125 Years of Snow Globe: Post Dedicates a Special Stamp to the Viennese Original

It is a globally popular souvenir – but few know that the snow globe was invented in Vienna. To celebrate the anniversary of the Original Vienna Snow Globe Factory, which this year looks back on a 125-year history, the Austrian Post is issuing a special postage stamp.

Post features Erwin Perzy I on new special stamp

The design by David Gruber shows the inventor Erwin Perzy I behind a depiction of his first snow globe with the Basilica of Mariazell. With a dark blue background, sparkling accents, and snow crystals, it appears as if the stamp itself is inside a snow globe. The face value is 1 Euro (rate: Letter S), and the edition is limited to 350,000 pieces. The stamp is now available in all post offices, in the Post's online shop, and through the collector's service.

Exclusive anniversary snow globe at special post office

Accompanying the issue, a special post office was set up in the Original Vienna Snow Globe Factory on Schumanngasse in Vienna-Hernals. On site, the factory surprised with an exclusive anniversary snow globe in a limited edition: It contains an enlarged version of the postage stamp and a miniature of the Mariazell Basilica – a tribute to the very first snow globe.

From light experiment to global icon

The snow globe was invented around 1900 by Erwin Perzy I, a surgical instrument maker who was originally searching for a better light source. During experiments with water-filled glass bulbs, he sprinkled semolina into the water to enhance light reflection – and was reminded of snowfall. Perzy placed a miniature of the Mariazell Basilica in the globe and thus developed the first snow globe with a "snow effect."

What began as a coincidence quickly became a success: Perzy founded the Original Vienna Snow Globe Factory, which is still family-run today. Each globe is handcrafted there, and the historical workshop can still be visited in the adjoining snow globe museum.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.