THE SLOVAK Post Office will hold a ceremonial launching of the special Slovakia Summit 2005 stamp on February 24 at the Incheba exhibition centre, close to the area of the summit press centre.
The nominal value of the stamp is Sk25 (€0.66) and an issue of 200,000 has been prepared.
The design of the stamp was developed by the Enterprise Agency. The French company WSP-Cartor, using the offset technique, carried out the printing.
On a blue background, the stamp depicts the summit logo reading "Bush and Putin" on an outline of Bratislava castle - the venue for the summit.
The US, Slovak and Russian flags are depicted in the middle of the stamp, above the summit logo.
At the bottom of the stamp is the legend "Slovakia Summit 2005".
In addition, the Slovak Post Office is issuing a FDC (first day covers) envelope. Artist Peter Augustovič designed it.
There will be an issue of 5,300 of the special envelopes. It will be printed by the TAB Bratislava Company, using combined deep printing and offset techniques.
Well-known Bratislava sights are depicted on the FDC envelope. These include the Tower of the Klarisky Church, Michael's Gate, Maximillian's Fountain (also called Roland's Fountain), the Tower of the Old Town Hall and in the background the Tower of St Martin's Dome, the Bratislava castle and part of the New Bridge.
Three variations of the seal will be issued. It was designed by artist Štefan Kubovič.
In the middle, all three variations have an outline drawing of Bratislava castle above which the words SLOVAKIA SUMMIT 2005 will be placed in a partial circle.
The bottom part reads Bratislava 1 (or Bratislava 5 or Bratislava 15 - depending on the location of the post office using the seal) and, in the line below, the date, 24.2.2005.
As of the day of their issue, Slovakia Summit 2005 stamps will be available at all post offices in Bratislava and some selected post offices in the rest of Slovakia.
Compiled by Marta Ďurianová from Slovak Post press releases
