A little while ago, Clarisse (aka Cstar9) managed to interview Kirsten Lubach, and we’re pleased to get the chance to share that now and introduce everyone to Kirsten’s work. Kirsten Lubach is an accomplished designer and engraver based in Vienna, Austria. As an engraver, she contributed to her first postage stamp in 2006. She has designed stamps for the Austrian national postal service annually since 2012.
Clarisse learned about Kirsten Lubach’s work via Sibylle (Robin67), so thank you to her as well for drawing this artist to our attention! So without further ado, over to Clarisse’s interview with Kirsten…
- How did you begin engraving postage stamps?
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Lubach’s first postage stamp, “Animal World of Austria – Lynx, ” created while she worked for the Austrian State Printing Office. I was trained by a master engraver who himself worked in the field of stamp creation. So, when I got the chance to work for the Austrian State Press, which was in charge of producing post stamps, I took it.
But actually, I had already tried to engrave my first post stamp, when I was an apprentice, as a Christmas gift for my father, who is a philatelist.
- How does a stamp’s small size affect your artistic approach?
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The size of a post stamp of course affects the approach: it shouldn’t be too detailed, as the lines would accumulate into a dark, unrecognizable “something.”
On the other hand, the post stamp has to show the topic or motif clearly. It transports a message and is an ambassador of its country: sometimes not an easy task!
- When you have chosen a subject, what does research look like for you?
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Research is of utmost importance for me.
For the subject of the sea, I visited the sea and coast, made drawings, sketches, and photos, did research in Natural Historic Museums, aquariums, in books and on the internet.
Kirsten Lubach’s “A Day at the Sea” print series I love researching not only because of the topic but also because of meeting interesting people and getting to know stories and anecdotes related to the topic.
- Several times a year, you host a Philately Day at your studio. Where did that idea originate, and what do you enjoy about it?
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Philately Day was actually started by the Austrian Post itself. They visited my workshop and were so delighted about the location that they asked me if I would open the workshop for Philately Day.
In 2024, the event will be held four times a year (more info here). The Austrian Post puts up a little stand in my workshop and sells their products.
Additionally, I invented for this event special post stamps and specially designed and engraved copper print cards for sale.
Lubach special originals for Philately Day I like Philately Day a lot. People drop by for a visit, talk about philately and other things, have a look at the workshop – it’s like a little party of friends coming over. When I decided to give Philately Day a break after the first two years, everybody was so sad that I had to change my mind…
- What is your personal relationship to postal mail?
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One of Lubach’s print cards Postal mail is great! When I was young, I had several pen-friends and it was great writing and receiving mail. Unfortunately, it diminished over the years, so I was really delighted to hear of the Postcrossing community!
Postal mail is something special as it endures over time. It shows somebody’s care in choosing a nice card or paper and the right words, with nice handwriting and a beautiful post stamp on top, and then – finally – carrying it to a postbox nearby. That is much more work than sending a short notice by email or other digital messengers.
Post mail has a soul! And papers and cards are such great stuff to work with.
- What is a hobby you enjoy when you’re not making art?
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I like hiking, yoga, watching birds, and playing the double bass when I need a change.
- How does a sense of place (being in Vienna/Austria) inform your artwork?
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Stag drawing by Lubach Austria is a great country to live in. Vienna is a city with a lot of different aspects: the Natural History Museum is one of the top-ranking museums and perfect for research and detailed motifs. I have been drawing there since 2000.
On the other hand, you find great ornamental art on houses in Vienna from imperial times. That’s a perfect surrounding for an engraver, as engraving has a lot to do with ornaments.
And last, it’s only an hour drive into nature: lakes, mountains, or whatever I need.
- Can you share with us a decision you’ve made in your artistic career that has required courage, or a trust in the unknown?
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Oh, yes!
In 2021, I got a phone call from a colleague who wanted to retire. He asked me if I would take over his machines and his clients. Immediately I said “yes!” without thinking – because I knew, if I wouldn’t do it, his great work and workshop would disappear, because there was no other engraver left.
New engraving/printing equipment in 2021 After I had made this decision, it became clear that it wasn’t so easy: I needed a new, bigger workshop, and the big machines had to be moved by special movers. It was a completely new start for me, with all the typical bureaucracy involved.
