Europa – The Postman Van

To celebrate its 20th anniversary PostEurop has set an interesting theme for this year's EUROPA competition themed - "Postman Van". The competition invites postal operators from Europe to showcase their countries' postal vehicles. For this year's EUROPA stamp issue, Malta has taken a nostalgic look at postal vans from yesteryear to ensure that their memory lives on. The Philatelic Bureau chose to highlight two particular vehicles- a Ford Transit Mark 1 van and a Lambretta threewheeler. The Lambretta threewheeler, on the €1.19 stamp is captured as it drives down Dingli Street - one of Sliema's iconic roads. This vehicle was used for the transportation of mailbags up until the end of the20th century. The Ford Transit Mark 1, on the €0.37 stamp, is seen as it makes its way up Merchant's Street, Valletta, passed by the former General Post Office that was housed at the Auberge d'Italie. This vehicle was used by the postman on his collection beat, with all mail then taken to the central mailroom close by. The Ford Transit Mark 1, €0.37 stamp will be Malta's entry for the Best EUROPA Stamp Contest. The contest is an annual online event where creative entries from across Europe compete for the best design. The best EUROPA stamp will be voted for by, web viewers and PostEurop's members. Voting opens early May and the results will be announced at PostEurop's Plenary Assembly.