Luxembourg’s 2022 stamp program contains some real gems, especially the postmarks. Now that 2022 is all done and dusted, there is a lot discuss about this program because it was neck deep in fascinating themes and artistry.  Luxembourg reminds me of France in some ways – its always easy to find details about their artists and designers. So much so, research often turns into an embarrassment of riches. The biggest decision boils down to where to cut of the information flow. 

The 2021 program was my first exposure to Luxembourg’s modern stamps. I was already familiar with the country’s classic biplane airmails from 1931. 

This multi stamp set was designed and engraved by French illustrator Henri-Lucien Cheffer (1880-1957).  It’s one of Luxembourg’s best early issues. And I’m not just saying that because it has biplanes. Ok, maybe I am. I love biplanes.  Regardless, I included them so we can see how stunning the modern stamps are. Luxembourg uses a high resolution offset method now, which produces intense, vibrant images.  2022’s Stamp Day and Sosthène Weis issues are great examples of how crisp and clean the stamps are.

Two radically different styles, both using high resolution offset to great effect. The colour balance is perfect, especially on the Weis stamp. The high resolution technique allows the artwork leap off the paper. 

Don’t forget to mention the cancels

The other high point of any look at Luxembourg is their cancels. Luxembourg ranks up in the top 10 countries for postmark design and execution. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ve already been treated to a couple, including this owl.

This cancel, issued for the 2022 Birdplex, was created by artist Mariepol Goetzinger of the Naturmusée Natural History Museum. Detailed and perfect. I think I’ve missed a couple commemorative/slogan cancels and maybe an ATM label so I’m heading back to the Luxembourg website later to do another sweep. I tend to get sidetracked with research and often forget to go back and double check for missed issues. 

One last thought on Luxembourg Post. They have one of the best websites around. I tromp through post websites from all around the world, and some are just appallingly bad in design. But Luxembourg offers an organised, efficient site that also presents us with great images to examine. They do a wonderful job. So kudos to them and maybe one day I can visit their brand new HQ – the Helix. 

February 

Esch22, European Capital of Culture
Series: Esch-sur-Alzette, European Capital of Culture 2022
Topics: art | culture

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

For the 3rd time, a Luxembourg city has been declared a “European Culture Capital“.  Esch-sur-Alzette is the 2nd largest  city in Luxembourg.

City of Esch-sur-Alzette 
Let’s celebrate the European Capital of Culture! – Esch2022 

Designer: Vidale&Gloesener
All projects | vidalegloesener

Release date: February 22, 2022

Remix: From Temporary to Contemporary 
Series: Esch-sur-Alzette, European Capital of Culture 2022
Topics: art | culture

5 stamps in booklet format, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset 

Designer: Lex Weyer

“I simplified the themes, made them more abstract, and then drew them freely in colour to create a mood. Of course, it’s not possible to include many details on a small surface, so it’s especially important to depict the themes through a differentiated colour scheme and an illustration using a symbolic character.” Booklet ESCH22 Europ. capital of culture – Post Philately

Lex Weyer joined the family design company Lex+Pit Weyer, créations/publicité in 2004. Lex+Pit’s association with Luxembourg post dates to the 1950s.

Release date: February 2, 2022

March

150th Anniversary of Sosthène Weis (1872-1941)
Topics: art  

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset 

Weis was a watercolourist who trained as a civil engineer and architect. Weis painted about 5,000 scenes, predominately off Luxembourg, focusing on architecture.  

His chosen medium was watercolour painting, which enabled him to capture the prevailing lighting situation and atmosphere of the city. Stylistically, his landscape depictions feature post-Impressionist characteristics. He found inspiration for his watercolours in regular walks throughout the city, which he embarked on almost daily, morning or evening, either alone or in the company of his children. Sosthène Weis (1872-1941) | Villa Vauban

Designer: Binsfeld Communication (LU)
Binfeld was the design firm that produced the 2014  Most Beautiful Stamp for their 175 years of independence of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. 

Release date: March 18, 2022

125 Years Engineers and Scientists
Topics: science

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset 

Designer Quattro has an interesting page on the development of this design:

Using the brand’s isotype, we created a pattern reminiscent of both a molecule and a construction module. At the same time, these intertwined mills symbolise the technical progress towards sustainable development. 
A design to celebrate history / wearequattro.com

Designer: Florencia from Quattro Creative Studio (LU)

I really enjoyed creating this visual language to celebrate such an important anniversary, it’s not every day that you get the opportunity to create a stamp!” 
Florencia – Designer

Quattro is deeply concerned with environmental issues and how we impact the world around us. They carry this philosophy into their design work.

Release date: March 18, 2022

100 Years of Motor-Union Luxembourg
Topics: motorbikes | history

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset 

Moto Union Luxembourg (mul.lu)
Fans of motorbikes might be interested in this writeup on the 2020-2021 Queensland Art Gallery display on motorcycles The Motorcycle Design, Art, Desire . 

