Issue date: 10 Oct, 2005
Two stamps make up this issue: one devoted to the Gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia, Spain) with a face value of 0.78€ and the other to the garden of Bag-e-Shazdeh (Kerman, Iran) of 2.21 €. Both stamps are linked by a label of no postal value depicting the flags of the two countries.
Since 2000, Spain has been issuing stamps with other countries; with Belgium on the 500th anniversary of the birth of Charles V, with Germany, two years running for the Christmas issue, with Sweden to commemorate the Spanish Nobel Prize laureate, Ramón y Cajal and with China depicting architecture of Shanghai and Barcelona. These joint issues are a way of getting to know other countries and their philately, encouraging stamp collecting and strengthening cultural links between societies. The Spanish stamp depicts the Gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia. These gardens, in the grounds of the palace built by King Felipe V in 1721, were arranged into parterres by a team of French gardeners from Versailles led by the Chief Gardener Esteban Boutelou and sculptor Renato Carlier. In these gardens there are plenty of vases, statues, fountains and cascades, mainly the work of Thierry, Fremin and Bousseau. The stamp depicts a panoramic view of the gardens with the Fuente de la Cascada and its ponds representing steps of water and decorated with sculptures of gods, nymphs and mythological creatures, thus creating wonderful scenery and beautiful water works. The garden of Bagh-e-Shadeh (Garden of the Prince), located in Kerman, the third biggest province in Iran, is depicted in the Iranian stamp of this issue. The main building in the garden was the summer home of the princes of Qajar and is currently a luxurious restaurant. This is a typical Persian garden with its various fountains and pavilions. The stamp depicts a panoramic view of the gardens with the palace’s main building and the fountains full of water steps.
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.