Innovative Solutions on Stamps as Well
State Printing House received the challenge cup for „The Most Beautiful Stamp of 2011” on the 85th Stamp Day that was organized at the beginning of July 2012 in Kalocsa. The Company was awarded for the production of the „New Fundamental Law of Hungary” special stamp block as a result of the stamp collectors’ votes.
The special stamp block issued in honour of the New Fundamental Law on 25th April, 2011 that was awarded the Hungarian Product Grand Prize as well, is an international curiosity.
On the stamp block furnished with serial numbers, there is the Hungarian Holy Crown embossed with 23-carat gold foil, which is qualified for symbolizing the thousand year old Hungary and unity of the nation. This unique printing product is ornamented by the statue of King Saint Stephen and the arches of dome hall of the Parliament. The inscription ‘Let there be peace, freedom and consent’ was printed by UV-reactive ink on the stamp block.
Each stamp is equipped with an individual serial number, but in addition, the curiosity of the special block equipped with red numbers derives from the glittering ground glass crystals in the place of the precious stones ornamenting the Holly Crown. The stamp produced in honour of the new fundamental law is the first stamp of the world where ground crystals of different sizes and different colours were used in the course of stamp production, in the present case, for the representation and ornamentation of crown jewellery.
The block was designed by Imre Benedek graphic artist in cooperation with József Hajdú photo artist and printed by State Printing House Plc. 40,000 copies of the basic version with black serial numbers and 20,000 pieces of the version with crystals were issued.�
Philatelic Specialities of State Printing House
The 85th Stamp Day stamp serial and block were printed by State Printing House. On the HUF 80 stamp embroidery from Kalocsa and on the HUF 130 Kalocsa paprika garland and an outer part of the building of the Kalocsa Paprika Museum can be seen. The speciality of the HUF 80 denomination is that the Kalocsa rose motive is a real embroidery on the stamp, whilst there is a paprika smelling screen printing varnish on the paprika motive of the HUF 130 stamp picture, which contains the special smell of paprika closed in microcapsules.
Some unique remembrances of ecclesiastical art from the Archiepiscopal Treasury of Kalocsa can be seen on the graphic compositions of the frame and the stamp picture of the stamp block furnished with serial numbers. Speciality of the block is that the applied offset printing method was supplemented by an Anti-Stokes security ink layer. This ink can be detected by control devices developed for especially such purposes. The special coating – at the inscription “MAGYARORSZÁG” on the picture of the stamp emits green light under HORUS 1019 and the RADIR inspection tool reacts with sound alert by perception of the ink.
Gábor Zsámboki, Chief Executive Officer of State Printing House commented: “Numerous printing industrial and other recognitions demonstrate that State Printing House Plc. is rightly one of the most innovative security printing houses in the CEE region.”
State Printing House Plc.