Magyar Posta is issuing a new definitive stamp in the series Postal History. The self-adhesive stamp with no value indication, bearing the inscription “Domestic”, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the postcode in Hungary. The stamp and the graphics of its accompanying cover and postmark were designed by the graphic artist Barnabás Baticz and produced by Pátria Nyomda Zrt. The new issue will be available from Filaposta, philately specialist services, certain post offices and www.posta.hu from 7 July 2023.
In the 1960s, due to the growing number of mail items, Magyar Posta began to assess the possibilities of mechanisation, which was indispensable for faster work. Following Western examples, it was decided that the postcode, or ZIP code, could be the solution here, too. Taking the four-digit German example as a model, the experts divided Hungary into nine postal districts numbered in a clockwise direction: the first digit represents one of these districts, and the other three further narrow the areas. Contrary to popular belief, postcodes are not assigned to municipalities but to certain post offices. However, as most municipalities belong to a single post office, it seems that the municipality has a postcode. The difference becomes apparent in large cities, but there are also examples of small municipalities without their own post office sharing a postcode. Certain major post office box holders that receive large volumes of mail can be assigned their own postcode, and campaigns launched by companies can even be temporarily given a separate postcode to cater for the expected large amount of mail. The new system was introduced in Hungary on 1 January 1973.
The graphic design of the stamp features an outline of the country divided into nine postal districts for postcodes combined with a sequence of years. These dates are repeated on the cover while the imprint of the postmark on the accompanying first day cover shows the division of Hungary into postal districts.
