Philately of Greece, Small Hermes Heads: Varieties

Belgian printing.

The Small Hermes Heads stamps were first printed in the National Printing House in Malines, Belgium. The printing sheet consisted of 300 stamps, divided in 6 panes, each having 50 stamps in 5 x 10 layout. Paper of this printing is of very good quality, smooth and shiny, gum thin and evenly applied, impression is clear. Values of 20, 50 lepta and 1 drachma were issued on 1 April 1886, and other values, i.e. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40 lepta during February 1888.

Subsequent issues were printed in Athens in three extended periods, using the same printing plates which had been transferred from Belgium. The impression of Athens printings is messy, the stamps were printed in multiple runs between 1889 and 1901. For easier classification of Athens printings, stamps are grouped in accordance with paper types:

ATHENS PRINTINGS
1st Period (March 1889 – March 1891)
Paper A:

  • thin, transparent
  • lightly toned
  • watermark on one part of the printing sheet
 Values printed and perforations:

  • 1 lepton: imperforate, comb 13½
  • 20 lepta: imperforate, comb 13½
Paper B:

  • irregular thickness (thin to regular)
  • full of irregular shapes
  • lightly toned
  • with or without watermark
 Values printed and perforations:

  • 1 lepton: imperforate, line 11½, comb 13½,
  • 5 lepta: imperforate, line 11½
  • 10 lepta: imperforate, line 11½
  • 20 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, comb 13½,
  • 25 lepta (blue): imperforate, line 11½
2nd Period (March 1891 – April 1896)
Paper C:

  • regular to carton thickness
  • not uniform (thickness varies, giving impression that the paper is thinner at areas)
  • soft and porous, full of dots
  • with or without watermark
 Values printed and perforations:

  • 1 lepton: imperforate, line 11½
  • 2 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, comb 13½
  • 5 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*
  • 10 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*
  • 20 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*
  • 25 lepta (blue): imperforate, line 11½
  • 40 lepta (violet): imperforate, line 11½, comb 13½
  • 40 lepta (blue): imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*

*Anfissa perforation is unofficial, measures 15 and is probably accomplished by a sewing machine.
Paper D:

  • medium thickness
  • whitish
  • rough to the touch
  • without watermark
 Values printed and perforations:

  • 10 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*
  • 20 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*
  • 25 lepta (violet): imperforate, line 11½, poor perforation 13¼, Anfissa*
  • 40 lepta (blue): imperforate, line 11½, Anfissa*, Arkania**
  • 1 drachma: imperforate, line 11½, (poor perforation 13¼)

*Anfissa perforation is unofficial, measures 15 and is probably accomplished by a sewing machine.
** Arkania perforation is unofficial, it measures 9.
3rd Period (1897 – 1901)
Paper E:

  • good quality
  • white to brownish
  • smooth
  • without watermark
 Values printed and perforations:

  • 1 lepton: imperforate, line 11½, Arkania**
  • 2 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Arkania**
  • 5 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Arkania**
  • 10 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Arkania**
  • 20 lepta: imperforate, line 11½, Arkania**
  • 25 lepta (violet): imperforate, line 11½, Arkania**

** Arkania perforation is unofficial, it measures 9.
PLATE CHARACTERISTICS
All values
I Frames on all sides.
5 lepta
I Small indentation at the top of the horizontal stroke of the right numeral 5.
(Observed on most available examples.)
10 lepta
I White spot on frame above letters Ε and Λ in ΕΛΛΑΣ.
(Observed on majority of available examples.)
20 lepta
I Interruption in right inner frame, above the denomination box.
(Observed on most available examples.)
VARIETIES APPEARING ON MULTIPLE VALUES
Field number
I Letter Σ in ΕΛΛΑΣ deformed, bottom tip pointing upwards. ?
II Colored spot on the top right frame above the right corner ornament. ?
III White spot at the top of the left frame, left from the top left ornament. ?
IV Letter Σ in ΕΛΛΑΣ with acute accent. ?
PROBABLE CONSTANT VARIETIES
1 lepton Field number
I Greece Small Hermes Head postage stamp plate flaw
Another example		 Thin sloping line below chin. ?
20 lepton Field number
I Greece Small Hermes Head postage stamp plate flaw
Another example		 Bottom frame below the right denomination box interrupted, left numeral 2 indented. ?
II
Another example		 White triangle below chin. ?
25 lepton, violet Field number
I Greece Small Hermes Head philately plate flaw
Another example		 Colored spot on the right ornament from ΕΛΛΑΣ. ?
POSSIBLE CONSTANT OR COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1 lepton
1 White spot left from the wing.
2 Colored dot in the left denomination box.
3 Colored dot in the right denomination box.
4 Colored spot on the left ornament from ΕΛΛΑΣ.
5 Colored spot below letter Σ in ΕΛΛΑΣ.
6 White spot between letters Λ and Α in ΕΛΛΑΣ.
7 Left inner frame interrupted.
8 Right frame of the right denomination box broken.
2 lepta
1 White spot on the tip of the wing.
2 Right frame of the right denomination box deformed.
3 Large hole in the top curve of the right numeral 2.
5 lepta
1 Horizontal stroke of the left numeral 5 bent downwards.
10 lepta
1 The same as variety III appearing on multiple values, zero in left denomination box indented at bottom.
2 Big white scratch at the top of the right ornament.
20 lepta
1 Meandros ornament on the left frame partially filled with color.
2 Steam escaping from neck.
3 White area at the top left from the medallion.
25 lepta, blue
1 Inscription ΕΛΛΑΣ smudged.
25 lepta, violet
1 Colored spot on letter E in ΕΛΛΑΣ.
2 Colored spot inside the loop of the left numeral 2.
3 Indentation in top left frame.
3 White spot on the ornament at top right from the medallion.
4 Design above bottom frame partially missing.
5 Colored spot connecting left numeral 2 with bottom frame.
6 Colored spot on top left leaf ornament.
7 A spot in front of the forehead.
40 lepta
2 Colored spot below letters Λ and Α in ΕΛΛΑΣ
COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Printing errors
1 Gone through paper print.
2 Excessive color on one part of the design (left or right side).
Perforation errors
1 Double perforations. Greece Small Hermes Head postage stamp perforation error
2 Wide margins.
3 Shifted perforations.
4 Narrow stamp.
POSSIBLE CONSTANT OR COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES OF OVERPRINTS
20 lepta on 15 lepta
1 Letter T in ΛЕПТА broken.