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Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
So I searched the web, and found this article:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html
It confirms that there are really two printing types.
I now wonder: Do ALL 36 photogravure stamps of this series exist in both types? Is Type 1 (coarse impression) printed up to a certain date, when Type 2 (clear impression) took over?
The original printing is supposed to be on greyish paper, white paper was used from 1958 on 21 of the stamps. There is a special page for these in my Leuchtturm album, but I have big problems with identifying the paper colour - they all look rather white to me, either the postmark says 1952 or 1962.....
The printing types looks more interesting to me than paper (or gum) types, and I hope somebody can provide more information on this subject.
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-12-04 13:44:49)
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I have gone cross-eyed many times trying to discern between the two printings.
The original printing ran from 1948-1952. The stamps are on toned paper with glossy yellowish gum. There are 37 stamps (major catalog numbers) in the set. Note that Scott #556 (the 10S gray has a minor variety #556b - flat white gum - an inconsistency with the set structure).
The second printing ran from 1958-1959. The stamps are on white paper with flat white gum. (Scott should move #556b to this set.) There are 21 stamps in the set. 22, if you count #556b.
The images on the stamps from the first printing look darker and sometimes appear a bit blurry. Not all the time, however, because light inking can leave a clearer image and a less color-toned paper.
The images on the stamps from the second printing usually appear clearer and brighter as does the paper.
It can be more difficult to determine which printing a stamp is from if the stamp is used. A footnote by Scott confirms what my experiences with these stamps has been, "Designs of the 1958-1959 printing are clearer and on most values appears sharper than on the 1948-1952 printings." The bottom line here is that the differences between the two printings are not always easy to tell.
Here are the face values of the stamps contained in the second printing. Most are described in Scott as having been printed in the same color, except as I noted in the list below.
5g
10g
20g (1st = yellow green; 2nd = deep yellow green)
25g (1st = brown; 2nd = dark brown)
30g
40g (1st = green; 2nd = deep blue green)
50g
60g
70g
80g
1.20s
1.45s
1.50s
1.60s (1st = orange red; 2nd = brown orange)
2.20s
2.40s
2.50s
3s
3.50s
5s
7s
10s (from the listing in the first printing)
Any values not listed above were only issued in the first printing.
Have fun!
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I hope right that there are only 2 printings, so every stamp from before 1958 are of Type 1 (greyish paper, blurry print) and those after 1958 (only 21 of the 36 (excluding the engraved 10S))are of Type 2 (clear impression on white paper)
However, the article I referred to indicates several printings and combinations of printing type and paper type ("there are up to TEN collectible varieties of many of the Austria stamps", this includes differences in gum type which of course can not be identified on used stamps)
I hope somebody with access to a special catalogue can resolve this problem. Didn't the "clear impression" occur before 1958? Only on the "white paper" issues?
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There were two major reprintings. That is what the general catalogs indicate (Scott and Michel). As with any stamp or set of stamps that saw reprintings, there are often more variations than what the general catalogs list. The other, more minor variations are found in specialized catalogs. Michel does refer to additional varieties, but merely refers the collector to the Michel Austria Specialized Catalog.
It just depends how deeply you want to go into this set as to whether the standard general catalogs will do, or if you need a specialized catalog.
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I collect the Austria Costumes too. I only collect used, so I don't have to worry about gum.
Here are 4 different shades of the 3s which I scanned together to show the contrast. The two on the left are obvious first printings, due to the yellow gray paper.
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Stamp-World has a simplified summary of these stamps here:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html
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I recently ordered, and received, nearly complete mint never-hinged sets of the 1948-1952 and 1958 Austria “Costumes” issues. Naturally, the stamps that were missing were among the most expensive, Scott #’s 538 & 556. I was able to buy good MNH copies of those, although they did put a hole in my savings account! But another stamp that is missing, from the 1958 set, is the 2.50-shilling, Scott 549a. And no wonder! It doesn’t exist! Well, it doesn’t seem to exist. Here’s a scanned image of that album page with the missing 549a:
And here's an image of Scott 549a:
It’s not expensive. My 2014 Scott provides values of US$6.50 for MNH and US$3.25 for used. But it seems to be more elusive than the 3-groschen low-value stamp, which is valued at US$0.65 for MNH and US$0.80 for used.
