Unique postage stamps presented in Nitra (source: SITA)
STAMPS from the space station, postal exhibits from the beginning of the 18th century and also the first stamp valid on the territory of today’s Slovakia – all these could be seen at a national philatelic exhibition held in Nitra between May 14 and 17. Visitors were able to see more than 300 thematic panels, each containing dozens of rare pieces, Milan Šajgalík, organiser of the exhibition, told the ČTK newswire.
“Most of the exhibits are in the category of postal history, 99 areas are full of exhibits of thematic philately,” Šajgalík explained. Visitors could view unique collections that won awards at world exhibitions like the set of postal letters owned by philatelist Juraj Pálka from the first half of the 19th century when postage stamps did not yet exist. Worldwide, the first stamp was issued only in 1840 in England and they were first used on the territory of present-day Slovakia in 1850. Slovak stamps belong among the best in the world and they have been repeatedly chosen as among the most beautiful in the world – the last time being in 2009 with the stamp depicting Bratislava Castle by Dušan Kállay.
“Philately can tell tales,” said jury member Vojetch Jankovič, from the Union of Slovak Philatelists, adding that one can learn more from complete stamp collections than from historical books or encyclopaedias. Jankovič claims that young people are still becoming stamp collectors, but to a lesser extent than in the past.
“Philately is also good for a marriage as a wife always knows where her husband is – in his room at home,” he concluded.