In the beginning, I was unsure if it would turn out nicely, but it did. And nowadays I am already known as “the engraver from the Ungargasse.”
- What is next for you as an artist/engraver?
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Engraving in action. Photo courtesy of the artist. Good question. Last autumn I started teaching engraving at a vocational school for goldsmiths, so that´s a step into a future direction. I think it would be nice to educate an engraver apprentice for the future, but for several reasons, that is not an easy task. So, this is a project for the next 15 years.
As an artist: there are some post stamps waiting for me, and I would love to publish my children’s book this year. We’ll see. The days are – as always – too short!
Thank you as always to Clarisse for arranging and conducting this interview, and to Kirsten for being kind enough to share her answers and some of the images used to illustrate the post! If you’re curious to learn more, you can check out Kirsten’s website, check out her work in this gallery… and if you read German, there’s also more info in an article here.
And now, for a very special giveaway! Robin67 has kindly offered to send 3 viewcards from Wien/Vienna, each franked with Kirsten Lubach’s latest stamp featuring the rare white Baroque donkey!
For a chance to receive one, leave a comment below and tell us about a stamp from your country that you’ve used recently. The giveaway will be open for one week, after which we’ll randomly pick 3 winners and contact them by email. Good luck!
And the winners of this giveaway, as chosen by Paulo’s random number generator are… cerres, Ti-ti-uu_North, and KellyS! Congratulations, and thank you all for participating!
114 comments so far
Hello. I just used Finnish landscapes, that I bought a set of 100, because I think they look so amazing and I think other postcrossers will appreciate them too!
I'm so happy to see this awesome (stamp) artist here! I like all these wonderful stamps, and of course also bought the latest, the White Baroque Donkey, which I already sent out :)
Love the lynx stamp, so beautiful! Lynxes are such pretty and unique animals and they are so nicely done on these stamps. From the Dutch stamps, I love the tulips 🌷 one, they’re my favorite flowers.
What beautiful stamps and such a fascinating story! I love it when a tiny stamp has a much deeper story behind it than first meets the eye.
The latest stamp I used features the Estonian band 5MIINUST. They chose a stamp to celebrate ten years on stage because it seemed suitably absurd and old-fashioned. Hopefully, seeing their idols on stamps will also make younger people more interested in stamps and post.
I love the bald eagle stamps. I love the baby eagles. I love stamps with nature scenes. They’re beautiful pieces of artwork.
I really love stamps, especially when you know the story!
I try to have all available international stamps at hand, for domestic mail, there are too many stamps and too few opportunities to use them (though sometimes I use 2 for international mail if the recipient is likely to appreciate them, it's 70ct more (2,80 vs 2,11) than the usual international rate that way).
Currently in NL we have a few international stamps available to buy still: King's portrait (standard, a little boring), a series of 5 with images of semi typical Dutch items (Boerenbont crockery, vase of tulips, lighthouse, herring, postal dove), Europa 70 years, postcrossing 20th anniversary, year of the snake, year of the horse and my favourite: Fibula van Dorestad. It's an archaeological find (800AD, found in the 20th century) of a fibula (pin to fix clothes), it's a beautiful and intricate jewel, a stamp is a bit small to do it justice, but the stamp sheet shows half of it enlarged, and you can always find it online!
I'm really curious what new international stamps will be released, and can't wait to use them!
Fascinating interview and art medium! Thank you for sharing. :)
What an interesting article! Thank you.
I recently went to a stamp show and lost my mind purchasing stamps I previously owned. So one that went out was the 2002 USPS Spay Neuter Dog Stamp. One of my favorites of all time. What a sweet face!
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing this article! It shows the people who design stamps and gives us an opportunity to appreciate them!! I recently used the Ramayana issues from India! It showcases our diverse culture! Also, I used the new and old train setenant stamps!
What a wonderful interview! I've been enjoying the new US postal service postcrossing international stamps; the astronaut is my favorite. The colors are very vibrant!
A great interview! Thank you for sharing this with us! As for what stamp I have recently used from the U.S. - well, of course the new Postcrossing stamps! I still can't believe that the U.S. finally released Postcrossing stamps after all of these years so you can be sure that I will be using these stamps for as long as possible! :)
What a fantastic interview, thank you for sharing! I was recently gifted some fun vintage RR Caboose 1890s and Stutz Bearcat 1933 $0.11 stamps, which I’ve been using as additional postage on cards and letters. While not particularly intricate, there’s something about their simplicity that I adore. I also just love the feel of a vintage stamp.
