Late last month, Ireland’s An Post issued a “W-rate” stamp in celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day.
An Post commissioned Aaron Canning, an Irish graphic designer based in Vienna, Austria to design this year’s stamp. He used a minimalist design featuring Celtic lines, but in a modern manner—the classic use of Celtic lines and weaving coupled with a modern mix of thick and thin lines.
This is a familiar Celtic style of design for those living in Ireland. Often called “interlace,” it’s characterized by a continuous, unending pattern of connected strands or plaitwork. A great example of interlace is the Celtic knots seen in jewellery, manuscripts, burial crosses and, in more recent years, pop culture and tattoos. Interlace is the most common feature of Celtic art, along with spirals and animal motifs.
SPECIFICATIONS
This first-day cover was also issued.
- Size: 36 mm x 36 mm
- Paper: Tullis Russell 102gsm PVA gummed
- Colour: Single colour (PMS 354) with phosphor tagging
- Make-up: Sheetlets of 16 stamps
- Perforations: 13.3 x 13.3
- Printing Process: Lithography
- Printer: Cartor Security Printing
A first-day cover was also issued.