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!

Czech republic - Nature Protection:

And here we come again! 

Really nice surprise for Jewish New Year (5770) - no, it don't have any connection, it simply, fell near this Jewish holiday - it is better say - like usually - continuing with nice topic of Protected Nature Reserve, which have an UNESCO recognition - because of beauty, because quantity printed, and because country origin - I think that it must be in every collection.

Issued on September 2, 2009 - face value of 53.00 KC (around 3.00 US$ per sheet), have an set of 4 value and 4 coupon. Printed in gravure and offsett color tehnique. Quantity is relatively low, 80 000 printed, that reflect probably collectors subscription and some quantity to be delivered to post offices - but hardly that You will find "many" on postally used cover around. I personally ordered one CTO just to have one in collection, and if we will count quantity that are used on FDC's - chance that You will find it on postally used cover are slim.

On stamps are shown: Eudia Pavonia, Aglia Tau, Cervus Elaphus, Bubo Bubo, Ciconia Nigra, Lunaria rediviva, Tyto Alba and on coupon is shown Caprimulgus Europeaus, Myotis Myotis, Smerinthus Ocellatus, Muscardinus Avellanarius and Rana dalmatina.

I will warmly recommended it to everyone!

Czech republic: Asian Art - 2009 year

I must say - better, SHOUT!!! Great-great-great!!!! Thanks to Czech Postal Authority to give us (collectors) this quality, this "clever" and human product, that fill collection perfectly with ART!!!!

I have this issue in my hand, recently receive it directly from Post of Czech, You can feel this gravure by Your finger, Your eye have an easy surf on every part of stamp, colors, design and dimension - all fit perfectly! I can just pray, that this country continue with it.

Here we have 2 stamp in set, one is 18 CKr face value (less than 1.00$US face), with Chinese culture drawing. Pictured is Lu Tung Pin, one from Eight Immortals. and second is 24 CKr face value (little over 1.10 US$), with Indonesia (Bali) culture. On this second value, we have pictured scene from Hindu epic Ramayana, king Rama and his wife Sita. Again one complex and hard to produce drawing - but result are LUXURY!

On the left side of FDC we have also gravure of Horse (China) and Sita (Indonesia/India), cover alone (FDC) are from high quality paper. This item will have value in the future, and it is continuing from previous ART issue, that come each year - hope it will continue.

For market prices, at present You can easy to obtain it from Post of Czech, but take in account, that You will need to send payment in advance, plus shipping and handling cost, that will rise face value nearly double-tripple if You will order just set - because that, I think that on free market You will need to prepare little bit more that face value, but over year or two, You will have nice item in collection, that are worth minimum 60% catalog value which will be actually 20-30% of that You invested.

Slovakia - Michel #155 Kleinbogen "For Childrens"

Again one nice discovery in my stock - it come from Slovakia (before part of Czechoslovakia), issued December 18, 1944 - near end of WWII, country ruined, people displaced, no food and many children without parent left! One effort, by Post Authority to rise little money and issued this simple, but very eyecatching stamp. Two color print, and lot of visual talk/message - see just artistic work, two children, male and female in young age, relaxing view - every one who will put this picture in fron of eye will think and wish just peace.

What catalogue say? Michel have it correctly valued, single stamp have an 4.50 e value, that reflect correct value, but I will be very surprised if someone will find it in nh condition, mint, nh will have an premium for sure.

Follow: one small sheet of 8 stamp with vignete on middle that have catalogue value of 60.00 euro - this will be acceptable for mint, hinged, without original glue - but in mint, nh, og - You will need to pay much more - I'm affraid near 100-120 euro in best case.

Third option: in Michel catalogue are single stamp no perforated have an great value of 400.00 euro, possible too much for one stamp but it is rare and hardly available - I personally didn't come accross any in my carrieer.

Last option: are same sheet of 8 in imperforated condition - great 10 000.00 euro - possible too much for collectors, but it can be valued this high, because give me name of person who have it!!!!