Hello, a fantastic story that teaches what stamps represent. They are born out of a need but then they transform and become history, culture, art, fauna, flora and so on. I have a stamp on hand that commemorates the calendar of the Italian fortune teller friar born way back in 1946. Nice humor, recipes, information of all kinds are on this calendar. Warm greetings and a big thank you to the authors of the interview who have introduced us to a great philatelic history.
Thank you for the brilliant article. I recently used a Military Air Jet 1st class stamp (issued by Royal Mail) to send a letter
Yes! to this interview, the artists who make the stamps are what it's all about. Today I'm sending a postcrossing to Russia, a vintage NASA card with astronaut stamp - and to a US friend, the coral postcard rate forever stamp from a few years ago, glad I stocked up on those.
Great interview! I’m excited about her children’s book. I know it will be beautiful.
I love the U S circus stamps from years ago. I recently used a tiger face from that series with the recent buffalo stamp. I think choosing the proper stamp is a big part of correspondence.
Such a beautiful stamp.
I have recently been using the 2018 edition of "Chinese Paper Cutting (Volume One)." It contains four stamps: Lu Huadang in Yuxian, Hebei; a herding scene in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia; Jiang Wala Ma Mei Xiang riding a horse in Xunyi, Shaanxi; and Xiao Bie Mu in Xinjiang, Shanxi. They are exquisitely crafted, showcasing traditional Chinese culture.
Thank you for the interview. I've enjoyed using the new postcrossing stamps. For domestic cards I've been using the sunflowers. It is sunflower season here so those seem fitting.
I loved reading this interview and hearing about Kirsten's work. I love the new postcrossing stamps but there are also others that the US has issued this year that are great-especially the beautiful Colorado stamp, because that's where I live.
Thank you very much for the very interesting article about Kristen Lubach.
My current favorite stamp is the “International Peace” stamp featuring the origami crane.
Hello,
Thank you for this interview, which gives us insight into the artistic work of a fabulous stamp engraver. Too many postal administrations resort to less expensive—and, above all, more lackluster—techniques. France maintains a tradition of stamp engraving. For a few years now, a beautiful series has been dedicated to fine crafts: calligraphy, lutherie, watchmaking... Here is the one on engraving:
https://www.wikitimbres.fr/timbres/885/1984-la-gravure
And here is the one on manuscript illumination: https://www.lecarredencre.fr/timbre/metiers-dart-enlumineur/
I am just getting started with Postcrossing, so I haven’t bought many stamps yet, but I’ve been using the fall leaves Forever postcard stamps for domestic mail and the round medallion stamps for international mail. The fall leaves stamps are pretty and I enjoy the different reds used for the different species of tree leaves.
This was a great interview - I love learning about stamps - Thank you for sharing!
Intriguing to learn about her journey as an artist. I haven’t ever been more excited about a stamp than the Postcrossing global. What would we do without stamps???
Thanks for sharing, this was so interesting! Lately I have been enjoying using the Barbie stamps USPS has released. I think they are so fun!
Engravers have such a wonderful skill, and they are definitely underappreciated artists. Thanks for a really insightful interview. I've been using a variety of stamps lately. Most recent was the new Bruce Lee, a domestic US flag coil, a 1975 Apollo-Soyuz 10¢ stamp and a 1¢ fringed tulip stamp to make up the international rate.
Hello, my name is Ekaterina. Since I send postcards with love from Russia, I use the “Cities of the Golden Ring of Russia" and Others series of stamps to make postcrossing interesting for the recipients.
Thank you for this great article. Postcrossing is a big reason that I enjoy stamps. I went to my first stamp show this year and felt like I stepped into a whole new universe. I love sea animals and bird stamps. Today, I just sent a snowy owl stamp to a US postcrosser who likes owls…
Within Europe, I like using the Belgian Postcrossing stamps (there are five different ones). Sadly, I can’t use them for postcards outside Europe. So for those, I usually go with the “150 Years of UPU” stamp — it even has a record 2024 words on it.
I loved hearing all about Kirsten Lubach. Her stamps are beautiful. A stamp I've used lately, and love is The Battlefields of the American Revolution. I like that the scene goes across 2 stamps and it's perfect for the 250th Anniversary of America.
A few weeks ago, I specifically bought the stamp featuring the Queen. It made someone here on Postcrossing—a huge fan of the royals and the Queen—very happy.
Lovely article and fascinating talent.
My current favourite stamp from Canada (which apparently is no longer being issued), is the one called *Sugar Shacks*, stamps in the shape of cans of Maple Syrup, part of Quebec culture. I have a few packs of these stamps left and after that, no more.
Hi Thank you for your story. The latest stamp I use for International Mail is the $3.65 CAN dollar. The picture is called; "From Far and Wide". Taken At The Arctic Bay , the area is called Qarlinngua sea arch/ Arch naturelle de Qarlinngua. At The North west Territories in Canada.
I hope for a win....
Such gorgeous art, wow! Thank you for this. Not everyone's favourite, but some of the recent stamps I used were Spiders issued by Royal Mail in 2024. They were illustrated by the wonderful wildlife illustrator Richard Lewington, who designed many other stamps. I'd love to read an interview with him actually!
Great interview! It was good to learn about her work and future plans. I would love to have the opportunity to try something like this one day.
In the UK, I purchase large quantities of random 1st class stamps (2 on one postcard is worldwide postage) and I love admiring the different designs from the beautiful to the historic, and even silly stamps. My favourite collection so far has been the recent Royal Mail roses 🌹
Lovely article--thank you! I've been to Vienna a few times and saw something new each time! The last time, rather than city view cards, I purchased a big stack of black-background cards from the Hundertwasser museum. That was before I joined Postcrossing--if I had known, I would have bought even more! We Postcrossers can never learn enough about artists like Kirsten and their postage stamps!
I bought several sheets of the new U.S. Postcrossing stamps. I also bought a couple sets of the associated maxi cards and special people have, or will receive those.
I recently used the USPS2026 Happy birthday stamp and the global Postcrossing stamp - I love both of them!
Thank you for this post. Very informative and interesting, especially as I have a few of her stamps in my collection. It's fascinating to learn how artists get into making artwork for stamps and what their personal process is from research to image.
I've been using and admiring the American Bison, Bald Eagle, and Phillis Wheatley U.S. stamps of late.
Happy Postcrossing!
Great interview! I enjoyed reading about Kirsten Lubach and her engraving. I have a supply of 1970s and 80s mint stamps that I like to add on to postcards of postcrossers that enjoy postage stamps.
Of course the new global postcrossing stamp is my favorite at the moment, but years ago I bought a lot of the CINCO DE MAYO stamps because I had two dear friends whose birthdays fell on May 5th. Every year on their cards I affixed their special stamp and felt good about the fact that they would appreciate the extra thought I put into wishing them happy birthday .
Kirsten’s pencil drawings are wonderful. And engraving stamps is amazing. A favorite stamp I use (and I’ve only a few left) are the cartoon Peanuts characters.
Thank you for this article. I always love reading about stamps. I was able to attend the Boston 2026 Expo and saw the First Day of Issue ceremonies for 4 different stamps, including the new US Postcrossing stamp (the highlight!) My most recent mail has gone out with the US Sunflower stamp. I just attended a Postcrossing meetup with a sunflower theme. Delightful.
Very interesting article. I was not aware of how stamps were created. I love discovering the many beautiful stamps that arrive on my PostCrossing cards! 🙂
What an interesting article! Stamps really are ambassadors of their country.
I’ve been enjoying using the Project Mercury stamps issued by the US a while ago.
Thanks for sharing such amazing news!
I recently started using the Taiwan Food Stamps to send postcards.
They were only released on August 4th, and I tried them out right away!
Thank you for such an interesting article! I would love to look at more of her work. The last stamp I used was issued in 1975, the Love stamp featuring a detail from Raphael’s portrait of the poet John Donne and includes his quote “Letters mingle souls”. I love that all postcrossers understand what this means 😀.
Kirsten's work is gorgeous. The richness in detail in every little bit of her artistic real-estate is stunning! This blog post is particularly to my liking, as I love not only snail mail and stamps, but also visual art (especially engraving!) and making music (I have been playing and performing for thirty years).
