by catpaw | 21 Jun, 2022 | Stamps
Before starting on Vietnam’s 2022 stamps, I looked over last year’s offerings. What was my favourite? Yikes it was hard to pick. My heart was torn between tigers and food. In the end, I couldn’t pick just one, so both sets win. The last two issues of 2021 were Nguyễn Quang Vinh’s Lunar New Year Tiger stamps and Tô Minh Trang’s Vietnamese Cuisine. Both are exquisite examples of the best Vietnam offers regarding culture, art and stamp design.




Bún, Phở, noodles and tigers. I can’t imagine a better stamp program. You can see all of them here Vietnam’s 2021 stamp issues | Bitter Grounds Magazine.
The Vietstampex Exhibition 2020 will finally be held, from June 24 to 26, 2022, after a two year delay due to Covid restrictions. Two special stamp issues will be released during the exhibition – Sea and Islands of Vietnam: Seabirds and Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Starfruit Tree.

If you are lucky enough to attend VIETSTAMPEX drop a note in the comments. I’d love to hear all about it. You don’t need to write it in English, I’ll figure it out. The show will be held at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labor Culture Palace (91 Tran Hung Dao, Hanoi). The first show was held in 1998, and runs every 5 years so after a two year delay, it must be exciting for collectors in Vietnam to have it return. I know I was over the moon when CAPEX returned here in Toronto. Send photos!
The new year starts with yet another personal favourite topic – coffee, so as far as I’m concerned the year is already a success.
Enjoy
Catpaw
February
Love Stamps

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, maxi card, booklet of stamps
Designer: Nguyễn Quang Vinh
Release date: February 14, 2022
Coffee trees








4 stamps, 1 FDC, cancel, 4 maxi cards
Coffee is grown in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. They are the second largest coffee exporter in the world, selling an estimated 3,637,627,000 lbs a year. This set of stamps show coffee in it’s various stages of growth.
Vietnam has a great coffee culture. If you haven’t tried it, find a place that serves Vietnamese coffee. You won’t be disappointed. One of the highlights of my trips around Toronto is being able to stop and enjoy a cup. If you happen to wander to Toronto one day, stop at Rustle & Still café for a window seat and a Vietnamese coffee. If you have a favourite place for a good Vietnamese coffee, drop it in the comments below.
Designer: Tô Minh Trang
Release date: February 22, 2022
April
Commemorating the 700th Anniversary of the Death of Historian Lê Văn Hưu (1230-1322)


1 stamp, FDC, cancel
Trần Dynasty historian. Credited with writing the first history of Vietnam Lê Văn Hưu’s Đại Việt sử ký | Le Van Huu’s Dai Viet history book.
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: April 9, 2022
50 years of protecting Quang Tri Citadel |Thành cổ Quảng Trị (1972-2022)


1 stamp, FDC, cancel, booklets
The Citadel is an ancient military castle dating to 1809. The original earthen covered fort was commissioned by King Gia Long. By 1837, King Minh Mạng ordered it rebuilt with bricks and served as a military stronghold in the Quảng Trị province until 1945.
This place is not only the political, economic and cultural center of Quang Tri province, but also has an important position in the history of the struggle for national independence and the defense of the Fatherland. In the summer of 1972 (from June 28 to September 16) there was an 81-day and-night fight to protect Quang Tri Citadel, going down in history as the immortal epic against foreign invaders of the Vietnamese people. VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “50 years of protecting Quang Tri Citadel (1972-2022)”
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: April 29, 2022
May
31st Southeast Asian Games – SEA Games 31




4 stamps, 1 stamp on a souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 4 maxi cards
This is the second time Vietnam has hosted the SEA Games. Their first was the 22nd games in 2008.
Designers: Trần Thế Vinh and Nguyễn Du
Release date: May 12, 2022
June
Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Starfruit Tree



4 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 4 maxi cards
Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Starfruit Tree | Truyện cổ tích Việt Nam: Cây khế uses a universal motif of greed and sibling rivalry to tell this cautionary tale. Artist and designer Nguyễn Du created this beautiful storyboard, featuring vividly colourful illustrations. Nguyễn has created many stamps for Vietnam post, but this will rank as his best work.
The story lays out, in 4 frames the basics of the tale and woven between each stamp, is a starfruit tree.
You can read about this set here Folktale from Vietnam – starfruit tree | Bitter Grounds Magazine.
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: June 25, 2022
Sea, Island of Vietnam: Seabirds, islands
series 3





