Principat d'Andorra (Correus Espanyols) - Bandera d'Andorra
Jan 23, 2024 18:55:10 GMT
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The Principality of Andorra
The principality of Andorra is situated in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. As aftermath of the crusades against the Cathars, a dispute arose between the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix. King Pedro III of Aragón mediated between both parties. This led to the signing of the Paréage of Andorra in Lleida, on 6 September 1278. The Paréage established joined sovereignty of Roger Bernard III, Count of foix, and Pere d’Urtx, Bishop of Urgell, over the territory of Andorra.
In 1290, Roger Bernard III inherited the title of Viscount of Béarn. The title passed to King Enrique III of Navarra, In the 16th. century. He, later, became King Henry IV of France. In 1620, his son, Louis XIII, united his titles as King of Navarra that included the co-principality of Andorra with the French Crown. After the French Revolution, in 1789, the title of Prince of Andorra held by the king of France, passed to the French Republic, currently represented by its president.
The principality's constitution of 1993 establishes the territory as a parliamentary democracy. It also establishes its co-princes, the French President and Bishop of Urgell, as its joined heads of state. Article 2.2 of the constitution establishes the flag and the arms as the official symbols of the principality. On 5 May 1999, the General Assembly of Andorra approved the design of the official flag and arms of the principality. The official flag of the principality has the coat-of-arms in its centre. The civil version of the flag does not have the coat-of-arms.
Flag
The flag of Andorra has three vertical bands in the colours red, yellow, and blue. The proportions of the flag are 10:7 (width x height). It has three vertical bands in the proportion 8:9:8. Until 1866, Andorra used a flag with the yellow (or) and red (gules) bands of the mediaeval arms of Catalonia and the House of Foix. In 1866, Emperor Napoleon III of France added the blue band of the French flag. The three colours replicate the colours of the principality’s arms. The current flag was adopted in 1971.
Arms
The arms of Andorra have four quarters. Each quarter represents arms related to the historic rulers of the principality. The arms of the Bishop of Urgell make up the first quarter. These show a mitre and crozier of or against a field of gules. The arms of the County of Foix (three pales of gules in a field of or) make up the second quarter. The arms of Catalunya (four pales of gules in a field of or) make up the third quarter. Seu d’Urgell is situated in Catalunya. The arms of the Viscounts of Béarn make up the fourth quarter. These show two Betizu cattle of gules with horns and wearing a cowbell of azure in a field of or.
The official coat-of-arms is set against a scroll. Alternatively, it can be crowned by the lord’s emblems, either a chapeau or a crown. It can have the motto “VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR” (united value is stronger) at the foot.
Postal Services
Both the French postal service, La Poste, and the Spanish postal service, Correos, operate a postal service in the principality. Carriage of mail within the principality is free. Each postal service issues stamps for Andorra that are valid for international carriage by the issuing entity. Carriage to France or Spain is treated as inland mail by the respective postal services. It is treated as international mail if posted in a letter box of the other country’s postal service.
Permanent Stamps
On 4 January 2019, Correos issued a stamp depicting the official flag of Andorra flying for use on mail sent from the principality to Spain. The stamp prepays the Spanish ‘inland’ basic letter rate. This rate is indicated by the inscription ‘A’ over ‘TARIFA.’ It prepays carriage of a letter in the first weight step from Andorra to any address in Spain.
2019, Principat d’Andorra, Correus Espanyols, Bandera, Edifil nr. 478
Correos classified the stamp as a permanent stamp (serie básica). From 1982 until 2018, the designs of permanent stamps showed the coat-of-arms of Andorra. The present stamp continues this tradition with the official flag that includes the coat-of-arms of the principality. Since 2017, the Spanish post office in Andorra only issued permanent stamps covering this Spanish inland basic letter rate.
The flag is set flying against a light blue background. The names of the territory and issuing entity, the tariff, and the logo of the printer are reversed out of the background. The printer’s logo, a crowned capital ‘M’ followed by the letters RCM-FNMT, appears on the lower right edge of the stamp reading from bottom to top. The letters stand for ‘Real Casa de la Moneda – Fábrica Nacional de Timbre y Moneda’ that printed the stamp.
