Sailors: Definitive Issue of 1919 for Croatia and Slavonia
After the secession from Hungary, the Directorate of Posts in Zagreb began preparing a new definitive issue, intended for use only in the territories of Croatia and Slavonia.
The stamps were designed by Lina Crnčić-Virant (2, 3, and 5 filler), Oto Antonini (10, 20, 24, and 45 filler), and Antun Koželj (1, 3, and 4 krone). The designer of the newspaper stamp is unknown. The stamps were printed in lithography by Zemaljska tiskara and by the company Rožankowsky & Co., under circumstances that remain somewhat unclear. The stamps were placed into circulation in January 1919.
Characteristics
Filler denominations
The first matrix and the first printing plates for the filler denominations were produced at Zemaljska tiskara. The plates consisted of 100 stamps in a 10 × 10 layout and were made from an initial block of 10 stamps (5 × 2), which was then multiplied ten times. The plates soon wore out and became unusable. Stamps printed from the first plates are very rare and can be identified only by the large numerals indicating the column and side value totals on the pane margins.
The printing of the filler denominations was then transferred to another printer, Rožankowsky & Co. There, the second printing plates—with small numerals on the pane margins—were produced using the first matrix obtained from Zemaljska tiskara. Stamps printed from this plate are identical to those printed from the first plate; the only difference is the small numerals on the pane margins. In the case of the 45-filler stamp, these numerals appear in a grotesque typeface. Ercegović speculates that the second plate may have been an attempt to print the stamps using offset printing, a method that was soon abandoned (Ercegović, 1995: 97, 99).
Later, a second matrix for the filler denominations was prepared at Rožankowsky & Co., from which the third printing plate was produced. Stamps printed from the third plate differ in design from those of the first and second plates and are also the most common. The printing plates for the 2, 3, 5, and 20 filler denominations were produced by multiplying an initial block of 10 stamps in a 5 × 2 layout, while the plates for the 10, 25, and 45 filler denominations were produced from a block of 10 stamps arranged in a 10 × 1 (single-row) layout.
Filler denominations – differentiating between prints
From the first plate, the 2, 3, 20, 25, and 45 filler denominations were produced, but only the 25- and 45-filler stamps were delivered to post offices. From the second plate, the 2-, 10-, 20-, and 45-filler denominations were printed, and from the third plate all filler denominations were issued: 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 45 filler.
| Denomination | 1st Matrix: Zemaljska tiskara | 2nd Matrix: Rožankowsky & Co. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Plate: Zemaljska tiskara | 2nd Plate: Rožankowsky & Co. | 3rd Plate: Rožankowsky & Co. | |
 Large side numerals were used only on 1st plate. |
 Small side numerals with a decimal point above them were used on both the second and third plates. |
||
| 2 filler | Known only as printer’s waste; no regular copies are known to exist. |  The printing plate soon wore off and produced a “watery” impression. |
|
| 3 filler | Reported to be seen in the printing office. | – | All values. |
| 10 filler | – |  Number 1 in the denomination is larger than zero. |
 Number 1 and zero are of equal height. |
| 20 filler | Only the printer’s waste. | It is hard to differentiate between the 2nd and the 3rd plates unless stamps are in larger blocks or pane fragments. Typical for the 3rd plate is Type III: a dot in letter V in DRŽAVNA, which is not present on the 2nd plate. Stamps printed with the 2nd plate have a “watery” impression, lack detail, and the color appears to be blurry. | |
| 25 filler |  Number 2 is more regular and curved at the top; the upper horizontal stroke of numeral 5 bends downwards in the middle. |
 10 different types of numeral 2, upper horizontal stroke of numeral 5, straight and pointing upwards. |
|
| 45 filler |  Large numerals on pane margins, numeral 5 bent in the middle. Thin and transparent paper. |
 Number 5 identical to first plate, side numerals in “grotesque” font, decimal dot at top. Thicker white paper. |
  Upper horizontal stroke of numeral 5 straight and pointing upwards, small side numerals, decimal dot at bottom. |
Krone denominations
The 1-, 3-, and 5-krone stamps were printed at Zemaljska tiskara, where the printing sheet consisted of two panes, each containing 100 stamps in a 10 × 10 layout. At Rožankowsky & Co., identical printing plates were produced, with one difference only: they consisted of 400 stamps, which were then divided into four panes of 100.
Paper
The stamps were printed on many different types of paper. For the filler denominations, the following paper types are known to exist:
- white or grayish regular, porous: all values
- thick: 5 in 20 filler
- thin: 10, 25, and 45 filler
The krone values were printed on smooth, porous paper of irregular thickness. Very thin and very thick papers are rare. On rare occasions, a horizontal line resembling a watermark can be found on the krone denominations. These lines are unintentional by-products of the paper-making process.
 |
| A greasy effect created by gum that penetrated the paper. |
Gum
The gum on the filler denominations is known to exist in many varieties: white, yellowish, brown-yellow, and even grayish or reddish (reported on the 25-filler value). At times, it is unrefined and contains black specks or other impurities. The gum may be applied thinly or thickly, evenly or unevenly. In many cases, parts of a pane were left without gum. Sometimes the gum penetrates the paper, creating a greasy appearance.
Perforation
In general, perforation is line 11½ and differs in appearance, with large or small holes. A smaller number of 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 filler stamps were also comb perforated 12½; the 5 filler stamp is especially rare. A lot of anomalies in perforation exist.
Varieties
A. Types
| TYPES OF THE SECOND PLATE | |
|---|---|
| 20 filler | |
 |
There are two types of 20 filler stamps:
Note: Types I and II of the second plate are identical to those of the third plate. The difference is in the pattern in which types appear in a pane:
|
| Types II and I | |
| TYPES OF THE THIRD PLATE | |
| 2 filler | |
 |
Type I appears on fields 1, 6, 21, 26, 41, 46, 61, 66, 81, and 86. |
| Types II and I | |
| 5 filler | |
 |
In the initial block of 10 (5 × 2), 10 different types of numeral 5 are difficult to differentiate between. The most prominent is type VI with an additional colored dot in the field on the right side of the numeral 5. |
| Types I to X | |
| 20 filler | |
 |
Note: The pattern in which types appear in a pane:
|
| Types I and II | |
 |
|
| Type III | |
| 25 filler | |
 |
The pane was produced by multiplying an initial block of 10 stamps arranged in a 10 × 1 layout. Each stamp in the initial block was slightly different, resulting in ten distinct types. The types can be identified by differences in the numeral “2”. Additional characteristics:
|
| Types V-X | |
| 45 filler | |
 |
Type II appears in the 10th column in a pane. |
| Types II and I | |
B. Constant varieties
| THIRD PLATE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 filler | |||
| I |  |
White spot on the lower horizontal stroke of the numeral 2. | |
| Field №: 96 | Pane: 2 filler, pane D | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 3 filler | |||
| I |  |
White spot below the letter K in HRVATSKA. | |
| Field №: ? | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| II |  |
Letter S of HRVATSKA prolonged at the bottom. | |
| Field №: ? | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. This characteristic has been observed on multiple examples and may represent an additional type. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| III |  |
The linden leaf above the last letter A in HRVATSKA is deformed. | |
| Field №: ? | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. Similar to flaw V of the 5 filler stamp. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IV |  |
Dot after numeral 3. | |
| Field №: 90 | Pane: A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| V |  |
Dot after the second letter A of HRVATSKA. | |
| Field №: 81 | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: Similar to variety IV of the 5 filler stamp. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| VI |  |
The top line of the denomination box is broken; a colored dot is on top of 3. | |
| Field №: ? | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 5 filler | |||
| I |  |
White dot on top of the numeral 5. | |
| Field №: 83 | Pane: 5 filler, pane B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| II |  |
The second linden leaf deformed. | |
| Field №: 74 | Pane: 5 filler, pane B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| III |  |
Sun rays on the right side of the design are damaged. | |
| Field №: 9 | Pane: C | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IV |  |
White dot after the second letter A of HRVATSKA. | |
| Field №: ? | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. Similar to flaw V of the 3 filler stamp. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| V |  |
The linden leaf above the last letter “A” in HRVATSKA is deformed; a white scratch appears over the second letter “S” in SHS. | |
| Field №: 8 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. Similar to flaw III of the 3-filler stamp. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| VI |  |
White dot on letter D of DRŽAVNA. | |
| Field №: 82 | Pane: 5 filler, pane B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 10 filler | |||
| I |  |
White spot on the top left of the numeral 1. | |
| Field №: 22 | Pane: C | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| II |  |
A shade on top of the zero. | |
| Field №: 50 | Pane: 10 filler, A, top half (10 × 5) 10 filler, A, bottom half (10 × 5) |
||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| III |  |
Sloping line below letter H of HRVATSKA. | |
| Field №: 86 | Pane: 10 filler, A, top half (10 × 5) 10 filler, A, bottom half (10 × 5) |
||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IV |  |
Colored dot inside letter H of HRVATSKA. | |
| Field №: 89 | Pane: 10 filler, A, top half (10 × 5) 10 filler, A, bottom half (10 × 5) |
||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 20 filler | |||
| I |  |
Number 2 is covered with color. | |
| Field №: 100 | Pane: 20 filler, pane C, top half (10 x 5), | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| II |  |
Sailor with a white belt. | |
| Field №: 8 | Pane: 20 filler, pane B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| III |  |
Letter T in HRVATSKA is deformed. | |
| Field №: 97 | Pane: 20 filler, pane B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IV |  |