4 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 4 maxi cards, 3 booklets
Special release ceremony took place at this year’s VIETSTAMPEX 2020 in Hanoi.
Designers: Nguyễn Du and Phạm Quang Diệu
Release date: June 24, 2022
August
Waterfalls of Vietnam


4 stamps, FDC, cancel, 4 maxi cards
- Dai Ye waterfall (Son La) – thác Dải Yếm (Sơn La)
- Pongour waterfall (Lam Dong) – Thác Pongour (Lâm Đồng)
- May waterfall (Thanh Hoa) – thác Mây (Thanh Hoá)
- Suoi Tranh waterfall (Kien Giang) – thác Suối Tranh (Kiên Giang).
Designer: Nguyễn Đức Lân
Release date: August 15, 2022
September
Tiger



2 stamps, FDC, cancel, 2 maxi cards
Indochinese tiger Panthera tigris corbetti Mazak ADW: Panthera tigris: INFORMATION (animaldiversity.org)
Issued in conjunction with the Second International Forum on Tiger Conservation.
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: September 5, 2022
Road Traffic Safety
3rd in series
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
- Slow down for kids;
- Check your tires regularly
- Look at the road and give way (Always pay attention)
- Eyes leading the way, must be checked regularly (Check your vision)
First set in this issue was released in 2020.
Designer: Tô Minh Trang
Release date: September 20, 2022
October
Vietnamese Cuisine
4th in series

4 stamps (FDC and cancel to come)
Popular dishes from across Vietnam
- Bánh xeo – Vietnamese crepes
- Bánh khot – mini shrimp pancakes
- cam tấm – “broken rice”
- Bánh mi – Vietnamese specialty sandwich on a baguette
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: October 10, 2022
Revolutionary Soldier Hoàng Thế Thiện (1922-1995)

1 stamp, FDC, maxi card, cancel
Designer: Vương Ánh Nguyệt
Release date: October 20, 2022
Celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (1922-2022)

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
Designer: Phạm Trung Hà
Release date: November 22, 2022
December
Tết Quý Mão – Vietnamese New Year 2023




2 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel, 2 maxi cards
2023 is the Year of the Cat on the Vietnamese zodiac. You can read about it here Tết Quý Mão – Vietnamese New Year 2023 | Bitter Grounds Magazine and see Nguyễn’s entire Lunar New Year stamp cycle.
Designer: Nguyễn Quang Vinh
Release date: December 1, 2022
50th Anniversary of the 12-Day Battle Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the air (1972)

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
This anniversary has previously appeared on stamps in 1987 and 1973
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: December 18, 2022
Church Architecture



3 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 4 postcards
This is a new series
- Phat Diem Cathedral | Nhà thờ Chính Toà Phát Diệm (Ninh Binh)
- Da Nang Cathedral | Nhà thờ Chính Toà Đà Nẵng, Nhà thờ Mặc Bắc (Trà Vinh)
- Mo Bac Church| Nhà thờ Chính Toà Kon Tum (Tra Vinh)
- Kon Tum Cathedral |Nhà thờ Chính Toà Hà Nội.
- Hanoi Cathedral | Nhà thờ Chính Toà Hà Nội.
Designer: Nguyễn Du
Release date: December 24, 2022
100th Anniversary of the Birth of Musician Đỗ Nhuận (1922-1991)

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
Đỗ Nhuận – musician, composer. Composed Vietnam’s first Vietnamese opera – Cô Sao “Miss Sao”.
Do Nhuan has left many valuable works in many different genres, from songs to operas, dance plays, puppet operas, rowing music, soundtracks, chamber works for musical instruments, two musical pieces, ensembles and symphonic ensembles…
The stamp set is designed according to the idea from the song “My homeland Vietnam” with a graphic design style, the stamp model shows the familiar village image of Vietnam, there are mountains, there are rivers, there are village bamboo ramparts hidden under the lyrics.
Released a set of stamps commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of musician Do Nhuan (vietnamnet.vn) Article in Vietnamese
This article (in Vietnamese) The 100th anniversary of the birth of musician Do Nhuan: The one who paved the way into the field of ethnic music (thethaovanhoa.vn) has a good biography on Đỗ and fills in some interesting facts, including a timeline.
There are a number of clips of his opera Miss Sao available on YouTube. But one of the best was a performance by soprano Hà My singing Why Don’t You See Each Other, a song from the opera. It’s beautifully performed and I’ve listened to it at least a dozen times now.
This Wiki page has an excellent synopsis of both the opera and its history Ms. Sao – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This page is in Vietnamese, so use a translator. Don’t bother with the English version of the page, it lacks any relevant details.
This is another good source Restoration and premiere of the musical ‘Miss Sao’ – VnExpress Entertainment on both the opera and how it was restored. Also in Vietnamese. I recommend installing a good translator plugin.

