Ukrainian Philatelist No. 121 (2019)

STAMPS FROM CORRECTED PRINT PLATES OF THE SECOND STANYSLAVIV ISSUE OF WESTERN UKRAINE
by
Ihor G. Kulczycky

For over 50 years after their issue, Western Ukrainian stamps printed from corrected plates, due to their overprint peculiarities and lack of provenance, were considered as forgeries by contemporary philatelic experts. Eventually, in the 1970s, they were rehabilitated by John Bulat and Zbigniew Mikulski as stamps from a genuine printing of the Second Stanyslaviv issue.

Considered as forgeries, the stamps from the corrected plates were essentially ignored in the old philatelic literature except for rare cryptic intimations about their existence.

Kazimierz Hroboni, Polish philatelist, resident of Kolomyia in 1918-1919, in his 1920 article dealing with the stamps of Kolomyia issue [3], relates that, at the beginning of May 1919 he received from his uncle, the postal comptroller in Stryi, a letter franked with Austrian stamps bearing unspecified Ukrainian overprints. Intrigued, he requested further information about them. Subsequently he received a letter sent from Stryi on 15 May, five days prior to the fall of Stryi to Polish forces, containing Ukrainian overprints on 15-sh. Bosnian 1904 Military Porto stamps and on 20- and 50-sh. Austrian 1917-18 Military Field Post stamps. According to the statement included in the letter only these three stamp values were in circulation in Stryi. Hroboni used these stamps on registered letters in Kolomyia. (see Figure 7).

Despite the statement contained in the letter, 4-sh. stamps were also available on sale and were in use in Stryi (see Figures 4, 9, 11, 12). Hroboni was not aware that the stamps mentioned in the letter were from a corrected printing. In his article they were considered only as the stamps with Ukrainian overprints used in Stryi in May 1919.

Anton Wohlfahrt, Viennese researcher of the Stanyslaviv issues, in his 1933 article [7] describes
the stamps of the Second Stanyslaviv issue printed with the only known at that time plates with major errors. Therefore it is not surprising, that he failed to recognize that the Eisenberg Stryi 13 May 1919 philatelic cover illustrated in the article, was franked with the stamps printed with corrected print plates. He also stated incorrectly that these stamps were in postal use in Stanyslaviv. (See Figure 12)

Even after 1970’s rehabilitation, only a short basic description of the corrected print plates appeared in two works of John Bulat (1973, 1992- 2003). [1, 2]

Now, four decades later, the authenticity of the stamps printed from the corrected plates is still
questioned, and the difficulties in distinguishing between the stamps from the corrected and regular plates persist. This is not surprising since the philatelic literature about these stamps is scarce.

This article, hopefully, will shed more light on these interesting understudied sets of stamps.

Background

In the early spring of 1919 the major post offices of Western Ukraine faced significant shortages of definitive postage stamps. In March 1919 the Secretariat of Posts responded to the shortages by releasing into postal circulation stamps of the First Stanyslaviv issue. An order was also placed in the Austrian State Printing Office in Vienna to print Western Ukrainian definitive postage stamps, postal stationery and stamps of the Third Stanyslaviv issue, a temporary replacement of pending definitive Western Ukraine stamps.

After the stamps of the First Stanyslaviv issue were significantly depleted by normal postal usage and two Eisenberg purchases (26 March and 6 April 1919), the needed stamp values were introduced into postal circulation in early April and late April or early May 1919 by the Directorate of Posts and its Ekonomat in three postage stamp releases:
-The first installment of the Third Stanyslaviv issue,
-Two printings of the Second Stanyslaviv issue.

The first installment of the Third Stanyslaviv issue

The first installment of the stamps of the Third Stanyslaviv issue (low values of 12, 20 and 50 sotyks and high values of 2, 3, 4 and 10 Koronas) were brought from Vienna by the trade mission in late March or early April and were distributed to some peripheral post offices. They were later reintroduced for sale in Stanyslaviv on 13 May 1919.

