Cyprus Stamps Blog

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Category: 1. Stamp News

  1. A Potted History of the Cyprus Postal Service.

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    Here's how it all began...

    The primary postal administration in Cyprus was set up by the Austrians in 1845. In 1871 the principal Ottoman mail station was opened in Nicosia, and a second in Larnaca in 1873. All these were shut in 1878 when a transitory British Postal Service was opened.


    Amid these early years the main open transport that worked among Larnaca and Nicosia was a pony drawn carriage or a mail truck. A pony conveyed mail to and from different towns and a mounted postman was not allowed to work in excess of 100 miles for every week. Donkeys were used in more rustic zones and pedal bikes inside towns and/or rural areas.

    In 1910 mail motorised vehicles started to be used for services between Limassol and Nicosia by means of Kophinou and Larnaca, then in 1915 an agreement was entered to with the Cairo motor company based in London for mechanised mail administrations covering every one of the towns along these routes proclaiming the finish of a long age of mail buses.

    Towards the middle of the twentieth century mail transports were placed in administration between real towns. Vans, for example, those delineated on the 2013 Europa stamps, were presented for the gathering and dissemination of mass mail between remote post workplaces in the towns and urban communities. Bikes were switched by mopeds or what we refer to as scooters.

    Cyprus (Republic) and north Cyprus (Turkish Cypriot) 2013 EUROPA "Postal Vehicles"
    Cyprus Stamps SG 1297-98 2013 EUROPA Postal Vehicles  North Cyprus Stamps SG 0759-60 2013 EUROPA Postal Vehicles

    If you're looking for EUROPA 2013 Cyprus or north Cyprus Postal Vehicles stamp issues, we do still have a small selection available. You can find them easily if click just here!

  2. Cyprus stamp issues July 2017 EUROMED "Trees of the Mediterranean" and North Cyprus "Endemic Plants"

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    Republic of Cyprus 10 July 2017
    Joint Stamp Issue Euromed 2017 - Trees of the Mediterranean

    This year's common theme adopted by the member states of the Postal Union for the Mediterranean "Euromed" is "Trees of the Mediterranean".

     

    Available as a single stamp and Official First Day Cover.

     

    Cyprus Stamps Euromed 2017 - Trees of the Mediterranean

     

    Technical Information
    Design: Artwork: Christina Vasiliadou, Lemesos
    Text: Barkev Mihranian

    Size of stamps: 30x40 mm in sheets of 8 stamps
    Printing method: Litho-Offset on unwatermarked paper
    Printer: Veridos Matsoukis S.A., Greece

     

    North Cyprus (Turkish Cypriot) - 31 July 2017
    Endemic Plants / Endemik Bitkiler

    A set of 4 stamps of different values and featuring the following:
    1.00 TL - Teucrium divaricatum subsp. canescens
    1.50 TL - Dianthus strictus subsp.Troodi
    1.65 TL - Teucrium salaminium
    1.80 TL - Sideritis cypria

    2017 (d) North Cyprus Stamps Plants MINT 

    And below is the Official FDC for this Turkish Cypriot stamp issue:

    2017 (d) North Cyprus Stamps Plants Off FDC

    The stamps and FDCs referred to in this article can be found on our website (currently in the NEW Stamp Issue category up until the next stamp issue is released) or in the relevant Republic of Cyprus Stamps and/or North Cyprus Stamps categories on our website at www.CyprusStamps.com

     

     
  3. Spotlight: Cyprus Cancels and Rural Postmarks

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    Cancels and Rural Postmarks of Cyprus

    Note: the spelling is as it appears on the Canceller and not necessarily the way the name of the village or area is written in modern times.

    AGRIDHIA - Cyprus Stamps Postmark GR Rural Service

    AGRIDHIA Cyprus stamps postmarks


    AKACHA - Cyprus Stamps postmark ER1 E.R.Rural Service

    AKACHA Cyprus Stamps postmark ER1 E.R.Rural Service


    AMIANDOS - Cyprus Stamps postmark DS4 Date Single Circle
    Date in two lines with star. 24–25mm.

    AMIANDOS - Cyprus Stamps postmark DS4 Date Single Circle


    ARADHIPPOU - Cyprus Stamps postmark DD7 Datestamp Double Circle
    Time and date in three lines, thin lines for curved panels, size of letters varies

    ARADHIIPPOU Cyprus stamps postmarks


    ASGATA - Cyprus Stamps postmark DS7 Date Single Circle
    Date in one line, 25–28mm. A widely used type first introduced in the 1930s

    ASGATA Cyprus Stamps postmark DS7 Date Single Circle


    ATHIAENOU - Cyprus Stamps postmark DS7 Date Single Circle
    This below from July 1972

    ATHIAENOU Cyprus Stamps postmark DS7 Date Single Circle


    AY THERAPON - Cyprus Stamps Postmark GR Rural Service

    AY THERAPON Cyprus Stamps Postmark GR Rural Service


    DHRYNIA - Cyprus Stamps Postmark GR Rural Service

    DHRYNIA Cyprus Stamps Postmark GR Rural Service


    FAMAGUSTA - Cyprus Stamps postmark

    FAMAGUSTA Cyprus Stamps postmark


    FAMAGUSTA TOWN - Cyprus Stamps postmark Date stamp Double Circle
    Date stamp Double Circle 10 August 1963

    FAMAGUSTA TOWN Cyprus Stamps postmark Date stamp Double Circle

    and finally, for this selection is....

    KAKOPETRIA - Cyprus Stamps postmark DD7 Date Stamp Double Circle
    Time and date in three lines, thin lines for curved panels, size of letters varies

    KAKOPETRIA Cyprus Stamps postmark DD7 Date Stamp Double Circle

     

    Types of cancellations used on Cyprus postal items:
    Numeral Cancellations, Manuscripts, (Victorian) VR rural service, (Edwardian KEVII) ER rural service, (King George V and VI) GR rural service, Rural Postal Service, Single Circle date stamp, Double Circle date stamp.

  4. Best Display Winner of Rushden & District Stamp Club Competition

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    Here's a nice piece of news which involves one of our regular stamp collectors at CyprusStamps.com website!

    John W (you can see his posts feature heavily in our Guestbook page) recently entered his local stamp club competition with a 9 sheet entry of Cyprus Europa stamps and cover issues.

    Here he is below pictured with his trophy in front of his winning Europa display at the Rushden & District Stamp Club event.

    Stamp Champ

    Well done, John and thank you very much for sending us the photograph.
    Finally, we get to put a face to the name!

    Putting Rushden & District Stamp Club on the map

  5. Spotlight: Cyprus EUROPA Stamps 1980s

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    Well, my last "spotlight" on EUROPA stamps of Cyprus was quite a few months ago, in fact it was October last year, which came as a bit of a shock!

    So, it's time to get my finger out and put fingers to keyboard, collect some images and get ready to provide the info...

    Find here below the list of Cyprus EUROPA stamps which were issued in 1980 by the Cyprus post office.

    Enjoy the Spotlight!

    1980 - Europa "Personalities of Notable Cypriots" 28 April 1980
    Cyprus stamps 1980 Europa - personalities of notable Cypriots

    1981 - Europa "Folk dances" 4 May 1981
    Cyprus stamps 1981 Europa - Folk Dances

    1982 - Europa "Historical Events" 3 May 1982
    Cyprus stamps 1982 Europa - Historical Events

    1983 - Europa "Ancient Works of Cypriot Ingenuity" 3 May 1983
    Cyprus stamps 1983 Europa - Ancient Works of Cypriot Ingenuity

    1984 - Europa "Bridge" 30 April 1984
    Cyprus stamps 1984 Europa - Bridge

    1985 - Europa "Composers and Musicians" 6 May 1985
    Cyprus stamps 1985 Europa - Composers and Musicians

    1986 - Europa "Conservation of Nature and Environment" 28 April 1986
    Cyprus stamps 1986 Europa - Conservation of Nature and Environment

    1987 - Europa "Modern Architecture" 11 May 1987
    Cypru stamps 1987 Europa - Modern Architecture

    1988 - Europa "Transportation and Telecommunications" 9 May 1988 Cyprus stamps 1988 Europa - Transportation and Telecommunications

    1989 - Europa "Traditional Children's Games" 8 May 1989
    Cyprus stamps 1989 Europa - Traditional Childrens Games

    Looking for EUROPA stamps from other years? That's easy - just click on this EUROPA stamps search link!

    Alternatively, you can use the "Search Product" field at the very top of each page of our website (as a suggestion, just type the year (eg: 1964) of interest rather than the title of the issue as the Search field is not so good with specifics). Or, click through the link here to the list of Thematics, Topical and Popular Searches.

     

  6. Beware of stamp collectors

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    I found something that really amused me this morning...

    Today (6 January) is a public holiday in Cyprus and many other countries for Kings' Day or Epiphany so as I had some free time to myself I decided to continue with the one game I play continually on Facebook - Criminal Case.

    I'm currently at Level 81 on Case 26 "The Lake's Bride". And, as I just got my results back from the forensic laboratory I was informed of something very strange. An unusual piece of evidence has come to light...

    Beware of stamp collectors

    Beware of stamp collectors 2

    Beware of stamp collectors 3

    You have been warned.... "beware of stamp collectors" :-)

  7. Spotlight: Cyprus EUROPA Stamps 1970s

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    I did promise a while back when I published my last "spotlight" on EUROPA stamps of Cyprus issues from the 1960s that I would be back later with details of Cyprus EUROPA stamps from 1970s.

    I've done that just this morning and you can take a look at the full article on my other Cyprus stamp collecting blog (Cyprus Stamps Blogspot), which shows the images of all Cyprus' Europa stamps that were released between May 1970 to April 1976.

    The first Cyprus EUROPA stamp issue from the 1970s:

    1970 -  Europa "Flaming Sun" 04 May 1970Cyprus stamps 1970 Europa Flaming Sun

    The final EUROPA stamp set as released by the Cyprus post office in April 1979 was Europa "Telecommunications" (pictured here below):

    1979 - Europa "Telecommunications" 30 April 1979
    Cyprus stamps 1979 Europa Telcommunications

  8. Rural Postmarks of Cyprus on YouTube Video

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    A short video depicting a selection of rural postmarks / cancel marks on Cyprus stamps.

  9. Spotlight: Cyprus EUROPA Stamps 1960s

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    As a one country stamp collector my main interest of course is stamps and philatelic items from the country of Cyprus but I realise there are many collectors out there who collect only EUROPA stamps from all countries.

    So, with that in mind I thought I would do a spotlight on the Cyprus EUROPA stamps which were released during the 1960s.

    I hope you enjoy them!

    1962 - Europa "Doves" 19 March 1962

    Cyprus stamps SG 206-08 1962 EUROPA Doves


    1963 - Europa "Tree" 28 January 1963

    Cyprus stamps SG 224-26 1963 EUROPA Tree


    1963 - Europa "Cooperation" Emblem (CEPT) 04 November 1963

    Cyprus stamps SG 234-36 1963 EUROPA Emblem


    1964 - Europa "Flower" 14 September 1964

    Cyprus stamps SG 249-51 1964 EUROPA Flower


    1965 - Europa "Sprig" 27 September 1965

    Cyprus stamps SG 267-69 1965 EUROPA Sprig


    1966 - Europa "Ship" 26 September 1966

    Cyprus stamps SG 280-82 1966 EUROPA Ship


    1967 - Europa "Cogwheels" 02 May 1967

    Cyprus stamps SG 302-04 1967 EUROPA Cogwheels


    1968 - Europa "Key" 29 April 1968

    319 - 21 1968 EUROPA Key


    1969 - Europa "Emblem" 28 April 1969

    Cyprus stamps SG 345-47 1970 EUROPA Emblem

    To see all of our current availability of the EUROPA stamps of Cyprus including those issued in north Cyprus (Turkish Cypriot) Stamps, Booklets and First Day Covers etc please follow this Cyprus EUROPA stamps link.

    I will follow up with the 1970s Cyprus EUROPA stamps issues on a future blog post....

  10. Next CYPRUS 2013 stamp issue.

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    Unfortunately, there will be no Republic of Cyprus stamp issues for 2013 now until:

    9 October 2013:
    h) "Children's Stamps" - details of this self-adhesive stamp issue will be communicated nearer the time as and when we receive it from the Cyprus Post Office.


    The last issue from Republic of Cyprus was released on Wednesday 5 June 2013 - Commemoratives entitled "Organisms of the Mediterranean marine environment"

    However, for those who also collect Turkish Cypriot stamps there will be another issue on:

    10 September 2013:
    5) "Islamic Arts and Culture" - unfortunately, we have no images or other information available for this issue and will not receive them until after the official release date.

    We visit the north of Cyprus a couple of times each year so will add these issues just as soon as we can get our hands on them!

     

    Most recent Turkish Cyprus stamp issues we added to the website are listed here below:

     

    • European Football Championship - issue date 29 June 2012
    • London Olympic Games - issue date 27 July 2012
    • Old Buses and Motorbikes - issue date 22 November 2012