Austria Postage Due Stamp, Blue Numeral

Austria · 1894 · 1 Kreuzer

This stamp is from Austria's first series of postage due stamps, issued in 1894. The design is purely functional, featuring a large numeral '1' indicating the amount due, framed by an ornate, typographic border. The denomination 'KREUZER' is printed at the bottom, and the stamp is rendered in a distinct blue color.

Issued during the Austro-Hungarian Empire under Emperor Franz Joseph I, these stamps were used to collect insufficient postage from the recipient of a letter. Their simple, clear design ensured postal clerks could quickly identify the amount owed.