Slovakia - Korea Joint Issue 2013

Here we come with one fresh new issue, that come in this (2013) year. Even that I don't like to favorize something new, that I prefer to "wait-and-see" period, to made it sure that item/s have reason to be included in "must have" status, this issue "blink" in my brain!

And it is not first time in last few years, it happen also with P.R. of China "Musician" (Beethoven) issue, and now with joint issue with Slovakia and Korea.

Let's start about technical details:

Date of issue May 31, 2013. Two stamps in set, face value of set is 2.00 euro. In Korea set, face value is 540.00 won (0.37 euro). Difference in face value between two countries are great, from 2.00 euro to 0.37 euro, that will not reflect real value or standard, it is question of standard inside each country and not topic of this post. What I wish to say, is that this issue have one really great intention, to show us this beautiful native tradition in dancing, music, colors, ornament of native costume, and diplomatic relationship and connection between two countries.

I must say, that this issue made it all of this task well done!

Here we have shown this two stamp, one that show us "Pansori" genres of music (drummer and singer), on Korean tradition, and "Lucnica" Slovakia dancing troupe (ensemble).

Stamp design of native costume, native dancing, and colors that "blind Your heart". Designer made it really with whole heart and mind! 

Even printing process (recess printing from flat plates combined with offset) are much better than for "ordinary" stamp issue (where is mostly used offset process), which give us more "precise" detail and view of fine line of each color.

What will be next reason to have it in collection? To mention just 150 000 sets printed in sheet of three sets, which will give us 25 000 this sheets out on market - when we know that this issue can be included in few topical collections like: flag on stamp, costume, joint issue, dancing and in the end also art, You really believe that it will be (quantity) really available for everyone who will wish it in personal collection?

As today, almost 5 months after date of issue in Slovakia, I don't see even one sheet of 6 sets on sale by eBay, and on Delcampe! 

This fact give You good reason to find it around, it is probably still available on Slovak Post direct purchase, but if You don't have "nerve" for official way, You can find it (probability are low) from some dealers, but be prepared to pay more than 20.00 US$ for Slovakian sheet of three sets, yes - plus postage, shipping and handling, payment fee... mean, starting market value for this new issue will go over 30.00 US$. Let's see if future will verify this!

Montenegro, 2005 issue

Here come one issue, that I discovered almost by accident, and make me angry at first, but after minute of thinking, I say even better - I'm happy!

In one discussion on FaceBook Page, about "Regional Philately" (Yugoslavia and former Republic of Yugoslavia), members discussed about Montenegro issue from 2005 year, "Flag and Coat of Arms".

As we know there is three type of this set, difference are on face value and date of printing/issued, which first set/printing of 4 values come to the market on Dec. 15, 2005, value on stamp go from 0.25 e, 0.40, 0.50 and 0.60 euros, up side logo of Montenegrin Post and text "Crna Gora - Montenegro". 

Second printing/type come out on unknow day of June, 2006, even that on the same stamp is imprinted "2005" instead of 2006, two stamp/values in set, 0.25 and 0.40 euros face value. 

Difference from "first printing" are in, under logo of Post of Montenegro is also text "Posta Crne Gore", that didn't appear in first printing, and also second small difference come on bottom of stamp, where is name of printer "Axis Studio" 2 mm to the right of left/down corner line.

Third printing  come to the market on unknow day of Sept. 2006, with set of three value, 0.25, 0.40 and 0.60 euros. Difference are, in 2006 year (down on the middle of stamp), and name of printer (down left side) "Axis Studio" are positioned exactly on the "corner" line/frame of stamp. Next "small" difference is also on "Eagle" are little smaller than in first and second printing.

Now, if it is just because of this differences, I will never put this issue to the range of "Stamp Must Have", or because few different option of printing sheet, where we have sheet of 8 + 2 labels and also sheet of 20 no labels and next option with sheet of 10 and no tabs, but because strange happening that follows this issue!

First, how it is possible that even own Post of Montenegro don't have official date of release for each issue/printing? (because they printed at the same time all three issue, or just first and second printing)!

Second, how it is possible that NO evidence about quantity of FDC issued? (because FDC are produced just "on request" base with no any time limit involved)!

How can I be so sure about my claim?

As I mentioned from beginning of this article, I just checked my stock with FDC from Montenegro, I see that most of quantity that was available for sale are gone (not big quantity, around 10 sets), and one that is left is with first and second printing!!!!

YES - first two stamp from first printing, second two stamp with second printing, on the official cover of Post of Montenegro, with official cancel dated Dec. 15, 2005!!!!!!

What else come to the side of my claim?

Because I purchased this stamp directly from Montenegro Post, and at the time, they delivered material in 3 months period of date of issue, I still keep original Invoice of it. That mean, Post of Montenegro, have ready two printing of set, or in different printing plant, or with different face values, but ready for "future release".

This fact, give me decision that this issue need to be included in "Stamp Must Have" collection!

New Zealand, 1994 year:

Here, is one issue, that I will give little information, and probably some specialist will correct me some way, but my intention is not to give detailed description about this stamp.

I just examined my album, and saw that this stamp have some kind of "beauty", even that on "first sight" it is not so attractive!

Like we know, it is 1994 year, 18 Feb. issue of "Mount Cook" definitive. 

Many of us will say, that it is no need to print 20$ face value stamp, except if Post made it intentionally ta "grab" some cash from collectors around.

