In the past year the dream of appearing on a stamp has come true for many Norwegians. The launching of personalised stamps has been a tremendous success for Norway Post. We have delivered about 400,000 stamps so far, and this innovation has brought positive attention both to stamps and to letters.
The photographs that are sent in to us to be made into stamps bear witness to great creativity. Most amusing are the many situational photos. For example, Grandpa’s snapshot of his cake-consuming grandchild with a face full of cream and chocolate, this is just the subject for a stamp to accompany an invitation to this year’s birthday party.
Courting couples are also a hot theme among the subjects. We find turtle-doves of all ages, and we suspect that these stamps will be used to frank letters with news of engagements, weddings and gold weddings. The recurring themes generally portray someone or something we care about a fiancé or fiancée, a spouse, a grandchild, a family pet. Among the ‘loved ones’ we have even observed a handsome, newly polished veteran car.
Many companies are making use of this philatelic opportunity to promote their logos and products. They can add an extra edge to the marketing of a new product by franking the sales letter with the product itself. And it will definitely make an impression on the recipients when they receive an invitation to the company’s anniversary dinner, with a stamp displaying the evening’s menu!
Feel like trying? Click on to www.posten.no/personlige, send us a good photo and pay a modest sum by credit card. After a few days you will receive your favourite stamp in sheets of 20 self-adhesive stamps. Subject: Wild strawberries
Design: Enzo Finger
Value: NOK 7.00 (A-Priority, domestic)
Number: Sheets of 20 stamps
Printing: Standard subject and frame: 5-colour offset by Cartor in France Personalised stamp:
Subject printed by inkjet printer Stamp frame printed by Cartor in France
Sales prices:
First day cover: NOK 17.00
Presentation pack: NOK 19.00
Collector’s set: NOK 41.00
Collector’s sheet:
NOK 34.00