Postage stamps and postal history of Slovakia from early times to present

Slovakia has a rich postal history that spans centuries. The country's first postage stamps were introduced in 1939, featuring the image of King Charles IV.

The first stamps were printed in Czechoslovakia, but Slovakia's postal system was established in 1939, with its own postal administration and stamp issues.

Explore further: Postal Code Frankfurt Am Main Germany

Slovakia gained independence on January 1, 1993, after splitting from the Czech Republic.

Stamps issued from that date were inscribed Slovensko.

The former Czechoslovakia's stamps remained valid until September 30, 1993.

The Czechoslovak Republic was a country that existed from 1918 to 1939, formed after World War I and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Slovakia was one of the regions that made up the Czechoslovak Republic, along with Bohemia, Moravia, and Carpathian Ruthenia.

The Czechoslovak Republic used stamps inscribed with Česko-Slovensko or Československo from 1918 to 1939.

The First Slovak Republic, which existed from 1939 to 1945, had a fascinating postal history. The country issued several commemorative and definitive stamps during this period.

One notable aspect of these stamps is the variety of possible constant varieties, which are imperfections that can occur in the printing process. For example, the 60 halierov, dark purple stamp of Jozef Murgaš features a colored dot on Murgaš's forehead, which can occur in 43 different field numbers.

The definitive issue of Andrej Hlinka, printed in 1942, is another example of this phenomenon. This stamp features a white spot on the left borderline, next to the numeral 1, which can occur in an unknown number of field numbers. Similarly, the 70 halierov, dark lilac stamp of 1943 has a colored dot below the letter N in SLOVENSKO, which can occur in 16 different field numbers.

Here are some of the possible constant varieties found on these stamps:

These constant varieties can help philatelists identify and categorize their stamps, making it easier to study and collect these fascinating pieces of history.

Slovak postage stamps have a rich history, dating back to 1918 when the first Czechoslovak postage stamps were created by Alfons Mucha and issued on December 18.

These stamps were a significant milestone in the country's postal history, marking the beginning of a long tradition of philately in Slovakia.

Slovakia became an independent country on January 1, 1993, after splitting from the Czech Republic, and stamps were issued from that date inscribed Slovensko.

The first stamps of the new country continued to be valid until September 30, 1993.

Slovak postage stamps have gained international recognition, winning numerous awards in prestigious competitions such as the NexoFil Best Stamp in the World competition in Madrid.

One notable example is Ladislav Bielik's photograph, "Bare-Chested Man in Front of Occupiers' Tank", which was turned into a postage stamp and won several awards in 2019.

The Slovenská pošta postal service received a record number of awards in 2019, showcasing the exceptional quality of Slovak postage stamps.

Slovak postage stamps are created with the help of talented artists from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, under the influence of renowned Slovak painters like Albín Brunovský.

Every year, a selection of stamps is issued to celebrate anniversaries, important personalities, and events, such as the stamp depicting astronaut Eugene Cernan, who had Slovak roots, in 2022.

Even though the way we use postal services is changing, postage stamps remain relevant and continue to charm both collectors and the general public.

Here are some notable Slovak postage stamps that have received awards: