient Routes via EUROPA Stamps, POST EUROP press release
Covid effect
The “reduced mobility” question weirdly foreshadowed the current pandemic. When the topic was picked, no one envisioned how it would resonate in in a locked down world. Last year’s topic tied into the Covid pandemic in an unexpected way. 2020’s theme emphasized the life of postal couriers and the dangers that accompanied their jobs. The pandemic reminded many of how vital communication is and how difficult front line service can be. 2020’s juried winner was picked in part, because it reminded the judges of the vital “human aspect” of mail service.
“This year virtual jury-meeting brought a very high-quality result and five really fascinating stamp designs as short-listed winners of the international competition 2020. As the theme – old postal routes, was not an easy task, we were really surprised by the artists solutions. Especially the winning design from Poland with its special proportions in vertical format expressed the theme in a perfect manner – colours and technique of the artwork are really modern and perfect for a small stamp. The same can be said about the other four short-listed winners from Switzerland, Germany, Ukraine and the Faroe Islands. The whole set of the jury’s favourites shows big parallels: The Focus on riding or walking postal couriers or mailmen, the focus on the ”human aspect“ behind the postal delivery system and their adventurous and sometimes dangerous journey in former times convinced us and also the other jury members. Chapeau!” said expert jurors Stefan Klein and Olaf Neumann, our recurring judges from Kommunikations Design in Germany. News (posteurop.org)
I agree with their assessment. The artistry across all designs is eye riveting. 2020 postal routes created some of the best stamp designs since the inception of the competition (including 2021’s stamps).
Poland’s winning entry
This long stamp was certainly eye catching. Maciej Jędrysik’s design followed 16th century routes along the Vistula River, with major stops along at Kraków, Sandomierz, Warsaw, Toruń, Elbląg, Gdańsk. If you look closely at this stamp, you’ll see different methods of delivery tied into the design – foot, horse & ship delivery.
Second prize was an unusual 4 way tie between Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Ukraine and Germany.
Faroe Islands
This is an intriguing stamp that explores the dangers of mail delivery in icey, remote areas. The map on the top left, shows the mail route from Klaksvík – Viðareiði. The yellow line traces the tragic route Jacob Eliassen (1836 – 1887) took when he plunged to his death during a delivery in 1887.
The second half of the stamp, Postmen of the Mountains, follows the red route on the map. Two postmen found themselves trapped by a storm at Breytarstígar and were forced to build a makeshift shelter to protect themselves. Unlike Eliassen, both these men survived their journey.
Second row map shows the route Vestmanna – Vágar, rowed by Ólavur Olsen (1855 – 1947). Initially the route was undertaken by men in rowboats, a treacherous trip that was banned in 1920.
You can read more about the stamps & the history they depict here Stamps.fo
Artist Philatelic Pursuits has a page on the history of Faroe Island mail delivery that is quite fascinating 2021 Stamps: Faroe Islands (Postal History) – Philatelic Pursuits.
Switzerland
This pair of Swiss stamps was created with the cooperation of Germany. The stamps follow the 14th c route established by the legendary House Thurn and Taxis. The route begins in Rheinhausen, Germany and travels to Milan and Mantua, with stops in Zurich and Basel.
Germany
Deutsche Post issued this medieval Thurn & Taxis route, which was a nice companion piece to the Swiss stamps. The stamp depicts a mail rider on one leg of the Frankfurt to Vienna route. Established in 1490, it is considered the first permanent postal route in the Holy Roman Empire.
Ukraine – postman Fedir Feketa
This was an immensely popular stamp in Ukraine. The story of Fedir Feketa (1789 – 1838), a beloved Ukrainian, speaks to the heart of the theme. It captures the human aspect better than any stamp in the competition. Feketa delivered mail on foot, for 30 years. He walked the 25 km route from Tury Remet to Uzhgorod, a couple times each week, travelling through mountainous routes and rivers to safely deliver mail throughout the Carpathian mountains.
