Definitive stamps 23.01.2020

Comprehensive information about our “Accessories” series

The definitive stamps that will be issued on 1 April 2020 are dedicated to a traditional subject that plays a major role in Austrian culture: traditional dress. Back in the 1930s and 1940s, we had two traditional dress series dedicated to the regional particularities of different types of traditional dress. This time around, accessories, which add a special touch to traditional dress, will grace our stamps. Sixteen definitive stamps and two postal stationery items will highlight the existing variety of traditional dress and put special emphasis on regional differences. While all Austrian provinces will be presented, not every stamp is dedicated exclusively to a specific region or province. The Salzkammergut region, for example, is a historical cultural area that covers three provinces: Upper Austria, Styria and Salzburg. The so-called “Ausseerland” and the capital of traditional dress, Bad Aussee, is located in the Styrian Salzkammergut region.
Some techniques are present across regions, such as hunting knives and quill embroidery. The production of accessories relies on traditional artisan expertise. Only a few people still master these tried-and-trusted techniques, which makes hand-made accessories very valuable. Oftentimes, they are passed down from one generation to the next, thereby preserving the tradition. 

A journey through Austria

Our traditional dress journey will take us from Burgenland and its Stinatz festive wreath and Astrachan cap to Styria and its Ennstal knee socks, the hat with the chamois beard, the disk beard and the Koppelschloss belt buckle. The journey continues to Carinthia and its Gailtail laced boots, the Gurktal hat and then to Tyrol with quill embroidery and the Tyrol hunting hat. Vorarlberg has contributed its Montafon Schuberkette chain and the Bodensee Radhaube bonnet. Our journey continues to the Salzburg Köchertasche bag and the hunting knife used in Innergebirg, on to Upper Austria and its skirt pocket from Bad Ischl and the Kropfkette chain from the Innviertel region. Our last stops are Lower Austria with the pocketknife from Ybbstal and the typical bowler hat used by horse carriage drivers in Vienna.