Quantities are too small for this nice isue - 424 000 pcs issued, that will say - 50 000 sheet of 8 stamp possible on market, less situation in WWII, after that come period when people didn't have so good storage book, and period till today - all at all - little quantities on market. I think that premium prices can be well acceptable if You will find it on market.

Czehoslovakia Michel 2147-49, 51 Flower

If we talk about Czechoslovakia, recently I discovered this one item and say "Hallelujah again"!!!

Great-great-great design, great graver job, great feeling just to look at this sheet of four, and You can even feel it on Your finger when touching this stamp! Which perfect color in use, it stay in brain memory for long time! I know this issue long time ago, but when You deal with lot of material, sometime it will stay unnoticed - that happen to me, I remember it but didn't "touch" it! And now, when I have this sheet of 4, I really discovered true value of philately and value of "good investment" in this "dare" time of recession and bleak future - simple, it made me happy!!!!

Catalogue Michel (2001-2 edition) have an value just for complete set for 8.50 euro, and stated that set have sheet of 4 and sheet of 10 stamp on. Prices for complete 6 sheet are not big, just 70.00 euro, on market you will find it for 70-80% catalogue value, but Czech catalogue separate this sheet in two section, of 4 and of 10 stamp, that are also available on market.

Because quantity printed and time that pass, it made it more hard to find, it is printed from 1/2 mil to 1 mil pieces, that are relatively big quantity, but - still it is hard to find.

Yugoslavia-Kossovo Separation Fact

One simple and worth cover to keep history written by philately!

Even that I personally don't like to mix philately with politics, it is an unavoidable, because philately and stamp issue, is in hands of gov't administration, and directly - it is "weapon" for any country government that sit on power at time and place.

What it have to do with this cover that I'm showing now? Let's start to examine this one simple, not attractive cover, even I can say ugly one!

We will start from beginning - it is issue of Yugoslavia, Michel number 2999, issued on Nov 7, 2000 year, not worth some money, mint is just 3.50 euro, and used little as 0.50 euro by full catalogue value, from dealer You will have it in mint condition not more than 1.00 euro. On cover, with nice cancel like this, and in block of four it can reach also 1.00 euro, if it is one simple, ordinary mail. BUT, BUT - this is NOT simple and ordinary!

Here we see: name of town on cancel is K. Mitrovica-M. eKosoves dated 09 02 2001. So what - someone will ask? And I will reply with question - but NATO give independence to Kossovo (against majority of population living in Yugoslavia/Serbia, that Kossovo is part) in 2000 year, and what is that now stamp on this cover from 2001, with Yugoslavia inscription, in use on the Kossovo soil, and more interesting this red one and blue one cancel, in Russian and in German telling us "Yugoslavian (Serbian) post in Kossovo"!

Normally, any educated and informed person will start to analyze this, and I (not so big intellectual) person, come to conclusion, that some leader from this country, thought "back door" give instruction, to prepare public for some kind of or better say, to inform public, for some kind of separation or dividing this autonomy - by issuing one stamp, to using one post, one simple cancel, and it will do the job.

Actually today, eight and half year after this cancel, slowly, and very carefully - both gov't, Serbian and Albanian (living on the Kossovo soil) are "talking" about dividing Kossovo and made part for Serbian population, and part for Albanian population. (Don't ask me what Kossovo have common with Albania - it is another story, very sensitive to comment on this page). Because that I can and wish to suggest, to all collectors that specialize this countries - to keep an eye on every cancel obtained, every used cover obtained - it will tell You lot of untold story by CNN or by NATO or by politician that are or will come to the power - actually it will told us thruth.

