Thursday, December 28, 2006


Anti Masonic FDC cover - again, I wish to add one more sample, which is not stated (but just mentioned) in Scott catalog.

We are talking about Scott #2NB15-18 (see previous post) where is on show FDC from this set in 'standard' version, mean with black cancel, with Michel catalog valued at 55.00 Euros.

Here is an picture of same issue, but with gold cancel, and that are still very important when talk about value of it.

I just check the Serbian catalog which have it valued on 75.00 e, and Michel catalog from 2005 yr value it on 150.00 e. I ask my supplier from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Backi Petrovac, about this items and all told me that with gold cancel will be very hard to obtain it.
Reason is that many people sold it long time ago, when was Serbia bombed by NATO and sanctioned by UN, most collectors exported and sold best items to Germany.
And one issue of this tipe is attractive for collectors that collect topic of Judaism, Third Reich, Masonic, etc.

In the end, nearly one and half year later, I received one offer from Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and asking prices was 130.00 euro, which I accepted at glance.

I can just suggest to collectors searching for this items, don't buy it from online auctions!!!!!
If You see that someone is offering this item by email, online auction, or other means - pass it, best is to buy it from knowing dealer or from trusted supplier who know all possible manipulation with this period material.

Monday, November 27, 2006




Serbia #5 "Joy of Europe":


They issued this topic every year, starting from 1969, and Belgrade is host to european children from first till sixt of October.

FDC is showing some dravings by children, and on this one I can say, is one nice attempt to promote our young population and that what need to be worldvide.

Issued on 29 Sept. 2006, with two stamps, and what I noticed, it is in face value JUST in Serbian dinars.

Before they issued value in local currency together with value in euros, now they use just local currency - this have some message, I understand it like "slowing speed" with EU propaganda, and more concentrating on domestic money.

Again artis is M. Kalezic.


Serbia #4 "Museum exhibit - Bridal Jewelry in Serbia":


Really nice project, and visible "fresh idea" by artist, who is this time someone "new" on "market" (N. Skochajich - Belgrade).

Four value in set, in local currency, great design, and I think - worth to invest in sheetlets.

Again, issued in sheetlet of 5 set + tab on middle vertical row, which give for every set different tab.

Not common - but worth. Every sheetlet has own number on selvage.

Issued on 30 Oct. 2006.




Serbia #7 "Stamp Day":

That commemorate first stamp of Serbia (23 May 1863 day that was decided to issue stamp).

This (picture) issue will come to topic "Stamp on Stamp", and date of issue is 24 Oct. 2006.
FDC is simple but nice design, and stamp alone is one poor reproduction of first stamp of Serbia.
Artist M. Kalezic.
Interesting is just, that this time Serbian Post decided to print it in sheetlet of 8 but without tab on middle of sheetlet, instead, they choice to use "Israeli" style, with every stamp with own tab.


Serbia #6 "Water polo" topic.

Issued to commemorate European championship in water polo, where Serbia got first place (gold medal) - first by independent state Serbia.
Again issued in sheetlet of 8+tab on middle sheet, numerated on salvage.
Issued on 13 Sept. 2006, artist like usually M. Kalezic.
FDC is nice design, but stamp alone is missing quality to math this kind of success.


Serbia Modern #8 and samples of Red Cross:

Here we have one single issue from "Monastery" topic, that Serbia issued for common use, it is small size, small face value of 8 dinar, for use in domestic transport.

Pictured on is Monastir Zicha, but design is low quality.

Near this issue, You can see four different issue of postage due stamp, for Red Cross week, Against AIDS, Childrens week and Solidarity week.

Sunday, November 26, 2006


Serbia (German Occ.) Michel #82-85,
Scott #2NB19-22,
SFK #684-687.

I think that we need to talk about this issue, because reason that they issued it, is so human, that many countries need to learn from it.

Let's start from beginning.
Issued on 13 Sept. 1942, middle of WWII, country destroyed, bombed, industry on zero activity, most Serbian population eliminated (killed) by German Occupation army - and Serbian decided to help poor and war orphans.
Set have 4 value, with "Mother and Child" pictured, author is Vladimir Guljevic, and printed in Belgrade Gov't offset printing plant, quantity is 52 000 sets, in printing sheet of 16 (4x4 set).

Part of quantity printed, have graver initials on some of stamp, that make difference in valuing this issue.

Like all other issue from this period, this issue is also vulnerable to rust, and damage by glue, paper quality, and war period, and to find sheetlet of 16 is also hard task, especially if it is
52 000 set printed, that mean just 13 000 sheetlet existed at issue day.

What say catalog for this issue. Michel just stated that existed sheetlets, but no value for it. If to value it according set - it will be 4x40 euros will give prices for 160.00 euros for sheetlet, in mint, nh, condition. Scott value it (set) 26.00 $, mean over 100.00$ for sheetlet, and SFK catalog have more specific prices, because they value also with and without graver's initials.
For standard set, SFK catalog have value of 12.00 euros, set in block of four go to 16.00 euros, with graver's initials set will reach 52.00 euros.

In case that you have it on used cover - it is bonanza - original cancel will give You 680.00 euros for complete set. Just for info - I didn't saw it in my life, maybe (because I'm young) till end - I will find it.

Let's see what market will say?

Searching for sheetlet will take "dentist" patience, if someone have it in collection, hardly will sell it separately, and if it will pop-up somewhere on auction, it will reach more than 150.00 euros per sheetlet, but - if You have lucky, and find direct sale, or You have Your dealer - it will cost You somewhere around 120.00 euro for sheetlet of 16 stamp (4 set).

Saturday, November 25, 2006



Serbia (German Occ.) Michel #Block1 and 2 FDC, Scott #2NB5 and 6:

This is one fascinating item that I must show here!
So nice, so great design and intention.
Issued in 22 Sept 1941, to help reconstruction and victim of Smederevo town blast.
Blast was in Germans Occupied forces amunition warehouse, that caused total destruction of city.
Issued two s/s, one perforated and second imperforated, in 22 000 pieces each!
So small quantity printed, that can hardly meet collectors needs. Can be included in castle/fortrees, WWII, German areas, topics.

Because of small quantity available, some people made some fake cancelation, to reach prices, that say (for perforated and imperforated separately):

Michel catalog value for FDC is 750.00 euros,
SFK catalog valued it same in 750.00 euros,
Scott have it on 300.00 $ for used set of each s/s.

Not small investment for collectors who usually need booth of them, and that will cost 1500.00 euros catalog value.
What will market say about this prices? I have really hard work and lot of time (more than 2 year) till I obtained both FDC. And in SFK and Michel catalog is warning for fake cancels, that mean more risk to obrtain one classic material, but - when I received it - it was really satisfaction.
Yes - I don't pay full catalog value, but for 1000.00 euros You can find one set of this block in good condition, but without certificate.
Because that I warn all collectors to buy it just from trusted dealer, and if possible, to invest in certificate.
On FDC that is on display You can see cancel from FD issue + set that someone used on the first day issue, I think for intention just to keep it in good condition, because to save it in mint, nh, condition, for long period, was impossible mission.
It is printed on common paper, little bit heavy, in Government Printing Plant Belgrade, gummed yellow/bright, but glue from this period was "killer" for this material. In most cases, You will find it rusted, and with damaged glue.
If to someone was offered this s/s in mint, nh, best condition ('like new") I will suggest to everyone - reject offer, and ask about certificate.

Monday, October 09, 2006




Serbia German Occ. Scott #2NB15-18 FDC "Anti-Masonic Exhibition" (Left)

Serbia German Occ. Scott #2NB7-10 "For Our Prisoners" (Right)

Even that this two issues didn't come from new independent Serbia, I choice to publish it for some good reason. For long time, I search for this two items but it is really hard to find it in even good condition, and in perfect condition is even harder if not un illusion.

