Czechoslovakia, Carrier Pigeon with Letter: Varieties of Postage Stamps

The design of the stamp was submitted by painter Jaroslav Benda under the motto “Writing”. It is a stylized dove with a letter in its beak. At the time, the design represented a very modern and pioneering concept of stamp making. Thus, one of the most beautiful symbolic drawings in stamp production of the time was created, praised also by French magazine “L’art et décoration” with a conclusion that French stamp production should follow suit.

The stamps were printed by the Czech Graphic Union in Prague in letterpress from etched plates.

TYPES
20 h 25 h
Czechoslovakia stamp Carrier Pigeon with letter 20 halerou Type 1 Czechoslovakia stamp Carrier Pigeon with letter 20 halerou Type 2 Czechoslovakia stamp Carrier Pigeon with letter 25 halerou Type 1 Czechoslovakia stamp Carrier Pigeon with letter 25 halerou Type 2
Type 1:

  • the inner oval of the 0 in the value 20, is angular with two parallel lines,
  • left numeral 2 prolonged at bottom left.
 Type 2:

  • the inner oval of the 0 in the value 20 is rounded.
 Type 1:

  • tops of numerals 2 pointing upward.
 Type 2:

  • tops of numerals 2 pointing downwards.
CONSTANT VARIETIES
10 h
I Československá 10 Holubice znamek Výrobní vady Indentation in bottom frame.
Field №: 68 Pane: N/A
Other nomenclatures: VII/6a
Notes: –
Value €: 3,5
20 h
I Czechoslovakia stamp Carrier Pigeon with letter 20 halerou plate flaw Additional line next to dove’s beak.
Field №: 51 Pane: N/A
Other nomenclatures: VII/2a
Notes: –
Value €: 4,5
II Československá 20 Holubice znamek Výrobní vady Triangular-shaped spot on top line of letter, above the seal.
Field №: 48 Pane: N/A
Other nomenclatures: VII/7
Notes: –
Value €: 3,5
UNLISTED VARIETIES
5 h
1 White dot above o in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
10 h
1 Small white circle above right denomination.
2 Outer circle of the eye partially missing.
3 Right 1 and 0 joined together.
20 h
1 Top frame uneven.
2 White spot above left 2.
3 Left zero deformed.
4 Small white dot below left 2.
5 Curly line on left side of the letter.
6 White spot between ES in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
25 h
1 White vertical lines over design.
2 Semi-circular spot on top right corner, colored dot on right wing.
3 Right vertical line on letter with arrow on top.
4 Colored dot on first tail feather.
5 Thick white line between tail and right wing.
6 Left numeral 2 deformed.
7 Large white circle above right numeral 5.
8 Thin white line connecting left wing and left numeral 5.
30 h
1 Top left horizontal line on letter prolonged and bent do

Bibliography

    1. Jan Karásek, Antonin Michele, Bohuslav Svoboda: Monografie Češkoslovenských Známek, Díl II. – Legionářské 1919 – hospodářstvi a věda 1923, Prague 1971.