The Christmas stamps published today mark 30 years since the first Christmas stamp
Today, 20 October, Omniva is publishing this year’s Christmas stamp set. This year marks a milestone in the tradition of Christmas stamps – the first Estonian Christmas stamp was published 30 years ago.
‘The first Christmas stamp was issued in Estonia in 1992 and it depicted a stylised Christmas tree. These Christmas stamps were also significant in another sense – they were the first postage stamps printed in Estonia after the restoration of independence,’ said Mart Mägi, Chairman of the Management Board of Omniva. ‘Over the years, many Estonian artists have created Christmas stamps with very different designs. This year’s Christmas stamps also delight us with their beautiful message and design.’
Artist Made Balbat was inspired by the image of the guardian angel when designing Christmas stamps and cards. ‘I chose the guardian angel primarily because we are living in very difficult and challenging times at the moment. The guardian angel protects us, watches over us, and guides us to the right path. It is important to remember not to lose faith and hope!’ stressed Balbat.
Made Balbat graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a degree in graphic art. Lately, she has been working mainly with digital media – her images are often based on literature, well-known stories, and fairy tales. In addition to illustrations, the artist makes original prints: traditional etchings and drypoint. In the field of graphic design, Balbat has designed a wide range of books, calendars, and postcards.
A total of 400,000 stamps with a tariff of a standard domestic letter and 150,000 stamps with a tariff of international letters and cards were printed in the printing house Vaba Maa. Along with the stamps, a first day envelope and an information card will also be issued and the first day stamp will be used at the Toompea post office. In addition to post offices and retailers, you can buy Christmas stamps and cards from the Omniva e-shop.
The first Christmas postage stamps, issued on 15 December 1992, were designed by Uko Künnap, one costing 30 cents and the other 2 kroons. These were the first postage stamps printed in Estonia after the restoration of independence. Since then, Christmas stamps designed by many different artists have been issued every year in Estonia. In 1994, one of the Christmas stamps was overprinted when a new price was printed on some of the stamps. This added 20 kroons (€2.50) to the price for the Estonia shipwreck victims fund. In 1999, Christmas lottery stamps were made with a six-digit number and cash prizes could be won with them. In 2007, Ilon Wikland designed one of the Christmas stamps, and from the same year, the Christmas stamps have been self-adhesive. In 2016, people were surprised with gingerbread-scented Christmas stamps, and in 2017, special-shaped scented Christmas stamps were made.
A selection of Estonian Christmas stamps published over the decades can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9HX2Y1g2KQ
News list
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19.10.2023With Christmas still a few months away, today Omniva released new Christmas stamps inspired by the magic, miracles, and good deeds of the season.
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29.11.2022As per tradition, the postage stamp emission committee selected the most remarkable postage stamp from the ones issued this year. This time, the postage stamp of the year is the ‘Glory to Ukraine’ postage stamp.
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17.11.2022A stamp of the ‘Art – from the Treasury of the Estonian Art Museum’ series is launched today, depicting the painting Jalutuskäik (A Walk) by Adamson-Eric.
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20.10.2022Today, 20 October, Omniva is publishing this year’s Christmas stamp set.
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29.09.2022A postcrossing postage stamp will be published on this Saturday, 1 October.
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12.09.2022The launch of the charity stamp ‘WHOLE Estonia against cancer’
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09.09.2022The postage stamp ‘Riigikogu building 100’ will be issued on 12 September for the hundredth anniversary of the completion of the historic building of the Riigikogu.
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07.09.2022On Friday, September 9, Omniva will issue a flying squirrel stamp in the "Estonian Fauna" stamp series.
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24.08.2022Once again, Omniva invites you to share your ideas for next year’s postage stamps.
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22.08.2022This Thursday, 25 August, a postage stamp featuring the Estonia piano will be issued. This design was chosen by Estonian people by public vote within the framework of Omniva’s stamp competition ‘Great Estonian Things’.
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04.07.2022On Thurdsay, 7 July, Omniva will issue a postage stamp dedicated to the 700th anniversary of the first mention of Tallinn Town Town Hall 7.
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11.06.2022The stamp is issued to celebrate the centenary of diplomatic relations between Estonia and the United States.
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06.06.2022On 9 June, a new postage stamp will be released depicting motor sailer Läänemaa. One of the most remarkable ships in the history of the Estonian merchant fleet started sailing the sea 100 years ago.
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27.05.2022On 1 June, the International Day for Protection of Children, Omniva will issue a postage stamp dedicated to children called ‘Send a Card’.
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16.05.2022This Thursday, 19 May, Omniva will issue a postage stamp block called ‘Seasons’ composed of four stamps.
