Sweden just release a set of four stamps showing different glimpses of a cat’s daily life. The stamps were designed by Swedish illustrator Carina Länk and they are a celebration of the ways in which cats communicate through their body language and sounds.
SVERAK, the National Cat Association of Sweden, helped interpret each of the cat behaviors depicted in the stamps:
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“Food is good.” Cats need a well-balanced diet and will not settle for leftovers. If their food does not have the right ingredients, cats can suffer from deficiency diseases. It is in a cat’s nature to snack and they can eat up to 20 times a day. Cats are predatory animals and over thousands of years have maintained their carnivorous instincts. | |
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“That’s mine!” A little ball can entertain a cat. Cats are mischievous in general and can entertain themselves with relatively little means. A wad of paper can be equally interesting as a toy purchased at the store. But avoid a ball of yarn and any other items with loose parts that the cat can swallow. | |
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“Don’t come too close!” Defensive posture, often an arched back with the body angled toward the potential attacker, ears flattened backwards or to the side, dilated pupils, whiskers standing straight out and the mouth bared to show its teeth. This cat is clearly signaling that it is prepared to defend itself. | |
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“I slept well.” A cat needs a lot of sleep, around 20 hours a day, and all cats want to be left alone when they are sleeping. There is probably no other animal in the world that can stretch as sensually as a cat that has just woken up. Cats have excellent hearing and are alert to sounds even when they are sleeping – just watch how their ears move in their sleep. |
Ms. Länk also designed the picture of the cat on the First Day Cover, the head of the cat on the FDC cancellation, and the illustration of kittens on the Collector’s Sheet. Visit the Posten online shop and download Bulletin 1 2010 to read an interview with Ms. Länk and to order the new cat stamps for your collection.
Thanks to Moderncat reader Marie-France for the info.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Love the designs on these! Wonder if she’ll do prints of these?
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:59 am
I spent a year as a foreign exchange student in Sweden and have always wanted to go back…now I have to just to get these stamps! LOL
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:05 am
I wish USPS had them. I would buy enough to use on letters for years.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:27 am
I want these in the US! They’re great!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:01 am
Oh these are so bold and colourful, just love them and the background on each one of them!
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:55 am
I love this entry! What a great design and I love the descriptions too. I would also buy these if they were available in the US, esp. because I have an all-black cat myself!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I just ordered Swedish stamps! Hee hee! Thanks Kate
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Just a note: If you live in the US and just want basically an example of each stamp, not a whole booklet of stamps you may want to order the “Cats FDC” (first day cover) and not the “Cats Booklet.” The link above takes you to the Cats Booklet. The link to the Cats FDC is https://www.posten.se/m/firstdaycovers
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Ms. Lank is a very talented artist and obviously knows, and loves, her cats. Thanks for sharing these with us (now to try to find some Swedish cat friends online!)
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Love these!
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:51 pm
I just ordered the first day cover for my Grampa. He is a cat lover and a stamp collector! This will make an excellent Birthday gift for him. I paid 58 kr total (which converts to about $7.99 USD).
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I live in Sweden and I just love these new stamps. ^_^
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I just ordered the first day cover as well. Cheap and cute!
February 4th, 2010 at 7:17 am
They are so beautiful. US should also design some stamps specifically on the topic of cats.
February 4th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
It would be great if they came out with prints, they’re really beautiful artwork! It sounds like all of us would love to see these at the local post office!
March 8th, 2010 at 3:28 pm
Compare Swedish stamps to those form Poland, issued on 17 February: http://www.kociarstwo.pl/2010/03/koty-filatelistyczne/. Swedish design is much nicer
April 15th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I absolutely LOVE these Swedish stamps! Kudos to the brilliant and talented Carina Lank!!