Expertisation Early Denmark Stamps

Exploration of Scandinavian Stamps

The early Danish stamps were synonymous with Burelage, Spandrels, Multi-Coloured, Inverted Frame and Numerals, the spectacular stamps from the classic period of philately. Throughout philatelic, exploring Danish stamps features will be very interesting especially exploring on features of the stamps such as authentic, errors, colour shades, printing types and denominations, despite catalogue values is not so imprassive.

The Early Stamps

In the early period of Danish postal history, the Danish postal administration was commenced preparation for the production of stamps as far earlier in 1849. The proposal of official stamps were approved by Parliament in 1850, prior to an uniform postage rates and the creation of stamps. The official definitive stamps were launched to public use just in year 1851.

On March 11, 1851, the proposal changes became a law, uniform postage rate had been introduced, the 4-Rigsbank Skilling (RBS) and 2-RBS were issued, respectively. The 2-RBS was prepared early, due to some technical issues it was issued on April 28, 1851, nearly 1 month after the 4-RBS.

The denomination of 2-RBS was used in Copenhagen on letters sent within the city vicinity. They had divided into 8 sections and postman have to walk prior to deliver and pick-up twice a day.

The first master die or cliché for 2-RBS was designed and engraved by M. W. Ferslew under the firm of Drewsen and Sons. The printing process was required two plates of 100 stamps each plate and a plate for the burelage (a root printing of wavy lines to prevent counterfeit). According to Danish philately, Ferslew actually printed only an engrave burelage and H.H. Thiele completed the printing task.

A proof sheet of 2-RBS was printed on plain paper with unwatermarked paper prior to obtain approval for the blue colour used for the stamp. The Plate I die was used with burelage type for the printing of Plate II. The top half of stamps block could be seen in the Danish Postal History Museum and rest the lower half of the proof sheet was sold to collector at an auction.

There were two types of burelage; Type 1a and Type 1b, Type 1a for Plate 1 and Type 1b for Plate II. The “Ferslew” burelage printing then was takeover by “Thiele” printing in 1852.

Type 1a

Type 1b

Comparison

The burelage of first printing was carried out at Ferslew’s printing shop and was engraved. Whereas the burelage for second printing was carried out at Thiele’s printing shop and was typographed burelage. Hence, Cancellation on the Ferslew printing leave a corrugated impression in the margin, whereas Thiele printing leave a smudged impression.

In term of colour shades, the Ferslew printing varies from greenish-blue to blue, whereas the Thiele printing clear deep-blue.

On production quantities, the Ferslew printing was generated of 1,018 sheets of 100 stamps per block, whereas the Thiele printing was 3,775 sheets.

The Collection of Danish Stamps

There were seven types of early editions for the Danish postage stamps. Amongst others, the 2-RBS is rarest with very high catalogue value. The Ferslew’s Plate I with the buralage type 1a is a most valuable and a spectacular stamp.

1^st. Edition – 2-RBS

Genuine Proof/Reprint 1851/1885, 2-RBS Blue, Scott #1a, Root Print, Design by Ferslew. Yellow Brown Inverted Burelage Type 1b, Plate I, Heavy Yellowish paper, Unwatermarked, Imperforate, Position No. 3 Row 1 * flaw* broken at bottom 'B'  of Rigsbank, Very clear corrugated impression, Superb gems, Good for Study

~CV $8,250 (M)/ $2,250 (U)~

Inverted burelage is rarest

Estimated value $100,000

Genuine Proof/Reprint 1851/1901, 2-RBS Blue, Scott #1, Without Root Print, Design by Ferslew, Plate I, White paper, Unwatermarked, Imperforate,  Position No. 4 Row 1*flaw* sharp serif at bottom & broken serif at top of '2' includes a line mark at bottom of inner circle.

Superb Gems, Good for Study

~CV $2,750 (M)/ $1,200 (U)~

2-RBS Genuine Characteristic

There were 10 different types of flaws on the genuine stamps. Each type of flaws having different characteristic and could be identified in the half-sheet proofs in the Danish Postal History Museum.

Example of Flaws

 Type "a"

*Double marks Inside Inner Circle*

Type 'b'

*Broken serif Of '2' & inner circle dented*

 Type 'c'

*'LN" of Skilling sloping*

 Type 'd'

*Unclear printing of Rigsbank Skilling*

 Type 'e'

*Hyphen touch circle and defective 'S'*

 Type 'f''

*'2' touch 'S' of Rigsbank*

 Type 'g'

*Unusual serif  shape of '2'*

 Type 'h'

*Serif of  '2' very sharp*

 Type 'i'

*Mark on 'N' of Rigsbank*

Type 'j'

*A point mark under the Crown*

Noted: 

Type 'a', 'c', 'f'', 'g' and 'j'  occurs once in the setting of 100 per block.

