THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF MATICA HRVATSKA

Motif: Matica hrvatska logo which appeared in its editions from 1907 to 1932, in the Art Nouveau style. Matica hrvatska was established in 1842, when the Croatian national renaissance and the awakening the Croatian national awareness was in full spring, which led to the creation of a modern Croatian nation. It was founded by the political and cultural leaders of the Croatian national renaissance: Janko Earl of Drašković, Ljudevit Gaj, Vjekoslav Babukić, Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski and Stanko Vraz. Matica hrvatska began as a literary and scientific society. Its purpose was to give further stimulus to the reative activities of the Croats on cultural, literary and economic goals, and through them the political goals, too; all of them can be distilled in one single goal: total national emancipation and independence the Croatian people. After the political defeat of the Croatian Spring (1971), Matica hrvatska saw the most brutal repression in its history, its activities were banned by the police, its leaders were thrown into prisons and solitary confinement. Only after the renewal of a democratic Croatia (1990) Matica hrvatska was restored, too. The drive for a free, independent Croatia fulfills all the political ideals of Matica hrvatska. The stamp was printed in sheets of 25 pieces each. HPT - Croatian Post and Telecommunications put in sale the envelope of the first day of issue (FDC) and a commemorative sheet of paper.