Hungary – Scott #s 2498-03

Description

Hungary Scott #2498–2503 (issued 1977) is a six-stamp commemorative set celebrating major milestones in space exploration from both the Soviet and American space programs. Issued by Magyar Posta during the height of the Space Age, this vibrant series captures humanity’s first great ventures beyond Earth — from the early days of Sputnik to the Viking probes on Mars.

Designed by Pál Varga, the stamps feature a stunning blend of scientific accuracy and bold, colorful design typical of 1970s Hungarian space issues. Each stamp honors a specific spacecraft or mission that advanced human understanding of the cosmos.

Designs in the Set:

• 40f – “Szputnyik-1” (Sputnik-1) – The world’s first artificial satellite, launched by the USSR in 1957.

• 60f – “Skylab Űrállomás” (Skylab Space Station) – The U.S. space station launched in 1973, with astronaut and solar array.

• 1f – “Szojuz–Szaljut 5” (Soyuz–Salyut 5) – Soviet orbital mission linking spacecraft and station.

• 3f – “Luna-24” – Soviet lunar lander and sample-return probe, last of the successful Luna missions (1976).

• 4f – “Marsz-3” (Mars-3) – Soviet Mars probe, first to achieve a soft landing on Mars (1971).

• 6f – “Viking Űrszonda” (Viking Space Probe) – NASA’s Viking mission to Mars, which transmitted detailed surface images (1976).

This mint, never hinged (MNH) set is admired for its vivid color gradients, modern layout, and balanced portrayal of both Eastern and Western achievements in space. A must-have for collectors of space exploration, Cold War-era science, or Hungarian topical issues.