RED
CROSS ISSUE IN 1921/22
A charity issue with a premium of 1 and 2 Marka to benefit the Estonian
Red Cross.
Design by Eduard Poland, refined by Karl Triumph.
Paper: a white hard paper with vertical or horizontal
mesh pattern of thin and short lines. The paper is probably a product
of the Latvian Ligat Mills. Horizontal or vertical WM-lines are known.
Gum: Yellowish white, mostly even, although grainy
gum is not unusual.
Print: Three color litography by the Typographical
Department of the Armed Forces. Only one printing was made.
Printing sheet = 240 stamps, arranged in two panes of 10 x 12 each,
separated by a vertical gutter. Counter pane of 120. No gutter pairs
are known. The print can be unclear and smudgy. Numerous minor printing
errors occur, mostly as color spots or shifts. Both colors show shades.
The distinct ultramarine appears seldom, it seems to have been used
mostly for later overprints.
Perforation:
The stamps were issued both imperforate and perforated 13 1/2 x 14.
The perforation was performed by the GPW. A new perforating machine
was used. It was able to perforate only 10 x 10 stamps in both panes,
with the result that in all perforated sheets one vertical row has
a perforation variety - horizontally imperforate stamps. On the 2
1/2/3 1/2 Mk. value it occurred in the second row and on the 5/7 Mk.
in the eleventh row. The perforation is mostly off centre, often cutting
into the stamp.
Proofs are not known. Essays exist.
Forgeries
do exist.
Valid: The over the counter sale was originally intenJed
until December 31, 1923. Due to large number of unsold stamps the
sale was extended. The imperforate issue was recalled on June 15,
1926 and the perforated stamps on December 31, 1927. The whole issue
was invalidated on February 29, 1928. The remainders were handed over
to the Estonian Red Cross and sold to dealers and collectors. We have
reason to assume that a part of the remainders still exist in sheets.
| 48 |
Ei
- 36
Mi - 29B
Zu - 33A
SG - 31A
YT - 47
Sc - B5 |
 |
Day
of Issue:
1921-08-01 |
| Perforation:
Imperforate |
| Issued:
614.640 |
| SI |
DPC
1921-08-01 - 1923-12-31
SI Scarce |
 |
 |
 |
| 2
1/2-3 1/2 Mk. Orange/brown/red |
0.50 |
1:- |
|
|
SI
MU
MI |
|
|
25:-
35:-
20:- |
| |
Block
of four |
5x |
6x |
|
| B:1 |
Orange/olive-green/red |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| C:1 |
Horizontal
WM-line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| C:2 |
Vertical
WM-Line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| E:1 |
Strongly
shifted centrepiece |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:2 |
Strongly
shifted red print |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:3 |
Paper
fold |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| E:4 |
(M)U
and und (H)I joined. Pos. 99 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:5 |
Damaged
(M)A. Pos. 37 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:6 |
Brown
spot in front of nurse |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:7 |
White
spot under (MA)R |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:8 |
Right
ornament connected with frame. Pos. 53 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| 59 |
Ei
- 37
Mi - 29A
Zu - 33B
SG - 31B
YT - 47D
Sc - B7 |
 |
Day
of Issue:
1922-04-29 |
| Perforation:
13 1/2 x 14 |
| Issued:
210.400 |
| SI |
DPC
1922-04-26-1923-12-31
SI Scarce |
|
|
|
| 2
1/2-3 1/2 Mk. Orange/brown/red |
0.90 |
1.50 |
|
|
SI
MU
MI |
|
|
25:-
35:-
20:- |
| |
Block
of four |
5x |
6x |
|
| A:1 |
Displaced
perforation (cutting design) |
|
|
|
| B:1 |
Orange/olive-green/red |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| C:1 |
Horizontal
WM-line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| C:2 |
Vertical
WM-Line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| E:1 |
Strongly
shifted centrepiece |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:2 |
Strongly
shifted red print |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:3 |
Paper
fold |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| E:4 |
(M)U
and und (H)I joined. Pos. 99 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:5 |
Damaged
(M)A. Pos. 37 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:8 |
Right
ornament connected with frame. Pos. 63 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:9 |
Colored
spot instead of (E)AKS |
+1:- |
+1:- |
|
| E:10 |
Colored
spot under (M)AR |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:11 |
Colored
spot under MA(R) |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:12 |
Offset
of red print |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:13 |
Partial
offset of centrepiece |
+3:- |
+3:- |
|
| E:14 |
Interrupted
frame next to left 2 1/2 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:15 |
Closed
right 2(1/2) |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| 59
I |
2 1/2-31/2 Mk. Horizontally imperforate
Issued: 19.120 |
9:- |
12:- |
|
|
All
covers are rare |
|
|
80:- |
| |
Block
of four |
5x |
6x |
|
| B:1 |
Orange/olive-green/red |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
| C:1 |
Horizontal
WM-line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| C:2 |
Vertical
WM-Line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| E:2 |
