The Kingdom of Serbia

---

1896-1902. The Second Definitive Issue of the King Alexander Stamps

CONSTANT VARIETIES
1 para, brick red
I		Oval with King’s effigy vertically split in the middle.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: another example.
		Value €: –
5 para, green
I		Damaged cliche at the bottom left corner (the 1898 issue on plain white paper).
		Field №: 91 (1st printing), 95 (2nd printing)	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –
10 para, rose
I		White spot below the first letter A in ПАРА (the 1898 issue on plain white paper).
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –

PERFORATIONS
1 para, brick red
I		Combined perforation: 13: 13 ½

1900/1902. The first provisional issues.

The 10 para stamp was used for ordinary letters and was therefore among most frequently used denominations. When the stock ran out a reprint of this denomination was not possible due to worn cliches. It was therefore decided to reprint the 20 para stamps in rose color of 10 para stamp and overprint them with black overprint in letterpress.

There are three types of overprints of 10 para stamp and four types of overprints of 15 para stamp. Types I and II of 10 para stamps belong to the same printing as damaged Type I cliches were replaced by Type II. Type III was issued in early 1902. All four types of 15 para stamp belong to the same printing as they can all be found in a single sheet of 100.

ISSUES BY TYPES AND PERFORATIONS
10 ПАРА on 20 ПАРА, rose
Type	Date of issue	Comb 13 x 13½	Comb 13 x 13½, bottom line 11½	Line 11½
I	1 November 1900	x	x	x
II	November (?) 1901	x	x	x
III	early 1902			x
15 ПАРА on 1 ДИНАР, red brown on blue paper
I-IV	16 October 1901	x

TYPES OF OVERPRINTS
10 ПАРА on 20 ПАРА, rose
Type I: numeral 10 small, numeral 1 with serifs, length of overprint is 15 mm.	Type II: numeral 10 large, numeral 1 without serifs, distance between 1 and 0 is 1 mm, length of overprint is 14 mm.	Type III: numeral 10 large, numeral 1 without serifs, distance between 1 and 0 is 1½ mm, length of overprint is 14 mm.
15 ПАРА on 1 ДИНАР, red brown on blue paper
Type I: distance between 15 and ПАРА is 2½ mm, length of overprint is 15 mm.	Type II: distance between 15 and ПАРА is 2¼ mm, length of overprint is 14½ mm.	Type III: distance between 15 and ПАРА is 3¼ mm, length of overprint is 15¼ mm.	Type IV: distance between 15 and ПАРА is 2¾ mm, length of overprint is 15 mm.

King Alexander Issue of 1901-1903

Printed in Belgrade State Printers (Državna štamparija) in letterpress. Paper regular, perforation line 11½.

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
5 para
1	Color spill.

1903/04. Definitive issue (provisional), effigy of King Alexander Obrenović overprinted with coat of arms.

Apart from being perforated line 11½, the 1 dinar stamp of the 1904 Belgrade print has large coat of arms overprint.

In the coup of 1903 King Alexander and Queen Draga were assassinated by a group of officers. At that time the new stamps, designed by E. Mouchon were already printed in Paris. At the time when the stamps had to be delivered, the printing of 3 and 5 din stamps was not finished yet. State Printing Works in Belgrade received these stamps imperforate and smaller part without gum. These values were finazlied in Belgrade where white gum (instead of yellowish as in Paris print) was applied and stamps were perforated line 11½. The stamps were then overprinted in by the Royal Coat of Arms in two types of overprints:

1. the 12 mm wide and 15 mm high overprint was used for para values, and
2. the 10 mm wide and 14 mm high overprint for dinar values.

Overprinting was first done in lithography but that method was abandoned as the sheets stated to curl and glue together. The remaining stamps were then overprinted in letterpress. The entire stock of 1 and 20 para stamps were overprinted in lithography, other para values in both lithography and letterpress and dinar values in letterpress only. Stamps were released on 25 June 1903 other issues bearing a portrait of the unpopular late king were demonetized by the Provisional Government.

