Date of issue: 14 August 2008

The first menageries were in the east in ancient times. In modern times Schönbrunn Zoo near Vienna, which opened in 1752, is considered the oldest. Hungary’s oldest zoo – the 30th oldest of the modern era – opened in Budapest on 9 August 1866.

Debrecen Zoo: The Zoo, surrounded by the enchanting trees of the Great Forest of Debrecen, opened to the public in 1958 and in recent years has become an organic part of the forest and city. By expanding its area, which was small at the time of foundation, the Zoo now covers 17 hectares, and provides a home for almost 1,500 creatures of 165 species from five continents. In 1961 the Zoo and Funfair were amalgamated and began operating under the name the Great Forest Culture Park. The Culture Park became a nature conservation area in 1994 and with its 341 species of plant it increasingly functions as a botanical garden. Although there are still some old style enclosures, the Zoo is dynamically developing, and thanks to new habitat-like, close-to-nature environments for the animals, their natural behaviour can be observed. (Source: http://www.zoodebrecen.hu/)

Veszprém Zoo: In recent centuries Fejes Valley was a natural area, but when the town began to grow it was used first as a rubbish dump, and only later was it decided to create a zoo there. The first plans were soon drawn up and work commenced, motivating the whole town. On 2 August 1958 Csaba Anghi, the director of the Budapest Zoo, Mrs Kálmán Kittenberger and the zoo director László Kasza opened the Zoo. The national flag was removed to unveil a Transylvanian wooden memorial pole to the memory of the late Kálmán Kittenberger, a noted African game hunter and wildlife writer. (Source: http://www.zoo.hu/veszprem/)

On one stamp of the miniature sheet there is a giraffe, storks, hippo, finch and camel from Debrecen Zoo while on the other are residents of Veszprém Zoo, a camel, stork, lion, zebra and rhinoceros. The graphic composition bringing the animals to life continues into the frame of the stamps with storks, white-headed eagles, flamingos, giraffe, alligator, chimpanzees and tropical fish. The design of the first day cover has motifs in the same vein as on the edge of the miniature sheet, with views of Debrecen and Veszprém behind the animals. The motto of the postmark reads “Together we are 100 years old” and in the centre is a stylised drawing of a lion.

Order code:
2008132040011/miniature sheet
2008132060012/FDC

Perforated size: 40 x 30 mm
Imperforated size: 110 x 60 mm
Date of issue: 14 August 2008
Number of copies: 300,000
Total face value: HUF 520
Printed by Pénzjegynyomda
Printing method: Offset
Designed by Péter BERKY