Austria 1851 Mercury 6 Kreuzer Red

Austria · 1851 · 6 Kreuzer

This iconic newspaper stamp features a left-facing profile of Mercury, the Roman messenger god, symbolizing the swift delivery of news. The design, created by Josef Axmann, is renowned for its classical simplicity and elegance. It was issued without a country name, as was common for the first stamps of the Austrian Empire.

Issued in 1851, the 'Red Mercury' was Austria's first newspaper stamp, designed to prepay postage on newspapers. Its high value and specific use led to most copies being discarded with the newspapers, making surviving examples exceptionally scarce.