May 2006

"Matemáticas"

Two self adhesive stamps, one devoted to pure science and the other to applied science make up this issue.

Pure or basic science, that is maths, is the main theme of the XXV International Congress of Mathematicians which takes place from the 22 to the 30 of August in Madrid, and which is considered as being the main scientific encounter in the world, meeting up every four years and organised by the International Mathematics Union. In over 100 years of history, this is the first time it takes place in Spain. During the “mathematics olympiad “ more than 20 Plenary Conferences and 169 Conferences by various guests take place in the 20 scientific sections that cover all fields of maths. King Juan Carlos I will preside over the award giving ceremony of the Fields medals which are considered as being the Nobel prizes of Maths and awarded to mathematicians under 40.

The stamp depicts the logo of the Congress and a piece of the Codice Vigilanus together with a primitive version of Arabic numbers. This code is the oldest of the ones in our current numbers and is kept in the Library of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid).

"Día de Internet"

The second stamp is devoted to Correos por la Sociedad de la Información. Dia de Internet. (Correos for the Society of Information. Internet Day). This theme links with the World Summit on the Information Society which took place in Tunisia in November 2005, where it was agreed upon celebrating on the 17th May the World Day for the Society of the Information (this day traditionally commemorated the World Telecommunications Day). The proposal was made by the Spanish Government and will be shortly ratified by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Correos, in its aim to satisfy its client’s needs, has an Internet site offering online services. Digital mail can be sent by only typing the text in one’s computer together with the address, then Correos will print it, put it in the envelope and deliver it to the addressee. The same procedure works for sending telegrams and burofax. All those fond of philately have at their disposal “FiIatelia online” which is the official philatelic channel where one can subscribe and become standing order client and receive at home all new products issued. This is therefore an excellent way of contributing to widespread our services.

In the stamp features the logo of the Internet Day.