Austrian Revenue Stamp on Document, 1879

Austria · 1879 · 50 kr

The stamp features the imperial double-headed eagle with a shield, surrounded by text 'K. K. STAMPEL-GEBÜHR' and the denomination '50 KR.' at the bottom. It is affixed to an IOU and pawn ticket document.

Revenue stamps were essential for government finance in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, used to levy taxes on legal documents, contracts, and transactions. This specific document, an IOU and pawn ticket, illustrates the everyday application of such stamps in the legal and financial dealings of the era.