Introduction


At the end of World War I, Slavic nations residing in the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared independence. The State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs was proclaimed on 29 October 1918. The capital was Zagreb where the National Council (Narodno Vijeće) was residing. The State of S. C. S. remained internationally unrecognized. On 1 December 1918, unification with The Kingdom of Serbia was proclaimed and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed.

Download the current price list here: Verigarji_Chainbreakers_2023 _Price_List.pdf (21 Mb)

At the beginning, on the territory of the State of S. C. S., Astro-Hungarian krone was legal tender (100 heller/filler = 1 krone). In 1918 banknotes were stamped by the new authorities and they became State of S. C. S. krone, in 1919, after unification with the Kingdom of Serbia, new banknotes were printed where krone was converted to dinar at the rate of 1 dinar = 4 krone.

The State of S. C. S. was highly decentralized. After proclaiming independence, postal directorates ordered the overprinting of existing stocks of stamps in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Printing of new stamps to be used on the whole territory of the State (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Vojvodina) was ordered by the Postal Directorate in Ljubljana (Slovenia), hence the naming of the Slovenian editions.

The dire post-war situation and haste in which printing was prepared, resulted in an especially rich philatelic area. Chainbrakers (“Verigarji” or “Verižniki”, as they are locally called) offer endless possibilities for philatelic specialization. Although these editions were well-researched, many facts and circumstances related to them remain obscure to this day.

Austrian and Hungarian stamps were still in use when stamps of Slovenian editions were issued. That resulted in many mixed frankings. Also, as the stamps were in use on the whole territory of the State of S. C. S., mixed frankings with stamps from other parts of the State exist (SHS Croatia and SHS Bosnia and Herzegovina). On top, mixed frankings with stamps of Baranya, Temisioara, and Fiume (Rijeka) are also known.

Stamps of the Slovenian edition were officially in use until 15 April 1921, as on 16 January 1921, a general issue for the whole Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) came into use. But in practice, these stamps were postally used well in the year 1922.

Definitive issues


A. Denomination in krone

Background

Stamps were designed by prof. Ivan Vavpotič, painter and illustrator from Ljubljana. Printing of stamps was first entrusted to press Tiskarna Blaznikovi nasledniki in Ljubljana where the first editions were printed in lithography.

As the press Tiskarna Blaznikovi nasledniki was unable to deliver the required quantities in time the printing of stamps was entrusted also to Jugoslovanska tiskarna in Ljubljana, where stamps were printed in letterpress using plates created by the photo-chemigraphic artistic institute A. Krampolek in Vienna.

When press workers in Ljubljana went on strike, the Postal Directorate in Ljubljana ordered the manufacturing of printing plates for the letterpress printing technique at the same institute in Vienna and, in agreement with them, chose press A. Reisser in Vienna for printing stamps in letterpress.

Country name: Država S. H. S. / Држава С. Х. С.
Currency: 100 vinar = 1 krone

Differentiating between Ljubljana and Vienna letterpress

Stamps were printed in three printing offices and in two techniques. Early attempts to differentiate between Ljubljana and Vienna letterpress prints were troublesome as there was no solid ground on which this differentiation could be made. Under this so-called three-part classification stamps were classified into three groups: Ljubljana lithography, Ljubljana letterpress, and Vienna letterpress.

Contemporary philatelists agreed upon these issues being Ljubljana letterpress:

  1. Color nuances
    • 5 vinar: yellowish green and olive green
    • 10 vinar: brick-red
    • 15 vinar: gray blue and slate blue
    • 20 vinar: olive brown and dark brown
    • 30 vinar: carmine and burgundy
    • 50 vinar: green and dark blue-green
    • 60 vinar: violet-blue, slate blue, dark violet
    • 1 krone: vermilion
    • 2 krone: blue
    • 5 krone: dark pink
  2. Denominations of 50 and 60 vinar and 1, 2, and 5 krone were printed on thin paper, with gum being applied after the perforation process.
  3. All stamps with rouletting (perce en scie) perforation.

Stamps printed both in lithography and in letterpress

As it is impossible to fully differentiate between Ljubljana and Vienna letterpress, contemporary stamp catalogs use a two-part classification and differentiate only between lithography and letterpress as the two printing techniques can be easily identified.

Differentiating between stamps printed in lithography and in letterpress
Lithography
(Ljubljana)
Letterpress
(Ljubljana and Vienna)
Description
3 vinar, lithography: chain not touching the frame 3 vinar, letterpress: chain touching the frame 3 vinar
Lithography:

  • short chain (not touching the frame).

Letterpress:

  • long chain (touching the frame).
Details
5 vinar, lithography: chain not touching the frame 5 vinar, letterpress: chain touching the frame 5 vinar
Lithography:

  • short chain (not touching the frame).

Letterpress:

  • long chain (touching the frame).
10 vinar, lithography: numeral 8 mm high, close to the upper frame 10 vinar, letterpress: numeral 7 mm high, wider distance between numeral and upper frame 10 vinar
Lithography:

  • numeral 10 is 8 mm high,
  • denomination is close to the upper frame.

Letterpress:

  • numeral 10 is 7 mm high,
  • wider distance between the denomination and the upper frame.
Details
15 vinar, lithography: chain not touching the frame 15 vinar, letterpress: chain touching the frame, additional ornament above letter H in S.H.S. 15 vinar
Lithography:

  • short chain (not touching the frame).

Letterpress:

  • long chain (touching the frame),
  • the additional ornament above the letter H in S. H. S.
Details Details
20 vinar, lithography: baseline of numeral 2 thicker, almost horizontal on top, wrist not broken 20 vinar, letterpress: baseline of numeral 2 wavy and thinner, line on the right wrist broken 20 vinar
Lithography:

  • a baseline of numeral 2 thicker, almost horizontal on top,
  • the line on the right wrist is not broken.

Letterpress:

  • baseline of numeral 2 wavy and thinner,
  • line on the right wrist broken.
Details
25 vinar, lithography 25 vinar, letterpress 25 vinar
Lithography:

  • wavy line above inscription ДРЖАВА С.Х.С. approaches the frame on top and touches the frame on the left,
  • the wavy line above the inscription DRŽAVA S.H.S. touches the frame on the left,
  • thin lines inside numeral 2.

Letterpress:

  • the wavy line above the inscription ДРЖАВА С.Х.С. not even close to the frame on top and doesn’t touch the frame on the left,
  • the wavy line above the inscription DRŽAVA S.H.S. doesn’t touch the frame on the left,
  • thick lines inside numeral 2.
Details
30 vinar, lithography: 1 mm between numerals and upper frame 30 vinar, letterpress: 1,5 mm distance between numerals and upper frame 30 vinar
Lithography:

  • distance between the denomination and the upper frame is 1 mm.

Letterpress:

  • distance between the denomination and the upper frame is 1,5 mm.
40 vinar, lithography: vertical lines of numeral 4 of equal height 40 vinar, letterpress: right vertical line of numeral 4 is shorter 40 vinar
Lithography:

  • both vertical lines in numeral 4 are on top of equal height.

Letterpress:

  • the right vertical line in numeral 4 is shorter.
Details
Stamps printed only in letterpress
50 vinarjev 60 vinarjev 1 krona 2 kroni 5 kron 10 kron
Details Details Details Details Details
Stamps printed in lithography only
15 kron 20 kron
Details Details

B. Denomination in dinars

On 24 June 1920, the Postal Directorate in Ljubljana started issuing stamps in new currency and state inscription. Stamps with denominations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 40, 45, 50 and 60 para and 1 and 4 dinars were printed in letterpress. Values of 2, 6, and 10 dinars were printed in lithography. Stamps of 2 and 10 dinars were perforated line 11½, other stamps with rouletting (perce en scie).

