Czechoslovakia – Pošta Československá 1919

 

Introduction

The validity of the Austrian and Hungarian stamps on the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic ended on 28 February 1919. From 1 March 1919, only Czechoslovak stamps were to be used.

Austrian and Hungarian stamps could be exchanged into Czechoslovak stamps in post offices until 15 March 1919. The remaining stock of these stamps was diverted to the central postal depot in Prague.

Austrian and Hungarian stamps were then handed over to the A. Hass printing house in Prague, where they were overprinted with inscription POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919 in three rows.

Overprinted stamps were sold only at the philatelic bureau of the post office in Prague and at the central postal depot in Prague. The stamps were sold with 50% surcharge to the nominal value in larger or smaller sets, some values only individually while others also in full panes. Some values were printed in ridiculously low quantities and were not even available to the public, but found their way into the hands of top officials.

Overprinted stamps were a valid means of payment at their original nominal value for domestic shipments only The validity date was set to until 31 December 1919 and was later extended to 31 January 1920.

Overprinted stamps were available for collectors even after the expiration date. Some values with higher denominations even for several years. The sales finally stopped in April 1928.

Due to the speculative character of this issue, dubious sales practices and the overall lack of transparency, the overprinted stamps were not popular among contemporary collectors.

Overprints and circulations

Overprint A
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Austrian stamps:

  • 1916: Austrian Crown,
  • 1916/18: Coat of Arms,
  • 1917/18: Emperor Karl I.
Austrian crown
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
3 h., bright violet 145 185 465.000
5 h., light green 146 186 860.000
6 h., deep orange (blue overprint) 147 187 200.000
6 h., deep orange (black overprint) 500
10 h., magenta 148 188 130.000
12 h., light blue 149 189 170.000
Coat of arms
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
40 h., olive green 154 194 570.000
50 h., blue green 155 195 790.000
60 h., light blue 156 196 950.000
60 h., deep blue 156 196
80 h., orange brown 157 197 1.520.000
90 h., red violet 158 198 438.000
1 k., carmine (blue overprint) 159 199 835.000
1 k., carmine (black overprint) 159 199 1.300
Coat of arms, engraved
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 k., dark blue 160 200 78
2 k., light blue 164 204 197.000
2 k., light blue, granite paper 172 208 90.000
3 k., claret 161 201 175
3 k., carmine rose 165 205 5.000
3 k., carmine rose, granite paper 173 209 40.000
4 k., deep green 162 202 3.000
4 k., yellow green 166 206 70.000
4 k., yellow green, granite paper 174 210 8 – 12
10 k., deep violet 163 203 540
10 k., violet 167 207 1.175
10 k., violet, granite paper 175 211 12 to 14
Emperor Karl I.
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
15 k., dull red 168 221 2.260.000
20 k., green 169a 222a 1.600
20 k., dark green 169 222b 1.650.000
25 k., blue 170 223 440.000
30 k., dull violet 171 224 540.000
TYPES OF OVERPRINT A
Austrian stamp overprint POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919
Type I:

  • diacritical sign on letter Š in POŠTA regular,
  • year mark shifted to the right.
 Type Ia:

  • like Type I,
  • the second numeral 9 in 1919 rounded at the bottom.
 Type II:

  • diacritical sign on letter Š in POŠTA detached,
  • year mark shifted to the left.
 Type IIa:

  • like Type II,
  • the second numeral 9 in 1919 rounded at the bottom.
Overprint B
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Austrian stamps:

  • 1918: air post stamps,
  • 1916/17: postage dues (definitive issue surcharged),
  • 1916: triangular special handling stamps.
Air post stamps
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
1.50 k. on 2 k., lilac C1 225 750
3.50 k. on 3 k., ocher C2 226 850
4 k., gray C3 227 495
1916: triangular special handling stamps
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 h., claret QE1 217 16.000
5 h., green QE2 218 170
1916/17: postage dues (definitive issue surcharged)
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
1 h., gray J47 58 7.000
15 h. on 2 h., violet J48 59 920
10 h. on 24 h., blue J60 60 1.250
15 h. on 36 h., violet J61 61 147.000
20 h. on 54 h., orange J62 62 1.700
50 h. on 42 h., chocolate J63 63 395.000
TYPES OF OVERPRINT B
Group A
Austrian postage due stamp overprint POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919
Type AI:

  • indentation at the bottom of the horizontal stroke of letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • indentation at top of the third letter S in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letter O in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
 Type AII:

