Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

GREECE Large Hermes Head issues

Return To Catalogue - Greece Large Hermes Head issues, printings - Greece Small Hermes Head issues (1886) - Cancels on the first issues - Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 1 - Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 2; Oneglia and Sperati - Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 3; Fournier- Greece overview - Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 4; Imperato

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.

1861 Head of Hermes, large, imperforate

1 l brown

5 l green "7" with dots cancellation 30 l blue 60 l green on green 80 l red

  1 l brown
  2 l brown
  5 l green
  10 l orange
  20 l blue
  20 l red
  30 l brown
  30 l blue
  40 l lilac on blue
  40 l lilac
  40 l brown
  60 l green
  80 l red

Some of these stamps have the value imprinted at the backside, examples:

Some misprints exist concerning these backside values, missing numbers, inverted numbers etc.

Note on this issue: specialists distinguish a great number of printings, plates, numbers on the backside, etc. This gives rise to a considerable amount of confusion and it is a field for the specialist. For more info see: Greece Large Hermes Head issues, printings. Interested people are also referred to more specialized catalogues, such as Vlastos or Hellas. Many proofs of the first Paris print also exist apparently.

A proof of the 1 l value

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Cheapest types
1 l	***	**
2 l	***	***
5 l	***	*
10 l	***	*
20 l blue	RR	*
20 l red	***	*
30 l brown	RR	***
30 l blue	RR	***
40 l lilac on blue	RR	***
40 l lilac	***	R
40 l brown	RR	***
60 l	RR	RR
80 l	R	***

Surcharged (1900, perforated or imperforate)

5 D on 40 l lilac on blue

  30 l on 40 l violet
  40 l on 2 l brown
  50 l on 40 l brown
  3 D on 10 l orange
  5 D on 40 l lilac on blue

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Imperforate
30 l on 40 l	**	**
40 l on 2 l	**	**
50 l on 40 l	**	**
3 D on 10 l	***	***
5 D on 40 l	R	R
Perforated 11 1/2
30 l on 40 l	***	***
40 l on 2 l	***	***
50 l on 40 l	***	***
3 D on 10 l	***	***
5 D on 40 l	RR	RR

Surcharged with value and 'A M'

(Reduced sizes)

  1 D on 40 l red
  2 D on 5 l green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Imperforate
1 D on 40 l	RR	RR
2 D on 5 l	***	***
Perforated
1 D on 40 l	RR	RR
2 D on 5 l	***	***

Some stamps with 'SPECIMEN' overprint. This overprint is always in blue (on the postage due stamps in red).

Paris Exhibition reprints made in 1900, I've seen a similar stamp in black which I was told is an Oneglia reprint. I own such a black reprint myself and it looks pretty similar to the ones above. I now doubt that this is true....

Click here for forgeries of the
Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 1 Spiro and other simple forgeries
Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 2; Oneglia and Sperati
Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 3; Fournier
Greece Large Hermes Head forgeries, part 4; Imperato
and here for cancels on the first issues.

GREECE Large Hermes Head issues

1861 Head of Hermes, large, imperforate

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer