Date of issue : November 2002 (28.11.02- Ph. S. /10.12- Salamanca) Size - Format  : 47 x 26 mm. - Format type 3 Paper : Thermal self adhesive - multicoloured  Imprint : Thermal on black Imprint varieties : 2+2 (Epelsa with 5 and 4 digits small and large) Values / Set : 0,01 € to 99,99 € / Set Phil.S.: 0,20-0,25-0,50 € Design and Printer : RCM-FNMT. Real Casa de la Moneda - Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre Printing (not official) : 50.000.000 of labels

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Plaza Mayor. Salamanca

In the assembly of the Culture Secretaries of the European Union which took place in Brussels on the 28th of May 1998, it was officially decided the designation of Salamanca as a European City of Culture 2002 after having taken into consideration its qualities as a university town, open and hospitable as well as its historic and artistic richness which made the UNESCO declare this city as Heritage of Humanity.

Other Spanish towns before Salamanca received this recognition : Madrid in 1992 and Santiago de Compostela in 2000. This distinction, shared with the Belgian city of Bruges, allows a closer relationship amongst European cities. The old part of this town of encounters and wise men, great thinkers on science and humanities make up an exceptional mosaic and network of cathedrals with the Palaces of Monterrey and Fonseca, the "Shell house", the Clavero tower, the Plaza Mayor and the convents of San Esteban and Dueñas. All this heritage is enriched by the university nature of the town with the oldest university in Spain.   The "Shell house"

	The ATM issue reproduce the official logo of Salamanca 2002 - European City of Culture, a design of Cartes and Plass.  It's inspired in the so called "Cielo de Salamanca" (Salamanca's heaven) pictorial work created by Fernando Gallego in 1480 for the decoration of the vaults of the older library of Salamanca University.

From January 2001 there was in Salamanca a commemorative postmark, that in the image was used to cancel a First Day Use Cover of the ATM issue in Salamanca Main Post Office. Below, cover and commemorative postmark of the last day of Salamanca 2002 - European City of Culture. (Covers obtained by L. Vigil)

Spain Posts issued during 2001 and 2002 about a twenty of philatelic issues between stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes ... as well as several commemorative postmarks dedicated to Salamanca 2002 as a European City of the Culture and the two main philatelic manifestations that have been celebrated during this year: EXFILNA 2002, National Philatelic Exhibition from the June 7th to 15th, and the International Exhibition of Youth Philately from the November 7th to 22th. 
We show here only the first stamp issue dedicated to Salamanca 2002.
 

	The stamp was issued in September 5th 2001 and appears depicted a night panoramic view of the town where can point out the two cathedrals of Salamanca, the old and the new, as well as the so called “Clerecia”.
	Edifil   / Yvert   / Michel

Text : Información 24/2001, Servicio Filatélico.