The first postage-stamp souvenir sheet was issued in Luxembourg in 1923. Its appearance gave rise to a new branch of collecting enthusiasm, often described as “souvenir-sheet mania”, and other countries soon began issuing souvenir sheets as well. Great Britain resisted the trend the longest, issuing its first souvenir sheet only in 1978.
Hungary’s first souvenir sheet was issued on 6 May 1934. At the suggestion of the Levélbélyeggyűjtők Első Hazai Egyesülete (First Hungarian Association of Postage Stamp Collectors), the postal administration issued a single-denomination souvenir sheet for the Second National Stamp Exhibition, held to mark the association’s 50th anniversary. This was Hungary’s first postage-stamp souvenir sheet. The overall design was by Zoltán Egry, while the portrait of Franz Liszt in the centre was designed by Sándor Légrády.
The souvenir sheet was issued in 50,000 perforated and 105 imperforate examples.
It was sold exclusively by the exhibition organisers, at the exhibition ticket office, and at the “JUBILEHE” branch office operating on the grounds of the Budapest International Fair between 6 and 13 May 1934. The souvenir sheet could be purchased for 90 fillér together with the 70-fillér exhibition admission ticket. The postal administration itself did not participate in the sale.
MBK 549a
