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SEAGULL

A regular issue of 5, 35 and 70 penni. A 25 penni denomination was prepared but not issued.
Design by Eduard Poland, engraving by Theodor Ussisoo. The design of the 35 and 70 penni values was slightly changed from the original one.

Paper:
5 penni. Printed on white smooth paper. The thickness is rather stable. A few sheets were printed, as proofs, on a grey, thicker paper (color pinkish yellow), which were delivered and sold over the counter. Only three sheets were printed, according to Schönherr. Eichenthal has also recorded a white carton paper. It's official origin has not been confirmed.
35 penni. Printed on a white smooth paper (0.05-0.06 mm). The third printing on a thicker paper (0.07-0.08). A few stamps are known on the Räpina paper. These are supposed to be from printer's waste, although cancelled items are known. Very seldom a thin (silk) paper can be found. Also cancelled copies are known. A horizontal watermark line can be found.
70 penni. Thin (cigarette) paper. The thickness can vary somewhat. In the later printings the paper can be blueish.

Print:
5 penni. Typographed by E. Bergmann in Tartu. The plates were made in Finland. The print is frequently defective. Printing sheet of 200 arranged in 2 x 2 counter sheets of 50 each. Each of the counter sheets consisted of two panes of 25 stamps, separated by narrow gutter.
35 penni. Litho by E. Bergmann in Tartu. There were several printings, each made with a new litho stone. Printing sheet of 400, arranged in four panes, the design in the two upper panes being inverted to the lower ones. The printer's sheets were cut before delivery. Only in the beginning and from the earlier printings gutter pairs and téte-béche pairs with gutter are known. They are rare.
70 penni. Typographed by J & A Paalmann in Tallinn. There were several printings. Printing sheet of 400, arranged in four panes, separated by broad gutters. Counter pane of 100, but double panes with horizontal gutter are rather frequent. The print is transparent and often faulty.

Colors:
5 penni. Printed with litho colors. In the beginning red was mixed in, thus causing the pinkish yellow shade. About 10.000 were printed. A few sheets were printed in lemon yellow.
The colors often vary, even in same printing sheet.
35 penni. The color was mixed during the printing and there are many shades.
70 penni. The color is rather stable. Exposed to light it easily changes to light blue.

Gum:
5 penni. White and smooth.
35 penni. Frequently uneven and grainy, Varies from shiny white to brownish and dull. The shiny gum is mostly found on the thicker paper.
70 penni. Yellowish, often faulty.

Perforation:
Imperforate. Postmaster perforations are known from many places.

Proofs:
There are proofs of all values. The proofs of the 35 penni are in numerous different colors, partly produced unofficially. Today it is impossible to distinguish the official proofs from the unofficial ones. From the unissued 25 penni value there exist black prints (size 41 x 52). Price: $ 40 (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).

Forgeries are known for all denominations. Read more about forgeries.

Valid until June 30,1926. The 5 penni value was sold out almost immediately, most to philatelists. Commercial covers are rare.

Literature:
Erik Sjögren: Distinguishing Features of Jaan Lubi Forgeries of Estonian Stamps,
Eesti Filatelist No 28 and 29, 1982 and 1983 (in English).

23 Ei - 6
Mi - 5
Zu - 9
SG - 5
YT - 10
Sc - 27		  
Day of Issue:
1919-05-13
Perforation:
Imperforate
Issued:
168.000
SI LPM 1919-05-13 - 1919-12-31
SI rare
5 p. Brownish yellow 1:- 1:-  
SI
MU
MI		         125:-
40:-
25:-
  Block of four 5x 5x  
  Horizontal gutter pair 6:- 6:-  
B:1 Pinkish yellow +4:-  +4:-   
B:2 Lemon yellow +7:-  +7:-   
C:1 Greyish thick paper +40:-  +40:-  
C:2 White carton +25:- +25:-  
E:1  Damaged letters or numerals +0.50 +0.50  
E:2  White or colored spot +0.50 +0.50  
G:1  Brownorange 40:-    
G:2  Lilac, smooth white paper 40:-    
G:3  Lilac, thick glazed paper 40:-    
G:4  Blue, size 67 x 94 mm 40:-    
G:5  Black, carton paper 40:-    
G:6  Black, carton paper, size 67 x 94 mm 40:-    
G:7  Black stamp and network, size 33.5 x 46 mm 40:-    
G:8  Ditto, size 18.5 x 24.5 mm 40:-    

