Prague Castle Overprint "POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919"

Czechoslovakia · 1919 · 4k

This stamp features an inverted overprint on an Austrian 4-kronen stamp depicting the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The overprint, "POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919," was applied to existing Austrian and Hungarian stamps to create provisional issues for the newly formed nation. The inverted nature of the overprint makes this particular variety a significant philatelic rarity.

Issued shortly after the formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, these overprinted stamps were a practical necessity to establish a national postal system while new definitive stamps were being designed and printed.