Carpathian Ukraine postage stamp 1939 with the image of the church in the village of Yasinya

What historical events preceded the postal issue

For a long time and until the end of the First World War, the territory of Transcarpathia was under the power of Hungary. During this period, first Austrian, and later Austro-Hungarian and Hungarian postage stamps were in use on its territory.

The wooden church depicted on the stamp. Archive photo.

In November 1918, after the redistribution of territories, Transcarpathian Ukraine became part of the Czechoslovak Republic. For twenty years, the Czechoslovak post office operated in these areas of the territory. In 1939, under the pressure of Hitler's Germany, Czechoslovakia lost its independence and came under the protectorate of Germany. On March 15, 1939, the independent state of Carpathian Ukraine was proclaimed in the city of Khust. This state was not recognized by the surrounding countries, and two days later the territory of the newly created state was occupied by Hungarian troops.

On March 15, 1939, the Diet of Carpathian Ukraine took place - the first meeting of the legislative body of Transcarpathia.

Information about the Carpathian Ukraine brand

Before the declaration of independence, the Czechoslovak post office ordered a postage stamp depicting an old wooden church in the village of Yasiny with the inscription "Carpathian Ukraine" in the upper part and "1 Sojm 2 III 1939" in the lower part.

The stamp is dark blue.

The denomination of the stamp is 3 crowns

Circulation is 900,000, but only 300,000 copies were delivered to Transcarpathia.

The rest of the edition was sold to collectors later in Prague.

The Carpathian Ukraine stamp was put into circulation in Khust on the day of the meeting of the 1st Diet of Carpathian Ukraine - March 15, 1939.

The envelope was made for the first Diet of Carpathian Ukraine

Despite the fairly large circulation, the stamp is highly valued among world collectors and, according to the MIHEL catalog, its price is 30 Euros.

The prototype of this unique postal miniature was a postage stamp of Czechoslovakia from 1928, issued for the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the republic (1918–1928).

Stamp of Czechoslovakia, 1928 with the image of the church in the village of Yasinya. Photo from open sources.

  To redeem the stamp, a special stamp was made with the date March 15, 1939 and the inscription "HUST - CHUST. Opening of the First Diet".

In addition, a large postal envelope with the image of the stamp of Carpathian Ukraine and the inscription "Opening of the First Diet" and an original souvenir sheet, in national colors, with a trident and the inscription "Glory to Ukraine!" were printed.

Memorial letter to the first Diet. Photo from open sources.