Slovakia EUROPA FDC

Slovakia FDC
Name: EUROPA 2009 - Astronomy
Date of Issue: 28 May 2009

On 20 December 2007, the United Nations 62nd General Assembly proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. The Resolution was submitted by Italy, Galileo Galilei’s home country. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) is an initiative of the International Astronomical Union, UNESCO, and is also supported by Slovakia. IYA2009 celebrates the first astronomical use of the telescope by Galileo in 1609 - an event which had global implications. Now hundreds of telescopes both land- and space-based explore the universe 24 hours a day. Under the central theme ‘The Universe, Yours to Discover’ IYA2009 gives all nations the chance to participate in scientific discoveries and grandiose technical solutions. This year will highlight global cooperation for peaceful purposes - the search for our cosmic origin and the common heritage which connects all citizens of Earth. The coordinating body for the IYA2009 events in Slovakia will be is the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Tatranská Lomnica. Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences on the Earth. It originated in the ancient Sumerian and Egyptian civilizations, which used cardinal points basic orientation and time measurement techniques as early as the 5th millennium BC. As a branch of science it has developed from the 16th century thanks to the works of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton. The subject of study - celestial objects - is accessible to all, so astronomy may be regarded as an international science typical of close cooperation and effective specialisation by individual countries. Thanks to concentrated efforts in three specific fields - solar and Earth-Sun relations research; the exploration of comets, meteors and asteroids; and stellar and stellar systems research - Slovakia has a firm place in the international astronomical research community. Astronomical organisations in Slovakia can be divided into three categories: (1) Basic research – the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences; (2) Education – the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of Comenius University in Bratislava and the Faculty of Science of P. J. Šafárik University in Košice; and (3) Popularisation – the Slovak Central Observatory in Hurbanovo and other observatories and planetaria of self-governing regions, cities, and municipalities. Astronomy fans are associated in the Slovak Astronomical Society under the Slovak Academy of Science and Slovak Association of Amateur Astronomers.

Comment: This FDC has 2 different currencies, Slovakia Koruna and Euro. it's very interesting because Slovakia adopted the common European currency Euro but the Koruna still can be used in Slovakia, I don't know what date is the last date for Koruna stamps.?

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Russia EUROPA FDC

Russia FDC
Name: EUROPA 2009 - Astronomy
Date of Issue: 05 May 2009

In 2009 "astronomy" became a theme of traditional annual issue, organized by Association of the state post operators of Europe (PostEurope). The principal reason was that this year has been declared as the International year of astronomy (IYA2009) by the Association for the United Nations. In 1609 Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei for the first time looked in telescope, having begun modern astronomy. Nowadays the primary goals of astronomy are studying and explanation of apparent motions of heavenly bodies, finding of laws and reasons of these movements, studying of heavenly bodies structure, their physical and chemical properties, construction of models of their internal structure, solving problems of origin and development of heavenly bodies and their systems, studying of the most general properties of the Universe, construction of theory of observable part of the Universe Metagalaxies. Stamp represents Terskolsk observatory of the Institute of astronomy of Russian academy of science and on armillary sphere against the background with Big Dipper cancellation.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Poland EUROPA FDC

Poland FDC
Name: EUROPA 2009 - Astronomy
Date of Issue: 05 May 2009

EUROPE 2009. The International Year of Astronomy

It is fairly common to regard astronomy as a pre-science, since the contemplations of the nature and behaviour of celestial bodies gave rise to some of the oldest theories on the structure of our world. In this cosmologic shape, astronomy was the father of philosophy (in particular the Greek one), which, in turn, allowed more specific branches of knowledge to develop.
The year 2009 was proclaimed the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations, an idea that came from the International Astronomy Union (IAU) which this way wanted to commemorate certain important anniversaries. To begin with, it was 400 years ago that Galileo first used a telescope to gaze at the sky. The invention was a breakthrough and the discoveries it allowed are now the foundations of astronomy. Also in 2009, 40 years will have passed since the first man set foot on the Moon, and 90 years since the IAU was established.
"Discover your Universe", the motto of the International Year of Astronomy, makes us realise that a passion for astronomy is not restricted to scientists, but is shared by many ordinary people who watch the sky for pleasure. The infinite Universe is now within reach of any curious eye, and its mysteries stand ready to by explored using only a telescope and a computer. For the convenience of the hobbyists, this year's celebrations will include various committees for the organisation of educational schemes, shows, exhibitions and the like.

