Issue date: 14 Jan, 2009
This year’s definitive series is made up of four stamps depicting the portrait of King Juan Carlos I, proclaimed King on the 22nd November 1975.
Don Juan Carlos de Borbón was born in Rome on the 5th of January 1938. The royal family had moved there from Spain when the Republic was declared in 1931. He was the son of Don Juan de Borbón y Battemberg and Doña Maria de las Mercededs deBorbón y Orleans. He was baptized in the chapel of the Order of Malta by who was years later elected as Pop Pius XII.
Defender of democracy and the constitutional values, the figure of Don Juan Carlos I as head of state is well known to all. Throughout his reign he has made official visits to practically all countries in the world and the main international organisations. In 1976, six months after he had been proclaimed King, he made his first visit to America with Queen Sofia and visited the Dominican Republic and the United States. Months later he continued his tour around South America, visiting Venezuela and Colombia. These events feature in many philatelic issues commemorating the visit of their majesties the Queen and King of Spain to the American continent.
The first definitive series with the image of King Juan Carlos I was issued on the 15th of July 1976 and on the official launch date, 55.000 series were sold worth 16.775.000 pesetas, equivalent to more than 100.800 euros. These figures show the interest of the Spanish people to acquire the stamps of the first issue devoted to the Monarch.
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.