PostEurop is proud to launch the 2022 most beautiful EUROPA stamp competition, based on the theme “Stories & Myths”. Collectors and philately enthusiasts will be able to discover through some of the most iconic tales within the European popular culture via this year's EUROPA Stamps. Exquisitely designed stamps and sheets depicts some of the most famous and nostalgic myths present in Europe’s culture.

Associated with the supernatural, divine and superhuman, myths have played a fundamental role in shaping Europe’s popular culture and religious beliefs. From an early age, we learn about these stories whether in story books, at home, from school or directly from religious institutions. The word “myth" derives from the Greek “mythos” which had a wide range of meanings, namely story and fiction. Hence a myth has been associated throughout time as a fantastic way to tell a story without relying on factual events. This background also helped to shape the meaning of the word myth and the connotation we give to certain stories.

Being Europe a millennial and multicultural continent where nations have shared a common history, where borders have changed for centuries, and where religion has played different societal roles, it becomes extremely interesting to look at how designers and artists interpreted their own country’s myriad of “Stories & Myths” into these beautiful motifs seen on this year’s EUROPA competition.      

“What are myths and legends for us today? How can we understand and interpret them in view of the present times? This year’s issue encourages us to reflect on the past and present. Initially, the eternal and unchangeable nature stimulated by ancient cultures and civilisations to connect wisdom and creativeness has given rise to mysterious stories. The myths showed the legendary past, explained the origin of the world and man and defined the hierarchy of values and rights. In this way, the mythology of ancient Greeks and Romans as well as Nordic, German, Slavonic nations, followed by the Christian culture and folk stories, became the very roots of our European civilisation. They defined collective imagination of individual societies, cities and finally nations, building a national identity and even the code of ethics. The stories are represented by personalised atmospheric phenomena, legendary persons, characters, symbolic and allegoric creatures. These being archetypes of human beings in the eternal struggle between good and evil, their awareness of human powerlessness and impossibility to control over fatum and the meaning of human life. The universal view of human condition depicted in the tales, has inspired philosophers, authors, musicians and artists through centuries.” explains Agnieszka Trząskowska, Chair of the PostEurop Stamps & Philately Working Group.

Thus, PostEurop is inviting all postal fans and philatelic enthusiasts to journey together with this beautiful theme and rediscover these iconic tales; and cast a vote for their favourite stamp of this 2022 EUROPA Stamps Competition, on www.posteurop.org/europa2022.

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View and Vote for Your Favourite EUROPA Stamp Today

We invite you to view all the beautiful entries and vote for your favourite stamp on www.posteurop.org/europa2022. The online competition will end on 9 September 2022 and the winning stamps will be announced at the PostEurop General Assembly to be held in October 2022 in Dublin, Ireland.

More about EUROPA Stamps
Since 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a symbol of Europe’s desire for closer integration and cooperation. These special stamps are issued by the European postal administrations/enterprises and bear the EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark. Since 1993, PostEurop has been the responsible organisation for issuing EUROPA stamps and each year, philately experts within the Stamps and Philately working group organise the competition amongst other philately initiatives.

See more information on www.posteurop.org/europa

About PostEurop
PostEurop represents 55 postal operators in 53 countries and territories around Europe and handles 60 billion items each year. The industry employs 2 million people, manages 258 million delivery points and accounts for 1% of the GDP. 

For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Wee Neumann
Communications Manager
T: +2 2 773 11 92 
E: cynthia.wee@posteurop.org

André Feio
Communications Specialist
T: +2 2 773 11 54
andre.feio@posteurop.org