Until recently postage meters in Hungary were used only in post offices. Commercial use of postage meters possibly began after the collapse of the communist government.
Before the mid-1960s meter dates had a 3-digit year, i.e. 933 for 1933, and a 3-letter month. Beginning in the 1960s meters started using a 2-digit year, often with a numeric month.
In nearly all instances meter numbers are found in the bottom of the town mark flanking a central postal zone number. Usually the prefix is at left with the number at right, but these are also found reversed.
All machines used up to 1945/46 show a crown above the date. After the formation of the Republic, the crown was removed.
One native postage meter manufacturer, Taxotyp, was active in Hungary during the 1930s.
The stamps are grouped according to political status and usage:
A - Issues of the Kingdom, with crown in the town mark
B - Issues of the Republic, without crown
PO - Special stamps generated only by Post Office meters
PV - Special stamps generated only by variable-rate stamp self-service vending machines
GROUP A: Kingdom of Hungary. All stamps have crown above the date in the town mark[edit | edit source]
A1. Universal Postal Frankers “Midget” (FV-5), 1927. [Scarce]
Frank 22 x 24½ mm.
Spacing variable between TM and frank, usually 25-26 mm.
The postal zone number is at bottom center of the town mark.
The meter number with “M” prefix flank the zone number in bottom of the town mark.
TM: BIC as illustrated
Values: 2, 6, 8, 10, 16, 20, 23, 30, 40, 50
Values: 3, 4, 14, 15 , 25, 32 [Scarce]
a. Meter number and “M” prefix reversed with "M" at right and number at left (30 - M)
b. Used with sanserif value figures and without town mark as a surcharge on postal stationery (shown at right). Values known: 2f, 4f. [Scarce]
NOTE: Some non-metered ‘postage paid’ machine stamps closely resemble type A1. They can be identified by the absence of a meter number in the town mark.
A2. Francotyp “A” (MV), 1928.
Frank 30 x 26-27mm with “FILLER” at bottom.
Spacing: between TM and frank. 32-33 mm, with or without transaction number.
Meter number with “Fr” or “FrV” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: 000 (4½ or 6-7mm tall)
A3. Francotyp “B” (MV). [Scarce]
As Type A2 but spacing between TM and frank 48 mm.
Meter number with “Fr” or “FrV” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
A4 Francotyp “C” (MV).
As Types A2 and A3 but spacing between TM and frank 50 mm.
Meter number with “Fr” or “FrV” prefix.
TM: SC
V/F: 00 000 000 (5 or 7mm tall)
a. Meter number and “Fr” prefix reversed with "Fr" at right
A5. Francotyp “C” (MV), 1945 to July 1946. [Extremely rare]
As Type A4 but “PENGO” at bottom of frank.
In use a few months only during period of hyper-inflation.
V/F: 00 000
A6. Francotyp “A” (MV), 1946. [Very scarce]
As Type A2 but blank at bottom of frank.
Spacing between TM and frank 32-33 mm.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
a. With elaborate design/slogan surrounding TM and cutting into frank at lower left (L# Fr. 18) [Rare]
A7. Francotyp “B” (MV). [Very scarce]
As Type A3 but blank at bottom of frank.
Spacing: between TM and frank 48-33 mm.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
A8. Francotyp “C” (MV). [Scarce]
As Type A4 but blank at bottom of frank.
Spacing: between TM and frank 50-53 mm.
TM: SC
V/F: 00 000
A9. Hasler “F22, F88” (MV). [Scarce]
Frank: 29-30 x 26mm
TM larger than previous types, 29mm in diameter.
M# with “H” prefix.
A. TM level with frank, wide spacing
B. TM level with frank, narrow spacing
C. TM lower than frank, with 5-digit transaction number above
D. TM higher than frank, with 5-digit transaction number below (not shown)
TM: large SC
V/F: ✳00 000 ✳000
A10. Taxotyp (MV), 1934. [Extremely rare]
Frank 32 x 30 mm.
Top panel of frank tall, bottom panel short containing “PENGO/ FILLER”.
Meter T1 only.
