Postal Service Company Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Rubik’s Cube

Ernő Rubik at the Rubik’s Cube Championship in Győr, Hungary, on September 12, 2024

Magyar Posta (the Hungarian Postal service) has issued a special stamp block to mark the 50th anniversary of the patenting of the Rubik’s Cube.

The Rubik’s Cube is of national pride in Hungary and a well-known icon of Hungarian culture worldwide, as well as a symbol of Hungarian engineering and ingenuity, said Márton Nagy, Minister for National Economy, on the occasion.

The success of the Rubik’s Cube shows that Hungary, although a small country, is still able to make a big impact on the world through innovation and creativity.

It is no coincidence that the government has chosen this invention as the symbol of the Hungarian EU Presidency in 2024,” the minister said. Hundreds of millions of copies of the Rubik’s Cube have been sold worldwide, and also helps inspire domestic industries such as toy manufacturing, design, and the development of educational tools, he added.

According to a written summary from Magyar Posta, the numbered stamp block and the accompanying philatelic publications were produced with the contribution of Spin Master Toys UK Limited, based on designs by graphic artist Attila André Elekes.

The stamp image of the block shows a shuffled Rubik’s Cube, while the square details on the edges of the block are reminiscent of the individual colors of the cube. The first-day-of-issue stamped special envelope features an image of the so-called Retro Rubik’s cube.

A Hungarian version of the official 50th anniversary logo of the Rubik’s Cube appears on the block, as well as on the special envelope.

The block is also available in exclusive stamp sets. The basic version offers the possibility to assemble the Rubik’s Cube stamp set yourself, while the cube-shaped version comes with the ready-made set. The cube and the matching block holder can also be used as a special ornament.

Fact

The Rubik’s Cube, a 3D combination puzzle originally called the Magic Cube, was invented in 1974, by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture, Ernő Rubik. 2024 was not only the anniversary of the invention of the Rubik’s Cube, but also the year its inventor celebrated his 80th birthday.

Although the Rubik’s Cube reached the height of its mainstream popularity in the 1980s, it is still widely known and used around the world. Many so-called ‘speedcubers’ continue to practice it and similar puzzles, and to compete for the fastest times in various categories. Since 2003, the World Cube Association (WCA), an organization that regulates and holds competitions for mechanical puzzles, has organized competitions worldwide and has recognized world records in ‘speedcubing.’