All stamp values of this release are known from 8 April to 18 April money letters sent from Buchach, Zolochiv, Terebovlia in the Ternopil region and Stryi in the Stanyslaviv region. [4].

Two printings of the Second Stanyslaviv issue

Two printings of stamps of the Second Stanyslaviv issue were authorized by the Directorate of Posts and its Ekonomat:
1) First printing
All stamp values of the Second Stanyslaviv issue were overprinted with regular plates containing major errors.
2) Second printing
A select number of stamp values was overprinted with two variants of the corrected print plates without major errors.

Printing with corrected plates

Two sets of an unknown but significant quantity of 1-, 4-, 6-, 15-sh., and 20-, 50-, 80-sh. stamps were overprinted in Stanyslaviv Danylevych Print Shop with the corrected print plates without major errors on 1904 Bosnian Military Porto and on 1917-18 Austrian Military Post stamps.

The 20-, 50- and 80-sh. stamp values of the second printing were chosen for the franking of regular, registered and special delivery mail either alone or in combination with Austrian stamps: - post cards (20 sh.): 20 sh., letters (40 sh.): two 20 sh.; - registered post cards (70 sh.): 50 sh. + 20 sh.; - registered letters (90 sh.): 50 sh. + two 20 sh.; - special delivery letters (1Hr.20 sh.): 80 sh. + two 20 sh.; - registered special delivery letters (2Hr.10 sh.) two 80sh + 50 sh.

The additional stamp values needed for the supplemental franking of the mail (5, 10 and 15 sh.) were supplied either as a single value (15sh) or a combination of the stamp values: 1sh. + 4sh. (5sh) and 4sh. + 6sh. (10sh) since the 5- and 10-h. Austrian stamps available for the overprinting were already in short supply.

The stamps printed with the corrected plates were intended for genuine postal use and were shipped in their entirety from Stanyslaviv to the post office in Stryi.

The stamps were not available for sale in Stanyslaviv. Eisenberg, agent of Baumgarten and other- Viennese stamp dealers, was not able to obtain these stamps during his stay in Stanyslaviv (2 May to 23 May 1919). Eisenberg had to travel to Stryi on 13 May to obtain them there.

Genuinely used covers and the philatelic items (covers, cancelled-to-order stamps) franked with stamps from the corrected plates (4-, 15-, 20-, 50- and 80- shahiv stamps with violet “STRYJ 1 *d* and black “STRYJ 1 *2c* cancellations) are known with dates ranging from 5 May to 17 May 1919. 1- and 6-shahiv stamps are known only in mint form. See Figure 2 above. The earliest known genuinely used cover carries the date of 5 May 1919. (Figure 3).

The majority of the stamps from the corrected plates in genuine postal use and on the philatelic covers are known with dates between 13 May and 17 May 1919. The stamps may have been used also in the post offices in the Ternopil region. A 4-shahiv stamp in Dr. Zelonka’s collection carries Ukrainian cancellation Ternopil “ТЕРНОПІЛЬ”.

Presumed dates of both printings

Lacking factual documentation, the exact dates of the origin of the Second Stanyslaviv issue and the sequence of its two printings, are unknown and therefore difficult to establish with certainty.

Presently, the generally accepted and reasonably argued scenario is that the first printing was performed on 5 May 1919 with the print plates that contained major errors and that at the same time or at some time later, the major errors were amended and a limited number of stamp values were overprinted with the “corrected” plates. [1, 2 , 6].

The 5 May 1919 date of issue is incorrect since the stamps of the issue were already on sale in Stanyslaviv on 3 May and in Stryi on 5 May.

Eisenberg’s 3 May local Stanyslaviv registered letters franked with the stamps of the second and fourth sets of the Second Stanyslaviv issue and 5 May Stryi cover with a stamp from corrected plate are the earliest known covers of the issue.