TM: BIC
V/F: 0000
GROUP B: Stamps of the Republic, without crown in the town mark[edit | edit source]
Sub-group BA: Denominated in FILLER or with no currency indicator[edit | edit source]
BA1. Francotyp “A” (MV), 1945.
As Type A2, with “FILLER” at bottom of frank, but without the crown.
Spacing between centers of date and value figures 59-62 mm.
With or without transaction number between TM and frank.
M# with "Fr." prefix.
TM: SC, DC
V/F: 000
a. With elaborate design/slogan surrounding TM and cutting into frank at lower left. (M# Fr. 18). [Very scarce]
BA2. Francotyp “B” (MV).
As Type BA1 but Spacing between centers of date and value figures 74-76 mm.
With or without transaction number between TM and frank.
M# with "Fr." prefix.
TM: SC, DC
V/F: 000
BA3. Francotyp “C” (MV).
As Types BA1 and BA2 but spacing between Spacing between centers of date and value figures 77-79.
With or without transaction number between TM and frank.
M# with "Fr." prefix.
TM: SC, DC
V/F: 00 000 000 ◆000 (5 or 7mm tall)
a. Meter number and “Fr.” prefix reversed with "Fr." at right and number at left
BA4. Francotyp “A” (MV), 1947.
As Type B1 but blank at bottom of frank.
Spacing between centers of date and value figures 59-62 mm.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
a. Top line of bottom panel missing
BA5. Francotyp “B” (MV).
As Type B2 but blank at bottom of frank.
Spacing between centers of date and value figures 74-76 mm.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
BA6. Francotyp “C” (MV).
As Type B3 but blank at bottom of frank.
Spacing between centers of date and value figures 77-79 mm.
With or without transaction number between TM and frank.
TM: SC
V/F: 00 000 000
BA7. Hasler “F22” and “F88” (MV).
As Type A6 but without the crown.
M# with “H” prefix.
A. TM level with frank, wide spacing (not shown)
B. TM level with frank, narrow spacing
C. TM lower than frank with 5-digit transaction number above
D. TM higher than frank with 5-digit transaction number below (right)
TM: large BIC, DC
V/F: ✳00
BA8. Safag (MV), 1949.
Frank 32 x 27mm.
Spacing: between TM and frank 10-11 mm.
M# with “S” prefix or suffix.
TM: SC
V/F: 000
BA9. Pitney Bowes “5000” (MV).
Wide frank without bottom panel.
“FILLER” below top panel.
Date figures higher than value figures.
M# with “Pt” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: ≋0000
BA10. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
Similar to Type BA9 but “FILLER” in bottom panel, and the date and value figures are on the same level.
M# with “Pt” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: ≋000 ≋0000
BA11. Postalia (MV).
Upright frank with four wavy lines at each side with the two inner lines shorter than the two outer lines.
None of the lines touch the panels at top and bottom.
With three wavy lines at each side of “FILLER” in bottom panel.
M# with “P” prefix.
A. Wide spacing between TM and frank
B. Narrow spacing between TM and frank, 5-10mm
TM: DC
V/F: 000 00000
BA12. Postalia (MV), 1963.
Similar to Type BA11 but frank is smaller, and the four wavy lines at the sides are of equal length.
M# with “P” prefix.
Empty rectangles at the sides of “FILLER”.
TM: DC
V/F: 000 0000
BA13. Postalia (MV), 1968.
Frank with one long, thick wavy line at the sides and two or three short inner ones.
The outer lines touch the top and bottom panels.
“FILLER” without ornaments in bottom panel.
A. Three inner wavy lines at the sides
B. Two inner wavy lines at the sides
C. Three inner wavy lines at left and two at right (right)
D. Three inner wavy lines at left, none at right (right)
TM: DC, SC, BIC
V/F: 000 0000 0000o 00000
a. Date with Western month and formatted as "DD.MM.YY" instead of YY.MM.DD with Roman month
BA14. Postalia (MV).
Frank with straight sides and no inner ornaments.
“FILLER” alone in bottom panel.
M# with “P” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: 0000
NOTE: The date figures are not typical for Postalia meters. The machine that printed this stamp may have been reassembled locally from spare parts.
000 (4½ or 6-7mm tall)
000 ◆000 (5 or 7mm tall)
0,00
