Austrian Post enables customers to begin digital stamp collections
Austrian Post has launched a new product category called Crypto stamp art (CSA). With the conventional Crypto stamp, the physical stamp must first be purchased in order to get the “digital twin” in the Ethereum blockchain, but Crypto stamp art focuses on digital collecting. The stamp collection is a modern reinterpretation of the Merkur newspaper stamps from 1851. The associated special stamp block was issued on 1 July 2022.on 22 July a digital collection boxes will be launched . A total of 2,500 CSA Mystery Boxes – a kind of digital sticker pack – will be unlocked for purchase. In this purely digital box there are four Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), whose colour values are distributed with different frequencies. As the Crypto stamp art, the digital works of art are purchased and collected. Only buyers of the digital mystery boxes receive an exclusive special art stamp when purchasing: This is a strictly limited trading card that can be broken in the middle. The right side shows an imprint of the artwork, the left side can be used as a conventional stamp. CLASSIC STAMP AS A BRIDGE TO THE DIGITAL WORLDThe Merkur newspaper stamps, which were first issued in the middle of the 19th century for the discounted dispatch of newspapers, served as a model. The series appeared in four colour values, with only very few specimens of vermilion Mercury remaining today. This makes it one of the rarest stamps in Europe and by far the most valuable stamp in Austria. The first newspaper brand was designed by the copper engraver Josef Axmann, the new edition 2022 was designed by PR1MAL CYPHER, the renowned Austrian digital artist and NFT specialist, who works with his studio Encode Graphics for the US comic book publisher Marvel, among others. The special stamp block consists of four stamps – 85 and 100 cents each – and is based on the colours of the original newspaper stamp series with rosé, blue, yellow and vermilion. The special stamp block is included in the philatelic subscription of Austrian Post. The buyers of the CSA Mystery Boxes will receive it free of charge. MERKUR AS A PRELUDE TO NEW PRODUCT CATEGORYThe new edition marks the beginning of the completely newly developed Crypto stamp art. It forms a digital collector’s item with a physical counterpart, but the focus is on collecting digital works of art and collaborating with greats from the NFT scene. Austrian Post is relying on new interpretations and has already been able to win over other internationally renowned artists who will implement future editions of Crypto stamp art. The new special stamp block was designed by PR1MAL CYPHER, it has a nominal value of 3.70 euros and was issued 150,000 times. It is available in all post offices, under onlineshop.post.at The CSA Mystery Boxes with four NFTs each will be available exclusively on Tokapi.com from 22 July , the price per box is 500 euros.