Stamps with denomination in krone were still in circulation, and many mixed franking exist.

Country name: Kraljevina S. H. S. / Краљевина С. Х. С.
Currency: 100 para = 1 dinar

Note a design error on 2, 4, 6 and 10 dinara stamps: letter N instead of letter И in ДИНАРА. The inscription is correct only on 1 dinar stamp.
5 para 10 para 15 para 20 para 25 para 40 para 45 para
Details Details Details Details
50 para 60 para 1 dinar 2 dinara 4 dinara 6 dinar 10 dinar
Details Details Details Details Details

Postage dues


A. Denomination in krone

Stamps used to indicate extra postage due on underpaid pieces of mail were printed in lithography in presses Tiskarna Blaznikovi nasledniki in Ljubljana and A. Reisser in Vienna. Stamps of both issues are best differentiated by sizes of numerals. Perforation line 11½.

Differentiation between prints

Ljubljana print Vienna print
Sizes of numerals vinar values (red) 9 mm 12½ mm
krone values (blue) 8 mm 7 mm
Paper vinar values (red) white, rough & white, smooth white, smooth (with or without structure)
krone values (blue) gray, thick, and rough white, smooth
Gum vinar values (red) yellowish white
krone values (blue) yellow brown white
Print vinar values (red) inscriptions thick, better quality print inscriptions thin
krone values (blue) inscriptions thick, better quality print inscriptions thin

Ljubljana and Vienna prints

Ljubljana print
Ljubljana print: numerals 9 mm high Ljubljana print: numerals 9 mm high Ljubljana print: numerals 9 mm high Ljubljana print: numerals 9 mm high Ljubljana print: numerals 8 mm high Ljubljana print: numerals 8 mm high Ljubljana print: numerals 8 mm high
Details Details Details Details Details
SHS Slovenija portovne znamke volovska kri oxen blood postage due Note: there are many nuances of red color on all vinar values of Ljubljana print. Darker colors are in general harder to find. The rarest nuance is dark carmine red, nicknamed “oxen blood” (the right stamp).
Vienna print
Vienna print: numerals 12½ mm high Vienna print: numerals 12½ mm high Vienna print: numerals 12½ mm high Vienna print: numerals 12½ mm high Vienna print: numerals 7 mm high Vienna print: numerals 7 mm high Vienna print: numerals 7 mm high
Details Details Details Details

B. Provisional issue, denomination in dinars

On 5 July 1920, a provisional issue of postage dues came into circulation. Stamps of 15 (blue) and 30 vinar (red) of both lithography and letterpress issues were overprinted with the same overprint. Stamps were overprinted in letterpress by Jugoslovanska tiskarna in Ljubljana.

Overprints
5 para overprint 10 para overprint 20 para overprint 50 para overprint 1 dinar overprint 3 dinar overprint 8 dinar overprint

Layout of overprints

An error which appears on all stamps of 8 dinars: DINAPA instead of DINARA
An interesting design error
appears on all stamps with 8
dinara overprint: inscription
reads DINAPA instead of DINARA.
  • 15 vinar stamps in sheets of 100 were overprinted with para denominations in red color. Every sheet contained all para values (click here for an example):
    • 30 stamps of 5 para,
    • 10 stamps of 10 para,
    • 30 stamps od 20 para and
    • 30 stamps of 50 para.
  • 30 vinar stamps in sheets of 100 were overprinted with dinar denominations in dark blue color. A sheet contained:
    • 50 stamps of 1 dinar,
    • 30 stamps of 3 dinar and
    • 20 stamps if 8 dinar.

Circulation

Number of stamps by prints and denominations
Denomination Lithography 11½
Blaznikovi nasledniki
Letterpress rouletting
Jugoslovanska tiskarna
Letterpress 11½
A. Reisser
Total
5 para 720.000 420.000 56.200 1.196.220
10 para 240.000 140.000 18.740 398.740
20 para 720.000 420.000 56.220 1.196.220
50 para 720.000 420.000 56.220 1.196.220
1 dinar 300.000 300.000 600.000
3 dinar 180.000 180.000 360.000
8 dinar 120.000 120.000 240.000

Newspaper tax stamps


Newspaper tax stamps were also used on the whole territory of the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs. On 2 September 1920, one part of these stamps was overprinted in new state currency as a provisional issue. In September and October 1920, these stamps were overprinted to commemorate the Carinthian Plebiscite.

The stamps were not extensively used since in 1920 flat rate fees were introduced for newspapers. From 15 June 1921, postage fees for newspapers were paid in cash for domestic shipments and in regular postage stamps for sending abroad.

Stamps were printed only in lithography technique, both in Ljubljana by press Tiskarna Blaznikovi nasledniki (issued on 15 May 1919) and in Vienna by A. Reisser (issued on 15 November 1919). All denominations were printed on one press sheet. Perforation was applied only between different denominations in order to create sheets of stamps.

Characteristics of prints Ljubljana print Vienna print
Papers A. Rough with net structure, thickness 0.05 – 0.09 mm. 2, 4, 6, 10, 30 vinar
B. Smooth, white, no structure, thickness 0.06 – 0.10 mm. 2, 4, 6, 10 vinar
B1. Smooth, white with structure (network) 2, 4, 6, 10 vinar
C. Porous with minuscule pores (nonuniform), thickness 0.07 – 0.09 mm. 2, 4 vinar
C1. Porous, striped 2, 4, vinar
D. Rough yellowish, with structure (network) with color fibers 2, 4, 6 in gray color
2, 4, 6, 10 vinar in blue color
D1. Bluish gray, rough, with structure, sometimes with color fibers 2, 4, 10 vinar
D2. Bluish gray, smooth, with structure, with color fibers 2, 4, 10 vinar
Gum Yellowish White
Print Fine, thin lines Rough, disconnected lines
Distance between stamps in a sheet 3 : 3 mm 3,5 : 4 mm

Differentiating between Ljubljana and Vienna prints

Ljubljana print
Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick Ljubljana print: base of the numeral 4 is flat Ljubljana print: numeral 6 is more enclosed Ljubljana print: numeral 1 with flat base Ljubljana print: 30 vinara stamp was not printed in Vienna
Details Details Details
Vienna print
Vienna print: numeral 2 is thin Vienna print: numeral 4 with wavy base Vienna print: numeral 6 more open Vienna print: smaller numerals 30 vinara stamp was not
printed in Vienna
Details Details

B. Provisional issue, denomination in dinars

On 2 September 1920 a provisional issue of newspaper tax stamps was issued. 2 vinar stamps of Ljubljana and Vienna prints were overprinted in black color with new value in dinars. Stamps were overprinted in Jugoslovanska tiskarna in Ljubljana.

The overprint

Sheets of Ljubljana and Vienna printed stamps were overprinted with the same form, although the distance between stamps in sheets varies between the two prints. To overcome this problem two sets of overprint forms were created and then joined together: “group of forms A” (5 x 10) intended to overprint the left part of the sheet while the “group of forms B” intended to overprint the right side of the sheet. There are noticeable differences between the two forms which makes 2 types of each overprint (see the table below).

When overprinting stamps of Vienna print, both groups of forms were fixed wider apart to reduce shifts in overprints. It so happened that the forms were fixed in BA layout instead of AB, which means that in the case of stamps of Vienna print, form B was used to overprint the left side, while form A was used to overprint the right side of a sheet.

Differentiation between types of overprints
Form A Form B Description
Form A: empty space between letters p and a in para Form B: additional two lines between letters p and a in para 2 para on 2 vinar
Form A:

  • empty space between letters “p” and “a” in para.

Form B:

  • additional two lines between letters “p” and “a” in para.
Form A: empty space between letters p and a in para Form B: additional two lines between letters p and a in para 4 para on 2 vinar
Form A:

  • empty space between letters “p” and “a” in para

Form B:

  • additional two lines between letters “p” and “a” in para.
Form A: empty space between letters p and a in para Form B: additional two lines between letters p and a in para 6 para on 2 vinar
Form A:

  • empty space between letters p and “a” in para

Form B:

  • additional two lines between letters p and “a” in para.
Form A: empty space below letter р in пара Form B: additional line below letter р in пара 10 para on 2 vinar
Form A:

  • empty space below letter р in пара.

Form B:

  • additional line below letter р in пара.
Form A: additional line below letter р in пара Form B: empty space below letter р in пара 30 para on 2 vinar
Form A:

  • additional line below letter р in пара.

Form B:

  • empty space below letter р in пара.

Note: there’s a design error on overprints of 2 and 4 para. In order to be grammatically correct, the wording should be “pare”, not “para”.

Layout and perforation

The original sheets consisted of 100 (10 x 10) stamps. Every overprinted sheet contained overprinted stamps of all 5 values:

  • top 3 rows with 2 para,
  • next 3 rows with 4 para,
  • 7th and 8th row with 6 para
  • 9th row with 10 para,
  • the last, 10th row, with 30 para overprint.

Originally, newspaper tax stamps were printed imperforated. Since all 5 values were printed on one sheet, they were separated with perforation line 11½.

Carinthian plebiscite edition


To commemorate the Carinthian Plebiscite, 2 and 4 vinar newspaper tax stamps of Ljubljana issue were overprinted in red color and denomination in dinars. The abbreviation KGCA stands for “Koroška glasovatelna cona A” (Carinthian Voting Zone A).

Stamps were sold in sets at 3-times denomination price and were in use until 31 October 1920 on territories of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Vojvodina. Money collected from the sales of stamps was donated to the Slovenian propaganda committee for Carinthia.

Sheets of stamps were overprinted in a way that they contained overprints of different denominations:

    • 4 vinar, Ljubljana print 10 x 10 sheet contained: 10 x 4 stamps of 5 para, 30 x 3 stamps of 15 para, 10 x 3 stamps of 25 para. 11.960 sheets were overprinted.
    • 2 vinar, Ljubljana print 10 x 5 sheet contained: 15 stamps of 45 para, 30 stamps of 50 para, 5 stamps of 2 dinara. 11.888 sheets overprinted.
    • 2 vinar, Ljubljana print 10 x 5 sheet contained: 40 stamps of 2 dinars and 10 stamps of 45 dinars. 740 sheets overprinted.
Overprints only on Ljubljana issue
Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick Ljubljana print: numeral 2 thick

A distinct category in the postmark collection includes postmarks from the Carinthian and Styrian post offices, which came under Austrian jurisdiction after the 1920 plebiscite.

The so-called “Celje issue”


Introduction

In May 1919 a group of private investors came up with an idea to overprint Austrian stamps issued in the years 1916/17 to commemorate the creation of the State of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs. A consortium was established for this undertaking.

Original stamps were got either from post offices in Slovenia, seized stamps from Carithia or by buying remaining stocks in Vienna. Complete sheets were not available anymore so it was decided to overstamp fragments and individual stamps by hand.

It is unclear at which stage the Postal Directorate in Ljubljana got involved but it is known that overstamping took place in its premises. As it didn’t have the authority to issue stamps the Postal Directorate in Ljubljana asked for approval from the competent ministry in Belgrade. The initiative was rejected, and the existing stock was counted and sealed.

SHS Slovenia - signature Apenik on postage stamp
Signature Apenik on the
back of the stamps.

It is unknown how stamps came to the market. Some sources state that the consortium of investors sued the state as they claimed compensation for their investment that was backed by the official institution (Postal Directorate in Ljubljana). These sources also mention that stamps were handed over to the consortium after it won the juridical procedure. Other sources state that after 2 November 1921, when stamp issues of Slovenia lost validity, the whole remaining stock of stamps was sold at an auction.

Whatever the truth a part of this issue came to the hands of a prominent stamp dealer who stamped his signature APENIK on the back of the stamps. The dealer, Mr. Repernik, was from city of Celje – hence the name of “Celje issue”.

These stamps were never in circulation. Used stamps are either forgeries or (according to some testimonies) essays, as unused stamps were available only in low quantities saving measures were introduced.

List of overprinted values

In total 27 stamps were overprinted with black, blue, and red overprints. Note: strong offsets on stamps’ backs are common on red overprints. Blue and red overprints are fuzzy and mostly of type II.

Overprints on 10 krone stamps, printed on silk-thread paper are forgeries.

DEFINITIVE ISSUE
Denomination Circulation Overprint black Overprint blue Overprint red
3 vinar 7.175 Link
5 vinar 13.000 Link
6 vinar 17.050 Link
10 vinar 2.000 Link
12 vinar 7.020 Link
15 vinar 10.591 Link Link
20 vinar 15.000 Link Link
25 vinar 7.530 Link Missing
30 vinar 7.336 Link Link
40 vinar 6.800 Link Link Link
50 vinar 6.837 Link Link
60 vinar 6.831 Link Link
80 vinar 6.800 Link Link
90 vinar 6.897 Link Link
1 krone 6.806 Link Link
2 krone 6.848 Link Link
3 krone 1.307 Link
10 krone 109 Link
DEFINITVE ISSUE: NEW VALUES
10 vinar on 5 vinar 12.000 Link
3 krone on 1 krone 6.800 Link
4 krone on 1 krone 6.805 Link
10 krone on 1 krone 6.800 Link
SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS
2 vinar 10.000 Orientation 1
Orientation 2
5 vinar 10.000 Orientation 2
POSTAGE DUES
5 vinar 10.000 Link
10 vinar 10.000 Link
15 vinar 10.000 Link

Types of overprints

SHS Slovenia Celje issue overprint types
Types I and II
Type I:

  • dimensions: 17 x 23,2 mm,
  • the second letter S in SHS twisted downwards,
  • numeral 9 in 29, indicating day in date, normal,
  • rectangular ornament more closed.

Type II:

  • dimensions: 16,5 x 22
  • the second letter S in SHS more straight,
  • numeral 9 in 29 in date narrow,
  • rectangular ornament more open.

Type III:

  • dimensions: 16,5 x 23
  • the second letter S in SHS twisted downwards,
  • numeral 9 in 29, indicating day in date, normal,
  • rectangular ornament more closed,
  • letter X in date, indicating moth, with lower right stroke bent upwards and touching the dot,
  • big rectangular spot on S in Slovenija,
  • overprint black and fuzzy.

Note: Type III overprints are most probably contemporary forgeries as this is the only type of overprint appearing on “suspicious” stamps: used stamps and stamps not officially recorded to be overprinted, such as newspaper stamps, stamps with the effigy of Franz Joseph I, postage dues of 25 and 50 vinar, etc.

Contemporary forgeries


SHS Slovenia example of Padevet forgery of postal stamp
Sharp and regular perforation
instantly gives away
a Padevet forgery

The Padevet forgeries

When printing of 15 and 20 krone stamps by press “Tiskarna Blaznikovi nasledniki” in Ljubljana was completed an employee of the press managed to obtain either printing plates or lithographic paper for each stamp.

The employee mentioned this to his friend Mr. Padevet, who was a lithographer by profession. The latter got in contact with stamp dealers Ivan Jurca and Mate Simončič, both from Ljubljana. As these stamps and their varieties were sought for on philatelic market they decided to forge them.

They bought the stolen materials from the employee of the press for a sum of 15.000 krone and got to work. Mr. Padevet created new plates for printing sheets of 16 stamps (8×2). When the work was done Mr. Jurca and Mr. Simončič started selling them.

The wrongdoing came to light when another stamp dealer, Franjo Počkaj, in 1922 found out that a large quantity of these stamps is being sold at an auction house in Vienna. Also, he found out that another stamp dealer bought 1.500 complete sets from Mr. Jurca and Mr. Simončič. The affair ended in the courtroom where the perpetrators received jail sentences.

The most prominent features of Padevet forgeries are:

  • both values: sharp and regular perforation,
  • 15 krone stamp: white circle on top of left numeral 1,
  • 20 krone stamp: indentation in the right frame.

Other features:

  • brighter colors
  • clearer print
  • thicker paper of better quality
  • the pale color of background lines that appear to be inverted (best visible between the king’s shoulder and head)

The Sunday Edition

The origin of the “Sunday Edition” stamps, as they were later named, was never determined and offenders were never identified. Early philatelists noted differences between sheets of stamps, some having different numbers and layouts of known varieties. At first, it was assumed there were two runs that were printed on the same type of paper and gum and had the same type of perforation.

Differences between stamps and sheets of the official issue and the Sunday Edition
Official issue Sunday Edition
Colors clean and sharp pale and blurry
Gum smooth mostly bubbly
15 krone sheet “Curved 5” Variety once 37 times
20 krone sheet “Teardrop” Variety once once
“Kralevina” Variety once 21 times
“Small Ks” Variety 5 times 25 times

Later, the “second run” was regarded as “unofficial” and it was assumed that its printing was ordered by one of the directors of the Postal Directorate in Ljubljana for philatelic purposes only and that the stamps of this “unofficial issue” were, for some unknown reason, mixed up with the “official issue” and sold regularly at post offices.

This version of events was denied by the Postal Directorate as no documents for printing the second run existed, personnel in charge also denied any involvement.

The latest version of events was that the stamps were printed without any authorization by the unknown employee(s) of the press on a Sunday preceding public holidays (hence the name of this issue), when the press was closed. Then they created new plates and printed about 100 sheets of 144 stamps, one part of these they mixed up with genuine stamps so that it would seem that their product is legal (as it originated from the press and distributed to post offices through official channels).

Contemporary specialists judged this version of events as impossible. What really happened in the press that Sunday will probably forever remain a mystery.

SHS Slovenia 1920 20 krone stamp teardrop variety
Features revealing
a genuine “Teardrop” flaw.

Forged “Teardrop” flaw

The “Teardrop” plate flaw appears only once in a sheet, on the 28th field. The variety is quite rare and sought for on the philatelic market. A number of forgeries are produced by additionally imprinting the teardrop on a genuine stamp. When observed closely, the forged teardrops differ in appearance from the originals, some are even not well-centered and can be shifted in all directions.

As the “Teardrop flaw” appears only once in a sheet and the stamps of this issue exhibit many types and marks (literally, every stamp in a sheet is different), it is easy to determine which stamps are genuine. The following features are typical for the 28th stamp, if the stamp exhibits all of them, then it’s genuine:

  • letter K on the right side touches the lime leaf on top,
  • the third vertical line of the box with the country name is broken at the bottom,
  • the wavy background is horizontally broken at the top of the stamp,
  • zero of the right denomination value is flat at the bottom.
SHS Slovenia postage stamp color manipulation
Artificially altered color
(right stamp).

Color alterations

Due to post-war shortages and haste in preparations, the Chainbrakers issues represent a philatelically incredibly rich area. Different paper and gum types, perforations, paper techniques an abundance of printing errors, plate flaws, and unusual postal usages soon found interest in collectors all over the World.

Already in the late 1920s, the philatelic market swarmed with forged and altered stamps which led to confusion in collectors and specialists alike. It was noted that many stamps changed in appearance when exposed to humidity for a longer time. This occurrence was attributed to the low quality of materials that were used in the production of stamps.

Awareness of these effects prompted some schemers to invent other means to artificially change the appearance of stamps and create “to this date unknown varieties” that would attract collectors. Exposing stamps to direct sunlight and dipping them in acids left marks on paper and gum and were therefore easily recognizable by experienced collectors.

But in 1930s more dangerous color manipulations appeared. The so-called “Kaufmann’s colors” were convincing even to experienced philatelists. No traces of manipulation were to be seen on gum or on paper. Most of them originated from stamp dealer Mr. Kaufmann from Vienna who also stamped his signature “K” on the back of the majority of stamps he sold. The fierce debate followed in philatelic circles whether these stamps truly were rare color varieties or just artificially altered stamps. The secret was soon revealed: the forger carefully placed a piece of glass over stamps and exposed them to sunlight for a day or two. The colors changed leaving paper and gum intact.

SHS Slovenia wide margin stamp
Stamps with wide margins
offer enough space to
forge a perforation

Perforation forgeries

Production difficulties in printing Chainbreakers stamps manifested also in uneven perforations. In one and the same sheet, one could find stamps with extremely wide margins and stamps where perforation literally cut into the design. Apart from these, imperforate and part imperforate stamps were circulated.

These deficiencies in production prompted some schemers to produce their own varieties of perforations and offer them on the philatelic market. Contemporary specialists listed these perforations as fraudulent:

  • 12½,
  • 12½ : 11½,
  • 11½ : 12½,
  • and the above-mentioned combinations with rouletting.
Slovenia 1920 20 para genuine stamp
A genuine stamp.

The Brussels forgery of 20 para stamp

The 1920 issue of postage stamps, denominated in dinars, was in circulation for only about 6 months. The stamps were issued on 24 June 1920, but on 16 January 1921, a general issue for the whole territory of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was issued.

Unsold stock was huge and it was sold at an auction in 1922, together with other regional issues. Buyers of this stock didn’t find the 20 para stamp as only 205.000 of them were printed and the majority of them were in the hands of one local stamp dealer.

As the buyers were left without complete sets they decided to print in Brussels (Belgium) a sufficient quantity of 20 para stamps. These differ from the originals in:

Differences between genuine and forged stamps
Genuine stamp Forged stamp
Overall size 19½ : 29½ 21½ : 30½ (an extra tooth of perforation)
Color carmine brick red
Paper regular thicker and harder
Typography regular letters thinner and smaller
Distance between stamps in a sheet 2 mm 4 mm

Interestingly, the counterfeiters were able to obtain an original postmark ZAGREB D 1 D 921 NOV. 19 which they used in creating used stamps.

References


Bibliography

    1. Fleck, Vladimir (1940): Priručnik Maraka Hrvatskih Zemalja, Book 1, Tome 4, Hrvatski Filatelistički Savez, Zagreb
    2. Fleck, Vladimir (1946): Priručnik Maraka Jugoslavenskih Zemalja, Book 1, Tome 5, Hrvatski Filatelistički Savez, Zagreb
    3. Fleck, Vladimir (1946): Priručnik Maraka Jugoslavenskih Zemalja, Book 1, Tome 6, Hrvatski Filatelistički Savez, Zagreb
    4. Fleck, Vladimir (1947): Priručnik Maraka Jugoslavenskih Zemalja, Book 1, Tome 7, Hrvatski Filatelistički Savez, Zagreb
    5. Vardjan, Miran (?): Celjska izdaja – predhodnica verigarjev?
    6. Velikanje, Jože (2000): Slovenika 2000, katalog poštnih znamk, celin, žigov in telekartic Telekoma Slovenije. ISSN 1408-2209.

Contributors
Some of the images in the Chainbreakers section were contributed by:

  • mag. Boštjan Petauer FRPSL