1st February 2012 marks the hundredth anniversary of the appearance at the country’s then five post offices (Balzers, Triesen, Vaduz, Schaan and Nendeln) of the first three Liechtenstein definitives. These three stamps, printed on chalksurfaced paper and with face values 5, 10 and 25 Heller, bore the image of the then reigning Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein (1840 – 1929). The inscription “K.K. Austrian Post in the Principality of Liechtenstein“ referred to the fact that the Liechtenstein Post Office established on 1st January 1912 under an agreement made in October 1911 remained under Austrian administration. With the special issue “100 Years of Liechtenstein Stamps“ Philately Liechtenstein highlights this special anniversary. The graphic designer HP Gassner charged with designing the issue was given the brief not to create a purely nostalgic stamp, but to produce a contemporary design based on a traditional approach. What came of this is a series showing the four Princes who have reigned since the appearance of the first Liechtenstein stamp, each portrayed against a differently coloured background on which the years from 1912 to 2012 appear in Roman numerals. The first Liechtenstein stamps appeared during the reign of Johann II, known as “Johann the Good” (face value CHF 1.00), whose portrait also adorned the first stamp. Johann II died in 1929 and was succeeded by his brother Franz I (face value CHF 1.40), who reigned for nine years as Regent of the small Principality. Being without issue, he was succeeded on his death by his greatnephew Franz Josef II (face value CHF 2.20), to whom the discharge of governmental responsibilities had been entrusted since 1930. Franz Josef II, who as first Regent made Vaduz his principal place of residence, was the father of the present Prince Hans Adam II (face value CHF 2.80). Prince Hans Adam II assumed responsibility for the affairs of state after the death of his father in 1989, passing it in turn to his son Alois in 2004.
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