Azerbaijan 1919-1920

 General catalogs do not attest to the complexity and variations of Azerbaijan stamps.

The paper grades, color shifts, plate flaws, overprints, revaluations. unissued stamps, forgeries, fakes and bogus stamps make for a very challenging collection.
Odds are you will find many more of the later 1920 issue based on the following average sheet printings. Sheets varied in number of stamps, the lower values contained 400 stamps and the higher ones about 300.
In 1935, a vast amount of remainders was sold to the packet trade. Forgeries made their way into the market at the same time. Almost all the stamps were of the second issue type.
No wonder so many collections have these issues

The designer was Zeynal bey Aliyev, born in Baku in 1895, in 1924 he emigrated to Italy and nothing further is known.
In all the drawings the inscription: “Azerbaijan Republic ” is in Arabic graphics and French.
New tariffs were approved by the Minister of Posts and Telegraph Azerbaijan on the 9th of September and entered into force on October 10, 1919
Stamps went on sale in late October 1919.

1919 Printing

The number of sheets printed - this is approximate.
1919 Printing - on white paper
10 k. 417,000
20 k. 400,000
40 k. 398,000
60 k. 393,000
1 R. 405,000
2 R. 242,000
5 R. 250,000
10 R. 484,000
25 R. 487,000
50 R. 417,000

Genuine Issues

NOTE - the dot in the star is a sure sign of a genuine stamp

1920 Printing

Other stamps of Russia were substituted after the first issue ran out but this was an expensive proposition.
On December 1920 it was decided to re-issue previously issued Azerbaijani stamps
Lithography on grayish-yellow paper. Glue from white, gray or yellow-andbrown color
By all accounts the initial printings by the Soviets were on newsprint type paper and account for most of what is in collections.
The color range is very large – from pale to very intense shades.
This issue due to the many printings has subtle changes in the design and Arabic accents.

NOTE - despite the large number of issues, genuine "legible" cancels are very scarce. Most if not all on online auctions are fakes.

1920 Printing - on darker newsprint paper - some were probably printed on left over white paper. Most without gum. This is the approximate number of sheets printed.
10 k. 4 million
20 k. 4 million
40 k. 4 million
60 k. 4 million
1 R. 7 million
2 R. 7 million
5 R. 7 million
10 R. 6 million
25 R. 6 million
50 R. 7 million

The following are examples of the 1920 issue along with color and print variations

The main difference between the 1919 and 1920 issue is the paper.
The 1920 issues generally have a darker toned newsprint and most are without gum.
Those that are gummed, it is much smoother and even than the 1919’s.
With the 5 & 10 Rubles (above) the left only decorations point downwards as opposed to upwards for the 1919’s

Forgeries

There are at least 2 sets of forgeries, one on white paper typical of the 1919 series and one on paper similar to the 1920 series. There is a 3rd  and 4th series speculated but these may be reprints with worn plates.
However, as the series can be difficult to distinguish, I am only pointing out those that are obvious.
Arrows point to differences with the originals

10K forgery

Type II forgery

The top left Arabic letters are very different
The Arabic 10 has a round top and the dot is not a diamond shape
The star has little or no points
The face is lacking in details
The butt of the rifle is completely shaded with no white spaces like the genuine
The letters are poorly defined and uneven
The C has curls

20K forgery

This is a Type II forgery clearly identified by the small protrusion between the two top right frames
The Arabic 20 has a pronounced curved top
The dot is not diamond shape but round
Several Arabic letters are different
The star is close to the moon’s left point and the star point angles are obtuse - greater than 90 degrees
The face lacks details
The uniform lacks details
The barrel of the rifle is very thin
There is a protrusion in the rifle
The handle of the flag is thin
The AZ and DJ are joined and overall the letters are shorter
The COP is much shorter with a tall O

This is a type I forgery
Traits are similar to the Type II, plus
The colors are deeper
The star is more centralized
The rifle has a unique flaw
The uniform has more detail

40K forgery

This is a type I forgery
The outside frame line is thin as in the original
The star has short obtuse points
The Arabic 40 top is sharply cut off and slanted
The dot is not diamond shaped
The last ray dash near the face is missing as are 2 lower dashes in front and back of the neck
The nose points up instead of down and facial features are lacking
The last letters JAN are slightly lower
The letters are not as well formed and are taller and thinner than the original

Type II forgery

The outside frame line and that of the sun is thicker than the Type I
The star has short obtuse points
The Arabic 40 top is sharply cut off and slanted
The dot is not diamond shaped
The last ray dash near the face is missing but the 2 lower dashes in front and back of the neck are present
Facial features are lacking
The letters are not as well formed and are taller and thinner than the original

60K  forgery

This is a Type I forgery with thick frame and letters
The features of the 60k are similar to the 40k above
Note that the ray near the nose is present but very faint

The bottom N touches the frame

This is a Type II with the frame and letters thinner than the Type I
The color is also very different and is perhaps a later print of the Type I

1R forgery

Type I forgery

Short points on the star with obtuse angles
The Arabic 1 is tilted more to the left
The face has less details and the nose points down
The last dash in the ray near the face is very faint
The top of the 1 has a sharp oblique cut
The letters are much taller

2R forgery

Type I forgery

The Arabic 2 is taller and the top is more curved
The star has few obtuse points that are shorter
The minarets are more shaded
The ZE and BA are joined
The color is red instead of brownish orange

5R forgery

This is a Type I forgery
The outside frame is thicker than the original
A key feature is the break in the bottom left of the top right corner block
Another key feature is the left and right side ornaments point in the same direction unlike the original
The star has few obtuse points that are shorter and it is closer to the left point of the moon
The shading in the minarets is darker
The letters are uneven

This is a Type II forgery
The key traits is the star which is attached to the moon’s point unlike the Type I
The letters and the outer frame are thicker than the type I
The lines in the minarets are more consistent than the Type I
The other traits are similar

10R forgery

Type II forgery

The top of the Arabic 10 is narrow and more rounded
A key feature is the left and right side ornaments point in the same direction unlike the original
The star has few obtuse points that are shorter
The entrance is completely shaded
The 10 is thinner
The letters are uneven

25R forgery

Type I forgery

The blue is lighter than the original
The star has few obtuse points that are shorter
Two of the oil rigs have breaks on the left side
The letters are uneven

50R forgery

Type I forgery

A key feature is the break in the top border
The star has short obtuse angle points
Two of the oil rigs have breaks on the left side
The letters are uneven

References
Postage Stamps of Azerbaijan 1919-1923 – E.S.Voikhansky
The Postage Stamps of Russia volume 4 – Dr.R.J.Ceresa
Postage Stamps of Azerbaijan 1919-1923 A.Bova
Comparative Stamp Forgery – Claghorn
Forgery cd 2 – Evert Klaseboer
Focus on Forgeries – V. Tyler
Postage Stamps of Azerbaijan (Russian) – E.C. Voichansky
British Journal of Russian Philately 1963 – P.T. Ashford
Forgery & Reprint Guide, #11 Azerbaijan – J . Barefoot
Rossica Journal articles