Poster from the 2012 performance of Cô Sao
Designer: Phạm Quang Diệu
Release date: December 25, 2022
200th Anniversary of the Birth of Scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)


1 stamp, FDC, cancel, maxi card
Designer: Phạm Quang Diệu
Release date: December 27, 2022
by catpaw | 21 Jun, 2022 | Espresso fueled mumblings
If you are a fan of folktales, myths, and legends, then 2022 is your year. Vietnam has joined the growing list of fantastic local tales on stamps with their June 25 release Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Starfruit Tree | Truyện cổ tích Việt Nam: Cây khế.
The story uses a universal motif of greed and sibling rivalry to spin a cautionary tale. Artist and designer Nguyễn Du created this beautiful storyboard, featuring vividly colourful illustrations. Nguyễn has created many stamps for Vietnam post, but this will rank as his best work.

Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Tree by artist Nguyễn Du
The story lays out, in 4 frames the basics of the tale and woven between each stamp, is a starfruit tree. Before we go further, I realize not everyone knows what a starfruit is and why it’s called a starfruit, so let’s start with a photo.

Yes, it is star shaped when sliced up, hence it’s name. The tree grows throughout southeast Asia and can be found all over Vietnam. It’s hard to describe the flavour, a bit sweet and sour, occasionally a little bitter with hints of citrus. I can’t quite figure out how to explain because it’s unique and worth trying.
The series was issued for the Vietstampex National Postage Stamp Exhibition 2020 which takes place June 24 to June 26, 2022. Like everything else in the world, this was postponed from 2020.
Folktale from Vietnam – origin story
I referenced a number of translations for this article, including The Golden Star Fruit Tree (vietnam-culture.com) and Fairy Tales – Read Fairy Tales: The Tree (elaopa.org). The story revolves around a starfruit tree and two brothers. The brothers’ parents died, leaving them property to be divided between them. The younger brother was a sweet, gentle person and the older a greedy, ill tempered individual.

As time went on, both brothers married. The older brother decided he wanted to live on his own with his wife, telling his younger brother he had to move out. Being a greedy sort, he took the lion’s share of the property, with the best gardens and house. That left the younger and his wife with a broken down hut to live in.
The only thing of value on the property was a starfruit tree. The younger brother and his wife eked out a living from the poor soil, and carefully tended to the tree. One year, the tree began to flourish, producing fruit that was unusually bright yellow and tasty looking. The brother and his wife were excited, thinking they could take the fruit to market and buy rice with the money they made.
The giant bird & the starfruit tree
The morning they were going to take the fruit to market, they found a giant bird roosting in the tree, eating their valuable fruit. The brother, in despair, tried to chase the bird away crying out they needed that fruit to sell. Without that fruit they will starve.
The bird replied, telling the poor couple that if it allowed him to eat their starfruit, the bird would reward them with gold nuggets. The great bird told the pair to sew a bag measuring 3ft long and wait for the bird’s return. As long as the bird was allowed to eat from the tree, the couple would be rewarded with gold.
The shocked couple returned to their hut and discussed the bird’s proposition. They knew without that fruit, they would be faced with hunger, but decided to do as the bird instructed. The next morning, the bird returned and ate all the fruit. Husband and wife clung to each other, wondering if they had made a mistake in trusting this bird.

