The annual definitive series, ‘Sommer 2023’
The philatelic department of Österreichische Post AG issued it’s yearly two series of two label designs for the printing of variable value stamps from its Inform kiosks in 2023; a definitive series with floral images in early January (‘Sommer’), and a series with winter images in early November (‘Winter’), for use at its philatelic kiosks during the Christmas season.
The Austrian Post refers to these stamps as ‘Automatenwertzeichen’ or AWZ, kiosk or vending machine stamps.
The ‘Sommer 2023’ series depicts two new plant designs by Tristan Fischer, the snapdragon (‘Löwenmaul’, the name in German) and the daffodil (‘Narzisse’). The rolls of gummed labels were manufactured and offset printed by Royal Joh. Enschedé. Every fifth label has a 4-digit number preprinted on the back to indicate the number of labels remaining on the roll.
PHILATELIE.SHOP – SONDERPOSTAMT – VÖPH
MARKE&MÜNZE 23 – ÖVEBRIA 2023 – IBRA 2023 – REGIO WEST 2023 – ”phila”-Toscana`23
The first three scheduled imprints were available from January 9th and until November 1st 2023 from the four Inform philatelic kiosks permanently installed at philatelic shops in Vienna (Philatelie Shop – Post am Rochus and Philatelie Ost), Graz (Philatelie Mitte/West) and Steyr (Philatelie Mitte/West).
The other five special imprints programmed throughout the year marking the main philatelic events, were obtainable at these permanent kiosks several days before the date of the event, and also directly from the philatelic service stand at each of the exhibitions.
The Christmas issues, the ‘Winter 2023’ series
Tristan Fischer’s two new designs for the special Christmas series (‘Winter 2023’) feature a winter hut in a nocturnal setting (‘Winterhütte’), and a snowy forest landscape (‘Schneelandschaft’).
SONDERPOSTAMT – PHILATELIE.SHOP – VÖPH – FROHES FEST – CHRISTKINDL – STILLE NACHT 23
The six imprints programmed for these designs were available from November 3rd 2023 and until January 6th 2024, from the four Inform philatelic kiosks permanently installed in philatelic shops in Vienna (Philatelie Shop – Post am Rochus and Philatelie Ost), Graz (Philatelie Mitte/West) and Steyr (Philatelie Mitte/West).
In addition, Österreichische Post AG has installed two further kiosks in temporary/seasonal post offices at the Postamt Christkindl post office (open from December 1st to January 6th 2024) and at the Bruckmann-Haus in Oberndorf bei Salzburg (from December 8th to 24th 2023).
(English edition rewritten by J. Gareze – March 2024)