EUROPA 2020 Popular Vote Gold Stamp – Turkey
Overall winner of the popular vote was Turkey with 38,000 votes. It turns out, Turkey is the country to beat, with previous wins 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013 and 2011. Historic routes depicted in this stamp include boats, horse messenger & foot. It’s a delightful stamp that echoes medieval art work.
Second place Armenia
This stamp shows the city of Gyumri, considered the cultural and political centre of Armenia in the 19th century.
Third place Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan’s created a playful set. Depending on how the stamps are arranged, they could be couriers going or returning.
These stamps depict mounted couriers from the first postal routes established in the 15th c by Shah Ismail I (1487-1524).
My favourites
Of course it had to be the sole entry with a biplane. Biplanes and maps will always be a winning combination. Moldova’s set is spectacular. The stamp celebrates the first airmail deliver in Moldova (1926), and designer Vitaliu Pogolşa strong illustrations grabbed my attention.
My second pick – well, there were so many, but I loved the Albanian stamp. Unfortunately it arrived too late for the competition, but that doesn’t lessen it’s over all appeal to me.
Third – pigeon post from Bosnia-Herzegovina (JP BH). Pigeon post is often neglected when we talk about postal delivery, but it played an interesting part in the evolution of mail delivery.
Best overall cancel
This isn’t a category in the competition, but should be. Cancels are much underrated as far as artwork goes and aren’t given nearly the attention they deserve.
Hungary’s post horn cancel is exquisite. It was a hard pick, but this was by far the outstanding cancel of 2020. The level of detail in this cancel is wonderful.
I found getting clean scans of all cancels impossible, and did the best I could. If you have a better image and would like to share it, drop me a line in the comments.
Quick note
I wasn’t able to cull details about all stamps. When possible, I’ve included interesting features and/or links for more information. Feel free to add details you think people might enjoy. Just drop a mention in the comments. If you spot any errors, please let me know. I appreciate it when readers reach out and offer corrections.
Some post office’s don’t do a good job promoting the designers and artists, so any help you can offer regarding the missing designers would be appreciated.
If you’d like to be notified when updates to this page are made, sign up for the newsletter. Use the pop up form or go to the home page and use the link in the middle of the page. As always, I’ll be poking around different history sites and making trips to my local reference library to find more information for this page.
Europa 2020 Old Postal Routes – A
Åland – Postal Boat Race across the Sea of Åland
This stamp shows the Postal Boat Race across the sea of Åland. The race, which began in 1974, follows the 400 year old postal route between Aland and Sweden.
The first mail run across Åland to Finland departed from Sweden in 1638. The crossing between Grisslehamn and Eckerö was to be known as one of the most dangerous postal routes in the world, particularly during times of treacherous ice and snow conditions; more than 200 farmer-postmen lost their lives. Aland Post Office
Designer: David Lundberg
Release date: May 20, 2021
Albania
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel
Issued too late for the competition
Designer: Artion Baboçi
Of all the Albanian designs, this one stands at the top of my “Best Design” list for Albanian stamps. This stamp captures the spirit of the 2020 Europa competition and captures a great deal of history in the design.
Release date: Feb. 22, 2021
Andorra (France) – map of postal route through Andorra
Designer: Enric Cardús
Sheet designer: Stéphanie Ghinea
Release date: May 12, 2020
Andorra (Spain) – Andorra la Vella and La Seu d’Urgell
This stamp shows the pedestrian messengers travelling between Andorra la Vella and La Seu d’Urgell
Release date: April 23, 2020
Armenia – City of Gyumri
Stamp shows city of Gyumri, the 19th century cultural and political centre of Armenia
Designer: David Dovlatyan
Release date: May 9, 2020
Austria – Historical Postal Routes Thurn and Taxis
The Thurn and Taxis family, then called Tassis, began providing mail courier services for the Italian city-states in the 13th Century. By the 16th Century, they had a monopoly on postal services, operating a network of postal routes in Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and the Low Countries. At the peak of their operations, they employed some 20,000 messengers to deliver mail and newspapers. Thurn and Taxis – A Brief History (stamp-collecting-world.com)
Designer: David Gruber
Release date: May 8, 2020
See Austrian issues for 2021
Azerbaijan – gasid (post rider)
These stamps show a gasid (post rider) and Medieval postal routes. Shah Ismail Khatai in 1501 established the gasid messengers.
