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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

AFGHANISTAN 1870-1874

Return To Catalogue - Afghanistan 1874-1891 - Afghanistan 1892 onwards

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase the catalogue.

(Arabic numerals)

The Kingdom of Kabul (Aghanistan) first issued stamps in 1870. Early designs featured a tiger's head, symbolizing the name of Amir Sher (tiger) Ali. From 1870 to 1892 the date of the Muslim year also appears. Afghan stamps of the period were issued without gum and imperforate. When used, they were mostly cancelled by cutting or tearing a piece from the stamp. Before 1928, when Afghanistan joined the Universal Postal Union, Afghan stamps were valid only for use within the country itself. Mail traveling to other countries needed the addition of Indian stamps.

Unlisted (bogus?) stamps with inscription '1289' in Arabic letters (1868) in the side inscription.

From 1870 until 1892 several issues with resembling native script were issued in various colors, these stamps are hard to classify. A nice website on these stamps can be found at: http://www.afghanphilately.co.uk/index.html.

1870/71 Circular design with tiger (lion?) head, value inscription on top of head of tiger. Ornaments and arrows outside the design, year inscription '1288'

  1 Shahi black
  1 Senar black
  1 Abasi black

Remark: the value '1' does not appear in the inscription on these stamps. The words 'Shahi', 'Senar' and 'Abasi' can be found in Arabic inscriptions just above the tiger's head. The year is indicated to the right of the tiger in the outer inscription. Specialists distinguish 4 plates of the 1 Shahi stamp and 3 plates of the other two values.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Usually the stamps were cancelled by tearing off a piece, examples:

Cancel consisting of typical penstrokes and a piece torn off

Examples on letter:

Forgeries:

Forgeries

1871/72 As 1870/71 issue, but with year '1289', text below the tiger's head

6 Shahi

1871 issue; with arabic inscription '1289'; pair of 1 R lilac stamps

6 Shahi stamps, reduced sizes

Last 3 pictures reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com

  6 Shahi brown 
  1 Rupee brown 

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Two forgeries, apparently made by the same forger (likely Senf). I've seen the left forgery with the text 'Afghanistan 1871/72. 1/2 Rupie.' printed in blue at the bottom (the way it was printed by Senf). In the above stamp, this text has been cut off.

This forgery was made by the forger Senf, the word "FACSIMILE" is printed in very small letter at the top of the stamp. Usually it is not cut to shape as in this example. Often the word "FACSIMILE" has been overwritten or cancelled (see next image).

Other bogus issue in brown color

Forgery with '1289' date in the wrong color black. Next to it the same forgery(?) with cancel in the correct color.

Fournier forgeries as they can be found in the Fournier Album, here printed together with some forgeries of Persia.

1872/73 As 1870/71 issue, but with year '1290'

  1 Shahi black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Printed in sheets of 15 stamps (5 rows of 3 stamps), each stamp is slightly different from the other.

Type 3 of the sheet

Part of a sheet of 15 stamps (5 rows of 3 stamps), here positions 4 to 10. Note the missing right hand top ornament in type 6. The stamps were cancelled by a penstroke over the head of the lion typical for the town of Tashkurgan.

Types 10 (arrow bottom left missing) and 13 (white eyes) from the sheet (bottom left corner)

Type 11 from the sheet (upper left arrow smudged and black spot on mouth of lion)

Type 15

1872/74 Tigerhead with inscription year to the right of head, 'Shahi' written in native language on top of the tiger's head, reduced amount of outer ornaments

  1 Shahi black (with year '1290')
  1 Shahi lilac (with year '1290', non-issued?)
  1 Abasi black (with year '1291')
  1/2 Rupee black (with year '1291')
  1 Rupee black (with year '1291')

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Not sure if these stamps are genuine

For Afghanistan, 1874 onwards, click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer