Iran / Persia postage stamps year 1919 ” Provisoire Chahi ” MNH lot
The term “Provisoire Chahi” refers to the definitive stamps of the 1909 issue (featuring the portrait of Sultan Ahmad Shah Qajar) that were surcharged and overprinted in 1919.
Here is a breakdown of the key characteristics of the Persia 1919 “Provisoire Chahi” issue:
👑 Persia 1919 “Provisoire Chahi” Overprint
- Base Stamps: The 1909 Definitive stamps (portrait of Ahmad Shah Qajar).
- Reason for Issue: A severe shortage of low-value stamps necessitated the provisional use of higher-value stock.
- The Overprint: The 1909 stamps were overprinted and surcharged with the new, lower values required for postal rates. The overprint is usually in black or red and includes the word “Provisoire” and the new value in “Chahi” currency (which was used alongside the Toman and Kran).
- Set Size: The basic set typically consists of 12 values (Sassone N° 684-695 or Scott N° 624-635).
- Key Values/Surcharges: The denominations ranged from 1 Chahi up to 10 Krans. Examples include:
- 1 Chahi on 6 Centimes (Green)
- 2 Chahis on 12 Centimes (Red-brown)
- 1 Kran on 2 Krans (Violet)
- 10 Krans on 3 Krans (Blue)
🧐 Rarity and Varieties
The “Provisoire Chahi” issue is extremely popular, but also extremely complex and challenging for collectors due to numerous varieties and forgeries.
- Authenticity is Key: This issue is notorious for having a large number of contemporary forgeries and unauthorized private printings. Any serious collection of these stamps, especially a lot, should ideally have expert certificates of authenticity (such as from Dr. M. D. E. Djalili) to confirm the genuineness of the overprints and surcharges.
