Issue date: 28 May, 2004
Among the editions shown at the World Philately Exhibition, España 2004 are two stamps: one dedicated to the yacht Bravo España, with a value of 52 cents, and another showing Valencia. La Ciudad del Mar (City of the Sea), with a value of 77 cents. The face value of both stamps combined is 1.29 euros, and they are issued in a strip with an insignia that has no value as a stamp.
The sailing boat Bravo España, now commemorated on a stamp, represented Spain in the 1999 America's Cup. This Spanish vessel completed its duties in the Louis Vuitton Cup with a victory over the boat captained by the legendary Dennis Conner. The Bravo España was designed by Rolf Vrolijk and built by Richard Guillies and Tim Smith, though it was the Spanish yachtsman Agustín Zulueta who designed and built its masts. The 21st Americas Cup in Auckland (New Zealand) was won by the Swiss yachtsman Alinghi, and he decided at the end of November 2003 that the venue for the 32nd America's Cup in 2007 would be Valencia. As a result, one of the boats that will be challenging the Cup's current holder, Alinghi, will undoubtedly be Spanish.
Since its earliest days, the city of Valencia has been one of the nerve centres of the Mediterranean, the sea that has formed part of both its history and its culture. Valencia without the sea would have no meaning. Its economic development and its tourism, its infrastructure and development projects depend to a great extent on the sea. Its more than 100 km of coastline offer sunny beaches, calm waters and winds that are always favourable, both for tourists and for sailing. The Geneva Nautical Society has therefore chosen Valencia as the site for the next regatta. The city's maritime culture combines with its rich architectural heritage that includes gothic, renaissance, baroque, modernist and rationalist buildings. Examples include the Serranos towers, the Cathedral, the Miguelete, the Hemisferic, the Oceanografic and the Príncipe Felipe Museum which, combined with the many vessels scattered across the azure waters pay homage to the City of the Sea in the stamp's design.
The insignia also alludes to this theme and to Valencia as the future venue for the America's Cup. This strip has been designed by the Jesús Sánchez Studio.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.