Why I think, that it is worth to be included in every collection?

First, it is high value, that not every person will have budget to spend on, that mean, who have it - have some kind of "advance" over other, in collection value. Second, in used condition it will be more difficult to have it in collection, because not so many samples are actually used on any documents or parcels. And in mint condition, my professional opinion is, that because of printing, paper, glue - will be even more hard to keep it inside album.

I see, after 10 year in my album, that my two samples start to be some way "old", if it is chemical process of glue and color I don't know, maybe gold foil/color applied up/down also made some "feeling" of "old" stamp.

And if You will have in Your collection also one mint, that have some "error" (left stamp), don't "jump" of luck! Examine this left stamp, more closely, and You will see that it actually have this color variety of "damaged zero" because of printing process and not of "error".

This issue is printed in recess printing technique , where printed field You can feel under Your fingers (like on US$ bill), but it give very big "hard life" for printing operator, because of dry-time for color, if it is not dry enough, it will stick together (very softly) stamp - and when you separate it, You will even not notice that two stamp was stickied together, but color part will flee with other stamp, and You will think, that error in printing is discovered!

As is is - I think, that it is worth to keep it in collection, and used on document, will be worth premium.

From world catalog, I see that it is valued around 25.00 US$, and used sample have better value of mint. On New Zealand soil, it will be valued around 30.00 - 35.00 NZ$ (I think).

  

Trieste (Trst) - Yugoslavia issue:

Today, not many people know, that this city, Trieste (Italian) or TRST (Serbo-Croatian) was part of Yugoslavia (Yes, short period but it was!).

I will not take role of teacher, or be some kind of historian, and will just "shortly" in simple language explain to the public how it was part of Yugoslavia:

There was WWII, there was III Reich (Third Reich), there was Italia like ally of Germans that occupy Yugoslavia and in the end, Italy capitulated under Allied Forces, Russians, Yugoslavian Army, and others military forces.

Than, Trieste was taken by strong forces of Yugoslavian Army, but .... but Allied Forces didn't like it, and rush to "help" surrounded city and in the happy end, Yugoslav and British (2nd Division - New Zealand) divided Trieste in to two zone (Something like Berlin case). Zona A (under West countries army) and Zone B (under Yugoslavian army).

Fine for Philately and collectors - this give us one great set to have in collection:

It is originally stamps from Yugoslavia, overptinted with STT VUJNA (Slobodna Teritorija Trst - Vojna Uprava Jugoslavenske Narodne Armije). 

Need more proof that Trieste was part of Yugoslavia? (:-))

I like it, because it is set formed from Yugoslavia "Industry" issued, which I admire well, because of design, printing, quality, message, and great will of Yugoslavian citizen (what was left after Germans Genocide) to made progress and rebuilt country from scrap!

In some way, it is also one written document, that remind future generation of what for our ancestors  fight.

This set come out on Feb. 25, 1953 - Yeah, not so far, but AFTER war ended, (1954 was year when Trieste was "returned" to Italy).

I see it in Michel catalog under numbers 87-94 which give very nice price tag of 32.00 europer mint, nh set for basic option. But there existed two "special" stamps of 5.00 din and 15.00 din (face value) that can catapulted value of this set to "sky high" of 450.00 euro!

Why it is not so "cheap" even that some stamp from set are printed in 500 000? Because in this set You have some topic like: Industry, Train, Rail, Sunflower.... very popular topics that made shortage on market.

You have it? Keep it! You can buy it - Grab it!

Kosovo - Breast Cancer issue of 2008:

Not long ago, I made one page regarding this common issue of USA Scott #B1, that many countries around world made. Will not go again to describe high-minded effort that we have with. My intention is to show some nice item/cover that I recently received, and, according my opinion will be worth to keep in collection for future generation.

Lot of countries made this stamp, exactly number I don't know, but between all, I can mention this Kosovo (Serbian Autonomy), Hungary, Jordan and some other "privately owned" countries around. 

Let's talk about this Kosovo envelope that I examined, and some "funny" fact, that You can read "between line" intrigued me to write this page.

First to mention this cover that have four stamp attached on, with face value of 2.20 euro, that is fare for international, recommended air-mail shipment, we have two stamp of "Breast cancer" [Michel #115] issue and two stamp of "B-Fly 2012" issue. very nice cancel applied by Prishtina Post Office, post code 10110, that is still old Yugoslavian post code number, and style of post code numbering. Very easy, ordinary human can take it lake "symbol" that people of Kosovo still want Yugoslavia.

Even that some half of world countries (less that 90 if I'm correct, mostly "private owned" countries and also some "big Konan destroyer" countries) almost recognized Kosovo like independent country (still far away from 51%), I noticed that (from this cover) one "funny"detail, that everyone can take according personal logic, and it is that on "R" sticker (RA100 665701KS) are letter "KS"! 

It is initials for what (:-)) - Kosovo SERBIA?

After, come one very ugly post worker marking of 1 (3)/7 by marker, handwriting, that made "Kosovo cover" very ugly make up!  To made thing worse, Israel Post, applied one "red sticker info", that is in use here, when some mail come from "unstable problematic countries", and which warn receiver about not to open mail if You don't know sender. Public probably know well why this warning are, and it is justified when mail come from "not so recognized" countries or places.

As is - is, I will suggest, to have one envelope like this in collection, if nothing else, just for record of "stupid time in history"!

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!