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Classic stamps and entireties of European and non-European countries
This sub-collection includes postage stamps, postal stationeries and entireties from around the world, most of them coming from European countries. The bulk of the materials dates back to mid-19th century while some are even older, for instance the pre-stamp letters. The highlights are the first stamp in the world - an 1840 British Penny Black - and stamps issued by countries that followed the British example in the early 1840s.
The first stamp-issuing countries include several Swiss cantons (Zurich 1.3.1843, Geneva 30.9.1943, Basel 1.7.1845), old German states (Bavaria 1.11.1849), France (1.1.1849), Belgium (1.7.1849), Spain (1.1.1850) and post-1.6.1850 Austria. Entireties, postcards, telegraph blanks with printed stamp and cancellations from around the world are also kept in this sub-collection, as are the rare stamps with private overprints, postal receipts, money orders, and other materials. Further materials include miniature sheets of stamps and commemorative sheets with stuck postage stamps and reprints of 1866-94 Austrian stamps. In the 1970s and 80s, sets of different collectables were sent to the Postal Museum by the postal philatelic service (POFIS) acquisition committee; they do not make up a coherent set. Classic European stamps in this sub-collection are the basic foundation of the permanent stamp exposition displayed in the exhibition hall of Vávra's House, which is open to general public.
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