Issue date: 27 May, 2015
A STAMP, A RECORD
The Spanish post office has set a Guinness record for creating the "World's largest stamp mosaic" and has received the certificate recognising this accomplishment. The composition features a letter Ñ in its centre, symbol of the Spanish Brand and now also an identifier of Spanish stamps. To commemorate this honour and the participants who worked to make it happen, a stamp is being issued along with a vignette with no postal value showing the winning mosaic from another perspective.
A total of 3,100 participants, including 1,900 pupils from 10 primary schools and 1,200 other individuals, assembled the largest stamp mosaic ever created. The event took place on 6 and 7 November 2014 at the José María Martín Carpena Sport Complex in Málaga. The following day the mosaic was unveiled at a closing ceremony. In accordance with the Guinness rules, a notary attested to the achievement and the technical and graphical documentation of the work was submitted.
The mosaic contains 230,000 stamps provided by Correos and covers 220 m2 of a paper canvas on which a 17.5 x 12.5 metre panel was constructed. It took students, stamp buffs, sporting associations, Correos employees and the general public 22 hours over the course of two days to affix all the stamps. The initiative was organised by the Postal Service in collaboration with other philatelic institutions and organisations and aimed to bring the world of stamps closer to the public in a fun and innovative way while demonstrating how stamps can be culturally educational and entertaining for young people.
Prior to the Spanish post office winning the Guinness world record, it had been held by South Africa's postal service and Hatfield Tuition Collage since 2010 for having recreated the Johannesburg skyline. Their composition used 201,000 stamps, covered an area of 162 m2 and took one month to complete.
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.