EUROPA 71 - France - Santa Maria della Salute, Venice 8.5.1971

Santa Maria della Salute (Saint Mary of Health), commonly known simply as theSalute, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica located at Punta della Dogana in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the city of Venice, Italy.

It stands on the narrow finger of Punta della Dogana, between the Grand Canal and the Giudecca Canal, at the Bacino di San Marco, making the church visible when entering the Piazza San Marco from the water. The Salute is part of the parish of the Gesuati and is the most recent of the so-called plague-churches.

In 1630, Venice experienced an unusually devastating outbreak of the plague. As a votive offering for the city's deliverance from the pestilence, the Republic of Venice vowed to build and dedicate a church to Our Lady of Health (or of Deliverance, Italian: Salute). The church was designed in the then fashionable baroque style by Baldassare Longhena, who studied under the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi. Construction began in 1631. Most of the objects of art housed in the church bear references to the Black Death.

The dome of the Salute was an important addition to the Venice skyline and soon became emblematic of the city, inspiring artists like Canaletto, J. M. W. Turner, John Singer Sargent, and Francesco Guardi.

Thank you Merja.

EUROPA CEPT 1972 - France 22.4.1972

The Council of Europe is an international organization focused on promoting democracy, rule of law, human rights, economic development and integration of certain regulatory functions in Europe

EUROPA 1978 - Monuments - Cyprus 24.4.1978

The 1978 theme for EUROPA CEPT stamps was “Monuments”. Brief details of the stamps issued by Cyprus are:

(25ct) Internal view of the yard of Chrysorrhogiatissa Monastery. The important Monastery of Chrysorrhogiatissa is situated at a distance of about a mile from Panayia, the birthplace of the late Archbishop Makarios.  

(75ct) Kolossi Castle, which is situated 6 miles west of the town of Limassol, was built in the mid 15th century by the Grand Master of the Order of St. John, Louis de Magnac. On the Castle's east side there are coats of arms of the Louis de Magnac family.  

(125cts) Municipal Library at Paphos. The library, which was built in 1946, is the smallest of a group of six public buildings, all of 20th century Neoclassic style built round a large square in Paphos.  

Thank you Merja.

San Marino 1975 EUROPA CEPT St Marinus Guercino Francesco Barbieri Art 14.5.1975

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (February 8, 1591 – December 22, 1666), best known as Guercino, or Il Guercino, was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from the region of Emilia, and active in Rome and Bologna. The vigorous naturalism of his early manner is in contrast to the classical equilibrium of his later works. His many drawings are noted for their luminosity and lively style.

Saint Marinus was the founder of a chapel and monastery, in 301, from where the world's oldest surviving republic, San Marino, grew. Tradition holds that he was a stonemason by trade who came from the island of Rab, on the other side of the Adriatic Sea (in what is now part of modern Croatia), fleeing persecution for his Christian beliefs in the Diocletianic Persecution. He became a Deacon, and was ordained by Gaudentius, the Bishop of Rimini; later, he was accused by an insane woman of being her estranged husband, so he fled to Monte Titano to live as a hermit. There he built a chapel and monastery. Marinus was canonised as a saint, and later, the State of San Marino grew up from the centre created by the monastery. His feast day/memorial day is September 3, commemorating the day, in 301, when he founded what became known as San Marino, which is also the state's national holiday.

According to legend, he died in the winter of 366 and his last words were: "Relinquo vos liberos ab utroque homine" ("I leave you free from both men"). This somewhat mysterious phrase is most likely to refer to the two "men" from whose oppressive power Saint Marinus had decided to separate himself, becoming a hermit on Mount Titano: respectively the Emperor and the Pope. This affirmation of freedom (first and foremost fiscal franchise) from both the Empire and the Papal States, however legendary, has always been the inspiration of the tiny republic.

EUROPA 1978 - France - Monuments 6.5.1978

The stamp on these two FDCs is part of a two stamp set for the EUROPA Series in 1978, when the theme was “Monuments”. Both stamps depicted old Fountains.

 The stamp shown on these covers is of The Fontaine des Innocents, a monumental public fountain located on the place Joachim-du-Bellay in the Les Halles district in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. Originally called the Fountain of the Nymphs,it was constructed between 1547 and 1550 by architect Pierre Lescot and sculptor Jean Goujon in the new style of the French Renaissance. It is the oldest monumental fountain in Paris. The fountain was commissioned as part of the decoration of the city to commemorate the solemn royal entry of King Henry II into Paris in 1549.

Thank you Merja.

