Cover from Spain

Cover from Spain

Cover from Spain

Cover from Spain

Cover from Spain

Cover from Spain

España

Here is a cover that I like very much because it integrates two of my favorite themes: EU-related material and money on stamps.

The block on the left, issued on 10 July 09, commemorates the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Euro in 1999. A little more on the Euro currency from the Correos de Espana website:

On the 1st of January 1999 the Euro was born as the new European currency though it wasn’t until three years later, in 2002, when it was made effective. The Euro was a decisive step for European integration since it became the currency of the Euro zone countries. It is now the sole and official currency of 16 of the 27 member states of the European Union and of over some 325 million people in total.

The use of the Euro in the different member countries was gradual. Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland began to use it 1999; Greece in 2001, Slovenia in 2007, Cyprus and Malta in 2008 and Slovakia in 2009.

The € symbol is inspired by the Greek epsilon (ε)- a reference to the first letter of the word Europe, crossed by two parallel lines to ‘certify’ the stability of the Euro. Euro zone countries use the same designs in their banknotes, which were chosen from 44 proposals in a design competition, launched by the Council of the European Monetary Institute (EMI) in 1996 and in which the winning entry was created by Austrian born Robert Kalina. The designs have a common theme of European architecture in various artistic periods, from classic to modern XX century architecture. The front of the note features windows or gateways while the back has bridges. Both sides bear the 12 stars characteristic of the European Union. Every banknote has more than 30 security features which include: The paper used which is 100% pure cotton fibre, the watermark depicting a special design observed by holding the note up to the light and the holographic band imprinted with the note's denomination. In the case of the €50 notes and higher, the band is replaced with a holographic decal.

Coins have a common reverse for all countries in the Euro zone chosen by the European Commission but each country has its own design on the obverse besides the twelve stars.

Unfortunately, the block was not cancelled as the cover was put through a machine canceller. Only the stamp on the upper right was franked with a rather clear slogan postmark. This cancelled stamp was issued on 06 Apr 09 and celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Council of Europe. More on the Council from the Correos de Espana website:

In 1949, ten countries signed the Treaty of London establishing the Council of Europe. In article 1 of its Statute it states its aim to “achieve a greater unity between its members and to promote awareness and encourage the development of Europe's cultural identity and diversity and to favour its economic and social progress.”

Sixty years after its foundation, The Council of Europe has a genuine pan-European dimension with 47 members, representing 800 million citizens and 5 observer countries: the Holy See, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Mexico. Its headquarters are in Strasbourg and its aims are to protect human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law, to promote awareness and encourage the development of Europe's cultural identity and diversity, to find common solutions to the challenges facing European society: such as discrimination against minorities, xenophobia, intolerance, terrorism, trafficking in human beings, organised crime and to consolidate democratic stability in Europe by backing political, legislative and constitutional reform.

The logo is the Council of Europe's own distinctive sign and was adopted in May 1999. The Council shares the flag, twelve golden stars on a blue background, with the European Union and the prelude to the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th Symphony as the European anthem.

Cover from Spain

España - Portugal Joint Issue

Below are two covers bearing stamps of the joint issue between Spain and Portugal issued on 14 Sep 06. The stamps from both countries show Iberian bridges and are identical in design; they differ only in the order of the coats of arms on the sides and in the naming of the bridges (each country has its own name for the same bridge) and, of course, the language used.

The modern bridge is the Puente internacional de Ayamonte (Huelva) over the Guadiana River, which was completed in 1991, and the older bridge is the Puente de Alcantara over the Tajo River in Caceres, which is dated around 105 AD.

Sadly, my Portugal set isn't complete. Is there any cover collector in Portugal willing to swap covers using this set?

España

Here is a cover from Spain with stamps that feature traditional games from two regions in Spain, Valencia and the Basque country. The stamps the the right shows the game "Pelota Vasca," or "Basque Ball" (funny how it sounds like "basketball"). Since I'm not the best when it comes to explaining the rules of a game, I'll leave it to Correos de España whose website reads:

The Pelota Vasca (Basque ball) is mostly placed in the Basque country, Navarra and La Rioja. The handball variety is extended throughout the country. The game takes place in a court called “frontón” where the players, one or two from each team, stand in the statutory places to serve according to the lots drawn. The player who serves stands some metres behind the start line and runs up to the line, bounces the ball and hits it with his hand towards the wall of the “frontón”. The player from the opposite team hits the ball when it bounces back and this goes on successively until one of the players misses the ball. Depending on the different varieties of the game, the teams scores according to the regulation.

The stamp on the left shows the game "Pelota Valenciana," or "Valencia Ball." Here is a description of that game:

The Pelota Valenciana is a similar game as those played in other countries and Spanish regions and its origins go back to the medieval times. It was played by the nobility and lower classes in the streets or indoors and reached its height during the Renaissance. Later on it was abandoned until the XIX century, when it became a deeply-rooted game of the Valencia region. The Pelota Valenciana is played in the streets and in trinquets (indoor court fields), where two teams of one or a couple of players are opposed face-to-face in different sides of the court and throw each other the ball with their hands until a foul takes place in the opposite field.

From my understanding, the difference between the two games is that the Basque variety is played against the wall and the Valencia variety is played on a court similar to a tennis court (without the net?). The wikipedia article on the game is quite vague, but is seems that the "Pelota" or "Pilota" is a type of ball game (by the way, "pelota" means "ball") that has different varieties from region to region. Perhaps the Basque and Valencia ones are the most popular in Spain or the most representative of all the varities?

Cover from Spain