A NATIONAL ICON – THE RUBIK’S CUBE®
MAGYAR POSTA RELEASES A SPECIAL STAMP
The Rubik’s Cube has appeared frequently in books, plays and Hollywood blockbusters, has been the subject of university courses and is used as a piece of sporting equipment at world speedsolving competitions. In this way, the Rubik’s Cube, commonly known as the Magic Cube, has become the game of a billion people over its history of almost half a century. To mark the 50th anniversary of the filing of the patent for the popular toy, Magyar Posta issued a commemorative souvenir sheet at a special ceremony. The stamp speciality was presented to the public by Dr Géza Láng, a member of Magyar Posta’s Board of Directors. Márton Nagy, Minister of National Economy, delivered a speech at the event.
30 January 2025
A child-like inquisitiveness and imaginativeness inspired the Kossuth and State Prize-winning Hungarian sculptor Ernő Rubik Jr to invent the world-famous cube bearing his name. An inventor, architect, interior designer, designer, honorary professor and member of the European Academy of Sciences who has been awarded the title of Artist of the Nation, Rubik is an international expert on innovation and creativity. Among his many logic games, the iconic Rubik’s Cube® has captured the hearts and minds of everyone, transcending generations and providing a challenge and intriguing entertainment for people of all ages.
“The connection between Hungarians and innovation is deeply rooted in our history. The Rubik’s Cube® is an iconic invention known all over the world, and a source of national pride that showcases Hungary’s ingenuity and creativity, hence it was chosen as the symbol of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union,” Minister Márton Nagy emphasised in his speech.
Dr Géza Láng, member of Magyar Posta’s Board of Directors, said at the release ceremony: “The Rubik’s Cube® is a source of pride not only for its creator, but for us Hungarians as well. It is a unique Hungarian success that has reached every nation and has been handed down from generation to generation. ... This is not the first time that Magyar Posta has issued a stamp of the iconic cube, as the Magic Cube appeared on special stamps to mark the 1982 Rubik’s Cube World Championship and the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union last year.” The numbered souvenir sheet and the associated philatelic products were produced based on designs by the graphic artist Attila André Elekes with the consent of Spin Master Toys UK Limited. The stamp design of the souvenir sheet shows a scrambled Rubik’s Cube®, while the squares and rectangles forming the frame are in the colours of the Cube. The special first day cover features an image of the so-called Retro Rubik’s Cube®. The Hungarian version of the official logo for the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Rubik’s Cube (50 Years of the Rubik’s Cube®) appears on the souvenir sheet, the first day cover and the imprint of the postmark on the cover.
The souvenir sheet is also available in an exclusive stamp set. In the standard edition of the set, the Rubik’s Cube® stamp set can be assembled after purchase, while the cube-shaped edition comes already assembled. The Cube and the accompanying holder can also be used as a decorative object. The standard edition of the set, sold in a resealable case, was produced in 2,000 copies, while the plastic box edition was produced in 1,000 copies. Face value: HUF 1,000; the selling price is HUF 3,490 for the standard edition set and HUF 5,190 for the cube set.
