Issue date: 23 Apr, 2019
EUROPE
As they do every year, the European postal authorities and companies belonging to PostEurope are issuing a new Europe series with a common theme. This year, the theme relates to indigenous birds.
Spain is issuing a Premium Sheet with six stamps featuring the bearded vulture.
The sight of a bearded vulture flying over the Pyrenees impresses anyone lucky enough to see it.
This bird is adapted to live in the harsh high mountain landscape. It can be found in the Pyrenean mountain range from Navarre to Catalonia. Occasionally, they can be seen flying over the mountains of Cantabria and the Basque Country.
Its anatomy is unmistakable. This huge bird can reach wingspans of up to 2.80 metres.
It is a fairly silent bird, and does not usually make any noise except in the mating season, when it emits shrill whistles.
Its Spanish name, “quebrantahuesos” (bone-breaker) comes from its way of feeding. It feeds on bones and tendons which it drops from a height onto the rocks to crack them into smaller pieces. It does this in areas known in Spanish as “rompederos”.
The Premium Sheet, Correos’ contribution to this issue, includes a die of the silhouette of the bearded vulture in full flight along with illustrations of this breathtaking bird by Ricardo Martínez.
This issue has a very innovative special feature: an app which you can download to hear the call of the indigenous birds featured. For Spain, you can hear the call of bearded vulture chicks.
The purpose of this series is to promote and foster the historical and cultural values of the European peoples through stamps.
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.