1977 Europa FDC Collection and Album
The Scenic Wonders of Europe

Annually since 1960 the member nations of the European Conference of Posts and Telecommunications have jointly issued the Europa series of stamps, dedicated to the shared spirit and heritage of Europe. Each year has a different theme, and for 1977 it was The Scenic Wonders of Europe: vistas which have inspired poets to their pens, tourists to their cameras, and artists to their brushes. Beauty as timeless as the mountains, ever-changing as the Seasons. For example, Austria's issue depicts the woodlands, meadows, and Alpine setting of the Attersee; Malta the warm waves of the Mediterranean lapping its shores; and Sweden the enchantment and solitude of the forest, wrapped in its shroud of downy white.

There are twenty-seven covers in the collection, each with the stamps issued by the member nation and its special First Day of Issue cancellation. Most issued two stamps, but Finland and Austria issued one, while Cyprus and Greece issued three. Andorra, that tiny country nestled in the Pyrenees between France and Spain, issued four: two in French and two in Spanish, in keeping with its bi-lingual location. Each FDC is accompanied by a descriptive card, enhancing the collection with information about the country and the scene depicted on each stamp.

The beauty of these first Day Covers is enhanced by the richly lithographed cachets which feature the authentic Coat of Arms of the issuing Nations. A ribbon, consisting of that country's national flag colors, frames each distinctive cachet.


Especially noteworthy are two countries that have changed dramatically since 1977: Germany was still divided, so West Germany is represented here, whereas East Germany was not a member of the Conference. And Yugoslavia was a united country, now split into three.


Heavily subscribed to in Europe, the annual Europa Collection is difficult to acquire elsewhere. Fleetwood issued this collection of twenty-seven FDC's in a limited edition of 5,000 sets. This is a complete set, including the album, purchased directly from Fleetwood in 1977 and kept safely away from dust, heat, and sunlight ever since.


Rarity: The 1977 collection was issued with a misprint on Sweden's card, stating the wrong value of each stamp. This set includes both the original misprinted card and the corrected one that was sent out by Fleetwood. Values circled on the photo, NOT on the original cards.

Unique Extras:
 Packaged in the original Fleetwood shipping carton, and includes several invoices and letters from Fleetwood that were included with the periodic shipments of FDCs to the subscribers. Also the initial letter announcing the program, and the Subscriber Membership Card, still attached to its original mailing.