Cover from Estonia

The stamp represents the Gold Breast Star of the Order of the National Coat of Arms. The order was instituted in 1936 in commemoration of the proclamation Estonian independence, 24 February 1918. The Order of the National Coat of Arms is awarded only to citizens of Estonia as the highest award for services to the country.

Like the Republic of Estonia, also Eesti Post (Estonian Post) marks its 90th anniversary this year. On 13 November 1918 Col. Johan Unt, Commander of the Defence League, issued an order to appoint Hindrek Rikand as commandant of the Tallinn Post and Telegraph Office. The Estonian postal authority regards that date as the day of its founding, The first postage stamps in the so-called flower design and with a face value of 5 kopecks were put on sale on 22 November 1918. They were printed at the Bölau printing house in Nõmme, today a borough of Tallinn. Dissolved by the Soviets in 1940, Eesti Post was re-established on 1 June 1991. The main operation of AS Eesti Post, a fully state-owned company, is provision of universal postal services. Since 1994 AS Eesti Post is a member of PostEurop and the Baltic Postal Union. Eesti Post became member in the Universal Postal Union in 1922, and its membership status was restored in 1992. Through time, Eesti Post has had seven leaders – two before World War II and five after the country restored its independence. Eesti Post has about 4,000 employees.

On the 5-th of March after 10 days of travelling I got this nice cover from Tallinn - the capital of Estonia. I esp like the stamp with the highest state award! It's wonderful, isn't it? Thank you, Hannes!