Stamp Exhibition - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2006 - 55 Euro Cent

The "WIPA", the "Vienna International Postage Stamp Exhibition" can look back on a long history. Already in 1881, the successful series of the Vienna International Postage Stamp Exhibition began, which continued in 1933, 1965, 1981 and 2000. The "WIPA 2008" from 18 to 21 September 2008 in the Vienna Austria Center will be a new highlight of this tradition. The "WIPA 1881" was organized by the "Wiener Philatelistenclub", founded in 1880, in only six weeks and was organized from 13 to 20 November 1881 in the horticultural society on the Parkring. The stamps were shown in opened albums, which were in showcases. At that time it was still possible to collect "All World" and the collections shown represented a gigantic value. The "WIPA 1933" took place some 50 years later from 24 June to 9 July 1933 in the Secession, in the Künstlerhaus and in the military casino. At the various locations and venues, six special post offices issued special cancellations. The special flyers for "WIPA 1933" were the only ones of the First Republic. Austrian Post published the famous WIPA stamp with the stagecoach motif by Moritz von Schwind. The "WIPA 1965" presented itself from the 4th to the 13th of June 1965. In the Hofburg the honorary court and the classical collections were accommodated, in the fair palace the other classes. The exhibition included 5000 frames. In 1964, a pre-series with eight additional stamps and in 1965 a series with six additional stamps were issued by Swiss Post. At the pre-series, the panorama of the city of Vienna was depicted from the skyscraper in the Herrengasse, the actual WIPA series 1965 showed the development of the letter from the Egyptian papyrus to the modern typewriter. The "WIPA 1981" was held on the 100th anniversary of the first WIPA 1881 from May 22 to 31, 1981. Venues were again the Hofburg and the Messepalast. In 5800 frames was shown the best that international philately had to offer. Three extra stamps were issued by Swiss Post. They all showed the motif of the Hofburg, but in different stance phases. The finished stitch appeared in block form. This not only pointed to the venue, but also demonstrated the fine art of Austrian stamp engravers. The "WIPA 2000" was dedicated to the anniversary "150 Years Austrian Stamp" and was held from 30 May to 4 June 2000 in the Austria Center Vienna. To counteract the gigantism of the two previous exhibitions, the scope of the exhibition was limited to 2700 frames. The competition exhibition included all classes at the highest international level.