2017, Ano Internacional do Turismo Sustentável para o Desenvolvimento

2017 sees the Correios de Portugal continuing its policy of ATM issues dedicated to social subjects, and the first set of etiquetas de franqueamento of the year commemorates the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Interestingly, this subject was also chosen by Spanish Correos for one of the two designs making up the first set of ATM issues, in 2017 (see article, also published in VARIABLE 44).

With its continuing rapid growth, the tourism industry already accounts for about 10% of world economic activity. With the declaration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the United Nations recognizes the importance of this sector in the fight against poverty and the promotion of mutual understanding and intercultural dialogue, which are at the heart of UNESCO’s mission.

The new set of three designs went on sale at all Newvision postal kiosks from May 25th 2017. The illustrations are again by João Machado, an artist who produced the designs for the last series of 2016 (see article, and VARIABLE 42). The three motifs are dedicated to different tourism options, the beach, the countryside and the city. The colourful composition includes an ingenious white area which provides for the printing of the correct face value in a clear and obvious way.

The rolls of self-adhesive labels were printed by offset and, for the first time, manufactured by the Portuguese company Uinou, Unipessoal Lda. / Labelxprint. Like the previous series, the size of the labels is 55 x 30 mm., and includes a preprinted sequential number on the back of the waxed backing paper. The large size of this number is evidence of the change of manufacturer.

		On the date of issue, Newvision E-Post 2000 postal kiosks offered the direct printing of stamps with seven programmed values  (see table below) - five for non-priority mail or Correio Normal (0.50 - 0.65 - 0.70 - 0.80 - 0.85 EUR), and two for priority mail or Correio Azul (0.63 - 2.70 EUR). However, it is also possible to obtain stamps with other values from the E-Post 2000M postal kiosks. These machines are fitted with scales, and users can buy stamps according to weight, destination, and type of shipping required. ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal and Correio Azul, issued by a Newvision E-Post vending machine, black printing.

Official first day cover with the three designs of the set, and Lisboa commemorative postmark. There are first day postmarks for Lisboa and Porto.

Borboletas, moths of Portugal

From time to time we are pleasantly surprised by the new series of etiquetas de franqueamento produced by Correios de Portugal. Memorable issues which are remembered over the years and not the proliferation of issues commemorating institutional anniversaries and International Years (usually with unattractive themes and designs). This was achieved with the first series of 2015, dedicated to the dinosaurs of Portugal (see article, also published in VARIABLE 37), and it is also the case with the second series of 2017, illustrations of three images of Portuguese borboletas or moths.

The superb illustrations of the Portuguese painter and illustrator José Projecto show three moths found in Portugal and throughout the Iberian Peninsula and in other areas of Europe; Atlantarctia tigrina, Deilephila porcellus and Saturnia pyri. All three moths are Lepidoptera insects, although they belong to different families or taxonomic groups; Erebidae, Sphingidae and Saturniidae, respectively.

The rolls of self-adhesive labels were again printed by offset and manufactured by the Portuguese company Uinou, Unipessoal Lda. / Labelxprint. The size of the labels is 55 x 30 mm., and includes a large size preprinted sequential number on the back of the silicone coated backing paper.

		The new set of three designs went on sale at all Newvision postal kiosks from October 20th 2017. On this date, Newvision E-Post 2000 machines offered the direct printing of stamps with seven programmed values  (see table below) - five for non-priority mail or Correio Normal (0.50 - 0.65 - 0.70 - 0.80 - 0.85 EUR), and two for priority mail or Correio Azul (0.63 - 2.70 EUR). Other postage values are also available from the E-Post 2000 M postal kiosks, fitted with scales. ATMs with the first values of Correio Normal and Correio Azul, issued by a Newvision E-Post vending machine, black printing.

Pictorial first day cover with the three designs of the series, and Lisboa commemorative postmark. There are first day postmarks for Lisboa and Porto.

Postal rates (EUR) programmed into the Amiel, NewVision and SMD vending machines

,	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, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	International up to 20 g.
1.01.2002	0.27	0.45		0.46	0.54	0.70	0.43	1.75
1.01.2003	0.30	0.46		0.47	0.55	0.70	0.43	1.75
	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.
1.01.2004	0.30	0.45	0.48	0.48	0.56	0.72	0.45	1.75
1.01.2005	0.30	0.46	0.49	0.48	0.57	0.74	0.45	1.75
1.05.2006	0.30	0.48	0.50	0.52	0.60	0.75	0.45	1.80
1.01.2007	0.30	0.50	0.55	0.52	0.61	0.75	0.45	1.85
1.08.2008	0.31	0.55	0.60	0.57	0.67	0.80	0.47	1.85
1.01.2009	0.32	0.54	0.60	0.57	0.68	0.80	0.47	1.85
1.06.2010	0.32	0.53	0,60	0.57	0.68	0.80	0.47	1.85
1.04.2013	0.36	0.57	0.70	0.60	0.70	0.80	0.50	1.90
1.11.2013	0.40	0.57	0.70	0.60	0.70	0.80	0.50	1.90
All the Amiel, Crouzet & SMD vending machines were removed in 2014. Newvision postal kiosks continues in operation
* This value appeared from 2005, programmed into some of the Amiel, NewVision and SMD ATM vending machines, instead of the value of Domestic Correio normal (inland non-priority mail) between 20 and 50 g.

,	Correio Normal					Correio Azul
Change of postal rates	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	Domestic, from 20 to 50 g.	Spain, up to 20 g.	Europe, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	International up to 20 g.
7.04.2014	0.42	0.57	0.62	0.72	0.80	0.50	2.20
1.03.2015	0.45	0.57	0.62	0.72	0.80	0.55	2.35
	Domestic, up to 20 g. normalized	Domestic, from 20 to 50 g.	Spain, up to 20 g.	Europe, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.	Domestic, up to 20 g.	Europe, up to 20 g.	Rest of the world, up to 20 g.
1.02.2016	0.47	0.60	0.65	0.75	0.80	0.58	2.40	2.55
4.04.2017	0.50	0.65	0.70	0.80	0.85	0.63	2.60	2.70
(The values making up the annual sets are marked in bold)