Strongly
shifted red print |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:16 |
White
spot in ornament |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:17 |
Colored
spot before left 2(1/2) |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:18 |
Brown
spot on shoulder of nurse |
+3:- |
+3:- |
|
| 49 |
Ei
- 39
Mi - 30B
Zu - 34A
SG - 32A
YT - 48
Sc - B6 |
 |
Day
of Issue:
1921-08-01 |
| Perforation:
Imperforate |
| Issued:
606.740 |
| SI |
DPC
1921-08-01 - 1923-12-31
SI Scarce |
|
|
|
| 5-7
Mk. Blue/brown/red |
0.50 |
1:- |
|
|
IPC
1921-08-01 - 1922-10-31
DL 1921-08-01 - 1925-01-31
DPC 1925-02-01 - 1928-02-29
SI Scarce |
|
|
50:-
60:-
30:- |
| |
Block
of four |
5x |
6x |
|
| B:1 |
Blue/olive-green/red |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| B:2 |
Ultramarine/brown/red |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
| C:1 |
Horizontal
WM-Iine |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| C:2 |
Vertical
WM-Iine |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| E:1 |
Strongly
shifted centrepiece |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:2 |
Strongly
shifted red print |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:3 |
Blue
spot over (H)I. Pos. 61 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:4 |
Damaged
/ VerstOmmeltes Ü(G)I. Pos. 41 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:5 |
Right
bottom corner with streak. Pos. 1 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:6 |
Right
7 with colored dot. Pos. 95 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:7 |
Right
7 connected with frame. Pos. 12 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:8 |
Right
7 connected with ornament. Pos. 36 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:9 |
Left
7 connected with frame |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:10 |
Interrupted
left ornament. Pos. 85 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:11 |
Left
ornament connected with frame. Pos. 116 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:12 |
Colored
stroke through. Pos. 102 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:13 |
Brown
spot on the cap of wounded warrior. Pos. 119 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:14 |
Brown
spot above the wounded warrior |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:15 |
Brown
spot left in centrepiece |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| 60 |
Ei
- 40
Mi - 30A
Zu - 34B
SG - 32B
YT - 48D
Sc - B8 |
 |
Day
of Issue:
1922-04-26 |
| Perforation:
13 1/2 x 14 |
| Issued:
209.600 |
| SI |
IPC
1921-08-01 - 1922-10-31
DL 1921-08-01 - 1925-01-31
DPC 1925-02-01 - 1928-02-29
SI Scarce |
|
|
|
| 5-7
Mk. Blue/brown/red |
0.90 |
1.50 |
|
|
SI
MU
MI |
|
|
50:-
60:-
30:- |
| |
Block
of four |
5x |
6x |
|
| A:1 |
Displaced
perforation (cutting design) |
+1:- |
+1:- |
|
| B:1 |
Blue/olive-green/red |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| B:2 |
Ultramarine/brown/red |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
| C:1 |
Horizontal
WM-line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| C:2 |
Vertical
WM-line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| E:1 |
Strongly
shifted centrepiece |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:2 |
Strongly
shifted red print |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
| E:3 |
Blue
spot over (H)I. Pos. 61 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:4 |
Damaged
Ü(G). Pos. 41 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:7 |
Right
7 connected with frame. Pos. 12 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:8 |
Right
7 connected with ornament. Pos. 36 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:9 |
Left
7 connected with frame |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:10 |
Interrupted
left ornament. Pos. 85 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:11 |
Left
ornament connected with frame. Pos. 116 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:12 |
Colored
stroke through MA(R). Pos. 102 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:14 |
Brown
spot above the wounded warrior |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| E:15 |
Brown
spot left in centrepiece |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
| 60
I |
5-7
Mk Horizontally imperforate
Issued: 19.060 |
9:- |
12:- |
|
|
All
covers are rare |
|
|
80:- |
| |
Block
of four |
5x |
6x |
|
| B:1 |
Blue/olive-green/red |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
| B:2 |
Ultramarine/brown/red |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
| C:1 |
Horizontal
WM-line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| C:2 |
Vertical
WM-Line |
+1.50 |
+1.50 |
|
| E:5 |
Right
bottom corner with streak. Pos. 11 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:6 |
Right
7 with colored dot. Pos. 95 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
| E:13 |
Brown
spot on the cap of wounded warrior. Pos. 119 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
Please
note that all prices are estimates in USD, based on the average retail
market of 1985, when the original catalogue/handbook
was written. The prices are considerably higher today.
