Joint issue


A joint issue is the release of stamps or postal stationery by two or more countries to commemorate the same topic, event or person. Joint issues typically have the same first day of issue and their design is often similar or identical, except for the identification of country and value.

Continental joint issues

  • Europa postage stamps : Between 1956 and 1973 the postal authorities of several European nations issued stamps with a common design but since 1974 a common topic is used on stamps issued each year. These are not true joint issues, because they do not share the same designs or dates of issue.

    An early unrealized trans-Atlantic joint issue

  • 1914 peace commemoratives: In 1914, the United Kingdom, the Dominion of Canada and the United States agreed on a plan by which each of the three nations would issue its own series of stamps that year to commemorate the 100 years of Anglo-American peace that had prevailed since the end of the War of 1812. After the outbreak of World War I later that year, however, the UK and Canada deemed it inappropriate to issue peace stamps and withdrew from the project. The US had already produced essays for 2¢ and 5¢ stamps but canceled further plans for the designs.

    Australia

The Australia Post has collaborated several times with the postal administration of another country to release a joint issue.
YearPostal administrationTopicNoteDate of issue
195830th Anniversary of First Tasman FlightAugust 27, 1958
1963
Completion of the Commonwealth Pacific Cable SystemDecember 3, 1963
1983Australia-New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade AgreementMarch 9, 1983
1988Bicentenary of AustraliaKoala and eagleJanuary 26, 1988
1988Bicentenary of AustraliaJune 21, 1988
1988Bicentenary of AustraliaKoala and kiwiJune 21, 1988
1990Scientific Co-operation in AntarcticaJune 13, 1990
1995
Opening of the Thai-Lao Friendship BridgeApril 8, 1994
1995Koala and pandaSeptember 1, 1995
1996Australian Spotted Cuscus and Indonesian Bear Cuscus March 22, 1996
1996Baron Ferdinand von MuellerCentenary of death of German-Australian botanistOctober 9, 1996
1996Willem de VlaminghTercentenary of de Vlamingh's voyage to Western AustraliaNovember 1, 1996
1998Native orchids of Australia and SingaporePhalaenopsis rosenstromii, Arundina graminifolia, Grammatophyllum speciosum, Dendrobium phalaenopsisAugust 6, 1998
1999Maritime links - Marco PoloMarch 19, 1999
1999Maritime links - Polly WoodsideMarch 19, 1999
2000Sydney Olympic GamesHandover to AthensSeptember 15, 2000
2001Dragon boat racingJune 25, 2001
2001Daniel SolanderSwedish botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on HMS EndeavourAugust 16, 2001
2002Bicentenary of encounter between
Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders
April 4, 2002
200250th anniversary of diplomatic relationsWaterlilies: Nymphaea immutabilis, Nelumbo nuciferaAugust 6, 2002
2005UNESCO World Heritage SitesAustralia: Greater Blue Mountains Area, Wet Tropics of Queensland, Purnululu National Park, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
UK: Blenheim Palace, Stonehenge, Heart of Neolithic Orkney, Hadrian's Wall
April 21, 2005
2009Species at RiskSubantarctic fur seal, C.I. blue-tailed skink, Green turtle, Bridled nail-tail wallaby, N.I. green parrotAugust 4, 2009
2010KokodaKokoda Trail Campaign in WW IIApril 20, 2010
201150th anniversary of diplomatic relationsMusical instruments: haegeum, didgeridooOctober 28 and 31, 2011
2013Battle of Beersheba in WW IMay 10, 2013
2013Ludwig LeichhardtBicentenary of birth of German explorer and naturalistOctober 10 and 15, 2013
2014Norfolk Island pines Centenary of Nortfolk Island as an external territory of AustraliaJuly 22, 2014
2015ANZACCentenary of landing at ANZAC Cove April 7, 2015
2015
50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Singapore and between New Zealand and SingaporeParliament House, Canberra, Parliament House, Wellington and Parliament House, SingaporeAugust 14, 2015

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Austria

The Austria Post has collaborated several times with the postal administration of other countries to release joint issues.
YearPostal administrationTopicNoteDate of issue
2004, 100th anniversary of death of Theodor Herzl
2010Simon Wiesenthal, Nazi hunterJune 14, 2010
2020Vatican City

Belgium

The Belgium Post has collaborated several times with the postal administration of other countries to release joint issues.
YearPostal administrationTopicImagesNote
1991Europalia '91Princess Isabel and Philip le Bon
1991Alfred William Finch Painting The English Coast near Dover
1993Missale Romanus
1994, Georges Simenon
1995250th anniversary of the Battle of Fontenoy
1996Théo van Rysselberghe
1997Queen Paola of Belgium
1999Paintings of James Ensor
1998René Magritte
1998Mniszech Palace
2001Pottery and Porcelain
200170th Anniversary of Tintin in the Congo
2002Lace
2002Windmills
2004Centenary of Edgar Pierre Jacobs' birth
creator of comic Blake and Mortimer
2005Carpets and tapestry; relationship between both countries.
2006CoBrA artist group ; paintings.
2006Reassignment of commercial warehouses.
2007Stoclet Palace
2007Luxembourg: 2007 European culture capital.
2008New Zealand: 90th anniversary of the end of World War One.
2012Art by Jan Brueghel
Cabaret on the Banks of the River
Souvenir sheet

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Berlin

of West Berlin prior to German reunification in 1990 had released the following joint issues.
YearPostal administrationTopicImagesNote
1969200th birthday of Alexander von Humboldt
1990


500th anniversary of European Postal Services

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Brazil

YearPostal administrationTopicNoteDate of issue
2000Discovery of Brazil, 500th anniversaryBlock of 4April 11, 2000
2000Masks and puppetsOctober 9, 2000
2001South AfricaARGFRAGERITAURUCUB

Bulgaria

of the Republic of Bulgaria have released the following joint issues:
YearPostal administrationTopicNoteDate of issue
2009Diplomatic relations, 130th anniversarySouvenir sheetOctober 22, 2009
2009Nature conservation: Balkan area birds.Twin issue - Two identical stamps.
Eurasian woodcock
Rufous-tailed rock thrush. Multicolored
2013

Mission of Sts. Cyril and Methodius
to Slavic Lands 1150th anniversary
Souvenir sheet
2013135th anniversary of the
Russo-Turkish War
Souvenir sheet
2014Diplomatic relations, 135th anniversary
2016Bird Migration. Storks: The stork is connected to human habitats and in Europe it signifies the arrival of spring and symbolizes hope. Some 600,000 storks migrate through Israel's skies twice a year, among them probably all of Bulgaria's storks.Souvenir leafSeptember 13, 2016
2017Black Sea Flora and FaunaSouvenir sheet
2018140th anniversary of the
Russo-Turkish War
Souvenir sheet

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