Photographer/designer: Tom Diederich (LU)

Release date: March 18, 2022

100 Years Death of Hauptmann von Köpenick (1849-1922)
Topics: history 

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset 

Cobbler turned robber. There’s a rich history behind this cobbler robber, who, by the time he was in his late 50s had already spent 27 years behind bars.  

Wilhelm Voigt, a 57-year-old German shoemaker, impersonates an army officer and leads an entire squad of soldiers to help him steal 4,000 marks. Voigt, who had a long criminal record, humiliated the German army by exploiting their blind obedience to authority and getting them to assist in his audacious robbery. A shoemaker leads German soldiers in a robbery – HISTORY

Designer: Anne Mélan (LU) 
ABOUT | Anne Mélan (wordpress.com)
According to Mélan’s bio she “likes spinach, chocolate and long swims”. I can support anyone who combines spinach and chocolate in one line and can make it work.  

Release date: March 18, 2022

May

50 Years of Luxembourg Flag
Topics: history

1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset lithography and hot foil in silver

Flag of Luxembourg | WorldFlags.net

Designer: Reza Kianpour (L) 
Kianpour & Partners (kianpourandpartners.com)

Release date: May 17, 2022

E22 – Luxembourg – Lithuania Kaunas 2022
Series: Esch-sur-Alzette, European Capital of Culture 2022
Topics: art

2 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset

Artist:  Stasys Ušinskas (1906-1974), Bathing

Lithuanian artist Ušinskas worked in many different medias including stained glass, painting, puppetry and animation.

Stasys Ušinskas (1905–1974) – one of the most introspective in the twentieth century. Lithuanian artists, amazed by the breadth of talent and unusual vision of the world. The artist studied at kaunas art school, later he studied in Paris. Stasys Ušinskas shared his extraordinary talent to many areas of his work: painting, stained glass, theater, glass, leaving bright, exclusive traces in each. He is named the pioneer of modern stained glass and animation in Lithuania. Kaunas Film Office | STASYS UŠINSKAS – Kaunas Film Office

Artist: Foni Tissen (1909–1975) , Nemrod
Tissen studied at the famed Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Appeared at the 1939 New York World’s Fair as part of a group of Luxembourg artists representing the country.

In September 1942, after taking part in the strike against the German occupation, he was deported together with seven other teachers to the Hinzert concentration camp where the inhuman conditions were to exert a profound influence on his work, calling for an ironic level of introspection. Foni Tissen (June 3, 1909 — February 5, 1975), painter | World Biographical Encyclopedia (prabook.com)

Designer: Lex Weyer  Illustration – Detail

Release date: May 17, 2022

Asteroid Day
Topics: space | science

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset lithography and hot foil in silver

Asteroid Day is a UN initiative to raise “awareness of the risks of asteroid impacts”.
We owe this day to a quartet of people:
Dr Brian May (who is also lead guitarist for rock group Queen)
Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart
Grig Richters, film maker
Danica Remy, B612 Foundation President 

Their aim was to promote public education and awareness about both space and the dangers of asteroid impacts.  It is held each year on June 30, the day of the Tunguska Event in 1908. Tunguska, Siberia was the location of a massive meteorite hit that had the impact of a 12-megaton explosion.  An estimated 2,150 km2 (830 sq mi) area was effected, with over 80 million trees flattened. The shock wave was felt as far away as the UK and Batavia, Dutch East Indies.  EarthSky has a good page on the event, including a map and early photos EarthSky | The Tunguska explosion, 114 years ago today. The article goes over some of the early ideas about what it was and how the meteorite created such an enormous explosion.

The above article also makes references NASA’s 2019 re-examination of the event and it’s worth a look as well Tunguska: 111-Year-Old Mystery Inspires New Asteroid Predictions | NASA.

Designer: Reza Kianpour (L)

The challenge was to create a series that could combine a coherent message and visuals for the Asteroid Day theme, to give a singular meaning to each stamp and specific subject for the next 3 years 
Kianpour & Partners – Asteroid Days (kianpourandpartners.com)

Release date: May 17, 2022

EUROPA 2022 – Stories and Myths
Topics: Europa | myths

2 stamps, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset

de Kropemann & Melusina 

Kropemann is such a popular myth in Luxembourg, there is a festival devoted to it. Kropemannsfest – ORT Guttland (visitguttland.lu)

… who or what is Kropemann? According to the legend he’s an underwater creature, and a kind of water spirit. He may look rather scary, but today he’s seen as protector of nature and the landscape of the Attert valley. He’s an ecological guardian to the land and water. ‘Kropemann’ rises from River Attert for celebration (luxtimes.lu)

The Kropemann legend (luxtimes.lu)

Melusina is another water creature. Her story will be familiar to many. 

