Hungarian Stamps

Every year the member countries of PostEurop vote to choose the subject to appear on all their EUROPA stamps to be released that year. In 2010 the topic chosen was children’s books. Magyar Posta presents a selection of illustrations for children’s books by Károly Reich in its new stamps for this occasion.

Károly Reich (Balatonszemes, 8 August 1922 – Budapest, 7 January 1988) was a Hungarian graphic artist and Kossuth Prize winner. At the Academy of Applied Arts and then the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest he studied under such distinguished masters as Jenő Haranghy, Gyula Hincz and György Konecsni. He began his artistic career designing posters and then became an illustrator. His works are to be found in the Déri Museum in Debrecen, the Hungarian National Gallery and the Petőfi Literary Museum. His panel paintings for young people are hung in institutions for children such as Children’s City in Fót, the Budapest Children’s Clinic No. 2, and the Miskolc Children’s Hospital. Of his wide ranging oeuvre, his book illustrations are particularly memorable. His works adorn the pages of about five hundred volumes, including children’s books. In the 1980s he also made bronze sculptures. He received numerous honours and awards for his work: Mihály Munkácsy Prize (1954: 3rd class, 1956: 2nd class), Kossuth Prize (1963), Artist of Merit (1972), Outstanding Artist (1975) and the award of the National Council of Trade Unions (1979). (Source: hu.wikipedia.org)

The design of the miniature sheet, the first day cover and postmark are based on Károly Reich’s illustrations inspired by István Kormos’s evergreen adventures of the little bear Vackor.

• (DOMESTIC) letter weight up to 50g + priority (between 2010-01-01 and 2010-12-31)