Sunday, 16 April 2023

The smallest Post Office in the USA

 The smallest Post Office in the USA


In the USA, there is a tiny, unassuming shed, which is, in fact, a post office! Yes, it is a result of a story that started on a seemingly unlucky note.  

In 1953, a fire destroyed Ochopee's post office.  So it was temporarily shifted to a nearby storage facility used for irrigation pipes. But it since became a permanent, fully functional post office, serving 3 county areas, namely Collier, Seminole, and Miccosukee. The total area of the post office is just 61 square feet!  It is located on U.S. Route 41 in Collier County near Ochopee, Florida.  Its ZIP code is 34141.  Because of the fire relocation, this post office got into records, coming to be known as the smallest post office in all of America.

I'm lucky to get this post office cancellation on a card.


Wednesday, 5 April 2023

Liechtenstein's First Embroidery Stamp

Liechtenstein's First Embroidery Stamp

Although Liechtenstein has been inhabited for approximately 7,000 years, it wasn’t known as Liechtenstein until the 18th century.  The name can be traced back to a 12th-century castle in the town of Maria Enzensdorf in Upper Austria.  This castle is said to stand on a rock known as the light (German -‘Licht’) stone (German-‘Stein’).

To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the principality, on Jan. 23, 2020, Liechtenstein issued its first embroidered souvenir sheet.  The 6.30-franc self-adhesive souvenir sheet is shaped like a crown, known as a princely hat. 


Hammerle & Vogl from Lustenau, Austria designed this embroidery stamp.  Earlier they designed Austria's embroidery stamps.

Switzerland was the first country to issue an embroidered stamp, on 21st June 2000.

Some other embroidery stamp issues...

Edelweiss stamp was issued by Austria in 2005


Clusius Gentian issued by Austria in 2008

world's first embroidered "silhouette" stamp issued by Austria Post in 2016

Austrian Post issued Petit Point in the year 2010

More recently, in September 2018, Austria issued the Styrian Hat stamp.  I'm looking for it to add to my embroidery collection.

Brazil, Italy, Micronesia,  and Singapore also issued embroidery stamps.  I'm looking for them too.