1351) "Ancient Postal Routes - Historical Postal Routes Thurn and Taxis," Austria: Stamp issue date: 08.05.2020:

1351) "Ancient Postal Routes - Historical Postal Routes Thurn and Taxis," Austria: Stamp issue date: 08.05.2020:

With the EUROPA-2020 theme of "Ancient Postal Routes," Austrian Post has chosen  a historic representation of Palais Fugger in Innsbruck.

Emperor Maximilian I established the modern Postal Service around 1490. He set up a regular courier service from his residential city of Innsbruck to the more distant parts of his Empire, entrusting management of this service to the Taxis family, and subsequently to Thurn und Taxis.

In 1784, the counts of Thurn und Taxis acquired Palais Fugger in Innsbruck's Maria - Theresien - Strasse, It had been built by Hans Otto Fugger to plans by the court architect Johann Martin Gumpp after 1679.

The counts used the palace not only as their place of residence, but also as a post station.

The ballroom on the first floor with its impressive frescoes - including "The Judgment of Paris" ceiling fresco by Martin Knoller - soon became a waiting room for postal service customers.

In 1905, the province of Tyrol bought Palais Fugger and the postal service continued to operate till 1908.

Presently, the building, often referred to as "Taxis Palace", houses the "Kunsthalle Tirol Art Museum", among other things.

The Stamp showing Palais Fugger. It is titled "THURN & TAXIS HISTORISCHE POSTROUTEN", Innsbruck.

The First Day Cover (FDC) shows the postage stamp affixed at top right. It is cancelled with a Special Handstamp/Postmark inscribed - "THURN & TAXIS. EOROPA 2020. HISTORISCHE POSTROUTEN. The date of cancellation is - "08.05.2020".

About EUROPA Stamps:

EUROPA Postage Stamps (also known as EUROPA-CEPT - European Conference Postal and Telecommunication Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.

EUROPA Stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and  its common goals.

As such, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer cooperation and integration.

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the EUROPA issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning towards the right hand side.

Each Year, PostEurop's Stamps and Philately Group selects the EUROPA Stamp theme:

1993 - Contemporary Art

1994 - Great Discoveries

1995 - Peace and Freedom

1996 - Famous Women

1997 - Tales and Legends

1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations

1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks

2000 - Common Design, Tower of 6 Stars

2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature

2002 - The Circus

2003 - Poster Art

2004 - Holidays

2005 - Gastronomy

2006 - Integration through the Eyes of Young People

2007 - Scout Centenary

2008 - Writing Letters

2009 - Astronomy

2010 - Children Books

2011 - Forests - International Year of Forests

2012 - Visit ....... (For instance "Visit Finland")

2013 - Van of the Postman

2014 - Musical Instruments - National Musical Instruments

2015 - Old Toys

2016 - Ecology in Europe - "Think Green", Common Design

2017 - Castles

2018 - Bridges

2019 - National Birds

2020 - Ancient Postal Routes

2021 - the theme will be "Endangered National Wildlife"

2022 - the theme  will be "Stories and Myths"

Links to posts on "Ancient Postal Routes" on this Blog, the theme of PostEurop for 2020:

1) Ancient Postal Routes - Mail Ships, Guernsey. a British Crown Dependency (BCD): A EUROPA set od six stamps brought out by Guernsey Post depicting six Mail Ships that sailed between Guernsey and the United Kingdom: Date of Stamp set issue: 01.04.2020

2) "Ancient Postal Routes, Romanian Principalities XIX Century", Romania: A set of two Postage Stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued by "Romfilatelia" (Romanian Post) depicting Ancient Postal Routes and modes of postal transport: Date of Stamp Set issue: 09.04.2020

 3) "Ancient Postal Routes, Biga", Bosnia & Herzgovina: Two EUROPA stamps of 3.00 Euro each depicting a Wagon and the two faces of a Silver Coin issued on 05.04.2020

4) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020

 5) "Ancient Postal Routes - Mail Ships", Jersey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six stamps depicting the Mail Ships - Rover, the Atalanta, the Cygnus, the Lydia and Isle of Jersey and The Caesarea III, issued by Jersey Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 07.04.2020

6) "Ancient Postal Routes - The Postal Route from Christiania to Bergen", Norway: A Europa Stamp of 20g issued by Posten Norge (or Norwegian Post)depicting the difficult mountain route/stretch at Vindhellvegen & Kongevegen: Date od Stamp issue: 17.04.2020

