Sports Association Fund

On 27 April 1925 Hungary issued a set of eight semi-postal stamps for the Sports Association Fund (testnevelés / physical-education surcharge). Only one design is scouting: a boy scout at camp sounding a bugle, staff under his arm, with tents, pennants and a flag behind him. Face value is 1000 korona postage plus 1000 korona surcharge (catalogued 1000+1000). Designer Franz Helbing; typography; perforation comb 12 (imperforate examples also exist).

The stamps were valid for postage until 31 December 1925. Each stamp carried a four-line Hungarian text on the reverse stating that the 100% premium was applied to physical-education purposes — classic semi-postal / charity-surcharge treatment rather than a pure commemorative. In catalogue terms this is a semi-postal (Scott “B” numbers), not an ordinary definitive or commemorative; on this site the emission type “Semi-postal” is shown as Charity issue for that reason.

SOSOW lists the Scout stamp as the sports issue of 1925 (print run of the Scout value reported at 133,738). It is the first Hungarian Scout design in the classic Scouts-on-Stamps sequence after the 1920 Siam overprints. The other seven values of the set show non-scout sports subjects and are outside this catalogue series.

Colour proofs of the Scout design also exist, in dark brown and in blue.

ATA 1964 underlines the landmark status of this design: Hungary was the first country to picture a Boy Scout on a postage stamp. The Scout value was one of eight sport semi-postals (skiing, diving, fencing, soccer, skating, hurdling and others); sale was at double face value plus a further 10%, with a four-line reverse inscription certifying that cost for the sports/Scout fund. Athletic event cancels exist, including an elusive Scout-badge cancel; first-day covers are rare auction items. Imperforate stamps also exist.