ERROR: Create of Audit_IP_Month failed. Audit_IP_Month Insert failed : Duplicate entry '202504-3.18.103.165' for key 'Audit_IP_Month.PRIMARY'
I have gone cross-eyed many times trying to discern between the two printings.
The original printing ran from 1948-1952. The stamps are on toned paper with glossy yellowish gum. There are 37 stamps (major catalog numbers) in the set. Note that Scott #556 (the 10S gray has a minor variety #556b - flat white gum - an inconsistency with the set structure).
The second printing ran from 1958-1959. The stamps are on white paper with flat white gum. (Scott should move #556b to this set.) There are 21 stamps in the set. 22, if you count #556b.
The images on the stamps from the first printing look darker and sometimes appear a bit blurry. Not all the time, however, because light inking can leave a clearer image and a less color-toned paper.
The images on the stamps from the second printing usually appear clearer and brighter as does the paper.
It can be more difficult to determine which printing a stamp is from if the stamp is used. A footnote by Scott confirms what my experiences with these stamps has been, "Designs of the 1958-1959 printing are clearer and on most values appears sharper than on the 1948-1952 printings." The bottom line here is that the differences between the two printings are not always easy to tell.
Here are the face values of the stamps contained in the second printing. Most are described in Scott as having been printed in the same color, except as I noted in the list below.
5g
10g
20g (1st = yellow green; 2nd = deep yellow green)
25g (1st = brown; 2nd = dark brown)
30g
40g (1st = green; 2nd = deep blue green)
50g
60g
70g
80g
1.20s
1.45s
1.50s
1.60s (1st = orange red; 2nd = brown orange)
2.20s
2.40s
2.50s
3s
3.50s
5s
7s
10s (from the listing in the first printing)
Any values not listed above were only issued in the first printing.
Have fun!
I hope right that there are only 2 printings, so every stamp from before 1958 are of Type 1 (greyish paper, blurry print) and those after 1958 (only 21 of the 36 (excluding the engraved 10S))are of Type 2 (clear impression on white paper)
However, the article I referred to indicates several printings and combinations of printing type and paper type ("there are up to TEN collectible varieties of many of the Austria stamps", this includes differences in gum type which of course can not be identified on used stamps)
I hope somebody with access to a special catalogue can resolve this problem. Didn't the "clear impression" occur before 1958? Only on the "white paper" issues?
There were two major reprintings. That is what the general catalogs indicate (Scott and Michel). As with any stamp or set of stamps that saw reprintings, there are often more variations than what the general catalogs list. The other, more minor variations are found in specialized catalogs. Michel does refer to additional varieties, but merely refers the collector to the Michel Austria Specialized Catalog.
It just depends how deeply you want to go into this set as to whether the standard general catalogs will do, or if you need a specialized catalog.
I collect the Austria Costumes too. I only collect used, so I don't have to worry about gum.
Here are 4 different shades of the 3s which I scanned together to show the contrast. The two on the left are obvious first printings, due to the yellow gray paper.
Stamp-World has a simplified summary of these stamps here:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html
I am working on my Austria collection, and yesterday I noticed that some stamps of the very familiar "regional costumes" set had a much clearer print than others.
So I searched the web, and found this article:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html
It confirms that there are really two printing types.
I now wonder: Do ALL 36 photogravure stamps of this series exist in both types? Is Type 1 (coarse impression) printed up to a certain date, when Type 2 (clear impression) took over?
The original printing is supposed to be on greyish paper, white paper was used from 1958 on 21 of the stamps. There is a special page for these in my Leuchtturm album, but I have big problems with identifying the paper colour - they all look rather white to me, either the postmark says 1952 or 1962.....
The printing types looks more interesting to me than paper (or gum) types, and I hope somebody can provide more information on this subject.
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-12-04 13:44:49)
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I have gone cross-eyed many times trying to discern between the two printings.
The original printing ran from 1948-1952. The stamps are on toned paper with glossy yellowish gum. There are 37 stamps (major catalog numbers) in the set. Note that Scott #556 (the 10S gray has a minor variety #556b - flat white gum - an inconsistency with the set structure).
The second printing ran from 1958-1959. The stamps are on white paper with flat white gum. (Scott should move #556b to this set.) There are 21 stamps in the set. 22, if you count #556b.
The images on the stamps from the first printing look darker and sometimes appear a bit blurry. Not all the time, however, because light inking can leave a clearer image and a less color-toned paper.
The images on the stamps from the second printing usually appear clearer and brighter as does the paper.
It can be more difficult to determine which printing a stamp is from if the stamp is used. A footnote by Scott confirms what my experiences with these stamps has been, "Designs of the 1958-1959 printing are clearer and on most values appears sharper than on the 1948-1952 printings." The bottom line here is that the differences between the two printings are not always easy to tell.
Here are the face values of the stamps contained in the second printing. Most are described in Scott as having been printed in the same color, except as I noted in the list below.
5g
10g
20g (1st = yellow green; 2nd = deep yellow green)
25g (1st = brown; 2nd = dark brown)
30g
40g (1st = green; 2nd = deep blue green)
50g
60g
70g
80g
1.20s
1.45s
1.50s
1.60s (1st = orange red; 2nd = brown orange)
2.20s
2.40s
2.50s
3s
3.50s
5s
7s
10s (from the listing in the first printing)
Any values not listed above were only issued in the first printing.
Have fun!
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I hope right that there are only 2 printings, so every stamp from before 1958 are of Type 1 (greyish paper, blurry print) and those after 1958 (only 21 of the 36 (excluding the engraved 10S))are of Type 2 (clear impression on white paper)
However, the article I referred to indicates several printings and combinations of printing type and paper type ("there are up to TEN collectible varieties of many of the Austria stamps", this includes differences in gum type which of course can not be identified on used stamps)
I hope somebody with access to a special catalogue can resolve this problem. Didn't the "clear impression" occur before 1958? Only on the "white paper" issues?
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
There were two major reprintings. That is what the general catalogs indicate (Scott and Michel). As with any stamp or set of stamps that saw reprintings, there are often more variations than what the general catalogs list. The other, more minor variations are found in specialized catalogs. Michel does refer to additional varieties, but merely refers the collector to the Michel Austria Specialized Catalog.
It just depends how deeply you want to go into this set as to whether the standard general catalogs will do, or if you need a specialized catalog.
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
I collect the Austria Costumes too. I only collect used, so I don't have to worry about gum.
Here are 4 different shades of the 3s which I scanned together to show the contrast. The two on the left are obvious first printings, due to the yellow gray paper.
re: Austria "regional costumes" of 1948-58 - Printing types
Stamp-World has a simplified summary of these stamps here:
http://www.stamp-collecting-world.com/austriastamps_1948d.html