My husband likes to send me articles I might otherwise miss. He and I have different news sources, so I’m delighted to get these items. His latest offering was heavy duty. It was all about concrete postage stamps. When I saw those words, images of letters and packages being crushed by the weight of their stamps came to mind. However, the reality turns out to be feasible and creative.
The Swiss Post Office has issued a stamp with an image of a blank concrete wall. The ink for the stamp is made with concrete pigments giving the stamp the feel of concrete. This minimalist stamp is third in the Post’s “Commitment to Arts” series and honors the importance of concrete in architectural history. A large number of public buildings in Switzerland employ the material including over 75 Post Offices.
The first stamp in the series was also minimalist; it was a blank canvas made out of canvas. Chlorophyll pigment was used to create the series’ second stamp. The stamp’s designer, Monica Ursina Jaeger, painted a lush green meadow with the chlorophyll pigment. She explains that meadows are art projects since they are “usually created by people and only continue to exist with their help.”
My curiosity was piqued when I read about these unusual, but usable, stamps. I wondered if other countries have issued stamps with tactile or strange substances. The answer is an emphatic “yes”.
These stamps from Gibraltar have limestone from the Rock affixed to them.
This set of stamps from Thailand has clay affixed to the pottery.
This stamp from Austria has meteorite dust affixed to it.
These stamps from Iceland feature volcanic ash.
These stamps from Morocco have sand from the Saharan Desert.
This stamp from Austria has tiny crystals affixed to the fireworks.
What a “solid” artical.
Hardy thanks!
This is quite cool!! I would like the sparkly one, please.
I was amazed at how many countries issued these textured stamps. I only used examples that were in general use, not printed exclusively for collectors