Austria

1922 B52 7 1/2k black "Beethoven"

This semi-postal was sold at 10X face value for musicians in need

Quick History

Austria, along with Hungary and Lombardy-Venetia, was an absolute monarchy ruled by Emperor Franz Josef until 1867, when the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was established with Austria and Hungary as equals.
In 1918, after WW1, the countries separated, and the nation " Deutschosterreich," soon again became known as "Austria".
In 1938, Austria became part of the German Reich. The population was 7 million in 1939, and the capital today continues to be Vienna.

Trivia; Austria used "varnish bars"on many of its issues of 1900-04. The idea was to prevent cleaning of postmarks and reusing of stamps.

1860-61 Scott 16 15r blue "Franz Josef"

Big Blue Picture
On 21! pages, Big Blue  has 748 stamp spaces. The spaces include Regular 302, Semi-postal 101, Air post 32, Postage due 154,Special delivery 8, Newspaper 48, Newspaper tax 6, Italian occupation 38, Office Crete 14, and Office Turkish Empire 45.  Big Blue ('69 & '97) has no space for  military post stamps.

Note: The 1947,1941,1969, and 1997 editions DO provide space for the semi-postals!  In addition the Carinthia Plebicite semi-postals ( 19 stamps, 4 new to BB) have been moved to the Austria semi-postal section in the '69 & '97.

The 2011 Scott Classic catalogue, in the same catagories as offered by Big Blue (1969), has 828 major variety stamp descriptions.

Big Blue's coverage is 90%. !

Big Blue has really come through with the coverage of Austria! The postage dues, for instance, are mostly complete. It helps of course that Austria's stamps for the most part are cheap, often cataloging at the minimum 20 cents. Also, many issues are less expensive mint. Big Blue gets an A-. Missing in the '69 & '97 editions are the Military post stamps. Also Big Blue in some cases has lopped off the end of a series of quite inexpensive stamps because, I can only guess, the page was filled.

Additional stamps

1850-59
None except possible 2kr black Scott 2 or 2c ($70+)

(1858-59)
None except possible 2kr yellow Scott 6 ($50+)

1860-61
3kr green Scott 13 ($30+)

1863
3kr green Scott 23 ($10+)

1867
25kr lilac Scott 32 ($20+)

1900-04
4k gray green Scott 85 ($10+)

1910 Birthday Jubilee issue Franz Josef
There are 7 stamps ( 131,132,133,134,136,137,138) at <$1 to $2+. These should have made it into Big Blue.

1917
164 2k light blue (<$1)
165 3k carmine rose (<$1)
166 4k yellow green ($1+)
Why these-different colors too!-didn't make it into Big Blue-no idea!

1920 Imperf
227,228,229,230,231,222,233,234,235 (<$1)
The perfs are in Big Blue.

1922-24
Scott 287 4000k dark blue, bi ($2+)

The German Reich stamps that are used and postmarked clearly in Austria after 1938 are included in the catalogue, but Big Blue rightfully did not include them.

Air Post

1922-24
C5 ($5+)
C7  900k brown orange -<$1! Why not included?

1925-30
C22,C27,C28,C31 ($1+-$5+)

1935
C40,C41,C42,C43,C44($5+), C45($2+): (<$1)
Note: These Air posts should have been included, but were lopped off at the bottom of the Air Post page.

Postage due

1922-24
J126 1500k plum-(<$1)!
Note; certainly not an issue of cost when J127 @ $2+ is included in Big Blue. Victim of page layout?

1925-34
J156 ($4)

1935
J165,J166,J167,J168,J169,J170,J171,J172($1),J173($3),J174 (<$1)
Another case where the Postage Due page was filled, and these 10 stamps in the series were cut out.

Issued under Italian Occupation

1918
N5 ($3+)

Postage dues
NJ12 ($5+)

Offices of the Turkish Empire
7,7J,10,13,18,26,27,34a,39,40,41,42,52,53,54 (<$1-$2+)
Fifteen stamps are available.


Austro-Hungarian "Fieldpost" Military stamps
Issues for the WW1 occupied territories.

