My National Covers

Every now and then I have the opportunity to add what I call a "National Cover" to my collection.

These are nothing fancy. In fact they are but covers that I print  at home with the flag and coat of arms of a specific country and which I then either send to a fellow collector who is willing to help or give to friends or family or take my own self whenever travelling abroad, in the hope that these might find a way to a local post office to get a stamp and a postmark.

I will be adding these to a new "My National Covers" section in this blog.

If you don't see your country here and are willing to help me add your own country's national cover to my collection, please email me at pnsoares1@gmail.com. 

You'll get a cover from Portugal (if you want I'll be happy to print a Portuguese National Cover just like the ones I print for myself, although in a somewhat larger envelope) and a printed envelope with the relevant symbols printed, so that you can then return it to me.

Thanks a lot.

Note: Whenever possible I will try to transcribe the flag and coat of arms information from the relevant national site. Failing that I'll transcribe from Wikipedia.

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 Republic of Estonia  /Eesti Vabariik 

The Flag

The state flag, which is also the national flag, is rectangular in shape, divided into three horizontal bands of equal size. The upper band is blue, the middle one is black and the lowest band is white. The proportions of the flag are 11:7 and its normal size is 165x105 cm.

The blue-black-white flag was first consecrated at Otepää on the 4th of June, 1884, as the flag of the Estonian University Student Association. During the following years the blue-black-white flag became a national symbol. The Provisional Government of Estonia adopted a resolution on the 21st of November, 1918, proclaiming the blue-black-white flag the state flag. The Law on State Flag was adopted by the Parliament (Riigikogu) on the 27th of June, 1922.After the forcible annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in June, 1940, this flag was banned.

In 1987/88, during the days of the "singing revolution", or the process of regaining independence, the blue-black-white flag was used openly as a national symbol. On the 24th of February, 1989, the blue-black-white national flag of Estonia was flown from the tower of Pikk Hermann.

The blue-black-white flag was re-adopted as the state flag on the 7th of August, 1990 and the Law on State Flag was passed on the 6th of April, 1993.

Source: Symbols

The Coat of Arms

The Estonian coat of arms comes in two formats, a large one which shows three blue lions, passant gardant, on a golden shield framed on each side by gilded branch of the oak tree with the stems of the branches crossing at the base of the shield. The small shield is identical except for the gilded branches.

The design of the shield originates from the XII century, when the Danish King Valdemar II presented the City of Tallinn (Reval) with a coat of arms similar to that of the state of Denmark, showing three lions. A similar motif was transposed to the coat of arms of the Province of Estonia, which was adopted by Catherine II, Empress of Russia, on the 4th of October, 1788. The Parliament (Riigikogu) of the Republic of Estonia adopted the state coat of arms on the 19th of June, 1925. After the forcible annexation of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1940, this coat of arms was banned.

The use of the historic coat of arms as the state coat of arms of the Republic of Estonia was re-adopted on the 7th of August, 1990. The Law on State Coat of Arms was passed on the 6th of April, 1993.

Source: Symbols

The Stamp

The cultural, sociological and public health role that saunas play in society in Baltic and Scandinavian Europe is well documented and recognised, their use being a relevant and widespread tradition in the countries of the aforementioned regions.

One would think that all saunas are created equal, but that is not the case and according to regions and countries there may exist slight differences in modus operandi and even in attendance rules.

One of the idiosyncratic types of sauna is the Estonian Smoke Sauna, which has its most famous expression in the region of Võromaa, so much so that it was recognised as  Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity  by UNESCO,  in 2014.

This particular type of sauna differs from others in that the sauna house has no chimneys, so that the smoke may be kept inside, while the sauna is heating (without any people inside, of course). 

Excess smoke will flow to the outside through smoke shutters all trough the heating process, which can take up to six hours. One hour before the use, the house will be ventilated so that the smoke goes out and people might come in to enjoy the heat and humidity while whisking themselves with soft branches of trees with foliage, so as to increase circulation and sweating.

As usual, all finishes up with a quick rub in the snow outside, of course.

One curiosity about the smoke sauna is that it can also be used to smoke meat (no, not one's own, but some good pieces of ham...) 

Since 2021, Esti post has been running an annual one stamp issue series dedicated to "Great estonia Things".

The 2023 issue, in the form of the 1.30 € stamp in the cover, was issued on 25AUG2023. Being dedicated to the Estonia Smoke Sauna, it features a marvellous illustration of a smoke sauna wooden cabin and the legend "Head Eesti asjad  - Suitsusaun" (Great Estonian things - The Smoke Sauna).

The Postmark

Unfortunately, the mechanical cancellation is almost illegible, although it is possible to read "Esti Post" on the base of the circular mark.

 Once again I have to thank my dear wife for managing to include a "search for stamps and mailbox" activity line in her always busy schedule.