Day of issue of the commemorative stamp, postage stamps of the monarchy "Postage stamps 1917/19" Large-format coat of arms design

In addition to the postage stamps of 1916/18, four higher crown values were issued, featuring a large-format coat of arms design.

The depiction of the coat of arms on these postage stamps for 2, 3, 4, and 10 crowns differs from that of the previous issue. The state coat of arms, topped with a crown, is framed by leaves and vines, with the 2 and 3 crown values sharing the same pattern. The value imprint in a light field splits the word "crowns" in the middle. The stamps were designed by Rudolf Junk, with the engraving done by Ferdinand Schirnböck. Due to the hardships of the war years, the stamps are available in different versions. The dark color variant was issued on September 28, 1916, and from July 1917, the stamps were issued in significantly lighter colors. From the end of 1917 to 1919, they were printed on fiber paper. The printing of all variants was done using the intaglio printing process without watermark, and all were valid for postage until October 31, 1920.

A special feature is that this series of postage stamps is available in two image sizes, referred to as portrait (approx. 25 x 30 millimeters) and landscape (approx. 26 x 29 millimeters). These different formats resulted from the contraction of the moist paper during printing and depended on whether the paper sheet was cut lengthwise or crosswise and inserted into the printing machine. Stamps on fiber paper in portrait format were rare. Furthermore, there is a version of the 2-crown stamp in landscape format on fiber paper with a different perforation.

When? 
21 February 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., presentation at 10:00 a.m.

Where? 
Federation of Austrian Philately Associations, Getreidemarkt 1, 1060 Vienna

Group picture, left to right:
Helmut Kogler (President, VÖPh), Susanna Hiegesberger (stamp archive curator), members of the Order of the Golden Spur

Pictures: © Alfred Gugerell