Friday, March 13, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
SERBIAN POST ABROAD - CORFOU:
I will say true, that in this field I'm really weak! But, I wish to show one nice sample of Postal Card, with cancel, that are in use at the time, by Serbian Post abroad (It sound like Serbian Empire, but this is an sad part in Serbian history where many-many Serbian civilian and soldier die in fighting for freedom).
What I learn from some catalogue is not lot, many catalogue have little information about this sad period from Serbian history, and some catalogue mention just envelope with postage (French) stamp on, and some even didn't mention it at all.
This sample (shown front and back side) are used on 1918 year, delivered from Corfou (Greece) to Dijon (France), with nice clear cancel. What I know from catalogue is that Serbian Post abroad existed between 1916-1918, and used French postage, with two kind of cancel, one that was obligatory "Ministarska Postanska Stanica" (Ministry Post Station) and second "Postes Serbes" that are placed sometimes over stamps, sometimes near stamp on cover. Normally - for this rare material, and because this material are important in Serbian history, fake are frequent on the market, and this is reason why to be very careful when purchasing online, preferable is to buy it with certificate and from trusted dealer. I see on eBay, that material from this period are valued very high, starting bid for rare items, are from 100-200 BP (British Pound) - Post Card shown have less than that, because it is common, and without certificate, but again will have an really good starting bid of 35-45 US$ - risky to buy, but worth to take chance. Premium price will be on postally used cover with rare destination, with two cancel + one more for censor mark which are common in black color, rarely in red.
Common cover, with French postage, set of 14 value on yellow paper, that will be very hard to complete, can reach more than 300.00 Euro on free market, and on white paper will have an premium of 20-25% more. Violet cancel will take another 20% premium, and if You will find this cover with Greek postage it will be miracle! More of this will reach samples with more than one stamp on it, also porto postage, mixed postage - all this will have an nice premium on market. But again, be very careful - fake samples are on market!
Friday, December 19, 2008
18, 19, 20-2008:
Heading to end this 2008 year, it come last three issue. By my opinion, it is one "simple" issue, and by my opinion absolutely unnecessary! Also design show us one symptom that all Serbian have, and it is that nothing they can not made "till the end" correctly. This symptom is visible everywhere - from life to art - they will do job properly all the way, but when they feel that end is near - things will be done poorly!
What is good for this year - is just quantity printed, Serbian Post keep one best policy to protect also philatelist, and also future catalogue value for own stamps - it is printed around 30-50 000 quantity, that is one offset for REALLY market need - subscribers and little to the post offices for use - all what need to be done, this way, new mint issue will have one real catalogue prices, and used material will be very hard to find and complete one collection in used condition will be even more harder.
18-2008: come to celebrate 60 yr of convention for Danube Navigation, what is need to celebrate this occasion i don't know! They have every year "Danube convention" issue, and now one "sub-issue" for same topic? Issued on Nov 20, 2008, one single stamp, view of Belgrade and one ship, from "long distance" - nothing good to say, face value just less than 1.00 US$ - affordable but who collect it?
19-2008: Christmas issue, that I never liked - here we have two stamp, showing us one icon and one painting, issued on Nov 28, 2008, two face value of together 66.00 dinar, something around 1.50 US$, that will be good for collectors of "Icon", "Christmas" issue - but hardly that will reach some "good" prices in future!
20-2008: Dadov Theatre - Even that I'm native of Yugoslavia, Serbia, Vojvodina - I never hear of this theatre! I never hear that it have so great significance for Serbian population and have any "standing" in Serbia! Possible in today's time, withs someones "good connection" they managed to have one stamp like this printed. Issued on Dec 5, 2008, with really small face value of less than 0.50 US$ - no big deal at all!
Friday, December 05, 2008
2008 Postage Due # 6, , 8, 9, 10:
Here I will be very short, because most information I miss from official in Serbia, what I know is poor information from stamp alone, but I will try my best.
RED CROSS - Solidarity week, in use for period I don't know, but according design, it is for "old age people" for sure, intention is to think and care about old people - nice intention!
Anti Cancer - portrait of Dr Avram Josif Vinaver, I don't know this doctor, but other collectors know, specially someone who specialized in this field, issue is like usually, and possible this small dimension stamp, don't have some "big attention" in collectors "sight".
Children's Week - I give this name of issue, because from picture on stamp, it is one boy in "Superman" pose, I think that role for this issue is to wake avarnees for children protection, from other newspaper I see that Serbia have an problem when is question of children's. Date on stamp for use are Oct 6-12, 2008, week like usually - where money collected will go is good question. Issue are in two format, one is adhesive format, perforated and second is self-adhesive imperforate.
For "Avala" RTV Tower - this one have an really good point, but I will prefer one regular issue, not "obligatory" week stamp - but one really issue for simple reason - that this tower are destroyed by NATO forces, totally without reason and need, simple destruction of civilian object that served population in Serbia, no one was charged, no one pay to this country any compensation, and no one pay to the victims family that are killed on the bombing! One moment that need to be remembered with much more attention than one small format stamp!
