Philately of Czechoslovakia: the Hradčany issues

 

Introduction

After the demise of Austria-Hungary, the independence of Czechoslovakia was proclaimed on 28th October 1918 by the Czechoslovak National Council in Prague.

A few days before the independence was declared, Art Nouveau painter, illustrator and graphic artist Alfons Mucha were contacted by ing. Jaroslav Šulou and asked if he would be ready to prepare designs for Czechoslovak stamps. After the independence, the artist was visited by Jaroslav Leštický, a top official who was entrusted by the Presidium of the general postal directorate with the task of producing stamps. They agreed Mucha would draw proposals for stamp designs.

Mucha submitted several proposals with different motives and presented them to Leštický. The motive of the St. Vitus Cathedral at Hradčany Castle was selected for it’s historical and cultural significance. Mucha added several other elements to the design: linden leaves as a symbol of Slavs, doves as symbols of faith in better future, hearts as representations of peace and diligence of the people of the new state. Sun rays behind the castle, representing the coming of a new era, as Mucha admits, were added with plenty of “artistic liberty”, as the Sun is, according to the orientation of the castle in the design, rising in the west.

First Hradčany stamps entered into production on the 16th of December 1918 and were released to circulation two days later, on the 18th of December 1918. This date become commemorative in the philately of Czechoslovakia.

The production was marked by post-war chaos. The printing office was not prepared for the printing of stamps, there was a shortage of needed materials, machines for letterpress were obsolete, all this resulting in a number of defects and deviations.

Plate flaws

CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO ACCESS THE LISTS OF PLATE FLAWS
Design I:

  • Sun behind the cathedral,
  • doves, hearts, and linden leaves white,
  • inscription ČESKO-SLOVENSKÁ split, white letters on a colored background,
  • dimensions 26,5 X 22,5 mm.
21.12.1918 18.12.1918 18.12.1918 30.12.1918
30.12.1918 17.1.1919 23.1.1919
Design II:

  • Sun behind cathedral,
  • doves, hearts and linden leaves white,
  • inscription ČESKO-SLOVENSKÁ split, colored letters on white background,
  • dimensions 26,5 X 22,5 mm.
14.1.1919 14.1.1919 29.1.1919
Design III:

  • Sun behind cathedral,
  • doves, hearts and linden leaves shaded,
  • inscription ČESKO-SLOVENSKÁ positioned horizontally,
  • dimensions 26,5 X 22,5 mm.
14.3.1919

References

Bibliography

  1. Zdeněk Kvasnička, dr. František Kubát: Monografie Češkoslovenských Známek, Díl I. – Popřevratová doba, Prague 1968.