World's Fastest Postage Stamp

UK's Times OnLine reports Austria Post and OeSD, the Austrian State Printing House, printed the world's fastest postage stamp in just 1 hour 25 minutes, at the end of June and this achievement has now been recognised by Guinness World Records.

According to the article by Peter Jennings, the Records Management Team, wrote to Austria Post on July 21: "We are pleased to confirm that you have set the new Guinness World Record for the 'Fastest printing of a postage stamp'. Details of your achievement have been entered into our records as follows: The fastest printing of a postage stamp took 1 hour 25 minutes.

The stamp commemorated the 2008 UEFA European Championship Final. The design (shown above) was approved at 11:16 p.m. on Sunday June 29 2008 and printing began immediately after.

The stamps were released on sale shortly after midnight and the first sheet was sold in Vienna, Austria, at 12:41 a.m. on Monday June 30 2008.

The letter concluded: "Welcome to the very select club of Guinness World Record holders. A commemorative certificate has been sent by post."

The previous world record stood at 10 hours, 24 minutes. It was achieved on April 20, 2001 by the Crown Agents Stamp Bureau and the Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau with a £2 souvenir sheet, issued to celebrate the 75th birthday of The Queen the following day.

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