After eating all the ripe fruit on the tree, the bird flew down to the ground and told the brother to climb on board, with his bag. The brother obeyed and the pair flew off into the distance. They flew for hours, eventually landing on a deserted island. The bird told the brother to dismount and look around. The island was filled with wonderful treasures of gold, silver, and jewels.
The bird instructed the brother to fill his bag. That was his reward for his generosity. Doing as he was told, the brother packed his bag full, and the bird flew him back to his home. From then on, the brother and his wife lived a better life. They remained kind-hearted, never changed their ways, and often helped their fellow villagers.
The older brother shows his greed
One day, the younger brother invited the older brother over to commemorate their parents. The older brother hadn’t changed and was still greedy and selfish. He despised his younger brother and began to make unreasonable demands on him for the honour of attending the commemoration. Not knowing his brother was now wealthy, he insisted, on what he thought would be unreachable demands, believing the brother would be humiliated. The older brother wanted the road and path leading up to the younger brother’s home covered in rugs and mats and have the gates adorned with gold.
The younger brother didn’t want to cause a problem and complied. The older brother and his wife arrived and were shocked to see the younger brother doing so well. During their meal, he found out the secret of their good fortune. The younger brother, being a decent individual, thought they could share the treasures, but the older brother wanted the tree to himself. He proposed he and his brother swap properties, he would take the hut and the tree, and his brother could have the richer properties and all its wealth. The younger brother had always complied with his older brother’s wishes and so once again agreed.

The older brother lay about by the starfruit tree, eager for the bird to return. One morning, the bird reappeared and made the same deal with the brother. He gave the instructions to the brother about making a bag 3 feet long and to prepare for the trip the next day.
The brother’s selfishness causes a disaster

Instead of making one bag, the brother made two, each 6ft long so he could bring more gold and gems home than his brother had. The next day, the bird arrived and ate the starfruit and then took the brother to the island. The brother was filled with insatiable greed and stuffed both bags with as much gold as he could. He had so much, he struggled to get back onto the bird.
The combined weight of the brother and his over filled sacks was almost too much, and the bird struggled to lift off and fly away. While over the water, the bird could barely stay aloft, and began to sway back and forth because of the excess weight. It was no good, the bird couldn’t fly properly because the brother’s greed was too much. Eventually the bird tilting too far and the brother fell into the sea. He refused to let go of his treasure and was swept away, drowning rather than saving himself. His greed led to his own death.
Souvenir sheet
This cautionary tale is completed with a spectacular souvenir sheets. Vietnam issued a beautiful star-shaped souvenir sheet, complete with starfruit decorating the edges.

Souvenir sheet showing final village scene
The final scene, played out on this sheet, shows a happy village, content and living peacefully.
The image on the stamp shows the representative element of pure Vietnamese culture with 5-storey ancient houses, brick courtyards, straw trees, buffalo herds, rice fields. The character of the characters, honesty or cunning, hard work or laziness … They are all clearly depicted in contrast. VNPost | Introducing the stamp set “Vietnamese Fairy Tales: The Tree”
If you are a fan of animation, then this Vietnamese cartoon, from the Children’s Channel at BHMedia, about the Starfruit tree story should delight you. It is in Vietnamese and myy advice is to simply enjoy the beauty of the artwork and not bother with the bizarre automated captioning. The tale is easy to follow and the artwork is beautiful. Enjoy.
More folktales and stories
And finally, if you are a lover of folktales and legends from around the world, this year’s EUROPA theme is a must see. EUROPA 2022 celebrates local stories and myths from over 60 countries. You can check them out here Weaving tales with EUROPA 2022 – Stories & Myths | Bitter Grounds Magazine. As well, don’t forget to check out my TOPICALS, EUROPA & SEPAC stamps index. There is a section titled Ghost stories, monsters, myths & legends, with 5 articles (as of publication date) dealing with myths and legends.
As always, I hope you enjoyed this article. It takes time and work to pull together posts for Bitter Grounds and you can help keep it running with “Buy Me a Coffee” donations. Every donation makes a difference.
Catpaw
by catpaw | 10 May, 2022 | Stamps
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a small island in Australian territory, offers a small program of 1 or 2 sets per year. This year starts (and possibly ends) with a look at Jukongs, small wood sailboats used by the islanders. This is typical of stamps for Cocos, they tend to stay with themes relevant to the island, rather than tossing out dozens of generic issues.
If you like this style of design, check out Australia’s new season 2022 Australian stamps because it starts with a pretty decent boat set as well.
Enjoy.
May
Historical Jukongs




2 stamps, souvenir sheet, 2 gutter strips, 2 FDCs, cancel
offset
Also called dukongs. Cocos previously issued stamps featuring Jukongs in 2007 and 1999. A special souvenir sheet with a Jukong stamp, was issued for the 1984 Ausipex Philatelic Exhibition
Influenced by Malay and Scottish watercraft, the traditional wooden sailboat of Cocos (Keeling) Islands was well adapted to the needs
and conditions of the atoll environment. The jukong (or dukong) was broad-bottomed, with a shallow draught and almost vertical sides.
As well as being used for work, fishing and transportation, jukongs were used for social racing. Australia Stamp Bulletin No. 377, 2022
Designer: Tim Hancock, Backpack Creative
Release date: May 17, 2022
October
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Pandanus