  • middle horizontal line in letter E in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ longer,
  • white area in letter Á in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ small,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letters O and V in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
 Type AIII:

  • white area in letter Á in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ large,
  • year mark 1919 shifted to the left,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letters O and V in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
Group B
Type BI:

  • indentation at the bottom of the horizontal stroke of letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • indentation at top of the third letter S in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letters O and V in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
 Type BII:

  • indentation at the bottom of the horizontal stroke of letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • the third letter S in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ complete,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letters O and V in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
Group C
Type CI:

  • large, v-shaped diacritical sign on letter Č in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letters O and V in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
 Type CII:

  • small, dot-like diacritical sign on letter Č in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • letter T in POŠTA above letters O and V in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ.
Overprint C
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Austrian stamps:

  • special handling stamps (1917).
Denomination Perforations Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 h., claret (blue overprint) 11½
12½
11½:12½
12½:11½		 QE3 219 579.000
2 h., claret (black overprint) 1.100
5 h., deep green (blue overprint) 11½
12½
11½:12½
12½:11½		 QE4 220 350.000
5 h., deep green (black overprint)
Hungarian stamps:

  • Parliament Building at Budapest (1917).
Denomination Scott# Michel# Circulation
50 fil., red violet and lilac 119 200 91.500
75 fil., bright blue and pale blue 120 201 149.300
80 fil., green and pale green 121 202 106.800
1 k., red brown and claret 122 203 89.500
2 k., olive brown and bister 123 204 45.000
3 k., dark violet and indigo 124 205 9.200
5 k., dark brown and light brown 125 206 2.600
10 k., violet brown and violet 126 207 164
TYPES OF OVERPRINT C
Austrian special handling stamp overprint POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919
Type I:

  • diacritical sign on letter Š in POŠTA regular,
  • distance between top vertical lines on letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ wide.
 Type II:

  • diacritical sign on letter Š in POŠTA regular,
  • distance between top vertical lines on letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ narrow,
  • the second letter S in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ cut off on top.
 Type III:

  • diacritical sign on letter Š in POŠTA detached,
  • distance between top vertical lines on letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ narrow.
Overprint D
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Austrian stamps:

  • 10 h. newspaper stamp (1908/10),
  • newspaper stamps (1916),
  • postage dues, heller values (1908/13),
  • postage dues, heller values (1916),
Newspaper stamps
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
10 h., carmine (three different paper types) P17 159 125
2 h., brown P19 212 1.216.000
4 h., green P20 213 175.800
6 h., dark blue P21 214 185.600
10 h., orange P22 215 50.800
30 h., claret P23 216 82.800
Postage dues 1908/13 (three different paper types)
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 h., carmine J35 35 30
4 h., carmine J36 36 6.000
6 h., carmine J37 37 18.000
14 h., carmine J39 39 2.100
25 h., carmine J41 41 5.900
30 h., carmine J42 42 180
50 h., carmine J43 43 150
Postage dues 1916
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
5 h., carmine J49 47 324.000
10 h., carmine J50 48 202.000
15 h., carmine J51 49 285.000
20 h., carmine J52 50 51.000
25 h., carmine J53 51 75.000
30 h., carmine J54 52 132.000
40 h., carmine J55 53 52.700
50 h., carmine J56 54 450
TYPES OF OVERPRINT D
Austrian newspaper stamp overprint POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919
Type I:

  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 3,1 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 2,7 mm.
 Type II:

  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 2,7 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 3,0 mm.
 Type III:

  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 2,8 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 2,8 mm.
Overprint E
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Austrian stamps:

  • postage dues, krone values (1916),
Newspaper stamps
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
1 k., ultramarine J57 55 25.600
5 k., ultramarine J58 56 11.000
10 k., ultramarine J59 57 780
TYPES OF OVERPRINT E
Type I:

  • distance between top vertical lines on letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ narrow.
 Type II:

  • distance between top vertical lines on letter K in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ wide.
Overprint F
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Hungarian stamps:

  • Turul (1908/16),
  • war stamps (1916/17),
  • Harvesting: white numerals (1916),
  • Harvesting: colored numerals (1917/18),
  • Harvesting: colored numerals, inscription MAGYAR POSTA (1919),
  • Emperor Karl I, Empress Zita (1918),
  • special delivery stamp (1916),
  • newspaper stamp (1908/13),
Wmk. 6
Wmk. 7 vet.
Wmk. 7 hor.
Turul
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
1 f., slate gray (Wmk.: 6, 7) 67, 84 91y, 109 150
2 f., olive yellow (Wmk.: 6, 7) 68, 85 92y, 110 26.000
3 f., orange 69, 86 111 3.700
6 f., olive green (Wmk.: 6, 7) 71, 88 95y, 113 30.600
50 f., lake (blue paper) 79, 96 121 71.000
60 f., olive green (rose paper) 98 123 4.300
70 f., red brown (green underprint) 99 181 80
War stamps
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
10 f. + 2 f., rose red B53 183 72.800
15 f. + 2 f., dull violet B54 184 49.000
40 f. + 2 f., brown carmine B55 185 28.600
Harvesting: white numerals
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
10 f. rose 106 186 300
15 f. violet 107 187 950
Harvesting: colored numerals
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 f. brown orange 108 190 675.000
3 f. red lilac 109 191 304.000
5 f. green 110 192 521.000
6 f. greenish blue 111 193 75.000
10 f. rose red 112 194 23.000
15 f. violet 113 195 350.000
20 f. gray brown 114 196 26.000
25 f. dull blue 116 197 64.800
35 f. brown 117 198 30.500
40 f. olive green 118 199 53.500
Harvesting: colored numerals, inscription MAGYAR POSTA
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
10 f. rose red 179 246 34.800
20 f. brown 181 248 100
Karl I. and Zita
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
10 f. scarlet 127 213 285.000
20 f. dark brown 129 215 320.000
25 f. bright blue 130 216 85.000
40 f. olive green 131 217 36.000
50 f. lilac 132 218 9.300
Special delivery stamp
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 f. olive green and red SD1 180 98.000
Newspaper stamp
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
2 f. orange P8 127 141.800
TYPES OF OVERPRINT F
Hungarian stamp overprint POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919
Type I:

  • letter T in POŠTA and the second numeral 9 in 1919 horizontally aligned,
  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 3,1 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 2,7 mm.
 Type II:

  • 1919 shifted to the left,
  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 2,9 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 2,9 mm.
 Type III:

  • 1919 shifted to the left,
  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 2,7 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 3,1 mm.
 Type IV:

  • letter T in POŠTA and the second numeral 9 in 1919 horizontally aligned,
  • the second numeral 9 in 1919 rounded at bottom.
Overprint G
OVERPRINTED STAMPS AND CIRCULATIONS
Hungarian stamps:

  • Postage dues 1903/14 (black numerals),
  • Postage dues 1915/18 (red numerals),
Wmk. 4
Wmk. 6
Wmk. 7 vert.
Wmk. 7 hor
Postage dues 1903/14 (black numerals)
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
1 f., green and black (Wmk.: 4, 7) J10, J19 18, 26 75
2 f., green and black (Wmk.: 3, 4, 6, 7) J2, J11, J11b, J20 2, 10, 19, 27 110
5 f., green and black (Wmk.: 6, 7) J12a, J21 20, 32 130
12 f., green and black (Wmk.: 3, 4, 6, 7) J6, J15, J15a, J24 6, 14, 23, 31 170
50 f., green and black (Wmk.: 3, 4, 6, 7) J8, J17, J17a, J26 8, 16, 25, 33 300
Postage dues 1915/18 (red numerals)
 Scott# Michel# Circulation
1 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J28 36 900
2 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J29 37 79.100
5 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J30 38 12.000
6 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J31 39 25.500
10 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J32 40 97.300
12 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J33 41 24.900
15 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J34 42 16.600
20 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J35 43 71.400
30 f., green and red (Wmk. 7) J36 44 7.600
TYPES OF OVERPRINT G
Hungarian postage due stamp overprint POŠTA ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ 1919
Type I:

  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 3,1 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 2,7 mm.
 Type II:

  • thin line over letter O in ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ,
  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 2,9 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 2,9 mm,
  • 1919 shifted to the right.
 Type III:

  • distance between POŠTA and ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ: 2,8 mm,
  • distance between ČESKOSLOVENSKÁ and 1919: 3 mm.
 Type IV:

  • the second numeral 9 in 1919 rounded at bottom.

 

References

Bibliography

    1. Jan Karásek, Antonin Michele, Bohuslav Svoboda: Monografie Češkoslovenských Známek, Díl II. – Legionářské 1919 – hospodářstvi a věda 1923, Prague 1971.
    2. Michel Osteuropa 2005/2006, Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-684-1