Hungarian Stamp Collecting

I have an extensive Hungarian Stamp collection housed in a Minkus Specialty Album that goes into the 1980s. I have new and used, but nearly all the new are lightly hinged.

I have difficulty identifying some of the early issues because of paper or printing method. Is there someone on here who know those first sets of stamps and how to tell the difference in printing method? Can you tell from a scan or must the id be made in person? I would like to buy some but unsure to go about it.

Hi BobbyT
Maybe this helps? (If not its a good SCF read while you wait for one of the pros :)
Can't go wrong
https://goscf.com/t/76445

Hi BobbyT
Just wanted to see if that helped answer some questions you may have had about the methods of printing?
And bump your thread in case you had other questions :)

Thank you just fella - it was helpful but I still don't know how to tell the difference between lithographed and engraved.

maybe
https://goscf.com/t/76376

i thought this part cupram wrote might help!

The following distinctive features result from lithography:
blurry images, often interrupted in lines. matte and soft color (fine application of paint) indistinct outlines

The distinctive features are from engraving:
Application of paint perceptible as a relief. The design consists of thin lines and dots. The colored areas are obtained by close and / or crossed lines. A clear and detailed brand image.

Bobby ----What do you have about these stamps

Hi floortrader,

These are listed in a set of 25 in my old 1998/99 Michel Europa-Katalog Ost catalogue along with numbers issued.

hey BobbyT,
post some pictures, throw out some more questions!
i don't really collect hungry stamps but I threw together a mess bit to learn a thing or two

I'm in the process of remounting stamps from Hungary (way too many to count). Is it really worth the effort to try and identify fakes, especially faked overprints? Most of the stamps that are listed as having counterfeits are low value. Is there a definitive source to help me identify fakes vs real?

It depends what you want in/out of your collection..

Just fella, I will look into this. First thing to notice is that the overprint date is from the 1956 revolution against USSR (failed revolution resulting in USSR tanks in the streets of Budapest). Sopron is in the far west of Hungary, several hours driving on todays superhighway and near the border with Austria. I will get back to you.

Thanks for the lithograph info.

I've just checked my Sopron stamps and I seem to have the same seven stamps.

Face value and number issued:

20 filler - 22,600
30 filler - 22,000
40 filler - 38,900
60 filler - 53,300 in total for both
1 forint - 23,300
2 forint - 22,400

These are the stamps in the set with the highest numbers issued.

Some of the others have very low numbers indeed, two with only 100 issued.

hey BobbyT
whats your favourite hungary stamp or set?

Don't really collect these but had some to throw together
My favourite one I've found so far is damaged (aniline ink?)

I will post some of my favorites, but still have trouble sizing the scans for SCF.

I did a little research in my catalogue of Hungarian stamps, written in Hungarian, with my wife's help (it is her native tongue).

The Sopron issues shown above are very interesting. The story told is that students at the university in Sopron, a city in Northwest Hungary about 3 hours by car from the capital, overprinted unused postage obtained from a post office they requisitioned during the revolution against the Soviet Union in October 1956. The overprint is part of a patriotic hymn, second most important national song after the national anthem, kind of like "God Bless America". (One of the first international events I recall was seeing Soviet tanks roll into the streets of Budapest that October on our American TV sets and wondering why we didn't do something about it.)

The stamps were never officially recognized by postal authorities but all twenty five are listed in my catalogue, and most are pretty hard to find. I do not have any in my collection.

I went through my album twice looking for my favorite stamps from Hungary.

I know many Hungarians including my wife and what is the favorite can change from day to day. I scanned my favorite set of eight stamps but am having trouble uploading the photos.

They are from 1947 and depict sites in Hungary, to which I have been seven of the eight. I love the stamp design and colors, and the quality of production is great. The watchtower at Sopron, the Freedom Bridge, Esztergom Basilica, Tihany, Parliament in Budapest and more. Once I get them uploaded I will post.

But acting like a Hungarian, there are other days when the World Cup Championship stamp with the score printed on the winning game, Hungary over UK is also a favorite.

And for philatelic interest and design the parliament series can't be beat. Also been inside it, and it is marvelous with the Crown of St. Stephen under display guarded by two military men at all times.

Does anyone have a glossary of Hungarian stamp jargon? There is a brief on in the Catalogue of Hungarian stamps and revenues which I own, full of color photos, but I struggle with the language.

BobbyT