7) "Ancient Postal Routes through blizzards, snow covered mountain routes and straits", Faroe Islands: Two Stamps of 17KR and 20KR issued by Posta (Faroe Islands Post) under the Europa theme for 2020: Date of stamp set issue: 27.04.2020

8) "Ancient Postal Routes during the time of Louis the Great - 14th century", Hungary: A set of two postage stamps issued by Magyar Posta of 650 HUF each: Date of Stamp set issue: 04.05.2020

9) "Ancient Postal Routes in the Ottoman Empire - 17th century" Serbia: A set of two Stamps issued by Serbian Post in the denominations of 74 ans 108 Dinaras (Dinars): Date of Stamp Set issue: 05.05.2020 

10) "Ancient Postal Routes, Santa Claus", Finland: A EUROPA Stamp released by "Posti" (Finland Post): Date of Stamp release: 06.05.2020

11) "Ancient Postal Routes, through Rheinhausen-Basel-Zurich", Switzerland: EUROPA theme for 2020: A set of two Postage stamps of 100 Swiss francs each issued by Swiss Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 07.05.2020

12) "Ancient Postal Routes - Packet ships The Lady Mary Wood (1842) and SS Iberia (1836)", Gibraltar: EUROPA 2020 Theme: A set of two Postage stamps in the denominations of 1.66 Pounds & 2.86 Pounds issued by Gibraltar Post: Date of Stamps issue: 08.05.2020

13) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020

14) "Ancient Postal Routes - by Horse Transport & Bicycles", Latvia: EUROPA 2020 theme: A set of two postage stamps of 1,35 Euro and 1.42 Euro issued by "Latvijas Pasts" (Latvian Post): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.05.2020

15) "Ancient Postal Routes - 18th Century", Monaco: EUROPA 2020 theme: A postage stamp of 1.40 Euro issued by "La Poste de Monaco" (Monaco Post) on 06.05.2020

16) "Ancient Postal Routes - Within and Outside Europe", Iceland: Two Postage Stamps issued by "Islandpostur" (Iceland Post) in the denominations of ISK 3150: Date of Stamps issue: 07.05.2020

17) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Old Road Majstorska Cesta", Croatia: A Se-tenant of two Stamps of the values of 8.60 HRK issued by Croatian Post: Date of stamp issue: 08.05.2020

_{^{18) "Ancient Postal Routes - Historical Postal Routes Thurn & Taxis", Austria" Stamp issue date: 06.05.2020}}

Links to posts on Austrian Mint Coin issues on this blog:

1) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: First Coin: "700 Years of Hall City in Tirol or Tyrol"

2) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Second Coin: "150 Years of Semmering Alpine Railway"

3) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Third Coin: "50 Years of Television in Austria" 

4) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Fourth Coin: "European Satellite Navigation System"

5) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Fifth Coin: "Austrian Aviators"

6) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Sixth Coin "Fascinating Light"

7) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Seventh Coin: " The International Year of Astronomy"

8) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Eighth Coin: "Renewable Energy"

9) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Ninth Coin: "Robotics"

10) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Tenth Coin: "Bionics"

11) The 25 Euro Silver-Niobium Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint: Eleventh Coin: "Tunnel Construction"

12) The 50 Euro Gold Coin Series: Klimt and his Women: 2012-2016  (includes Coin of the Year 2015 (COTY)

13) Sigmund Freud: The Vienna Schools of Psychotherapy A 3 Coin 50 Euro Gold Coin Series:

14) Alfred Adler: The Vienna schools of Psychotherapy: A 3 coin 50 Euro Gold Coin Series:

15) The 100th Anniversary of the General Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein: Gold and Silver Coins issued by the Royal Mint of Belgium in denominations of 50 Euro (Gold) and 10 Euro (Silver)

16) 825 Years of the Vienna Mint (1194-2018): A Silver Bullion Coin issued by the Austrian Mint, Vienna celebrating the milestone (issuedate: 12/12 - with year of issue engraved as 2019

17) a) Austria: "Chivalry- Knights Tales": The first Coin in a 5 Coin Series to be issued by the Austrian Mint, features Maximilian I (1459-1519): 500th Anniversary of the passing away of the Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria: Issue Date: 10.04.2019

17) b) Austria: "Adventures of the first Crusade - Knights Tales": The second coin in the 5-Coin Series to be issued by the Austrian Mint, features Godfrey of Buillion (1060-1100 AD), one of the leaders of the First Crusade and the coin's theme is "Spirit of Adventure" Coin issue date: 11.09.2019"

