COVER N. 407-  ALBANIA

Postmark: Zyra Postare 9 Tiranë 02.02.2024

Posted on the 2nd February; Received on the 8th February 2024

_________________________________________________________________________________

The relentless Phantom has gone to the Balkans this time....to the land of the many bunkers, on an impossible mission, (almost... but he, the Ghost who Walks, the Phantom, will always prevail....) and I have proof of it....Danke Sehr, Alex!

Alex used a one stamp souvenir sheet on this cover that is a bit intriguing in nature.

In fact it is part of an issue which also included two individual stamps, which I believe were meant to be the Albanian CEPT/EUROPA issue for 2005, as attested by the CEPT logo on the sheet frame.

And this is where it all gets a bit confusing:

- the theme for the 2005 common issue was "Gastronomy", which the stamp cannot relate to at all;

- the legend on the stamp says it commemorates the 50t anniversary of the first EUROPA issue - 1956-2006, the stamp having been issued in 2005;

- The stamp is illustrated with a reproduction of George Seurat's magnificent "la Voltigeuse", while the frame of the stamp is dominated by the figure of a clown. This would be perfect for the 2002 common issue, which was themed on "The circus".

Anyway, be it as it may, the cover makes a very nice addition to my collection and I couldn't be more thankful to Alex.

The Postmark hails from the capital, Tirana, from Post Office n 9, which Alex tells me was the only one he could find  willing to post the 300 covers + the Phantom had under his belt...