Austria 1848 – Pre-philately folded letter Hard/Bregenz → Vienna – blue two-line postmark, business content, complete piece – LUXURY QUALITY
For sale is an exceptionally decorative and fully preserved pre-philately folded letter from the time before the introduction of Austrian postage stamps. The letter is dated August 12, 1848, a historically significant moment in Austrian postal and political history – the year of revolutions.
The letter was sent from Hard, Vorarlberg, and bears a clearly legible, regionally typical blue two-line postmark “BREGENZ 12.AUG.” – a highly attractive and collectible cancellation, rarer than the more common black variants.
It was addressed to the well-known Viennese trading house Jenny & Schindler, adding historical interest, as commercial correspondence to such prominent economic actors is particularly valued and serves as a meaningful time capsule of Austrian pre-stamp history.
The front shows the large handwritten “12” tax marking – standard for pre-philatelic letters, where the recipient paid postage. On the reverse, there are traces of a red wax seal and the typical fold structure of a folded letter. This is a complete original letter, with fully preserved handwritten business content, not just a cut-out or empty wrapper – a significant plus for collectors.
Key features of this item:
– Authentic pre-philatelic letter from 1848, before stamp introduction
– Clear blue “BREGENZ 12.AUG.” two-line postmark
– Business correspondence with multi-page original contents
– Addressed to Vienna
– Classic folded letter format, untouched and original
– Handwritten “12” kreuzer postage due
– Attractive, well-preserved example of imperial Austrian postal history
A perfect addition to a specialized collection of Austria before 1850, Vorarlberg postal history, Bregenz cancellations, classic Austrian postal items, or any collection focused on the Habsburg monarchy and its communication systems.
Genuinely used, complete documents from this period are highly desirable and among the most engaging and informative pieces in pre-philatelic postal history.
A superb example of classic Austrian postal history and a beautiful collector’s item from 1848!