EUROPA - 1977 - France - Landscapes 23.4.1977

The theme for the 1977 EUROPA CEPT stamps was 'Landscapes'. In keeping with that theme France issued these two stamps, shown on this first day cover given to me by my friend Merja.

The stamp on the left is that of a Provencal Village. 

The stamp on the right shows the Breton port.

EUROPA80 - Spain - famous people - José Ortega y Gasset 28.4.1980

The theme for Europa series of stamps in 1980 was "famous people". Accordingly Spain selected José Ortega y Gassetas as their subject for the stamp.

José Ortega y Gasset (9 May 1883 – 18 October 1955) was a Spanish liberal philosopher and essayist working during the first half of the 20th century while Spain oscillated between monarchy, republicanism and dictatorship. His philosophy has been characterized as a "philosophy of life" which "comprised a long-hidden beginning in a pragmatist metaphysics inspired by William James, and with a general method from a realist phenomenology imitating Edmund Husserl, which served both his proto-existentialism (prior to Martin Heidegger's) and his realist historicism which has been compared to both Wilhelm Dilthey and Benedetto Croce."

Thank you Merja for this FDc.

1974 Europa CEPT - Cyprus 29.4.1974

Europa stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations/ enterprises under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.  EUROPA stamps underlines cooperation in the posts domain, taking into account promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world. Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation and in 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps. Over the years, EUROPA stamp has gained more interest within the Postal community as well as with philatelist, and reflects the engagement from the members in diligently participating in the competition.

From 1974, the designs freely reflect a common theme. Of note is the CEPT logo indicating it is a Europa CEPT stamp issue. The success of Europa issues among collectors prompted many postal administrations of small countries or territories dependent of European countries (the Channel Islands for instance) to join the issuing countries in the 70s. The number of participants reaches 35 in the 80s. Turkey has participated continuously since 1960, and communist Yugoslavia from 1969. The collapse of the communist bloc brings new issuers as of 1990 to reach 57 countries in the late 90s. A common theme of Sculptures was the theme for 1974.

These three stamps of Cyprus show the famous statue placed at the entrance to the European Parliament building.  The stamps were issued on 29.4.1974. The postmark shows the CEPT trademark logo.

The myth of Europa has inspired writers, historians, painters and European politicians throughout the centuries; they gave her name to a continent and created several pieces of art depicting the love making of Zeus and Europe. But let us first recall the most common version of this ancient legend. According to Greek mythology, the Phoenician maiden named ‘Europa’ was one of the many objects of affection of Olympian chief god Zeus. At first sight of Europa, the god was infatuated by her striking beauty and grace. Not being one to ignore his desires, Zeus immediately comes up with a cunning plan. In order to avoid the anger of his jealous wife Hera, and to get his way with the girl, Zeus metamorphosed in a beautiful white bull. While the young maiden was gathering flowers, she saw the bull, and – fascinated by its handsome flanks and gentle behavior - caressed him and got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity to abduct Europa and swim to the island of Crete. He there revealed his true identity, raped and impregnated her. Europa gave birth to Minos, who would become king of Crete. The myth of Europa and the Bull seems to do this in terms of Europe: it is a significant and sexy image of Europe reinventing itself as the European Union.  

Then she became less shy, he gave his breast to her caressing hands
and let her garland even his horns with new-plucked flowers. The princess, 
innocent on whom she sat, climbed to his back; slowly the god stepped out
into the shallows of the beach and … took to sea, 
swimming against full tide, the girl his captured prize; she fearful, 
turned to shoreward, set one hand on his broad back, the other held
one horn, her dress behind her fluttered in the wind.

But from this story of a divine-king defying morality and taking whatever he wants when he wants, Europe gets its name. Naming is very important in Scripture: it’s a symbol of dominion. He who rules, names. This is why after giving Adam dominion over the earth, God brought him all of the animals for him to name. Adam also named his wife. He who has dominion, names. This does not mean that he who names has dominion.

Thank you Merja.

1977 EUROPA CEPT - Malta - Landscapes 5.7.1977

The theme for the 1977 EUROPA CEPT stamps was 'Landscapes'. In keeping with that theme Malta issued these two lovely stamps shown on this first day cover given to me by my friend Maria.

The stamp on the left is the Tal-Isperanza.  Beyond this old bridge one can see the famous Church of “Our Lady of Hope”.

The stamp on the right shows the Is-Salini. Salini is a village in Malta. The borders of Salini are Baħar Iċ-Ċagħaq, Magħtab, Naxxar and St. Paul's Bay. Salini is mostly known for its salt pans and the Salini Catacombs. The word salini means salt pans in Maltese.

