Austria Stamps
Issues of 1929-1932
For Austria stamps, 1929 would see the first of a new series of pictorial definitive postage stamps, finally replacing the tiresome and somewhat monotonous art-nouveau-style symbolic definitive and air mail postage stamp issues of the previous decade. More pictorial charity stamps would also appear, giving the period from 1929 to 1932 a very nice looking assortment of attractive new stamp issues.
There was something ominous on the horizon though. In October 1929, the Great Depression began. This period of unspeakable poverty and suffering hit the German-speaking countries of Central Europe, still suffering from war reparation expenses and the era of hyperinflation. The social and political instability in the aftermath of the Great Depression would bring extremist political movements to power in Central Europe, and over the next 15 or so years, they would destroy the First Republic of Austria and the fallout from them would negatively affect the modern World for the remainder of the 20th Century!
The fourteen landscape-type definitive Republic of Austria stamps shown above (Mi. #498-11, Sc. #326-39) began appearing in November 1929, continuing through September 1930. The Groschen denominations are typographed and the Schilling denominations are engraved.
Their designs are as follows:
- 10 G. - Güssing, Burgenland.
- 15 G. - Hochosterwitz, Carinthia.
- 16 G. - Dürnstein, Lower Austria.
- 18 G. - Traunsee, Upper Austria.
- 20 G. - Dürnstein, Lower Austria.
- 24 G. - Salbzurg Fortress, Salzburg.
- 30 G. - Seewiesen, Steiermark.
- 40 G. - Castle of Innsbruck, Tirol.
- 50 G. - Wörthersee, Carinthia.
- 60 G. - Hohenems, Vorarlberg.
- 1 S. - National Library, Vienna.
- 2 S. - St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
The six charity stamps shown above (Mi. #512-17, Sc. #B81-86) were issued on October 4, 1930.
These Austria stamps sold for double face value, with the surtax aiding anti-tuberculosis work and the building of new sanatoriums in Carinthia.
The common design features a portrait of Wilhelm Miklas (1872-1956), the third president of the Republic of Austria (1928-1938).
The six overprinted Austria stamps shown above (Mi. #518-23, Sc. #B87-92) were issued on June 20, 1931 to publicize the Rotary International Convention held in Vienna.
The overprints, which were applied to six denominations of the 1929 landscape definitive stamp series, consisted of the Rotary International Emblem and "CONVENTION / WIEN / 1931" in various colors.
The six pictorial charity stamps shown above (Mi. #524-29, Sc. #B93-98) were issued on September 12, 1931, and they feature noteworthy Austrian writers.
These stamps were sold at double face value, with the proceeds benefiting unemployed young people.
Their designs are as follows:
- 10 G. - Ferdinand Raimund (1790-1836).
- 20 G. - Franz Grillparzer (1791-1872).
- 30 G. - Johann Nestroy (1801-1862).
- 40 G. - Adalbert Stifter (1805-1868).
- 50 G. - Ludwig Anzengruber (1839-1889).
- 1 S. - Peter Rosegger (1843-1918).
During 1932, fourteen landscape definitive stamp types of 1929 were re-issued in a much smaller size. They are all illustrated above (Mi. #530-43, Sc. #340-53).
Their descriptions are as follows:
- 10 G. - Güssing, Burgenland.
- 12 G. - Traunsee, Upper Austria.
- 18 G. - Traunsee, Upper Austria.
- 20 G. - Dürnstein, Lower Austria.
- 24 G. - Salbzurg Fortress, Salzburg.
- 30 G. - Seewiesen, Steiermark.
- 40 G. - Castle of Innsbruck, Tirol.
- 50 G. - Wörthersee, Carinthia.
- 60 G. - Hohenems, Vorarlberg.
- 64 G. - Hohenems, Vorarlberg.
The six pictorial charity stamps shown above (Mi. #545-50, Sc. #B100-05) were issued on November 21, 1932, and they feature noteworthy Austrian artists.
These stamps were sold at double face value, with the proceeds benefiting charitable institutions.
Their designs are as follows:
- 12 G. - Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1793-1865).
- 24 G. - Moritz von Schwind (1804-1871).
- 30 G. - Rudolf von Alt (1812-1905).
- 40 G. - Hans Makart (1840-1884).
- 64 G. - Gustav Klimt (1862-1918).
- 1 S. - Albin Egger-Lienz (1868-1926).
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Return to Austria Stamps of the First Republic
from Issues of 1929-1932
The 50 G. denomination pictorial charity stamp shown above (Mi. #544, Sc. #B99) was issued on October 12, 1932 to mourn the Death of Ignaz Seipel on August 2, 1932.
These stamps were sold at double face value, with the proceeds benefiting wounded veterans of World War I.
Monsignor Ignaz Seipel (1876-1932) was a prelate and politician of the Christian Social Party, and he was the Chancellor of Austria twice, during the period between 1922 and 1929.