The principality of Andorra is situated in the Pyrenees between Spain and France. As aftermath of the crusades against the Cathars, a dispute arose between the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix. King Pedro III of Aragón mediated between both parties. This led to the signing of the Paréage of Andorra in Lleida, on 6 September 1278. The Paréage established joined sovereignty of Roger Bernard III, Count of foix, and Pere d’Urtx, Bishop of Urgell, over the territory of Andorra.
In 1290, Roger Bernard III inherited the title of Viscount of Béarn. The title passed to King Enrique III of Navarra, In the 16th. century. He, later, became King Henry IV of France. In 1620, his son, Louis XIII, united his titles as King of Navarra that included the co-principality of Andorra with the French Crown. After the French Revolution, in 1789, the title of Prince of Andorra held by the king of France, passed to the French Republic, currently represented by its president.
The principality's constitution of 1993 establishes the territory as a parliamentary democracy. It also establishes its co-princes, the French President and Bishop of Urgell, as its joined heads of state. Article 2.2 of the constitution establishes the flag and the arms as the official symbols of the principality. On 5 May 1999, the General Assembly of Andorra approved the design of the official flag and arms of the principality. The official flag of the principality has the coat-of-arms in its centre. The civil version of the flag does not have the coat-of-arms.
Flag
The flag of Andorra has three vertical bands in the colours red, yellow, and blue. The proportions of the flag are 10:7 (width x height). It has three vertical bands in the proportion 8:9:8. Until 1866, Andorra used a flag with the yellow (or) and red (gules) bands of the mediaeval arms of Catalonia and the House of Foix. In 1866, Emperor Napoleon III of France added the blue band of the French flag. The three colours replicate the colours of the principality’s arms. The current flag was adopted in 1971.
Arms
The arms of Andorra have four quarters. Each quarter represents arms related to the historic rulers of the principality. The arms of the Bishop of Urgell make up the first quarter. These show a mitre and crozier of or against a field of gules. The arms of the County of Foix (three pales of gules in a field of or) make up the second quarter. The arms of Catalunya (four pales of gules in a field of or) make up the third quarter. Seu d’Urgell is situated in Catalunya. The arms of the Viscounts of Béarn make up the fourth quarter. These show two Betizu cattle of gules with horns and wearing a cowbell of azure in a field of or.
The official coat-of-arms is set against a scroll. Alternatively, it can be crowned by the lord’s emblems, either a chapeau or a crown. It can have the motto “VIRTUS UNITA FORTIOR” (united value is stronger) at the foot.
Postal Services
Both the French postal service, La Poste, and the Spanish postal service, Correos, operate a postal service in the principality. Carriage of mail within the principality is free. Each postal service issues stamps for Andorra that are valid for international carriage by the issuing entity. Carriage to France or Spain is treated as inland mail by the respective postal services. It is treated as international mail if posted in a letter box of the other country’s postal service.
Permanent Stamps
On 4 January 2019, Correos issued a stamp depicting the official flag of Andorra flying for use on mail sent from the principality to Spain. The stamp prepays the Spanish ‘inland’ basic letter rate. This rate is indicated by the inscription ‘A’ over ‘TARIFA.’ It prepays carriage of a letter in the first weight step from Andorra to any address in Spain.
2019, Principat d’Andorra, Correus Espanyols, Bandera, Edifil nr. 478
Correos classified the stamp as a permanent stamp (serie básica). From 1982 until 2018, the designs of permanent stamps showed the coat-of-arms of Andorra. The present stamp continues this tradition with the official flag that includes the coat-of-arms of the principality. Since 2017, the Spanish post office in Andorra only issued permanent stamps covering this Spanish inland basic letter rate.
The flag is set flying against a light blue background. The names of the territory and issuing entity, the tariff, and the logo of the printer are reversed out of the background. The printer’s logo, a crowned capital ‘M’ followed by the letters RCM-FNMT, appears on the lower right edge of the stamp reading from bottom to top. The letters stand for ‘Real Casa de la Moneda – Fábrica Nacional de Timbre y Moneda’ that printed the stamp.