Austria - EUROPA 4.5.1974

The theme for EUROPA stamps in 1974 was Sculptures. Accordingly the designers I Austria designed this Europa Cept stamp on this FDC in 1974 showing the statue of King Arthur, from the tomb of Maximilian I, Innsbruck, 1513 in Hofkirche, Innsbruck, Austria. The Hofkirche (Court Church) is a Gothic church located in the Altstadt (Old Town) section of Innsbruck, Austria. The church was built in 1553 by EmperorFerdinand I (1503–1564) as a memorial to his grandfather Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519), whose cenotaph within boasts a remarkable collection of German Renaissance sculpture.

King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and his historical existence is debated and disputed by modern historians.

Thank you Maria. 

1978 CEPT EUROPA -Cyprus - monuments

The theme for the 1978 CEPT EUROPA stamps was “monuments”.  The Turkish Cypriot Government issued these stamps and the First Day Cover that year.  A brief description of the monuments shown on the stamps are given below.

Buyuk Han Mosque – Nicosia. Buyuk Han (the Great Inn) is the largest caravansarai on the island of Cyprus and is considered to be one of the finest buildings on the island. Located in North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, it was built by the Ottomans in 1572, the year after they had seized Cyprus from the Venetians. In the centre of the open courtyard is a mosque with a fountain for pre-prayer ablutions. It became the first city prison under British administration but reverted in 1893 to a hostel for poor families. After spending most of the 1990s being restored, the inn has been revived as a thriving arts centre, consisting of several galleries and workshops. There are also several courtyard cafes and souvenir shops.

 Selimiye Mosque fountain – Nicosia. The Selimiye mosque, originally the Roman Catholic cathedral of Ayia Sofia, is the oldest, and one of the finest examples of Gothic art in Cyprus, the work of the French masons who accompanied the Crusades. The monumental main door and the carved stone window above it are of particular interest. Construction began in 1209 during the reign of the Lusignan king Henry I, and lasted 150 years. There is evidence that it was built over the ruins of a much earlier Byzantine church called Hagia Sophia. It was consecrated in 1326 while still incomplete, and the blunt-roofed bell towers were never finished. Within its portals, Lusignan princes were crowned kings of Cyprus before proceeding to Famagusta for a second, essentially honorary, coronation as king of Jerusalem.

 The cathedral was restored by the Genoese in 1373 and the Mamluks in 1426. The eastern section of the cathedral was destroyed by earthquakes in 1491, and further restoration work was undertaken by the Venetians.

 When the Ottomans took the city in 1570, they destroyed the interior fittings, chopping up the pulpit and pews for firewood, and using the tombstones for flooring. Unfortunately, the more interesting tombstones are not usually visible as the floor is now covered with a large carpet. A pair of fifty metre high minarets were added to the incomplete bell towers, and an ablutions courtyard fountain with trefoil arched niches was constructed.

 As a mosque, the church was renamed the Hagia Sophia Mosque, a name which it retained till 1954 when it was renamed the Selimiye Mosque. As well as being the most beautiful mosque in Nicosia, the Selimiye Mosque is also the biggest and most attended of all. Since the mosque still serves as a house of worship, there are no set visiting times. Try to coincide with the five prayer times, when you are allowed in shoeless, modestly dressed and silent. In recent years, the old streets around the mosques have been renovated. Consequently with the addition of thriving businesses such as authentic restaurants and antique shops, the area around Selimiye Mosque has reached a new level of liveliness, and has become a popular destination among tourists as well as locals, both during the day and night.

Thank you Merja for this very interesting FDC.

1977 EUROPA CEPT - Landscapes 2.5.1977

The theme for the 1977 EUROPA CEPT stamps was 'Landscapes'. In keeping with that theme Cyprus issued these three lovely stamps shown on this first day cover given to me by my friend Merja.

UROPA - Puukko - Knife from Voyri, Sheath and Belt 3.5.1976

Europa CEPT postage stamp. The theme of the year 1976 was Handicrafts. A puukko is a small traditional Finnish belt-knife with a single curving cutting edge and a flat back.

Men's and women's puukkos do not significantly differ. The only difference is that women's puukkos are often shorter, may have decorated sheaths, and are better suited for working with foodstuffs. Both boy and girl Scouts consider the puukko their scouting symbol as well as a handy tool. Getting a good puukko as a gift or present is considered a great honour in Finland.

In the Nordic countries, the puukko is an "everyday" knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing, and garden work to opening boxes in the warehouse. Many traditional puukkos are nowadays manufactured in industrial or near-industrial scale by many companies, Marttiini and Iisakki Järvenpää Oy being the most notable. Bearing of sharp objects which could be used as weapons was banned in Finland in 1977. Since then, the puukko has lost its visibility in public places and been restricted to household work, hunting and fishing. In many industries the Mora knife which has a much cheaper construction is in use. The mora knife's handle is typically plastic, and the blade is either stainless steel or of laminated construction; harder steel which forms the edge is clad in softer steel. In Finnish, these knives also are usually referred to as puukko.

