Content of Michel Catalog Alpenländer 2023 (E1):

Liechtenstein, Austria, Switzerland, United Nations – Geneva, United Nations – Vienna.

Description:

• Main focus of the new edition: Liechtenstein with both text and numerous valuation adjustments.
• Editorial improvements and new research results throughout the volume: more precise information of the overprints of Austrian vending machine stamps, newly discovered perforation types for Austria, additional information on Austrian local issues, 50 newly discovered combinations of stamp and ornamental tablet for Liechtenstein and further edition numbers for Swiss stamps expand this MICHEL Alpine countries.
• Many changes in MICHEL price quotations: Increasing quotations especially for Austrian perforation varieties, used stamps of the 1950s and FDCs of souvenir
  sheet issues. Additionally, Liechtenstein FDCs and motifs of the Princely Family are put under increasing pressure.
• Over 9200 high-resolution colour photos and approx. 40.200 price appraisals
• All novelties up to those featured in MICHEL Rundschau No. 2/2023 have been included

The catalog is organized according to collection areas. Cataloging within these sections is chronological, based on issue date. Special stamp types, like official stamps, are located at the end of a collection area section. In order to assist collectors organize their stamps, numerous illustrations are provided, as well as information on similar stamps to help avoid possible mix-ups.

Switzerland began relatively early with the issue of unusual stamps. After a souvenir sheet with hologram imprint in 1999, the first stamp with embroidery followed the very next year. MiNo. 1726 proves that such collector's stamps are more than just "philatelic gimmicks". For here, too, the first variety without any indication of value was soon found, whose MICHEL price appraisal naturally exceeds that of the normal issue by far. Now a new variety, MiNo. 1726 II, has appeared with only one "0" missing in the value indication, so the nominal value is "50" instead of "500" in this case. This peculiarity has only appeared on one FDC so far, but it remains to be seen how many pieces Switzerland collectors will find after this variety has become known in a further thorough examination of their own collection. Photo: Switzerland MiNo. 1726

Among collectors, the “Alpine countries“ are well known for their innovative and widely popular issues. In 2019, specially Austria and Liechtenstein again issued many special editions that were much discussed by the public. In January, for instance, Liechtenstein issued a particularly striking and valuable embroidered stamp. On the occasion of “300 years of the Principality of Liechtenstein“ a variety of a princely hat with silhouette embroidery was put on the market in the form of a handmade postage stamp. This special issue, which was limited to only little over 2000 stamps sold for 300 Franks each by the postal system, features 24-carat gold threads as well as Swarovski crystals. It remains to be seen how many of these specimens will actually be used for truly princely greetings sent through the postal system; however, the prices for specimens traded so far have already led to the MICHEL quotation of € 1600. Experts warn against paying speculative prices for such objects as the interest in them will often subside again. Yet issues such as the real-gold princely hat from Liechtenstein and the Austrian crypto stamp definitely have the potential to raise the interest of non-collectors in philately as well. Illustration: Liechtenstein MiNo. 1932

MiNo. 2606, which depicts an Airbus A310–300 and was issued in 2006 on the occasion of the Day of the Stamp, is among the pieces whose sheetlets have increased by ten Euros in value since last year. It remains to be seen if Austrian sheetlet issues will continue to be this popular in 2021.

Target Group:

Stamp collectors specialized in issues of European Alpine countries, experts, dealers, thematic collectors, study groups, teachers

Additional Information:

108th Edition, in colour
822 pages
155 mm x 230 mm, hardcover
On sale: 3 March 2023
Language: German
ISBN: 978-3-95402-451-3

Press Release:

The Michel Catalog Alpenländer 2023 includes the popular collection areas Liechtenstein, Austria, Switzerland as well as UN Geneva and Vienna.

Our MICHEL Europe catalogues are indispensable reference works for every committed philatelist. Here, you will find diverse and well-organised information on classic stamps as well as modern curiosities. The issues also reflect current events. Philately can therefore make a valuable contribution to international understanding, especially in these trying times.

This time we have subjected Liechtenstein to a particularly thorough revision, which resulted in changes to many price quotations. Motifs of the Princely Family as well as FDCs are currently under increasing pressure. In checking the sheet configurations, we also discovered 50 new combinations of stamp and ornamental tablets, all in the years 1963 to 1984.

In Austria, we are now able to quote prices for several unissued stamps for the first time. Significant price jumps can be found in the modern perforation varieties and a total of 15 new covers have been added. We are registering rising demand for used stamps of the 1950s and FDCs of souvenir sheets. Collectors of Austrian local issues will be pleased with the latest research results and 39 new photos will help with their identification. Additionally, the overprints of the Austrian vending machine stamps are presented even more precisely.

Treasure hunters should take note that a second variety of the knitted stamp MiNr. 1726 has appeared in Switzerland. Here, we also added the edition figures for the year 2020 and a total of 6 new stamp booklets from last year.

This volume contains all new issues of the MICHEL-Rundschau up to and including issue 2/2023. In order not to miss any of the following issues and to stay up to date, we recommend a subscription starting with issue 3/2023 or the MICHEL-Online.

The editors were assisted by numerous helpers from collectors, the examiners' association and the trade, whom we would like to thank for their valuable assistance.

We wish our readers a lot of fun with their wonderful hobby and the new Michel Catalog Alpenländer 2023.

Schwaneberger Verlag
Editors

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