| Portugal (2009). ATM issues - Recycling |
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The first of the 2 sets of ATM issues planned for 2009, in Portugal, is dedicated to the promotion of recycling.
Initially scheduled for April 30th, the first day of sale of the 'Reciclagem' (Recycling) issue was brought forward to April 15th 2009, in time to allow all the vending machines to issue the new ATMs on Earth Day, April 22nd.
Again we want to congratulate those responsible for the stamp programme in Correios de Portugal for their very wise decision to devote the annual issues of 'etiquetas de franqueamento' to different social causes – even though the designs chosen are often basic and unattractive.
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In recent years Portugal, as in many other countries, has done much to raise awareness in the population of the need to recycle at all levels. One of the most visible things, are the so-called Ecopontos, small areas with various containers –intended for packaging, paper, glass and batteries, but sometimes for clothes, shoes, used oil, ...- which allow the collection of the waste for recycling. In Portugal there are different companies that manage these Ecopontos, although the most important is the Sociedade Ponto Verde. |
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The international symbol for Recycling (left picture) is depicted in the design of the new ATM issues and the commemorative postmark. It is a design from the early 1970s of American Gary Anderson, based on the Moebius strip. |
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Unlike previous issues, the French La Poste could not take care of roll production, so the rolls of 900 labels were manufactured by the well-known Spanish company Ovelar, S.A., using self-adhesive paper and printed in flexography. As a small point of interest, the self-adhesive paper used by Ovelar, S.A. was manufactured by the Spanish company Manter (Manipulados del Ter).
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As usual, rolls of self-adhesive labels were manufactured in 2 different sizes: 55 x 30 mm. to be used in Amiel, SMD and NewVision Epost vending machines, and size 80 x 30 mm. for the Crouzet distributors. The design is identical for both sizes and is based on the universal recycling logo. The designer is the Portuguese Eduardo Aires, a graphic arts doctor who is also the designer of other stamps issued by Correios de Portugal. |
| With these ATMs, as in the case of the previous issue, each label has a preprinted number on the back of the waxed paper, indicating the number of labels remaining on the roll. |
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On the date of issue (the first day of circulation), only a few ATM vending machines were fitted with the new design. Many post offices received the rolls on the same day, some others did not, and the changing of rolls took place over the following few days. Despite the instructions set out, in May 2008 by the postal administration, to standardise on the colour printing in all distributors, to black, and the need to find and rectify the distributors printing in other colours, it has been possible to obtain this issue, from an ever reducing number of machines, of the 4 designs, with normal printing in purple.
After the last change in postal rates on January 1st 2009, the 7 new values programmed into the Amiel, SMD and NewVision machines, on the date of issue, were: 0.32, 0.54, 0.57, 0.68 and 0.80 EUR, and CORREIO AZUL 0.47 and 1.85 EUR.
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Sets Correio Normal |
Correio Azul |
| Issue (15.4.2009) |
0.32 - 0.54 - 0.57 - 0.68 - 0.80 |
0.47 - 1.85 |
| 0.32 - 0.60 - 0.57 - 0.68 - 0.80 * |
* Some machines have the second button which issues the value 0.60 EUR instead of 0.54 (see tariffs), programmed for domestic shipments up to 100 g.
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| Amiel distributor |
NewVision distributor |
SMD distributor |
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ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal (Normal - priority mail) and Correio Azul (Express post) issued by the AMIEL vending machine, black printing. |
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ATMs issued by the AMIEL vending machine, special purple printing. |
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ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal and Correio Azul issued by the NEWVISION vending machine, black printing. |
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ATMs issued by the NEWVISION vending machine, special purple printing. |
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ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal and Correio Azul issued by the SMD vending machine, black printing. |
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As explained in other articles, the Crouzet distributors in Portugal allow direct purchase of the lowest values for domestic normal and express mail (0.32 EUR and CORREIO AZUL 0.47 EUR for this issue). The remaining values, from a programmed minimum value, can be obtained by keying in the amount or by using the scale, indicating the destination and type of shipment. It is possible to obtain ATMs with a face value below the minimum programmed, when the distributor does not have the coins for change. In this case, the machine requests the user to agree to receive the change, by issuing another stamp, or to cancel the operation.
If required, the machine can issue a receipt printed on another self-adhesive label of the same design. |
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| Correio Normal and Correio Azul ATMs sold by a distributor CROUZET, impression in black |
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| Receipts of the ATMs issued by a distributor CROUZET, impression in black |
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| Correio Normal and Correio Azul ATMs sold by a distributor CROUZET, special impression in purple |
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| Receipts of the ATMs issued by a distributor CROUZET, special impression in purple |
| Besides the official envelopes, prepared by the Philatelic service and franked with the sets of the different distributors (right picture), collectors can purchase official blank envelopes and/or use the postmarks in the lojas de filatelia (philatelic shops) in the main post offices of Lisbon and Porto, so that they can prepare their own compositions. |
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| Official illustrated first day cover (1º dia de Circulação), with the 5-value set of Correio Normal issued by a AMIEL vending machine - black printing, and Lisboa commemorative postmark. |
| Postal rates programmed in the ATM vending machines Amiel, NewVision and SMD (EUR) |
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Correio normal |
Correio Azul |
| Change of postal rates |
Domestic,
up to 20 g.
normalized |
Domestic,
up to
100 g. |
Spain,
up to 20 g. |
Europe,
except Spain,
up to 20 g. |
Rest of the world,
up to 20 g. |
Domestic,
up to 20 g.
normalized |
International
up to 20 g. |
| 1.1.2002 |
0.27 |
0.45 |
0.46 |
0.54 |
0.70 |
0.43 |
1.75 |
| 1.1.2003 |
0.30 |
0.46 |
0.47 |
0.55 |
0.70 |
0.43 |
1.75 |
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Domestic,
up to 20 g.
normalized |
Domestic,
from 20 to 50 g.
normalized |
Domestic,
up to
100 g. * |
Spain,
up to 20 g. |
Europe,
except Spain,
up to 20 g. |
Rest of the world,
up to 20 g. |
Domestic,
up to 20 g.
normalized |
International
up to 20 g. |
| 1.1.2004 |
0.30 |
0.45 |
0.48 |
0.48 |
0.56 |
0.72 |
0.45 |
1.75 |
| 1.1.2005 |
0.30 |
0.46 |
0.49 |
0.48 |
0.57 |
0.74 |
0.45 |
1.75 |
| 1.5.2006 |
0.30 |
0.48 |
0.50 |
0.52 |
0.60 |
0.75 |
0.45 |
1.80 |
| 1.1.2007 |
0.30 |
0.50 |
0.55 |
0.52 |
0.61 |
0.75 |
0.45 |
1.85 |
| 1.8.2008 |
0.31 |
0.55 |
0.60 |
0.57 |
0.67 |
0.80 |
0.47 |
1.85 |
| 1.1.2009 |
0.32 |
0.54 |
0.60 |
0.57 |
0.68 |
0.80 |
0.47 |
1.85 |
| * This value appears from 2005 programmed in some of the Amiel, NewVision and SMD ATM vending machines, instead of the value of Domestic Correio normal (inland normal mail) between 20 and 50 g. |
ATM Web - Spain and Latin American Postal Services: http://www.ateeme.net
© J. Jove - M. Sans. ATEEME. Variable value stamps study group. All rights reserved
This page was created in April 2009 and last updated:
11.06.09
. English edition rewritten by S. Goodman (2.5.2009)
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