Big Blue included the Military stamps in the 1941 and 1947 edition, but in the 1969 edition that I have, the coverage was dropped. Unfortunately, the 1997 edition did not restore the coverage..

Here is a list of 44 Military stamps for usually much less than $4.

1915 overprinted "Feldpost" - Issues of Bosnia 1912-14 Emperor Franz Josef
M1,M2,M3,M4,M5,M6,M7,M8,M9,M10,M11,M12,M13,M14,M15,M16,M17,M18

1917-18 Emperor Karl 1
M49,M50,M51,M52,M53,M54,M55,M56,M57,M58,M59,M60,M61,M62,M63,M64,M65,M66

1918 Emperor Karl 1
M72,M73,M74,M75,M82

Military semi-postal
MB1,MB2,MB3

Note: As mentioned the 1947 and 1941 editions DO provide space for 33 stamps!

1867-80 5kr rose & 10kr blue "Franz Josef"

The Postal administrations of Hungary and Austria used the same stamps between 1867-71

Big Blue Checklist

Issues of the Austrian Monarchy (including Hungary)

1850-59 Coat of Arms (Imperf)
1d or 1 ($105-$115)
3 or 3a ($2+)
4 or 4b ($5+)
5e or 5 ( $2+-$5+)
Note: major numbers are 1850 issue with hand made paper, minor numbers are 1854 issue with machine made paper.
Note: the 1Kr yellow Scott 1 or 1d may be the most expensive so far in Big Blue.

(1858-59) Emperor Franz Josef
9,10,11 ($1+-$2+)

1860-61 Franz Josef
12 ($30+)
14,15,16 (<$1-$2+)

1863 Coat of Arms
22 or 17 ($10+-$100+)
24 or 19 (<$1-$10+)
25 or 20 ($2+-$10+)
26 or 21 ($1+-$10+)
Note: Scott 24,25,26, are 1863-64 issues, while Scott 22 is a 1864 issue. I included them as choices: For rationale see Big Blue Bottom Line.

Issues of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
1867
34 or 27, 35 or 28, 29 or 36, 37 or`30, (<$1-$2+)
31 or 38, ($5+)
39 ($1+)

1883
41,42,43,44 (<$1)
45 ($2+)

1890
51,52,53,54,55,56,57 (<$1)
58,59 ($2+-$1+)
Blank space: suggest 64 ($2+) Note: Not perfect size fit for space, but best choice.

1890
60,61 (<$1-$5+)
62 ($2+)

1891
66,67,68,69(<$1)

1896
63,65 ($2+-$10+)

Note: almost all post 1900 issues that are (<$1), are actually closer to the catalogue minimum of 20 cents.

1900-02
70 or 70a, 71a or 71, 72 or 72a, 73 or 73a, 74 or 74a (<$1)

1900-1904
75 or 75a, 76 or 76a, 77a or 77, (<$1)
78a or 78 ($1+-$2+)
79 (<$1)
80a or 80 ($1+-$2+)
81 or 81a
82 or 82a
Note: 1900-02 and 1900-1904 issues are without varnish bars (major number), and with varnish bars (minor number).

1900-04
83,84 (<$1)

1904
86 or 86a or 86b,87 or a($1+) or b, 88 or a or b, 89 or a or b, 91 or a or b,  (<$1 except noted)

1904
97 or 97a or 97b, 98 or a or b, 99 or a or b, (<$1-$2+)
100 or 100a or 100b ($2+-$5+)
101 or 101a or 101b (<$1+-$5+)
102 or 102a or 102b, 103 or a or b, ($1+-$10+)
104 or 104a or 104b (<$1+-$2+)

1904
105 or 105a ($2+)
Note: 1904 issues: major numbers are without varnish, Minor number "a" is perf 13X13 1/2 with varnish, minor number 'b" is perf 13X12 1/2 with varnish.

1906-07
90,92,93,94,95,96 (<$1)

1908-13
110 or110a,111 2h blue violet or 111a 2h violet, 112 or a, 113 or b, 114 6h orange brown or  114a 6h buff, 115 or b, 116($1+) or a ($1+), 117 or a, 118 25h ultra or 118a 25h deep blue,119 or a, 120 or a, (<$1 except noted)
Note: minor numbers on chalky paper.
Note: If different colors between choices, so noted.

1908-13 continued
121, 122 or 122c, 123 or a, 124 or c, (<$1-$2+)
125 or 125a, 126 or 126a ($1+-$10+)
Note: minor numbers on grayish paper.

1916
145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155,156, 157,158,159,160 (<$1)
161 ($1+)
Blank space:suggest 162 ($1+)

1919-21
202,205,207,210, 213,216,218,219,220,221,222,223,224,225,226,248 (<$1)

1920-21
238,239,241,242,243,244,245,246,247 (<$1)

1922
250,253,256,258,251,252,254,255,257 (<$1)

1917 Emperor Karl
168,169,170,171 (<$1)

1918-19 overprinted "Deutschosterreich"
181, 182,183,184,185,186,187,188,189,190,191,192,193,194,195,196,197 (<$1)
Blank space: suggest 198 ($1+)

1919
200,201,203,204,206,208,209,211,212,214,215,217 (<$1)

1922-24
288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293,294,295,296, (<$1)
297,298 ($1+-$5+)

259,260,261,262,263,264,265,266,267,268,269,270,271,272,273,274,275,276,277,278,279 (<$1)
280 ($1+)
281,282,283 (<$1)
284 ($2+)
285,286 ($1+-$2+)

1925-27
303,304,305,306,307,308,309,310,311,313,314,315,316,317,318,319,320,321,322,323 (<$1)
324 ($2+)

1929
326,328,329,330 (<$1)
332 ($2+)
334,335,337,338, (<$1)
339 ($10+)

1930
327,331,333,336 (<$1)

1932
340,341,342($1+),343,344,345,346,347,348($1+),349,350,351,352($3),353 (<$1 except noted)

1934-35
354,355,356,357,358 or 372, 359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,368,369,370 (<$1)
Scott 373 2s emerald  or Scott 371 2s dull green ($2+-$40+)

1934-35 Dollfuss mourning issue
374,375 (<$1-$1+)

1936
377 (<$1)

1935
376(<$1)

1937
381(<$1)

1937
382,383,384 (<$1+-$2)

1937
385,386,387 (<$1+-$3+)

1937
388,389(<$1)


Semi-Postal stamps
Issues of the Monarch

1914
B1,B2 (<$1)

1918 (Military Semi-Postals)
MB1,MB2,MB3 (<$1)

1915
B3,B4,B5,B6 (<$1)
B7($1+)

Issues of the Republic

1920 (Carinthia Plebiscite Fund)  Stamp types of Austria 1919-20 overprinted.

B11,B12,B13,B14,B15,B16($1+),B17,B18,B19($1+),B20,B21,B22,B23,B24,B25,B26,B27,B28,B29, (<$1 except noted)
Note: B11-B25 were listed under the "country" Carinthia in the '41 and '47 editions. Four of these ( B26,B27,B28,B29) are new to BB in the '69 and '97 edition. The "country" Carinthia was removed in the '69 and '97 editions.

1921  For helping flood victims
B30,B31,B32,B33,B34,B35,B36(<$1)
B37($1+)
B38,B39,B40,B41,B42,B43,B44,B45,B46 (<$1)
B47,B48,B49(<$1)

1922 Musicians
B50($5+)
B51($1+)
B52,B53($1+-$2+)
B54($5+)
B55($2+)
B56($5+)

1923
B57,B58,B59,B60,B61,B62,B63,B64,B65 ($2+)

1926 Nibelungen issue
B71,B72,B73,B74,B75(<$1)
B76($2+)

1928 Tenth anniversary of the Austrian Republic
B77,B78,B79,B80 ($5+)

1930 President Wilhelm Miklos  (Anti-tuberculosis  campaign)
B81,B82,B83,B84,B85,B86,($5+)

1936 Winterhelp
B142,B143,B144 (<$1)

1936 Inventors
B146, B147,B148,B149,B150,B151($2+)

1937 Winterhelp
B152,B153,B154(<$1)
B155($2+)

1937 Physicians
B156,B157,B158,B159,B160,B161,B162,($2+)


Air Post

1918
C1,C2,($1+-$10+)
C3($2+)

1922-24
C4,,C6,C8,C9(<$1)
C10,C11 ($2+-$5+)

