The Artist Series is an ongoing collaboration between Plazm’s Portland Stamp Company and invited designers, artists, and writers who create original poster stamp designs. All Artist Series stamps are in a signed, limited edition of 100, printed on lickable, gummed paper, and pinhole perforated by hand on our vintage machines. 

Artistamp No. 9: Christina Seely

Internationally renowned photographer Christina Seely uses the power of image to create awareness and deepen understanding around global environmental issues. Artistamp No. 9, a signed and numbered limited edition of 100, is a new extension of her Next of Kin project. Read more in our interview. 

Artistamp No. 10: Malia Jensen

Portland based artist Malia Jensen creates her first stamp — a printed provocation. The stamps are part of her “Changing Money” series. Read more in our interview. Her artist stamp is an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet featuring Ruth Bader Ginsberg, sized perfectly to replace Alexander Hamilton on the ten dollar bill. 

Artistamp No. 11: Charles Wilkin

Charles Wilkin is an artist, designer, and beekeeper. His grandfather was a letter carrier, this is his first stamp. Read more about his stamp in our short interview. In the mid-90s he designed many pages in Plazm magazine and we sold some of his typefaces too. It’s great to collaborate with him again in a new way. 

Our first six artist stamps are pictured above — from left to right, Ed Fella, Allan Bealy, Mia Nolting, Kentaro Okawara, Sally Wassink, and Walker Cahall. 

The Fella stamps are sold out, all others remain available. The poster stamps are printed on lickable, gummed paper and pinhole perforated by hand on our vintage machines. Each is signed and numbered by the artist.

Artistamp No. 6 is by artist Walker Cahall, an illustrator, designer, maker, teacher, and worldly thinker based in Portland, Oregon. He illustrated and silkscreened them too! Read an interview with Walter and purchase a stamp on The Portland Stamp Company website. 

The Artist Series is an ongoing collaboration between The Portland Stamp Company and invited designers, artists, and writers who create original poster stamp designs.

Looking for a signed, limited edition work of art by Ed Fella for a cool twenty-five clams? How about one featuring multiple panels you can lick and stick on an envelope? Then you’re ready for the Artist Series from The Portland Stamp Company, a new venture founded by Plazm partner Niko Courtelis, Chief Perforation Officer of the new firm and his loyal Vice Perforator, Josh Berger.

Launching today, the Artist Series is a collaboration between The Portland Stamp Company and invited designers, artists, and writers who create original poster stamp designs. Poster stamps—also known as Cinderella stamps—were popular from the mid 19th century through World War II and featured the day’s prominent designers and artists. People used them to celebrate special occasions, spread political propaganda, and of course, advertise products. Nearly forgotten for decades, poster stamps are experiencing a small, passionate revival on our antique equipment. Customers may design their own stamps or ask the Plazm designers at The Portland Stamp Company to do the honors.

Upcoming artists include Allan Bealy, Rebeca Méndez, Chris Johansen, David Carson, Mia Nolting, and Kate Bingaman-Burt, with many more to follow.

Dear friends of Plazm ~

Many of you know my business partner and creative director Niko Courtelis who returned to Portland from New York a few years ago. But did you know he’s a passionate collector of stamps? An artist and designer in philatelica, he also collects the vintage equipment used to make stamps.

I’m excited to join Niko, our Chief Perforation Officer, in a new venture that revives a lost tradition: the poster stamp. Welcome to The Portland Stamp Company.

—Josh

At The Portland Stamp Company you can use your own design or we can create a custom stamp for you. All our stamps are printed on lick & stick adhesive paper with traditional pinhole perforations. They can be printed letterpress, high quality digital, or risograph.

Edition of 50 commemorative stamps for Bend Design 2017, October 26-27. Tickets are still available. Must be present to win. Plazm will also be premiering some new cuts of our OnCreativity interview series at this year’s event.

Stamps for the lovely correspondence subscription Mail More Love—featured this month in O, the Oprah magazine.

Design and print your own custom poster stamps. 
Review the options on our new website and drop us an email for a quote. We are happy to help with production, or simply download one of our easy-to-use templates. Costs vary depending on quantity and printing options.

Commemorative poster stamps are artifacts from another time.
These miniature bits of advertising were popular in Europe at the turn of the century. Their appeal, utility, and popularity quickly grew, becoming ubiquitous in the United States in the 1920s. Used on letterhead and envelopes to promote brands, products, and events, these small, ephemeral items provide visually stunning examples of the popular art movements of the time. The iconic work of famed designers such as Lucien Bernhard and Alphonse Mucha can be found on poster stamps.

Stamps for the American Library Association promoting GLBT Book Month

Bert & Ernie commemorate their union with poster stamps.

Niko Courtelis, Chief Perforation Officer
The Portland Stamp Company is honored to announce the appointment of our first CPO, Niko Courtelis. Niko has collected stamps since he was a young boy and has designed official postage stamps for countries including Grenada, Sierra Leone, Tuvalu, and Zambia. He is writing a forthcoming book on Lance Wyman’s stamp designs; a few years ago he did a talk at The Curiosity Club called Stamps Ate My Brain. Beyond stamps, Niko can be found working as a graphic designer, video director, and Creative Director at Plazm Design.