Magyar Posta is continuing its series presenting eminent philatelists on thematic personalised stamps. Two stamps with a label of distinguished philatelists are linked to the events of the 98th Stamp Day to be held in Szolnok. For each theme, 12,250 copies of the personalised stamps designed by the graphic artist Imre Benedek were produced. The new issues may be purchased at Filaposta and www.posta.hu while stocks last.
Eminent Philatelists X • Gyula Madarász (1900-1981) was one of the most important Hungarian philatelists of all time. He became immersed in the world of stamp collecting and research at an early age. In his early twenties, he worked as a researcher at the Post Museum, and by the age of twenty-five he was already considered to be a recognised expert both in Hungary and abroad. As the foremost specialist on classical Hungarian stamps, he catalogued the types of the 1871 lithographic issues and he played a large part in the arrangement of the Stamp Museum’s material. At the 1971 FIP stamp exhibition, he was awarded the National Grand Prix for his traditional classification of lithographic series and for the stamp sheet reconstructions he created. Although his work was overshadowed by post-war restrictions, he became an internationally recognised figure in Hungarian philately, and was referred to as “the Pope”. His most important work is his contribution concerning the 1871 issues to the Monograph of Hungarian Stamps, apart from which he also published numerous articles in Hungarian, English and German. His modesty, precision and high professional standards were exemplary, and he is remembered with great respect by his students and the profession. After his death, his legacy lives on through stamp collectors, philatelic literature and the Stamp Museum.
Eminent Philatelists XI • Ferenc Orbán (1924-1998) was born in Budapest and, after World War II, settled in Denmark, where he worked as an architect for 38 years. Orbán dedicated his life to philately: he was an active member of several national and international philatelic associations, participated in 22 exhibitions, and won numerous prestigious prizes and medals. His name is intertwined with the research into stamps denominated in krajcár, in particular the study of the production of krajcár stamps whose design featured an envelope, and his work as part of the Pákozdi-Petrovits-Orbán trio. He also played a significant role in preparing Gary S. Ryan’s stamp catalogues, while putting his knowledge and extensive library at the disposal of Hungarian philately. He published more than 50 articles on philately and supported many Hungarian philatelists through correspondence. Upon his demise, Hungarian stamp collecting lost an outstanding and highly respected figure.
The thematic stamps with a label issued on the occasion of the 98th Stamp Day feature portraits of the eminent philatelists Gyula Madarász and Ferenc Orbán, as well as additional visual elements related to their work. The motif of the special postmark is the now familiar portrait silhouettes.
