Best Joint Issue of 2005

On behalf of the International Philatelic Society of Joint Stamp Issues Collectors, I am pleased to reveal that our members have chosen the following stamps as the Best Joint Issues for the year 2005.

1: Sweden and United States
Greta Garbo, 1905-1990

Posten (Sweden) and the United States Postal Service are the recipients of the 2005 Best Joint Issue award for the Greta Garbo issue released on September 23, 2005. Designed by Gustav Malmfors (Sweden) and Carl T. Herrman (United States). Engraved by Piotr Naszarkawski (portrait) and Lars Sjööblom (caricature – Sweden only).

Award Certificate
(pdf file 85 K)

2: France and Vatican
Vatican Museums – Louvre Museum

Second place was awarded to France and Vatican for the Vatican Museums – Louvre Museum issue released on November 10, 2005. Designed by Jean-Paul Cousin. Engraved by Jacky Larrivière. Based on a painting and a sketch by Raffaello Santi (Raphael). Printed by Imprimerie des timbres-poste et des valeurs fiduciaires (ITVF – France).

3: Australia and Great Britain
World Heritage Sites

Third place was awarded to Australia and Great Britain for the World Heritage Sites issue released on April 21, 2005. Designed by Jason Godfrey. Based on photographs by Peter Marlow.

The selection was made among 31 joint issues released in 2005 involving 48 postal administrations (but only 40 countries) and representing in total 124 stamps and 14 souvenir sheets. Omnibus and territorial issues were excluded from the contest.

Congratulations to all postal administrations and to their designers for the high quality stamps produced during the year 2005

Pascal LeBlond
17 April 2005