Astronomy in Poland

It's probably not common knowledge that the star of Nicolas Copernicus was not the first one to shine in the history of Polish astronomy. In 15th century the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, despite its relatively short tradition, earned itself the title of the best centre of studies in astronomy throughout Europe owing to the research of such scholars as Marcin Bylica and Wojciech z Brudzewa. Even though the academic level of the university deteriorated in the years to come, it became known all over Europe again thanks to the achievements of two researchers born in the city of Gdańsk - Jan Heweliusz and Stanisław Lubienicki, especially with the results of their observations of the Moon and the comets. Although the loss of independence marked a significant break in the development of sciences in Poland, the community of astronomers revived shortly after World War I ended with a new tool - the outstandingly effective and widely used theory of the cracovians, developed by another Polish scholar, Tadeusz Banachiewicz. More recently, that is in the second half of 20th century, the work of Bohdan Paczyński, who discovered the gamma radiation and worked out its theory, gained worldwide renown. That was only matched by the recent discovery made by Aleksander Wolszczan, a Polish astronomer who spotted the first planet outside our Solar System, revolving around a dying neutron star.

New stamp and First Day Cover

On account of the International Astronomy Year 2009, Poczta Polska prepared a stamp featuring a symbolic representation of the way celestial observations are reflected in human language. Both the stamp and the FDC present drawings of constellations and a star which emits rays of light presented as very long sequences of digits. The issue is accompanied by an occasional date stamp, in use in Warsaw 1 Post Office.

Philately

As every year, the EUROPE stamps join in the competition. Anyone can view them on the PosEurop website and vote for their favourite one up to 8 August 2009. Last year, when the theme of the competition was "letter", Hungary won the first prize. Wishing the best of luck to our stamp this year, we would like to encourage everybody to cast their vote.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Estonia EUROPA FDC

Estonia FDC
Name: EUROPA 2009 - Astronomy
Date of Issue: 05 May 2009

The history of astronomy embraces the cultural history of humanity, going back to antiquity and having started from prehistoric cults. If originally astronomy represented knowledge about the starry sky and its cycles and in early astronomy the movement of visible heavenly bodies was observed and forecast, then in the modern sense astronomy is a science that studies above all the physical nature of cosmic objects and the Universe as a whole. Significant achievements of Estonian astronomers include the discovery of the cell structure of the universe based on the location of galaxies and their systems in space. The theory was presented by Jaan Einasto and his colleagues at an international symposium on astronomy in Tallinn in 1977. A different structure of the universe than had been presumed until that time was established, whereas the diameter of a cell is nearly 200 million light years. The dimensions of a cell are immense and even light don’t have enough time to exchange information between different edges of the cell network during the lifetime of the Universe. The regular structure of the cell could be compared with a honeycomb, where the cells are also placed in a regular pattern.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Lithuania EUROPA FDC

Lithuania FDC
Name: EUROPA 2009 - Astronomy
Date of Issue: 25 April 2009

Denominations:
2.45Lt: Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642)
2.45Lt: The Astrophysical Investigations Were Initiated in Vilnius university Observatory in the Middle of the 19th C.

To commemorate 400 years of exploring the universe using astronomical telescopes, 2009 has been designated the International Year of Astronomy. Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was the first astronomer who turned the telescope to the sky in 1609. His astronomical observations and discoveries unleashed a scientific revolution that has virtually changed our perception of the universe and our place in it. 400 years later, astronomers explore celestial bodies with modern telescopes on Earth and in space in almost all wavelengths 24 hours per day.

Beginning of astrophysics, a branch of astronomy dealing with physical processes operating in stars and other celestial bodies is related to the development of photometric and spectroscopic techniques in the middle of the 19th century. Astronomers of Vilnius University Observatory were among the firsts who initiated astrophysical investigations at that time. Their research concentrated on the sun because of its brightness and its obvious importance to our lives. One of their main instruments used for systematic solar photography was G. M. Dallmeyer's photoheliograph.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Belarus EUROPA FDC

Belarus FDC
Name: EUROPA 2009 - Astronomy
Date of Issue: 15 April 2009

Denominations:
1000: Ancient astronomy
1000: Modern astronomy

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Poland EUROPA FDC

Poland FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 05 May 2008

Comment: The design of this stamp is very funny. Knife, fork and FDC. Do you want to eat it?

