Postage stamps 1908–1918

Austria · From the jubilee issue to the end of the monarchy · 144 stamps

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1908

1908 The 60th Anniversary of the Reign of Emperor Franz Josef I

Issued: 1. January
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Koloman Moser
Engraver: Ferdinand Schirnböck

The Jubilee issue for the 60th year of Franz Joseph's reign was designed by Koloman Moser, co-founder of the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte.

Instead of a single portrait it shows a line of emperors from Charles VI to Franz Joseph at different ages, and Schönbrunn and the Hofburg – each value in a frame of its own.

Sources: Leopold Museum: Original designs for the Austrian Jubilee stamps, Wikipedia: Postage stamps and postal history of Austria

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Description	Printed
150	139	V	1H	blackish grey		38 422 000
151	140	W	2H	violet		53 105 000
152	141	X	3H	reddish purple		725 545 000
153	142	Y	5H	green		1 867 964 000
154	143	Z	6H	brownish yellow		77 683 000
155	144	Y1	10H	purple rose		2 171 447 000
156	145	AA	12H	cinnabar		44 383 000
157	146	AB	20H	dark brown		182 663 000
158	147	Y2	25H	blue		117 573 000
159	148	AC	30H	olive green		90 561 000
160	149	AD	35H	bluish grey		97 042 000
161	150	AE	50H	dark olive green		18 522 000
162	151	AF	60H	carmine		225 671 000
163	152	AE1	72H	dark brown	1913	20 360 000
164	153	AG	1Kr	dark violet		37 789 000
165	154	AH	2Kr	red/olive		9 321 000
166	155	AI	5Kr	olive brown/blackish violet		722 000
167	156	AJ	10Kr	multicoloured		107 000
150‑167

1908–1910 Newspaper Stamps

Watermark: None
Perforation: Imperforated

In 1908 Austria's newspaper stamps got a new design with Mercury's head facing right. They were first printed on enamelled (chalk-surfaced) paper, in 1909 on thin transparent paper and from 1910 on thick smooth paper.

Like every Austrian newspaper stamp they were issued imperforate; copies on brown or cream paper are cut-outs from newspaper wrappers with the stamp printed on.

Sources: Stamp Encyclopedia: Austria – back of the book issues, Austrian Stamps: Newspaper stamps

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
168	157	XBF	2H	cobalt blue
169	158	XBF1	6H	reddish orange
170	159	XBF2	10H	purple red
171	160	XBF3	20H	brownish
168‑171

1910

1910 The 80th Anniversary of the Birth of Emperor Franz Josef I - With Enlarged Year Labels Top and Bottom

Issued: 18. August
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Ferdinand Schirnböck & Koloman Moser

For Franz Joseph's 80th birthday in 1910 Koloman Moser's designs from the 1908 Jubilee issue were used again, with the years '1830' and '1910' added at top and bottom.

Sources

Sources: Wikipedia: Postage stamps and postal history of Austria

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
172	161	V1	1H	blackish grey	157 960
173	162	W1	2H	violet	155 160
174	163	X1	3H	reddish purple	159 000
175	164	Y3	5H	green	6 836 120
176	165	Z1	6H	brownish yellow	155 800
177	166	Y4	10H	purple rose	8 067 100
178	167	AA1	12H	cinnabar	156 520
179	168	AB1	20H	dark brown	156 680
180	169	Y5	25H	blue	797 240
172‑180

1910 The 80th Anniversary of the Birth of Emperor Franz Josef

Issued: 18. August
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Ferdinand Schirnböck & Koloman Moser
Printing: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei

For Franz Joseph's 80th birthday in 1910 Koloman Moser's designs from the 1908 Jubilee issue were used again, with the years '1830' and '1910' added at top and bottom.

Sources

Sources: Wikipedia: Postage stamps and postal history of Austria

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
181	170	AC1	30H	olive green	159 360
182	171	AD1	35H	bluish grey	158 440
183	172	AE2	50H	dark olive green	127 860
184	173	AF1	60H	carmine	128 660
185	174	AG1	1Kr	dark violet	121 460
186	175	AH1	2Kr	red/olive	28 700
187	176	AI1	5Kr	olive brown/blackish violet	27 900
188	177	AJ1	10Kr	multicoloured	25 600
181‑188

1913

1913 The 60th Anniversary of the Reign of Emperor Franz Josef,I. Normal Paper without Varnish Bars

Issued: February
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Ferdinand Schirnböck & Koloman Moser
Printing: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
189	139 w	V2	1H	blackish grey	13 920 000
190	140 w	W2	2H	violet	53 040 000
191	141 w	X2	3H	reddish purple	321 076 000
192	142 w	Y6	5H	green	986 900 000
193	143 w	Z2	6H	brownish yellow	35 851 000
194	144 w	Y7	10H	purple rose	1 054 686 000
189‑194

1913 The 60th Anniversary of the Reign of Emperor Franz Josef II. Normal Paper without Varnish Bars

Issued: February
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Ferdinand Schirnböck & Koloman Moser
Printing: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
195	145 w	AA2	12H	cinnabar	22 460 000
196	146 w	AI2	20H	dark brown	104 280 000
197	147 w	Y8	25H	blue	47 090 000
198	148 w	AC2	30H	olive green
199	149 w	AD2	35H	bluish grey
195‑199

1914

1914 War Charity stamps

Issued: 4. October
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Ferdinand Schirnböck & Koloman Moser
Printing: Österreichische Staatsdruckerei

Austria's first war-charity stamps appeared on 4 October 1914 for the fund for war widows and orphans. Koloman Moser adapted his 1910 design for the emperor's 80th birthday, removing the year 1830 and placing 1914 below the portrait.

The 2-heller surcharge was paid on top, but it is not shown on the stamp. The print runs were 17.6 million for the 5 heller and 17.44 million for the 10 heller, and the stamps were valid until 30 June 1915.

Sources: FreestampMagazine: The first surcharge stamps in Austria, Austrian Stamps: War Charity issues

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
200	178	AK	5+2 H	green	17 600 000
201	179	AK1	10+2 H	rose	17 440 000
200‑201

1915

1915 War Charity Stamps

Issued: 1. May
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Sheet size: 100
Design: Koloman Moser
Engraver: Ferdinand Schirnböck

The second Austrian war-charity set was designed by Koloman Moser, who this time chose five branches of the armed forces: infantry in a trench awaiting an order, a cavalry patrol galloping down a steep slope, a 305 mm Škoda howitzer, the battleship SMS Viribus Unitis and a Lohner B.I reconnaissance aircraft.

The surcharge went to the fund for war widows and orphans. The stamps were valid until 30 September 1916.

Sources: FreestampMagazine: The first surcharge stamps in Austria, Linn's Stamp News: The Austrian semipostal stamps that raised money for war widows and orphans

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
202	180	AL	3+1 H	purple brown	7 881 250
203	181	AM	5+2 H	green	34 427 500
204	182	AN	10+2 H	rose	40 367 500
205	183	AO	20+3 H	bluish grey	3 225 000
206	184	AP	35+3 H	ultramarine	2 602 000
202‑206

1916

1916 Coat of Arms

Issued: 28. September
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Rudolf Junk
Engraver: Ferdinand Schirnböck

A rise in postal rates, partly caused by the war, called for a new definitive series. Rudolf Junk designed it and it was printed by letterpress: the imperial crown on the 3–12 h, the state arms on 40 h – 1 K, and on the 15–30 h a portrait of Franz Joseph in two slightly different poses – the last time he appeared on Austrian definitives.

The values came out between 28 September 1916 and 1 September 1918, the 1 krone last, after yet another rate increase. Franz Joseph died on 21 November 1916, and the stamps with his portrait were valid only until 28 February 1918.

