In the spring of 1940, the sudden thaw following the exceptionally snowy winter of 1939–40 caused a nationwide flood and inland-water disaster in Hungary. The Danube, the Tisza and numerous tributaries flooded at the same time, while ice jams, dyke breaches and stormy winds in April further aggravated the situation. The flooding and inland waters were not only spectacular but a nationwide economic disaster. According to a summary by the Hungarian Hydrological Society, approximately 8,000 km² were affected by flooding and inland waters:
- approximately 460 km² suffered a total crop failure;
- 14,000 residential buildings became uninhabitable;
- 270 road bridges and 18 railway bridges were destroyed or rendered unusable.
To aid the flood victims, the postal administration issued a surcharged commemorative souvenir sheet and stamp set. Interestingly, the Post originally ordered 100,000 souvenir sheets, later increasing the quantity to 200,000, yet the entire issue was sold out. The same quantity was sold of the lowest-print-run stamp, the 20+50-fillér value. The charity issue was therefore highly successful.
Another notable fact is that the quantity of the imperforate souvenir sheet is also known: only 88 examples were produced, making it one of the Hungarian souvenir sheets with the lowest known print runs.
MBK 662-kiszedve
