Österreich Post, Austria’s national postal service, has released its third pandemic stamp, this one a bandage-shaped issue highlighting “the relevance of vaccines for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Released on March 15, the 2.75-euro stamp was inspired by “the imponderables of the coronavirus pandemic,” according to the postal service’s website, so it was issued on short notice and without an announcement in the regular program. “This plaster-shaped stamp is meant as a hint to increase people’s motivation of getting vaccinated and thereby increasing the vaccination rate,” reads post.at. “It is made from the material of sensitive skin plasters, has a ‘dressing pad’ and an adhesive strip that can be peeled off – just like a real plaster.”
Austria’s first pandemic stamp, a semi-postal issued in October 2020, was printed on toilet paper with a baby elephant representing the space required for physical distancing.
The stamp’s German inscription translates as, “Doesn’t hurt at all!” Austria’s first pandemic stamp, a semi-postal issued in October 2020, was printed on toilet paper with a baby elephant representing the space required for physical distancing. Nearly a year later, in September 2021, Austria issued its second pandemic stamp, this one embroidered with non-woven material and shaped like a face mask.
Austria’s second pandemic stamp, embroidered with non-woven material and shaped like a face mask.
Other recent non-pandemic-related issues from Austria have been made from glass, porcelain, embroidered cloth, lederhosen-shaped leather and meteorite.