The vast majority of stamps from the regular plates purchased by Eisenberg in Stanyslaviv carry 6 May 1919 cancelled-to-order postmarks. The date of 6 May engendered generally accepted but erroneous concept that the stamps of the issue originated on 5 May, one day before Eisenberg’s massive stamps buyout on 6 May.

Almost the simultaneous appearance of the stamps of both regular and corrected plates on legitimately used covers in and outside of Stanyslaviv (3 May, earliest known covers with stamps from regular plates; 5 May, earliest known cover with the stamp of the corrected plate mailed Stryi and 6 May, earliest known cover with the stamps with the regular plate sent from Hr..ów (?Hrybów - ?Hrybiv in district of Dolyna, Stanyslaviv region), as well as similarity of print plates of both printings suggest that both stamps were printed in similar time frame.

In this scenario regular print plates were used first on or prior to 3 May (In the opinion of Wohlfahrt and Kotyk [4,7] the stamps of the issue were created in April). Later, likely on the same day, major print plate errors were amended and the selected stamp values were overprinted with these corrected plates. Currently this is thought to be the most likely scenario.

A curious time gap exists in the use of the stamps of corrected plates between 5 May (earliest known use) and 13 – 17 May (extensive use) coincidental with the arrival of Eisenberg in Stryi, his 13 May philatelic corrected plate stamp covers and the 15 May Hroboni letter from Stryi’s postal comptroller confirming the use of the stamps at that time frame. Were there two separate corrected print plate stamps printings or perhaps two corrected stamp shipments, first in late April or early May and the second one just prior to 13 May?

Distinctive features of the overprints of the corrected print plates

At first glance, the stamps from the corrected and the regular print plates appear very similar. Differences, however, exist, that allow for easy differentiation between stamps from both types of print plates.

The stamps from the corrected plates are easily recognizable by the characteristic double strike appearance of the overprints, absent in the stamps from the regular plates. During the printing process the panes of the stamps were slightly shifted acquiring the double strike overprints with various degrees of text impressions related to the amount of pressure applied to the panes of the stamps.

The double strike overprints manifest themselves in the upper three horizontal columns of the print sheet (positions 1-15) as bleeding ink impressions of the overprint best seen under magnification (Figures 13, 14) and by the bold overprints in the lower two horizontal columns (positions 16-25) produced by the combination of the double strike overprinting and increased amount of the pressure exerted to the lower part of the pane during the printing process. (Figures 13,14).

Other distinct features of the second printing with corrected plates include an exclusive use of “шагів“ plates to overprint all corrected plate stamps. the absence of major print plate errors in positions 5,15 and 17 and a Roman type “Y” (“Ykp”) replacing Cyrillic “У”in “Укр” in position 21.

In contrast, the stamps of the first printing with the regular plates received a single strike clear overprint; overprints were made with three different types of plates (“шага”, “шагі”and “шагів” plates) and major print plate errors are present in positions 5,15,17 and 21.

Regular and corrected print plates

The print plates of both printings are based on reset “шагів” print plate of the First Stanyslaviv issue. The four values of the 1904 Bosnian Military Postage Due stamps (1-, 4-, 6-, 15-hellers) and the three values of 1917-18 Austrian Military Post stamps (20-, 50-, 80-hellers) were overprinted with corrected and regular print plates.

Regular print plates

Four regular print plates were used to produce the following two sets of stamps: first set - шага plate for 1-sh.; шагі plate for 4-sh.; шагів plate for 6- and 15-sh. overprints on 1904 Bosnian Military Porto stamps; third set - шагів plate for 20-, 50- and 80-sh. overprints on 1917-18 Austrian Military Post stamps.

Corrected print plates. Two corrected print plates were used to produce two sets of stamps:
First set: corrected шагів plate (plate 1) for 1-, 4-,
6-, 15-sh. overprints on 1904 Bosnian Military Porto stamps,
Second set: corrected шагів plate (plate 2) for 20-, 50- and 80-sh. overprints on 1917-18 Austrian Military stamps. The corrected and the regular print plates share certain number of common features, but significant
differences also exist.