Sources: Österreichische Post, Album 3/2023: Freimarken 1916/18, Österreichische Post: Freimarken 1917/18

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
207	185	AQ	3H	violet
208	186	AQ1	5H	yellowish green
209	187	AQ2	6H	orange
210	188	AQ3	10H	purple red
211	189	AQ4	12H	greenish blue
212	190	AR	15H	light red
213	191	AR1	20H	dark brown
214	192	AS	25H	light blue
215	193	AS1	30H	dark grey
216	194	AT	40H	olive
217	195	AT1	50H	dark green
218	196	AT2	60H	dark blue
219	197	AT3	80H	reddish brown
220	198	AT4	90H	reddish purple
221	199	AT5	1Kr	red/yellow
207‑221

1916 Coat of Arms - Picture Size: 25 x 30 mm

Issued: 28. September
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Rudolf Junk

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
222	200 I	AU	2Kr	dark blue
223	201 I	AU1	3Kr	brown carmine
224	202 I	AU2	4Kr	olive green
225	203 I	AU3	10Kr	dark violet
225a*	203 I	AU4	10Kr	violet
222‑225				Set (* Stamp not included in this set)

1916 As Previous - Picture Size 26 x 29 mm

Issued: 28. September
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
222A	200 II	AU5	2Kr	dark blue
223A	201 II	AU6	3Kr	brown carmine
224A	202 II	AU7	4Kr	olive green
225A	203 II	AU8	10Kr	dark violet
225Aa	203 II	AU9	10Kr	violet

1916 Newspaper Stamps

Issued: 1. October
Watermark: None
Perforation: Imperforated
Design: Rudolf Junk

Mercury, messenger of the gods, had been the emblem of Austrian newspaper stamps since 1851, and the new series of 1 October 1916 kept him – now as a small head, with the inscription KAISERLICHE KÖNIGLICHE ÖSTERREICHISCHE POST.

It appeared in five values from 2 to 30 heller on the day the war-driven increase in postal rates took effect. Like every Austrian newspaper stamp, it was issued imperforate.

Sources: Stamp Encyclopedia: Austria – back of the book issues, Austrian Stamps: Newspaper stamps, Österreichische Post: Freimarken 1917/18

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
226	212	XBG	2H	brownish
227	213	XBG1	4H	green
228	214	XBG2	6H	ultramarine
229	215	XBG3	10H	reddish
230	216	XBG4	30H	red
226‑230

1916 Express Stamps

Issued: 1. October
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12
Design: Alfred Cossmann

In the German-speaking countries it was Austria that introduced express stamps, in 1916. They did not pay for letters but for faster delivery of printed matter, and they came in an unusual triangular shape.

With special overprints they were also used in the territories occupied during the First World War.

Sources: Stamp Encyclopedia: Austria – back of the book issues, Wikipedia (de): Eilmarke

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Printed
231	217	XBH	2H	purple carmine	22 000 000
232	218	XBH1	5H	blackish green	11 000 000
231‑232

1917

1917 Emperor Karl

Issued: 10. May
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Sheet size: 100
Design: A. Cossmann

Franz Joseph died on 21 November 1916, and on 10 May 1917 the four portrait values of the 1916 series (15–30 h) were replaced by stamps showing the new emperor.

They were designed by the graphic artist and engraver Alfred Cossmann and printed by letterpress without watermark; all four show the same portrait of the young Karl I in uniform in an oval frame. They were also sold in booklets and coils, and after the rate increase of September 1918 the much-used 20 heller appeared in a darker opal green. They were valid until 31 October 1920.

Sources: Österreichische Post: Freimarken 1917/18, Österreichische Post, Album 3/2023: Freimarken 1916/18

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
233	221	AV	15H	reddish brown
234	222 b	AV1	20H	bluish green
234a*	222 a	AV2	20H	yellowish green
235	223	AV3	25H	blue
236	224	AV4	30H	violet
233‑236				Set (* Stamp not included in this set)

1917 Express Stamps

Issued: 15. May
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Engraver: A. Cossmann

In 1917 the triangular express stamps were replaced by small horizontal designs in the same 2 and 5 heller values; several perforation varieties exist.