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
The pandanus (also called the Screw Pine) is endemic to the islands.
Designer: Jo Muré
Release date: October 4, 2022
While your here, take a look at Coco’s Island offerings from 2021.
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by catpaw | 27 Mar, 2022 | Stamps
Prepping the page for Spain 2022 stamps is a bit complicated. It takes a lot of toing and froing among different pages to pull all the postmarks, postcards, FDCs, stamps and ATMs into one coherent format. Spanish post has info in 5 or 6 separate sections, so it means a lot of organising before the fun part starts. It took about 5 hours just to get Jan to March downloaded, images prepared, info bits & links created, the draft outline for the intro prepped and everything laid out. So, a lot of work. But I get rewarded with amazing cancels and stamps.
A few improvements
This year you may notice a few minor changes in how things are listed. I’m putting greater effort into listing which series the stamps belong to. This will make it easier to track themes.
Another interesting area is ATM stamps. They tend to be ignored in many listings, but I find them fascinating. Last year, they were listed, but no special attention was drawn to them. I’m correcting this oversight and will provide details on the stamps when possible.
Artist’s proofs are an intriguing area that isn’t often seen. Spain offers limited edition proofs for select stamps and I think they belong on this page. I’ve been debating about creating them as a separate page, but I’ll wait and see how many are released. Last year saw 7 “tests” or proofs released, each printed with a seal. Here’s a sample from this year:

Garajonay National Park – UNESCO
Cancels
Oh the cancels they issue! As a long time lover of postmarks, Spain has been one of the great pleasures coming out of my philatelic explorations last year. And I’m happy to say, 2022 is equal to 2021 in intricate and imaginative design. What other post office can turn a squid tentacle into a must have cancel?

Not sure, but this may be the best cancel of the year. But, early days yet.
Don’t forget you can see last year’s stamps here Spain 2021
January
Xacobeo 2022
Commemorative Postmark

POSTMARK PLACE: Santiago de Compostela
Camino Holy Year 2022 – All you need to know | Caminoways.com
Release date: January 1, 2022
Pontevedra
Series: 12 months 12 stamps



1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Pontevedra
Pontevedra is a city on the Iberian peninsula Visit Pontevedra – Official Tourism Website of Pontevedra (visit-pontevedra.com)
Release date: January 3, 2022
Mental health and Covid-19
Series: ATM Philatelic Point
1 ATM stamp, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
Release date: January 10, 2022
International Year of Glass
Series: ATM Philatelic Point
Commemorative Postmark

1 ATM label, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
Home | International Year Of Glass 2022 (iyog2022.org)
Release date: January 10, 2022
Calçotada
Series: Tourism. Gastronomic Tourism


1 stamp, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
A calçotada festival is a Catalan feast where people gather to eat calçots, or grilled onions. This Spanish tradition is the sign that spring is just around the corner, a way to say goodbye to the winter by eating fresh and young onions. Calçot is a type of green onion and it comes from the Valls region in Catalonia, Spain. La calçotada, a delicious Catalan way to celebrate springtime – Luc & June Travel & Food Blog (lucandjune.com)
Calçotada: A Guide To The Catalan Onion Craze (theculturetrip.com)
Release date: January 14, 2022
Series: Tourism. Gastronomic Tourism
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
Octopus Festival of O Carballiño
Release date: January 14, 2022
XLII SEILU ERAKUSKETA-PHILATELIC EXHIBITION. ELGOIBARKO DULTZAINEROAK
Commemorative Postmark
Release date: January 15, 2022
Pyrite is also called iron pyrite and fool’s gold. If you’d like to learn a bit more about pyrite, check out the University of Nottingham’s fun series Periodic Table of Videos.
Nile Red has an interesting video that explores the chemical composite of pyrite as well. His Youtube channel is always fascinating
What is Fool’s Gold? – YouTube.
Release date: January 18, 2022
February
Bizkaia
Series: 12 months 12 stamps
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Bizkaia
Release date: February 1, 2022
Olvera
POSTMARK PLACE: Olvera
Release date: February 7, 2022
Disello 2022
Series: National Stamp Design Contest

General category winner Collective applause by Valencian Ángel Luis González

Youth category winner United against the virus by Jessica Yance Vargas

2 stamps, 2 FDC, 2 cancels
POSTMARK PLACE:
This is the 8th year for the National Stamp Design Contest. This year’s theme was “A stamp for those who take care of us“. 2 categories are considered, general open to all and youth.
Youth Category winner: Jessica Yance Vargas with design titled “United against the virus”
General Category winner: Valencian Ángel Luis González with a design titled “Collective applause”
Release date: February 18, 2022
50 years Mercabarna – Central Fruit and Vegetable Market
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Barcelona
The Mercabarna is a wholesale fruit & veg market that operates in downtown Barcelona. It is a massive city within a city that runs 24 hrs with over 600 companies devoted to the “distribution, preparation, importing and exporting of fresh and frozen products”. It opened in 1967 under the name
Mercados de Abastecimientos de Barcelona SA (Mercabarna). Over the decades, it has grown to include fish markets, butchers, and flower halls. General shopping isn’t open to the general public but visits for certain groups can be arranged.
Mercabarna | Home | Mercabarna
Release date: February 25, 2022
30 years of the urban system – Eixo Atlantico
POSTMARK PLACE: Valencia
Release date: February 25, 2022
Andalusia: Gazpacho
Series: Gastronomy – Spain in 19 dishes
1 souvenir sheet
offset
Issued in conjunction with Day of Andalusia
The Andalusian gazpachos are the legacy of the civilizations that carved out their customs over the centuries. Its simple and economical ingredients and without temporality, and its easy execution, allowed its durability over time, evolving slowly, as do traditional recipes. As it expanded, modifications appeared that gave rise to the multitude of recipes that we can include in the great family of gazpacho. Issuance of spain stamp in 19 dishes. Andalusia. Gazpacho. (correos.es)
Release date: February 28, 2022
March
Fallas 2022 Valencia
Series: Festivals
POSTMARK PLACE: València
ATM stamps were also released. See March 10, 2022. España Correos issued a poster for the event showing all the releases for Fallas 2022.
Release date: March 1, 2022
Luis Simarro Lacabra
1 souvenir sheet
From The Investigation by artist by Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923)
‘The Investigation’, painted in 1897 by Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923), portrays Luis Simarro in white coat, seated at a bench suitably arrayed with bottles of histological stains, preparing material for microscopic examination (Figure 1). The neurohistologist is surrounded by his pupils, including the future psychiatrist Eusebio Gayarre and neurologists Pío del Río Hortega (1882-1945) and Nicolás Achúcarro Lund (1880-1918), in the laboratory in his home at no. 41 Arcos de Santa Maria Street (now named Augusto Figueroa), Madrid.
Breathnach, C S and Nieves Fernández, N (2002) History of Neuroscience: Luis Simarro Lacabra (1851-1921): The Silver Link between Golgi and Cajal, IBRO History of Neuroscience
Release date: March 3, 2022
XI International Collecting Fair
Commemorative Postmark
POSTMARK PLACE: Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz)
Release date: March 5, 2022
International Women’s Day
Series: 8MTodoElAño
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
For the generic stamp I considered the true meaning of feminism. It is a struggle that women exercise in order to achieve equal rights. Feminist women are therefore women who help other women and their union is what leads to generate real changes.
The union of women creates a beautiful and inspiring “landscape”, like a wild field. Therefore, I have drawn the hands of two women holding (helping) each other and emanating from them a lot of flowers. With this drawing I intend to inspire the new generations to continue with that ‘legacy’ that these great women have left us and continue to advance all together.
Isa Muguruza 2022
The philosophy behind this stamps design involve both tradition and new elements:
The flower as a symbol has been linked to femininity and women throughout history. There is the relationship with rootedness, land, fertility, even in all its movements and seasonalities that can be compared to our cycles. In addition, due to its shape, the flower has often been used as a symbol of representation of the female reproductive system. The flowers represent diversity, beauty, connection with nature, life, growth, transformation and strength (they grow even on asphalt).
The metaphor of flowers allows us to combine several ideas that I wanted to transmit: the work of the 8 women honored is like a seed that they planted and that we have to feed so that it continues to grow.
Finally, the technique used by the designer in her own words: My illustration is totally digital, from the first sketches to the last final art is made with photoshop. The color palette used is common in my work. Pink, purple, yellow and blue tones mainly. I also like to play with color by decontextualizing the images and making it seem that it is a dreamlike reality very far from the one we are in.
Isa Muguruza 2022 Stamps – 8 March International Women’s Day (correos.es)
Designer: Isa Muguruza
Muguruza will be designing all the 2022 stamps in which woman are the major theme.
Release date: March 8, 2022
Fallas 2022
