The Hungarian flag can be found on the National Flag series issued by the United Nations in 1980. Other countries have shown the Hungarian flag (grouped with the flags of other nations) as well: Czechoslovakia (Scott # 2503-2504), Poland (Scott #2096), Soviet Union (Scott #s 5347, 5367) and Switzerland (Carl Lutz stamp issued in 1999). The Sovereign Military Order of the Knights of Malta pictured the current Hungarian coat-of-arms on a 1990 stamp issue. The 1957 version of the coat-of-arms with the red star was reproduced on a stamp issued by Vietnam in 1975 (Scott #785).

The Vatican issued stamps depicting the image of St. Stephen from the Coronation Robe and the Madonna, the Patroness of Hungary (Scott #s 513-4). In a joint issue with Hungary, Belgium issues a beautiful series showing the portraits of King Matthias, Queen Beatrix and a reproduction of a page from the Corvin Codex in 1993 (Scott #s 1473-6).

Several Hungarians are depicted on stamps issued by Poland in 1995 and 1996: King Louis the Great (ruled 1342-1382), his daughter St. Hedvig (also know as Jadwiga, lived 1373-1399), King Wladislaw I (ruled 1440-44 and died in the Battle of Varna), and István Báthory (Prince of Transylvania, 1571-1576, King of Poland, 1576-1586). The image of St. Hedvig can be found on other Polish stamps (Scott #s 322, 339, 1223, and 3176) and on a Vatican issue (Scott # 436). István Báthory is also depicted on other Polish stamps (Scott #s 325, 750, and 2322).

In addition to St. Stephen and St. Hedvig, other Hungarian saints have appeared on stamps. The 1000th anniversary in 1997 of the death of St. Adalbert was commemorated by joint issues from Hungary (Scott #3569), Germany (Scott #1964), Poland (Scott #3337), Czech Republic (Scott #3012) and the Vatican (Scott #1040). St. Elizabeth of Hungary (lived 1207-1231) is depicted on stamps from Austria (Scott # B144), Monaco (Scott #721), and Colombia (Scott #s 667, C286). St. Elizabeth is the patroness of Bogota.

The portrait of János Hunyadi, military leader and Regent of Hungary, is shown on stamps from Bulgaria (Scott #281) and Rumania (Scott #1121). The other values of the set from Bulgaria (Scott #s 281-285) were issued for the anniversary of the Battle of Varna and also depict King Wladislav and the monument commemorating the battle.
Another famous Hungarian military leader was László Bercsényi (lived 1689-1778), who organized the French cavalry and became a Marshall of France. He is depicted on France, Scott # B514. The lower left hand corner of this stamp depicts a saddlebag with the inscription Vivat Hussar.

Several countries issued stamps honoring the heroes of the 1848-48 War of Independence. Italy remembered the 100th anniversary of the death of Lajos Kossuth with a stamp issue (Scott #1978). Kossuth appeared on two US Champion of Liberty stamps in 1958 (Scott #s 1117-8). Poet Sándor Petöfi’s portrait appeared on stamps from the Soviet Union (Scott #2268) and Rumania (Scott #s 858, B411). Poland pictured Generals József Bem and Henryk Dembinsky on several stamps (Scott #s 256, 430, 489, and 3190).

The 1956 Hungarian Revolution prompted several stamp issues. Most notable is the set from Greece depicting the martyred Prime Minister Imre Nagy (Scott #s 664-5). Relief funds for the Hungarian refugees were collected through semi-postal stamps issued by Austria (Scott # B298), Denmark (Scott # B24), the Dominican Republic (Scott # B1-5, CB1-3). The plight of Hungary’s children was highlighted by stamps from Spain (Scott #s 857-62). The Marshall Islands’ Millennium stamp issue depicted street fighting in Budapest (Scott #702). This is the only philatelic remembrance of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution among the hundreds of stamps issued in 1999 and 2000 for the events of the last Millennium!

There is a wealth of philatelic material honoring Hungarian scientists. Robert Bárány (winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine, 1914) appeared on an Austrian stamp (Scott #1031); mathematician János Bólyai was honored by Rumania (Scott #1354); physicist Theodore von Kármán is pictured on stamps from the US (issued in 1992) and Micronesia (Scott #178); botanist and chemist Pál Kitaibel, who discover telluride, was honored by Austria (Scott #1562); Doctor Ignác Semmelweis is shown on stamps from Austria (Scott #746), Transkei (Scott #268), and Germany (B350-3); chemist Richard Zsigmondy (winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, 1925) is shown on a stamp from Austria (Scott #1133); civil engineer István Türr designed the Corinth Canal in 1893. The canal is depicted on several stamps from Greece (Scott #s 321, 326-7, 364).

The topical area of fine and performing arts is also represented well by Hungarians on stamps. Pianist and composer Ferenc Liszt is honored on numerous stamps from Austria (Scott #s 674, 1371), the German Democratic Republic (Scott #s 570-3), Germany (Scott # 1464), the Soviet Union (Scott #2536), and Poland (Scott # B106). Conductors Jenö Ormándy (1898-1985) and György Széll (1897-1970) were honored by stamps from the US in 1997. Actor Béla Lugosi (1882-1956), whose trademark was the personification of Dracula, was shown on a US stamp series honoring ‘Movie Monsters’ in 1997. Acrobat and escape artist Harry Houdini (1874-1926), who was born Erik Weiss in Budapest, was pictured on stamp issued by the US this year. Works by Victor Vasarely, the father of op(tical)-art, are reproduced on stamps from France (Scott #1519, 1709), Cuba (Scott #1261), and Jugoslavia (Scott #1830). In 1970 his artistic representation of learning was chosen as the logo for the UN International Year of Education. It was reproduced on stamps from Argentina (Scott # C129), Cyprus (Scott #346), Greece (Scott #998) and many other countries. In 1990, the UN reproduced a painting titled ‘In Front of the Judge’ by Sándor Bihari (1855-1906) (Zumstein #s 111-2). Amrita Sher-Gil (193-1941), who is India’s most significant 20th century artist, claims partial Hungarian ancestry. Her painting titled ‘Hill Women’ was reproduced on the 2-rupee value of the Modern Indian Artists series (Scott #795). Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) is also of Hungarian descent. Her father was born in the village of Kálló, Tolna County. Frida was born in Coyoacan, Mexico, and is pictured on a US stamp issued this year. Hungarian-born photographer André Kertész (1894-1985) was also honored by the US recently. His photograph of New York was part of the Masters of Photography set issued on June 13, 2002. Correspondent and newspaper published József Pulitzer (1847-1911) was born in Makó, Hungary. He is shown on a US stamp (Scott #946). Painter Mihály Munkácsy’s works appeared on stamps from Luxembourg (Scott #s 942-3). Composer Béla Bartók was honored by Slovakia (Scott #210).

Hungarian-related stamps appeared from Estonia in 1998 and 2000 commemorating the Finno-Ugric linguistic conferences. Hungarian graphic artists designed countless stamps for other countries. Imre von Mosdóssy worked for the post offices of Colombia and Canada. Anikó Szabó’s stamp design was used by Argentina. Gyula Vásárhelyi was a prolific artist who designed stamps for Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Niger and others.

Hungarian sportsmen appeared on foreign stamps, too. Pentathlete András Balczó is depicted on Mongolia (Scott #702) while boxer László Papp is pictured on Mongolia Scott #518.

Political personages, too, have been honored. Hungarian President Géza Losoncy is pictured on Peru, Scott # C459, while the notorious Béla Kun is shown on Soviet Union, Scott #5431.

The countries bordering Hungary (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Croatia, Jugoslavia, Rumania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Ukraine) issued many stamps that depict Hungarian architecture, folk costumes and folk crafts in addition to scenes of towns and countryside that were once a part of historical Hungary.

Finally, some other interesting issues exist. Tanzania (Scott #1119) shows a Disney character dressed up as a Hungarian cowboy (csikós). A souvenir sheet from Ras-al-Khaima (Minkus #741) reproduces the Castle of Vajdahunyad, which itself is a reproduction of the original in Transylvania, from Budapest’s City Park.

This list is nowhere near all encompassing. It’s just a primer of what Hungarica issues exist for the inquisitive philatelist and student of Hungarian history.

Zsigmond Csicsery

Used with permission from the Editor