Europa 2022
Stories & Myths

The Europa postage stamp (also known as Europa - CEPT until 1992) is an annual joint issue of stamps with a common design or theme by postal administrations of member countries of the European Communities (1956–1959), the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) from 1960 to 1992, and the PostEurop Association since 1993. Europe is the central theme. "Stories and Myths" was the Europa theme for 2022. History is inextricably intertwined with myth in the image chosen for the Vatican issue that consists of a souvenir sheet and a series of two stamps. The €1,15 souvenir sheet reproduces the entire fresco of a lunette in the Sistine Halls of the Vatican Museums, painted between 1588 and 1590 by C. Nebbia and G. Guerra. They depict the transport of the Egyptian obelisk that stood on the middle wall of Caligula's circus over to St. Peter's Square, where Pope Sixtus V wanted to move it. The €0,10 and €0,30 stamps instead reproduce two details of it. The Pope entrusted architect Domenico Fontana with the task of removing the obelisk from its original location and placing it in St. Peter's Square and then raising it on a pedestal. The obelisk is over 4000 years old. The reference below traces its long history. Reference: The Vatican Obelisk - A 4000 Year History Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1795 - 1797 Date Issued - 16 May 2022 Face Value - €0,10, €0,30 Perforations - 13.25x13 Printing Process - Offset, 4 colors Printer - Cartor (France) Max Printed - 60,000 Stamps

(Source - Vatican Notes: Volume: 70 Issue: 393 Page: 4-6)