Issue date: 29 Apr, 2004
As has become traditional, each year PostEurop's member countries issue a stamp exploring some common theme. This time around, the theme is " Holidays ". PostEurop is the Brussels-based Association of European Public Postal Operators, which has a current membership of 45 countries and pursues the goal of helping its member countries improve the performance of European postal services.
While in recent years the Europa series has been dedicated to Poster Art, The Circus and Water, a Natural Treasure , this year the holidays have been chosen, as the perfect time to enjoy leisure time, relaxation, entertainment and tourism. Spain, because of its geographical and cultural diversity, its kilometres of beaches, its wealth of art and monuments, the variety of its landscape, its food and its fine weather, is one of the top choices on the holiday wish list. Tourism, in all its different forms -rural tourism, nature and adventure tourism, beaches, spas and cultural tourism- is the main sector of the Spanish economy, which last year registered close to 52.5 million foreign visitors staying in the country. In the stamp's foreground, an umbrella stands on a beach as a holiday symbol. In the background, there are details from the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Antonio Gaudi's uncompleted church; the Fuente de Cibeles in Madrid, sculpted under the reign of Charles III by Francisco Gutiérrez and Roberto Michel according to a design by Ventura Rodríguez; Seville's Giralda, which, standing at 97.5 metres, was in its day the tallest tower in the world. Lastly, there is the Torre del Oro, also in Seville, whose construction began in the first third of the 13th century and was later expanded with a circular addition. During the Middle Ages the Torre del Oro was used as a prison, and after the conquest of America, as a storehouse for precious metals from the New World.
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.