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The birth of the CEPT

1960 was the first official Europa CEPT issue and on that occasion 20 countries issued a total of 36 stamps, more than the double of 1959! For 11 countries it was their first Europa-Stamp issue (Denmark; Finland; Great-Britain; Greece; Iceland; Ireland; Liechtenstein; Norway; Portugal; Spain and Sweden). (20 countries; 36 stamps).

For their first Europa-Stamp in 1960, Liechtenstein issued only 322'000 stamps, that's why their stamp became very fast a must.

During the next decade, the number of countries changed year by year, some countries stayed faithful other issued Europa-Stamps from time to time. Some smaller European countries issued their first stamps during that period. 1961 new Cyprus and San Marino (16 countries; 34 stamps), 1962 new Monaco (18 countries; 39 stamps), 1963 (19 countries; 36 stamps), 1964 (19 countries; 36 stamps), 1965 (19 countries; 36 stamps), 1966 new Andorra F. (19 countries; 37 stamps), 1967 (19 countries; 37 stamps), 1968 (18 countries; 35 stamps). In 1969 the CEPT celebrate their 10 years anniversary, it was the occasion for many countries to take part again at the Europa-Stamp issue, that's why we had 26 countries participating that year and 2 new countries Vatican and Yugoslavia. (26 countries; 48 stamps). Yugoslavia was the first Communist country to take part ! During the Seventies the CEPT felt that the Europa-Stamps collectors started to get tired of all those similar designs. In 1970 they decided to allow each country to issue one stamp without the common design, thought this new rule wasn't followed by many countries. 1970 (19 countries ; 42 stamps), 1971 new Malta (21 countries ; 44 stamps), 1972 new Andorra E. (22 countries ; 46 stamps), 1973 (24 countries ; 50 stamps). 1973 was the last year the common design was used ! The next year a common theme will be introduced to make the collection more attractive and more interesting...

Andorra (Spanish post) issued their first Europa-Stamp in 1972. Only 200'000 stamps were issued and a huge quantity of them were bought, by Spanish philatelist, in order to speculate. The result of it is that this stamp is now more than 200.- Euro worth !