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As we move into the middle of the 2010’s decade, this review of the Europa stamps of Vatican City covers the years 2013 through 2017.
 		 			 			 			 			 	<center>2013 
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1529.jpg' >
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1530.jpg' > 
Europa 2013: Postal Vehicles Vatican City, Scott 1529-1530</center>
 
For 2013, the Europa stamps looked at “Postal Vehicles”. Vatican City chose the postal van as the theme for its stamps. The UFN release provides a brief review of the evolution of the postal system around the world, and the vehicles that have been used to “move the mail”. In particular, it states that the postal van is the latest “small vehicle” used to ensure the delivery of mail within the city-state. The stamps of the Vatican City issue picture a postal van in front of an image of the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica (Scott 1529) and the world (Scott 1530).
 			 			 			 			 			 	<center>2014 
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1564.jpg' >
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1565.jpg' > 
Europa 2014: Musical Instruments Vatican City, Scott 1564-1565</center>
 
“Musical Instruments” were highlighted in the 2014 Europa stamps. For Vatican City, the theme looks at the importance music plays within the Catholic Church, and the role various instruments play in man’s ability to create and project music to all as a means of adding a “wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies”. The Vatican City stamps portray two magnificent church organs: those found at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran and at Saint Peter’s Basilica.
 			 			 			 			 			 	<center>2015 
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1591.jpg' >
<img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1592.jpg' > 
Europa 2015: Old Toys Vatican City, Scott 1591-1592</center>
 
The theme for the 2015 Europa issue was “Old Toys”. The UFN release reminds us of our youth, and the role toys played in this “important time during a child’s growth and development”, as well as their connection to the “cultural heritage of society”. The Vatican City stamps for this year’s issue pay homage to two of the groups that protect the Vatican. The 0.80-euro stamp displays three toy figures of the Vatican Gendarmerie Corps, along with an assortment of other toys. The 0.95-euro stamp has two figurines of members of the Swiss Guards, with two toy blocks and a glass marble.
 			 			 			 			 			 	<center>2016 
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1621.jpg' > 
Europa 2016: “Think Green” Vatican City, Scott 1621</center>
 
In 2016, PostEurop decided to upon a common stamp design, to be used by all members of the Association, to project the theme for the year: “Ecology in Europe: Think Green”. The single stamp has two colored areas: a grey side represented the world with fossil fuels and a green side showing birds, a bicyclist, trees and wind turbines. Vatican City issued the stamp as a minisheet of six stamps, with the sheet selvage including an image of the Dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica as well as the words “Think Green".
 			 			 			 			 			 	<center>2017 
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1655.jpg' >
 <img height='175px' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1656.jpg' > 
Europa 2017: Castles Vatican City, Scott 1655-1656</center>
 
For 2017, the Europa stamp theme was “Castles”. The Vatican Post Office chose the images of two famous castles. The 0.95-euro stamp shows the papal palace at Castel Gandolfo, including the upper portion of the Vatican Observatory telescope. As a note, Pope Francis has not used Castel Gandolfo as a summer retreat, and it is currently open to the public as a museum. The 1.00-euro stamp has a view of the Palace of the Belvedere. Built in the 15th century, it is now part of the Vatican Museums. 
 
REFERENCES: 
UFN, May 2, 2013, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2013-2-08-1.jpg'>Europa 2013, “The Postal Van”</a>
 
UFN, May 20, 2014, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2014-2-08-1.jpg'>Europa 2014, Musical Instruments</a>
 
UFN, May 19, 2015, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2015-2-07-1.jpg'>Europa 2015, “Old Toys”</a>
 
UFN, May 10, 2016, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2016-2-05-1.jpg'>Europa 2016--Think Green</a>
 
UFN, May 4, 2017, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/UFN/images/2017-2-05-1.jpg'>Europa 2017: Castles</a>
 
Vatican Philatelic Society Website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search

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