Offbeat: Austria gets coronavirus-themed stamps on toilet paper

Stamps are presented in block format in the size of a standard piece of toilet paper

Last updated: October 30, 2020 | 12:34

AFP and Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

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Vienna: Austria's post office has unveiled a new coronavirus-themed stamp, printed on toilet paper in an ironic nod to the stockpiling which took place at the start of the pandemic.

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Adorning the stamps is a picture of a baby elephant, adopted by the Austrian government at the beginning of the pandemic as a symbol of the one-metre (three feet) distance from others needed to help prevent transmission of the virus.

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"If you put ten of the stamps end to end you get the length of a baby elephant," explained Austrian Post spokesman Markus Leitgeb.

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The stamps are presented in block format in the size of a standard 10 centimetre-wide piece of toilet paper, complete with perforations to enable a smaller piece to be torn off as a standalone stamp.

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There is no need to moisten the stamps, which come with an adhesive backing already attached.

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A total of 300,000 copies have already been printed.

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The stamps, made from recycled paper, were originally meant to be issued earlier in the pandemic but a lack of absorbent paper put the project on hold.

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They will go on sale on Friday for the price of 5.50 euros, half of which will go to charity.

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"We hope we've found a good balance between making people smile but still being useful," said Leitgeb.

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