17) c) Austria: "Courage - Knight's Tales": The Third Coin in a five Coin Series issued by the Austrian Mint, features the "Knights Templars": Coin issue Date: 15.04.2020

18) "The Magic of Gold Coin Series" from the Mint of Austria: The Gold Coin Series of 100 Euro Gold Coins traces the mysterious nature of gold in ancient cultures: First Coin in the Series depicts King Nebuchadnezzar II (640 B.C. - 562 B.C.): Coin issue date: 16.10.2019

19) "Reaching For The Skies" Austria: First Coin in the series of four Silver Coins brought out by the Mint of Austria (Osterreich Mint): Coin Issue Date: 23.01.2019

20) The Wiener Musikverein, Vienna, Austria: 150th Anniversary of the opening of the legendary Musikverein Concert Hall in 1870: Two 5 Euro Commemorative New Year 2020 dated Coins being issued by the Austrian Mint - one in Silver and the other in Copper on 04.12.2019

21) 100 Years of the Salzburg Festival, Austria (1920-2020): Austrian Post has issued a postage stamp celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamp issue: 21.01.2020

22) Hedy Lemarr, Austria:" Austrian Inventions" Stamp Series: A postage stamp brought out by Austrian Post honours the contribution to the "Frequency Hopping Spread spectrum" which aided the Allies to steer torpedoes in World War II: Stamp issue date: 221.01.2020

23) "Vocklabrucker Christus" - St. Giles Church, Vocklabruck, Austria: "Religious Art in Austria" Stamp Series: Date of Stamp issue: 06.03.2020

24) Brigette Kowanz, Austria: "Opportunity - An illuminating Message": A stamp issue in the "Contemporary Art in Austria" Series: Date of Stamp issue: 17.03.2020

25) Lipizzaner Horses - "Friends For Life, Austria: 5 Euro Coins in Copper and Silver minted by the Austrian Mint as an Easter Celebration, depict Lipizzaner horses from the iconic Spanish riding School in Vienna: Date os Coin issue: 11.03.2020

For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:

1) Did You Know Series (25) : The prestigious Krause Publications Annual World Coin Competition - Winners of the COTY 2015 and other 10 Category winners

2) Krause Publications Awards Coin of the Year and other Category winners - 2016

3) Coin of the Year and winners of the  sub-categories- 2017

Links to posts on Federal Republic of Germany issues and other posts on this blog:

1) Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig: Celebrating the 275th Anniversary: A 20 Euro Uncirculated silver Coin issued by the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany) on 08.03.2018

2) Johann Carl Friedrich Gauss: A 10 Mark German banknote issued commemorating his contributions in 1990 which was in circulation till 2001 

3) Planet Earth: The World's first "Tri-material" Coin - with an outer ring, inner core and an embossable blue polymer ring: An innovative 5 Euro Polymer coin issued by the Federal Republic of Germany in 2016

4) The Tropics Climate Zone (Climates of Earth) Coin Series: The second "tri-material Coin - with an outer ring,inner core and an embossable red polymer ring: Innovative Coin issued by the Federal Republic of Germany on 27.04.2017

5) Sub-Tropical Climate Zone: ("Climate Zones of Earth Coin Series"): The second "tri-material" Coin in the Series - with an outer ring, inner core and an embossable orange polymer ring, innovative coin issued by the Federal Republic of Germany on 26.04.2018

6) In the Air: A 10 Euro Coin: The first Coin in the 3 coin Bimetal/Polymer coin "Tri-material" Coin Series titled "Air Moves", to be issued in April 2019

7) Temperate Climate Zone: (Climates of Earth Coin Series): The third "tri-material" Coin in the Series - with an outer ring, inner core and an embossable green polymer ring: Innovative coin being issued by the Federal Republic of Germany in September 2019

8) Graf Zeppelin: A 20 Dollar Silver coin and a 5 Dollar Gold Coin issued by Cook Islands in April 2017 to commemorate the 100th Death Anniversary of Count Ferdinand Adolf Heinrich August von Zeppelin (08.07.1838 - 08.03.1917)


9) A "Hundert Mark" (Hundred Mark) Reichbanknote dated 1st November 1920 tells a tale of a time when hyperinflation was rampant in Germany after World War I

10) 100th Anniversary of the Weimar Constitution: A 20 Euro Silver Coin issued by the German Federal Government: Coin Minted by the Berlin Mint: Year of issue: 2019: