Telegraph stamps

Austria introduced state telegraph stamps in 1873; before that, from 1870, a private company, the Wiener Privat-Telegrafen-Gesellschaft, had issued stamps of its own. The state stamps show Franz Joseph, in values from 5 kreuzer to 2 gulden. Their perforations are notoriously erratic: the State Printing Works had many machines with different settings and used whichever was free. They were also used at the Vienna pneumatic-post stations and were valid until 31 March 1879.

The printing method is disputed: Wikimedia Commons and some catalogues (e.g. Yvert) say lithographed, while the telegraph-stamp specialists (S. Hiscocks, J. Barefoot) say it was in fact typographed (letterpress). The month of issue also varies (July or August 1873).

Sources: Telegraph Stamps of the World: Austria (S. Hiscocks), Wikimedia Commons: Telegraph stamps of Austria

In 1874 the telegraph stamps were reissued in a new printing of essentially the same design – the year 1873 is still in it, only smaller. They can be told from the first issue by fine cross-hatching behind the value, and there are even more perforation varieties. Like their predecessors they were valid until 31 March 1879.

This site's catalogue calls the issue offset; Wikimedia Commons and S. Hiscocks describe it as line-engraved (intaglio), and the Michel catalogue as lithographed.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons: Telegraph stamps of Austria, Telegraph Stamps of the World: Austria (S. Hiscocks)