Turkey’s 2021 stamp program includes three centenary commemoratives, Europa issues, sports, and arts. Frustratingly, information offered by Turkey’s post office doesn’t include any details about designers, regular definitive issues, or, much else.
Among the centenary stamps are National Independence, founding of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and the Sakarya Battle. Another issue, worth looking for will be the Expo 2021 stamps featuring Hatay, the gateway to the Silkroad. Much can be done with this as a topic. Hatay is considered one of the oldest settlements in Turkey, dating to the middle paleolithic era. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, Expo 2021 has been postponed a year, and I expect the stamps won’t be released this year.
Don’t expect the summer 2021 Olympic stamps either. Like most countries, Turkey will likely postpone them as well. Other stamps that sound intriguing include the cucurbits, which could be cucumbers, luffas, watermelons, pumpkins, or several other members of the gourd family. The entry is a bit cryptic about what the stamp will be.
Yet to be announced are the regular definitive and government stamps. I’ll keep scouring PTT’s website for details as they are released. Sign up for my newsletter and receive updates & new posts direct to your inbox. Use the little signup box in the sidebar to the right.
UPDATE: April 6, 2021
Many new additions to explore. Turkey issues a number of special envelopes that are easy to miss. I’ve included them, plus the cancels. These envelopes are not FDCs, so they may come with any current stamps. Check out the Earthquake Awareness envelope. The cancel is great. You’ll also find some new definitive issues. Sometimes translations or differences in postal systems make it a difficult to list items, but I think I have the listings correct. Regular issues and standard issues appear to match up with what are called definitives here in Canada. If I’m incorrect, please, let me know in the comments below.
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Turkey’s 2021 stamp program for January
Centenary of National Independence
POSTMARK PLACE: Ankara
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, FD postal cancel, information sheet
Release date: Jan. 6, 2021
Joint Issue – Republic of Turkey-Kyrgyz Republic
1 stamp on a souvenir sheet
Release date: Jan. 12, 2021
100th Anniversary of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
POSTMARK PLACE: Ankara
1 stamp, 1 souvenir sheet, FDC, FD post mark
Release date: Jan. 21, 2021
February
Birdhouses
POSTMARK PLACE: Ankara
2 stamps, FDC, FD stamp
Release date: Feb. 19, 2021
March
Earthquake Awareness
Earthquake Does Not Kill Negligence Kills
Special envelope, cancel
Release date: March 11, 2021
COVID-19 Outbreak
Special envelope, cancel
Release date: March 11, 2021
100th anniversary adoption of National Anthem
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Ankara
Release date: March 12, 2021
Medical Day
Special envelope, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Istanbul
Release date: March 14, 2021
Paintings of Our Turkish Painters (Devrim ERBIL) –
Turkish Painters
\
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
POSTMARK PLACE: Istanbul
Release date: March 19, 2021
World Water Day
Special envelope
POSTMARK PLACE: Ankara
Release date: March 22, 2021
Official Postage Stamps on Needle Work
4 stamps
Definitive issue
Release date: March 23, 2021
Tolerance and Acceptance
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
Definitive issue
POSTMARK PLACE: Ankara
Release date: March 26, 2021
April
Our Cultural assets
The ancient city of Dara
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
Release date: April 20, 2021
Kids Day Games
Special envelope, cancel
Release date: April 23, 2021
May
Year of Yunus Emre and the Turkish Language
Special day cover, cancel
Release date: May 1, 2021
TÜRKSAT 5A
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
Release date: May 5, 2021
Traditional Turkish Archery
2 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
Release date: May 6, 2021
Europa 2021 Endangered national wildlife
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
- Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
- Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus)