Prices for each are few cent on face value, but dealer will minimum ask of 1.00 $ per stamp, that are not so great deal!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
14 and 15-2008, Grapes and Vine:
Here we come again with one beautiful issue from Serbia, I will pray that it continue this way to the future! One really nice art work, issued on Sept. 25 2008 with topic "Flora - Grapes and Vineyard of Serbia", set of 4 value + tab on middle - if you can, zoom this set and You will discover one really, but really original replica of grapes that are possible! Artist made it great and I'm even more fascinated with FDC cover - the colour of bottles and colour of vine, something that give wish to touch it, to smell it!
The stamp are devoted to four region in Serbia, that have one long tradition in making vine and grapes, even that vine from Serbia never reach some fame like French or Italian, but locally made vine and inside Serbian population this vine have one good standing, maybe because people from this region like locally made vine. And other product from this grapes are known in the Europe well, it is cognac and brandy that have even more bigger tradition like vine.
We have here also one design of FDC and one art in CM - just see and enjoy! Prices are not so big, by face value it is around 1.50 US$ for set without tab - but tell me how to separate tab from sheet of 5 set with 5 different tab on middle? And for sheet You will need little bit more, around 7.50 US$. Where come problem? It is for collectors that don't have access to directly obtain it from Post service, but must to use dealer - because this topic and quantity issued, it will be hard to obtain it in less than double face value.
15-2008 "Joy of Europe":
Even that this issue have an very good intention, I really don't like design and like what we see from scan, it is really poorly managed. I think that children's drawing are not something that can be ranged high! I understand intention, it is very good, it help to collect some income for Joy of Europe festival, it help to promote children's topic around globe - but to made stamp with better design is impossible - what to do? Nothing, keep support children's and this organization. This year it is just 1 value in set (?) - strange because usually it come in set of 2 (possible my supplier made mistake?) and face value are low - just less than 1.00 US$ - but again, dealer will ask double price, reason are still in quantity issued, and MOST issue from Serbia are sold very quickly.
Monday, August 18, 2008
This one issue will be next to best - if I talk about Europa 2008 issue like best in this year, this one will be really close to this one if not equal - first it is really important to "writte in history" this train line that come from Paris to Strasbourg and continue to Munich, Wien, Budapest, Belgrade, Nis and finished in Constantinople. It is issued on 9 June, 2008, two value in set, with great artist work! I can say - well done!
Face value are 20 and 50 Serbian Dinar, it is around 1.40 US$ face value, but You will never "catch" this prices from any dealer, it will cost You minimum twice with good luck if you will be able to find it occassionaly on market - just on standing order from post or from your personal dealer You will manage to buy it.
12-2008 "50 year of Television - Belgrade":
I will not talk lot about this issue, yes it have significance for Serbia alone, but design is really "low profile", one "home work" for one art student class - nothing more. Issued on 16 June, one value, face value are around 1.00 US$, that You can obtain it from dealer in maximum 10-15% up to face value, really nothing special.
13-2008: "200 yr grand school - Belgrade":
Again one issue that have just significance for citizen of Serbia, because 200 yr of one Grand School is not "small" things - countries in United Europe even didn't exist for this long period, and one small Serbia have one school with 200 yr tradition - but, from Philatelist wiev, I think that existed many other way to celebrate this event, and more of it - with much better design! One value, face cost is low - 0.40 US$, I don't know what this school will benefit from this stamp, except that it will stay in history of philately forever. Issued on 10 July 2008, and market value will also stay low as can be.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Thursday, May 01, 2008
#6-2008: "Serbian Olympic Tennis Team"
Here we come to one issue, that by my opinion are "more than need" - simply, one serious authority, can not now celebrate one sport team, and other sport team to be left "out" of frame! It is even unfair inside this sport against other sportist that before made same or even better result, or that actually happen, that other from this team have an "personal" problem, because one are on stamp with face value less than other. This set have 5 stamp, with face value of 20.00, 30.00, 30.00, 40.00 and 46.00 dinar, together it is around 3.32 US$, again - Serbian Post made one more "game" with quantity printed - that are around 30-35 000 sets, when we made how much is it in sheetlet of 8+1 tab - 3-3500, too low quantity for one market and topic that are very popular today! Prices are now double on market, mean for set = 6.64 $, sheetlet of 8+1 tab = 53.12 $, and FDC will take from You 18.64 $ for 5 cover.
Stamp have pictures of tennis player, that are in top ATP list, Janko Tipsarevic are on 20.00 din, Nenad Zimonjic are on 30.00 din, Jelena Jankovic is on other 30.00 din, Ana Ivanovic are on 40.00 din, and Novak Dokovic is on higher face value - 46.00 din.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Saturday, March 01, 2008
I can say just common in all respect - nothing that have some "more" on it, and face value are low like need to be when post put hand to poeples pocket, even when it is in humanitarian intention. Both stamp have 10.00 serbian Dinar face value, that are together around 0.40 US$, and dealer will give it maybe 20-30% up of face value.
#5: Like usually at this time, and around this time, Serbian people are again in position (if they want or not - dosn't matter - it is democracy) to support construction of churches around. This one go for Sv. Sava (Vrachar - Belgrade) - not big money in face value, just 0.20 US$ per one, but, if someone in one week need to send 100 mail, it will cost him. Design is "like usually" - nothing more to say.