Austria- The "Backwards Ears" Stamp

Between 1934-35, Austria released an eighteen stamp series highlighting regional costumes of various districts.

Included was this stamp.....


Scott 358 6g ultramarine "Lower Austria"

But the happy Niederosterricher appeared to be enjoying his Grüner Veltliner a bit too much, as his ears are drawn backwards.

The Niederosterrich in the Weinviertel is where the Danube flows west to east in the north-east portion of Austria, and produces nearly half of Austria's total output.

But his wife must have noticed, because in 1935 the design was redrawn with, this time, his ears facing frontwards.


Left: Scott 358 with backwards ears; Right: Scott 372 with ears flipped



Close-up of the happy Niederosterricher with altered ears

For some reason he looks happier with his ears on the right way.

It's because he can hear his wife .....

Wait, isn't the bottle a little emptier in the second scan?