Heat Molded Stamps
"Australian Stamp News" April 1971
PLASTIC STAMPS
Bhutan, the tiny independent kingdom in the Himalayas, has scored
another philatelic "first", with the issue of the world's first plastic
postage stamps produced by a revolutionary new bas-relief process.
Bhutan was the first country to produce 3 dimensional stamps, paper
relief stamps, and the first stamps on silk and steel; the new stamps
are 100% plastic.
The lssue depicts the "History of Sculpture" and the raised effect of
the subject matter makes each little miniature a work of art itself. The
subject matter was specifically chosen because the Italian printers,
through unique colour blending could simulate to a remarkable
degree the light shading and texture of the famous antique
masterpieces shown.
Eight designs are depicted:
The Funeral Mask of Tutankhamen (Egyptian Period),
Winged Bull, (Mesopotamia! Period),
Head of Zeus (Grecian Period),
Lupa Capitolina (Early Roman Period),
Head of Cicero (Roman Period),
Head of David (Renaissance Period),
Age of Bronze by Rodin (20th Century) and
Head of Woman by Modigliani (Modern Period).
The stamps are single trimmed and printed by the four colour
lithography method. Individual stamps are then placed in hand
engraved pressure heat moulds of stainless steel and pressed to
desired shape. A removable self-adhesive paper backing is on each
stamp.
Five years of development were said to have gone into the issue and
the Government of Bhutan believes it to be the most costly issue ever
printed in the world.
1971
Scott # 126E
"David" by Michelangelo, on cover.
Posted 10/29/2016 11:42 pm