The myth of Melusina tells the tale of the water goddess Melusina. Melusina was one of three daughters. She was born half fay and half human. When her mother punished her for wrongdoings against her father, Melusina was cursed to become a serpent from the waist down until she met a man who would marry her under the condition of never seeing her on Saturday and keeping his promise.  The Luxembourg’s claimed their ancestor, Siegfried, married this Goddess. He became enchanted with her when he met her in the forest and asked her hand in marriage, agreeing to not see her on Saturdays under any circumstance. She made their castle of Bock appear the morning after her wedding, as if by magic. THE LINE OF MELUSINA: JACQUETTA OF LUXEMBOURG | Venerable Vixens (wordpress.com)

She is ultimately betrayed by her husband who spies on her to find out why she disappears every Saturday. She leaves, cursing her husband telling him that anytime she is seen, there will be a new lord within the year.

Designer: Miriam Rosner
Miriam Rosner on Behance
“I have developed a passion for things such as Letterpress, Gill Sans and homemade bread.” I can get behind this thinking! Monogram

Release date: May 17, 2022

Mammals in Luxembourg
Topics: wildlife | animals

4 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset lithography

• dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) – hazel dormouse or common doormouse Hazel Dormouse – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio
• common hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) – Also called the European Hedgehog European Hedgehog – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio
• European hare (Lepus europaeus) European Hare – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio
• deer – no specific deer is listed so this could be a Roe deer or a Red deer but looks more like a Roe to me Roe Deer – Facts, Diet, Habitat & Pictures on Animalia.bio

Animals of Luxembourg (animalia.bio) is a good resource for exploring Luxembourg’s wildlife. 

Artist: Johan de Crem (F)
Johan de Crem (@johandecrem) • Instagram photos and videos
de Crem has created over 40 stamps for Luxembourg, beginning with his 1993, 3 stamp set National Welfare Fund: Birds (2nd series) featuring 3 birds. 
Designer: Ierace Dechmann + Partners (L) Ierace Dechmann + Partners (idp.lu)
Ierace Dechmann has been in the design and communication business for over 30 years.

Release date: May 17, 2022

Greener Cities
Topics: urban | architecture

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
hi resolution offset

Photographer: Blingbling (L) 
BLINK BLINK
Illustrator Ben Carter (L)
Carter has supplied art for 2 previous stamps: 2014 UNESCO World Heritage: Old quarters and fortifications of City of Luxembourg and 2017
Europa (C.E.P.T.) 2017 – Castles

I believe better environmental awareness must precede meaningful action.  Working in different materials and media, I am exploring how art can be used to communicate environmental issues, especially to young people, but also to society as a whole.  Although climate change is at the centre of the challenges we face, the issues are manifold, and my aim is to explore all the major ones through visual art:  to name but a few; loss of biodiversity; pollution of the seas; over exploitation of resources and waste management; and, deforestation. About — Ben Carter

Designer: Fargo Sàrl
FARGO DESIGN LUXEMBOURG

Release date: May 17, 2022

250 Years of Animal Breeding
Topics: animals 

3 stamps on souvenir sheet, souvenir sheet, FDC, 4 cancels

Release date: July 1-3, 2022

  

 

 

Festival de la Bande Dessinée Contern – 1er Festival de BD de la Grande Région (bdcontern.lu)

Designer: Etienne Willem

Release date: July 16-17, 2022

August

Gmunden – Birdpex 2022 
Topics: birds | events

1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 8, maxi card, FDC, cancel

Artist: Mariepol Goetzinger, Naturmusée Natural History Museum
Goetzinger studied at the Lycée des Arts et Métier. 
Previous stamps 2015 Root Crops  

Release date: August 26-28, 2022

September

Train 1900 
Topics: trains | history

1 stamp, maxi card, cancel

The Train 1900 runs between Pétange and Fond-de-Gras. The Train 1900 collection is a rich combination of several steam and diesel locomotives and two railcars. Travelling in old trains, passengers are taken back to the time of train whistles and the movements of steam engines TRAIN 1900 – Minett park

Photographer: Huberty Georges
Georges’ Instagram page has a handful of photos of old steam trains Georges Huberty (@hubertygeorges) • Instagram photos and videos. 

Release date: September 3-4, 2022

400 Years Jean-Gaspard de Cicignon (1622 – 1696)
Topics: history 

2 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset 

Jean Gaspard De Cicignon – Norwegian Encyclopedia of Artists (snl.no) 

Designer/engraver: Martin Mörck  
Mörck is one of the pre-eminent engravers in the world. Widely recognised as one of the best engravers in the business. 

