Austria is a small country in central Europe famous for its beautiful mountain scenery. The towering Alps and their foothills stretch across the western, southern, and central parts of the country. Austria has no coastline. It shares boundaries with the countries of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, and Slovenia and Italy to the south. Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria. Austria was once one of the most powerful countries in Europe. The royal Habsburg (or Hapsburg) family began to gain control of Austria in the late 1200's. In time, the country became the center of a huge empire that was ruled by the Habsburgs. This empire collapsed following the end of World War I in 1918. Austria then became a republic and went through a long period of economic difficulty and political unrest. During the last half of the 1900's, Austria became increasingly industrialized, and the economy of the country grew steadily.
Almost all Austrians speak German, the country's official language. In different parts of the country, the people speak various dialects (local forms) of German. Austrians have freedom of worship. About 80% of the people are Roman Catholics and about 5% are Protestants. Austria has six main land regions. They are (1) The Granite Plateau consists of hills and mountains that are made up mostly of granite and partly covered by think forests; (2) The Eastern Forelands lie southeast of the Granite Plateau; (3) The Alpine Forelands lie south of the Granite Plateau and west of the Eastern Forelands. The region is made up of hills and low mountains; (4) The Northern Limestone Alps rise south and southwest of the Alpine Forelands; (5) The Central Alps are separated from the Northern Limestone Alps to the north by a series of valleys; (6) The Southern Limestone Alps lie south of the Central Alps. A series of valleys separates the two regions.
Austria began printing stamps in 1850, and printing stamps of Mary started in 1935.
* Taken from The World Book Encyclopedia. (Chicago: World Book, Inc.), pg 928-940.
Statue of the Virgin in Innsbruck
Statue de la
Vierge à Innsbruck
Date:
02/20/1936;
Y & T:
B 141
Madonna and Child
La Madone et
l’Enfant
Albrech Dürer ( 1471-1528)
Date:
05/05/1936;
Y & T:
377
Madonna of the Domestics honored in Vienna as soon as 1325
La Madone des
domestiques, honorée à Vienne déjà en 1325
Date:
12/12/1946;
Y & T:
B 193
Facade of Salzburg cathedral
Façade de la
cathédrale de Salzbourg
Date:
08/06/1948;
Y & T:
B254
Madonna called LA BELLE MADONE
La Madone appelée
LA BELLE MADONE
Michael Pacher (1435-1498)
Date:
08/06/1948;
Y & T:
B259
Baroque Creche
Crèche baroque
Josef Thaddäus Stammel (1695-1765)
Date:
11/29/1963; Scott:
718
Oldest seal of Vienna University – 1365 – The Virgin is seated on the
superior part of the stamp.
Le plus ancien
sceau de l’université de Vienne – 1365 – La Vierge est assise dans la
partie supérieure du timbre.
Date:
05/10/1965; Scott:
743
Gothic Mantle Madonna
La Vierge au
manteau gothique
Wood Carving from Frauenstein
Scupture sur bois de Frauenstein
Date:
05/19/1967; Scott:
791
Nativity
La nativité
Date:
11/17/1967; Scott:
791
Creche
Crèche
Date:
11/29/1968; Scott:
823
The Glorification of Mary
La glorification
de Marie
Franz Anton Maulpertsch (1724-1795)
Date:
12/11/1969; Scott:
827
Mantle Madonna
La Madone au
manteau
Date:
01/28/1969; Scott:
833
Madonna with the Pomegranate
La Madone à la
grenade
Sanzio Raphaël (1483-1520)
Date:
09/26/1969; Scott:
848
Madonna
La Madone
Albin Egger-Lienz (1868-1923)
Date:
11/24/1969; Scott:
857
Adoration of the Shepherds
L’adoration des bergers.
Carving of Garsten vicarage
Sculpture au presbytère de Garsten
Date:
11/27/1970; Scott:
885
Virgin and Child
La Vierge et
l’Enfant
Wood carving
Sculpture sur bois
Date:
12/01/1972; Scott:
933
Nativity
La nativité
Stained Glass Window – 14th century
Vitrail du 14e siècle
Date:
11/30/1973; Scott:
977
Virgin and Child
La Vierge et
l’Enfant
Wood carving c.1600
Sculpture sur bois vers 1600
Date:
11/29/1974; Scott:
1009
Virgin and Child
La Vierge et
l’Enfant
15th century altar
Autel du 15e siècle
Date:
11/28/1975; Scott:
1928
Nativity
La nativité
Konrad Von Friesach c.1450, vers 1450
Date:
11/26/1976; Scott:
1047