Hradčany Castle, 5 Haléřů

Czechoslovakia · 1918 · 5 h

This stamp features a view of Hradčany, the Prague Castle complex, as seen from the Petřín hill, framed by linden leaves. Designed by the renowned artist Alphonse Mucha, it was part of the first series of definitive stamps issued by the newly formed Czechoslovak Republic. The Art Nouveau style is characteristic of Mucha's work and symbolizes the new nation's cultural identity.

Issued in December 1918, just weeks after Czechoslovakia declared independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this stamp was a powerful symbol of national sovereignty and a break from the imperial past.