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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

BATUM

Batoum

Return To Catalogue - Batum, types of the tree issue

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 it.

1919 Trees, imperforated

Presumably genuine

  5 k green
  10 k blue
  50 k yellow
  1 R brown
  3 R lilac
  5 R brown

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

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

Overprinted "BRITISH OCCUPATION"

In this overprint the top of the 'A' and the 'T' of 'OCCUPATION' are almost touching.

The 1920 overprint has guidelines around each block of 6 stamps.

Reduced size

  5 k green
  10 k blue
  25 k yellow
  1 R blue
  1 R brown
  2 R red
  2 R blue
  3 R violet
  3 R red
  5 R brown
  7 R red
  7 R yellow
  10 R green
  15 R violet
  25 R red
  50 R blue

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

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

Surcharged and overprinted "BRITISH OCCUPATION"

  25 R (black or blue) on 5 k green
  25 R (black or blue) on 25 k yellow
  50 R (black or blue) on 50 k yellow (with different "BRITISH OCCUPATION" overprint)

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

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

For types of the tree issue, click here.

Forgeries:

(Forgeries)

Many forged stamps exist. In the book 'The forged stamps of all countries' by J.Dorn it is stated that the kopeck values should have 6 pearls over the square in the bottom right-hand corner (forgeries have 7 dots). The 1 Rubel should have 8 pearls in the bottom left-hand corner. In the 3 Rubel none of the letters are touching each other. Finally the 5 Rubel has the 'T' and 'Y' connected. See also http://www.firstissues.org/ficc/details/batum_1.shtml. More information can also be found at: http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.sg/2012/11/batum-and-aloe-tree-forgeries.html (this website takes a bit of study, but then it is very helpful).

(Genuine 5 kop)

(Forgery of the 1 R value, reduced size)

A forgery of the 10 k with 7 pearls above the lower right value tablet. Also note that the branches of the tree are different and that there is a white ellipse in the central design (some distance above the "K" of "KOP" just inside the central circular design). Next to it a 7 R stamp with the same white ellipse. Note that in the overprint, the "A" and "T" of "OCCUPATION" are not very close together. The "S" of "BRITISH" appears larger. The 3rd and 4th branches (i.e. the middle ones) are too curved to the right in the Kopeck values.

The same forgery type, but for the Ruble values.

Zoom-in of the white ellipse (in the middle of the image). Note the 'circle' above the "K" and the dot just next to the upper right corner of the value tablet. In 'Philatelic Forgers, their Lives and Works' by V.A.Tyler, such a forgery is shown and said to have been sold by N.Imperato of Genoa, Italy.

Different type of forgery of the kopeck values (second forgery type), also with 7 pearls above the lower right value tablet. The inverted "R" has its top part too broad, the last "A" is too pointed on top. In this forgery type, the 3rd and 4th branches are also too much curved to the right. In the lower value tablet, the second dot from above, in the upper right corner has another dot just next to it (although genuine stamps also have such a dot, but less prominent). It looks like the 10 Kop is engraved?

The same forgery (sceond forgery type), but for the Ruble type.

Third type of forgery, only found with "BRITISH OCCUPATION" overprint (a few very rare unoverprinted stamps should exist?). The top of the "R" of this overprint is too narrow (similar remarks for the "P") and the "S" is too squarish.

Is this a third type forgery, without overprint? It has the "P" of "KOP" too open, the middle branches are almost detached from the bottom of the tree.

1919 Stamps of Russia, overprinted with "BATUM" (in Russian) and value

  10 R on 1 k yellow (perf or imperf, 2 types of overprint)
  10 R on 3 k red (perf or imperf, 2 types)
  10 R on 5 k lilac (perforated, 2 types)
  10 R on 7 k blue
  10 R on 15 k lilac and blue
  10 R on 10 on 7 k blue

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

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

And overprint 'BRITISH OCCUPATION' in various colours

  10 R on 3 k (overprint blue)
  15 R on 1 k (overprint in red, violet or black)
  25 R on 5 k
  25 R on 10 on 7 k
  25 R on 20 k on 14 k
  25 R on 25 k
  25 R on 50 k
  50 R on 1 k
  50 R on 2 k (overprint red)
  50 R on 2 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 2 k (50 larger, imperforated)
  50 R on 3 k
  50 R on 3 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 3 k (50 larger and imperforated)
  50 R on 4 k
  50 R on 4 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 4 k (50 larger and other type)
  50 R on 5 k
  50 R on 5 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 5 k (50 larger and imperforated)
  50 R on 10 k (overprint red, only 150 issued!)
  50 R on 15 k

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

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

Forged overprints exist, example:

(Forged overprint on a genuine stamp of Russia)

From 1923 on the stamps of the Transcaucasian federation were used.

Postal Card surcharges

Some extremely rare postal card surcharges, stamps originally affixed to postcards and additional surcharge:

35 k on 4 k red (only 76 issued!) and 35 k on 4 k red (on Romanov stamp, only 46 issued!)

The above two postal card surcharges are certified genuine.

Fiscal Stamps

1919 Similar design to postage stamps (tree)

(Reduced size)

I've seen the values 20 k green, 2 R lilac and 3 R red without overprint. I've also seen the values 30 k yellow and 10 R brown with "BRITISH OCCUPATION" overprint. Other values probably exist.

Another provisional overprint "BRITISH OCCUPATION 20 PYb." on 20 k green.

Different design, slightly larger and additional text around the tree. In this design I have seen 1 R orange, 3 R green, 10 R red, 25 R brown.

Stamps - Timbres-poste - Briefmarken

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer