Postage Stamps of Austria

by Tony Clayton

Austrian Empire

Turkish Post Offices <<-- : -->> 1858 issue

Main Index

First Issues, 1850-1854

For four years five values were printed on hand made paper with a watermark affecting only a few stamps on the sheet. Stamps with a watermark are scarce and attract a significant premium. The paper is visibly rough.

The shield comes in two forms, the first with a thick frame, and the second with a double-lined frame. In addition, the 1, 2, 3 and 6 kreuzer values initially had the numeral touching the frame; with the second shield the numeral is set clear of the frame. These are known as Types I and III respectively.

The 9 kreuzer with the first shield has two types: I with the numeral below the K and II with the numeral level with the K. Type III has the latter position with the second shield.

In 1854 the stamps were reissued on smooth machine made paper without watermark, the 1 and 5 kreuzer in types I and III and the others just in Type III.

It is very difficult to see detail on the yellow/orange stamps. Scanning, and then changing the hue, makes the different types much easier to distinguish.

1 kreuzer orange, Type I, hand-made paper SG 1	1 kreuzer yellow, Type III, machine-made paper SG 6a.
False colour image showing the numeral touching the frame	False colour image showing the numeral clear of the frame

2 kreuzer black, Type III, machine-made paper SG 7.

3 kreuzer red, Type I, hand-made paper SG 3.	3 kreuzer red, Type III, hand-made paper SG 3d.
6 kreuzer brown, Type I, hand-made paper SG 4.	6 kreuzer brown, Type III, machine-made paper SG 9.
9 kreuzer blue, Type III, hand-made paper SG 5c.	9 kreuzer blue, Type III, machine-made paper SG 10.

Turkish Post Offices <<-- : -->> 1858 issue

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