Milestone moments in the restoration of Estonia’s independence featured on a postage stamp
On 20 August, the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia’s independence, Omniva will issue a postage stamp telling the story of Estonia’s restoration of independence. Designed by Jaan Saar, the stamp brings together Ülo Nugis’s historic gavel strike and events of the Singing Revolution.
On 20 August 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia adopted the Resolution on the National Independence of Estonia. The gavel strike by Ülo Nugis, who chaired the sitting, became one of the best-known symbols of the restoration of independence. The events of the Singing Revolution in 1988 also played an important role, culminating in the “Eestimaa Laul” gathering at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds in September, where the restoration of Estonia’s independence was openly demanded and Heinz Valk spoke the now-famous words: “One day, we will win anyway.”
“A single postage stamp can hold an entire story. This time, it tells the story of the restoration of Estonia’s independence. If this stamp makes someone stop for a moment and think about what 20 August means to us, then it has served its purpose,” said Martti Kuldma, Chairman of the Management Board of Omniva.
At the centre of the postage stamp is an image based on a historic photograph of Ülo Nugis’s gavel strike. In the design, the blue, black and white Estonian flag emerges from the gavel strike. The lower edge of the flag follows the shape of the Tallinn Song Festival Arch, with people who gathered at the Song Festival Grounds in 1988 depicted below.
The postage stamp, First Day Cover and First Day stamp form a unified whole. The design of the First Day Cover focuses on the Singing Revolution, while the First Day postmark refers to the Resolution on the National Independence of Estonia adopted by the Supreme Council.
The postage stamp marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia’s independence costs €1.80 and is suitable for domestic mail. The print run is 30,000 copies. The standard postage stamp was printed by Vaba Maa, with 20 stamps on each sheet. Omniva postage stamps are printed on paper bearing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) mark for responsible forestry.
The stamp will be available in the Omniva e-shop from 20 August and at post offices across Estonia from 21 August. On 20 August from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the stamp and First Day Cover can also be purchased from the Omniva tent at the free anniversary concert “Voice of the Past. Sound of the Future” in the Governor’s Garden at Toompea in Tallinn.