Canada has produced beautiful stamps depicting some of its great artists, in recent years. When they came out, I acquired a good lot of Leonard Cohen and Margaret Atwood stamps. I love to put these two giants on my postcards!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful artist with us!
Thank you for sharing such an interesting article! This last stamp I used was a US Barbie stamp.
I never knew stamp creating was such delicate work. Nice interview. I recently used the Europe stamps, the Pie Stamps and the "oude ambachten" stamps from the Netherlands.
Thanks, Clarisse, for posting the interview with Kirsten.
Slovenia Post also issued a stamp featuring a Linx linx ( September 2018 ).
This week, I used a dozen different stamps for a nine addresses.
Marko, ciao.
I enjoyed reading the article about an artist who shares their work with the world. Stamps and postmarks all tell a bit of a story. Thank you for adding to that story.
Engraving is such a meticulous art form. I love it! Many of my favorite stamps are engraved.
I love Postcrossing because I connect with others and am continually exposed to current postage from around the world.
I’m a thematic stamp collector and love the stories behind the stamp. It adds another dimension to philately. I think I’ll start a new topic: stamps designed by Kirsten Lubach.
My most recent stamp used is the new USPS Postcrossing stamp.
Many thanks for the great interview! I love to be able to learn more about engravers' work. My favourite artists are Pierre Gandon and Czeslaw Slania and I also love extremely fine works of Austrian stamp engravers of 1950-60s. Never heard about Kirsten Lubach before and was very glad to learn about her works here.
Russian stamps that I've used on my postcards recently are Constellations (I like old-school drawings and glittering stars :) and Centennary of Aeroflot - Russian national air company, made in avant-garde style.
Hello Everyone!
I just love the new "International Peace" stamp here in the USA. It features a white origami crane against a blue-sky background. It is NOT a global stamp, despite its name (confusing even to the postal workers, I have found), so I try to pair it with other stamps to share it with Postcrossers outside the USA. :)
Привет всем)
Thank you for sharing this wonderful artist with us!
The last stamp I used was with an image of Alexandra Kollontai. Kollontai (nee Domontovich, 03/31/1872 - 03/9/1952) was the world's first female ambassador and publicist. Since 1908, she was in exile, took part in the social democratic movement in Europe and the United States, returned to Russia after the February Revolution of 1917, and was a member of the first Soviet government headed by Lenin as a people's commissar of state Welfare (as the Ministry of Social Security was then called). In 1923-1945, she served in the diplomatic service - envoy to Norway, Mexico, envoy, and then ambassador to Sweden (1930-1945). The appointment of a woman as the Soviet plenipotentiary became an international sensation. Kollontai has worked in Norway, Mexico, and Sweden, establishing contacts, developing conventions and agreements. Even the opponents of the USSR recognized her talent and charm.
Hello!
Thank you for this interesting interview with Kirsten Lubach about her work. Stamps are truly a piece of art!
In former times I put several stamps on my postcards, but since every new issued stamp in Germany has a data-matrixcode they are so big.
Now I like using the Queen stamp for postcards going abroad.
What a fascinating interview! Thank you! I especially enjoyed seeing the picture of the engraving equipment. I love sending the new USA Postcrossing stamps! I’ve been sending my domestic mail with the sunflower stamp (which can be purchased with beautiful matching cards!) and the new bison stamp.
I enjoy reading this interview immensely! Now I know who is the designer for Musikland Osterreich series! I received some of these beautiful stamps via Postcrossing.
Thank you for taking over the machines from your retiring colleague so that the great work could continue.
To answer your prompt, I use the "Our Last Kampongs" series stamps currently. The beautiful illustrations captured a vanishing way of life of our last two villages in urban Singapore.
Wonderful interview! Very interesting... thanks for sharing!
This interview was so interesting. I recently used a Tomie DePaola Strega Nona stamp. He is my most favorite children's author/artist. I went to stamp release ceremony in NH (from MD) just for the day on a whim because I love the joy he brings through his art and stories.
I’m so happy to have learned about these beautiful stamps created by such a wonderful artist.
