MYLA PHILATELY: Early Austria Stamps

1850 ~ 1890 ISSUES

Before 1867 Austria was an absolute monarchy, which included Hungary and Lombardy-Venetia. In 1867 the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was established, with Austria and Hungary as equal partners. After World War I, in 1918, the different nationalities established their own states and only the German-speaking parts remained, forming a republic under the name “Deutschosterreich” (German Austria), which name was shortly again changed to “Austria”. In 1938 German forces occupied Austria, which became part of the German Reich. After the liberation by Allied troops in 1945, an independent republic was re-established.

60 Kreuzer = 1 Gulden

100 Neu-Kreuzer = 1 Gulden (1858)

100 Heller = 1 Krone (1899)

From 1851 to 1866, the Austrian Newspaper Stamps were also used in Lombardy-Venetia.

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Austria, 1851, Issue of the Monarchy

The World’s First Newspaper Stamp

Scott #P1c, 0.6 kr, Blue, Mercury Issues,

Unwmk., Typo, Imperf.,

Machine-made Paper

Type II - 'G' has a crossbar

Genuine Used

~ CV $600 (M)/$250 (U) ~

There were 3 Types for the Mercury Issues;-

Type I – The ‘G’ in ZEITUNGS has no crossbar.

Type II – The ‘G” in ZEITUNGS has a crossbar.

Type IIa– Similar to Type II but the rosette is deformed. Two spots of colour in the ‘G’.

The Mercury stamps depicted the image of the Roman god, the patron of messages & communication, with his signature winged helmet and were printed in blue (0.6Kr) – Type I, II & IIa, yellow (6Kr) – Type I, rose (30Kr)-Type I and Scarlet (6Kr)- Type II.

The rarest is Red Mercury 1856 Type II newspaper stamp (CV $85,000(M)/$57,500(U)). There are numerous reprints and forgeries stamps in the market.

Genuine key features based on AUSTRIAN PHILATELY:-

1- Engrave on greyish-white wove paper, thick or thin or ribbed paper.

2- A most peculiar long curly line attached to the base of the P of POST at left and the K of K.K at right of the stamp, pointing to the left.

- Type I – curly lines are very strong and broad.

- Type II – curly lines not very strong.

- Type IIa – merely hair-lines.

3- A hyphen after ZEITUNGS is about 1mm, distant from S and level with the centres of the letters.

4- Corner Ornaments have 4 petals like heraldic roses and 4 small ones peeping out from behind it.

5- Lip stick out - upper one projects beyond the lower.

6- A very strong line of shading at the corner of the nose.

7- The shading of the central square is very much closer and darker at the bottom than at the top. Most of reprints are always well printed and in much deeper colour.

8- The diaeresis or double dots on top of the Ӓ of STӒMPEL does not touch white line above it. However, Type II the double dots slightly too much to the left.

9- The nose has a slightly Roman outline.

10- From the brooch on the shoulder some oblique dark lines of shading radiate to right and left on the tunic.

- 1 line ends exactly above the S of STAMPEL, 2^nd between TA, 3^rd between AM and 4^th above the beginning of the M.

- The front white outline of the tunic reaches the bottom some distance before the S.

- The first dark line, running from the brooch to the right, ends exactly above the L.

11- The letters K.K. in the right hand label are place to read upwards and feet towards the centre of the stamp.

Austria, 1870/1894, Reprint of 1851 Issue of the Monarchy

Printed by the State Bureau of Printing

(k.k. Hof und Staatsdruckerei), Vienna

Front

Reverse

Scott #P2, 6 Kr, Yellow, Mercury Issues,

Wmk. “ZEITUNGS-MARKEN” for News Paper Stamps, Typo, Imperf.,

Mint Never Hinged

Machine-made Paper

Type I

Genuine Reprint Clichés

~ CV $31,000 (M)/$9,250 (U) ~

Note:
Reprint Type I without Watermark - 1866/1904;
Reprint Type I with Watermark - 1870/1884/1887/1894; and
Reprint Type II - 1870/1890.

Genuine Key Features

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Issues of The Austrian Monarchy

Front

Reverse

1850 Austria, 2Kr, Grey Black, Scott #2b, Typo, Imperf., Thick Rough Hand-made Paper, , Wmk. K.K.H.M,

VFU

~ CV $2,300.00 (M)/$120.00 (U) ~

Front

Reverse

1850 Austria, 3Kr, Red, Scott #3, Typo, Imperf., Thick Rough Hand-made Paper, Wmk. K.K.H.M,

Top of “3” nearly touches the top of the label, VFU

~ CV $825.00 (M)/$4.00 (U) ~

Front

Reverse

Coat of Arm Type II

1850 Austria, 3Kr, Red, Scott #3, Typo, Imperf., Thin Rough Hand-made Paper, Wmk. K.K.H.M,

Top of “3” touches the top of the label, VFU

~ CV $825.00 (M)/$4.00 (U) ~

Front

Reverse

1850 Austria, 6Kr, Brown, Scott #4a, Typo, Imperf., Thick Hand-made Ribbed Paper, Wmk. K.K.H.M,

First Printing, VFU, Scarce

~ CV $-(M)/$2,500.00 (U) ~

Front

Reverse

1850 Austria, 9Kr, Blue, Scott #5, Typo, Imperf., Thick Hand-made Paper, Wmk. K.K.H.M,

First Printing, Large Gutter, Type II Clichés, VFU

~ CV $2,300.00(M)/$9.00 (U) ~

Note: Type II – One heavy line around coat of arms centre. The top of “9” is much higher than the top of the word “Kreuzer”.

Front

Reverse

1854 Austria, 9Kr, Blue, Scott #5e, Typo, Imperf., Thin Machine-made Paper, Unwmk.,

Type III Clichés, VFU

~ CV $1,000.00(M)/$3.00 (U) ~

Note: Type III– Similar to type II, but with two, thinner, lines around the centre.

1858 Austria, 2Kr, Yellow, Scott #6a, Embossed, Perf. 14 ½, Thick Paper, Unwmk.,

Type I Clichés, VFU

~ CV $2,500.00(M)/$450.00(U) ~

Note: Type I – Loop of the bow at the back of the head broken, thinner & shorter

Type II – Loop of the bow at the back of the head complete, thicker & longer

1858 Austria, 3Kr, Black, Scott #7, Embossed, Perf. 14 ½, Thick Paper, Unwmk.,

Type II Clichés, VFU, Scarce

~ CV $2,900.00(M)/$240.00(U) ~

1859 Austria, 3Kr, Green, Scott #8, Embossed, Perf. 14 ½, Thick Paper, Unwmk.,

Type II Clichés, VFU

~ CV $1,500.00(M)/$175.00(U) ~

1858 Austria, 10Kr, Brown, Scott #10, Embossed, Perf. 14 ½, Thick Paper, Unwmk.,

Type II Clichés, VFU

~ CV $925.00(M)/$3.00(U) ~

1858 Austria, 15Kr, Blue, Scott #11a, Embossed, Perf. 14 ½, Thick Paper, Unwmk.,

Type I Clichés, VFU

~ CV $2,000.00(M)/$20.00(U) ~

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Issues of Austro-Hungarian Monarchy

From 1867 to 1871 the independent postal administrations of the Austria and Hungary used the same stamps. Two different printing methods were used for the 1867 to 1874 issues.

Type I – The hair and whiskers were coarse and thick

Type II – The hair and whiskers were fine and clear

1867, 5Kr. Rose, Scott #29,

Wmk. “BRIEF-MARKEN” in double line,

Perf. 9 1/2, Coarse Print, Type Ib, VFU

Note: 5Kr
Type Ia- End of the ear lobe is broken.
Type Ib- Middle line of the ear Is heavily shaded at top and bottom, end of the ear line is complete.
Type II- The ornament is prolonged within the curve and has two points at bottom. The corresponding ornament at top of the lower left corner does not touch the curve (1872).
Type III - Similar to type II but the top ornament is joined to the curve (1881).