1925-30
C12,C13,C14,C15,C16,C17, (<$1)
C18 ($10+)
C19,C20,C21($5+-$10+)
C22 ($2+)
C23,C24,C25,C26 (<$1)

1935
C32,C33,C34,C35,C36,C37,C38,C39 (<$1)

Newspaper Stamps

1863
P8 ($10+)

1867
P9B or P9 (<$1-$5+)
P10 ($1+)

1900
P11 or P11a,P12,P13,P14 (<$1-$1+)

1908
P15,P16,P17,P18 (<$1-$1+)

1916
P19,P20,P21,P22,P23(<$1)

1919 overprinted
P24,P25,P26,P27,P28 (<$1)

1920-21
P29,P30,P31,P32,P33,P34,P35,P36,P37,P38,P39,P40,P41,P42,P43,P44,P45,P46,P47(<$1)

1922
P48,P49.P50,P51,P52,P53,P54,P55 (<$1)

Newspaper tax stamps
1850-58
PR3,PR2 ($5+-$10+)

1878
PR5,PR6 ($1+-$5+)

1890
PR7,PR8 (1+-$2+)

Special Delivery stamps
1916
QE1,QE2 (<$1)

1917
QE3,QE4 (<$1)

1919 overprint
QE5,QE6 (<$1)

1921-22
QE7,QE8 (<$1)

Postage Due stamps
1893-95
J1,J2,J3,J4,J5,J6,J7,J8 (<$1-$2+)
J9 ($30+) !

1900
J22,J23,J24,J25,J26,J27,J28,J29,J30,J31,J32 (<$1)
J33 ($2+)

Imperf
J10,J11,J12,J13($5+), J14($2+), J15($2+), J16,J17,J18,J19($5+), J20($2+), J21($2+) : (<$1 except noted)

1908-13
J34 or J34a orJ34b (<$1-$2)
J35 or b or a (<$1-$4)
J36 or b or a (<$1-$2+)
J37 or b or a (<$1-$1+)
J38 or b or a (<$1)
J39 ($2+)
J40b(thin) or J40(chalky) or J40a(translucent) (<$1-$5+)
J41($5+)
J42 or J42a (<$1-$5+)
J43 or a(<$1-$5+)
J44(<$1) or J44a($10+) or J44b ($50+)
Note; major numbers are ordinary thin paper, minor "a" is chalky, aand minor"b" is translucent except noted)

1916
J47,J48,J49,J50,J51,J52,J53,J54,J55(<$1)
J56(41),J57(<$1),J58($2+),J59($1+)

1917
J60,J61,J62,J63(<$1)

1919 overprinted
J64,J65,J66,J67 (<$1)
J69,J70,J71 (<$1)
J72(2+),J73($5+),J74($2+)

1919
J75,J76,J77,J78,J79,J80,J81,J82,J83,J84,J91,J93,J94,J95,J96,J97,
J98,J99,J100,J101 (<$1)

1921
J85,J86,J87,J88,J89,J90,J92(<$1)

J102 surcharged (<$1)

1922
J103,J104,J105,J106,J107(<$1)
J114,J115,J116,J117 (<$1)

1922-24
J108,J109,J110,J111,J112,J113,J118,J119,J120,J121,J122,J123,J124 (<$1)
J125($1+),J127($2+),J128(<$1)

1925-35
J132,J133,J134,J135,J136,J137,J138,J139,J140,J141,J142,J143 (<$1)
J144($1+)
J145,J146,J147,J148,J149,J150,J151,J152 (<$1)
J153($2+),J154($2+),J155($1+)
J159,J160,J161,J162,J163,J164 (<$1)
Note: J165-J174 are quite inexpensive and are not in Big Blue. It appears the series was simply cut off at the bottom of the page.

