The EUROPA stamps are among the most successful and longest-lasting joint issues in philately. Since their introduction in 1956, they have reflected the political, cultural, and artistic development of Europe and stand for cooperation, peace, and shared values. What began with six countries has developed over seven decades into an international program with more than fifty postal administrations and several thousand stamps issued.
With the release of the collector's book "History and Printing Technology" on September 1, 2008, Liechtenstein Post set new standards in modern stamp marketing. Published to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Princely House of Liechtenstein, the work, thanks to an unexpected feature, became one of the most spectacular new releases in modern philately.
The book documented the creation of the commemorative block featuring the portrait of Karl I of Liechtenstein and, in addition to the regular perforated edition, contained numerous printing stages (phase prints). It was only shortly before publication that it became known that an imperforate block was also included. This exclusive addition instantly made the collector's book a highly sought-after item. With a retail price of just 69 Swiss francs and a strictly limited edition of only 5.000 copies, the entire edition sold out within a short time.
The bicentennial of the United States' independence in 1976 was a major national event not only in America. Numerous European postal administrations also commemorated the bicentennial with special stamps. These issues reflect the diverse historical, political, and cultural ties between Europe and the United States and remain among the most popular thematic philatelic topics to this day.
Each country set its own priorities. Andorra honored Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the American Declaration of Independence and later the third president of the United States. Belgium opted for the official anniversary logo, thus emphasizing the international celebratory nature of the bicentennial.
The year 2026 marked the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's birth; certainly an occasion for numerous special editions worldwide. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, the actress remains one of the most famous figures in film history. With classics ranging from 'Niagara' and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' (1953) to 'Some Like It Hot' (1959) and 'The Misfits' (1961), she became a global star. In addition to her acting career, Marilyn Monroe was also a singer, producer, and successful model. Her untimely death on August 4, 1962, cemented her status as a pop culture legend.
The 192nd Dresden stamp auction once again proved to be an event of remarkable substance and depth. With 2215 German-themed lots sold and several dozen hammer prices in the four-figure range, the market demonstrated a stable and even lively state. Demand was particularly strong for classic Saxon rarities and select top-tier post-war philately.
In the Old German States section, a legendary "Saxony Three" stood out. The 3 Pfennig coin in medium carmine red (MiNr. 1b, Plate III) presented an attractive overall appearance despite minor edge flaws. This rarest color nuance of the iconic coin achieved a convincing hammer price of 3000 euros, underscoring its exceptional status.
A highly sought-after 3 Pfennig stamp in dark yellowish-green on a luxury cover (MiNr. 2Id) fetched €1350 for its clear, centered NSt 1 cancellation and pristine condition. This demonstrated the continued high demand for top-quality, unique classic stamps.
A highlight of the auction was a spectacular five-color franking of the coat of arms and head issue with denominations from 3 Pfennig to 3 Ngr on a cover addressed to Milan. This combination, only recently rediscovered after 175 years, was aptly described as a "great rarity in Saxon philately" and fetched 5000 euros.
Also noteworthy was an attractive mixed franking of two 1/2 Ngr values from different head issues as a tête-à-tête on cover. The rare combination was duly recognized with a price of 1600 euros.
Among the joint issues, the numeral value MiNr. 916b, a rare mint condition color stamp, fetched €1350. In the Soviet Occupation Zone (SBZ) section of Berlin-Brandenburg, a color stamp under MiNr. 7Ac waz also made a strong statement: the mint condition 30 Pfennig in blackish-olive-gray was driven to €4100 as a top-tier rarity. Thuringia's 1945 Christmas block special edition, with a significant misprint, climbed to €2900.
Several East German specialties proved highly sought after. Particularly noteworthy were the watermark varieties MiNr. 315XI, which fetched €1800, and MiNr. 357XI, which, despite a minor restriction, achieved a remarkable €2050. Rare printing imprints also found buyers, selling for up to €1150.
The highlight was undoubtedly the Central Courier Service postage stamps. Even the loose, postmarked example 26 Y with the identification letter Y fetched €2250. However, the crowning achievement was the likely unique pair of this type of long-distance letter stamp. This one-of-a-kind item ideally combined rarity, postal use, and documentary quality, achieving an outstanding €4650.
Overall, the auction impressively demonstrated that quality, rarity, and attestation remain crucial factors for top prices. The Dresden auction thus confirmed not only its importance in the auction calendar but also the continued vitality of the philatelic market, from classic stamps to post-war issues.
Michael Burzan, AIJP
Few collecting areas combine frequency and extreme rarity as impressively as the stamps of Queen Elizabeth II. On the one hand, billions of definitive stamps were produced, often leading to the misconception that material from her reign is generally mass-produced. On the other hand, some specimens with genuine manufacturing defects are among the rarest modern philatelic objects.
Initially, the search for particularly rare and high-quality specimens focused on the early period with definitive stamps from the 1950s and 1960s, based on photographs by Dorothy Wilding.
At the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) unveiled its first artificial intelligence (AI) agent, thus heralding the start of a new, data-driven transformation phase in the global postal network. The pilot model was developed with initial funding from the Japanese government and is based on the new Unified Data Platform (UDP), which for the first time consolidates extensive postal and non-postal data in a central, secure environment.
The AI agent aims to analyze postal systems at the country level, diagnose weaknesses, and provide concrete recommendations for improving reach, reliability, and resilience. The UDP (Unique Postal Distribution Platform) is considered a key innovation in this process, as it aggregates high-quality data from various sectors such as commerce, logistics, and air traffic, and enables granular, UPU-controlled data sharing.
For a century, Corinphila has been the oldest philatelic auction house in Switzerland. Its participation in major international philatelic exhibitions in 2026 generated additional global attention. This international interest was impressively reflected in the Corinphila auctions held in Zurich from June 2nd to 6th, 2026. With high participation from collectors, investors, and dealers from Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, and strong results, the auction series confirmed the continued high demand for top-quality classic philately.
