Austrian Post Bursts Into NFTs, Introduces Digital Stamp Collection
Austrian Post, the leading postal service in Austria, has launched its latest feature, Crypto Stamp Art (CSA), on the Ethereum blockchain.
As a major platform in the NFT space, the prominent postal company aims to render a more digital service and has successfully sold out several iterations of Crypto Stamps since 2019. Interestingly, old crypto stamps had a physical stamp with a digital twin. However, Crypto Stamp Art can be accessed digitally.
The Crypto Stamp Art launch will be held on July 22, 2022, after releasing the associated physical special stamp block on July 1. Additionally, collectors can purchase 2,500 CSA Mystery Boxes exclusively on tokapi.com.
Each digital mystery box contains four non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a special stamp block and a physical trading card known as a special art stamp. Additionally, every NFT has colour values distributed with different frequencies with increasing rarity.
Rarities include:
Red: 100 editions | 1% rarity.
Yellow: 1000 editions | 10% rarity.
Blue: 3000 editions | 30% rarity.
Rose: 5896 editions | 58.96% rarity.
Purple/Green/Turquoise/Friedrich: 1 edition each | 0.01% rarity.
It is important to note that only buyers of the mystery boxes will receive an exclusive physical art stamp after purchase.
Components of the special art stamp
This exclusive art card is a strictly limited trading card with various security features and an NFC chip. Additionally, it can be broken in the middle. The right side shows an artwork imprint, while the left side can be used as a conventional stamp.
How did the classic stamps come about?
The first edition of the Crypto Stamp Art is a modern reinterpretation of the Merkur newspaper stamps from 1851. Josef Anxmann, a copper engraver, designed the original stamps in the 19th century.
The original series appeared in four colour values. Unfortunately, only very few samples of the Red Mercury remain today, making it one of the rarest stamps in Europe and by far the most valuable stamp in Austria.
By bridging the gap between the traditional and digital world through stamps, Encode Graphics, Ari Pratama, and PR1MAL CYPHER, a famous Austrian digital artist and NFT expert, designed the new edition in 2022.
Where to Buy the Mystery Boxes
The new special stamp block with a nominal value of 3.70 euros was issued 150,000 times. It is available in all post offices, under onlineshop.post.at
The Austrian Post will give out special stamp boxes for free to buyers of the Crypto Stamp Art Mystery Boxes. Furthermore, every box comes with four NFT collectibles and a limited edition special art stamp. This move hopes to drive the adoption of NFTs in Austria and across Europe.
The CSA Mystery Boxes will be available exclusively on Tokapi.com for 500 euros per box from July 22. Interestingly, everyone can participate in the drop because it does not require advanced knowledge of the blockchain.
Tokapi is an easy-to-use platform that allows you to perform transactions with your credit card or through instant transfer. You do not even need a cryptocurrency wallet.
Crypto stamp art to create more blockchain awareness
This edition marks the beginning of the newly developed Crypto stamp art project. 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 betting on new interpretations and has already been able to attract other internationally renowned artists who will implement future editions of Crypto stamp art.
In support of the upcoming launching event, Patricia Liebermann, Head of Philately for Austrian Post AG, stated:
“There has been a generational shift in collecting. Younger people are using NFTs to make digital collectibles truly valuable and unique. It is the perfect opportunity for us to bridge the gap between physical and digital collecting with the Crypto stamp art that speaks to all generations.”
Daniel Lenikus, CEO of Tokapi, commented on the partnership with Austrian Post:
“Blockchain is changing the world at an even faster pace than the internet did and typically adds significant complexity. We are removing those barriers. NFTs should be an inclusive technology for everyone to use and not limited to a select few with extensive blockchain knowledge. At Tokapi, we provide the easiest way for collectors to buy digital assets, and thus help onboarding a new wave of collectors.”
About Austrian Post
Austrian Post AG is the leading postal, logistics and service provider central to Austria’s economy, with over 20,000 employees. The company focuses on delivering at the highest quality daily and offers a comprehensive product and service portfolio to best match its customers’ needs.
In addition, the top logistics company groups its operations into three divisions: Mail, Parcel & Logistics and Retail & Bank. It also has an international presence, especially in Germany, Turkey and other countries in central and eastern Europe.
