Simplon Tunnel
At 19.8 kilometers, the Simplon Tunnel, between Switzerland and Italy, was for many years the longest mountain tunnel in the world.
Simplon Tunnel
Football Championship
This stamp issue of Switzerland is the second of four special stamps issued by Swiss Post in the run-up to the Euro 2008 Football Championship in Switzerland and Austria.
Euro 2008 Football Championship
Swiss cuckoo
The cuckoo is the first stamp in the new Domestic Birds definitive set, which will replace the existing Swiss Design Classics over the next few years. Each bird is lovingly hand drawn right down to the tiniest detail and artistically placed in its habitat. The Swiss cuckoo took off on 1 April 2006.
Swiss cuckoo
Art Nouveau on stamps
Switzerland is commemorating the art movement known as Art Nouveau which features particularly prominently in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The focal point of the celebrations is the centenary of the Advanced Course in Art and Decoration taught at its School of Art, and Swiss Post issued two stamps on the theme of Art Nouveau.
Art Nouveau on stamps
PostBus Switzerland
In 2006, Switzerland will be celebrating an unusual anniversary - the centenary of the PostBus service. Today's PostBus Switzerland carries more than 100 million passengers a year, operating a network covering 10,363 kilometers with a fleet of some 2000 vehicles
PostBus Switzerland
Stamps on railway
With this stamp issue the post honors an historical event, which has revolutionized transportation for travelers as well as merchandise in Luxembourg.
Electrification Luxembourg railway
Alpine ibex
In 2006, Switzerland commemorates a very special anniversary - it's a hundred years since the Alpine ibex returned to this country after having been exterminated in previous centuries, and Swiss Post is dedicating a special stamp to this event.
Alpine ibex
Blood donation
The donation of blood is an essential act that makes it possible to save lives in our country every day. And the donations are particularly necessary because blood cannot be created artificially.
Blood donation
New Finnish stamps
The stamps portray the Finnish flag, a lilac twig, an Easter bunny, and the painting Fortuneteller by the internationally renowned Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946). On the same day, six coil stamps will be released with the fine artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931) as their theme.
New Finnish stamps
Helene Schjerfbeck
Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946) is one of Finland's most acclaimed painters of all time. Today her works are treasures, much sought-after in all international auction houses. Fortune-Teller is in the collection of the Finnish National Gallery Ateneum.
Helene Schjerfbeck
175 years of democracy
To celebrate 175 years of democracy the Belgian post issued a miniature sheet with five stamps on 20 February 2006.
Democracy in Belgium
Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel who is widely lauded as an industrial age visionary created many of Britain's most iconic landmarks including bridges, railways, tunnels, and ships.
Brunel
Heron
In the Falkland Islands the heron is widely distributed in most coastal areas, although population numbers appear to vary from area to area depending on feeding habitats.
Black-crowned Night Heron
Crossbow
Originally from China, the crossbow was introduced into Europe at the time of the crusades. The crossbow very quickly became a valued defensive weapon for the towns thanks to its power and precision.
Crossbow
Land of hope and glory
In 2003 Royal Mail started its British Journey series in Scotland, continued through Northern Ireland and Wales South West England, and ends its travels with ten stunning photographs from across the rest of England.
Land of hope and glory
Finnish parliament
A stamp was issued on 3 February 2006 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Finnish parliament. The picture on the self-adhesive 1st class non-denominated stamp portrays the session hall of the parliament and the symbol of the anniversary.
Finnish parliament
Art in Belgium
Two less well known but noteworthy masters of the visual arts from Belgium are remembered this year with exhibitions in their birthplaces. De Belgium Post honors both artists with two postage stamps in an impressive design by Ingrid Doenen.
Art in Belgium
Apple Blossom
Apple Blossom, designed by Leena Airikkala, was voted as the most beautiful stamp of 2005 in Finland. Apple Blossom is a 1st class non-denominated stamp. The stamp was released on 2 March 2005.
Apple Blossom
Special stamp for Mozart
The most extraordinary phenomenon in the history of European art was born in Salzburg in 1756. In scarcely 35 years Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart managed to compose an oeuvre encompassing around 700 works whose breadth and quality is unequalled in the Western music.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Postal and Logistics Union
The Union of Salaried Postal Employees merged in 2005 with the Postal Union, to form the Postal and Logistics Union PAU in Finland.
Postal Workers Union
Composers of the Renaissance
Myriam Voz and Thierry Martin designed the nice Belgium booklet Composers of the Renaissance. The booklet contains five stamps depicting important composers of the early days of Western music.
Composers of the Renaissance
National Library
Founded in 1640, Helsinki University Library becomes the National Library of Finland in 2006. At the same time, the library's role is enhanced as a builder of the information society and a preserver of the cultural heritage. The revamp is celebrated with a stamp depicting the sixstorey book repository, the Rotunda.
National Library of Finland
Taxi !
In honour of the century of taxi transport in Finland, a stamp booklet with four self-adhesive stamps is to be issued.
Taxi transport in Finland
Ambassadors for Washington 2006
Be an international ambassador at Washington 2006, the once-a-decade international stamp show, and help welcome the public to the world of stamp collecting.
Ambassadors for Washington 2006
Jean De Bast
Jacques Stes, fellow of the Académie de Philatélie de Belgique, relates the life of one of the world's greatest postage stamp engravers, Jean De Bast.
Jean De Bast
More information
Postage stamps 2006