Several years ago I had the Devil’s own time finding a copy of the 3g stamp; Roy Lingen will no doubt recall that he was able to find a copy for me on a philatelic cover, and I have since found MNH and used copies (perhaps thanks to Roy as well, I don’t recall). Its greater value for used copies than for mint argues that few were issued, and even fewer used on mail. But to go back to 549a.
I have scoured the internet for mint copies of that stamp. It’s not available on eBay, or on Delcampe, or on Hip Stamps. Lots of mint and used copies of #549, issued in 1952 on toned paper, with yellowish gum, are available, but not a single 549a, issued in 1958. (It’s possible that some offers for #549 are actually #549a, which was issued in 1958 on white paper with flat, white gum. The newly purchased copy of #549 certainly has yellowish gum, compared to the gum of the 1958 issues, but I’ve read in various web pages that it can be nearly impossible to tell the two stamps apart.
It’s unlikely, it seems, but if anyone has a spare Austria Scott 549a to sell, let me know. My chequebook is open and my quill pen sharpened!
Bob
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Bob, i have this one in my Central Europe Specialized in the 1952 stamp spot...but i do not see any toned paper..the perfs are white .
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Hi nojac
I don't have any stamps in this series, but I read the site you indicated.
An important information in identifying the 2 types is the indication of the numbers of lines per centimeter: 70 and 100.
I think this difference leads to the difference between blurry and clear printing.
With enough magnification I think you can make this identification.
I think it should look like:
Maybe someone has a specialized Michel Austria catalog and to post the pages with these series.
George
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I'm not too fond of varieties but I've saved some of these since the difference is visible to the naked eye.
Plus thanks to Phil I just learned that perfs. come in colors (T-I-C).
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@Philb: The difference between the light grey paper of the 1948-1952 stamps and the 1958 stamps is subtle indeed, but you can see it in this image I just scanned (the 1958 7s stamp, printed on white paper, is on top, the 1952 7s stamp, printed on light grey paper, is beneath):
Bob
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Think on the mint stamps it is easier to see the paper tone difference, but on used stamps it is less clear. This scan shows 4 of the 3S, to my eyes the second from left is a clearer image than the other three, although the paper looks the same.
To see the rastering I would need to get the microscope out.
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Hi Gerom, what magnification was your above example image? I'm not seeing individual dots even at 600x.
Edit, just re-read your post and realised that the stamp you used for illustration is not a "costume" issue, small wonder I'm not seeing the dots. duh!
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Austria is a relatively new collecting area for me, so I never paid much attention. But I got curious, and looking at my collection, I am still not sure how to separate the two types on a collection of used stamps.
I ran an experiment, and found one stamp with fluorescent paper. (Sc #555 7s)
Anyone knows anything about it? Hard to take a photo with one hand while holding the fluo light in the other...the result is a bit blurry, so not for identifying the printing, but for the fluo? It is quite noticeable.
rrr...
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Some of the printings were on bright white paper, so maybe this is like the hi-brite used on Canadian stamps. Flour was possibly incorporated in the paper process.
Don't have a 7s to check, but the later 5s issue does show up like your 7s.
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Confirm, both the 5s and the 7s are present with and without "fluo".
I went through my box of accumulated Austrian costumes, of which I had at least a dozen of most values. Curiously I do not have any 3g, and the one I had in my album is MNH. I guess the 3g is the hardest one to get?
There does seem to be a lot of color shades (often confusing with the two types), probably due to inking densities and possible color fading. When I first sorted through them, I put a lot more in the second printing, most likely attributed to color differences.
rrr..
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Hi sheepshanks
I use the camera on my mobil phone.
The previous example was a stamp printed by the "offsetdruck" method.
I suspect the Austrian stamps were printed "Rastertiefdruck"
As an example I use a German stamp printed "Rastertiefdruck"
It is advisable to look for an area with less color at the edge of the drawing: the points are clearly visible and can be measured
In areas with intense color, this pearl effect appears
I'm sorry I don't have any stamps in this series so I can give a direct example.
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Ok, have used a 50 x magnification and get the following from two of the images above. The dots are not very distinct but can be seen, not that it would be easy to count over a cm. But the relative difference can be seen.
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I am working on my Austria collection, and yesterday I noticed that some stamps of the very familiar "regional costumes" set had a much clearer print than others.
