"Phila"-Toscana, Gmunden

Phila Toscana and ÖVEBRIA 2024

The postal system in the Principality was already under Austrian postal sovereignty before the first Austrian stamps were issued. In postal terms, the territory of the Principality was treated in the same way as the Austrian interior. Postal charges within the Principality and in postal traffic with or from Austria corresponded to Austrian domestic charges. All Austrian stamps were also valid in the Principality.

On 1 February 1912, the Principality issued its first stamps. On 4 October 1911, the Principality of Liechtenstein and Austria-Hungary concluded a new agreement on postal, telephone and telegraph services in Liechtenstein. This agreement provided for the formation of a separate Liechtenstein Post Office on 1 January 1912, which continued to work together with the Imperial-Royal Austrian Post Office and was administered by it. Separate stamps were designed for the Principality for the most important letter postage rates, 5, 10 and 25 Heller. On 1 February 1912, the first three Liechtenstein postage stamps appeared at the five post offices in the country. They were designed by Koloman Moser, engraved by Ferdinand Schirnböck and printed by the Austrian State Printing Office. The two artists also designed the Austrian postage stamp series used at the same time.

As a special highlight, there will be a personalised joint issue of a stamp edition 3 with Liechtenstein for the first time this year. The issues will be available on site at the respective stands of Österreichische Post AG and Liechtensteiner Post AG.