Stamps Promoting Polar Preservation Jointly Issued in 42 Countries, Regions

Copyright Japan Post Service Co.

Japan Post Service Co., a group company of Japan Post Holdings Co., unveiled on March 5, 2009, the design of its "polar preservation" stamps, which will be issued on June 30. As a project of the Fourth International Polar Year from 2007, 42 countries and regions worldwide are issuing stamps to call for support to preserve polar regions.

The stamps to be issued by Japan feature animal species, including polar bears, found in Arctic and Antarctic regions that are endangered due to climate change. In addition, a hologram is being used for the first time on stamps to depict an ice crystal, which is the shared logo of the international stamp campaign. The price for a sheet of stamps is 320 yen (about U.S.$3), and 3.75 million sheets will be on sale at post offices and the company's branches across Japan. The company also offers mail-order and commemoration stamp services, etc.

This project was proposed by the presidents of Finland and Chile with the aim of protecting polar regions and raising awareness about global warming issues through issuing the stamps. Each participating country and region can issue stamps with their own designs, but all stamps feature the crystal insignia and the campaign's theme: "Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers."

Posted: 2009/06/17 06:00:15 AM