Gallery

 

3. The Provisional coil stamps of 1938!

On 24 June. 1937, the colour of the IOPf definitive stamp was changed from green to blue-green. The paper remained maLt yellow, with horizontal mesh watermark. The first coil stamps produced in this new colour (Mi. 2721)) were not issued until 24 August, 1937. Used stamps of this type arc relatively scarce, since the paper was changed again just eleven months later.

The stamp on the philatelic card (Figure 4) appears at first glance to be an ordinary 1937 issued lOPf definitive (Mi.272A) from a sheet (the stamp is watermarked horizontal mesh). However, under magnification. it can be seen that the perforations are knife-cut and that the face of the stamp has the typical ribbed impressions from the transport wheel of a vending machine (Figure 5).

It appears, therefore, that the stamp is a previously unknown PROVISIONAL coil stamp made from a normally perforated sheet.

The stamp was cancelled at Sobbowitz on 7.7.1938. Definitive stamps on the new swastika waterm arked paper were about to he issued: the IOPf (Mi.292[)) on 18.7.1938. It is possible that stocks of the stopped perforation 1937 issue stamps had run out and, as a provisional measure, some coils were made up from normally perforated stamps.

Giles du Boulay
e-mail: gilesduboulay@email .com

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 105 - October - November - December - 1999, Page 31.