With Scott 2NB7-10, didn't made me so big problem, but with "sister" issue (Scott #2NB11-14) is lot more difficult case. I try to obtain it for one customer for almost two year ("sister" issue), but without result at all. Actually, client need it in sheet issue of 20+5 tabs, where tab formed cross on middle of sheet. Issue come out on 24 Mart 1942, named "For Our Prisoners".

This issue (photo Scott #2NB7-10) Local catalogue mint set valued it low 5.00$, but issue have some more printing combination, and according type, is valued from 10.00US$ up to150.00 US$, on cover with original cancel even can reach 600.00 US$. Here is catalogue numbers and prices for this (photo) set:

Issued on 6 Dec. 1941, Local catalog (SFK, 2003 yr) #649-52, FDC = 75.00 euro, Michel catalog 2005 yr, # 54/57, FDC = 75.00 euro, and Scott 2006 yr #2NB7/10 for set used valued it on 64.00 US$.

Second picture (left side) is commonly know by name "Antimasonic", actually issued for Philatelic Exhibition held in Belgrade (Serbia) at 1 Jan 1942 (which topic to celebrate New Year?!). Here is numbers and prices on catalogues:

Scott 2006 yr #2NB15-18, set used = 16.50 US$, Michel 2005 yr # 58-61, FDC = 55.00 euro, and local catalogue (SFK) 2003 year have for FDC = 28.00 euro.

What is point with this set? Except topic (Anti-Masonic, Judaica, Masons, German Area), it have also low quantity printed, 507 000 set issued, unsold quantity of 203 000 sets was destroyed after exhibition. With little calculation, we come to conclusion that around 300 000 visitors arrived to see exhibition(!!!!) take in account that it was an war period, occupied country, with daily fighting, no job, economy at low as can be and we can compared it to today's most attended world exhibition. Strange but true!

Where come problem? Hmmmmm - try to find it in perfect condition, and used with originally postally used cancel - just try, and You will see that it is impossible! I was in possession of few hundred of sets, but less than 10% was in fine condition. Just once I obtained full printing sheet, and it was without gum. Existed two type of FDC, one with black cancel (shown) and valued around 50.00 US$, and second type is in gold color, valued from 100-150.00 US$.

For my satisfaction, I go to eBay, and saw it there few sets for sale, seller placed starting bid at around 28.00 US$, with option "buy now" little more, at 32.00 US$. FDC I didn't see on eBay?!

What made this set rare and expensive? I think it is time, topic, quantity printed and destroyed in short period, country, add to it thick glue and standard paper plus war period, You will come to less than 10 000 copies that survive first ten years, today - I think, just few of it is "rolling" around globe.

Saturday, September 23, 2006


Serbia #3, FDC and set, in sheetlet of 8+1 tab format, it is to commemorate winning champ for water pollo, Serbia took gold medal.
I think that it is really nice design for "sport" topic, and regarding small quantity printed, it will be worth to keep in possession.

Serbia #2 "Mishanska fight", FDC and single Posted by Picasa

Serbia #1, "Coat of arms and Flag" Posted by Picasa
Serbia (new independent) issue:

Just because of some comments that I received, I must say, that ALL prices for new issue, that appear in, are prices of dealer/s at the day of issue - with time, this prices, usually come down, and every dealer will reduce it according own interest.

I will try to post pictures new issue from Serbia, and according my supplier, it is continuing issue policy from Serbia and Montenegro.
Printing house will stay same, and author and other technical detail will be in use like before.
They will be listed in continuity for Yugoslavia = Serbia and Montenegro = Serbia.

Good new is just that they keep it in small quantity issue, just to satisfy philatelist subscription need, and minor supply for post office curiosity, because in all post branches they use automatic labels - yes - it will result in less used material on market, and like what we have case with German Occupation period of Serbia, it will have high value in catalog - I think, and suggest to all collectors, keep Your stock up to date.