Austria’s postal history is a fascinating journey through time, reflecting the evolution of communication and transportation. It all began in the late 15th century, when the Habsburg Monarchy established a network of postal routes to facilitate the movement of official documents and letters. These routes, known as the Thurn-und-Taxis postal system, played a vital role in connecting various regions of the empire.
The first Austrian stamps were issued on 1st June 1850. An imperforate issue of 5 different values which proved popular amongst philatelists for the different types, shades and in 1854 the introduction of a different paper, the postmarks found on these imperf stamps are also of great interest.
As the Austrian Empire transformed into the Austro-Hungarian Empire, postal services continued to expand, introducing new stamp designs and denominations. These stamps not only served as a means of prepayment but also became works of art, showcasing the empire’s culture and history.
Austria’s postal history is a testament to the country’s rich heritage and its role in advancing the global postal system. Todays stamp is a letterpiece with two stamps ( 6 & 9 Kreuzer) from the first issue in 1850. please notice the very nice cancel.