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The early years

The idea of making a "join stamp emission" came up in 1952. The uniform motive for this emission had to symbolise the community of interest and objectives. Six countries, the same six countries how signed the Treaty of Rome on the 25th of March 1957 (Belgium, France, West-Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) were also the first countries to issue Europa-Stamps. On the 15th of September 1956 the first Europa-Stamps issue was born (6 countries ; 13 stamps).  The common design was made by the French artist, Daniel Gonzague, it was a tower formed by the 6 letters of the latin word for Europe: Europa

This issue of Luxembourg (especially the 2 F. stamp) is the real star of 1956, as being the most expensive Europa-Stamps of that year and one of the most expensive of all the Europa-Stamps collection so far ! The set of 3 stamps as a value of 400.- Euro

In 1957, almost on the same day as in 1956, the 16th of September, a second issue was made and Switzerland took part on this issue as Saarland (German territory under the control of the Allies). That year a common design was not made but the general theme was Peace and Welfare. (8 countries ; 17 stamps). On the 13th September 1958 the third issue selected again for a common design, a dove flying above the letter E of Europe. Turkey replaced Switzerland. (8 countries ; 17 stamps). During the summer 1959 in Montreux (Switzerland), a conference of 23 European postal administrations took place and the "Conférence des postes et télécommunications (CEPT)" was born. (We call the Europa-Stamps also Europa CEPT stamps !) On the 19th September 1959 it was the 4th issue. Switzerland and Austria were associate to the 6 first countries in that issue. The common design a key-ring. (8 countries ; 15 stamps).

Swiss 1959 Europa-Stamps. Those 2 stamps are overprinted for the, Montreux held, CEPT conference