Topics:
- 1,5 manat. Depiction of a gasid (post rider) on horseback.
- 0,5 manat. In the foreground is shown a gasid (post rider) on horseback. The background depicts a map showing Baku, Shamakhi and Tabriz.
- 0,6 manat. In the foreground is shown a gasid (post rider) on horseback. The background depicts a map showing Derbent, Shamakhy, Nakhchivan, Ganja and Irevan.
Designer: Vugar Eyyubov
Eyyubov is Azermarka’s chief designer and responsible for many of Azerbaijan’s outstanding stamps
Release date: May 9, 2020
EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes – B
Belarus – two routes
Release date: May 5, 2020
See more stamps from Belarus here: issues for 2021
Belgium – Thurn und Taxis family
First stamp shows lion, from the late 19th c, second showing a W, from 1815-1830.
Designer: Kris Maes
Sheet designed by Eugène Péchaubès
Release date: June 15, 2020
Bosnia-Herzegovina (Croatia) FBiH – Roman Messenger Service
The Roman Messenger Service, initially called vehiculatio later cursus publicus, was founded by Emperor Augustus between 27 and 20 BC. For Emperor Septimius Severo (193-211) cursus publicus is divided into two parts: fast (cursus velox) and slow (cursus claburalis). A wagon and a silver penny from the Roman Consul L. Saufeius (152 BC) were chosen as motifs on the stamps. Croatian Post Mostar
Designer: Marin Musa
According to preserved records dating back to the Ottoman Empire, the first post offices on the territory of present-day Republika Srpska opened in 1864. Year. Visegrad, Zvornik, Bijeljina, Brcko, Gradiska and Brod were the first to receive postal stations. Europe -ancient-postal -routes – Web portal Post Office Srpske (postesrpske.com)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (JP BH) – Sarajevo to Istanbul pigeon post
A Fascinating Look at Pigeons in History – PCRC (pigeoncontrolresourcecentre.org)
Bulgaria
EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes – C to E
Croatia – the master road
… built from 1825 to 1832 and is considered the first modern road that connected continental Croatia and Dalmatia. It was built by the famous builder of Croatian roads of the time, border officer Josip Kajetan Knežić. Precisely because of the high quality of design and construction, it was called the “Master Road”. At the end of 1833, traffic was established once a week by postage carriages (dilizansa) between Vienna and Zadar Croatian Post – Europe – old postal routes
Designer: Alenka Lalić
Release date: May 8, 2020
Cyprus – from the Ottoman Empire to modern rail
Release date: May 4, 2020
See the 2021 issues for Cyprus here.
Czech Republic – mail coach
In the Czech lands, the development of postage began only with the advent of the Habsburgs. Regular mail, organized news transport in today’s territory of the Czech Republic is associated with the election of Ferdinand I as Czech king and was created even before Habsburg took the Czech throne, already in 1526. Ferdinand I used the services and experience of the aristocratic Taxis family, who since the end of the 13th century have almost monopolized postal transport in northern Italy and much of Europe. The oldest postal route between Prague and Vienna led through Tábor and further into the area of Košice, where it was divided into two branches. The southern one was heading for Linz, the eastern branch led through Jindrichuv Hradec and Slavonice further towards Vienna. Czech Post (postaonline.cz)
Designer: Jan Maget
Release date: April 4, 2020
Denmark – 1624 route Copenhagen and Altona
1624 route between Copenhagen and Altona near Hamburg. Established by Christian IV
Designer: Ella Clausen
Release date: May 11, 2020
Estonia – Tartu–Võru road & Tille tavern
Designer: Triin Heimann
Heimann is a prolific designer for Estonia’s post office. He has designed most of the Lunar New Year stamps, including the 2021 one.
