Sailors: Definitive Issue of 1919 for Croatia and Slavonia

---

After secession from Hungary, the Directorate of Post in Zagreb begun with preparation of new definitive issue which was to be used on territories of Croatia and Slavonia only.

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 author of newspaper stamp is unknown. Stamps were printed in lithography by Zemaljska tiskara and in company Rožankowsky & Co. in circumstances that remain somewhat unknown. Stamps were put in circulation in January 1919.

Characteristics

---

Filler denominations
The first matrix and the first printing plates for filler denominations were created in Zemaljska tiskara. They consisted of 100 stamps in layout 10 x 10 and were created from initial block of 10 stamps (5 x 2), which was then multiplied 10 times. The plates soon wore off and become unusable. Stamps printed by first plates are very rare and can be recognized only by large numerals of column and side value summations on pane margins.

The printing of filler denominations was then transformed to another press: Rožankowsky & Co. There, the second printing plates with small numerals on pane margins were created by using the first matrix obtained from Zemaljska tiskara. Stamps printed by this plate are identical to those printed by the first plate, the only difference are the small numerals on pane margins, in case of 45 filler stamp the numerals on pane margins are in “grotesque” font. Ercegović speculates that the second printing plate might be an attempt to print stamps in offset technique, which was soon abandoned (Ercegović, 1995: 97, 99).

Later, the second matrix for filler denominations was prepared in Rožankowsky & Co. with which the third printing plate was produced. Stamps from the third plate differ in design from those printed by the first and the second plates and are also the most common. Printing plates of 2, 3, 5 and 20 filler denominations were produced by multiplying initial block of 10 stamps in layout 5 x 2, and in case of the 10, 25 anf 45 filler denominations, the plates were produced from a block of 10 stamps in layout 10 x 1 (a row of 10).

Filler denominations – differentiating between prints
From the first plate denominations of 2, 3, 20, 25 and 45 filler were produced but only 25 and 45 filler stamps were delivered to post offices. From the second plate denominations of 2, 10, 20 and 45 filler were printed and from the third plate all filler denominations: 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 decimal dot on top were used on 2nd and 3rd plate.
2 filler	Only printer’s waste or not existing at all.	Printing plate soon wore off and gave stamps a “watery” impression.
3 filler	Reported to be seen in printing office.	–	All values.
10 filler	–	Numeral 1 in denomination larger than zero.	Numeral 1 and zero of equal heights.
20 filler	Only 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 2nd plate have “watery” impression, lack detail and color appears to be blurry.
25 filler	Numeral 2 more regular and curved at the top, upper horizontal stroke of numeral 5 bent 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.	Numeral 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
Stamps of 1, 3 and 5 krone were printed in Zemaljska tiskara where printing sheet consisted of 2 panes, each having 100 stamps in layout 10 by 10. At Rožankowsky & Co. the identical printing plates were created with only one difference: they consisted of 400 stamps which were then divided into four panes of 100.

Paper
Stamps were printed on many different types of papers. In filler denominations, the following types of papers are known to exist:

• white or grayish regular, porous: all values
• thick: 5 in 20 filler
• thin: 10, 25 and 45 filler

Krone values were printed on smooth porous paper of irregular thickness. Very thin and thick papers are rare. In rare occasions a horizontal line that resembles a watermark can be found on krone denomination stamps. These are unintentional side results in paper production.

Greasy effect created by gum that penetrated paper.

Gum
Gum on filler denominations are known to exist in many varieties: white, yellowish or brown yellow, even grayish or reddish (on 25 filler) were reported. Sometimes it unrefined and contains black dots and other impurities. The gum can be applied thinly, thickly, evenly or unevenly. Many times parts of a pane remained without gum. Sometimes gum penetrates paper which creates an impression of greasiness.

