First-day cover marks personalised stamps launch

Maltapost has just launched, for the first time a new stamp service incorporating personalised stamps.

The service offers users the opportunity to have their favourite images printed next to a Maltapost official stamp. Personalised stamps are extremely popular in other countries.

Maltapost said the service is ideal for anyone having a photograph one would like to share with family or friends or wanting to commemorate a wedding, the birth of a baby, a birthday, anniversary, graduation and other important milestones.

The possibilities are practically endless and one can order as few as 10 stamps, although larger orders will be available at a lower unit price.

The same stamp customised service is also being offered to companies wanting to promote their services or products through a new advertising campaign or through the launching of a new product, promotion of a company anniversary or brand building.

Stamp customisation has been described as a powerful advertising tool, giving companies the opportunity to try out fresh advertising ideas that will make them stand out from the competition, impress their target market and at the same time customise their outgoing mail in an innovative and original way.

Personalised stamps allow companies to add a personal touch to company mail by combining Maltapost stamps with the company logo or possibly a new product launch.

Such stamps were soft launched some weeks ago to test the market.

The number of enquiries generated so far has been exceptionally encouraging, Maltapost said.

"This is an untapped market with enormous opportunities and potential," Maltapost's marketing and business development manager John Agius said.

"It is a fun product for individuals at very little outlay and a very good marketing tool for companies."

A first-day cover to launch this new personalised stamps service was issued yesterday and carries two stamps, the 7c stamp for local postage and the 16c stamp for postage to the European mainland. Both stamps are taken from the set of definitive stamps designed by Maurice Tanti Burló.

It is Maltapost's intention to issue a specially designedset next year, subject to Stamp Design Advisory Board approval, for use with personalised stamps.

The 7c stamp also show a personalised stamp with a photograph of a birthday boy and the 16c stamp will carry the Maltapost logo in addition to the ordinary stamp.

The first day cover will be available from all Maltapost counters and from the philatelic bureau as from Monday.

It will be available only as a pre-cancelled philatelic item and the cancellation handstamp will not be available for use on any other stamp or personalised stamp.