On occasion of the 105 anniversary of the establishment of the Corps of Architects of the Treasury a stamp is issued depicting part of the Sabatini building, headquarters of the Ministry of Economy and Finance located in Alcala street in Madrid.

What we know today as the Property Tax first appeared with the Budget Act of August 5, 1893. The regulation implementing the Law attributed its technical management to tax practitioners.

This established the need for Architects with legal expertise and specific tax knowledge to investigate and assess real property in order to set up a register with the data of buildings and land (Land Registry).

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published July 11th, 2011

The Alhambra and the Generalife in Granada were declared “World Heritage” by UNESCO in 1984. The Alhambra features in this souvenir sheet depicting one of its beautifully decorated rooms, whilst the circle-shaped stamp resembles a 2 € coin with an image of the Patio de los Leones in the centre. In 1994 the declaration of World Heritage was extended to the neighbourhood of the Albaicin.

The Alhambra is located on the hill of al-Sabika, on the left bank of the Darro River, east of Granada. It is recorded that in 889 Sawwar ben Hamdun seeked refuge in his fortress from the fighting going on all over the Caliphate of Cordoba, which then belonged to the kingdom of Granada. In the 13th century with the arrival of Mohammed I, the first Nazari monarch, the Alhambra became a royal residence, marking the beginning of its splendour. The consecutive monarchs expanded and enrich the compound with the construction of new palace rooms, baths, towers, gates and extensions of the walls.

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published July 7th, 2011

To commemorate the centenary of the Spanish Air Force a four-stamp souvenir sheet is issued depicting three model airplanes, a helicopter and the commemorative logo.

In February 1911, two Henry Farman and a Maurice Farman airplane flying from France and purchased by Captain Alfredo Kindelan landed in the Cuatro Vientos aerodrome, the first military airfield. A month later, using these planes made of wood and fabric with a 50 hp engine, set off the first course for military pilots in which captains Kindelan, Herrera and Arrillaga and Lieutenants Barrón and Ortiz Echagüe got their degree. With them, began the history of Spanish Military Aviation.

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published July 6th, 2011

Vías Verdes (greenways) are old disused railway lines that have been recovered and reconditioned for use by walkers, cyclists and ecotourism purposes. Currently there are over 80 routes spread across the country, with kilometric distances that vary depending on the layout, and new sections are still being set up.

The Vías Verdes project was initiated in 1993 aiming at turning more than 7,000 kilometres of rail lines in disuse into a space for leisure and outdoor sports. So far, more than 1,800 kilometres have been opened for the use and enjoyment of walkers, cyclists and people with disabilities. One of the main characteristics of these routes is the easy accessibility to the public, given that they are flat paths that can be used by all types of sportspeople.

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published June 2nd, 2011

This Spanish cinema series celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Goya Awards and the best film of 2010. It is made up of a souvenir sheet and a stamp.

The Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Sciences of Spain awards the Goyas annually in acknowledgement of the best professionals in the film industry in the different categories. These awards were created at the initiative of a group of renowned professionals who wished to level the Spanish film industry with other countries such as Hollywood’s Oscars, Berlin’s Bear, French Cesar Awards French or the Lion of Venice.

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published May 26th, 2011

This stamp issue makes up this year’s Definitive Series which is issued annually featuring King Juan Carlos I. This series aims at “meeting all postage needs established by the postage fees.”

Since November 22 1975 when Juan Carlos I was proclaimed King of Spain, the Definitive Series has been illustrated with a portrait of the monarch which is renewed usually every seven or eight years. The current issue is part of the fifth series that began to be printed in 2007 and in which the royal crown and face value are of a golden colour.

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published May 23rd, 2011

2011 has been declared by United Nations as International Year of Forests and member countries of PostEurop join this Universal Declaration devoting this year’s Europa stamp to Forests. Each member country depicts those trees or forests characteristic to their ecosystems. Correos has chosen the Hayedo de la Pedrosa in Segovia.

The conservation and sustainable development of forests is an increasing concern to society and conservation movements have emerged to support and protect these natural ecosystems. It is estimated that forests cover between 25% and 35% of the land surface and are seriously threatened by indiscriminate logging, fires and industrial pollution. Forest provide habitat to many animal species and play key roles in human life and the balance of the biosphere. Forests act as hydrologic flow modulators and soil conservers, they affect the weather, the temperature and humidity of the air, they absorb carbon dioxide slowing down the negative effects of CO2 and purify the atmosphere. (read more)

published May 17th, 2011

To celebrate the 150 anniversary of the Property Act (Ley Hipotecaria), a stamp is issued within the “Anniversaries” series depicting the official logo made on occasion of this commemoration.

The Property Act was passed on February 8 1861 under the reign of Elizabeth II and was the origin of the current real estate registry system. The new law was one of the milestones in the changing Spanish legal system, going from a situation of overlapping stratified rules to a scientific approach of regulations and a process of codifying laws.

The original legislation has been amended successively over its 150 year’s life existence during which many public institutions and organisms have been created. In 1861 the Land Registry (Registro de la Propiedad) was also created aiming at “the registration or endorsement of title deeds and other rights over real estate.” The Registry has an official status and its main duty is to provide reliable information to individuals when drawing up a contract on the property registered. This Land Registry meets basically three purposes: to establish a solid basis for mortgage loans, to provide protection to owners of registered rights and to make real estate legal transactions swift.

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published May 17th, 2011

Protection of Persons with Disabilities, Respect on the Net, the Use of the Safety Belt and Keep your City Clean are the four stamps of this year’s Civic Values issue.

The rights and freedoms of individuals should be enjoyed by people with disabilities on an equal footing. For this reason, governments are to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. United Nations, through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, provides a set of guiding principles that underlie the Convention: Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons, non-discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity, equality of opportunity and accessibility.

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published May 16th, 2011

Coinciding with the International Women’s Day celebrated annually on March 8th, a stamp is issued highlighting the progress made towards the recognition of equality for women in all aspects of life.

The idea of celebrating the International Women’s Day originated in the late 19th century though it wasn’t until the 20th century when it was fully recognized as international organizations began to proclaim a day of struggle for women and their rights. Following this idea, in 1910 Copenhagen hosted an International Conference of Socialist Women in which it was unanimously approved by all participants the declaration of an International Women’s Day.

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published May 9th, 2011

published May 6th, 2011