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Luxembourg Stamps
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Luxembourg Stamps
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Prince Charles was born in Colmar-Berg on August 7, 1927. He died in 1977 at the age of 49.
[FDC]
These stamps depict a modernized version of the classic Luxembourg coat-of-arms.
| July 15, 1933 | 50c |
| April 10, 1931 | 75c, 1F, 1 1/4F, 1 3/4F |
| July 15, 1933 | 3F |
These stamps, Luxembourg's first airmail issue, show a biplane flying over the landmarks of Luxembourg City.
[FDC (April 10, 1931)]
This stamp shows the Grund suburb on the banks of the Alzette River and the cliff face rising up to Luxembourg City.
Princess Alix was born in Colmar-Berg on August 24, 1929.
[FDC]
Countess Ermesinde was one of the most beloved rulers of Luxembourg. She was born in 1196 and reigned from 1225 until her death in 1247. Under her rule was created the first coat-of-arms and the national colors of red, white, and blue laid horizontally; she also established schools, hospitals, and religious houses, and granted charters to principal cities, including Luxembourg itself in 1244.
[FDC]
Count Henri VII was an accomplished knight and one of the best educated princes of his time. He contributed considerably to the social and moral progress of Luxembourg and was distinguished for his reformation of the legal system. In 1309 he was crowned as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Henri was born in 1275 and reigned Luxembourg from 1288-1309.
The Gate of Three Towers was built in the 11th century, at the time of the construction of the second fortified wall around Luxembourg City. It is one of the oldest surviving structures in Luxembourg City.
Jean the Blind, born in Luxembourg on August 10, 1296, became King of Bohemia in 1310 at the age of 14 and was known as the shrewdest diplomat of his time. He was killed in the battle of Crécy, August 26, 1346. Although suffering from cataracts from which he got the name "the Blind", he asked to be taken to the midst of battle and there he died as a hero.
[FDC]
These stamps were issued to help not only the unemployed intellectuals and artists of Luxembourg, but also those who had to flee from neighboring countries because of religious persecution and seek refuge in Luxembourg. The stamps sold for twice their face value.
[Complete set on cover]
This stamp shows a view of Clervaux. It sold for face value plus a surtax of 50c for the benefit of the philatelic exposition which was held in Esch-sur-Alzette on August 15, 1935.
[FDC]
Vianden Castle, overlooking the Our Valley, is one of the most majestic castles in Luxembourg. Now totally restored, it is a popular tourist attraction that thousands of people visit each year.
Charles I, under the title of Charles IV, was the second Count of Luxembourg to become Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia. He founded the University of Prague in 1348 and he elevated the then county of Luxembourg to the title of Duchy. He was born in 1316 and died in Prague in 1378. He ruled Luxembourg from 1346-1353.
The building shown on these stamps is the Municipal Palace ("Cercle") which was built from 1905-1907 in French Renaissance style by Luxembourg architects Peter and Paul Funcke. It is located in the Place d'Armes in the heart of Luxembourg City. The stamps were issued to promote the FIP Congress at the Municipal Palace; the philatelic week from August 27 to September 2, 1936; and a philatelic exhibition organized by the Fédération des Sociétés Philatéliques du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (FSPL).
[FDC]
Wenceslas I was the first Duke of Luxembourg (1353-1383) and under his leadership Luxembourg reached its greatest territorial extension, namely 10,000 square kilometers. He was born in Prague on February 25, 1337 and died on December 3, 1383 in Luxembourg. Wenceslas I was buried in the Abbey of Orval (in present day Belgium) which he had protected during his lifetime.
[FDC]
This exhibition was held on July 25-26, 1937 in Dudelange. The souvenir sheet, made up of two stamps showing the foundries at Esch-sur-Alzette, was sold for 1F over face value with the surtax going to the benefit of the exhibition.
[FDC]
Wenceslas II was called "the lazy" on account of his general mismanagement of public affairs. He was born in 1361, ascended to the throne in 1383, and became the third Holy Roman Emperor from the House of Luxembourg. He was later forced to abdicate as Emperor in 1400, although he remained as Duke of Luxembourg until his death in 1419.
Wencelas II is infamous for mortgaging the Duchy in 1388 to Josse of Moravia in order to pay off his debts. This mortgage was not repaid by Wenceslas II or his successor and eventually led to Luxembourg falling under the control of the Duke of Burgundy in 1443.
[FDC]
St. Willibrord was born in Northumberland, England in 658. He went to Ireland in 678 where he became a priest at Rathmelsing. After his pilgrimage to Rome in 691, he came to Luxembourg in 698 as a missionary, and founded the Abbey of Echternach. St. Willibrord died in Echternach at the age of 81 on November 7, 739, where he lies buried today.
The money derived from the sale of these stamps was used for extensive renovation and repairs of the Basilica of Echternach.
[1938 commemorative folder]
[1939 commemorative folder]
Duke Sigismond succeeded his brother Wenceslas II in 1419 and also became Holy Roman Emperor. He was born in 1368 and died at Znaym in Moravia on December 9, 1437. Sigismond was the last of the Luxembourger nobles to become Emperor and, since he left no male heir, with his death the imperial dynasty of Luxembourg came to an end.
Within a few years of Sigismond's death, Luxembourg came under the control of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who had acquired the mortgage to the Duchy and bought off all claimants to Sigismond's Luxembourg possessions. Thus began a period of over 400 years of foreign domination of Luxembourg which would not end until 1890.
[FDC]
In 1839, pursuant to the Treaty of London, the western portion of Luxembourg was assigned by The Netherlands to Belgium and the remainder of Luxembourg was declared independent. The leaders of Luxembourg since this time are depicted on these stamps:
| 35c | Luxembourg coat-of-arms and national motto | |
| 50c | Grand Duke Guillaume I | (1815-1840) |
| 70c | Grand Duke Guillaume II | (1840-1849) |
| 75c | Grand Duke Guillaume III | (1849-1890) |
| 1F | Prince-Lieutenant Henri | (1850-1879) |
| 1.25F | Grand Duke Adolphe | (1890-1905) |
| 1.75F | Grand Duke Guillaume IV | (1905-1912) |
| 3F | Regent Marie Anne | (1908-1912) |
| 5F | Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde | (1912-1919) |
| 10F | Grand Duchess Charlotte | (1919-1964) |
Mondorf-les-Bains is renowned for its thermal springs which are used to treat a wide variety of ailments. Pictured on this stamp is the Allegory of Medicinal Baths.
[FDC]
These stamps feature portraits of heir-apparent Prince Jean, consort Prince Félix, and Grand Duchesse Charlotte. They commemorate the 20th anniversary of the reign of Grand Duchesse Charlotte.
[FDC]
This souvenir sheet of three stamps (featuring portraits of Grand Duchess Charlotte, her husband Prince Félix, and her eldest son and heir apparent Prince Jean) commemorates the 20th anniversary of Charlotte's reign as well as her 20th wedding anniversary. She became Grand Duchess on January 15, 1919 and was married on November 6, 1919.
[1939 commemorative folder]
[FDC]
Mondorf-les-Bains is renowned for its thermal springs which are used to treat a wide variety of ailments. Pictured on this stamp is the Allegory of Medicinal Baths.
[FDC]
