The history of Banská Bystrica is rich and colourful. As early as 1255, following a Tatar invasion when the King Belo IV invited colonists to come and inhabit the territory, Banská Bystrica was declared a free town with extensive privileges. The contemporary habitants received valuable liberties – the right to mine precious metals over the territory of the then Zvolen District, as well as the right to elect a mayor and parish priest. In 1380, Banská Bystrica joined other mining towns of the area to form a union. Banská Bystrica remained the leader of this union until the end of the 16th century. Ever greater wealth was brought to the town due to the mining, processing and export of copper after the establishment of the Thurza-Fugger Society. In 1620, a momentous event took place in Banská Bystrica – Gabriel Bethlen was elected King of Hungary at the Hungarian Assembly in Banská Bystrica. The credit for the town’s reputation also goes to Matej Bel, a polyhistor and one of the most respected scientists of his time. Among other famous persons who lived in Banská Bystrica are Ján Francisci, Ján L. Bella, Ján Botto, Jozef Murgaš, and Štefan Moyzes – the first president of the Slovak cultural society Matica slovenská. In 1944, the town became the central point for the national uprising and Free Slovak Broadcasting was stationed there. A tower of the Church of the Assumption of St. Mary (also called German of Parish Church) is the main motif of the postage stamp issued on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the town’s privileges having been granted. The late Gothic alter made by Master Pavol of Levoča can be seen at this historic church. The First Day Cover portrays Mathias’s House (Matejov dom) that, according to legend, King Mathias Corvinus had built in the 15th century.