Ukraine and Austria form a single postal space

Ceremonies marking the first day covers of a stamp dedicated to the 750th anniversary of Lviv took place simultaneously in two city halls — Vienna and Lviv. It was a great day when Mayor Michael Haupl of Vienna and Mayor Andrii Sadovy of Lviv affixed a seal canceling the 1840 image of Ferdinand Square on the same day, thus authorizing the official issuance of the Lviv anniversary stamp.

The postage stamp, marked as a joint issue of Ukraine and Austria, was printed by the Austrian State Printing House Ltd. in a run of 500,000. Now letters carrying the news about the ancient and wonderful city of Lviv to the most distant places in the world will be sent from both Ukraine and Austria. This joint effort may become an attribute of the new times and start of a new period in the relations of these two independent countries.

The members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Vienna did their best to ensure that the stamp cancellation took place in as festive atmosphere as possible. This was the first event of its kind. Last year, an envelope and stamp bearing the portrait of President Victor Yushchenko of Ukraine were printed in Austria in a run of 3,000 each to mark the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Vienna. The Ukrainian diaspora in Austria, which comprises about 10,000 permanent residents and nearly 40,000 students, also contributed to this effort. A philatelic exhibition displaying stamps and other philatelic items of the Austrian and Ukrainian postal services will be held in Vienna’s City Hall in early December.

During the first-day cover launch the mayor of Lviv declared that no one can imagine Lviv without Austrian culture. Austro-Hungary is present in the architectural and economic strata of Galician monuments, which is why investors from the country of the Alps as well as tourists should turn their gaze to former Lemberg. Financial flows will help to restore Lviv’s renown.

Both the stamp and the envelope specially designed for the first-day cover show all the regalia of Lviv’s City Hall — the key to the city, seal, the pillow on which rests the key to City Hall, and the ancient chain. From now on this stamp will be the gem of the Lviv City Museum.