The stamp I recently used was a rabbit-shaped stamp that I found tucked away from my student days. It made me realize that I’ve loved both mail and rabbits since back then. It felt quite nostalgic.
Great artist Kirsten, wow.
I recently used our scratch & sniff postagestamp in the Netherlands! Actually all sorts of cake,love it!
I really like postage stamps.
She is lovely and very kind. Extremely humble about her craft. I met her when she was part of a design team that created a stamp for Philately Liechtenstein a few years back. 😊👍
What a fun interview! Her drawings and artwork are beautiful, indeed. I recently used the new postcrossing stamp issued by USPS to send a postcard.
Thank you so much for sharing this article.The latest stamps are about Taiwanese cuisine, and I really like them.
This was a fascinating article to read. My grandfather, William Oberhardt, was a famous portrait artist in the early 1900’s. This week I received stamps from Lebanon with his portrait of Lebanese author Ameen Rihani on them. His portrait (used on the stamp,) was done in charcoal in a from-life one hour session, as were all his portraits. I just transferred the 18x24” original to the New York Historical Society Museum. So interesting to learn how art proceeds from creation to print. I’ve recently joined Postcrossing and just went to my first meetup at the BALPEX stamp convention. I myself have a background in graphic design, and now teach art to k-12. The stamps there - their designs just blew me away! Incredible!!!
Thanks for an interesting and informative interview. I love Kirsten's lynx stamp and the drawing of the stag. I love stamps featuring wildlife. The USA has a bunch of nice, new stamps. Most recently I've used the new US postcrossing stamps and the eagle stamps.
What a wonderful interview. I am fairly new to Postcrossing (less that a year). This platform has opened up a whole new world for me. I lilve in the US and I have seen a lot of stamps over the years but not long ago I attended my very first stamp show and was truly amazed at all the stamps that have been issued and the wonderful stories behind their creation. Thank you for sharing Kristen's story. Recently used the newly issued Postcrossing stamp which is available in the US. I use it for all my international postcards.
I have used the German 2026 "Europa - Europe" stamp recently. 🙂👍
Thanks a lot. 😃👍
What a great interview! Lately I have mostly been using the new US postcrossing stamps--I was so thrilled that we finally had them! Except for that I usually use various stamps, both recent and old,, related to the recipient's interests if possible.
Thanks für this interview🤩. This spring 2026 we celebrated 100th anniversary of Estonian Society of University Women and Eesti Post issued a special stamp dedicated to this event. I have used this stamp (plus several others as prices for sending mail abroad are rising and rising in Estonia) on my last postcards.
What a cool interview! I love hearing about the challenging decisions that artists make as a duty to carry on their craft!
I've been loving the Route 66 USPS stamps! I feel like with this year being the 250th year since the establishment of the United States, I feel like the current stamp choices have been really great depictions of US cultural experiences and artwork! Route 66 being iconic and being on theme to a car dependent country that is still celebrating a road that connects the coasts.
Amazing works of an enthusiastic person. Lately, I've been using stamps with a fairytale plot where fairies and forest spirits are depicted. These stamps even reflect my passion for Teddy bears. It was very interesting to learn how you can make stamps.
What a splendid interview!! Engraving is so artistic! I love artistic because I am not :)
I'm not sure how it happened (I keep telling myself that) but I bought a bunch of the USPS 2012 Birds of Prey stamps many years ago and have lately been using them to send all my international postcards!!
I used mainly the most recent Dutch Postcrosisng stamps on my last written cards but when I see a special stamp request on a profile and I have a stamp that matches that...I will use that one.
What an interesting story! I hope the artist finds an apprentice to whom she can pass on her skills. The latest Latvian stamp I used was the Little Owl (a bird from the owl family).
I loved learning about the Viennese artist/engraver, the unique process and inspirations. My 1st anniversary with Postcrossing is about a week away and I so appreciate the magical connections I have received. I was fortunate to visit museums in Vienna (oh, the coffee and pastries!) during 2024. The US stamp I've favored recently is the Appalachian Trail (2025). I summer near this century-old footpath.
I always have a big variety of stamps for my cards. And love to surprise people with them. I use the Queen stamp and the stamp of the bunny story "Weißt du eigentlich, wie lieb ich dich hab".
Loved this interview - would definitely visit this workshop if I ever make it to vienna.
