Hungarian Stamps

Magyar Posta is issuing a special sheet of ordinary postage stamps containing 25 different stamps to mark the series of events PÉCS 2010 – European Capital of Culture. The stamps, which are released on the official opening day, bear the DOMESTIC value marking and show the sights of the city of Pécs.

Every year since 1985 large-scale cultural programmes have traditionally been organised by different European cities. In January 2010 three European cities will become European capitals of culture 2010: Essen in the Ruhr Valley in Germany, Istanbul straddling the Bosphorus and Pécs in southern Hungary.

The motifs of the stamp designs of the PÉCS 2010 sheet (from left to right and top to bottom) are Mosque of Jakovali Hassan Ÿ Calvary Hill Ÿ Pécs National Theatre Ÿ Hungarian Academy of Sciences headquarters Ÿ Barbican Ÿ Synagogue Ÿ Statue of St Francis of Assisi (by György Bársony) Ÿ Pécs National Theatre Ÿ Statue of the head of Janus Pannonius (by Sándor Rétfalvi) Ÿ County Hall Ÿ Post Office Palace Ÿ Pécs Basilica Ÿ Statue of the Holy Trinity (by György Kiss) Ÿ Mosque of Pasha Gazi Kasim Ÿ University Gate Ÿ Early Christian Necropolis, Cella Septichora Ÿ Zsolnay fountain Ÿ Klimó Library Ÿ Statue of Csontváry (by Jenő Kerényi), Zsolnay vase (by Miklós Sikorski) Ÿ Reformed Church Ÿ Ruins of Tettye Ÿ Lutheran Church Ÿ City Hall Ÿ Symbol Sculpture (by Victor Vasarely). On the edge around the stamp designs there are other images and motifs characteristic of the city.

The design of the first day cover shows a work by Zoltán Pál on Jókai Square in Pécs, Navel of the Earth. The special postmark has a stylised design of a graphic montage of the sights of Pécs.

• (DOMESTIC) standard letter weight up to 30g (between 2010-01-01 and 2010-12-31)
• (DOMESTIC) postcard (between 2010-01-01 and 2010-12-31)
• (DOMESTIC) postcard (after 2011-01-01 — current postal rate)