Hungary’s first postage stamp was issued in 1871 and depicted Emperor Franz Joseph I. The printing turned out so badly, however, that the stamps were not allowed to enter circulation.
As you can see, the monarch’s face ended up with more spots than beard... Since this was, after all, the Austrian emperor and King of Hungary and Bohemia, whose portrait appeared covered in ugly pockmarks, the decision was made to destroy all 8 million stamps printed up to that point. For reasons still unknown, a few sheets escaped destruction and were actually used several years later at the main post office in Pest.
The first 1871 lithographed 2-krajcár stamp in chrome yellow is now one of the great rarities of Hungarian philately. A recent auction offered an example that sold for 2.2 million forints including buyer’s premium—to either a prosperous stamp collector or a sharp-eyed investor.
Photo: Stamp Museum
The first 1871 lithographed 2-krajcár stamp in chrome yellow is now one of the great rarities of Hungarian philately. A recent auction offered an example that sold for 2.2 million forints including buyer’s premium—to either a prosperous stamp collector or a sharp-eyed investor.
Photo: Stamp Museum