100 years of Liechtenstein postage #stamps

 

 The Principality of Liechtenstein's first three stamps appeared on 1 February 1912. The stamps had a face value of 5, 10 and 25 heller (cents) and featured the then reigning Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein. A portrait of Prince Johann II (face value CHF 1.00) now adorns one of the four special issues, with which the Philatelie Liechtenstein is marking this special anniversary. The other three stamps show the princes that have succeeded him to date as reigning Princes of Liechtenstein: Franz I (face value CHF 1.40), Franz Josef II (face value CHF 2.20) and Hans-Adam II (face value CHF 2.80). Despite the historic background of the last 100 years, Hans Peter Gassner, the graphic designer entrusted with producing the design, was commissioned to create contemporary stamps. So he placed each of his hand-drawn portraits of the heads of state in front of a background of a different colour showing the years from 1912 to 2012 in Roman numerals. The special issues appear both in a sheet of eight and in an unperforated sheetlet, and are available from 1 February 2012.                                                                                      150-year Anniversary of the Constitution and Parliament  The Principality of Liechtenstein celebrates two important political anniversaries in 2012: both the small state's constitution and also its parliament will be 150 years old.  In 1862 Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein granted his country its first constitution, which also involved establishing a parliament with democratic legitimacy, the Landtag.  Both special issues created by the graphic designer Cornelia Eberle show the "Vereinsthaler" ("union" thaler) issued in 1862  a silver coin of the member states of the German Customs Union, to which Liechtenstein also belonged. The image of the currency of the time is finished with a multi-level emboss. In addition, the "150 Years of the Constitution" stamp (face value CHF 1.00) shows the first page of the constitutional charter, while the appointment of the National Administrator Karl Haus von Hausen by Prince Johann II on the opening of parliament was represented on the "150 Years of Parliament" (face value CHF 1.40).  Europe 2012 Annually since 1956, the 48 member states of PostEurop, the present-day association representing the European postal industry, have issued a stamp on a common theme. The designers of this issue used the slogan "Visit ..." to focus on what might motivate holidaymakers to visit the PostEurop member country in question.  The design of the Liechtenstein Europa stamp 2012 (face value CHF 1.40) comes from Julia Kubik, whose proposal won the Art Academy of Liechtenstein's competition. The stamp shows how the annual Alpabfahrt, the transhumance of livestock, goes by the newly rebuilt parliament building, thereby illustrating the link between tradition and the present."   In addition to the geographical and cultural characteristics of the Principality, discovering such contrasts in Liechtenstein can provide yet another appealing reason for a visit.  The new postage stamps are available at all post offices and from Philatelie Liechtenstein from 1 February 2012 (100 Years of Liechtenstein postage stamps) and from 5 March 2012 (150 Years of the Constitution and Parliament, Europa 2012). Website: www.philatelie.li

Thanks to: Juan Franco Crespo, Spain.

Link: 

http://bit.ly/zegEWv