An Post announces personalised stamps

Time was when you had to board an aircraft to get to Mauritius, Australia or such far-flung paradises. Now it's just a matter of posting yourself there for the price of a stamp.

An Post announced its first personalised stamps in Dublin yesterday, a venture which should see samples of Celtic good looks adorning envelopes and postcards the world over.

The pilot scheme offers customers the opportunity to have a printed photographic portrait attached to a regular 30p stamp.

Although a photo-booth is available in the GPO today, the service will be available by mail order only from tomorrow.

A spokeswoman for An Post envisaged people being attracted by the opportunity to add a "unique personal touch" to invitations, thank-you notes and family announcements.

"It's the affordable version of the personalised car number plate," she said. While a plate costs £250, the stamps are a gumlicking £10 for 20.

A similar service was introducedby the Royal Mail at last week's Stamp Show 2000 in London.

No one in either postal service saw anything distasteful in having a picture of oneself winging its way around the less-than-spotless post-bags of the world.

"It's not meant to be seen like that," said an An Post spokeswomen. "It's a novel and fun idea which we are confident will prove very popular with our customers."

But before you get your favourite naughty snaps out for global dissemination, there are rules.

"It will be at An Post's discretion as to whether to actually print up the stamps. Photographs of impolite gestures will not be accepted." Pictures of animals are also discouraged.

There is a bit of boldness in the venture, however. According to the rules, one should be either a head of state or dead to be on a stamp. As An Post points out, the photograph is not on the actual stamp, but attached to it.

Order forms for the personalised stamp are available from the Philatelic Bureau, GPO, Dublin 1. Telephone 01-7057400, fax 01-8722638. Orders must be placed by June 30th. Passport photos are not acceptable. The photo should be a good-quality standard-size vertical portrait.