First set: corrected шагів print plate (plate 1).
The stamps of this set were overprinted on 1-, 4-, 6- and 15-h. values of 1904 Bosnian and Herzegovinan Military Porto stamps with corrected print plate of 25 positions with three line Ukrainian overprint “Пошта / Укр.Н.Реп. / шагів”.

Comparison of major and minor print plate errors of both printings

Major print plate errors
Corrected plate: no major plate errors, 1-sh. and 4-sh. stamps carry incorrect “шагiв”overprint.
Regular plates: major errors are present in positions 5, 17 and 21 (missing “H”, “Pen” and “У”; 1-sh. and 4-sh. stamps have correct “шага” and “шагі” overprints.

Minor print plate errors
Position 1:
the corrected print plate: small or absent full stops after “Укр” and “Н”; The regular print plate: normal full stops;
Position 3:
absent full stop after “H” in both print plates;
Position 4:
the corrected print plate: absent full stop after “Укр”,
the regular print plate: full stop after “Укр”, elevated full stop after “Pen” in both print plates;
Position 15:
absent full stop after “H” in both print plates;
Position 21:
“Y” in “Ykp” is from a different non-Cyrillic type set in the corrected plate, the regular plate: omitted “У” in “Укр”.

Differences and similarities between overprints of corrected and regular print plates of the first set

Differences

The major print plate errors of the regular print plate (missing “H”, “Реп” and “У” in position 5, 17 and 21 respectively) are absent in the corrected plate. 1- and 4-sh. stamps carry incorrect overprint “шагів” instead of “шага” and “шагі” respectively. (see Figure 17) The minor plate errors are different in the corrected plate in positions 1, 4 and 21. (Figure 18)

The appearance of the text of the overprints is different in both print plates (clean overprint in regular plate vs. characteristic double strike overprint in the corrected plate). (Figure 20). In the corrected plate, in contrast to the regular one, a number of stamps of this set had received under impressed overprints in positions 1 to 5 with light text, indistinct irregular outline of the text and faint or absent full stops. (See Figure 19)

Similarities

The print plate position characteristics are the same. The horizontal and vertical overprints
three line text placements (Figure 10c) and the widths and heights of the print plates are essentially
the same. Minor print plate errors in position 3 (missing full stop after “H”), position 4 (elevated full stop after
“Реп”) and position 15 (absent full stop after “H”) are the same.

Varieties

The following stamp varieties of this set are known: (Figure 14)
1 shahiv: shifted overprints;
4 shahiv: shifted and inverted overprints;
6 shahiv: shifted and inverted overprints;
15 shahiv: shifted overprints.

Second set: corrected шагів print plate (plate 2).

The print plate consists of 25 positions with the three line text “Пошта / Укр.Н.Реп. / шагів” for
overprints on 20-, 50- and 80-h.values of Austrian 1917-18 Military Field Posts stamps.

Comparison of major and minor print plate errors of both printings

Major print plate errors
Corrected plate: No major print plate errors.
In the regular plate major errors are present in positions 5, 15, 17 and 21 (missing “H”, “в” in “шагів”, “Реп.” and “У”).

Minor print plate errors

Position 1:
the corrected plate: small full stops after “Укр” and “Н”, The regular print plate: full stops after “Укр” and “Н”;
Position 3:
absent or small stops after “H” in both print plates;
Position 4:
small full stop after “Укр”in the corrected plate, regular print plate: full stop after “Укр”;
Position 15:
the corrected plate: small full stop after “H”, the regular”print plate: full stop after “H” is often
absent;
Position 21:
the corrected plate: non-Cyrillic “Y” in “Yкр”, the regular print plate: omitted “У” in “Укр”’

Differences and similarities between overprints of corrected and regular print plates of the second set

Differences

The significant difference is the absence in the corrected plate of the major print plate errors in positions 5, 15, 17 and 21.

The minor print plate errors are different in the corrected print plate in position 1 {small full stops after “Укр” and “Н”), position 4 (small stop after “Уkp”), position 15 (small stop after “H”) and position 21.(“Y” in “Ykp” is from the different type set). (see Figure 26).

