Postage Stamps of Austria

by Tony Clayton

Austro-Hungarian Empire

War Charity Stamps <<-- : -->> Newspaper Stamps

Main Index

1916 - 1919 Issues

In 1916 a new set of 18 definitives was issued using four main designs. A further value, the 1 krone, was added in 1918.

First Design - Imperial Austrian Crown

3 heller violet SG 247.

5 heller yellow-green SG 248.

6 heller orange SG 249.

10 heller claret SG 250.

12 heller greenish blue SG 251.

Second Design - Francis Joseph I

The portrait and frame on the 25h and 30h differ from those on the two lower values.

15 heller rosine SG 252.	20 heller brown SG 253.
30 heller blue SG 254.	35 heller slate SG 255.

Third Design - Arms of Austria

The design on the 1 krone (issued in September 1918) differs slightly from those on the lower values.

40 heller olive SG 256.	50 heller deep green SG 257.	60 heller deep blue SG 258.
80 heller red-brown SG 259.	90 heller claret SG 260.	1 krone red on yellow paper SG 261.

Fourth Design - High Values with dark colours on plain paper

The designs on the 4 kronen and the 10 kronen differ from those on the lower two values as well as from each other.

2 kronen deep blue SG 262.	3 kronen lake SG 263.
4 kronen deep green SG 264.	10 kronen deep violet SG 265.

Fourth Design - High Values with light colours on plain paper

In 1917 the colours were changed to a lighter hue.

Fourth Design - High Values with light colours on granite paper

In 1918 the paper was changed. Granite paper has small fibres clearly visible embedded in the paper

2 kronen light blue SG 262aa.	3 kronen bright carmine SG 263aa.
4 kronen yellowish green SG 264aa.	10 kronen violet SG 265aa.

All the high values can be found in two formats, namely tall (25 x 30 mm) and wide (26 x 29 mm).

New Design - Charles I

Francis Joseph I died on November 21st 1916, so revised designs showing the new emperor were issued in May 1917.

15 heller venetian red SG 290.	20 heller yellow-green SG 291.
30 heller blue SG 292.	35 heller dull violet SG 293.

The colour of the 20 heller was modified the following year.

20 heller blue-green SG 291a.

Air Mail - Overprints on High Values

Issued for flights on 20th March 1918 on greyish paper and in the tall format, and then reissued on white paper in the wide format the following June (as illustrated below). Versions in different colours come from a 1968 souvenir sheet.

1.50 kronen on 2 kronen mauve SG 296B.

2.50 kronen on 3 kronen ochre SG 297B.

4 kronen grey SG 298B.

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