Release date: September 13, 2022

10 Years Marriage  
Topics: royalty

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset 

Photographer: Sophie Margue (LU) © Maison du Grand-Duc
Designer: Gam SA (LU)

Release date: September 13, 2022

Postcrossing E50g
Topics: events | postcrossing

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset

Postcrossing is a worldwide initiative to connect people around the world through traditional mail. People are encouraged to send postcards (real not digital) to someone via their signup form Postcards connecting the world – Postcrossing
It’s fun and I’ll be signing up this year!

Designer: Stina Fisch (LU)
stina fisch

Release date: September 13, 2022

SEPAC 2022 – Local Beverages
Topics: SEPAC | wine

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset

Luxembourg wine

The wine growing region of Luxembourg stretches along the banks of the Moselle some 42km from Wasserbillig to Schengen. At about 1,300 hectares, it’s smaller than a commercial Californian vineyard, and yet the Grand Duchy is home to more than 450 winegrowers and producers. Luxembourg’s wines in a league of their own (luxtimes.lu)

Photographer: Christian Aschmann
Designer: Fargo Sàrl
FARGO DESIGN LUXEMBOURG

Release date: September 13, 2022

Stamp Day 2022 Differdange
Topics: Stamp Day | events

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset

Photographer: Christian Aschmann (LU)
Designer: Fargo sàrl (LU)

Release date: September 13, 2022

November

Fall Paris Stamp Show 2022 – Molière
Topics: stamps | event | literature

1 stamp, maxi card, cancel

2022 was the 400th anniversary of Molière’s birth.  He was a playwright, actor, director – a lion of French literature. 

Baptized on January 15, 1622, and probably born a day or two before, Moliere – real name Jean-Baptiste Poquelin – remains as central to French culture as Shakespeare to the English-speaking world. When the French refer to their native tongue, it is as the “language of Moliere.” France marks 400 years of Moliere, master of stage, satire – Global Times

Artist: Pit Weyer

Release date: November 3-5, 2022

Orchids 
Topics: plants | flora

4 stamps, FDC, cancel
 

• Orchis Purpurea
• Ophrys apifera
• Dactylorhiza
• Cephalanthera

According to the World Plants Orchid list there are “30,434 accepted species,  and 1,492 hybrids”. The site has a searchable database World Plants: Orchid List

Photographer: Marianne Majerus (LU) Marianne Majerus Garden Images
Majerus specialises in garden & flora photography. Her work has graced over 200 books, including the 2011 Beaux Livres winning Die geheimen Gaerten Luxemburgs with Francoise Maas. 
She was named European Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY)  in both 2023 and 2018.  She has photographed many of the great gardens of the world. Her photographs previously appeared on Luxembourg stamps showcasing roses. 
Layout: Ierace, Dechmann & Partners (LU)

Release date: November 15, 2022

New Headquarters of POST Luxembourg
Topics: architecture

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
high resolution offset

The Helix is a 27,700m2 building that now acts as the post office’s main headquarters. The FDC shows the “helix” spiral staircase in the heart of the building.  Metaform Architects, posted extensive photos, including ones of the staircase,  and details on their website Integrating a HQ into existing urban tissue – metaform architects. 

Metaform Architects won the 2017 competition to transform the historical building into a modern office space for 850 Luxembourg Post employees:

Architectural design: Metaform Architects (LU)
Designer: POST Agence Créa (LU)

Release date: November 15, 2022

70 Years European Court of Justice

1 stamp, FDC, cancel

The buildings housing the Court of Justice of the European Union have been situated in Kirchberg since 1973. Since 2008, work has been going on of the Court in the Nouveau Palais (architect: Dominique Perrault), which consists of the renovated Ancien Palais, the Anneau, Towers A and B, and a Gallery, followed in 2019 by Tower C. 70 years European Court of Justice – Post Philately

No designer listed
Architect: Dominique Perrault

Release date: November 15, 2022

180 Joer POST – Most Beautiful Stamp Design

1 stamp, maxicard, cancel 

René Clement’s design was voted best by a jury of 6 judges. He works full time as a 

The Luxembourger works as Manager at the Centre de Tri, but his true love is painting.  
 
“My stamp features our different business areas as well as our history symbolized by different elements. Everything together is 180 Joer POST at a glance.” René Clement

Designer: René Clement

Release date: November 18-20, 2022

December

Christmas – Winter Fun

2 stamps, FDC, 2 cancels
offset lithography

“Winter activities using a clever weasel, a nervous hedgehog, a cool-headed badger and a cute and playful mole”

Designer: Tanja Majerus
Luxemburg native Majerus now makes her home in Los Angeles, where she has works as a layout artist and animator for companies like Disney, DreamWorks, Universal and MGA.  Among the many projects she has worked on are Sinbad, The Prince of Egypt and the tv series  The Simpsons.

Release date: November 15, 2022 The second cancel issued: December 13, 2022