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Immediately upon the close of the 59th anniversary celebrations of the State of Israel, preparations began for Israel's major 60th year events for 2008. One of the stamps issued by the Israel Philatelic Service to commemorate this milestone is a blue and white stamp that radiates an atmosphere of tranquility. The stamp shows an Israeli beach with the word "Israel" in Hebrew written on the sand. Produced during a difficult period in our state, it nevertheless evokes a sense of calm that may help all of us look toward the future with a sense of pride, unity and hope.
This stamp, besides its usual function as an official postal stamp, has also been designated as part of the "My Own Stamp" project, thereby joining eight previous stamps in this personalized made-to-order stamp offer, as follows:
As is well known, a postal stamp is one of the official symbols of the state, together with the flag, the national anthem, or coins and bills. With the aim of allowing everyone to take part in, or identify personally with, Israel's statehood, the Israel Philatelic Service initiated the "My Own Stamp" project in 2003, by which the public may order sheets of official Israeli stamps, with each official stamp bearing an attached personalized image. All you do is send a picture of yourself, or anyone you choose, a logo of any kind, or a school's emblem, so the stamp can be affixed to report cards for diplomas, and the Israel Philatelic Service will print it as an attached "stamp" to the official stamps in the sheet you select.
These personalized sheets of stamps are suitable as gifts to commemorate special occasions such as a birth, bat/bar-mitzva, birthday, marriage, the start of a new enterprise, a holiday, or any occasion for reaching out to a friend. A framed sheet of personalized stamps makes an original and distinctive souvenir that can be hung on the wall. It can also memorialize someone who is departed.
The blue and white stamp joins good-wishes stamps and flower stamps to offer a wide selection of personalized stamp sheets to commemorate people and events close to one's heart, enhanced by the status of an official symbol of the State of Israel.
Shosh Cohen
Director "My Own Stamp" Project
Israel Philatelic Service
