Postcrossing is a worldwide project which allows anyone to send and receive postcards from all over the world. The idea is simple: for each postcard you send, you will receive one back from a random postcrosser from somewhere in the world. Registering and creating an account to Postcrossing.com is free. After having an account, the first step is to request an address from the system, which gives you one to a random member together with the Postcard ID. Then you write the postcard and send it. When your postcard arrives, the recipient will register it using the Postcard ID. Then your address w ..read more

This is a stamp issued for charity. By purchasing this stamp, you donate 1 euro to the Estonian Cancer Society (MTÜ Eesti Vähiliit) and support cancer prevention efforts. The Estonian Cancer Society was created in 1992 by the Estonian Association of Oncologists. In its work, the Estonian Cancer Society focuses mainly on the prevention of cancer and detecting the disease early as well as on promoting a healthy lifestyle. Another important focus is improving the quality of life of cancer patients and solving the psycho-social problems related to the disease. During its 30 years of operation, th ..read more

The Riigikogu building was completed by 12 September 1922, designed according to the projects of architects Eugen Habermann and Herbert Johanson. A modern avant-garde style – expressionism – was chosen to emphasise the building’s uniqueness. To this day, the Riigikogu building is the only expressionist-style parliamentary building in the world. The most prominent room in the house is the two-story Session Hall with its blue walls and curved ceiling, accented by rust-coloured zig-zag patterns on windows and doorways. All the furniture was made according to the architects’ designs at the Luther ..read more

This stamp from the stamp series ‘Estonian fauna’ depicts the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans L.), a rare species, the European habitats of which are limited to Finland, Estonia, Belarus, and Russia. The flying squirrel has a flap of skin on both sides of its body, with which it can glide up to several dozen metres from tree to tree. This elusive animal, mainly active at dusk and night, is rarely seen. In summer, it feeds on tree leaves, and in winter, on the buds and catkins of birches, alders, and aspens. They reproduce once or twice a year, with 2 to 4 young in a litter. The flyin ..read more

Piano making in Estonia was an art practiced during the late 18th century and has been documented as early as 1779. The craft had flourished, and during the late 19th and the early 20th century there were nearly 20 independent piano companies. The most notable of these manufacturers was Ernst Hiis-Ihse, whose handmade piano from 1893 became the prototype of the Estonia piano. After the WW II, factory was making two grand models – Estonia 190 and 274, mostly for the Eastern markets. During end of 1990-s, pianist dr. Indrek Laul purchased the company. Thereafter three new instrument models (168 ..read more

The Tallinn Town Hall is the oldest and the only surviving Gothic town hall in the Nordic and Baltic countries. It is first mentioned in the year 1322 as a consistorium and in 1372 as a town hall. The town hall was given its layout as well as interior and exterior appearance, the key features of which are still largely there today, in the years 1402–1404. The reconstruction was led by stonemason Ghercke. The Tallinn Town Hall is a two-storey limestone building with a tall saddle roof and an octahedral tower. The weathervane depicting an old warrior, Old Thomas, was installed on top of the spi ..read more

The Republic of Estonia and the United States are celebrating a centenary of diplomatic relations in 2022. On 28 July 1922, the United States officially recognised the sovereign Republic of Estonia de jure. To celebrate this landmark event, Eesti Post has issued a postage stamp depicting the symbols treasured by the nations of both Estonia and the USA – their respective national flags. 2022 also marks the centenary of the adoption of the Estonian blue, black and white flag as the national flag of Estonia.      The United States never recognised the forcible annexation ..read more

The motor sailer Läänemaa is one of the most notable ships in the history of Estonian cargo fleet. This cargo ship was the first state-of-the-art steel-hulled ship built in Estonia that sailed under the same name until the end. The ship was designed by one of the most skilled shipbuilding engineers, Lieutenant Captain Nikolai Link, according to the highest-class requirements of the German insurance association Lloyd. On 6 December 1919, a ceremonial keel-laying took place at the Petrograd Shipyard (formerly and later Noblessner); the ship became seaworthy by 5 August 1922, when a test voyage ..read more

The tradition of sending postcards and letters to friends and loved ones has persevered through time. In Europe, regular mail transportation began with the initiative of Franz von Taxis in 1495, between Vienna and Brussels. Estonia established its first regular postal link with Sweden in 1638. The first postage stamp was issued in England in 1840 and the first Estonian postage stamp was issued in 1918. Even though in today’s digital world, people mainly communicate via electronic channels using abbreviations and symbols, postcards and letters still hold a worthy place as means for sending mes ..read more

There are four very distinct seasons in Estonia. The arrival of each season is signalled by the beautiful flowers that we expect to bloom every year. Galanthus or snowdrop is a genus of plants in the Amaryllidaceae family. The natural growing area of the snowdrop is from Europe to West Asia, it blooms in early spring and symbolises a clean and hopeful spring. The corn chamomile (A. arvensis) is a plant species belonging to the genus Anthemis in the aster family. The corn chamomile is often confused with the ox-eye daisy. The corn chamomile grows as a shrub with many stems, but the ox-eye dai ..read more