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1,100th Anniversary of King Svätopluk's Death
Catalogue Number:  37
Stamp Design:  Tibor Bártfay
Stamp Engraving:  Josef Herčík
Date of Issue:  July 20, 1994
Printing:  Postal Stationery Printing House, Prague, Czech Republic
Print Technology:  Recess printing from flat plates
Print Run:  400,000
FDC Design:  Tibor Bártfay
FDC Engraving:  Josef Herčík
Cancellation Design:  Tibor Bártfay
Printing:  Postal Stationery Printing House, Prague, Czech Republic
Print Technology:  Recess printing from flat plates
FDC Print Run:  10,000

Svätopluk I (? - 894, Nitra) was the most important figure in the Mojmír dynasty and Prince of Great Moravia from 871 to 894. It was under his rule that Great Moravia archived its greatest territorial reach. Svätopluk was recognised by the then Pope as the equal of other rulers of Christian Europe. It was to Svätopluk that the papal bull "Industriae tuae" - establishing the ecclesiastical province of Great Moravia - was issued by John VIII in June 880. The First Day Cover reproduces the beginning of the bull - the addres "Dilecto filio Sfentopulcho, glorioso comiti" ("To the beloved son Svätopluk, glorious prince") - as recorded in the Vatican archives. There are many legends telling of Svätopluk´s life and wisdom, most notably one involving rods and unity. The sword on the centre margin is inspired by finds from the princely tomb at Blatnica. The cross on the FDC is from the Greath Moravia period and was discovered at excavations in Mača. The cancellation is a motif from an ancient Slav pectoral.


FDC
Content 1993-2000
Year 1994
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