Robin67, a good friend of mine, often tells me about the recent stamps by Kirsten Lubach... hence I know her name ;-) Thanks for the interview.
My favourite German stamps are the one with the Queen for international mail, the rainbow collection and the special issue "Roncalli Circus".
My personal favourite stamps from Canada are the ones hat depict our vast range of wildlife and history. I recently used the stmp of a marmot on a stamp which is only worth 17 cents so to send a postcard internationally, I needed to supplement it with many others. I tried to use a theme though, as my recipient likes blue and green so I chose based on colour.
I like to use Canada's stamp honouring Donald Sutherland, one of our most famous actors and father of Kiefer Sutherland. The stamp is a slim rectangle, which fits nicely onto most postcards. Canada produces many beautiful stamps in a larger format - unfortunately our international postal rate requires three of these stamps. Often there is not enough room for more than one large-format stamp. Donald often comes to the rescue!
Thank you for another interesting article about a talented artist's journey creating beautiful postage stamps. My favorite stamps in the USA are the LOVE stamps. I have a small collection which are affixed onto the envelopes to grandchildren and grandnieces. My other favorites are the Classic American Doll stamps (32 cents).
Such an inspiring article of creativity😊
Recently I have used Sea themed Stamps.
Thank you for sharing this interview. I realised that there are so many things about philately that I still never heard of or learned about, so this is an eye-opening article. It's really great to know this because even if we are all going to the digital version of things, we still have the chance to preserve old things where we all started.
Singapore has recently celebrated its 61st National Day and over the weekend, I used a few stamps with the design in reference to the National Day of Singapore. :)
Great article! Thank you Robin67 for your giveaway. A stamp from my country I’ve used recently, is a kawakawa stamp from this year’s “Foraging” stamps. Very pretty!
Of course I'm very excited about the USA Postcrossing stamp that came out in May! I love the Harriet Powers stamp, recognizing the artistry of an 19th century African American quiltmaker. https://store.usps.com/store/product/harriet-powers-stamps-S_488104. I will be in Vienna in October and need to see if I can visit Kirsten's studio while I'm there!
Thank you for the interesting article. I used the #LoveWins stamp.
Thank you for the interesting article. I used the stamp:
#LoveWins
What an interesting article. I love the Wildtiere und Jagd, lynx and Seltene Nutztierrasse stamps. The Belgian Postal Services issue a quarterly magazine ‘Philanews’ with the new stamps that are being issed. It’s so interesting to read the story about the roadblocks and the challenges for the designer during the creation process.
I use all the stamps that are available on line but since the Postcrossing stamp was issued in June 2025, I quite often use that one; it is for Europe only though.
Tomorrow I will be using the total eclipse stamps. It is a pity that Correos (the Spanish postal service) did not take the opportunity to issue a regular rate stamp. The eclipse ones are expensive, so I won't use as many as I'd like!
I recently bought the Train series stamps in the post office of Taiwan. In these days, People are not share lives with stamps as much as usual, so I was asking the teller for the whole series of the stamps with nervousness. Fortunately, there is a independent counter for the stamp collection, and I got my ideal stamps smoothly. Thanks for postcrossing which bring me to the colorful world of stamps. Also, thanks for Kirsten Lubach who sharing your story and the beauties with us!
People are so excited about postage stamp art! I try to pick a stamp that matches the postcard picture for a themed message. Thank you, Kirsten, for making the world more beautiful!
I have collected postal stamps since I was a child and received my grandmother's collection. My favorites are from international countries as you learn so much about the country that they are from. My mom made me research each country I got a postcard/stamp from and write a report. I can proudly say that I have stamps from over 100 countries. Right now, I am using the service dog commemoration stamps to send my pen pals letters! Meet you at the mailbox . . .
I have enjoyed seeing Austria’s nature designs for some years, so it was great to read about the artist creating them! Bravo and I hope to see many future designs from her workshop!
Thank you for sharing your story, Kirsten! ~
Connections mean everything in this Life. It is amazing that such a thing as a little stamp is so inspiring...the story of what is depicted on the stamp, the story of how it was envisioned in the creative process, the story of your connection to an apprentice, and our story regarding why we choose certain stamps and postcards are all part of connecting.
