Since 2008, the Hellenic Postal Service issues stamps for postal use only at the two post offices of Mount Athos. The first set of five stamps was issued on the 16th ofMay 2008 and was followed by several others in 2008 and 2009.On the 11th of May of this year, the first set of 2010 has been issued depicting the fauna and flora of the area. The paintings are made by monk Lukas from Xenofontos.
The first stamp pictures the Mount Athos’ pansy (Viola athois) a species of wildflower endemic to Mount Athos.
The second stamp pictures a Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) a small tree with attractive pink flowers:
The third stamps pictures a Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) an evergreen shrub that gives edible fruits which are used in some areas to make raki and other alcoholic drinks.
The fourth one is a stamp whith pictures a European Tree frog (Hyla arborea).
The fifth stamp pictures a tree heath (Erica arborea) a species of small trees. On Mount Athos its root is used to make spoons, letter openers and other small craftitems.
The second part of the series about the biodiversity of the Mount Athos was issued on the 21st of June 2010 and contains again five stamps picturing fauna and flora in the same style than the first part.
The first stamp pictures a species of wildflower endemic to Mount Athos and in danger of extinction: Silene orphanidi.
The second stamp pictures a Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos).
The third stamp pictures the Europen roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).
The fourth one pictures the bay laurel (Laurus nobils), a bay tree that belongs to the laurel family.
And the last one pictures the European green lizard (Lacerta viridis).
And the last one pictures the European green lizard (Lacerta viridis).
Thanks to My Philately weblog.
Wim, 13/10
Dear Sir,
Are you aware that there appear to be many more stamps in the name of Agion Oros Athos such as those that are registered on the UPU’s WNS Site, as follows, 25 for 2008, 20 for 2009, 20 for 2010, 24 for 2011, 21 for 2012, 21 for 2013 et 21 for 2014. What do you think of these “stamps”. The place Agion Oros Othos is not a member of the Universal Postal Union and although a territory within Greece, it is not listed as an official stamp issuing authority.
with best regards,
Ms. Maria Libera
Coordinator, Worldwide Philatelic Observatory
2083 EL GHAZELA, Tunisia
Dear ms. Maria Libera,
thanks for this new information about Athos stamps. Yes, we are aware of the fact that many other stamps from Athos were introduced in the years following after 2010, but because of the large number of stamps – as also mentionend by you – I stopped publishing about stamps from later years on this weblog. But the series of Athos stamps are of a exceptional beauty!!
Wim Voogd, webmaster