Red Mercury
Encyclopedia
The Red Mercury is the rarest of Austria
n newspaper stamp
s (postage stamp
s issued for the mailing of newspapers).
Austria's newspaper stamps first appeared in 1851; they depicted a profile of Mercury
, the Roman messenger god, and were not denominated, the color of the stamp indicating the value. Blue indicated the 6/10 kreuzer
rate for one newspaper, yellow for ten newspapers (6kr), and rose for 50 newspapers (30kr).
In 1856, the design was reprint
ed in red (or scarlet), and along with the rose, was made equivalent to six kreuzer. However, it was soon superseded by a new design which came out in 1858, and only a few copies have survived.
Recent auctions have valued it at about US$40,000, with unused copies worth about 10% less than used. On February 7, 2008 an unused copy was auctioned in Vienna for 26,000 euro
.
by Kieslowsky, where one of the heirs of a stamp collector has to donate a kidney
in order to complete the series of stamps, which are very valuable.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n newspaper stamp
Newspaper stamp
A newspaper stamp is a special type of postage stamp used to pay the cost of mailing newspapers and other periodicals. Although many types were issued in the 19th century, typically representing rates reduced from regular mail, they generally fell out of use in the mid-20th century, as mail...
s (postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s issued for the mailing of newspapers).
Austria's newspaper stamps first appeared in 1851; they depicted a profile of Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
, the Roman messenger god, and were not denominated, the color of the stamp indicating the value. Blue indicated the 6/10 kreuzer
Kreuzer
The Kreuzer, in English usually kreutzer, was a silver coin and unit of currency existing in the southern German states prior to the unification of Germany, and in Austria.-Early history:...
rate for one newspaper, yellow for ten newspapers (6kr), and rose for 50 newspapers (30kr).
In 1856, the design was reprint
Postage stamp reprint
In philately a reprint is a new printing of a postage stamp from the original plates. A reprint is to be distinguished from a new print which is not printed from the original medium...
ed in red (or scarlet), and along with the rose, was made equivalent to six kreuzer. However, it was soon superseded by a new design which came out in 1858, and only a few copies have survived.
Recent auctions have valued it at about US$40,000, with unused copies worth about 10% less than used. On February 7, 2008 an unused copy was auctioned in Vienna for 26,000 euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
.
Red Mercury in Popular Culture
The Red Mecury stamps feature in Decalogue XDecalogue X
The Decalogue - X is a tenth part of the television series The Decalogue by Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski, connected to the tenth imperative of the Ten Commandments: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods, nor anything that is your neighbor's....
by Kieslowsky, where one of the heirs of a stamp collector has to donate a kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
in order to complete the series of stamps, which are very valuable.