The appearance of the text of the overprints is different (a clean overprint in the “regular” plate and a characteristic double strike overprint in the “corrected” plate). See Figure 25.

Similarities

The print plate position characteristics are the same. The horizontal and vertical overprint three line text placements (Figure24) and the widths and heights of the print plates are similar. The minor print plate errors in position 3 (absent or small full stop after “H”) are the same.

Varieties

The following stamp varieties of this set are known: (See Figure 27).
20 sh.: shifted, inverted and double overprints;
50 sh.: shifted, inverted and double overprints;
80 sh.: shifted and inverted overprints.

Conclusion 

In summary, the following differences exist between the overprints from both printings: The stamps from the corrected plates received the typical double strike overprints presenting as the bleeding ink and the bold impressions that are absent in the regular plates.

In the corrected print plates the major errors of the regular print plates are absent (missing “Н”, “Реп”, “У” in positions 5, 17, 21 respectively and omitted “в” in “шагів“ in position 15 in the Military Post stamps). The 1- and 4- sh. stamps of the first set of the corrected plate carry incorrect overprint “шагів” instead of “шага” and “шагі”.

The differences also exist in the minor errors in position 1 (first and second set), in position 4 (first set) and in position 15 (second set) in the corrected plates. The characteristic non-Cyrillic (Roman) “Y” is present in position 21 in both sets of the corrected plates.

The familiarity with these differences is important to differentiate between relatively common 6-shahiv stamps from the corrected plate from the very rare non-inverted single overprint on 6-shahiv stamps from the regular plate, which are much underpriced in the catalogues, since only an estimated 25 - 50 copies were issued.

A collector should also be able to differentiate between 15-shahiv Bosnian overprint stamps. Mint stamps from the corrected plate are very rare. More common are the copies on fragments with the violet “STRYJ 1 *d* 13.V.19” canceller.

The quantity of stamps printed with the corrected print plate is not known, but one may estimate their relative incidence in both sets. In the first set most frequent are 4- and 6-shahiv stamps, which are more numerous than the stamps printed with the regular plate; rarer are 1-shahiv and rarest are 15-shahiv stamps. In the second set commonest are 20- and 50-shahiv stamps. 80-shahiv stamps are relatively rare.

Surprisingly, despite documented evidence of their availability on sale in Stryi (Eisenberg’s philatelic covers and cancelled-to-order stamps) the stamps from the corrected plates were considered as forgeries by stamp experts prior to the 1970s who considered “шагів” overprint on 1 шага and 4 шагі stamps, and the double strike appearance of the overprints as the proof of counterfeiting activity.

In the past, most of the stamps when signed, carried on their reverse marks of Marbach (Figure 30) and occasionally of Kőrner stamp dealers. Now and in the more recent past their genuineness is confirmed by most contemporary stamp experts.

References

1. Bulat, John. Illustrated Postage Stamp History of Western Ukrainian Republic 1918-1919. Philatelic
Publications Yonkers, New York 1973.
2. Bulat, John. Comprehensive Catalogue of Ukrainian Philately 1992.
3. Hroboni, Kazimierz. “Z Pożółkłych Kart” (“From Yellowed Pages”) Echo Filatelistyczne 1920. English
translation in Ukrainian Philatelist No. 98, 2007.
4. Kotyk Eugene. “On the History of the Stamps of Western Ukraine” Philatelist, No 4. 1953
5. Kuzych, Ingert and Zelonka, Ron . “Unambiguous Usage of Stanyslaviv Issue Stamps“ Ukrainian
Philatelist No 96, 2006.
6. Mikulski, Zbigniew. Personal communication.
7. Wohlfahrt, Anton. “Die Stanislauer Ausgaben der Westukrainischen Volksrepublik”
(“Stanyslaviv Issues of the Western Ukrainian National Republic”). Donau Post No.5 and 6,
May/June 1933.