Occupation stamps  Issued under Italian Occupation.

1918
N1,N2,N3,N4,N6,N7 ($1+-$2+)
N22,N23,N24,N25, ($2+)
N28($10+)
N31,N32 ($1+)
N34,N36,N39 ($5+)
N61,N62,N63 ($2+)

1919
N64,N65,N66,N67,N68,N69,N70,N71,N72,N73 ($1+)
N74($5+)

Special delivery
NE2,NE3 ($5+)

Postage Due
1918
NJ1,NJ2,NJ3 ($1+-$2+)

1919
NJ8,NJ9,NJ10 ($2+)

Office in Crete

1903
1,2 ($1+-$1)

1904-07
8($2+),9(<$1),10($5+)
12($5+),13($1),14(<$1)

1908
15,16,17(<$1)
18($5+)
19,20,($5+)

Office in the Turkish Empire

1867
7c or 1 (<$1-$2+)
7D or 2 ($1+-$50+)
7E or 3 (<$1-$30+)
7F or 4 ($1+-$2+)
5 or 7I ($5+-$10+)
Note: Numbers only are 1867 coarse print issue, while Number-letters are 1876-83 fine print issue.

1883
8,9,11 (<$1-$1+)

1886-88
15 ($3+)
16,17 (<$1-$1+)

1890-92
20,21,22,23 (<$1)

1900
32 or 32a (<$1-$1+)
33 or 33a (<$1-$2+)
34,35($4),36: (<$1 except noted)

1903
39a or 39 ($2+)
40 or 40a (<$1)
41 or 41a (<$1)
42 or 42a (<$1-$2+)
Note: Minor numbers is 1903 issue with varnish bars; Major numbers is 1906 issue without varnish bars.

1907-08
43,45 (<$1)

1913-15
57,58 (<$1)

1908
46,47,48,49,50,51 (<$1)

Postage Due
1902
J1,J2,J3,J4,J5,($1+)
Note;"green" in Big Blue; "gray-green "or  shade "yellow-green" in Specialized classic catalogue.

1908
J6,J7,J8,J9,J10,J11 ($1+-$2+)
Note: major number is "pale green" on chalky paper; Catalogue also lists a minor "a" with "dark green"on chalky paper; a minor "b" with "dark green" and thin ordinary paper; and finally a minor "c" with "dark green" on thick ordinary paper.

Note" The semi-postals found in the Big Blues are listed in the "Kinds of Blue" section below.

Kinds of Blue

The 200k dark violet Scott 292 1922-24 series

Art Nouveau design: "Symbols of Art & Science"
 Printing error on stamp space under stamp in 1997 edition.

Note: One should be aware of a printing error in Austria in the latest 1997 edition . Interesting, because the error only exists in the 1997 edition, and not in my 1969,1947 or 1941 editions. Very curious. It is found in the 1922-24 "Symbols of Art and Science" issue and involves the stamp space for the Scott 292 200k dark violet stamp. This stamp comes in no other color than dark violet. Yet the stamp space description runs thus: 200k "deep green". Of interest is the adjacent stamp space on the left for the Scott 291 100k deep green is correctly described as 100k "deep green". Somehow it appears the color description for the 100k stamp was also put in the 200k stamp space.

Now back to the regular scheduled programming...

The 1997 edition is identical to the 1969 edition.

About Semi-postals: The semi-postals listed in the 1947 and 1941 editions ARE in the 1969  the 1997 editions. ( I had come to a wrong conclusion earlier, as in one of my '69 editions. the previous owner had removed the semi-postal pages.)  In addition, the 15 Carinthia Plebicite semi-postals, formerly found in "Carinthia" have been moved to the Austria semi-postal section in the '69 and '97. (The '69 and'97 has added 4 more Carinthia Plebicite semi-postals for a total of 19 stamps.) "Carinthia" as a country is not in the '69 and '97 editions.

Compared to the 1969 and 1997 editions, both the 1947 and 1941 edition have these differences.

