Serbia Principality stamps year 1874 perforation 12 Cobalt blue third printing Mi 14 III ab mint hinged
Overview of the 1869 Prince Milan Issue
- The 1869 series, featuring Prince Milan (Obrenović IV), includes denominations such as 1 p (yellow), 10 p (brown/orange), 15 p, 20 p (blue), 25 p (red), 35 p (green), 40 p (violet), and 50 p (green) .
- These stamps were typographed, with multiple printings over the years—spanning 1869 to 1875—and are known in perf 9½, perf 12, and compound perforations .
- The issue features distinct differences depending on where they were printed (Vienna vs. Belgrade), including variances in paper thickness, perforations, and overall print clarity
Vienna Printing vs. Belgrade Printing
While detailed technical differentiators are scarce in freely available sources, the following general distinctions are noted:
Vienna Printing:
- Typically the earliest printings, often crisp and clearly defined.
- Known values include 10 p, 20 p, and 40 p.
- Commonly perfed at 12 or perf 9½ × 12.
- Characteristics may include thicker paper and sharper impression.
Belgrade Printing:
- Subsequent runs with lower print clarity; somewhat “rougher” appearance.
- Also available in perf 9½, perf 12, and compound perforation formats.
- Known to exhibit different color shades, thinner or thicker paper variations, and slightly altered spacing (settings) amongst the stamps.
Identifying Genuine vs. Forgeries
- The Klaseboer catalogue highlights forensic details for spotting fakes:
- Genuine stamps have 14 white twists in the bottom frame.
- Forgeries display only 13 white twists and may feature a white outline behind the neck, which shouldn’t appear on genuine versions.
- According to “Big Blue 1840-1940,” differences in design clarity—and details like a faint white line behind the head in some questionable printings—help distinguish genuine printings from lithographed forgeries