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Russia EUROPA FDC

Russia FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 05 May 2008

Comment: The illustration of this FDC depicts an email. I'm curiously what's the meaning of this email, who could translate it?

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Lithuania EUROPA FDC

Lithuania FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 03 May 2008

Designs:
2,45 Lt: The Great Duchy of Lithuania letters of Gediminas for Europe cities.1323.
2,45 Lt: The letters to Vilnius – To European culture metropolis.

Letters will be the main theme of stamp series Europa of 2008. Therefore, in the first stamp the author wants to remind us of a milestone of the written word in Lithuania – the letters of our Grand Duke Gediminas who wrote them in 1323 – 1324. These letters were addressed to Pope John XXII and Catholic Western Europe. By sending these letters, Grand Duke Gediminas invited various craftsmen, artisans and experts to come to the country. In these letters Vilnius was mentioned for the first time ever as the capital of the country.

The second stamp depicts the significant role of letters in our modern world. Nowadays both letters and e-mails spread the news to the world about Lithuania and its capital Vilnius which is preparing to become European capital of culture in 2009. The program under the title European Capitals of Culture has been implemented since 1985 providing cities with the possibility to introduce their culture to the citizens of other countries. Vilnius has already received numerous letters asking about the future events organized in the city, about traditions and history of Lithuania, already preparing to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of its statehood in 2009. In their letters people also inquire about the current situation of the country and its people.

Comment: This design is ingenious, not only has catered to the EUROPA topic, but also narrated a section of Lithuanian history.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Estonia EUROPA FDC

Estonia FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 30 April 2008

PostEurop has picked the letter as the theme of this year's Europa stamp. The letter is a missive from the sender to the receiver and for its delivery postal services have been set up in all world countries today. Regular postal carriage in Europe started on the initiative of Franz von Taxis in 1495 on the Vienna-Brussels route. Estonia received its first regular postal link with Sweden 1638. For the linguistic expression of the contents of letters men have devised sign systems that have developed from ancient pictograms and cuneiform signs into powerful and supple instruments of human communication. Whether alphabetic, syllabic or hieroglyphic, writing can express the whole range of human thought and can besides take highly artistic forms. Although e-mails are winning more and more popularity today, the traditional "hard copy" letter is still very much alive and kicking as the millions of letters postal systems daily deliver to addressees prove.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Latvia EUROPA FDC

Latvia FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 26 April 2008

Comment: I don't know why my friend added a Ls 1 definitive stamp on this FDC but hadn't cancelled. If my friend sent this FDC as a 21 grams registered mail, he should add Ls 2 definitive stamps. If he sent this FDC as a 20 grams registered mail, this FDC's postage had overpaid.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Ukraine EUROPA FDC

Ukraine FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 12 March 2008

Designs:
2.47: Writing Letter
3.33: Typing Letter

Comment: I like this design very much, the designer used very good design to annotate "Letter". You could see traditional handwriting letter(left) and Modern E-letter(right). aha. Only one faulty stroke in this set - The woman on the right stamp who looks like a mediaeval woman. How about your opinion?

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.

Vatican EUROPA FDC

Vatican FDC
Name: EUROPA 2008 - Letter
Date of Issue: 06 March 2008

EUROPA stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations / enterprises under the aegis of PostEurop which have Europe as their central theme. EUROPA stamps should underline cooperation in the domain of posts, particularly as regards the promotion of philately. They also contribute to making the public aware 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 they were first issued in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and cooperation. In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps holding the rights to the EUROPA logo.

The Association also selects the annual EUROPA theme for its yearly EUROPA stamps competition. This event was first launched in 2002 and it usually takes place during the Plenary Assembly.

Comment: Pope is writing a letter, it's normal. But the left stamp is very special. It's a real posted FDC on the stamp, two small stamps' designs have composed the denomination of this big stamp.

EUROPA Series FDCs:
2009 Astronomy:
Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia.

2008 Letter:
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Vatican.