Exhibition Kmenice nad Lipou

From 17 to 21 June, a philatelic exhibition was held at the château in Kamenice nad Lipou, organised by Prestige Philately Club Prague in cooperation with the local philatelic societies of Kamenice nad Lipou and Jindřichův Hradec, with the support of the Union of Czech Philatelists.

The official opening was attended by representatives of the Union of Czech Philatelists, local government officials, and numerous guests from the philatelic community. The cultural programme featured a performance by the Kamínek Choir. As part of the exhibition, visitors could also enjoy a small display commemorating the history of the local narrow-gauge railway, featuring period artefacts generously loaned by regional collectors. The event also attracted media attention and was covered by Czech Television.

Visitors had the unique opportunity to admire an exceptional selection of Czech and international philatelic treasures. Among the highlights were original designs for the world’s first postage stamp, the famous Penny Black of 1840, the legendary Mauritius stamp, and the unissued Austrian 12 Kreuzer stamp, of which only a handful of examples are known. The main focus of the exhibition was the philately of the First Czechoslovak Republic. The most remarkable exhibits included the legendary 50/50 Postage Due Error, the President Masaryk’s Arrival Scout overprints, including the rarest light-blue shade, as well as the highly sought-after Castles miniature sheets featuring Nitra, Křivoklát and Orlík. The latter had not been publicly exhibited for several decades. The exhibition also featured important rarities from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, the Slovak State, and the Czechoslovak Government-in-Exile during the Second World War.

The exhibition offered visitors a rare opportunity to view some of the finest philatelic items preserved in Czech private collections. At the same time, it served as a dress rehearsal for Prestige Philately Club Prague’s flagship event of the year – Treasures of World Philately III, which will take place from 29 August to 6 September at the Municipal House in Prague. The undisputed highlight of the Prague exhibition will be the world’s most famous and most valuable postage stamp – the One Cent Magenta of British Guiana. This legendary rarity will be exhibited in the Czech Republic for the first time in almost fifty years, making it an exceptional event not only for philatelists but also for the general public.