In Finland carrying a blade in public spaces without a permit or job related reason is prohibited. Currently, the only urban areas where they can be seen carried openly are garrisons. The puukko is the only civilian item which can be openly worn as a part of a soldier's combat gear without breaching Finnish Army regulations, and most conscripts bring their own puukkos with them into military service. It is a custom of Finnish conscripts, non-commissioned officers, and officer cadets to carry a decorated and engraved commemorative puukko of their year course as a part of their uniform, not unlike a commemorative dagger. This is rationalized as the carrying of a handy tool, but it also doubles as a symbolic sidearm. Puukkos proved to be good close combat weapons in the Winter War and Continuation War. The bayonet of the Rk-62 assault rifle has been designed to also function as a puukko, as was the rare bayonet for the M/39 Mosin-Nagant. Openly carrying a puukko, while technically illegal is not vigorously enforced. Construction workers often go to diners with a puukko hanging from their coveralls. and in the rural and in the Northern parts of the land it is not uncommon to go shopping in the village stores wearing hunting clothes that includes a puukko.

In Finland, receiving a puukko as a gift is considered an honor. The idea behind this is the presenter gives the recipient a tool which is essential for both woodworking, preparing food and as a sidearm, and that the presenter takes into account the well-being of the recipient. I hope I get one some day.

EUROPA CEPT 1979 - Finland- - Post & Telecommunications2.5.1979

The stamp on the right on the FDC is a letter of Queen Christina to Per Brahe in 1638 about establishing a postal servive. The stamp on the left depicts an Optical Telegraph 1796, Map of Grisslehamn-Signilskär-Eckerö telegraph line. These were issued on 2.5.1979

In 1638, Queen Christina of Sweden issued an order starting regular mail service from Stockholm via Åland to Turku. This route was called the Mail Route, and it traversed both sea and land. From Turku, the route continued east as the King's Road all the way to St. Petersburg. The Mail Route is still a living, historic route that tours nine municipalities in Åland and has many exquisite experiences waiting for the traveller. Diverse natural landscapes, beautiful scenery and historical monuments can be found along the road, many parts of which still follow the original 15th century mail route.

Edelcrantz's Shutter Telegraph Systems

Along with the usual ways of communication a special, telegraphic system existed in Sweden from 1794 - the optical telegraph. It was invented by the Swedish poet and scientist Abraham Niclas Edelcrantz, a Royal Counsellor, and consisted of ten shutters, arranged in a pattern that could be easily read off at a distance. The arrangement of the shutters formed what today is called a binary system with 10 signal elements - a predecessor of moden data signal systems. The optical telegraph envisaged a network of linking stations. A signal was successively repeated from one station to the next until the office of destination was reached.

Soon telegraph circuits linking castles and fortresses in the neighbourhood of Stockholm were set up and the system was extended to Grisslehamn and Åland. Subsequently telegraph circuits were introduced between Gothenburg and Marstrand, at Helsingborg and between Karlskrona and its fortresses. Sweden was the second country in the world, after France, to introduce an optical telegraph network.

This nice FDC was given to me by my dear friend Pia.

EUROPA - Cyprus – Cyprus Handicrafts 3.5.1976

The geographical position between three continents made the island of Cyprus the crossroad of eastern and western civilization. Through the passage of time it has created its own history and culture. Craftsmen through the ages created a wealth of traditions in folk art. The Cypriot artisan through his work expresses his inside world and feelings. His knowledge and inspiration as well as the experiences and ideas survived through the ages as they were passed on from one generation to the other.

In 1975 the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism undertook the responsibility for the preservation of Cyprus Folk Art, its development and encouragement into modern cottage industry and handicrafts. Specialized members of the staff made studies and started projects which were initially funded by the High Commission for Refugees with the main target of offering employment to refugees and other affected persons and in parallel to this, the long term development of cottage industry and handicrafts. Today the Cyprus Handicraft Service development programme covers a wide range of activities, actions and services. Merja sent me this cover with the pretty stamps issued on 3.5.1976.

1979 EUROPA Cyprus - TELECOMMUNICATIONS ISSUE 30.4.1979

Cyprus issued these stamps and this FDC to commemorate the EUROPA 1979 Tellecomunications year in 1979. The issue was on 30.04.1979. Thank you Merja for this nice card.