Serbia: Classic period

This is one country (Serbia) with very interesting history!

 From great battle on Kosovo territory against Great Turkish Empire, till today's time!

How it affect Philately are very visible on, when someone wish to make complete collection, which can be almost impossible task.

In this small world, I know probably just one or two person that have it completed, and next 15 to 20 who reach one serious level.

We know that Serbia made first postage stamp on 1866 (May), with Coat of Arms design, and following it, come next issue (July) with Prince Mihailo Obrenovic III portrait on stamp.

(1967 issue, folded on middle)

When talking about completing this country in postage stamp collection, we must to understand, that stamps from this period, because time period, printing quality, and history, are mostly impossible to find in perfect, or even "good" condition. Most of material will be without glue, and with heavy hinges on back, if You will find samples without "rust", You can say "Hallelujah"!

There will be, as usually "missing" corner, or folded (as shown on photo), otherwise, if someone will offer You this period material in "perfect" or "very good" condition, be very suspicious, as it can be some kind of fake. There is NO samples of in perfect condition.

(1869 issue, missing "corner")

As You see from this issue from 1869 year (Prince Milan Obrenovic), there is "normal" quality You will (very hard) find on free market.

Another obstacle come with perforation varieties that are registered in Michel catalog, and there is many of it!

(1869 issue, perforation varieties)

So, what is reason that I say "Stamp Must Have"?

With all this quality in question, I still say, You MUST have it if You wish to make one serious collection, that will have market value, and that when "we" pass away, our children/s or grand-children/s will have something about what to talk, something that have VALUE!

I try to search market and collectors who offer this material on web or on direct sales, and result are very "grave"!

See in Michel catalog, and from first line You can read, that mentioned prices are for HINGED, to very hinged quality! Mean, that in good quality, You will pay premium over full catalog value, if You have luck to find it at all!

For items, that have high catalog value, obviously, You will need certificate, as price ranged from few $ to few thousand $ per sample!

That mean, if You go for "hunting" this material, do it just from personal dealer, or take risk (which can cost You lot)!

Good luck and "Mazal Tov" (מזל טוב) to any good purchase!

Yugoslavia - CETINJE issue 1945

...this come on end of WWII (1945), as fresh made Yugoslavia, overprint on Montenegro issue (under Italy occupation), set of 11 values, 

and additional PORTO issue of two values.

As technology at the time was not so advanced (according today's standard), there are some errors in typing, probably in printing plant, there are some missing latter so worker use "similar" letter in composing this overprint.

Here You can see one error on "A" letter (instead, used "D").

Michel catalog value it well, two sets and one value with error, can reach on market more than 700.00 euros, as this issue are very hard to find on market, reason are 7000/10 000 sets printed.

So keep an eye on this issue, and if You can afford, buy it!

Serbia, 1928 year, overprint King Aleksander

Here I see next one issue that is really-really worth to have!

It is talking about King Aleksander Karadjordjevic (1888-1934), named as Aleksander the Unifier, or Aleksander I of Yugoslavia.

It is basic set, issued on 1926 year, with 12 value in set, than, after two year in use, come need to overprint it, and on 7 Dec. 1928, come to the public, set of 10 stamp, overprinted with XXXX , intention is to cancel additional value on the basic set. 

Someone will ask me, why exactly this set to have in collection, as we have basic set from 1926 year and it is same catalog value? For simple reason, that this "basic" set have all three combination on it! Basic set, and second one that come in same 1926 year (additional value on basic value), and in the end this one, where overprint are on the additional value overprint, actually canceling this addition value!

As I see in Michel catalog, it is very highly valued for mint, nh condition (900.00 euro), but with lh condition, catalog value go down to 350.00 euro, what I see on internet auction/s around, starting prices for mint, nh go from 200.00 $ to 600.00 $, depending who and from where it is offered, but, I made some "zoom" on same offering and see that both samples are too even more that too fine condition, that give me very high impression that set is or re-gummed, or washed, or some other "manipulation" made on. As same Michel catalog suggest, there is many fake overprints on market available, and everyone who decide to invest in this set, need to made very good examination, or better, to ask for certificate (which will again, rise price for next 100.00 euro per exam).

What I decided when showing this one sample? First, to minimize possibility of fake, I keep one set with examiner mark on back of stamp, there is good reason that who stamped it, know well that it is original, and second, I prefer one set with this "old" glue on it, as it is original gum, used at the time.

Next reason? Simple, it can just go up with price, because no one will sell it in near future!

Czechoslovakia Michel Block 38 - Tiziano

For long period I didn't have time to "search" my stock with material that are available for sale, and today, simply, working around stamp, I "catch" this item at first sight! I don't know why, but it come like "star" - gravure, color, and composition of author, this beautiful block can tell us lot!

Michel block 38, Scott 2197, 

issued on 1978, Sept.12, originally, it is block 37, but additional imprit is made on the side of sheet for entrance ticket PRAGA Philatelic Exhibition - this inscription is main difference between two block, and yes - difference in prices also!

What "catch" my eye is main picture of Tiziano, and choice of author, to made two stamp out from this picture, where we have violinist (Apolon escorter), and King Midas. Music and death, King and escorter to death, King's thinking about punishment, beautiful lady taking skin of Apolon, with another devil bringing water to the scene - You can actually, sit against this issue (better against original picture, but...) and practicing Your feeling in art! Color in use, this finest expression of artist, it must be fascinating in original! I think, that this issue MUST be in every serious collection.

Prices have it different from Scott and Michel - they usually have it because market covering each territory of catalogue. Michel in Europe have an value of 40.00 euro for this block, that are much more higher that first block 37 (have it at 15.00 euro), and Scott in USA valued it at

just 25.00 $ - difference are great, but when I checked my evidence how much was sold from initial stock of 50 pcs before one year - I see that is left just 11 pcs - main market in Europe valued it well - in USA I sold just two copy - not enought for serious market - probably most collector need just basic issue and not this one imprinted.

I lok at quantity printed, and Michel tell us that it is 233700 copy imprinted, 371100 without inscription - not big quantity today, but probably, when it was Czechoslovakia it was enought for collectors around globe.

I wish to everyone serious collectors think about this issue - it is fascinating!