The story behind this postage stamp is linked to an initiative of the Slovak Postcrossing community, which is part of a private Portuguese on-line project. After registration at www.postcrossing.com, users can exchange postcards. The project was launched in 2005 and soon became a global phenomenon. As the owners of the Postcrossing trademark have not allowed Slovak post to use the logotype of the project within the design of a postage stamp intended to present a futuristic aspect of sending letters, and that is why the name of issue was changed on the universal service. Within Slovakia this is understood as the delivery of letters up to 50 g and also includes postcards. Although they are generally classified as slips, i.e. open postal items up to 20 g, this weight class was cancelled in Slovakia in 2006. So, what does it means the universal service?
Pursuant to Section 3 of Act No. 324 on Postal Services, as amended, the universal service is the supply of postal services which ensures a minimum level of satisfaction of the postal service requirements of users in the Slovak Republic. The same rules ensure the public postal network access points and contact points are accessible under the same conditions, at a certain level of quality, an affordable price with at least one collection and delivery every business day. A universal service provider is a postal operator (or operators) who is obliged to provide universal service through a postal licence meeting the conditions and service expectations in line with the Act. The universal postal service includes: the collection and distribution of postal items up to 2 kg in weight, including the collection and distribution of literature for the blind, the collection and distribution of parcels weighing up to 10 kg, the distribution of parcels weighing up to 20 kg, if they were collected abroad by a foreign universal service provider, the collection and distribution of registered and insured items, the collection and distribution of official items, extra services connected with registered postal items according to the rules for international postal service and the return of undelivered postal items to senders.
The universal service also includes registered items. This allows a letter to be sent with a guarantee against the risk of loss, theft or damage. The sender receives a receipt to confirm the item was posted and, if required, that it was delivered to the recipient. The insured item service allows the insurance of an item against loss, theft or damage. The insured sum is specified when an item is posted. The universal service is provided for both domestic and international postal items. The international postal services are provided according to the rules that apply to international postal services.
Martin Vančo
