Turkish Cyprus stamps year 1991 Space – Europa CEPT

Turkish Cyprus stamps year 1991 Space – Europa CEPT MNH

In 1991, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) participated in the Europa CEPT series, which followed the common theme of “European Aerospace” (often referred to by collectors as the Space issue).

The 1991 “European Aerospace” Set

Issued on July 29, 1991, this set consists of two individual stamps and one souvenir sheet. The designs focus on scientific missions and European contributions to space exploration.

Souvenir Sheet (Miniature Sheet)

The most notable part of this issue for space collectors is the Souvenir Sheet (Bl. 9).

• Design: It typically contains both the 2000 TL Hermes and the 2000 TL Ulysses stamps.
• Graphics: The sheet margin often features technical space-themed illustrations, such as orbits or celestial backgrounds, complementing the “European Aerospace” theme.

Technical Specifications

• Perforation: 12¼
• Printing: Multicolored lithography.
• Print Run: Approximately 200,000 sets were produced, which is relatively small for Europa issues, making them slightly more sought after than the high-volume Western European counterparts.
• Market Value: * MNH (Mint Never Hinged): Approximately $4.00 – $7.00 USD for the set or souvenir sheet.
  • FDC (First Day Cover): Often valued at a slight premium, around $5.00 – $8.00 USD.

Collector Notes

This set is popular among topical collectors of Space/Cosmos and Europa CEPT. Because Turkish Cyprus is only recognized by Turkey, these stamps are listed in most catalogs (like Michel or Scott) under a sub-heading of Cyprus or as “Turkish Cyprus” / “Northern Cyprus.”