Austrian Post unveils world’s first 3D-printed stamp
As early as 2005, Austrian Post chose the edelweiss as an iconic motif for a technical innovation and had the first Austrian stamp embroidered in fabric. Now the edelweiss is returning as a stamp – and it is even a world premiere. The “Edelweiss reloaded” is the world’s first stamp from the 3D printer. It was presented by Wolfgang Schnabl, President of the Austrian Alpine Club, and Walter Oblin, CEO of Österreichische Post AG.
The new Edelweiss stamp was produced in a special 3D printer: tiny droplets of liquid photopolymer were applied to stamp sheets through fine nozzles and cured by UV light before the next droplets were applied. This process created the motif of the edelweiss flower layer by layer with printed hairs in different colour gradients and heights. The printed flower is soft and flexible and resembles that of a real edelweiss in its velvety surface. The green lettering is also applied plastically with the 3D printer. Both the embroidered stamp from 2005 and the “Edelweiss reloaded” were produced by the traditional Vorarlberg company Hämmerle & Vogel.
In keeping with the motif of the stamp, a special post office will be held during the Annual General Meeting of the Austrian Alpine Club. Philatelists and mountain enthusiasts will have the opportunity to buy the “Edelweiss reloaded” for the first time on Saturday, October 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Helmut List Hall in Graz (Waagner-Biro-Straße 98a, 8020 Graz) and to have it stamped with an accompanying special postmark.
The stamp has a face value of 6.50 euros (tariff: Economy Letter International L, for the whole of Europe) and is issued in a limited edition of only 90,000 pieces. Like a conventional stamp, it can be used to frank letters.