Reference: The last reproduction of genuine proof in blue. The print was made before the left side of the printing plate was damaged. Plate 1 of 2-RBS.

Genuine Characteristic of 2-RBS Vignette

1. Front tail of “2” is very sharp and pointing to “G” of “RIGSBANK”.

2. Back tail of “2” is curls up and toward shoulder of the figure.

                   

3.  Cross stroke to the top and bottom of the “R” of “RIGSBANK”.

                          

 4. “I” of “RIGSBANK” is taller than “R” and “G”.

                          

 5. Top of “G” of “RIGSBANK” goes forward and level with the bottom of it.

6. “S” of “RIGSBANK” is nearer to the “G” than to the “B”.

               

7. “A” of “RIGSBANK” is squeezed up and pointing to tail of “2”.

                       

8. The two tail strokes of the “K” of “RIGSBANK” meet is larger than the lower “K” of “SKILLING”.

                             

9. “S” of “SKILLING is exactly under the “R” of “RIGSBANK”.

              

10. The bottom letter of “KILLIN” all touch each other.

                    

11.  A hyphen after the “K” of “RIGSBANK” and not touch to “K” and border line.

                          

12.  The “G” of “SKILLING” is smaller than the “N”.

13. The stop after SKILLING almost touch to the round circle.

                               

2^nd. Edition - 4-RBS

In producing 4-RBS, his staff worked so hard to produce around 400 sheets of stamps, as a target of daily printing. The first printing had the Yellow Brown burelage printing from a copper cliché, giving a clear impression with the lines slightly relief.

1851 Royal Emblem with Rootprint, 4-RBS Chocolate Brown, Design by M.W Ferslew, Imperforated, heavy 4-Rings target cancellation, corrugated impression on the cancellation, 4 Margins, Plate I, Type 1 a – wavy lines going from NW to SE, the shaper waves pointing upward,  Wmk. small crown, Scott #2a, First printing, VFU

~CV $65.00~

1851 Royal Emblem with Rootprint, 4-RBS Chocolate Brown, Design by M.W Ferslew, Imperforated, 3-Rings cancel, corrugated impression on the cancellation, 4 Margins, Plate II, Type 1 b – wavy lines going from NW to SE, the shaper waves pointing downward,  Wmk. small crown, Scott #2a, First printing, VFU

~CV $65.00~

1851 Royal Emblem with Rootprint very weak, 4-RBS Reddish Brown, Design by M.W Ferslew, Imperforated, 3-Rings Heavy numeral cancel ‘4’, 4 Margins, Wmk. small crown, Scott #2b, VFU

~CV $55.00~

3^rd. Edition – Dotting in Spandrels

1855 2S Blue, Scott #3, Dotted background, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel, VFU

~CV $ 60.00~

1854 4S Brown, Scott #4, Dotted background, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “72”, VFU, Superb Gems

~CV $ 15.00~

1854 8S Yellow Green, Scott #5a, Dotted background, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, CDS, VFU

~CV $ 70.00~

1857 16S Grey Lilac, Scott #6, Dotted background, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, Numeral Cancel '1',  CDS, VFU

~CV $ 175.00~

1854 4S Yellow Brown, Scott #4a, Dotted background, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “51”, VFU

~CV $ 15.00~

1854 4S Brown, Scott #4, Dotted background, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, adjoining margin 1 mm, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “4”, VFU

~CV $ 15.00~

4^th. Edition – Wavy Lines in Spandrels

1858 Yellow Brown, Scott #7, Wavy line in background, Wmk. Small Crown, With Root Print, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, Nearly 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “51”, VFU

~CV $ 9.00~

1862 4S Brown, Scott #7b, Wavy line in background, Without Root Print, Wmk. Large Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel, VFU

~CV $ 10.00~

1858 4S Brown, Scott #7a, Wavy line in background, with Root Print, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “4”, VFU Superb Gems

~CV $ 9.00~

1858 8s Green, Scott #8, Wavy line in background, with0ut Root Print, Wmk. Small Crown, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “62”, VFU, Superb Gems

~CV $ 95.00~

1863 4s Brown, Scott #9, Wavy line in background, without Root Print, Wmk. Big Crown, Rouletted 11, Design & engraving by J. Buntzen, 4 Margins, 3-Rings Numeral cancel “67”, VFU, Superb Gems

~CV $ 15.00~

5^th. Edition – Royal Emblems

Expertizing is not an easy task especially giving opinions on the genuineness of philatelic material.

1864 – 1870 4s x 5 stamps, Scott #13, Design by O.H.B. Olrik and engraving by P.C.Batz, Perforation Rouletted 13 x 12 ½ , VFU

~CV $8.00~

Note: The height of stamp for stamp No. 5 is 24.5mm and rest 25.5mm, 1.0mm shorter.

Red

Single Cancellation of Numeral

Carmine

Dual Cancellation of Numeral and CDS

Note: Carmine is 2 x times higher value in comparison with Red.

