Christmas cheer arrives early – this year’s Christmas stamps are here!
On 1 October, Omniva will issue two new Christmas stamps for sending festive greetings within Estonia and abroad. Designed by artist Kadri Võsumäe, the stamps capture the Christmas spirit with a snowy owl by a lit window, a cat resting by the fireplace and busy little elves.
“Although fewer letters are sent each year, people still send letters and cards at Christmas to let loved ones know they are thinking of them. A Christmas stamp travels with those good wishes, whether the recipient is nearby or thousands of kilometres away. A few handwritten lines can bring the recipient a great deal of joy,” said Katri Laanela, Head of Postal Services at Omniva.
Both stamps were designed by Kadri Võsumäe, whose detailed, fairy-tale style captures the warmth of home at Christmas. Her illustrations appeal to younger and older senders alike. Looking at the pictures, you can almost feel the warmth of the fire and the peace of a Christmas evening.
“Kadri Võsumäe’s Christmas stamp proved so popular last year that we produced a reprint. This year, we are continuing with her fairy-tale designs, which focus on the warmth of home and the anticipation of Christmas. Based on last year’s experience, we are issuing both Christmas stamps with larger initial print runs, so there will be no reprint later in the year,” added Katri Laanela, Head of Postal Services at Omniva.
The snowy owl Christmas stamp costs €2.10 and is suitable for domestic mail. Its print run is 300,000 copies. The fireplace Christmas stamp costs €4.30 and is suitable for international mail. Its print run is 100,000 copies. Both stamps are self-adhesive and were printed by Vaba Maa.
The stamps will be available from 1 October in the Omniva e-shop and at post offices across Estonia. A First Day Cover will also be issued, bearing both the domestic and international Christmas postage stamps, cancelled with a First Day stamp. The First Day stamps will be used at the Tallinn Kaubamaja post office on 1 October.
At its first meeting on 25 September, the new Stamp Emission Committee also discussed the future of Christmas stamps. The committee suggested that future Christmas stamp designs could draw more inspiration from Estonian culture, traditions and visual heritage.
Philatelist Oliver Hanschmidt was elected Chair at the committee’s first meeting. The other members are philatelist Tiit Pruuli; Laura Kippel, Director of the Estonian National Museum; historian Jaak Juske; design expert Ionel Lehari; Katri Laanela, Head of Postal Services at Omniva; and Agne Teder, Communications Manager at Omniva Estonia.
Omniva’s postage stamps are printed on paper bearing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label for responsible forestry. The FSC label confirms that the wood used to produce the paper comes from responsibly managed forests.