ATM stamps
2 ATM stamps, 2 FDCs, cancels
POSTMARK PLACE: València
Naranjos, València
postcard
1 pre-stamped postcard, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: València
Limited run of 300 cards
Release date: March 17, 2022
Charming Villages
4 stamps with vignettes, FDC, cancel
offset
Release date: March 21, 2022
Gastronomy – La Roja
Series: gastronomy
2 stamps on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
One of the stamps is dedicated to the Bean of Anguiano. This unique legume is a hallmark throughout La Rioja. The sensation it produces in the mouth is very pleasant, soft and buttery. It is a smaller grain with less robust skin, which is appreciated when cooking and consuming it. The cooking is very comfortable since it is cooked before and the grain does not break, even if it is overcooked. It is very adaptable, since being such a fine grain allows several combinations. This degree of quality and all these characteristics are due to the climate and typical gravel soils of this mountain area.
La Nuez de Pedroso is the PDO protagonist of the second label. This nut is the only Protected Designation of Origin in the entire national territory. It extends over a large part of the territory of La Rioja, through the term of Pedroso and the municipalities of the upper middle valleys of the Najerilla and Oja rivers and their tributaries. The whole process of the Walnut is done in an artisanal way. Thanks to the geographical environment, this nut has more antioxidants, tannins and omega-3 fatty acids. This is the result of the climate and drying in the open air, as was done before, allowing the nut to endure in very good conditions for up to a year. Stamps – Gastronomy D.O. Protected La Rioja (correos.es)
Release date: March 22, 2022
Garajonay National Park
Series: World Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 located:
Island of La Gomera, Province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
And for those who like coordinates: N28 7 34.5 W17 14 14
Release date: March 22, 2022
Natural Park of L’Albufera
ATM Philatelic point
ATM label coming soon
POSTMARK PLACE: VALÈNCIA
Release date: March 24, 2022
Our Lady of Anguish and Solitude – EXFILE LVIII
POSTMARK PLACE: León
Release date: March 25, 2022
Museo del Greco – Toledo
Series: Museums. 1st in series
1 stamp, sheet of 9, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Toledo
Three museums will be featured this year, Museum of America (Madrid), the Museo del Greco (Toledo) and the Museum of Cádiz (Cádiz).
The Museo del Greco is dedicated to Domenikos Theotokopoulos, El Greco’s works.
Release date: March 25, 2022
Museum of America – Madrid
Series: Museums. 2nd in series
1 stamp, sheet of 9, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
The Museum of America in Madrid is the only museum in the world dedicated to the preservation, research and dissemination of the heritage of the American continent and the peoples who have inhabited it historically. Our collections are wide and diverse: pre-Hispanic archaeological objects, works of art from the viceregal period and a large ethnographic sample of the American cultures of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Release date: March 25, 2022
Series: Museums. 3rd in series
1 stamp, sheet of 9, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: : Cadiz
Museum of archeology, fine arts & ethnography
Release date: March 25, 2022
Quay – Juan Carlos Argüello (1965 – 1995)
Series: urban art
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
Release date: March 30, 2022
Andrés Rábago, “El Roto”
Series: graphic humour
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
POSTMARK PLACE: Madrid
- National Illustration Award (2012)
- Leyenda award from the Booksellers’ Guild of Madrid (2015)
- Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts (2017)
The cartoonist and painter, El Roto (Andrés Rabago García), is a household name in Spain, his satirical creations appearing on a daily basis in the national broadsheet, El País. Visually austere, tirelessly observant and masterful in his choice of words, El Roto, according to the writer Antonio Muñoz Molina is “a sniper who fires a single shot every day and always hits the target.” El Roto – Colección Solo (coleccionsolo.com)
Release date: March 31, 2022
April
Spanish capital of gastronomy 2022 – Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Series: gastronomy
1 stamp, cancel
offset
Release date: April 4, 2022
Hermitage of San Baudelio (Soria)
Series: Artistic heritage
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Release date: April 7, 2022
Comuneros and Germanías – 500 Years of Popular Revolts
Series: Ephemerides
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Revolt of the Germanías (1519–1522)
Release date: April 19, 2022
Mount of Santa Trega – A Guard – Pontevedra
Series: Nature
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Release date: April 21, 2022
Carlos Ruiz Zafón (1964 – 2020)
Series: Literature
1 stamp, cancel
offset
Release date: April 22, 2022
Selected work in the VI Exhibition: Carmen Peláez
Series: Mail Art & Airmail
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Artist: Carmen Pelaez
Release date:: April 24, 2022
50 years since the death of Clara Campoamor
1 stamp, sheet of 8, FDC cancel
offset
Spanish politician, women’s rights activist
Release date:: April 29, 2022
Buns of Santa Barbara
Series: Walk of Traditions
Commemorative Postmark

