Bitter Grounds Magazine

stamps, espresso & conversation

Tracking the pandemic through stamps

Written by catpaw
December 05, 2021

Recently, I was thinking about how we are living in one of those historic watershed moments, one we can track through worldwide stamp releases. In an odd way, postal authorities around the globe are leaving an interesting contemporary record of the pandemic for future historians to examine. When the pandemic finally recedes we’ll have an extensive and fascinating pictorial record from almost every country in the world.

Eventually, there will be specialists in Covid philately. So far I have scans for more than 110 stamps and I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface.  I’m midway through the first draft of the COVID-19 catalogue for the site and every time I turn around, I stumble across a few more. 

Let’s look at a few examples  starting with Austria. The first one, issued in 2020, is the cheekiest Covid stamp to date. Designer Marion Füllerer had fun with the Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020 when she created this masterpiece. And yes, I think it’s a masterpiece of social commentary as well.

An Austrian stamp - showing a cartoon baby elefant printed on toilet paper for Covid

Remember – stay one baby elephant away

Füllerer’s stamp is printed on toilet paper, which pokes fun at the panic that swept so many over the prospect of a non-existent toilet paper shortage. The shortage actually did happen, because people mass bought the paper stuff and hoarded it. 2020 was a toilet paper Ouroboros  The stamp also emphasizes proper distancing – stay one baby elephant apart. At the time, social distancing was the main tool in fighting the spread of Covid. 

It’s interesting to compare the toilet paper stamp to Austria’s next one, which reflects how our approach to staying safe evolved to include masking up.  
 

Mini ffp mask from Austria

 
This stamp, issued Sept 2021, is made from the material used to make masks. Designer David Gruber used the expertise of the embroidery firm Hammerle & Vogel to create it. That’s one thing I’ve grown to appreciate about the Austrian post office, they aren’t afraid to explore new ways of presenting stamps. 

Travelling to Zimbabwe, we see the inclusion of handwashing, temperature checking and the vaccine as methods to prevent the spread. Note, the people in stamp A are also masked up. 

Zimbabwe 4 stamp set COvid 

Although not a great scan of the FDC, it presents masks front and center, so we see a real shift in our knowledge – masking & vaccines start to play a big role in Covid prevention. 

FDC Covid Zimbabwe 2021

Spain’s issues are more social in tone, starting with the cooperative “we’re in this together”  theme. 

The face of COVID   UNHCR in the face of Covid-19

Thanking front line workers, staying masked up and helping each other is a re-occurring theme, as you’ll see in other stamps. Flip to the next set and we see a different social responsibility focus –  what are we to do with the waste?  The souvenir sheet & stamp promote the correct disposal of masks to protect each other and the environment. 

Covid sheet

Of all the stamps I’ve looked over, Spain’s is the only one that I’ve spotted that promotes the safe disposal of gloves and masks. I’ll have to scoot through my archive to see if I missed any. 

The Bahamas has a good set that picks up the social responsibility aspect – wash your hands, social distance, cover your nose and mask up. This is a nice set and I wish I could tell you about the designer, but so far I don’t have a name to put to them. This is a warm, friendly series that is reassuring. Nicely done.

Bahamas 2020 Covid  front line Bahamas 2020 Covid  sharing meals Bahamas 2020 Covid Christmas Bahamas  COVID 2020

A humorous stamp arrived courtesy the Kyrgyz Republic. It features a snow leopard, an animal that lives in the area, halting Covid with a “you will not pass” pose. This furry Gandalf was released Dec. 30, 2020 and proved to be so popular, it was reprinted in 2021. You don’t need a caption to understand what’s happening in this stamp – the visuals are clear and easily understood. 

Kyrgyz Republic stamp from 2020 showing a cartoon snow leopard punching out   covid virus

 Keeping in the humorous vein is a set used by a number of African nations. 

Covid 2021 stamps Niger

This design was shared by Niger, Central African Republic, Chad and Djibouti and is brilliant. The June 2020 sheet covers both the anniversary of the Black Penny issue and Covid masking up. Visually, it’s wonderfully perfect. Each of the 4 countries also issued a number of other Covid related stamps, but this shared one showed a great sense of humour.  Unfortunately it’s one of those sets aimed at collectors and not for general use. It was specifically designed for sale by philatelic agencies and not regular postage. Regardless, it’s a perfect design and should have seen general use.

From the adorable and humorous to the frighteningly realistic. These two May 2020 stamps from China are chilling images of how deadly the pandemic has been.  

China 2020 Covid stamp
 
The next, from Tajikistan, hammers home the personal toll Covid has taken with this unique 12 panel exploration of the fight, which reads like a graphic novel. It’s brilliant.

Tajikistan  Covid 2021 stampTajikistan  Covid 2021 stampTajikistan  Covid 2021 stampTajikistan  Covid 2021 stamp
Tajikistan  Covid 2021 stampTajikistan  Covid 2021 stamp Tajikistan  Covid 2021 stampTajikistan  Covid 2021 stamp 
Tajikistan  Covid 2021 stamp Tajikistan  Covid 2021 stamp Tajikistan  Covid 2021 stamp

If you string the stamps together in a single row, the letters in the back spell UNITED.  The designer’s use of a story board layout is ingenious. But I couldn’t find info on the designer/artist. I hate not giving proper recognition. If you have any info, please post it in the comments. 

The most striking of all Covid stamps issued so far, is from Malta by artist Madeleine Gera. She captured the utter weariness and overwhelming fatigue front line workers feel. It’s stunning and depressing.

Malta 2021 stamps health care worker stamp two
There are many more stamps to be examined and I’ll post the catalogue sometime in the new year (Jan 2022). Right now I’m up to my ears in Christmas stamps and Year of the Tiger issues.  Sorry folks, elves and tigers come first. Drop a comment and let me know what you think about the pandemic stamp record. 

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