Perforation
In general, perforation is line 11½ and differs in appearance, with large or small holes. Smaller amount of 2, 3, 5, 10 and 20 filler stamps were also perforated comb 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 stamp: Type I: the last letter A in HRVATSKA with horizontal line on top, Type II: the letter A without the horizontal line. 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: open inner left frame of denomination value box. Type II: the frame is undamaged. 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 x 2) there are 10 different types of numeral 5 that are very difficult to differentiate between. The most prominent is type VI with additional colored dot in the field on the right side from numeral 5.
Types I to X
20 filler
	Type I: the last letter A in HRVATSKA with horizontal line on top. Type II: the letter A without the horizontal line. Type III: dot in letter V of DRŽAVNA. Note: The pattern in which types appear in a pane:
Types I and II
Type III
25 filler
	Pane was constructed by multiplying an initial block of 10 stamps in 10×1 layout. Every stamp in the initial block was slightly different, which resulted in 10 different types. Types can be identified by differences in numeral 2. Additional characteristics: Type VIII: top inner frame below letters RŽ in DRŽAVNA interrupted, Type IX: frame line below numeral 2 interrupted, Type X: letter N in DRŽAVNA with prolonged bottom serif (same as in 45 filler pane, see below).
Types V-X
45 filler
	Type I: letter N in DRŽAVNA regular. Type II: the letter N with prolonged bottom serif (the same appears in 25 filler pane, see above). 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 lower horizontal stroke of numeral 2.
		Field №: 96	Pane: 2 filler, pane D
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –
3 filler
I		White spot below letter K of HRVATSKA.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		Value €: –
II		Letter S of HRVATSKA prolonged at the bottom. Note: this characteristic was noted on multiple examples and might as well be a type.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		Value €: –
III		Linden leaf above the last letter A of HRVATSKA deformed. Note: compare with flaw V of 5 filler stamp.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		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: compare with variety IV of 5 filler stamp.
		Value €: –
VI		Top line of denomination box broken, colored dot on top of 3.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		Value €: –
5 filler
I		White dot on top of 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 damaged.
		Field №: 9	Pane: C
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –
IV		White dot after the second letter A of HRVATSKA. Note: compare with flaw V of 3 filler stamp.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		Value €: –
V		Lime leaf above the last letter A of HRVATSKA deformed, white scratch over the second letter S in SHS.
		Field №: 8	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example. Compare with flaw III of 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 top left of numeral 1.
		Field №: 22	Pane: C
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –
20 filler
I		Numeral 2 in denomination value covered with color.
		Field №: 100	Pane: 20 filler, pane C, top half (10 x 5), 20 filler, pane C, bottom left (5 x 5), 20 filler, pane C, bottom right (5 x 5)
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –
II		Sailor with white belt.
		Field №: 8	Pane: 20 filler, pane B
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –
III		Letter T in HRVATSKA 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 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		Numeral 4 damaged at bottom left.
		Field №: 96, 99	Pane: B
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		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	Sun rays on the left short.
2	Colored dot on vertical lines right from denomination.
3	Big white spot right from the allegorical figure.
4	White dot below letter R of HRVATSKA.
5	Colored dot on letter R of HRVATSKA.
6	White spot below 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 right frame.
10 filler
1	Zero in denomination open on top.
2	Thick horizontal line on top of the second letter A of HRVATSKA.
3	Sloping line below letter H of HRVATSKA.
4	Colored spot on top of the left vertical stroke of letter H of HRVATSKA.
5	Colored dot inside letter H of HRVATSKA.
6	Thick horizontal line over the flag and the flagpole.
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	Top serif of letter S in HRVATSKA prolonged.
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 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 word POŠTA.
3	Letters R and Ž in DRŽ connected by a thick white line, a scratch below the falcon’s left wing.
Newspaper stamp, 2 filler
1	Vertical scratch below 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

---

1. Fleck, Vladimir (1941): Priručnik Maraka Hrvatskih Zemalja, Book 1, Tome 2, Hrvatski Filatelistički Savez
2. Ercegović, Velimir (1995): HRVATSKA FILATELIJA – Od predfilatelije do maraka Republike Hrvatske, Agencija za komercijalnu djelatnost, Zagreb ISBN-13: 978-9539641915
3. Katalog poštanskih maraka jugoslovenskih zemalja (1991), Jugomarka (Belgrade). YU ISSN 0351-4447