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Szakrális témák a hazai bélyegkiadás történetében 2020.

2020, Sacred themes in the history of Hungarian stamp-issuing

Abstract

The word Philately refers to the collection of stamps, originally derived from the Greek words filo (like) and ateleia (exemption, tax exemption). Stamp collecting could be described as a passion, even more so, love, located somewhere on the borderline between art and science. In Hungary, stamps have been used for 170 years to postage. Looking back at this period, it can be seen that the events of religious life and the cultural heritage of Christianity have always been able to put a theme on the table of stamp designers. Political forces in power in some ages hindered, at other times, helped in this process. The author is not only a theologian but also a stamp collector for 40 years, so his choice of topic was obvious. By itemizing each item, it shows the presence of the sacred need of the society using postal services. The illustrations and graphic solutions of the stamps have developed a lot, they have changed a lot in the last decades. Changing consumer demands, changes in public tastes, and the compulsion of political systems have resulted in the complete replacement of symbols, coats of arms, and inscriptions from time to time. In this ever-moving environment, sacred symbols and religious content had to find their place.