Lot 1359
Hungary 1945-46 Inflation Covers, award-winning collection of about 200 covers or cards mailed during Hungary's post-WWII runaway inflation from May 1, 1945 through July 31, 1946. Postal rates were raised 27 times during this time and each rate period is represented by at least three, and by as many as 12 covers, each an example of a different rate or usage (there are perhaps a half-dozen duplicated rates). Highlights include one of two known Abony postmaster's provisionals on cover, expertized by F. Orbán (the other is in the Hungarian Postal Museum); one of about 20 known covers bearing an inverted overprint commercially used (10p on 4p Scott #657); one of three known combination usages of pre-war and post-war postage dues; five of 26 recorded airmail covers; a study of "dove" covers (Scott #760//764) including the only recorded dove-franked parcel post usage; and the only recorded legal usage of inflation and post-inflation stamps on cover, expertized by G. Visnyovszki. The entire collection is beautifully mounted and written up on exhibition pages comprising eight 16-page frames plus several extra pages and 12 unmounted covers. A remarkable collection - one that a lifetime of searching could probably not duplicate.
Estimate 4,000 - 6,000
During this 15 month period an item that originally cost 1pengo rose to a cost of 4.7E29pengo - that's 4,700 and 27 more zeros - the worst period of inflation in the history of the world!
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| Realized $5,250 |
