New Issue: Eclipse (Spain)

On 12 August 2026, something very special will happen in the skies above Europe: a total solar eclipse. Parts of Spain will experience a total eclipse, where the Moon will completely cover the Sun for a short time. Across other parts of Europe the eclipse will be partial, but it should still be an amazing sight.

I’m really looking forward to it because I will be on holiday in Luxembourg, where the eclipse will be around 90%. Although I won’t get to see totality, seeing almost all of the Sun disappear behind the Moon should still be spectacular. I have never seen anything like this before. This will be the best and most complete solar eclipse seen across Western Europe since the famous eclipse of 1999, which my parents can remember.

For Spain, this eclipse is even more important because it is the first of three major eclipses in three years. The WOPA website describes this as an “extraordinarily rare occurrence”. There will be total solar eclipses on 12th August 2026 and 2nd August 2027, followed by an annular eclipse on 26th January 2028. Together, they have been nicknamed the “Eclipse Trio”.

You can see why Correos has dedicated this fantastic stamp to the first eclipse. Perhaps we will get stamps for the other two eclipses as well?

Design Quality — Overall, I think this is a very good design. I especially like the way it combines two different views of the eclipse. At the top we see the different stages as the Moon gradually moves across the Sun, while underneath there is a map of Spain showing the path of the eclipse. The miniature sheet continues the idea with huge images of the Sun during the eclipse and its glowing corona.

It feels very much like a scientific stamp, rather than simply being a pretty picture of the sky. I think that suits the subject. There is quite a lot happening in the design, but the different parts work well together and help to explain the eclipse. The main negative is that all this information needs plenty of room, so we have a very large stamp! 8/10

Theme / Subject Choice — This is a very, very good choice of subject. Space and astronomy sometimes appear on stamps, but solar eclipses aren't something we see featured very often. An eclipse is also exactly the sort of event is perfect for a stamp because millions of people can experience it at the same time.

It is particularly important for Spain because this is the beginning of its remarkable Eclipse Trio. It feels like a great reason to issue a stamp. 10/10

Historical and Cultural Relevance — This is definitely a historic event, although obviously solar eclipses have happened in the past and will happen again in the future. That means the event itself isn't unique.

However, individual eclipses can become important memories. My parents still remember the 1999 eclipse and I expect lots of people watching this one will still remember where they were and what they saw many years from now. The fact that Spain is about to experience three major eclipses in such a short period makes this even more significant. 8/10

Innovation and Creativity — I think this is a really innovative stamp. Instead of choosing just one picture of an eclipse, the designers have tried to show the event from different perspectives. We can see the eclipse as somebody on Earth would experience it, with the Moon passing in front of the Sun, but we can also look down at a map of Spain and see the eclipse from a geographical and scientific point of view.

I particularly like the sequence of little Suns and Moons across the black background. We see movement and this shows that an eclipse is something that happens over a period of time. The stamp and the surrounding miniature sheet also work together as one much bigger picture, which makes the whole issue feel more creative. 10/10

Collectability — There are lots of thematic stamp collectors interested in space and astronomy, but comparatively few stamps actually show solar eclipses, so this one should feel a little different.

I also think it could appeal to people who aren't normally stamp collectors. If somebody travels to Spain to see the eclipse (or even somewhere else to see a stunning partial eclipse), buying the stamp or miniature sheet would make a great souvenir of the occasion. It will always be connected to one particular day and one particular astronomical event, which makes it especially nice to keep. 9/10

Personal Appeal — I like this stamp, and I am interested in space and astronomy generally. I also like the fact that Correos has chosen a scientific subject because I think we should have more science-themed stamps.

I'm particularly interested in this issue because I'll hopefully get to experience the eclipse myself in Luxembourg. It doesn't quite have the excitement or instant appeal that some other stamps have, so I wouldn't give it one of my very highest personal scores. However, I think it is an excellent stamp for an important occasion, and one that people may look back at in years to come and remember exactly where they were when the eclipse happened. 7/10

Overall Score: 52/60