3917) National Archaeological Discoveries, Netherlands: PostNL (Netherlands Post) has issued one EUROPA Stamp featuring the Fibula of Dorestad, one of the most famous finds around 800 AD: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 09.05.2025:
About EUROPA Stamps:
EUROPA Stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations.
They bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.
EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world and have been issued for over 60 years.
Every year a new theme is assigned by PostEurop and all participating countries issue stamps with their own interpretation of the theme. The theme for 2025 is "National Archeological Discoveries".
More about EUROPA Postage Stamps:
EUROPA Postage stamps (also known as Europa - CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bears 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 stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.
Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and co-operation.
In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps.
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 & 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" etc.)
2013 - Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles
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 - Endangered National Wildlife
2022 - Stories & Myths.
2023 - PEACE – The highest value of humanity
2024 - Underwater fauna and flora
2025 - National Archaeological discoveries
2026 - Common design: 70th anniversary of EUROPA stamps
2027 - Street art
About EUROPA - National Archaeological Discoveries, Netherlands: PostNL (Netherlands Post) has issued one EUROPA Stamp featuring the Fibula of Dorestad, one of the most famous finds around 800 AD:
About Europa - Fibula of Dorestad:
The theme for the common European stamp issue for 2025 is ‘National Archaeological Discoveries’.
In response to this theme, PostNL has issued the stamp sheet Fibula of Dorestad on 9 May 2025.
The six identical stamps bear the denomination international 1 for mail up to 20 grams with an international destination.
The Archeological Find:
One of the most famous archaeological finds in the Netherlands is the 8.5 cm fibula of Dorestad.
The cloak pin was made around 800 AD.
In 1969, the fibula was found in a well from the time of Dorestad, where Wijk bij Duurstede is now located. During the reign of Charlemagne of the Franks (768-814), Dorestad was the largest and richest trading city in the Netherlands.
The golden fibula is inlaid with various colours of glass, gemstones of almandine, pearls, and enamel. Over time, some stones have disappeared, as has the pin on the back.
Various shapes can be recognised in the inlay work, such as crosses, volutes, and a small tree with leaves and fruits. The crosses of the gemstones and pearls probably indicate that the brooch was worn as subtle propaganda for the increasingly popular Christianity in the Netherlands.
Round fibulae were mainly worn by ladies, and especially high-ranking ladies promoted the new faith. The style of the fibula of Dorestad is that of ecclesiastical goldsmithing, made in Burgundian workshops from the time of Charlemagne.
The fibula, one of the masterpieces of the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, is included in the Canon of the Netherlands under the theme Charlemagne.
The Stamps:
The stamp sheet Fibula of Dorestad contains six identical stamps, with the three stamps on the right rotated 180 degrees compared to the three stamps on the left.
Each stamp features the fibula on the right side against a white background.
The text with the name of the fibula, its age, and the place of discovery runs in a circle around the round cloak pin. On the left side of the stamp, the fibula is depicted again, but in a smaller size. This image continues onto the tabs.
The smaller fibula is surrounded by a graphic interpretation of the geometric pattern of the inlay work. In the same way as with the large fibula, text runs in a circle around the small fibula. The text on the tabs is the title of the issue, separated by the Priority sticker.
The text on the stamp contains the postal details: the country of issue, the international destination, and the year of issue. At the bottom of the stamp are the PostNL logo and the denomination 1.
The sorting hook is located at the top right.
On the black sheet border, part of the fibula is depicted at actual size. Around this image runs a text explaining the history, the archaeological find, and the significance of the fibula.
The title of the issue, the texts about the fibula, and the geometric pattern are printed in gold.
TYPOGRAPHY:
For the texts on the stamps and the sheet border, the sans-serif Objektiv MK2 (2015-2024) from the Dalton Maag bureau in London was used. The subtitle A jewel full of history is set in a different font: the serif Baskerville URW Regular Italic (2019) from URW Type Foundry in Hamburg, inspired by the letters of the English type designer John Baskerville (1706-1775).
The First Day Cover (FDC) featuring the EUROPA Stamp
DESIGNER:
The stamp sheet Fibula of Dorestad was designed by Studio Maud van Rossum from Amsterdam.
The goldest gold:
The images on the stamps are based on photographic material from the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden.
Missing gemstone:
The stamp sheet features the Fibula of Dorestad three times, twice on the stamp and once on the sheet border. The image on the sheet border shows the actual size of the fibula, with a diameter of 8.5 cm.
Circular Texts:
The circular shape of the fibula is not only reflected in the graphic pattern on the left side of the stamp but also in the typography.
Technical details:
Issue Date: 09.05.2025
Designer: Studio Maud van Rossum, Amsterdam
Printer: Koninklijke Joh. Enschedé B.V., Haarlem
Process: Marc Gijzen, Voorburg
Colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, black, blue and gold (PMS 871)
Size:
Stamp size: 36.00 mm x 25.00 mm,
Sheet size: 108.00 mm x 150.00 mm
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