Big white spot on numeral 2. | |
| Field №: 54 | Pane: D | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| V |  |
Sailor with a long nose (Pinocchio). | |
| Field №: 9 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 25 filler | |||
| I |  |
Long, thin scratch over the design. | |
| Field №: 15, 16, 26, 36, 47, 57, 67, 68, 78, 88, 99 | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: more examples – top stamp, bottom stamp. Check the pane fragment here for all images. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| II |  |
First letter A of HRVATSKA without a horizontal line. | |
| Field №: 48 | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IIIa |  |
Vertical colored lines over the design. | |
| Field №: 7th row | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: more examples: link. Check the pane fragment here for all images. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IIIb |  |
Vertical colored lines over the design, colored spot in letter V in DRŽAVNA. | |
| Field №: 17, 37 | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| IV |  |
Colored spot between letters V and A in HRVATSKA. | |
| Field №: 90 | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 45 filler | |||
| I |  |
Number 4 is damaged at the bottom left. | |
| Field №: 96, 99 | Pane: B | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: another example. | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| II |  |
Dot in the number 5. | |
| Field №: 96 | Pane: 45 filler, A, top half (10 × 5) 45 filler, A, bottom half (10 × 5) |
||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
| 1 krone | |||
| I |  |
White spot left from inscription SHS. | |
| Field №: 71 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| Value €: – | |||
C. Unlisted varieties
| UNLISTED VARIETIES, THE FIRST PLATE | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2 filler | ||
| 1 | Colored dot left from the numeral 2. |  |
| UNLISTED VARIETIES, THE THIRD PLATE | ||
| 3 filler | ||
| 1 | White spot below letter R of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 3 | White dot on letter T of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 5 filler | ||
| 1 | The sun rays on the left are short. |  |
| 2 | Colored dot on vertical lines right from the denomination. |  |
| 3 | Big white spot right from the allegorical figure. |  |
| 4 | White dot below the letter R of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 5 | Colored dot on letter R of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 6 | White spot below the letter S of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 7 | White spot above the left pair of linden leaves. |  |
| 8 | Colored dot between 5 and zero on the tab below the 95th field. |  |
| 9 | Small indentation in the right frame. |  |
| 10 filler | ||
| 2 | Thick horizontal line on top of the second letter A of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 4 | Colored spot on top of the left vertical stroke of the letter H of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 6 | Thick horizontal line over the flag and the flagpole. |  |
| 7 | A red dot inside the letter N in DRŽAVNA. |  |
| 8 | A red dot in the loop of the letter P in POŠTA. Similar to a 20-filler stamp. |
 |
| 20 filler | ||
| 1 | Colored spot at the end of the second letter A of HRVATSKA. |  |
| 2 | Colored dot between letters K and A in HRVATSKA. |  |
| 3 | Letter R of HRVATSKA broken on top. |  |
| 4 | The top serif of the letter S in HRVATSKA is prolonged. |  |
| 5 | Brown dot in the loop of the letter P in POŠTA. Similar to a 10-filler stamp. |
 |
| 6 | Brown spot behind the sailor’s head. |  |
| 7 | Thin, vertical line over the sailor’s hand. |  |
| 25 filler | ||
| 1 | Colored spots below letters V and A in DRŽAVNA. |  |
| 4 | Thick white sloping line over the flag and the flagpole. |  |
| 45 filler | ||
| 1 | White dot on top of the letter T of POŠTA. |  |
| 2 | Letter R of HRVATSKA damaged (HPVATSKA). |  |
| 1 krone | ||
| 1 | Apostrophe sign after the second letter S in SHS. |  |
| 2 | Horizontal stroke of letter A prolonged in the word POŠTA. |  |
| 3 | Letters R and Ž in DRŽ are connected by a thick white line, a scratch below the falcon’s left wing. |  |
| Newspaper stamp, 2 filler | ||
| 1 | Vertical scratch below the left numeral 2, letter O in POŠTA broken on top. |  |
D. Coincidental varieties
| COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES – PERFORATIONS |
|---|
       |
| COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES – COLOR SPILLS |
  |
| COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES – OFFSETS |
 |
E. Special postal usage
| Used as postage dues |
|---|
  Note: different Porto overprints exist. |
Bibliography
- Fleck, Vladimir (1941): Priručnik Maraka Hrvatskih Zemalja, Book 1, Tome 2, Hrvatski Filatelistički Savez
- Ercegović, Velimir (1995): HRVATSKA FILATELIJA – Od predfilatelije do maraka Republike Hrvatske, Agencija za komercijalnu djelatnost, Zagreb ISBN-13: 978-9539641915
- Katalog poštanskih maraka jugoslovenskih zemalja (1991), Jugomarka (Belgrade). YU ISSN 0351-4447