After the fall of the monarchy the remaining stocks – like those of the postage and newspaper stamps – were overprinted 'Deutschösterreich' diagonally and sold in the new republic from December 1918.

Sources: Stamp Encyclopedia: Austria – back of the book issues, Wikipedia (de): Postgeschichte und Briefmarken von Österreich

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Description
237	219 A	XBI	2H	red carmine
237A*	219 B	XBI1	2H	red carmine	Perf: 11½
237B*	219 C	XBI2	2H	red carmine	Perf: 11½ x 12½
237C*	219 D	XBI3	2H	red carmine	Perf: 12½ x 11½
238	220 A	XBI4	5H	emerald green
238A*	220 B	XBI5	5H	emerald green	Perf: 11½
238B*	220 C	XBI6	5H	emerald green	Perf: 11½ x 12½
238C*	220 D	XBI7	5H	emerald green	Perf: 12½ x 11½
237‑238					Set (* Stamp not included in this set)

1917 Coat of Arms in New Colors - Picture Size: 25 x 30 mm

Issued: July
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Sheet size: 100
Design: Rudolf Junk
Printing: K. K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Wien

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
239	204 I	AU10	2Kr	prussian blue
240	205 I	AU11	3Kr	purple red
241	206 I	AU12	4Kr	dark green
242	207 I	AU13	10Kr	blackish violet
239‑242

1917 As Previous - Picture Size: 26 x 29 mm

Issued: July
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Design: Rudolf Junk
Printing: K. K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Wien

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
239A	204 II	AU14	2Kr	prussian blue
240A	205 II	AU15	3Kr	purple red
241A	206 II	AU16	4Kr	dark green
242A	207 II	AU17	10Kr	blackish violet

1917–1919 Fiberpaper - Picture Size: 25 x 30 mm

Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Sheet size: 100
Design: Rudolf Junk
Printing: K. K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Wien

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
243	208	AU18	2Kr	prussian blue
244	209	AU19	3Kr	purple red
245	210	AU20	4Kr	yellowish green
246	211	AU21	10Kr	brownish violet
243‑246

1917–1919 Fiberpaper - Picture Size: 26 x 29 mm

Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½
Sheet size: 100
Design: Rudolf Junk
Printing: K. K. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Wien

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Description
243A	208 II	AU22	2Kr	prussian blue
243AB	208 II	AU23	2Kr	prussian blue	Perf: 11½
244A	209 II	AU24	3Kr	purple red
245A	210 II	AU25	4Kr	yellowish green
246A	211 II	AU26	10Kr	brownish violet

1918

1918 Airmail - Greyish Paper, Picture Size: 25 x 30mm

Issued: 30. March
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½

The three stamps overprinted FLUGPOST appeared on 30 March 1918 for an air service flown by military pilots between Vienna, Kraków and Lviv, extended that summer to Kyiv.

The first flight was on 31 March and the service ended on 15 October 1918. Many philatelists count it as the true start of scheduled airmail, and as the world's first regular international airmail route.

Sources: Bitter Grounds: Early Austrian airmail, Wikipedia: Österreichische Post

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour	Description
247	225 x A	XBJ	1.50/2Kr	bluish violet/black
248	226 x A	XBJ2	2.50/3Kr	ochre/black
248A*	226 x B	XBJ3	2.50/3Kr	ochre/black	Perf: 11½
248B*	226 x C	XBJ4	2.50/3Kr	ochre/black	Perf: 12½ x 11½
249	227 x A	XBK	4Kr	yellowish grey/black
247‑249					Set (* Stamp not included in this set)

1918 As Previous - White Paper, Picture Size: 26 x 29mm

Issued: 24. June
Watermark: None
Perforation: 12½

SW	Michel	Type	Value	Colour
247A	225 y A	XBJ5	1.50/2Kr	bluish violet/black
248C	226 y A	XBJ6	2.50/3Kr	ochre/black
249A	227 y A	XBK1	4Kr	yellowish grey/black