Stamps
EUROPA – National archaeological discoveries
Two hands, two eras: the Swiss issue of the EUROPA stamps 2025 feature sensational archaeological finds from the Bronze Age and late Middle Ages.
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National archaeological finds is the theme chosen by PostEurop for the EUROPA stamps 2025. The Swiss issue features two rare finds that symbolically bridge their age gap of around 2,700 years with a handshake: the gauntlet was discovered in early 2024 near Kyburg Castle. During a dig, staff at Zurich’s cantonal archaeology department stumbled upon the iron components of a 14th century suit of armour. The bronze hand of Prêles, discovered in 2017 in the Bernese Jura, is considerably older. At 3,500 years old, it is the oldest bronze object in the shape of a human body part in Europe. It comes from the grave of an adult man who was buried in around 1,400BC in the Jura mountains above Lake Biel.
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PostEurop is holding an online vote again this year – make sure you take part! The vote will be open from 9 May to 9 September 2025. All information can be found at europastamps.eu/europa2025Target not accessible
Technical information
Sales
Philately: from 1.5.2025 to 30.6.2026 or while stocks last
Branches: from 8.5.2025 to 30.6.2026 or while stocks last
Validity
Unlimited from 8.5.2025
Printing
Offset printing, 6-colour, two-stage embossing; Gutenberg AG, Schaan, Principality of Liechtenstein
Formats
Stamp: 40 × 32.5 mm
Sheet: 190 × 160 mm, 4 rows of 4 stamps
Paper
White stamp paper, with optical brightener, matt gummed, 110 gm 2
Perforation
13 ¼ : 13 ¼
Design
Photography: Martin Bachmann, Department of Archaeology and Monument Preservation of the Canton of Zurich, Dübendorf (Kyburg gauntlet), Philippe Joner, Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Bern (Bronze hand of Prêles)
Graphic editing: Pauline Koch and Beat Keusch, Basel