Divided Issues

by Lubor Kunc (lubor.kunc@seznam.cz)

During studying of classification system for joint-stamp issues I found one group of (at least in my opinion) very interesting stamps, which I wish to discuss in the text. They could be counted into “common issues” (CM), but in my opinion, they differ from such issues in important way and I call them “divided issues”. 

The stamps I am talking about were issues in 1993 in Czech Republic and in Slovak Republic. In Czechoslovakia it was common to plan the stamp issues two years in advance, so the 1993 stamps were planed in 1991. At that time nobody expected, the Czechoslovakia will be really divided, so the 1993 emission plan was prepared as Czechoslovak one. In 1992, when it was clear, that the Czechoslovakia will be divided by 1993 and two new postal administrations will be created, the postal administrations of new states discussed division of individual stamps and issues for 1993 into their national emission plans . So the stamps with Czech motives were reserved for future Czech Postal Administration (see fig. 1: 1000 years of Brevnov Monastery) and Slovak ones for Slovak Postal Administration (see fig. 2 – an artistic exhibition Bienale ilustracii Bratislava) .

Fig. 1 + Fig. 2

The issues having connection to both countries (like Cyril and Method / St. Johann von Nepomuk stamps of 1993) were issued by both countries as joint-stamp issues .

Fig. 3 : Johann von Nepomuk Issues: first stamp is Czech , the second stamp is Slovak and third stamp is German one

Fig. 4: Cyril & Method Issue: first stamp is Czech, the second stamp is Slovak one

Majority of stamps was divided as per above criteria, but still existed some stamp sets, which needed to be divided, because the sets contained both Czech and Slovak motives. I know three such issues: Europe stamps showing paintings, Personalities issue and Environment protection issue, which were divided into emission plans of both countries, however the issues were never officially declared as joint-stamp issue.  

The Europe stamp: in the Czech Rep issued on March 11 and in Slovakia on May 31, 1993.

Fig. 5 : Europe Issues: first stamp is Czech , the second stamp is Slovak one

The Personalities: in the Czech Rep. issued on August 26, in Slovakia yet on May 20, 1993.

Fig. 6: first two stamps are Czech ones, the remaining are Slovak ones

The Environment Protection issue was issued in the Czech Republic on October 26

and in Slovakia on May 14, 1993.

Fig. 7: first set is Czech one, the second is Slovak one

It is needed to add, that all above stamps were printed in the same printing house, in Postovni tiskarna cenin in Prague, which was the monopoly Czechoslovak stamps printing house for long years after fall of Czechoslovakia printing stamps for both countries.

As you can see, the first two issues clearly show, the stamps were originally part of one stamp set, which was later divided. Nice is especially the Personalities Issue, which lower values showed Czech personalities and higher values Slovak ones, so the individual stamps follows up.

The last Environment Protection issue is case, when both countries issued identical stamps, but no of them called them joint-issue!

Important Information :

No part of the article my be reproduced or reprinted in any form or by any means - graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems without written permission of the author.

You can send your comments direct to the Author of the article by e-mail