Festival International de la Bande Dessinée à Contern Stamp (translating to International Comic Strip Festival of Contern) was produced by Luxembourg Post in Luxembourg in 2017.
The Festival International de la Bande Dessinée à Contern is Luxembourg’s premier annual comic book festival, held every July in the small village of Contern. Established in 1994 by local organizer Daniel Grun alongside dedicated community volunteers, it was the very first comic convention established in both Luxembourg and the surrounding Greater Region. Over the decades, it has grown into one of Europe’s notable comic celebrations, earning Contern the international reputation of the “Comic Book Village”.
During the festival weekend, the entire village closes its roads to traffic, transforming into an open-air pedestrian market and cultural fair. The event attracts around fifty international and local comic book authors and illustrators for signing sessions, live drawing demonstrations, and fan meet-and-greets in the main sports center. Meanwhile, dozens of market stands line the streets, offering new and rare vintage comics, original artwork, collectible figurines, and memorabilia.
The festival combines the atmosphere of a major literary convention with the community feel of a traditional village festival. Local associations run food stalls, live music, and family activities, while its official mascot, Bédéric, a 19th-century teacher created by illustrator Andy Genen, can be seen throughout the grounds. Blending European bande dessinée heritage, American superhero lore, and local folklore, the Contern Comic Festival remains a key highlight on the region’s cultural calendar.
The two-sided postcard shaped souvenir card is published in full color measuring 10.5cm x 14.9cm. It features a postage stamp commemorated the 24th Festival International de la Bande Dessinée à Contern, held in Contern, Luxembourg on the 15th and 16th of July 2017. The festival is one of Europe’s long-standing celebrations of comic arts, bringing together international artists, collectors, and fans every year in the village of Contern. The front of the card can be seen below.
The stamp itself was issued by POST Luxembourg (Luxembourg Post) with a face value of €0.70, designated for domestic standard mail within the country at the time. It bears the official branding of the postal service alongside the festival’s event branding, serving as both valid postage and a official philatelic collectible for the event.
The dynamic illustration on the stamp and card features artwork by British comic artist Mike Perkins, who was a special guest at the 2017 convention. Known prominently for his work with Marvel Comics on titles such as Captain America, Spider-Man, X-Men, and The Stand, Perkins’ signature detailed line art style brings a cross-universe cast of iconic comic heroes together.
The artwork uniquely incorporates a piece of modern Luxembourg infrastructure: a Luxtram tram car. Surrounding and riding atop the tram are legendary pop culture figures from various comic book characters, including Marvel’s Spider-Man, DC’s Batman, King Feature’s The Phantom, Zorro, and Spirou running along the side, blending Western superhero traditions with European bande dessinée culture.
Adding further philatelic value, the card bears a special first-day special postmark (cancellation stamp) dated July 15–16, 2017, from Contern (1000 Luxembourg). The pictorial cancellation cachet mirrors the artwork with a line drawing of Spirou running in front of the tram, officially marking the stamp as canceled at the festival site during its opening weekend.
The reverse side of the maximum card is produced via POST Luxembourg’s meng.post.lu personalized postal service. It features explanatory text in French, German, and English crediting artist Mike Perkins and highlighting his notable comic book work, making this item a crossover collectible prized by both comic book enthusiasts and philatelists alike. The reverse of the card can be seen below.
