French Andorra 2022 stamp remembers execution of Joana Call for witchcraft

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Andorra is a tiny principality in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains situated in a valley between Spain and France. Since 1278 it has been ruled by two co-princes, the Spanish bishop of Urquell and the head of the French state. The spoken language, Andorran, is a romance language most closely related to Catalan.

With a population of fewer than 90,000 people, Andorra boasts two postal systems: one run by Spain and the other operated by France, both of which issue postage stamps. Stamps of both of Andorra’s postal services are collected in their own right, and they are of interest to collectors of Spain and France. Stamps of French Andorra enjoy the same high design and production qualities as those of France.

Witchcraft, drawing on various elements of folk religion and pagan worship, has made a big comeback in modern times. By some estimates, there now may be more witches in the United States than there are Presbyterians.

On Aug. 5, 2022, French Andorra issued a €2.32 stamp (Scott 855) commemorating the 550th anniversary of the execution of Joana Call for witchcraft.

Call, the widow of Pere Calba d’Encamp, resided in the village of Segudet. In 1472 she was imprisoned and tried as a witch by the Andorran high court. Her trial included the examination of witnesses against her as well as questioning under torture. Call denied the charges even under torture. She was convicted on the evidence of the witnesses and executed.

The rather gruesome stamp design features a page from the original record of her trial showing her dismembered torso, limbs and head.

Was Call a witch? The more traditional view is that she was the innocent victim of religious superstition. However, Andorra was a center for folk beliefs and practices that might be considered witchcraft, and modern witches are happy to claim her as one of their own.

The Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue values the stamp in mint, never-hinged condition at $4.75, roughly the double-face catalog minimum value for new issues.

There is a good deal of demand for this stamp. It is popular with many nontraditional stamp collectors with a taste for Grand Guignol (dramatic entertainment that highlights the gruesome or horrible) and by those who happen to practice or are otherwise interested in witchcraft. It is also in demand by Halloween topical stamp collectors. It is a good buy at full Scott catalog value or perhaps a bit more.

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