About the Client
Croatian Post (HP) is one of Croatia’s most recognizable public companies, mainly providing postal services. Since HP works with many international partners and clients, it needs a high level of accuracy and consistency when translating different types of documents – from contracts and internal regulations to creative philatelic texts and official press releases. In its philatelic segment, Croatian Post is especially known for issuing commemorative postage stamps, for which we also handle translation services for the accompanying texts.
Challenge
Our collaboration with Croatian Post required efficiency, accuracy and consistency in translating various types of documents and texts, including:
- Contractual documentation and internal regulations,
- Media releases and announcements,
- Creative texts accompanying commemorative postage stamps,
- Philatelic terminology, which is highly specific and technical.
It was especially important to maintain high quality while minimizing turnaround time.
Our Approach
To deliver top-quality service with fast turnaround, we implemented:
- A complete translation, editing and proofreading process – a one-stop-shop solution,
- Consistent terminology through the use of glossaries and translation memories in line with the client’s guidelines, especially for uncommon philatelic terms such as First Day Cover, comb perforation or sheetlet,
- Stylistic refinements and terminology alignment during editing, followed by final proofreading in layout, ensuring that translations are not only accurate but also clear and professionally written,
- Clear and efficient communication with the client, with predefined parameters and swift project acceptance.
Result
We have maintained continuous and successful cooperation with Croatian Post, delivering translations that reflect precision, clarity and professionalism – regardless of the complexity or specificity of the subject matter. The translated commemorative texts for postage stamps, often related to history, culture and current topics such as environmental protection or sports achievements, are regularly delivered in Croatian, English and German.
Addendum: Understanding the Essence of Philately
Precision in translating philatelic terminology is crucial for preserving the value and meaning of each issue, especially for collectors and philatelists worldwide. A high-quality translation of accompanying texts requires a thorough understanding of specific terms and their practical application. A perfect example is the “First Day Cover (FDC)”.
As the name suggests, it is not just any envelope but a complete collectible item serving as the “birth certificate” of a postage stamp. It combines three key elements:
- The newly issued stamp,
- A special postmark indicating the exact date and location of the first day of issue,
- A thematic illustration (cachet) on the envelope, complementing the motif of the stamp.
In-depth understanding and clear communication with the client allow us to translate creative texts accompanying philatelic issues with expertise and in the true spirit of the field, conveying to the world the story behind each design. This ensures the highest level of accuracy and consistency across all materials.
