One Family's Blog: Austria Stamps Profile

Austria is a land-locked country in Central Europe bordered by Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Its terrirtory covers about 33,000 square miles and has a population just over 8 million. Austria’s well developed market economy and very large tourism industry together accounts for its status as one of the twelve richest countries of the world. Present day Austria was part of the Roman Empire following conquest of the Celtic Kingdom of Noricum by the Romans in 15 BC. Christianity was introduced following conquest of the area by the Frankish King Charlemagne – more than 70% of Austrians are Catholic Christians. The long reign of Franz Joseph (1848-1916) dominates the early part of the modern history of Austria – the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary formed a dual sovereignity during the bulk of his regin (1867-1916) as Austria-Hungary. Following the defeat in World War I, the country was reduced to a small republic that became briefly known as German Austria but the Entente powers (treaty of Saint Germaine) made sure that Austria did not unite with Germany and the name was changed to Republic of Austria. During World War II, Austria became part of the Third Reich – following the defeat in World War II, Austria was divided into four zones and governed by the Allied Commission for Austria. It gained full independence on May 15, 1955.

The first stamps of Austria were a definitive set of 5 stamps (Scott #1 to #5) with the

“Coat of Arms” theme in five denominations (1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 Kruezer) each with a different color (Yellow, Black, Red, Brown, and Blue respectively) released in 1850.

The printing

till 1854 used a crude production method that combined rough hand-made paper in varying thickness wit “K.K.H.M.” (Initials of the German term for the “Imperial and Royal Ministry of Commerce”) watermark in the vertical gutters in the panes. Later productions used machine made paper with no watermark.The first issues were used until 1858 and several varieties exist. Used single copies are somewhat common and fetch between $2 and $100 depending on denomination and variety – the 3kr Red and the 9kr Blue catalog for around $3 while the 1kr yellow catalogs for around $100. Unused copies are a lot rarer and fetch between $500 (3kr Red on Machine made paper Type III) and $2000 (9kr Blue on hand made paper).

Some varieties, blocks, and bisected copies on cover are even rarer and fetch a lot more – for example, few copies of the diagonally bisected 2kr Black on cover exist and fetch upwards of $25000. Also, few copies of First Day Cover cancellations of these stamps exist and they fetch between $20000 (3kr Red) and $60000 (2kr Black) – First Day Cover showing 1kr Yellow is not known to exist. In 1858, Austria issued their second set of designs that show Emperor Franz Josef (Scott #6 to #11) in five different denominations (2kr, 3kr, 5kr, 10kr, and 15kr) and six different colors (Yellow, Black, Green, Red, Brown, Blue) – the issues were denominated in Neu-Kreuzer following conversion to the decimal system in the beginning of that year. Unused copies of these stamps are rare and fetch a big premium – they catalog for between $500 (5kr Red) and $2500 (3kr Black) – the corresponding Used copies catalog for between $1 and $200. Different designs of the Coat or Arms and Franz Josef themes continued until 1908. Many of these stamps are rare and fetch a sizeable premium. A large set of 15 stamps (Scott #70 to #85) in the Franz Josef theme was released in 1899 – the issue was significant as it represented the first stamps represented in Heller, the currency that was used from 1892 till the dissolution of the Austria-Hungary Empire (1916). The set catalogs for around $250 for MNH and about one-tenth that for Used.

The aftermath of World War I saw inflation spiking in Austria and a set of stamps issued in 1922 demonstrates this fact nicely –

the large set of 37 stamps (Scott #250 to #287) has denominations that range from 1/2k to 4000k in two different designs (“Symbols of Agriculture” and “Symbols of Labor and Industry”). The set is remarkably affordable at less than $20 catalog value for a Used set – a mint set catalogs for double that and MNH set about six times that. A sister set in a “Symbols of Arts and Science” design was also released in the same time period in a separate set (Scott #288 to #298) – this set has denominations from 20k to 10000k. This set is also very affordable at less than $10 for Used and about three times that for Mint and slightly higher for MNH. In 1924, the currency in Austria was changed to Groschen & Shilling and the stamps that followed were denominated in this new currency. Austria did not issue any stamps between 1937 and 1945 as the Anschluss resulted in Austria using German stamps until the end of World War II. The period started with a transition arrangement whereby both German & Austrian stamps were required and covers that show mixed franking exist and fetch sizable premium.

After World War II, in the early months of 1945, Austrian stamps consisted of overprints of German stamps, many depicting Hitler with the face fully or partially striked through.

The overprints, style, and designs varied depending on the zone the stamps were issued and used. A few of the Hitler overprints are very valuable (Scott #428 to #431 and #398 to #404) with a catalog value of $750 and $75 respectively for MNH sets, but counterfeits exist and so collectors need to exercise a great deal of caution before investing in any of them. In the latter months of 1945, stamps with the “Republik Osterreich” inscription replaced the German overprints – first themes included the “Coat of Arms”, and Austrian local scenes.

Other significant Austrian stamp issues over the years include:

A set of 37 definitive stamps (Scott #520 to #556) issued from 1948 to 1952 showing different Austrian Costumes. The set catalogs for less than $20 Used and around $50 Mint with MNH about 5 times higher. Part of this set (21 denominations) were reissued in 1958-59 and that is valued somewhat less – it is distinguishable by the fact that they are printed in white paper as opposed to gray paper used in the earlier set.
During the first 10 years following World War II, the overwhelming theme that dominated Austrian stamp issues were the long series of stamps/sets issued in the ‘Great People’ theme. Most of these catalogs for a few dollars with a few higher denominations cataloging somewhat higher. One interesting short-set from the series is the 1950 issue of four stamps (Scott #568 to #571) depicting great people of Austria from different fields (Alexander Girardi – Actor, Moritz Michael Daffinger – painter, Andreas Hofer – patriot/politician/martyr, and Josef Madersperger - inventor). The set catalogs for around $30 for Used or MNH.
On May 15, 1955, Austria issued a stamp overprinted “STAATSVERTRAG 1955” (Scott #604) to mark the signing of the Austrian Treaty of Independence with the US, France, Great Britain, and Russia – representatives of the four zones governed by the Allied Commission for Austria following the division after World War II. This stamp is remarkably affordable at less than $3 for MNH and less than a dollar for Used.
Between 1973 and 1978, Austria issued a long set of definitive stamps (Scott #958 to #976) that depict Austrian local scenes in a uniquely beautiful design. The single color border along with a combination of white background and single-color main design in the center makes these stamps instantly recognizable. The set catalogs for around $20 MNH and a few dollars for Used.
Between 1993 and 1995, Austria issued a set of ten definitive stamps that show Christian theme. The set (Scott #1599 to #1608) is also notable because of its orginal unique design and catalogs for around $20 MNH and a few dollars for Used.
In 2002, Austria released a short set of three stamps in the “Promotion of Youth Philately” theme. The three different designs used cartoon characters in beautiful multi-colors. The set (Scott #1885 to #1887) catalogs for around $5 for either MNH or Used.
Austria issued a number of stamps over the years celebrating famous painters, especially Gustav Klimt, the Symbolist painter. One such issue is the mini-souvenir sheet (Scott #1938) released October 10, 2003 that show Gustav Klimt’s ‘Judith I’. The souvenir sheet catalogs for around $5 for either MNH or Used.