On 10 July 1904 three values, 5 para, 50 para and 1 din were reprinted by State Printing Works in Belgrade. The Belgrade printing differs from the Paris print by line 11½ perforation.

TYPES OF OVERPRINTS
	It is impossible to reliably distinguish between overprints made in lithography and in letterpress. Nothing on this matter has been found in available literature. Some specialists, however, state that one of the indicators that might distinguish between the methods is the form of the cross on top of the Royal Coat of Arms. Allegedly, in lithography, the cross tends to be thin and neatly defined and in letterpress more circular in form and in some “extreme” cases, in form of a circle. Sometimes the pressure applied in letterpress overprinting was such that it deformed the paper and a pattern in form of the overprint could be observed at the back of the stamp. The pattern is visible only on unused stamps with original gum but not in all cases of letterpress overprints.
1 and 20 para stamps were overprinted in lithography only
Cross appears as a circle
Back: visible outlines of overprint: back
Front

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1	Partially perforated.

The Coronation Issue

“The death mask of Aleksandar”, the hidden design.

A special set of stamps, commemorating the crowning of King Peter I Karađorđević and the centenary of the first Serbian uprising under Đorđe Petrović – Karađorđe (the King’s grandfather) was issued on the day of the coronation, 8 September 1904.

Stamps were printed by Belgrade State Printers (Državna štamparija) in letterpress on thin, smooth, transparent paper. Perforation line 11½. The sheets consisted of 100 stamps, divided by a vertical and horizontal gutter, dividing the sheet in 4 panes of 25 stamps each. Gutters between denominations were of different height, for this reason sheets are of different sizes.

Contemporary philatelists noticed that when the stamps with portraits are turned upside down a ghostly face may be seen in the space where the two heads overlap. Many stamp collectors believe this is the death mask of Aleksandar I Obrenović, the assassinated king. The coincidence has been attributed to macabre humor of Mr. Đorđe Jovanović, the designer.

FORGERIES
All denominations
		Forgeries: print crude, fine lines and outlines uneven, image blurry, minor color spills.
Genuine stamp	Forgery
More examples (original on top, forgery below): 5 para, 10 para, 15 para, 25 para, 50 para, 1 dinar.

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1	Partly imperforate.

Definitive Issue “King Peter Bareheaded”

Stamps were printed by Belgrade State Printers (Državna štamparija) in letterpress in two operations: the frames in different colors were done first then the medallion in black. Stamps were printed in sheets of 100 which were separated by a horizontal gutter to forms 2 panes of 50 stamps.

During the almost 7 years these stamps were in use, they were reprinted several times. Printings can be differed by types of papers, perforations and widths of horizontal gutters. It has to be mentioned that a small quantity of 5 para stamp of the first printing was comb perforated 12 x 11½ and a small quantity of 1 para and 1 dinar stamp of the second printing line perforated 11½.

PRINTINGS		1st Jan.1905	2nd Oct.1905	3rd 1905	4th 1908	5th 1910	6th 1911
Paper:		thin	thick wove, pre gummed	soft porous	thick, horizontally laid	smooth, slightly transparent, medium thick	thick, vertically laid
Perforation:		line 11½	comb 12 x 11½
Appearance:		–	–	dark colors	–	design blurred	–
Denomination	Quantity printed
1 para	7.160.300	x	x	–	x	x	x
5 para	28.404.200	x	x	–	x	x	x
10 para	26.147.800	x	x	–	x	x	x
15 para	2.409.100	x	x	x	x	x	–
20 para	2.968.000	x	x	x	x	x	–
25 para	4.721.800	x	x	x	x	x	–
30 para	2.463.000	x	x	–	x	x	x
50 para	3.244.800	x	x	x	x	x	–
1 din	857.600	x	x	–	–	–	–
3 din	117.400	x	x	–	–	–	–
5 din	146.200	x	x	–	–	–	–

FORGERIES
All denominations
		Forgeries: printed in lithography, regular paper with net structure, perforation crude, pinholes smaller, overall larger in format, numerals thinner, as if drawn by hand.
Genuine stamp	Forgery
More examples (left stamp is genuine): 1 para, 5 para, 10 para, 15 para, 20 para, 25 para, 30 para, 50 para, 1 dinar, 3 dinara, 5 din.

King Peter with Cap Issues.

The stamps were designed by Miodrag Marković, modeled after a photograph of King Peter of Serbia. Stamps were printed by Belgrade State Printers in typography on medium thick chalk surfaced paper in sheets of 100, divided in two panes having 50 stamps each (5X10). The panes were divided by horizontal gutter in height of a stamp. Perforation comb 12 x 11½.

The 5, 10 and 25 para stamps were issued on 11 June 1911, the 1 para in August, the 2 para in September, the 15 para in October, the 20 para in November, the 30 and 50 para and dinar values were issued on 26 December 1911.

Due to reports of allegedly forged 20 para stamp at the end of 1913 the Minister in charge ordered demonetization of the 1911 issue as of 28 January 1914 and printing of a new issue in all values from the 5 para up, using the old cliches and new colors. The same paper as before was used, the same layout of the sheet, the same perforation. Due to the outbreak of World War I, the issue of 1914 was never achieved, especially the 3 dinara stamp of which only 7.000 copies were completed.

During the war original cliches were stolen and still exist somewhere in private hands. Using these cliches excellent forgeries of all values were produced, perforated and imperforate, also in different colors. Forgeries were most probably produced in many runs over the years.

FORGERIES
	The forgeries, produced from original cliches are in every way similar to original stamps. They have similar appearance, they are printed in the same technique on similar chalky paper and having the same perforation as the originals. They are very dangerous, especially when mixed up with original stamps. There are, however, several indices that make forgeries stand out: Quality of manufacturing: On original stamps lines in the background are even and straight, boxes on top with denominations have straight lines and corners with right angles. Most (but not all) of the forgeries have uneven, fuzzy background lines, boxes on top have uneven rounded angles. In most (but not all) cases the outer frame of the stamp is thin whereas on the original stamp the outer frame is always thicker than the inner frame. Paper: most of the forgeries have slightly thicker paper than originals. Gum: in some cases, the paper of forged stamps absorbed the gum, making the paper appear yellowish, the gum is matt, the back of the stamp is brownish. The most of the forgeries, however, have very similar gum as the originals. The gum of the originals is white and glossy, sometimes uneven and sometimes cracked. Colors: many times the forgeries have different color shades than the originals, forgeries were also printed in different colors. Forgeries can also be distinguished by minor flaws in plates (numeral 5 on 5 dinar forgery is damaged, enclosed boxes with inscription ПАРА, damaged upper right frame on 1 dinar stamps, etc).
Genuine stamp (left) and perforated and imperforate forgeries.
Detail: precision of printing (original on the left side).
More examples (the first stamp from the left is original): 1911 issues: 1 para, 2 pare, 10 para, 15 para, 25 para, 30 para, 1 dinar, 3 dinara 1914 issues: 5 para, 10 para, 15 para, 20 para, 25 para, 30 para, 50 para, 1 dinar, 5 dinara

POSSIBLE TYPES
1	Dark spot on King’s cheek, observed only on 15 para stamps of both issues.

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES
Issues of 1911: 5 para
1	Lower frame broken.
Issues of 1911: 30 para
1	The upper right corner sags to the right, lower right corner damaged.
Issues of 1914: 15 para
1	Colored line between vertical pairs.
2	Lower frame broken.
3-4	Dots in field.
Issues of 1914: 50 para
1	Top frame above letters П and С in СРПСКА broken.

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Perforations
1	Stamps from the first vertical row are often double perforated.

NON-POSTAL USAGE
A	Used as emergency money after WWI in the city of Osijek. Overprinted values in Austro-Hungarian currency: 10, 20, 40 and 50 filler denominations exist.

The Newspaper Stamps of 1911

The stamps were originally issued as labels with purpose of fund raising for the Union of Serbian Journalists. They were sold on Whit Sunday fair (Trojički sabor) between 30. May and 3 June 1908. Values from 1 to 25 para were sold at the price of 5 para each, the 30 para to 5 dinara values at 20 para each. The post office canceled them with a special round postmark that contained the date and inscription Тројички сабор-Београд Ада. Very few labels were sold as collectors showed little interest in them.

The design depicts a seated woman (allegory of Serbia) with a shield with letters CHY (Србско Новинарско Удружење – Union of Serbian Journalists) inscribed on it. Labels were printed for the Union by Belgrade State Printers in typography, perforation 11½. Due to misunderstanding the sheets contained 50 stamps instead of 100 and a second printing was prepared at the insistence of the Union, hence the differences in color. The cliches consisted of 2-3 parts:

1. the main cliche depicting the allegory of Serbia was used to print all values,
2. the lower cliche to imprint the denominations,
3. the upper cliche to imprint inscription ТРОЈ. САБОР on top of the half of the stamps in the first row (fields 6-10).

As the sales at Whit Sunday fair were disappointing the Union leaders attempted to salvage their work by gaining philatelic recognition. By intervention of the Minister of Construction the stamps were made legal for use to frank newspapers at the option of the public. The unsold stock was overprinted with state coat of arms in black color and issued on the 1 December 1911. Only stamps of 1 to 25 para were sold at the main post office and Postal Depot while the entire quantity of 30 para to 5 dinar were kept by the Union. In order to legalize the 30 para to 5 dinar stamps, 25 copies of each were placed in the Postal Depot where they were put on sale. These are the only Serbian stamps not issued for postal use. Stamps of this issue were demonetized on 16 November 1912.

TYPES
All denominations
Type I: regular stamp without overprint.	Type II: regular stamp without overprint, inscription ТРОЈ. САБОР on top (fileds 6-10).	Type III: regular stamp without overprint, blank space on top (fileds 1-5).	Type IV: regular stamp with overprint.
Type V: regular stamp with overprint, inscription ТРОЈ. САБОР on top (fileds 6-10).	Type VI: regular stamp without overprint, traces of inscription ТРОЈ. САБОР on top (fileds 6-10).	Type VII: regular stamp with overprint, traces of inscription ТРОЈ. САБОР on top (fileds 6-10).

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
5 para
1	Colored spot next to the left border.
30 para
1	Damaged denomination box.
1 dinar
1	White triangular spot between letters Н and А in ДИНАР.

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES APPEARING ON ALL VALUES
1	Inverted overprint (appears on all values).

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
5 para
1	Perforation error.
10 para
1	Horizontally imperforate.
20 para
1	Wrong cliche inserted in a sheet: 50 para instead of 20 para (stamp in the center), field 27.

Commemorative Issue “King Peter on the Battlefield”

The stamps of this issue commemorate a decisive Serbian victory at the Kolubara river against the invading armies of Austria-Hungary in World War I.

Stamps were designed after a photograph of King Peter observing the battle of Garevica by war photographer V. Černov. The King is sitting on a stone behind trenches, behind him stand Crown Prince Aleksandar, holding a map, Stepan “Stepa” Stepanović, Commander of the Army, holding binoculars and king’s Aide-de-Camp, Lieutenant Colonel Knežević.

Stamps were printed in letterpress by State Printers (Državna štamparija) in Niš, which was then the seat of government. Stamps were printed in sheets of 100 (10×10) on medium thick chalky paper and were line perforated 11½.

Many post offices never received this issue because of the raging war. Only the 5 and 10 para stamps were used, those postmarked “Obrenovac” were canceled for philatelic purposes. Other denominations were used by the local population for small change, which was very scarce. During the war the cliches and unfinished sheets fell into enemy hands, which is how the proofs on medium thick paper came to be prepared in Germany.

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1	Perforation error.
2	Horizontally shifted perforation.
3	Double perforation to the left.

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES
1	Colored spot below letter С in СРБИЈА.

The Corfu Issue

During the World War I, the Serbian government moved to Greek island of Corfu where a post office was formed. For private mail French stamps with Serbian postmarks and with occasional POSTES SERBES cancellation were used.

The Paris Print of the Corfu issue

Anticipating the liberation of country the authorities at Corfu ordered a new issue of stamps to be printed in France. The so called “Paris Print of the Corfu issue” appeared in September 1918, while the Serbian government was still on Corfu. Stamps were designed and engraved by Nikola Jeremić with the assistance by Paré, the French engraver and printed in letterpress by State Printing Works in Paris. The stamps were issued on 1 October 1918 but were not sold to the public until June 1919.

Stamps were printed on white medium mesh paper by letterpress in sheets of 100, divided into four panes of 25 stamps in layout of 5 x 5. The 15 para and the dinar values were printed in sheets of 50, divided vertically into two panes of 25. There were perforated rosettes in the bottom margins. Sheets had wide margins and were line perforated 11. The gum is gray.

PARIS PRINT OF THE CORFU ISSUE
Appearance	clear and clean
Paper	white, medium mesh paper with net structure
Perforation	line 11
Gum	grayish
Denomination	Color	Quantity printed
1 para	black	736.000
2 pare	olive brown	1.469.000
5 para	green	4.048.000
10 para	red	4.195.000
15 para	dark brown	287.000
20 para	red brown	293.000
25 para	blue	724.000
30 para	olive	731.000
50 para	violet	733.000
1 dinar	chocolate	44.000
3 dinara	bluish green	45.000
5 dinara	red brown	43.000

CONSTANT VARIETIES
3 din
I		Missing letter И in ДИН to the left.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
2 para
1	Partially imperforate.
10 para
1	Partially imperforate.
2	Double perforation.
50 para
1	Shifted perforation.
2	Horizontally imperforate.
1 dinar
1	Double perforation horizontally.
2	Imperforate at the bottom.

SPECIAL POSTAL USAGE
1	Halved stamp, postmark Obrenovac 21.3.1919. Halved stamp, postmark Obrenovac 26.6.1919.

The First Belgrade Printing of the Corfu Issue

The so called “First Belgrade Printing of the Corfu Issue” was carried out with the original cliches received from Paris, when the supply of 1, 15, 20 para and 1 dinar stamps ran short. Stamps were printed by Belgrade State Printers (Državna štamparija) in letterpress between 30 September 1919 and 4 January 1920. As there were difficulties with supply of ink the stamps were printed in changed colors. There were 50 stamps in a sheet (10×5). The stamps with para denominations had horizontal control lines in the upper and the lower margin. The 1 dinar stamp had no control lines.

FIRST BELGRADE PRINTING OF THE CORFU ISSUE
Appearance	blurry, finer details lost
Paper	white, thicker
Perforation	line 11½, very rough
Gum	white
Denomination	Color	Quantity printed
1 para	gray	60.000
15 para	dull brown	53.000
20 para	violet	117.000
1 dinar	yellow brown	65.000

CONSTANT VARIETIES
1 para
I		White hook.
		Field №: 15	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –
		Value €: –

The Second Belgrade Printing of the Corfu issue

The stamps of the “Second Belgrade Printing of the Corfu issue” was printed several times in 1920. The perforation 11½ is ether rough or clean and sharp. Stamps of the Corfu Issue were in use in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia from 1 October 1918 to 15 April 1921. On Corfu they were valid until March 1919.