So I searched the web, and found this article:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html
It confirms that there are really two printing types.
I now wonder: Do ALL 36 photogravure stamps of this series exist in both types? Is Type 1 (coarse impression) printed up to a certain date, when Type 2 (clear impression) took over?
The original printing is supposed to be on greyish paper, white paper was used from 1958 on 21 of the stamps. There is a special page for these in my Leuchtturm album, but I have big problems with identifying the paper colour - they all look rather white to me, either the postmark says 1952 or 1962.....
The printing types looks more interesting to me than paper (or gum) types, and I hope somebody can provide more information on this subject.
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-12-04 13:44:49)
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05:30:13pm
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I have gone cross-eyed many times trying to discern between the two printings.
The original printing ran from 1948-1952. The stamps are on toned paper with glossy yellowish gum. There are 37 stamps (major catalog numbers) in the set. Note that Scott #556 (the 10S gray has a minor variety #556b - flat white gum - an inconsistency with the set structure).
The second printing ran from 1958-1959. The stamps are on white paper with flat white gum. (Scott should move #556b to this set.) There are 21 stamps in the set. 22, if you count #556b.
The images on the stamps from the first printing look darker and sometimes appear a bit blurry. Not all the time, however, because light inking can leave a clearer image and a less color-toned paper.
The images on the stamps from the second printing usually appear clearer and brighter as does the paper.
It can be more difficult to determine which printing a stamp is from if the stamp is used. A footnote by Scott confirms what my experiences with these stamps has been, "Designs of the 1958-1959 printing are clearer and on most values appears sharper than on the 1948-1952 printings." The bottom line here is that the differences between the two printings are not always easy to tell.
Here are the face values of the stamps contained in the second printing. Most are described in Scott as having been printed in the same color, except as I noted in the list below.
5g
10g
20g (1st = yellow green; 2nd = deep yellow green)
25g (1st = brown; 2nd = dark brown)
30g
40g (1st = green; 2nd = deep blue green)
50g
60g
70g
80g
1.20s
1.45s
1.50s
1.60s (1st = orange red; 2nd = brown orange)
2.20s
2.40s
2.50s
3s
3.50s
5s
7s
10s (from the listing in the first printing)
Any values not listed above were only issued in the first printing.
Have fun!
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I hope right that there are only 2 printings, so every stamp from before 1958 are of Type 1 (greyish paper, blurry print) and those after 1958 (only 21 of the 36 (excluding the engraved 10S))are of Type 2 (clear impression on white paper)
However, the article I referred to indicates several printings and combinations of printing type and paper type ("there are up to TEN collectible varieties of many of the Austria stamps", this includes differences in gum type which of course can not be identified on used stamps)
I hope somebody with access to a special catalogue can resolve this problem. Didn't the "clear impression" occur before 1958? Only on the "white paper" issues?
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10:43:05pm
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
There were two major reprintings. That is what the general catalogs indicate (Scott and Michel). As with any stamp or set of stamps that saw reprintings, there are often more variations than what the general catalogs list. The other, more minor variations are found in specialized catalogs. Michel does refer to additional varieties, but merely refers the collector to the Michel Austria Specialized Catalog.
It just depends how deeply you want to go into this set as to whether the standard general catalogs will do, or if you need a specialized catalog.
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I collect the Austria Costumes too. I only collect used, so I don't have to worry about gum.
Here are 4 different shades of the 3s which I scanned together to show the contrast. The two on the left are obvious first printings, due to the yellow gray paper.
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Stamp-World has a simplified summary of these stamps here:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html
Login to Like
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I recently ordered, and received, nearly complete mint never-hinged sets of the 1948-1952 and 1958 Austria “Costumes” issues. Naturally, the stamps that were missing were among the most expensive, Scott #’s 538 & 556. I was able to buy good MNH copies of those, although they did put a hole in my savings account! But another stamp that is missing, from the 1958 set, is the 2.50-shilling, Scott 549a. And no wonder! It doesn’t exist! Well, it doesn’t seem to exist. Here’s a scanned image of that album page with the missing 549a:
And here's an image of Scott 549a:
It’s not expensive. My 2014 Scott provides values of US$6.50 for MNH and US$3.25 for used. But it seems to be more elusive than the 3-groschen low-value stamp, which is valued at US$0.65 for MNH and US$0.80 for used.
