Liechtenstein
The stamps of Liechtenstein tend to be seen as an adjunct to a collection of Austria or Switzerland, the two countries on its borders. But this tiny Alpine principality has much to offer in its own right. Up until 1918, Liechtenstein was part of the Hapsburg Empire and at first, it used Austrian stamps, so a Liechtenstein collection starts with local cancels on these stamps, which are highly sought after.
Liechtenstein’s first stamps came in 1912, with two sets of three stamps followed up by a set of six. These were designed and printed in Austria – and it shows. Austria continued to administer the country and its post until 1921 when Liechtenstein gained a new constitution with increased democratic rights. The final authority however, lay with the House of Liechtenstein, who had ruled since 1699. But they preferred to spend their time at their two palaces in Vienna, while the country was administered by an appointed governor.
After the Great War, Liechtenstein came under the influence of its other neighbour, Switzerland. The two countries entered a customs and monetary union in 1919 and the stamps are denominated in rappen from 1921.
The first sets from the Principality have a ‘temporary’ feel to them, but from 1920, we see stamps designed by Luigi Kasimir, a landscape artist and pioneering printmaker. His first set of 1921 comes in two perforations: 12 ½ and 9 ½. The latter are among Liechtenstein’s few