As I read your story and viewed your stamps, I felt connected to Vienna...a lovely city that I experienced 42 years ago. Thanks for "bringing me back to Wien" via your unique stamp creations. For those who have never been to your City...your Art, in a sense, brings them there.
The 15-year plan that you have made to share your gifts with an apprentice is a most admirable endeavor. Connecting in that way will perpetuate your expertise. It will ensure that stamps will continue to hold significance in society. Likewise, I'm so happy to be a part of this Postcrossing community. I hope that we will continue to inspire future Postcrossers. Let's keep the JOY of Communication going just as much as you will share your passion with your apprentice to ensure the future!
Peace🕊
~Marybeth~
P.S. I use the spectacular Hummingbird with Flowers stamp often.
I'm fascinated by this mighty, little bird that visits my feeders and the pretty flowers in my yard!
Recently we've gotten triangle stamps for our international postage and it seems to be very popular, so I'm trying to use them from now on.
So wonderful to hear about Kirsten and engraving. I love the fact that from Australia I can send stamps from our other territories. I love the coral reef species stamps from Cocos (Keeling) Islands which I've been sending - they are large format and colourful.
We unfortunately don't have stamps anymore, so I haven't used any recently :(.
There are plenty of stamps in Ukraine that are themed. There are those dedicated to famous novels, to new weaponry, to national cuisine; those that acknowledge famous people like Pope John Paul II or those that are about insects. I love all of them for their diversity
Hello, Kirsten! I read your article with great interest and discovered that I am a fellow colleague of yours! I studied the art of engraving in a student etching workshop. The situation in our country (UKRAINE) is difficult, but our stamps are amazingly beautiful—especially the ones featuring Ukraine's nature (“National Natural Park “Podilski Tovtry””). My absolute favorite series is "Insects," (The postal issue is a continuation of the legendary stamped arkush “Komakha of Ukraine” 2018, which has collected the largest number of cities in the entire history of philately of the new Ukraine: Grand Prix of the WIPA Exhibition (Austria), Grand Prix of the Philatelic Art Prize Asiago (Italy) and 2nd place – at the competition Nexofil Award “Best Brand of the World” (Spain). The latest technology was first used - embossing with holographic melt. At postal ticket 2024 rubles. represented by: yellow beetle Lasius flavus, alpine beetle Rosalia alpina, honey beetle Aglais io, water beetle Gerris lacustris, seven-crowned beetle Coccinella septempunctata, western grass beetle Melolontha, rhinoceros beetle European Oryctes nasicornis.)
I am also sending for postcrossing the "Lighthouses" series.
Best of luck to you!
Today I used a commemorative from Deutsche Post titled Love Always Wins. This little tribute to the LGBTQ community is always nice to send to another Postcrosser !
Today I used the relatively new Postcrossing international stamp from the USA!
I used the stamp Schloss Ludwigsburg which is older and doesn´t have the ugly qr-code on it.
Oh wow, I love engraved stamps! My husband and I collect stamps. There are so many that are favorites of mine in the U.S. I used the new Postcrossing Stamp- and it was through seeing that in a catalog that I got into this postcrossing idea and joined. I look forward to meeting people in this way! I also was drawn to the postcrossing stamp because it reminds me of some of the illustrative art of the 1970's.
Today, I used the 1988 "Crab and Letter" stamp. It has an artistic quality that you just don't see in today's Japanese stamps.
Beautiful 😍
This is probably an obvious answer but The stamp that I have used frequently from my country lately is the new postcrossing stamp. i’m so excited we finally got one.
It was nice to read about the magic of creating stamps! Thank you!
I am using lately a mix of standard A stamps which go for domestic mail, and I add some "numbers" small stamps :) this way I can use a lot of stamps on my postcards :) recipients are happy and thanked me for such a good selection :)
Among my favorite I have stamps showing professions, animals and cities. They are all so bright and colorful! ☺️
My favorite Czech stamp designers are Jaromír and Libuše Knotek. I use their beautiful stamps on the theme of nature conservation very often and with pleasure.
As an Artist myself, I loved reading this interview and hearing how much the Artist cares about the art of letter writing. I also enjoyed hearing about the design process. I recently used a Personalised stamp of my beautiful Mother, as a tribute to her. ❤️🇦🇺
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