SECOND BELGRADE PRINTING OF THE CORFU ISSUE
Appearance	blurry, finer details lost
Perforation	line 11½, either rough or clean and sharp (and combinations)
Denomination	Color	Quantity printed	Paper	Control lines
1 para	black	736.000	very thin pelure	1st printing: 12 lines 4mm wide on side margins 2nd printing: two 2 mm thick lines on the left and 12 lines 4mm wide on the right
2 pare	yellow brown	1.469.000	very thin pelure front back very thin pelure porous paper which is absorbing the gum and makes it look greasy front back	1st printing: 12 lines 4mm wide on side margins 2nd printing: two 2 mm thick lines on the left and 12 lines 4mm wide on the right
5 para	green	4.048.000	thick white, smooth yellowish	early printings: 12 lines 4mm wide on side margins latter printings: 2 lines 1mm thick on the upper part of the left margin, on the lower part and on the right margin 12 thin lines 4 mm wide
10 para	red	4.195.000	thick white, smooth yellowish	2 lines 1mm thick on the upper part of the left margin, on the lower part and on the right margin 12 thin lines 4 mm wide
15 para	dark brown	287.000	thick white, thin porous paper giving oily impression	stamp on thin paper: single lines on both sides 4 mm thick
20 para	red brown	293.000	thick white thin porous giving oily impression	12 lines 4mm wide on side margins
25 para	blue	724.000	thick white thin porous giving oily impression	Printed 4 times with 3 different types of border lines
30 para	olive	731.000	normal thick paper	1st printing: 12 lines 4mm wide on side margins
50 para	violet	733.000	normal thick paper	1st printing: 12 lines 4mm wide on side margins
1 dinar	chocolate	44.000	normal white, smooth yellow	12 lines 4mm wide on side margins
3 dinara	bluish green	45.000	normal white paper	12 lines 4mm wide on side margins
5 dinara	red brown	43.000	smooth yellowish paper	left border line: 12 lines 4mm wide on side margins and two 1 mm lines; on the right border one 3½ mm line.

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES
1 para
1	Triangle to the right side close to the frame.
50 para
1	Letters В and И in КРАЉЕВИНА damaged.
5 dinara
1	Frame below letter И in КРАЉЕВИНА broken.

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
5 para
1	Overinking to the left.
10 para
1	Double perforation horizontally.
20 para
1	Vertically imperforate.
25 para
1	Double perforation horizontally.

Postage Dues

---

1 April 1895. Postage dues, Royal Coat of Arms.

Printed in letterpress by Belgrade State Printers (Državna štamparija) on granite paper, perforation line 11&frac12, the 5 para stamp also in comb 13 X 13½. Printed in sheets of 100 (10×10) with horizontal and vertical gutters (4 panes of 25 stamps).

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1	Wrong color: rose instead of red lilac. About 10 sheets of 5 para stamps were printed in color of 50 para stamp. They were not issued, used copies have favor cancels.

20 August 1898/1904. Postage dues, Royal Coat of Arms.

Printed in letterpress by Belgrade State Printers (Državna štamparija) on ordinary white paper, perforation line 11&frac12. Printed in sheets of 100 (10×10) with horizontal and vertical gutters (4 panes of 25 stamps).

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1	By error an inverted cliche was inserted at the 98th field of 20 para sheet.

 

References

---

Bibliography

1. Kardosh, Dr. Velizar M., The Principality of Serbia: postal History and Postage Stamps (1830-1882). ISBN 3-9521083-1-6.
2. Katalog poštanskih maraka jugoslovenskih zemalja (1991), Jugomarka (Belgrade). YU ISSN 0351-4447
3. Rasic R., Mirko (1979): The Postal History and Postage Stamps of Serbia. The Collectors Club Handbook No. 25, published by The Theodore E. Steinway Memorial Publication Fund. ISBN 0-912574-25-9.

Contributors
Some of the images on this page were contributed by:

• Mr. Predrag Simić, link