Austria – empire

These are the issues for Austrian portion of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Each part had different currencies and issued different stamps.

1850-83
These should not be confused with stamps of Lombardy-Venetia, whose stamps had the same designs but were denominated in "CENTES" or soldi. Further, all the issues through 1883 have been reprinted, some of them several times. So, do not rejoice when finding beautiful mint issues in this era until you have checked the listings of reprints in the Michel catalogs (Western Europe or Austrian specialized) or the Netto catalog.  File:Austria 1850or54 2kr.jpg|1854 2 kreuzer value. File:Austria 15kr.jpg|1858 15kr value. File:Austria 25kr.jpg|c.1878 25kr value. File:Austria 50kr.jpg|1867 50kr highest value. File:Austria head embossed.jpg|2kr reprint. File:Austria embossed eagle.jpg|1863 5kr value. File:Austria 5kr dbl eagle.jpg|1883 5kr value. 
 * In 1850, Austria issued its first stamps. These are on types of handmade paper that appear slightly cloudy/amorphous/uneven in watermark fluid. In 1854, stamps were made using machine-made/wove paper. These are all inscribed KKPOST- / STEMPEL at top.
 * In 1858-59, small definitives were issued with embossed heads and lettering, with different frames for different values. There are two types: hair ribbon loops broken and ribbon loops complete. There is no country name on this issue.
 * In 1860-61, an issue with an embossed portrait of Franz Josef surrounded by an engine-turned oval was issued in perf 14. Various reprints exist in other perfs.
 * In 1863, embossed double eagle arms replaced Franz Josef, issued in perf 14. These designs were also issued in perf 9½ in 1863-64.
 * In 1867-72, Franz Josef profile designs were issued as defeinitives. There are various perfs. Much is made of fine print vs. coarse print, but there is the full range of prints from extremely fine to quite coarse, so the distinction is rather pointless.
 * In 1883, a small-size double eagle design was issued, inscribed Kaiser. Königl. Oesterr. Post in black. There are a number of different perfs.

1890-1919
 File:Austria black num.jpg|1890 20kr value. File:Austria black numeral.jpg|1899 6 heller value. File:Austria varnish bars.jpg|this adjusted image shows the varnish bar pattern. File:Austria 2h colored num.jpg|1905 2h colored numeral. File:Austria white num.jpg|1905 35h with white numerals, with varnish bars. File:Austria jubilee first.jpg|1908 3h jubilee. File:Austria Jubilee bday.jpg|1910 3h birthday jubilee. File:Austria first semi.jpg|1914 5h semipostal. File:Austria 1918 Arms .jpg|1918 1k value. File:Austria 3kr arms.jpg|1916 3k value. File:Austria airmail one.jpg|1918 1.50k airmail. 
 * In 1890-96, new designs were released on granite paper, in kreuzer and gulden. The numerals of value were printed in black on the kreuzer values.
 * In 1891, similar designs but with hexagonal corner value tablets were issued.
 * In 1899, there was a currency change with stamps now denominated in heller and kroner. Diagonal varnish bars were printed on some heller values. This was intended to show attempts at cleaning cancels from stamps. Varnish bars can be seen by holding a stamp diagonally to a light source. Sometimes they just appear as yellowish stripes.
 * In 1905-07, the designs were changed, now with denomination numerals in the color of the stamp or in white on a colored background. Again, some stamps had varnish bars applied.
 * In 1908-16, a jubilee set was issued to commemorate Franz Josef's 60th year of reign. A convincing lithographed 10kr forgery exists and is not rare.
 * In 1910, a birthday jubilee issue was released, larger size stamps of the previous designs with "1830" and "1910". Lithographed forgeries of the high values exist.
 * In 1914, the first semipostal set was issued dated "1914".
 * In 1915, armed forces semipostals were issued.
 * In 1916-18, new definitives with KAISERLICHE KÖNIGLICHE ÖSTERREICHISCHE POST were issued. In 1918-19, high values on granite paper were issued.
 * In 1917, a new issue with new emperor Karl I was issued.
 * In 1918, airmails surcharged or overprinted FLUGPOST were released. They are scarcer used than mint.