rarepre-1900

Austria, 1850 Newspaper Stamp, Blue Mercury

Name: Austria, 1850 Newspaper Stamp, Blue Mercury
Brand: Austria

Austria · 1851 · 0.6 Kreuzer

This iconic stamp, known as the 'Blue Mercury', was issued for the prepayment of newspaper postage. The design features the head of Mercury, the Roman messenger god, facing left, symbolizing the swift delivery of news. It was printed in blue and is one of the world's most famous and sought-after newspaper stamps.

Issued by the Austrian Empire, this stamp facilitated the distribution of newspapers at a reduced postal rate, reflecting the growing importance of the press in the mid-19th century.

Printing Method

Typography

Themes

newspaper-stamp mercury mythology head-of-state

Catalog Numbers

sgN1

scottP1

michelZ1

Image: · License:

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Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$1,500

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$1,000

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

$650

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

$350

Good(G)

Off-center or visible wear

$150

Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.