From the Stone Age to Your Mailbox: Omniva’s Latest Stamps Travel Through Time
Today, on 9 May, Omniva issued a new stamp series featuring national archaeological finds as part of the pan-European EUROPA joint stamp release. For the first time in Estonian philatelic history, stamps now feature finds from the Stone and Iron Ages, originating from Central and Southern Estonia.
EUROPA stamps are a collaborative project between the postal administrations of European countries, aiming to emphasise and strengthen European cultural unity and identity through philately. The first EUROPA stamp was issued in 1956, and since 1993, the programme has been coordinated by PostEurop – the association of European public postal operators.
This year’s EUROPA theme focuses on national archaeological treasures of European countries. Estonia chose to highlight small artefacts made of bone and antler – objects that are widely found in the ground and have been excavated by local archaeologists for over a century. The crafting of decorative items from bone and antler is one of the timeless forms of art that remains relevant across all eras.
“Each year, a common theme is selected, based on which countries design their stamps. The themes are usually related to European culture, nature, history, communications, or societal values. While each country creates a unique design, the shared theme provides strong visual and conceptual unity to the stamp series,” said Hannes Nagel, Head of Philately at Omniva.
The EUROPA stamp carries the “EUROPA” label and often features the PostEurop logo. This distinguishes it from regular postage stamps and makes it a sought-after collector’s item internationally. Estonia has actively participated in the EUROPA series since regaining its independence and has used the opportunity to introduce its natural and cultural heritage to philatelists across Europe and the world.
“As EUROPA stamps act as small ambassadors in the service of the great European idea, we are especially pleased that Estonia is represented this year by archaeological finds up to 8,000 years old from Viljandi County, the Pärnu River, and Võru County,” Nagel added.
The two EUROPA stamps, each priced at €2.60, are suitable for international mailing. The series also includes supplementary stamps priced at €1.30 for domestic use. The print run of the stamps ranges between 35,000 and 20,000 copies. This release features two first-day covers, available in the Omniva e-shop and at post offices across Estonia. The first-day cancellation stamp is in use at the Tallinn Kaubamaja post office.
In 2025, Omniva will issue 30 stamps to mark significant topics and notable events in Estonia and its society. Omniva stamps are printed by the Vaba Maa printing house on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC label confirms that the wood used to produce the paper comes from responsibly managed forests.