The EUROPA stamp theme for 2024 is “Underwater Fauna & Flora;” highlighting the biodiversity of Europe’s waters which are suffering from overfishing, pollution and climate change and which need to be protected for future generations.

The consists of two stamps. The first features the smooth starfish (scientific name: Hacelia attenuate), known in Maltese as “Stilla ?amra lixxa;” carries a denomination of €1.50 and was photographed by Prof. Alan Deidun of the University of Malta.

The second stamp shows the common octopus (scientific name: Octopus vulgaris), commonly referred to in Maltese as “Qarnita,” carries a denomination of €2.00 and was photographed by Pedja Miletic.

This set will be issued in a sheet of 11, with each stamp measuring 44 mm x 31 mm, with a comb perforation of 14.1 x 14.2 and bearing the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 158 mm x 150 mm and were produced in the offset process by Printex Limited.

The issue consists of 30,800 stamps of the €1.50 denomination and 27,500 stamps of the €2.00 denomination.

The stamps will be available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo from Thursday 9 May 2024. Orders may be placed online at www.maltaphilately.com ; or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c., 305 Qormi Road, Marsa MTP 1001; by telephone 2596 1740 or via e-mail info@maltaphilately.com

Over the past decades, PostEurop, the association that represents European public postal operators, has been coordinating the annual issue of stamps bearing a common theme. The aim of issuing “Europa Stamps” is to build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.

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