Photographer: SAD-AFAG Cem Orkun KIRAÇ
Designer: Gamze AKSOY
Release date: May 9, 2021
More Europa stamps here: Europa 2021 Endangered Wildlife stamps | Bitter Grounds Magazine
Zeki Müren (1931-1996)
Singer, actor, composer
3 stamps, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, portfolio
POSTMARK PLACE: ANKARA
Release date: May 26, 2021
Conquest of Istanbul
Special day cover, cancel
Any stamp issued in the previous 6 months can be used on this cover
Release date: May 29, 2021
June
World Environment Day
Advanced Transformations
1 souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
Release date: June 05, 2021
UEFA Euro Football 2020
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
Release date: June 11, 2021
July
EUROMED 2021 Handicraft Jewellery of Mediterranean
1 stamp on a souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
Telkari (Filigree) technique, which is one of the Turkish handicraft techniques, is a decorative art similar to fine-looking lace obtained by curling, wrapping or knitting thin silver or gold wires to form various patterns or by soldering them on a metal background. Telkari is also referred to as “filigree”. Filigree is a combination of the Latin words “filium” (yarn) and “granium” (wheat).The “Tie Pin” on the stamp is inspired by rumi patterns and is made by filigree technique and designed by applying inlay and embossing process in patches. The “Tie Pin” in the first day cover made using turquoise stone was inspired by palmet patterns and made with filigree technique and adorned with mosaic art. Euromed 2021
Designers: Irmak ÇAM and Leyla AYDIN KARA
FDC designer: Asl ÖZTÜRK
Release date: July 12, 2021
15 July Democracy and National SOLİDARİT
Special cover with 100th anniversary adoption of National Anthem stamp
Release date: July 15, 2021
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
2 stamps, FDC, cancel
Release date: July 23, 2021
KABAKGİLLER
Cucurbits – member of the gourd family
3 stamps, FDC, cancel
- cucumber
- watermelon
- bitter gourd
Release date: July 30, 2021
August
750th Year of the Death of Haci Bekt
Special cover, cancel
Release date: August 16, 2021
100th anniversary of the Sakarya Battle
stamp, FDC, cancel
Release date: August 23, 2021
100th anniversary of Galip Haktanır
special FDC
Release date: August 24, 2021
950th Anniversary of the Malazgirt Victory
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
Release date: August 26, 2021
September releases
850th Anniversary of the Birth of Ahi Evran’ın Doğumunun
1 graphic cover, cancel
Release date: September 13, 2021
October
12th Transport and Communications Forum
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
Release date: October 6, 2021
100th Anniversary of the Treaty of Kars
maxi card, cancel
Release date: October 13, 2021
Farewell to Our Beloved Ones Who Passed Away
1 graphic cover
Release date: October 21, 2021
Sharks
4 stamps. FDC, cancel
FDC cancel reads Sharks 22.10.2021 ANKARA
Release date: October 22, 2021
Wild Flowers
5 stamps
Release date: October 27, 2021
November
ATATÜRK Definitives
4 stamps, FDC, cancel
Release date: November 5, 2021
Teachers’ Day and ATATÜRK
maxi card, cancel
Release date: November 21, 2021
International Day For the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Special Day Cover, cancel
Release date: November 25, 2021
December
Antique Stoves
1 stamp, FDC, cancel
Release date: December 16, 2021
If you enjoyed this article, try another country: Stamps by country 2021 | Bitter Grounds Magazine
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Hello
Do you know of any unissued stamps from 2021?? I heard of one with a bridge between Turkey and Africa but I want to make sure that this is the case
Lioking forward to hearing from you
Kind regards,
Hakim
Hi Hakim,
I’ve looked through the the original2021 program and didn’t see anything about this stamp. Here’s a link to the file https://www.ptt.gov.tr/Lists/EmisyonProgramlari/Attachments/38/2021%20YILI%20PUL%20EM%C4%B0SYON%20PROGRAMI.pdf
I thought maybe it might pop up as a special cover or postcard, and checked but found no reference. It’s possible it was proposed but never made it to the design stage. I’ll scour the news archives for 2020 and see if it pops up there. If find a reference I’ll send you an email.