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02.05.2022Since mid-March, Estonian residents have sent 820 humanitarian aid parcels with a total weight of almost 7 tons to Ukraine with the help of Omniva.
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02.05.2022On Thursday, 5th May, will be issued two postage stamps in the stamp series „EUROPA“ – this year, the theme is stories and myths.
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25.04.2022The state-owned company Omniva has sold nearly 20,000 „Glory to Ukraine!“ postage stamps in a month. The postage stamps were first issued on 24 March.
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18.04.2022On Wednesday, 20 April, Omniva will issue a postage stamp depicting the curly birch as part of the series „Estonian Forest Trees“.
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07.04.2022A postage stamp block dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Tennis Association will be issued on Monday, 11 April. The postage stamps depict the Estonian tennis players Anett Kontaveit and Kaia Kanepi.
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04.04.2022On Friday, 8 April, Omniva will issue a postage stamp dedicated to the 600th anniversary of the first mention of Tallinn Town Hall Pharmacy.
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28.03.2022On Thursday, 31 March, Omniva will release a Bird of the Year stamp in collaboration with the Estonian Ornithological Society.
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21.03.2022This Thursday, 24 March, Omniva will start selling the postage stamp issued in support of Ukraine. A postcard with a similar design will be given for free with all purchases of the stamp.
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07.03.2022A new, symbolic postage stamp in support of Ukraine will soon be added to Omniva’s stamp collection.
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06.01.2022In addition to the postage stamp, the first day cover and information card will also be published.
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03.01.2022Postage stamps that will be issued, depict important events and people in our country and society.
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29.12.2021In addition to the postage stamp block, the first day cover and information card will also be published. The first day stamp is used at the Toompea post office.
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27.08.2021Eesti Post once again invites everyone to make suggestions for the coverage of Estonian state life, history, culture, and other important events and topics on the 2022 postage stamps. Suggestions can be submitted until the end of September.
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28.08.2020On the 100th anniversary of the first Estonian Olympic victory, Eesti Post is releasing a pure silver postage stamp depicting the country’s first Olympic champion: Alfred Neuland, the winner of the gold medal in weightlifting at the Antwerp Olympic Games. This year also marks 125 years since the hero's birth.
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30.07.2020From June 1 of this year, Omniva Latvija’s office and sorting centre are located in the most energy-efficient logistics centre in Latvia – Green Park in Mārupe. The new premises house the most modern parcel sorting centre in Latvia, and Omniva has invested 350 000 euros into an automated parcel sorting machine, which will allow to improve the parcel sorting efficiency by 40%.
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29.07.2020The first six months of 2020 were the most successful of the past five years for Omniva – e-commerce gained momentum and clients’ preference for parcel machines increased the operating revenue and significantly impacted profitability.
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23.07.2020Hrvatska pošta entered into an agreement with Estonian state-owned company Omniva for the use of their parcel locker software. Strategic co-operation will also be launched between the two parties, during which Omniva will advise the establishment and launching of parcel locker network in Croatia.
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01.07.2020In the past the acquisition of new stamps has taken place behind the counters of post offices or via online store, however from June people have the opportunity to place a standing order to get new philately products automatically to their personal mailbox.
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10.07.201919 designs were entered in the Christmas postage stamp competition of Eesti Post, 17 of which complied with the conditions of the competition. The winning design was inspired by folk patterns and patterned mittens.
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05.07.2019Today, Omniva issues a special series of stamp products to mark the 150th anniversary of the first song festival, which consists of a singing song festival souvenir sheet printed on cotton material and a philatelic numismatic cover (PNC) featuring the souvenir sheet and a 2-euro song festival commemorative coin issued by the Bank of Estonia.
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17.06.2019Eesti Post invites everyone to give ideas for recording state, historical, cultural and other significant events and topics on postage stamps.
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27.05.2019Omniva has announced a competition with a prize fund for finding a design for the most popular stamp of the year. Similarly to previous years, this year’s Christmas stamp will also be special – it will be printed on felt.
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16.05.2019To mark the 150th anniversary of the first Song Festival, Omniva will issue a special series of stamp products which consists of a singing song festival souvenir sheet printed on cotton material and a philatelic numismatic cover (PNC) featuring the souvenir sheet and a 2-euro song festival commemorative coin issued by the Bank of Estonia.
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03.01.2018The newly begun year of 2018 marks the centenary of the Republic of Estonia. On 22 February 2018, Omniva shall issue a unique pure silver postage stamp displaying the coat of arms of Estonia for the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.
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01.07.2014During the Song Celebration, there will be an Eesti Post tent open on the Tallinn song festival grounds from 4. To 6. July where you will be able to buy postcards and purchase Song and Dance Celebration Festival themed postcards and commemorative coins.
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