Artistamp refers to a postage stamp-like artform. It is similar to a Cinderella stamp, in that it is not valid for postage, but it differs from a forgery or a bogus stamp in that (typically) no intention is made to fool any post office or collector of stamps. The artistamp is intended to be a miniature artform which can depict or commemorate any subject its creator chooses.

Artistamps are often created uniquely or in limited editions. An artistamp creator will often include his work on actual mail, alongside valid postage stamps, in order to decorate the envelope with his art. When so combined (and sometimes, less strictly speaking, even when not so) the artistamp forms part of mail art.

Techniques for the creation of artistamps may or may not include perforating the boundaries of the piece to more resemble a (water-activated) stamp , as well as applying gum to the reverse side of the paper. (Self-adhesive artistamps have also been made, however, and indeed artistamps have been issued in practically every format in which postage stamps have been—including souvenir sheets , and perhaps more.) Whole sheets of such stamps are often made at one time. The artwork can be hand-drawn or painted, lithographed or offset-printed, photographed, xeroxed, rubber stamped, or even output by computer-driven printer.

Creators of art within this genre include Donald Evans, Anna Banana, Steve Smith and the astonishingly prolific New Zealander Bruce Henderson . Henderson's output spans more than three decades and encompasses an entire alternative universe of artistamp countries. These include the Sultanate of Occussi-Ambeno, the Kingdom of all the Sedang (not to be confused with the historic Kingdom of Sedang), the Sultanate of Upper Yafa, the People's Republic of Kempland, the Free Vinland Republic, the Republic of Liegerland, the Republic of Port Maria, Tui Tui, Aldabra, Karenni, Raoul, the Land of Muggy, Terra Candella, Cryonica, Aramoana, Whangamomona, Laré, Nova Arcadia, the Antarctic Confederation and the Khanate of Bokhara. Henderson's artistamp world even has its own imaginary "United Nations," the "International Council of Independent States" (ICIS). His creations are sometimes identified as micronations, however, being completely fictional and without "participants", they do not fit the definition.

Another example is a series of Ankh-Morpork stamps, which were created to publicise the Discworld novel Going Postal, and proved so popular that more Discworld stamps are planned.

Makers of artistamps sometimes apply cancellations to them when they are on cover and first day of issue covers for artistamps exist.

External links

• Kingdom of all the Sedang - includes links to many of the Henderson artistamp "countries" listed above.
• International Council of Independent States (ICIS)