And what to say about prices for this simple CTO cover? See, I saw it on one public auction, it was mentioned like CTO cover from Kossovo, low starting price, and I start to 'play' - till I saw that I'm not single person that want it - yes I win, and pay one high price for something that I want in my collection - till today, I didn't find any like this one or near this one - and if I will find it, again I will try to obtain it. Fairly - it can reach again, some 50-60.00 euros per one.

Yugoslavia and Trieste Train issue

Michel catalogue Yugoslavia block 4B (valued at 200 euro) 

and Trieste block 1A (valued at 250 euro):

This is one really "classic" issue from period of Yugoslavia.

Trieste issue are released 21 January 1950, and Yugoslavia are released 15 December 1949 to commemorate 100 year of railway in Yugoslavia.

Like most educated people know, after Second World War, or better say - during - Yugoslavian National Army liberated city of Trieste in Italy, according it, it was declared "Yugoslavian Liberated Territory" and Yugoslavia start to administrate this port city and also issued postage for use. Because strategic position of this port city, it come to "near" direct confrontation between USA and Yugoslavian army (maybe it is reason why USA bombed Yugoslavia in last civil war there?) - and result was in separation of this city in Zone A and Zone B, in any way - Yugoslavia issued stamp, that are very valued by world catalogues. Reason are few, and one of it is small quantity available, from 12 000 (Trieste) to 28 000 (Yugoslavia), but also topic issued (Train, Railway, Air Mail), and if we see, that Trieste was like "independent state" when is question of stamp, it can be easily collected all from this sphere and made one complete collection. When I say easily - I mean because quantity issued - all together for Trieste Zona B (Yugoslavian administration) existed around 145 stamp, it is not much, but main problem to build this collection will be price - yes, it is not cheap.

This one items from Trieste have an catalogue value of 250.00 euro, and on open market, hardly that someone will sell it less than full catalogue value, in the case that it is question of more purchased material in "one" it will have an reduction, but according my own experience, it will go for minimum 180-200.00 euro.

Collectors that want to purchase Yugoslavian issue, are little bit in better position when is talking about market value, it have an 200.00 euro catalogue value, and market will give You, I'm sure, for 120.00 euro in cash - main reason is that quantity are greater than from Trieste issue, and more important thing is that many people are now selling this material in Serbia, where some great collection are recently offered for sale.

In any way - I strongly suggest to any serious collector, to buy this item as soon as come across an offer - because time, and other element are running against any future availability for this item.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As today (7/IX/2008) I really must to tell about one mail that I received from collector who recently visited this page, and on mail was one link to eBay, with same item offered for sale (Yugoslavia, block, perforated, used). eBay seller offered it, and how far I understand, sold it, for great 15.00 euro!!! I was in shock - start to think about "nonsense" when I told to reader that this kind of material, this item will be hard to find less than 100-180 euro per one! But, after "first sight" - I uploaded picture, and start to play with my PC - zoomed it, and what I discovered? First - one rust traces on top of block, after that come "trimmed" corners - than can be because block was hinged (hard hinges) or stick on page album, and cancel was "not so visible town name and date" (that give one suspicious about cancel alone, because cancel are well centered on block - like need to be when is in question "canceled to order") - and because no possibility to see back side condition of offered block - I simply say "too risky" to buy - but after that, second tought tell me that even if back side of block are with more damage - it is worth to purchase it for 15.00 euro!!!! If nothing else - You will have one sample on collection - yes, it is wasting 15.00 euro if You have one investment in mind - but if You are pure collector who don't care about "best as possible" quality in collection - it is good purchase.

Existed also other option for this item "low" price - that seller think, that this attractive item will reach on public auction much more participant and that price will reach much-much higher, even top - but, we must know market and collectors little bit more than just "place something for sale"! Now, when many of us are back from holiday, back from trip abroad, start school year, seller need to know, that this is not time for 'spending' on philately - many are just "recovering" from spending caused by traveling and other expenses and simply didn't allow other spending.

Any way - I can just say - THANKS to visitor who informed me about one bargain price, if nothing else - I learn!