Sunday, April 3, 2022

Czechoslovakia 1920 Chainbreaker

 The design was created by Vratislav Hugo Brunner already in 1919 for the 2nd Stamps
The drawing "Liberated Republic" is one of the most successful designs of postage stamps.

 The stamps  were printed by the České grafické Unie in Prague. Initially by typography, with etched plates and later by the latest production technique - electrotype.

Comb perforation 14
Line perforation 13 3/4 (uncommon and higher CV)
Imperforate - unissued
Generally, the paper is white, also yellowish. The gum is white and slightly yellowish.
The size of the design is 18.2 X 22.0 mm

Imperforates
They were not regularly issued and most catalogs do not include them.
The specialized Pofis catalog gives them a higher value than the perforated variety, in particular the 150h which has a very high CV.


Varieties
The issue can be found in many varieties
Tete Beche with Gutter

Tete Beche with narrow spacing

Very Scarce Proof of an original design

Types
There are 2 types based on the number of leaves
Type I & II



Genuine Features
1. Note the shape, points and veins in leaves
2. Note the balanced shape of this mound
3. Shading lines are clear and even
4. The letters are legible
5. Note the double curve and length of these folds
6. A short line between the mouth and chin
7. Small shading line in both bracelets
8. Note the number and shape of the lines in the palms as well as the shape of the hands
9. The “P” and “O” do not touch
10. Note the number of lines in the palms - these may vary on some genuine stamps.


Forgeries
It appears most are counterfeits meant to defraud the government
1. Shape of leaves different
2. Mound different shape
3. Shading lines are coarse
4. Letters blurred
5. Creases intersect
Perforations are uneven

Design size; 18.4 x 21.6 mm
1. Letters are thin
2. Thin fingers and palms lack lines
3. Lines not distinct
4. Letters blurred
5. Thick crease and intersecting lines



Other Forgeries
The 40 h and 60 h also possess forgeries intended to defraud the post office (below).
These are generally found cancelled and tend to be very crude in design
Size is much smaller than originals

1. Letters of the inscription POSTA CESKOSLOVENSKA are in part indistinct.
2. Both fetters are shaded.
3. The right palm of the hand is without dots or lines .
4. The shading of body and skirt is sparser.
5. The foot has only four toes.
6. The letters of the monogram VHB are less distinct .
7 . Line perforation 14 3/4


Forgeries of the 50 h are similar to the 60 h
The paper is white, thicker, very smooth; the genuine has a more transparent paper.
Design size 18.0 x 21.8 mm
There are several varieties of the 50h forgeries, the one below is the better one.

1. The drawing of the hands is crude and not sharp.
2. The two lines (shading in lap) are somewhat shorter.
3. The drawing of the face and the shading are crude.
4. Line perforation not quite 14; perforation holes are larger, sharply cut.


A 100 h exists (see below) and appears quite good but comparison with the 60 h traits will readily reveal inconsistencies
The perfs are line 11.5 and the design is 18.4 x21.7 mm. These are rare as only about 700 made it to collectors before the rest were confiscated and destroyed (about 19,000)
The 185 h forgery was also confiscated in large quantities and not many exist
Perforation is 11.5

The main issue is the top letters that are slightly irregular. Other minor differences
The 250 h forgery was apparently confiscated and completely destroyed
For the ones that imperforates were unissued, fake perforations abound. Uneven, sharp cuts with large holes are the main keys.