Berlin - Interest was limited in the auction in the German city of Dusseldorf Thursday of a rare Austrian postage stamp showing the face of the Dalai Lama.

The stamp was knocked down for 4,500 euros (7,000 dollars), just 500 euros above the reserve price.

The Austrian post office designed the stamp to mark the 70th birthday of the Tibetan leader in 2005, but the stamp did not go into production.

Auctioneers Felzmann maintained there were only 30 versions of the stamp in existence.

The Austrian post office denied reports that political pressure from China had halted the project. "Many designs are tested and not pursued," a spokesman said. (dpa)