Seeking Concensus On Definitive

Given the following definition of commemorative from Linn's "World Stamp Almanac":
"Commemorative stamps are those that have only one printing. They honor a specific event, person, place, historical happening or anniversary. Commemoratives remain on sale for a limited time."

Where in your opinion do the various "Europa" issues fall? Commemoratives, Definitives, or perhaps, Special stamps? Yet another conundrum or is there really an answer?

My own opinion is Commemorative but, I do not say that to influence anyone else's thinking.

I think that most collectors consider the Europa issues to be commemoratives. They definitely aren't "definitives" in the strictest sense of the word.

I agree with all of the intelligent answers given above.

I would say they belong in a unnamed category between definitives & commemoratives.
Maybe "annuals" may be the term to apply to them.
Commemoratives honor places, people & events mostly related to anniversaries and are principally an unique issue.
Annuals are issued yearly, used like definitives by the PO & customers,
but more interesting using religious, ideological or sentimental themes.
This category would include Christmas, Love, New Years, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah from the USA for example, Europa in European nations.

Mike

Scott kind of does call them "annuals"; they refer to them specially as "19xx Europa Issue" with a little title all their own. In the case of the earlier ones where the same design was used by all countries, they're more like an "omnibus" issue, but over time, each country has decided that they would do their own unique designs instead of using a shared design.

The classic omnibus types are all the same design with different inscriptions and early Europa's were like that as you have stated, WpgLwr. Great stamps too!
The more I think about it the better the 'annuals' term seems to fit.

Mike

IMHO Europa stamps are commemoratives. I do not think they are the same as Christmas, Valentine, Mother's day or whatever theme stamps are issued on a yearly basis.

Are they defins? Definitely not... Defins have unlimited printing amounts; Europa stamps come always with limited (and know) prints.

Are they annuals? Definitely not as each CEPT country can decide whether or not they get involved into each years program. While many countries issue Europa stamps "automaticly" each year there are many that do not.

Are they commemoratives? Yes. They come with limited prints and highly specific topics. More likely "special issue" would be a more proper philatelic term as the stamps don't actually commemorate any specific human/event... In europe collectors simply refer to them as EuropaCEPT-stamps.

Europa issues should at least fall into the "Omnibus" category, where the design or concept is recognized by 3 or more issuing entities.

Mike

One of the things I've got to do one of these days is make a checklist for each year of the omnibus issues. It's sometimes hard to remember if the ones you have are from one country or one of the others, or which countries you are still missing for any given year.

Very good guys. Good discussion and good input. Much appreciated. Thanks. I would add only one observation that what are being referred to here as "annuals" are referred to in the same glossary as cited above as "special" stamps (e.g. anniversay, Christmas, Love, etc.)

The term "Special" implies 'not normal', but 'Annuals' are normal postage stamps.
'Special' fits for issues like the "Farleys" which were not normal.

So, in the case of the early ones, at least, why not "Annual Omnibus"?

Would someone please post a few photos of several Europa stamps?

I'm not following this too well and need something visual to grasp the content of this thread.

Marty

Sorry quigngt,
Europa started in 1959 as the idea of an United Europe could happen.
If you have a Scott Cat that has Austria Scott #1272 may help.
I just pop open my Scott's that was the first one I found.

Mike