Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Batum 1920 Overprint

This issue was a series of Aloe Tree Type stamps, very similar to the 1919 First 'British Occupation' issue but with nine values in different colours. 
The stamps were printed in sheets of 308, and the numbers printed were quite substantial which probably accounts for being more common on auction sites.

Values and quantities printed
1R. orange-brown  - 501,424
2R. bright blue  - 201,432 
3R. pink - 200,816 
5R. chocolate - 203,280 
7R. yellow - 203,280 
10R. blue-green - 202,972 
15R. violet - 102,256 
25R. scarlet - 153,692 
50R. dark blue - 53,900

The Genuine Series

Transfer Types
These can be broken down as A,B,C,D,E,F

These are the 6 types


Individual Issues

1R

2R

3R

5R

7R

10R

15R

25R

50R

BPI vs BRI
On some of the above blocks the BRI in BRITISH appears as BPI.
This occurs once on each sheet at #19 of the first row.
Somehow the tail of the R on the lithographic stone must have been inadvertently brushed off.
As it only appears once in 308 stamps, it is quite rare and commands a very high premium.

NOTE - Almost all copies of the 2nd overprint are unused.
Used ones even CTO's are very scarce so care should be observed in buying used ones.

Forgeries
The second series has the same forgeries as the 1919 issue
The 3rd forgery has the same small letters as in the first and is very scarce

Forgery Samples

1R Type II

2R Type I

3R type I

5R Type II

7R Type I

10R Type I

15R Type I

25R Type I

50R Type I

Unknown
This pair has a "RICHARDSON F" stamp on the reverse.
Listed as a possible forgery
"F" for forgery?
By all accounts it matches the genuine overprint sub-type.
Is Richardson a dealer mark?