Austrian Post has issued its latest Crypto stamp art (CSA), a collector’s item designed by Italian artist duo Hackatao, that combines the digital and analogue worlds.
The four motifs: Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria – each in a “living” and a “dead” version. These unique works of art are not only sought-after physical collectibles, but also digital works of art, immortalized and secured on the blockchain.
Inspired by Austrian history, Hackatao designed the imperial couple Elisabeth and Franz Joseph I of Austria in physical and digital splendor. In two works of art, the lives of the two are graphically impressively depicted, in two others the death of these historical personalities. The overarching theme says: “In death, everyone is equal”. This stamp combines Austrian tradition with modern technology and tells the story of a life full of tragedy, romance, military service and wanderlust.
The animated digital versions are available in different rarity levels – from Danube Blue to Royal Red. In addition, particularly rare digital “misprints” are hidden in the collection. The physical and digital versions are forever linked by a soulbound token, which makes a wallet-to-wallet transfer impossible.
“We were intrigued by this project because it allowed us to engage with something as institutional as the Postal Service and become part of the history of a form of collecting that runs parallel to the crypto art world. Being part of a collection that embodies such a rich history moved and inspired us. The Austrian Post is an OG in this NFT space, just as we are. They stand out as an institution and for its educational efforts, making the Web3 world more accessible to a traditional audience ”, said Hackatao.
“With Crypto stamp art, we combine tradition and modernity and show our innovative spirit. In this special edition, a Soulbound token is used for the first time, which serves as a certificate of authenticity for the physical crypto stamp. The new Crypto stamp art is a special collector’s item – for crypto investors, art enthusiasts and philatelists,” says Walter Oblin, CEO of Österreichische Post AG.
The new Crypto stamp art has a face value of 21.80 euros per piece and was issued 10,000 times (2,500 pieces per motif). It is available at selected post offices, in the Crypto stamp online shop and at the Collector Service of Austrian Post (phone: +43 577 67 – 95095; E-mail: sammler-service@post.at).
SUCCESS OF THE FIRST CRYPTO STAMP AND CRYPTO STAMP ART
The Crypto stamp art builds on the success of the first Crypto stamp, which was launched by Austrian Post in 2019. This first edition was a milestone in philately and attracted worldwide attention. It combined a physical stamp with a digital twin on the Ethereum blockchain for the first time. Crypto stamp art focuses on works designed by renowned digital artists who are primarily inviting to collect. In 2023, the last limited art edition was released: Crypto stamp art in cooperation with FVCKRENDER – an internationally renowned digital artist from Canada.
ARTIST DUO HACKATAO: PIONEERS OF THE DIGITAL CRYPTO ART SCENE
The artist duo Hackatao, consisting of Sergio Scalet and Nadia Squarci, set new standards in the design of this Crypto stamp art with their innovative and creative vision. Since 2007, Hackatao’s internationally acclaimed works have been exhibited in renowned museums, galleries and auction houses worldwide, including the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and Sotheby’s in London. Her works deal with topics such as society, philosophy and psychology and are characterized by colorful, detailed illustrations with a surreal visual language. The crypto artists published their first artwork on the blockchain in 2018 and are known for their innovative combination of physical and digital artworks.
More information coming soon on cryptostamp.com
