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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

AFGHANISTAN 1892 onwards

Return To Catalogue - Afghanistan 1870-1874 - Afghanistan 1874-1891

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1892 Rectangular sizes

  1 a grey
  2 a grey
  1 R grey
  1 R grey (larger size)

Instead of tearing a piece of the stamp or penstrokes, the above shown 'Batila' cancel was the first real cancelling device used in Afghanistan. This was usually applied in purple color, but also in red and black(?).

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

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

1893 Rectangular sizes, with mosque in circle

Two types exist of these stamps; with inscription '1310' in arabic letters in the upper right hand corner; or with inscription '1316' in arabic letters in the same corner. A registration stamp with arabic inscription '1311' was also issued.

'1310' (size 35 x 24 mm)

  1 a black on green
  1 a black on yellow
  1 a black on red
  1 a black on blue
  1 a black on violet

'1311' (registration stamp, size 36 x 26 1/2 mm )

This stamp is also different from the other issues, by the fact that there is no long horizontal Arabic character just below the circular design.

  1 a black on green

'1316' (size 35 x 27  mm)

  2 a black on green
  2 a black on yellow
  2 a black on red
  2 a black on blue
  2 a black on violet

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

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

On letter, reduced size

This might be an Oneglia forgery, since it was found in a collection with many Oneglia forgeries.

1894 Mosque in circle with arabic text

(1894 issue, two similar 2 a black on green stamps were also issued, one for normal and one for registered letters, the value can be found in the left lower corner)

  2 a black on green
  1 R black on green

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

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

1898 As 1893 design, but larger design, registration stamps

Sorry, no image available yet

  2 a black on red
  2 a black on yellow
  2 a black on green
  2 a black
  2 a black on violet
  2 a black on blue

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

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

1907 Mosque

On letter, reduced size; the cancels are typical for this period.

  1 a blue
  2 a blue
  1 R green

All values exist imperforate and perforated 12. The values 1 a and 2 a also exist rouletted.

Rouletted

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

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

Typical postmark with city names introduced in 1907, elliptic postmarks were used for ordinary purposes, circular postmarks were used for transit and arrival marks and rectangular with cut corners cancels were used for registered mail. Source: http://www.afghanphilately.co.uk/3.html

1909 Mosque, different design

  2 p olive (1916)
  1 a blue
  1 a red (1919)
  2 a green
  2 a yellow (1919)
  1 R brown
  1 R olive (1919)

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

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

1913 Parcel stamps, large size

  3 s brown
  3 s green (1917)
  1 K olive
  1 K red (1917)
  1 R orange
  1 R olive (1917)
  2 R red
  2 R blue (1917)

These stamps should be perforated 12, but I've seen imperforate stamps. I've also seen stamps with parts of a watermark 'HOWARD + JONES LONDON'.

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

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

1921 Moon in flower like pattern, Arabic inscriptions around the edges

Small size (23 x 29 mm)  
  10 p red (two types, '10' different)
  20 p brown (two types, top inscription different)
  30 p green

Larger size (38 x 46 mm)
  10 p red
  20 p brown
  30 p green

Parcel stamps (1924/25, 27 x 40 mm)
  5 K blue
  5 R lilac

The two types of the 20 p small sized stamps

1922 Parcel stamp, with image of palace

Reduced size; parcel stamp of 1921

  10 p brown
  15 p red-brown
  30 p lilac
  1 R blue

1924 Commemoration of the independence, hat with swords below it

  10 p brown (24 x 31 1/2 mm)
  10 p brown (larger size, 30 x 37 mm)
  10 p blue

1927 Swords and flags

  10 p lilac

1927 New currency, various designs, inscription 'POSTAGE AFGHAN' or 'AFGHAN POSTAGE'

1927 issue, inscription 'AFGHAN POSTAGE'

  15 poul red (perforated or imperforate)
  15 poul blue (1930)
  30 p grey (perforated or imperforate)
  30 p green (1930)
  60 pool blue (perforated or imperforate)
  60 pool black (1930)

With circular seal overprint

The values 15 poul red, 30 p green and 60 p blue exists with a circular seal overprint, which was applied in 1929.

1928 Commemoration of Amanullah's reign

  15 p red

1928 Various designs, inscription 'POSTES AFGHANES' or 'POSTES AFGHAN', with a star shaped symbol

1929 issue, inscription 'POSTES AFGHANES'; two different designs

  2 p blue (larger sized stamp)
  2 p red (1930, larger sized stamp)
  10 p green
  10 p brown (1930)
  25 p red
  25 p grey (1930)
  40 p blue
  40 p red (1930)
  50 p red
  50 p blue (1930)

With circular seal overprint

The values 2 p blue, 10 p green, 25 p red, 40 p blue and 50 p red exists with a circular seal overprint, which was applied in 1929.

1928 Parcel stamps

  1 A brown
  2 A orange (inscripton 'POSTES AFGHAN')
  2 A green (1930, inscription 'POSTES AFGHAN')
  3 A green
  3 A brown (1930)

1931 13th independence day

  20 pul red

1931 Arabic and roman numeral '2' intertwined

  2 p red
  2 p black (1934)
  2 p green (1936)

I've seen imperforate stamps of the 2 p red and 2 p black values.

1932 Various designs, inscription 'POSTES AFGHANES'

  10 p brown (ruins)
  10 p violet (1934)
  15 p brown (mountain view)
  15 p green (1934)
  20 p red (government building)
  20 p lilac (1934)
  25 p green (as 20 p, but with building larger)
  25 p red (1934)
  30 p red (ruin arch)
  30 p orange (1934)
  40 p brown (coronation hall)
  40 p orange (monument)
  40 p black (1934)
  45 p blue (palace, 1934)
  45 p red (palace, 19??)
  50 p light blue (monument of freedom)
  50 p orange (1934)
  60 p lilac (design as 40 p, but smaller)
  60 p blue (ancient pillar)
  60 p violet (1934)
  75 p red (mountain pass, 1934)
  75 p blue (mountain pass, 19??)
  80 p red (palace)
  80 p brown (monument)
  1 A black (design as 40 p and 60 p, but again smaller)
  1 A blue (ruins)
  1 A lilac (ruins, 1934)
  2 A lilac (minaret)
  2 A blue (design as 40 p)
  2 A grey (design as 40 p, 1934)
  3 A red (mountain pass)
  3 A green (parliament building)
  3 A blue (parliament building, 1934)

The values 25 p, 40 p brown, 60 p lilac and 80 p red were only valid for 4 weeks.

1932 14 years independence, monument of freedom in an ellipse

  1 a red

1932 Triumph arc

  80 p violet

1933 Triumph arc, other design

  50 p blue

1934 15 years of independence, monument at left, arms at right

  50 p green

1935 16 years of independence, monument in rectangle

  50 p blue

1936 17 years of independence, fire works

  50 p lilac

OFFICIAL STAMPS

1909 Arms in a circle

  red (no value indicated)

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

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

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer