Bosnia - Republic Serpska Titanic issue 2012

You know, I saw lot of issues this year with "Titanic" topic. Start with National Geographic celebrating 100 year of  "Titanic", to many countries around globe, "jumping on train" and making some kind of "celebration" in this occasion.

All of  what I saw, come to, or near to "junk" status by my opinion. I don't see any need to make postage stamp, with some "personal" expression of artist, who will craft some pictures, and on it, You need really all Your imagination to recognize same ship about You are "talking" on picture.

Probably someone like it - in the way of, name "fly" on sky over ship, someone can like other "new way" of art, but when we, or better, if we want to give some respect to constructor, people that are gone with this ship, crew members and other - we need to made one clear design, that will reflect "soul" of same ship and give some kind of historic mark to the future generation, that will see, on postage stamp, really near original picture of tragedy ship that happened in past.

Republica Serpska also made one issue, and I can say just: Respect! To effort, to artist, to printer and to all involved in making this issue to be "flagship" of Post of Republica Srpska!

This issue, set of 2 stamp, come out on April 23, 2012, Fist Day cancel of Banja Luka.

Official site say that issue come out on April 10, but it happened (First Day Cancel) April 23, and printing quantity will give just 20 000 sets, and 300 FDC's.

Face value of combined, 3.00 KnM, (1.00 USD = 1.54 KnM), if we go to search little bit, You will find many different prices on market for this set. Somewhere on 3.00 euro to 10.00 $ per set, and I don't see lot of it offered on web shops.

On this page, because of size image, hardly that You can "feel" the beauty of this design, You will need stamp in Your hands, some "zoom" lens if You wish to "feel and see" all detail of this issue!

To mark this (Titanic) tragedy, Posta Srpske made this set with two stamp, Titanic and Hindenburg - that will make "life hard" for collectors, because both topic are very popular with collectors!

In the end, I can say just - try to obtain it, prices are still affordable!

Bosnia and Herzegovina early period

Michel have it under number 10 (Austro-Hungaria pages), and Scott under number 11:

It was nice surprise, when I come across this item on web auction, and for starting price of few cent, that in the end go for very affordable price for this material. Normally, I "jump on train" and go for it! 

Simple, if You can not have some early material in Your "global" collection, try to have at least, one sample from each country, of each early period. And when You have it - try to have something exceptional, not so rare, but something that is worth investment.

Sample that I purchased (shown here) are "not so nice" quality, but if it will be in 'perfect" condition, I will be suspicious that it is fake!

Here we talk about Bosnia and Herzegovina, better say Austro-Hungaria, issue for Bosnia and Herzegovina (little bit history: Bosnia and Herzegovina, after that SERBIA "broke" Turkish Empire, was "avarded" to Austro-Hungaria, like compensation for war effort, and SERBIAN are left empty hands) that was made in 1900 yr. 

It is second set in row (first set was in Kr [krone] face value, and second start with H [haler] face value), and difference between first and second are in face value number, that come up, and down (in second set). If we search around, this issue at complete set are not so expensive like ordinary human can think. first set in "basic" option can reach around 60.00 euro in used condition, and second set can go even less than 60.00 euro. because I didn't have wish to "run" after so many "option" in this sets, and keep it in my stock, I decided to obtain one like this shown in PROOF-Print option, that well satisfy any serious collection, and will have price stable in near and far future.

How much to prepare for one like this? Really all depend of timing, quality, specific catalog number - but between 50-500 $ will be need to have one "nice" sample!

Year of Dragon 

2012 year from Serbia

It come like surprise, because lot of countries come out with this topic this year. Probably all wanted to (suddenly) be friend with China peoples?

From all that I saw in recent few months, hardly that one or two can be nearly this issue, when is talking about design. I saw lot of naive drawing, hi-tech design, some laser-cut also - but real artist expression I find just on this Serbian issue.

 The stamp come out to market at Feb. 6, 2012 with two stamp in set. Face value of 22.00 and 55.00 Serbian Dinar. Translate it to euros, it will reach some 2.80 euros, but dealer will ask around 

5-6.00 euros per sheet of four, and I think it is worth it.

If we have need just for set, prepare to give in shop some 1.20-1.40 euros. What I like mostly in this set is 55.00 Dinar stamp, where we have this "Dragon in full strength, sitting on some kind of stand" (usually on corner of building)emitting "grace and proud" from artist view and work. 

On CM we see it more closely, beauty of grace! Probably even China collectors and artist will agree with me.

Even that price for all this option, to have set, s/s, FDC and CM is not so small (around 10.00 euros), I will suggest to have it in collection. Don't know what future will show us, but price can just rise on market in future.

P. R. China - again surprise!

You know, they start to surprise me every year! Before it was with "Musicians" issue, and today with this issue from 2011 year.



It is talking for issue numbered (by China Post) 2011-23, with name "Lord Guan". One s/s and one set of 2 value, in total face value of 8.40 yuan. Issued on Sept 12, 2011, this great s/s fascinated me well! This time not by graver work, but by design and quality of print, which is so detailed that You can see every segment of this "Lord Guan" face and cloth. Color composition, size of s/s all are well managed and well combined. 

I go around some web shop, and see that set and s/s can reach around 20.00 $ for mint. If You take additional few $ for PayPal fee and postage, be well prepared to pay near 30.00 US$ per one set, which is probably high for new China stamp. But, I can say - that it is worth it.

And just come to my hands new edition (#17) of Stanley Gibbons catalog, where this m/s are "torn" down with prices, as low as 3.75 BP per one in mint condition. Again searching internet, I see that it go down to 6.00 $, and again to 5.00 $ and now stand around 3.00 $ per one m/s. Reason for "sliding" in price, can be in quantity printed? Probably, but I still think, that even if You purchased it for 20.00 $ - You made it good deal.

Israel "First Coins" issue:

Even that I deal with stamp for more than 25 years around, rarely that I come across items like this issue, which recently, I sold to  my client that I will be free to say, is collector "Who Know What Philately Is"!

No more, and no less!

About what is talking?! For sure, about stamp, that MUST be included in any serious collection, if - IF - we (collectors) want to leave collection worth, to our future generation!

Here it is one short description: 

"First Coin" issue #1-9 (in all categories), that is issued by Israel on 1948 yr. Some stamp from this set come to my hand also before, but never in this perfect condition, even that 1-6 is really great condition, I didn't manage to find last three value in mint condition, but was happy to have 7-9 in perfectly used condition, that will fit well in my client hands! If it is worth this investment? I think - yes! Why? See, Scott for 2006 valued it at: 1-6 mint + tab = 210.00 $, and 7-9 mint + tab = 4750.00 $.

Searching around most know auction and dealers, I didn't manage to find prices in this range and 1-6 is worth around 550.00 $, 7-9 used only I managed to find, and this go for 1900.00 $. 

What is more important, is that for this kind of investment, preferable is to have it examined and certified - because this money is worth it! Here in picture, You have it shown - and I think it is great! Yes, certification will cost You additional expenses, that can reach, for this set - more or less between 250-300.00 $.

Worth this money? 2006 year 210.00 $ - 2012 year it is 550.00 $ - just don't say to me that it is "worth how much collector is willing to pay", because You and I know that it is worth it, even that not every collector is willing to pay it!

NDH - Croatia "Storm Division"

Everyone of us know WWII and dark period of German Occupation - personally, I never collected this material, specially I don't like to promote any material that can glorify in any way German atrocities and destruction that they made at the time. Here is just one section from web that say: "... Nazis made Ante Pavelic head of the NDH. His Ustase Storm Troopers began eliminating the two million Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies in the NDH...".

But when it come to Philately, I see that some of stamp, issued at the time of WWII have "classic" design and quality work done! Here, one sample from recently obtained collection, that - when I discovered it inside pile of album, say just "Diamond" - and yes, it is one "must be" item for any more advanced collection that You can build.

Lets start with statistic, which will say, Mi Bl. 8, P. S. catalog no.: 8, Scott B76  s/s, comparing this three major catalog, we come across very big difference in description and prices, probably it is because West and European market difference, and probably something "other" are in the game. 

To mention, that this block is issued on Jan. 9, 1945 (Scott have it just under 1944 year), even with date/year of issue this two catalog have difference. This block is issued with intention to promote Croatian division that was involved in many battle over Yugoslavia and abroad, and surtax go directly to finance this "Storm Division". What we have in quantity printed is 7500 sets and 2500 s/s - which is too low for time, and topic! Don't forget, that after WWII come to power communist, which well know how to erase any fascist symbols or "propaganda" of any kind.

Next one point to suggest: Be very careful when purchasing this items, don't do it from any web auction, and if You have it, go and made certificate for same. Even that I can not say who is right, but Scott stated that "plentiful counterfeits existed", Michel catalog don't have this "mark" and PS catalog clearly stated that expertise are need, because "many fake existed, that was produced using ORIGINAL ofset plate". This material You buy JUST and JUST from certified dealer, personal dealer or someone who You personally trust.

Now, what say market? I see that it is nice investment material to obtain - prices from "year-to-year" go up, not because inflation, but because demand, and if it have in 2007 catalog price tag of 1800.00 euro per one, today it is full 2000.00 euro per one - and if You want to obtain one imperforated sample (which was very rare and impossible to find) - be ready to go with 5 to 8000.00 euro in pocket.

Croatia - NDH, WWII period

Bl. 6I, 12 Sept. 1943:

Even that I don't like countries that made genocide around, I must to mention this issue! Artist made it well, and we can say that it is really one "masters work" when is talking of engravings stamp design! It is made with full emotion, and You have feeling to be there, on the street of old city Zagreb!

I will give just some information. This issue come out for III. Phila Exhibition held in Zagreb - Croatia (at the time: Independent Country of Croatia, under German Occupied Forces, some say "puppy state"). Graver was K. Seizinger, printed in Wien - Austria, existed perforated and imperforated, overprinted, with "hidden" graver "S" mark, and without graver mark.

Very hardly, that You will find it somewhere around in perfect condition, because total quantity printed run around 118 000 m/s, take in account WWII period, Communist period after WWII, and You will see that most of it have some fault, or are totally damaged in some way!

What catalog say regarding prices? Keep an eye, if some samples will be available for exchange - take it right away! Michel value it this way:

simple option = 18.00 euro,

with graver mark "S" = 55.00 euro,

imperforated = 350.00 euro.

Which option You have in Your collection?

Just don't mix it (graver mark "S") with stamp and m/s - because graver mark on stamp are inside "window" and on m/s is on the plate of near door on building!

Because "problematic" paper and glue (there is two type of paper, one "hard" and one "Japaneses" more tin), many samples are damaged by humidity, after it - collectors used cancel to "repair" damage - that resulted in some "fake" cancel applied on some examples - existed some very good Phila Societies to find more information, like Yahoo groups on NDH, APS and some other.

Again - search for it, and take it at the spot!