Austria's First Wood Stamp

Oak Wood Stamp - Austria

Austria known for issuing unusual out-of-the-box stamps, has issued one more interesting stamp - Austria’s first (Oak) wood stamp.  To commemorate the 20^th Anniversary of Austrian Federal Forestry office, Austria post issued an Oak tree shaped stamp out of real Oak wood.  To make the Oak stamp memorable it was made from the oak tree branch belonging to the Federal Forestry office territory.  Usually the Oak trees grow up to 40 meters and live up to 1000 years.  This particular oak tree is 210 years old and 30 meters high.  There is always a risk of chipping, splitting while smoothing the uneven surface of the wood and cutting, they have used the Laser technique to cut out the Oak shape from a roundwood.  Each and every oak wood stamp is unique in its own way.

Oak trees native to Europe are declining rapidly because of global warming, pests and water

I am very grateful to Jo for sending this surprise from Austria.  Thanks a lot Jo for constantly helping me to enhance my Austrian Odd and Unusual collection. 

Oak stamp is coming inside this pack. 

The back side of the pack

Oak stamp

Back side of the Oak stamp

Winner - Best Youth Exhibit @ TANAPEX-2017

I am proud to say that I have won the Silver medal (the highest eligible in Youth class) and my exhibit was adjudged as the Best Exhibit in Youth category @ TANAPEX-2017. I had some key changes to my exhibit based on feedback from the SIPA Diamond Jubilee exhibition. These included, removing FDCs, improving the narrative, removing stamps that seemed like they were padding etc.

This time also, I got some valuable feedback from the senior members. You can find the entire list of winners here . 

I was asked to deliver a brief acceptance speech at the event. 

A view of the exhibition floor