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Czechoslovakia Stamps

Hradcany (Castle District) in Prague

Czechoslovakia stamps first appeared in 1918, following the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. 

Much of the area that would eventually become Czechoslovakia belonged to the Kingdom of Bohemia, an imperial state of the Holy Roman Empire,  from 1348 to 1806.  After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, following the conquests of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Kingdom of Bohemia became a part of the Austrian Empire, from 1806 to 1867, and then of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to 1918.

Prague (German: Prag, Czech: PRAHA), the capital of the Bohemian Kingdom would become one of the primary cultural centers of Europe.  In this respect, Bohemia would become one of the most popular travel destinations for many of the more affluent European travelers. 

In the English language today, the word "Bohemian" is used to describe any person that leads an informal or unconventional lifestyle, usually attributed to adventurers, artists, musicians, actors, or writers.

The 20th Century Czechoslovakian Republic was created in 1918, from the combination of the former Austro-Hungarian Imperial states of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Slovakia, and Ruthenia.  The Republic of Czechoslovakia existed, in different forms, from October 1918, until its peaceful dissolution at the end of 1992.  On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovakia.

PRAG / PRAHA (Bohemia)  postmark on 1863 Austria Stamp

ARANYOS-MAROT (Slovakia) postmark on 1888 Hungary Stamp

Philatelically, specialization in Czechoslovakia stamps and postal history can be a challenging endeavor.  The 3,100 + cataloged major variety stamps issued between 1918 and 1992 are only the beginning! 

From the beginnings of prepaid postage stamps, until 1918, the 20th Century state of Czechoslovakia has been, at times, part of the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  If one wants to delve into the postmarks and postal history of Czechoslovakia, that would include hundreds of different postmarks on most of the classical postage stamps and covers of Austria and Hungary. 

Considering the period from 1938 to 1945, such a specialty would also include the German controlled states of Sudetenland and Bohemia and Moravia.  During these years, the Czechoslovakian government-in-exile (in England) also issued their own postage stamps, which were tolerated by the Allied governments.

Many Czechoslovakian stamps feature tete-beche combinations, gutter combinations, souvenir sheets, miniature sheets, booklets, proofs, and essays.  The subject matter of Czechoslovakian stamps also offers a multitude of different thematic collecting possibilities, as well.  Any type of Czechoslovakian specialty could definitely be a lifetime philatelic venture in itself.  

Reviews of many of the postage stamp issues of Czechoslovakia, as well as occasional historical articles, will eventually appear in the page link section at the right.

eBay Auction and Store Links
Czechoslovakia

The following link features category-focused affiliated seller listings on the US eBay site. They may enable visitors to shop for and to buy specific items for the particular collecting subject they've just read about. 

The affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay, Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this website.  On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated or certified.

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