Release date: May 14, 2020
See issues for 2021
Europa 2021 Endangered Wildlife – F
Faroe Island – two routes Klaksvík – Viðareiði & Vestmanna – Vágar
Also comes in blocks and booklets
For an extensive writeup on these stamps, check out Faroe Island post’s article Stamps.fo
Designer: Anker eli Petersen
Release date: April 27, 2020
See issues for 2021
Finland – Father Christmas around the world
Designer: Klaus Welp
Release date: May 6, 2020
See all of Finland’s 2021 releases here
France – briska horse drawn carriage
From horse-drawn wheelbarrows, to trunks without shock absorbers and with two wheels, to the 1830s briska model equipped with a convertible, postal vehicles always knew how to find the light on the relay station at night, because “to run the post ”suffered no interruption… La Poste
Illustration: Stéphane Humbert-Basset
Engraving: Line Filhon
Release date: May 11, 2020
EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes – G
Georgia
Release date: Oct. 30, 2020
Germany – Thurn und Taxis routes
Medieval postal routes – Thurn und Taxis
1490, the Roman-German king and later Emperor Maximilian I commissioned the brothers Janetto and Francesco de Tasso to establish a postal connection. With the help of their family, they created the Dutch postal exchange, on which letters could be sent from Innsbruck to the Netherlands and as far as Italy.
This postal exchange is considered to be the first permanently operated, centrally organized postal route in the Holy Roman Empire and the year 1490 as the founding year of the modern European postal system. Along the route, post stations were built where riders and horses changed and the messengers handed over the broadcasts to each other like a relay (relay system). Deutsche Poste Issue 8, 2020
Designer: Michael Kunter
Release date: May 7, 2020
See issues for 2021
Gibraltar – Lady Mary Wood 1842|SS Iberia 1836
mini sheet
FDC
The P&O was a profitable business entity at the time when it was awarded the mail contract between England and Alexandria, and between Suez and Calcutta. Securing the contract to Singapore and Hong Kong further cemented its position in the region.4 At the time, steamers took 140 hours to travel from Ceylon to Penang, 45 hours from Penang to Singapore, where there was a 48-hour stopover, before completing its journey to Hong Kong in another 170 hours.5
The Lady Mary Wood began its maiden voyage from London on 24 June 1845 and arrived in Singapore on 4 August 1845, after an eight-day passage from Point de Galle, Sri Lanka. It brought mail from London in a record time of 41 days. On its return journey, the mail steamer carried a total of 4,757 letters from Singapore, the bulk of which were bound for Great Britain and Europe. By 1848, the standard practice was to raise a red flag on Government Hill (today’s Fort Canning Hill) in the day to signal the arrival of mail from Europe and a yellow flag for mail from China, while a gun was fired at night. Lady Mary Wood | Infopedia (nlb.gov.sg)
The SS Iberia was another P&O mail ship. It ran under the Iberian Peninsula mail contract.
Designer: Stephen Perera
Illustration / Photography: Beatrice Garcia
Release date: May 8, 2020
Greece – steam ships
FDC
- Prince Maximilian 19th cent
- Arciduca Lodovico 19th cent
Designer: Myrsini Vardopoulou
Release date: May 8, 2020
Greenland – airmail with Charles Lindbergh | Lindbergh Post
booklet
FDCs
special cover
1933 Lindbergh mail route over Greenland The Lindberghs’ 1933 Survey Flight | Pioneers of Flight (si.edu)
Designer: Robert Dam
Release date: Sept. 14, 2020
Guernsey – mail & packet ships
mini sheet
presentation pack
sheets
postcards
FDC
- 50p: Earl of Chesterfield – 78 ton oak cutter. Captured in 1811 by privateer L’Epervier
- 68p: Ariadne – 3 mast paddle steamer. Captained by J. Bazin on the Southampton to Guernsey & Jersey route around 1823
- 70p: Antelope – 672 gross ton ship that sailed for Great Western Rail along the Weymouth-Channel Islands. Maiden voyage 1889
- 85p: Alberta – South & Western Railway single funnel ship that sailed in1900. Sailed the Southhampton to Channel Islands until 1930, including during the Great War
- 95p: Isle of Guernsey – First sailed inn 1930 and sailed extensively around the Channel islands until WW2. During the war she was converted to a hospital ship and served in the Dunkirk evacuation. One of the first ships to be fitted with son
- £1.02: Sarnia – 308 ft ship sailed 1960. The 3989 ton vessel traveled the Channel Island route
Designer: Andrew Robinson
Release date: April 1, 2020
See 2021 releases here.
EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes – H to K
Hungary
FDC
In the territory of Hungary at the time of Louis the Great in the 14th century, guilds established postal routes, which, besides their own correspondence, carried the letters of private individuals, while travelling merchants and craftsmen took the messages and orders of customers to distant places. One of the most well-known postal routes was that of the butchers. Armed drivers escorting cattle from the Hungarian Great Plain to markets abroad carried the correspondence of the cities and their burghers based on individual instructions. Magyar Posta Ltd. – EUROPA2020: Ancient postal routes
Images on the stamps show brass signage used by butcher’s guilds and an ornate horn.
The mini sheet shows the work of László Balla, The Butchers’ Post Progressing Through Hungary and Diligence Crossing the Hortobágy Plain
Designer: Attila André Elekes
Release date: May 4, 2020
See all Hungarian issues for 2021
Iceland – postal routes
sheets of 10
FDC
This was the last Europa stamp issued by Iceland
The map shows the main postal routes
Designer: Borg Hjörleifur Árnason
Release date: May 7, 2020
Ireland – medieval mail
sheets of 9
FDC
Taking inspiration from religious art, using a quadriptych (four quadrant layout), the stamps tell the story of the journey of a letter during the Middle Ages An Post – Media centre | An Post July 16, 2020
First stamp: medieval monk preparing a letter and then carrying it overseas by boat
Second stamp: shows the message being carried onward by horseback and the delivery of the message to the recipient, a medieval prioress
FDC follows the travels of artist Orlagh Murphy, an 11th century cleric who traveled between the Vatican and Dublin
Isle of Man – landing at Plymouth Rock
FDC & sheet
This is an extensive set of stamps & covers for the 400th anniversary of Mayflower. Not all stamps in this set were part of the Europa set.
Designer: Caleb Johnson, IOM Stamps & Coins
Release date: April 22, 2020
Italy – postal roads
postcards
folder
card
info bulletin
Stamp one Campania and Lazio as show in the 1930 Charter of postal communications and the Kingdom of Italy
Stamp two 1695 Italian peninsula showing the its extensive postal system roads
Release date: June 29, 2020
Jersey – mail ships
presentation pack one
presentation pack two
mini sheet
FDC
sheets of 10
Designer: Martin Mörck
Mörck is one of the premier stamp designers & engravers in the world. The Norwegian artist has has designed over 600 stamps for countries such as for Norway, Faroe Islands, Jersey, Latvia and Canada.
Release date: April 7, 2020
Kosovo – delivery carts on cobble roads |postman on foot
FDC
Designers: D. Luta & L. Ademi
FDC & cancel designer: Hyrije Ademi
Release date: June 10, 2020
Europa 2020 – L
Latvia – horse messenger | bike delivery
mini sheet
sheets of 10
FDC
Designer: Ludis Danilāns
Release date: May 8, 2020
Liechtenstein – stage coach | mounted messenger | boat post
postcards
FDC
mini sheet
This was a transport service that operated between the trading centres at the time in Lindau at Lake Constance and the Italian city of Milan up to 1826 and carried goods, money and letters. It is assumed that the Lindau Messenger was already travelling along the arduous route, which reached its peak on the Splügen Pass at 2113 metres above sea level, on a fairly regular basis towards the end of the 15th century. Stamp issue information – Philatelie Liechtenstein
Designer: René Wolfinger
Release date: March 2, 2020
Lithuania – taurages |1841 letter
sheets of 10
FDC
Designer: A. Gudynas
Release date: April 24, 2020
Luxembourg – postal routes
FDC
Designer: Tom Diederich
Release date: May 5, 2020
Continue to Fantastic EUROPA 2020 – Old Postal Routes M to V
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