Denmark Stamps 

Issued in 1864~1870

 Denmark  1865 2S Blue

Scott 11, Perf. 13, 3-Rings Cancel, VFU

~CV $35.00~

Denmark  1870 2S Blue

Scott 11b, Perf. 12 1/2, Postmark CDS, VFU
Rare

CV $350.00

Denmark  1870 3S Red Violet

Scott 12b, Perf. 12 1/2, VFU
Rare

~CV $650.00~

Denmark  1870 16S Olive Green

Scott 15b, Perf. 12 1/2, VFU
Rare

~CV $1,450.00~

6^th. Edition - Multi-Coloured Stamps

Skilling Edition

Hingeless Beginner Page Album
Multi-Coloured & Numerals

Note: The 48s Scott #24, perf. 12 ½ is the highest catalogue value of $450(M)/$275(U) followed by the 16s Scott #20, perf. 14 x 13 ½ of $275(M)/$175(U).

Specialist Page Album

 Denmark  1871 2Sk Grey & Blue
Scott 21, Perf. 12 1/2, VFU
Rare
~CV $3,250.00~

Denmark  1871 2Sk Grey & Ultra,
Scott 16, Perf. 14, VFU
~CV $25.00~

 Denmark  1870 4Sk Grey & Carmine
Scott 22, Perf. 12 1/2, VFU
~CV $125.00~

 Denmark  1870 48Sk Brown & Lilac
Scott 15b, Perf. 12 1/2, VFU
~CV $275.00~

Denmark  1871 3sk Grey Scarlet Purple
Scott 17, Perf. 14, VFU
~CV $100.00~

1870-1871 4s, Scott #18 & #22, Grey & Carmine, Design & Engrave by Philip C. Batz, VFU

Perf. 12 ½

Scott #22

~$125.00~

Perf. 12 ½

Scott #22

~$125.00~

Perf. 14

Scott #18

~CV$8.00~

Perf. 14

Scott #18

~CV$8.00~

Ore Edition

Hingeless Page Album
Multi-Coloured & Numerals

6^th. Edition - With Inverted Frame

The inverted frame is an error stamp when the frame is printed upside down. Danish Multi-Coloured stamps are one of them, when the printing process is used more than one die, resulting miss-printing when applying 2^nd. die.

The arabesques in the corners have a main stem and a branch. Normal frame in the upper left corner, the branch leaves of the main stem is half way between two little leaflets, whereas inverted frame, the leaves is longer.

By draw a line at the juncture of the ‘vines” on the lower left side of the upper corner. Notice for the normal frame, the line drawn was slanted up from SW to NE, whereas inverted frame, the line drawn was slanted down from NW to SE, a reverse direction.

Normal Frame

Inverted Frame

Collection of Inverted Frame

1895 3 Ore, Slate & Grey, Scott #41c, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 13, Inverted Frame

~CV $5.75~

Front

Reverse

1902 3 Ore, Blue & Grey, Scott #41d, Wmk. Large Crown Type II (113), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $40.00~

1875 4 Ore, Grey & Ultra, Scott #26be, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $17.50~

1875 4 Ore, Slate & Ultra, Scott #26ce, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $16.50~

1875 8 Ore, Slate & Carmine, Scott #28c, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $0.50~

Front

Reverse

1875 8 Ore, Grey & Carmine, Scott #28ac, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame & Inverted Watermark – Dual Errors, A rarity & elusive stamp 

~Estimated Value $3,000.00~

1875 12 Ore, Slate & Dull Lake, Scott #29c, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $4.00~

1895 12 Ore, Grey & Carmine, Scott #46a, Wmk. Large Crown Type II (113), Perf. 13, Inverted Frame

~CV $4.50~

1875 16 Ore, Slate & Brown, Scott #30b, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $4.25~

1875 16 Ore, Light Grey & Brown, Scott #30ab, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $9.25~

1875 20 Ore, Rose & Grey, Scott #31b, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $32.50~

1875 50 Ore, Brown & Violet, Scott #33b, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $32.50~

1875 50 Ore, Brown & Dull Violet, Scott #33b, Wmk. Large Crown Type I (112), Perf. 14, Inverted Frame

~CV $32.50~

7^th. Edition – Numerals

Hingeless Page Album

Corner Numeral

There was 2 types of Corner Numeral consisted Large Corner Numeral and Small Corner Numeral. Small Corner Numeral is scarce.

1884 20 Ore, Blue, Scott #40, VFU

Large Corner Numeral

1.2mm~1.4mm

White line around crown and bottom oval touch frame

~CV $5.00~

Bottom serif of “2” is rounded

1882 20 Ore, Blue, Scott #37, VFU

Small Corner Numeral 1.0mm

No white line around crown and bottom oval do not touch frame

~CV $60.00~

Bottom serif of “2” is sharp