Sendt til udlandet fra Danmark

Not much happening on this cover from Taastrup, Denmark (there is a large Postnord terminal there) but the stamp caught my attention. It's the first cover I've received from Denmark with an "Udland" stamp on it. Earlier this year Postnord declared that all stamps produced prior to Jan 1 were no longer valid for domestic mail because they were purchased before a 25% VAT for postage stamps was introduced. Apparently the same will apply to international bound mail at the end of the year. New stamps now bear the word "Innland" on domestic rate stamps and "Udland" on international rate stamps.

This stamp is from a 2024 sheet of two (with two sheets in the issue) that feature portrait engravings. On this stamp is an image of Danish poet and author Tove Ditlevsen, based on a photograph by Erik Petersen, engraved by Martin Mörck

It's surprising to see how postage rates have increased in Denmark this year. The international letter rate was increased to 50 DKK. It covers letters up to 100g but that rate also applies to postcards! By comparison, 50 DKK is currently more than enough for three international 20g letters from Canada, or four from the US.

Cycling in Denmark

This Danish cover comes to me from the municipality of Gentofte, in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen. Three "Everyday Cycling" stamps. The set of five was issued on 2 January 2023 in a sheet of ten stamps. There are more bicycles in Copenhagen then cars. Even more bicycles than people. It has been estimated that 9 out of 10 people in Denmark own a bicycle. 

Aarhus, Denmark

Endangered butterflies on this cover from Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. These stamps are part of Denmark's 2021 Europa issue.

Wild Food from Denmark

Stamps from a booklet issued in September of 2018. The "Wild Food" on these stamps grows naturally out in the Danish countryside. Postmarked a the Sydjyllands (South Jutland) Postcenter in Fredericia Denmark.

Taastrup, Denmark

Taastrup is between Copenhagen and Roskilde. I believe it's a railway hub and perhaps that explains the large PortNord terminal there. A nice selection of stamps from 2017.

Something that caught my attention was the amount of postage on this letter: 24.90 DKK. This letter cost twice as much to send than a similar letter would cost me to send from Canada. The rate calculator on the PostNord website confirmed it. I found a couple of articles on the internet from late in 2015 discussing how postal rates in Denmark were going to double, making them the highest of all EU countries. If that were to happen in Canada I'd be done with cover collecting.

Århus, Denmark

Århus, Denmark

Aalborg, Denmark

Post Denmark's Self-Adhesive Frenzy

Last year, Post Denmark started producing self-adhesive stamps. And this year they seem to have gone mad with self adhesive fever. All of the issues that came out this March were self adhesive except for the Nordic Coastlines souvenir sheet although the individual stamps in that particular series are self adhesive. Even the wavy line definitive were not spared. After over 100 years of wavy line stamps, the latest additions are available as self adhesive only.





All have simulated perforations and are on perforated paper with fairly wide margins. The wavy line issues look good next to the last of the gummed issues but the paper has a bit of a shine to it, which I suppose should be expected in a self adhesive. It’s a first for Post Denmark and it looks like they’re having fun with it. But I think the Ribe anniversary issue would have been better on gummed paper.

Denmark Roskilde Labels

This year, Post Denmark held its annual “Stamp Forum” in Roskilde, November 6-8. A special franking label was produced and only made available at the show or through advance mail order from Post Denmark. The label features an image of the Roskilde Cathedral and was available in sets of four with values of 5.00, 5.50, 8.00 and 9.00 DKK. Also available was a special exhibition postmark.

Demarks Old Maps and Labels

The latest series of stamps to be issued by Post Denmark features old maps of Denmark. Originally to be released on 10 June 2009, it was delays to 17 July 2009 which coincided with the international conference on the history of cartography held in Copenhagen from 11 to 17 July 2009. The rates of these issues was also increased from what was initially expected.



The series consists of four stamp issues. A 12.00 DKK stamp featuring the oldest preserved map of Denmark by Marcus Jordan from 1585. The first printed map of Denmark dating from 1570 is featured on the 18.00 DKK stamps. In 1650 Danish cartographer Johannes Mejer presented Frederik III with the map featured on the 6.50 DKK stamps. And finally, the over sized 5.50 DKK stamp features the first official map of Denmark published in 1841 by the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences.

On 10 June 2009, Post Denmark released their 2009 franking labels. The theme of these labels is Danish hydro-electricity. When ordered from Post Denmark they come as a set of four with values of 5.00, 5.50, 8.00 and 9.00 DKK. But you can also order them in any value you like from 0.25 up to 99.75 DKK. As far as franking labels go, I found the designs of these to be quite appealing.

Denmark Europa 2009 Astronomy