The new Europa postage stamp will feature the head of a Celtic warrior – one of the rarest items in the National Museum's archaeological collection.

The Celtic head, the only example of monumental Celtic sculpture in the Czech Republic, is an absolutely exceptional archaeological find. Its depiction on the stamp is inspired by the style of realistic, even photorealistic painting. At first glance, the sculpture captivates with its illusion of depth and impression of space. The blue sky in the background refers to the spiritual, even transcendent dimension of the exhibit.

"The annual announcement of the common theme for the Europa stamp is always a challenge for Czech stamp design. This year's theme gave us the opportunity to present one of the jewels of the National Museum, which we thank for its cooperation in preparing this issue," says Martina Ivanová, director of the Czech Post branch network.

The Celtic head and bronze footrest will be part of a new exhibition, People, in the National Museum’s Historical Building, which will open to the public in the second half of this year. The exhibition will be one of the most important exhibitions in the world dedicated to humankind and will tell the fascinating story of humans, their ancestors, and prehistoric history.

"We are extremely pleased that the Czech Post is issuing a new postage stamp this year featuring one of the most precious items in the National Museum's collection – the Celtic head. This unique artifact is not only an important part of our history, but also a symbol of the rich cultural and historical heritage we preserve. I am pleased that the public also perceives it this way, having chosen it as the motif for this stamp. Visitors will soon be able to admire the original Celtic head in the Historical Building of the National Museum in our new exhibition, People," said Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum.

The nearly 25 cm tall marlstone head from Mšecké Žehrovice is one of the symbols of Celtic culture. This object is one of the rarest exhibits in archaeological collections and, due to its uniqueness, is only displayed on very rare occasions. Visitors were last able to see it in the Celts exhibition in the New Building of the National Museum. The head was found quite by accident on May 19, 1943, in a small sandpit near Mšecké Žehrovice in the Rakovník region. The stone head of a man with a typical Celtic torque (necklace), moustache, and eyebrows ending in a spiral was probably originally part of an entire statue.

The stamp will be issued and available from May 7, 2025. The denomination of the commemorative letter stamp is represented by the letter "E," which corresponds to the price for a standard international shipment up to 50 g to European countries according to the current Price List of Basic Postal Services, CZK 48 as of the date of issue. The issue was printed by Tiskárna Hradištko, s. r. o., using full-color offset printing in a print run of 60,000 stamps and FDC digital printing in a print run of 2,300 stamps. Those interested can purchase the new commemorative letter stamp at selected counters or at the Czech Post e-shop.

Stamps bearing the official Europa logo, which have been issued since 1956, have become not only a symbol of cooperation and integration among European countries, but also a reminder of their shared history and culture. A new theme is announced each year. In previous years, the themes have included Castles, Stories and Myths, and last year, Underwater Fauna and Flora.

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