 

26 Ei - 7
Mi - 10
Zu - 11
SG - 9
YT - 11
Sc - 32		  
Day of Issue:
1919-07-04
Perforation:
Imperforate
Issued:
7.168.013
SI DL 1919-07-04 - 1919-12-31
LL, DPC 1920-01-01 - 1920-06-30

35 p. Blue, thick paper

 0.25 0.25  
SI
MU
MI		     12:-
10:-
3:-
  Block of four 6x 10x  
  Horizontal gutter pair 14:- 14:-  
  Téte-béche with gutter 38:- 38:-  
  Center star 90:- 90:-  
B:1 Black blue +1.50  +1.50   
C:1 Horizontal WM-line +0.30  +0.30   
C:2 Thinner paper +0.20   +0.20   
C:3 Silk paper +50:-  +50:-  
E:1  Paper fold +4:- +4:-  
E:2  Off set +1:- +1:-  
E:3  Numerals or letters only partly printed +3:- +3:-  
E:4  (V)A with serif +0.75 +0.75  
E:5  (R)L instead of (R)I. +1:- +1:-  
E:6  T(l) with elongated cross stroke. Pos. 69 +1:- +1:-  
E:7  Right 3 damaged +1.50 +1.50  
E:8  Right 3 with colored dot. Pos. 78 +1.50 +1.50  
E:9  Left value tablet square on right. Pos. 68 +2:- +2:-  
E:10  Damaged tablet. Pos. 25 +0.50 +0.50   
E:11  White spot on wing of lower seagull. Pos. 77 +1:- +1:-  
E:12  Colored dot in left tablet. Pos. 41 +0.50 +0.50  
E:13  Colored spot between. Pos. 64 +0.50 +0.50  
E:14  Colored line from Pos. 96 to 40 +1:- +1:-  
E:15  Damaged right 5. Pos. 62 +1:- +1:-  
G:1 Olive, grey paper 35:-    
G:2 Blue, grey paper 35:-    
G:3 Blue, grey paper with black printed letters 35:-    
G:4 Carton paper 35:-    
G:5 Grey blue 35:-    
G:6 Pale lilac 40:-    
G:7 Black 35:-    
G:8 Black, corners framed (19.5 x 24.5), smooth white carton, single print 40:-    
G:9 Grey green, as No. G:8 40:-    
G:10 Silver grey, white glazed paper 35:-    
G:11 Light silver blue, white paper 35:-    
G:12 Silver, carton paper, black white 35:-    
G:13 Silver, corners framed, black carton paper, back light pink with Russian text, single print 40:-    
G:14 Bronze, deep lilac glazed paper, white back 35:-    
G:15 Yellow, as No. G:14 35:-    
G:16 Lilac, corners framed (19.5 x 24.5), yellowish paper, single print 40:-    
G:17 Ditto, white paper 40:-    
G:18 Black, corners framed, printed on grey Russian business form paper, single print 40:-    

31 Ei - 8
Mi - 11
Zu - 12
SG - 10
YT - 12
Sc - 33		  
Day of Issue:
1920-02-13
Perforation:
Imperforate
Issued:
3.179.440
SI DL, LL-30g, DPM-300g 1920-02-13 - 1920-06-30
70 p. Violet 0.25 0.25  
SI
MU
MI		         20:-
10:-
3:-
  Block of four 6x 8x  
  Horizontal gutter pair 3.50 3.50  
B:1  Dark violet +0.20 +0.20  
B:2  Blueish grey +0.75 +0.75  
E:1  Paper fold +0.50 +0.50  
E:2  Partly colorless print +80:- +80:-  
E:3  Offset +5:- +5:-  
E:4  Broken frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:5  Right tablet open on left +1.50 +1.50  
E:6  Right 7 and 0 joined. Pos. 53 +0.50 +0.50  
E:7  Colored spot in frame of centrepiece. Pos. 15 +0.50 +0.50  
E:8  Colored stroke through wing of seagull. Pos. 56 +0.50 +0.50  
E:9  Left shield with single upper frame. Pos. 36 +0.50 +0.50  
E:10  Right 7 with colored dot. Pos. 88 +0.50 +0.50  
E:11 Left 7 with colored dot. Pos. 63 +0.50 +0.50  
E:12 (N)I connected with tablet. Pos. 95 +0.50 +0.50  
G:1 Enlarged black copy of mother die, 41 x 52 mm 45:-    

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.