POSTMARK PLACE: ICOD DE LOS VINOS (STA. CRUZ DE TENERIFE)
Release date: April 30, 2022
May
New Tabarca Heritage Complex
Series: Nature
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset
Release date: May 4, 2022
700 years Since the Foundation of Portugalete 1322-2020
Series: Ephemeris
1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 8, FDC, cancel
offset
Its birth as a town dates back to the fourteenth century, although the town was already inhabited by seafarers settled in the shelter of its natural port.
In 1322, Doña Mª Díaz de Haro widow of the infante Don Juan, and Lady of Bizkaia founded the villazgo granting it the jurisdiction of Logroño.
The foundation, whose town charter signed by Dª María was lost, was confirmed by Doña María herself on June 11, 1333 and years later was ratified on August 21, 1432, by Juan II Rey de Castilla y León, a document that has reached our days. Portugalete’s 700th anniversary website (portugalete700.eus)
Release date: May 5, 2022
Europa 2022 – Myths & Legends
Series: Europa

1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 6, FDC, cancel
The sleeping dragon – Mallorca
This stamp depicts the Island of Sa Dragonera, who’s silhouette resembles a dragon
… following the line of the myth that surrounds it, there are many small “dragons”, guardians of the area: the sargantanas or lizards of Lilford, endemic species of Mallorca and Menorca. They are similar to salamanders and during the warmer months can be seen as soon as they disembark on the most uninhabited islands in the area.
Sa Dragonera takes its name from its own silhouette. If you fly over the island, the image leaves no room for doubt showing the figure of a sleeping dragon. Stamps – Europe. Myths and legends. The sleeping dragon. Not good… (correos.es)
Sa Dragonera Natural Park, Mallorca | SeeMallorca.com
HOME | My Site (sadragonera.org)
Release date: May 9, 2022
Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920)
Series: Literature
1 stamp, souvenir sheet of 6, FDC, cancel
offset
Release date: May 10, 2022
Isabel Zendal (b1771)
Series: Health
1 stamp, sheets of 25, FDC, cancel
offset
Spanish nurse Isabel Zendal was a pioneer in promoting vaccinations. WHO declared her to be the 1st nurse to participate in an international medical mission, yet she remains one of the unsung heroes of public health.
Release date: May 12, 2022
World Central Kitchen, José Andrés
Series: Civic Values
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, cancel
Founded in 2010 by Spanish Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is the first organization to respond to emergencies, offering food during humanitarian, climate and community crises while increasing the resilience of food systems hand in hand with the communities in which it works.
Stamps – world central kitchen (correos.es)
WCK has prepped and delivered over 31 million meals to Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes and country. They also work with refugees from/in Mexico, Afghanistan and Venezuela. WCK also works with people hit by natural disasters from South Africa to US.
Release date: May 16, 2022
Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences – Madrid
Series: World Heritage
1 stamp on a souvenir sheet, cancel
offset & calcography
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2021.
Located at the urban heart of Madrid, this cultural landscape evolved since the creation of the tree-lined Paseo del Prado avenue, a prototype of the Hispanic alameda, in the 16th century. The avenue features major fountains, notably the Fuente de Apolo and the Fuente de Neptuno, and the Fuente de Cibeles, an iconic symbol of the city, surrounded by prestigious buildings. The site embodies a new idea of urban space and development from the enlightened absolutist period of the 18th century.
Release date: May 26, 2022
Entry of Spain into NATO
Series: Ephemeris
1 stamp, cancel
Release date: May 29, 2022
Spain with Ukraine
1 stamp
offset
Release date: May 30, 2022
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