FIRST INFLATION – THE USE OF 800K HARVESTER STAMPS
The two covers above illustrate the single use of the 800 Korona Harvester stamp to pay the then current tariff for sending printed matter to foreign countries: one from Makó to Würzburg, Germany on January 4, 1926, the other from Budapest to St. Gallen, Switzerland on February 24, 1926. These envelopes were sent unsealed, so that the post office could verify that the contents were in fact eligible for the reduced rate applicable to printed matter. The 800K was the highest denomination Harvester stamp issued for regular postage and was issued on March 26, 1924, just before the tariff for foreign printed matter went from 500K to 800K on April 11, 1924. The foreign printed matter rate was further increased to 1,000K on June 1, 1924 and then reduced back to 800K again on January 1, 1925, where it remained until postal rates began to be set in the new Pengő currency on April 1, 1926.
About the Philately in Action Series
Each issue of “The News of Hungarian Philately”, SHP’s quarterly journal, features a brief look at examples of Hungarian postal history. While access to SHP journals is limited to our active members, we think these covers are too interesting not to share! For a deeper dive into Hungary’s fascinating postal history, join the Society for Hungarian Philately today!