Deleted blank stamp space
1890
(No room for suggested Scott 64)

Added
Military stamps

1915 surcharged "K.U.K."&  "Feldpost"
M1,M2,M3,M4,M5,M6(<$1)

(1915-1917) Emperor Franz Josef
M22,M23,M24,M25,M26,M27(<$1)

1916-17 Types of 1915 (Franz Josef)
M28,M30,M32,M41,M42 (<$1)

1917
M49,M50,M51,M52,M53,M54(<$1)

1918
M69 1h greenish blue ($20+) !
M72,M73,M74,M75(<$1)
M81($1+)

Added
Military Newspaper stamps

1916
Mp1,Mp2,Mp3,Mp4(<$1)

1921 Semi-Postal B39-B45 overprinted issues of 1919-21

Sold at 3X face value for flood victims

Big Blue Bottom Line

Why are many Austrian mint stamps so cheap? Supply/Demand of course, but I would like to know more.

Big Blue's overall presentation was really quite good for Austria, marred a bit by the early amputation of the final issues with the Air Post and Postage Dues.

Addendum; After reviewing the coverage of the military stamps the 1947 & 1941 Editions provide, I'm not as sanguine about the 1969 (& '97)  Big Blue coverage.  The Military stamps are, save for one $25 stamp, quite inexpensive.

Addendum Two:
The 1863 Coat of arms series has Scott 17 (2kr yellow) @ $110!. The Scott 22 (2kr yellow) 1864 stamp with wmk 91 and perf 9 1/2 is only $14. Here is what I listed as choices....

1863 Coat of Arms

22 or 17 ($10+-$100+)

24 or 19 (<$1-$10+)

25 or 20 ($2+-$10+)

26 or 21 ($1+-$10+)

Note: Scott 24,25,26, are 1863-64 issues, while Scott 22 is a 1864 issue. I included them as choices: For rationale see Big Blue Bottom Line.

O.K, what is the rationale? I include below my discussion of the same situation in the Austria: Lombardy-Venetia Blog. Of course, if you don't agree, you are free to put in the $110 stamp into your Big Blue. :-)

"I would like to discuss a little bit more my philosophy of including (or not including) subsequent issues as "choices" for Big Blue's stamp spaces. Here for Lombardy-Venetia is an easy decision of including Scott 21 and 22 ( The 1864-65 issues) as a choice versus the Scott 16 and 17 ( 1863 issues).

This is what Big Blue gives us for a clue:

1863
Illustration of 3s stamp
Description of "5s  rose" stamp.

One could argue that the 1863 issue has first rights. It probably does if everything-especially cost-was equal.

But there is a 1864-65 issue that has the same denominations, same design, and same color. The issue only differs significantly, besides year of issue, in that it has a watermark-"Briefmarken" in double-lined capitals across the middle of the sheet. And most importantly, these stamps are much less expensive ( $50+<$120+, $5+< $30+). The only counter argument one could make is, if Big Blue wanted us to consider the later issues, why didn't it not label the years 1863-65? I agree that sometimes that argument is persuasive.

But not in this case.
1)Year of subsequent issue close to year of original issue...CHECK
2)No obvious differences without using a watermark tray or measuring  perfs....CHECK
3)No "clues", especially color description clues in Big Blue, that would give the first issue "prime" rights..CHECK
4) Big Blue does not offer another space for the subsequent issue...CHECK.
5) The subsequent issue does not necessarily have to offer cheaper costs; but if it does, clearly an incentive to offer it as a choice...EMPHATIC CHECK

Finally, one has to use a measure of "common sense" of what feels right in these judgement calls that Big Blue forces us not uncommonly to make. So the 1864-65 issue "passes" all the evaluation criteria, as well as the common sense judgement. In it goes."


Links
Austria: Lombardy-Ventia
Austria & LV: 1850 "Coat of Arms"
Austria & LV: 1858-59 Issue
Austria & LV: 1860-64 Issues
Austria 1867-84:Franz Josef's Whiskers: Coarse or Fine?
Austria 1867-84 5k rose: a study
Austria - Bud's Big Blue
Austria: Lombardy-Venetia - Bud's Big Blue (Page 23 of Austria)

Comments appreciated!