Several years ago I had the Devil’s own time finding a copy of the 3g stamp; Roy Lingen will no doubt recall that he was able to find a copy for me on a philatelic cover, and I have since found MNH and used copies (perhaps thanks to Roy as well, I don’t recall). Its greater value for used copies than for mint argues that few were issued, and even fewer used on mail. But to go back to 549a.
I have scoured the internet for mint copies of that stamp. It’s not available on eBay, or on Delcampe, or on Hip Stamps. Lots of mint and used copies of #549, issued in 1952 on toned paper, with yellowish gum, are available, but not a single 549a, issued in 1958. (It’s possible that some offers for #549 are actually #549a, which was issued in 1958 on white paper with flat, white gum. The newly purchased copy of #549 certainly has yellowish gum, compared to the gum of the 1958 issues, but I’ve read in various web pages that it can be nearly impossible to tell the two stamps apart.
It’s unlikely, it seems, but if anyone has a spare Austria Scott 549a to sell, let me know. My chequebook is open and my quill pen sharpened!
Bob
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Bob, i have this one in my Central Europe Specialized in the 1952 stamp spot...but i do not see any toned paper..the perfs are white .
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02:42:37pm
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Hi nojac
I don't have any stamps in this series, but I read the site you indicated.
An important information in identifying the 2 types is the indication of the numbers of lines per centimeter: 70 and 100.
I think this difference leads to the difference between blurry and clear printing.
With enough magnification I think you can make this identification.
I think it should look like:
Maybe someone has a specialized Michel Austria catalog and to post the pages with these series.
George
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I'm not too fond of varieties but I've saved some of these since the difference is visible to the naked eye.
Plus thanks to Phil I just learned that perfs. come in colors (T-I-C).
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
@Philb: The difference between the light grey paper of the 1948-1952 stamps and the 1958 stamps is subtle indeed, but you can see it in this image I just scanned (the 1958 7s stamp, printed on white paper, is on top, the 1952 7s stamp, printed on light grey paper, is beneath):
Bob
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Think on the mint stamps it is easier to see the paper tone difference, but on used stamps it is less clear. This scan shows 4 of the 3S, to my eyes the second from left is a clearer image than the other three, although the paper looks the same.
To see the rastering I would need to get the microscope out.
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Hi Gerom, what magnification was your above example image? I'm not seeing individual dots even at 600x.
Edit, just re-read your post and realised that the stamp you used for illustration is not a "costume" issue, small wonder I'm not seeing the dots. duh!
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Austria is a relatively new collecting area for me, so I never paid much attention. But I got curious, and looking at my collection, I am still not sure how to separate the two types on a collection of used stamps.
I ran an experiment, and found one stamp with fluorescent paper. (Sc #555 7s)
Anyone knows anything about it? Hard to take a photo with one hand while holding the fluo light in the other...the result is a bit blurry, so not for identifying the printing, but for the fluo? It is quite noticeable.
rrr...
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Some of the printings were on bright white paper, so maybe this is like the hi-brite used on Canadian stamps. Flour was possibly incorporated in the paper process.
Don't have a 7s to check, but the later 5s issue does show up like your 7s.
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Confirm, both the 5s and the 7s are present with and without "fluo".
I went through my box of accumulated Austrian costumes, of which I had at least a dozen of most values. Curiously I do not have any 3g, and the one I had in my album is MNH. I guess the 3g is the hardest one to get?
There does seem to be a lot of color shades (often confusing with the two types), probably due to inking densities and possible color fading. When I first sorted through them, I put a lot more in the second printing, most likely attributed to color differences.
rrr..
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04:00:24am
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Hi sheepshanks
I use the camera on my mobil phone.
The previous example was a stamp printed by the "offsetdruck" method.
I suspect the Austrian stamps were printed "Rastertiefdruck"
As an example I use a German stamp printed "Rastertiefdruck"
It is advisable to look for an area with less color at the edge of the drawing: the points are clearly visible and can be measured
In areas with intense color, this pearl effect appears
I'm sorry I don't have any stamps in this series so I can give a direct example.
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re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Ok, have used a 50 x magnification and get the following from two of the images above. The dots are not very distinct but can be seen, not that it would be easy to count over a cm. But the relative difference can be seen.
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