SHS – Slovenia year 1920 newspaper stamps MNH full set
The SHS (State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs) Newspaper Stamps issued for the territory of Slovenia in 1919-1920 are a distinct and historically significant set, often referred to as the “Verigar Newspaper Issues” or the “Coat of Arms” design.
The mention of the “Vienna Issue” refers to a specific printing run of these stamps, which can be distinguished from the initial printing done in Ljubljana.
📰 The SHS Newspaper Stamps (1919-1920)
These stamps were intended for the reduced-rate postage of newspapers and periodicals.
- Design: They feature the Slovene Coat of Arms (the shield with the six-pointed star and the crescent) surrounded by an ornamental frame. Crucially, they do not feature the famous “Chainbreaker” (Verigar) design used on the regular definitive stamps.
- Inscriptions: The inscription above the coat of arms is in Latin script: KRALJEVSTVO S. H. S. (Kingdom of S.H.S.). The value is shown at the bottom.
- Values and Colors (Heller/Vinar Currency):
- 2 heller (h) / vinar (v) – Green
- 4 heller (h) / vinar (v) – Red
- 6 heller (h) / vinar (v) – Orange
🇦🇹 Distinguishing the Vienna (Wien) Issue (1920)
To meet the high demand, the printing of these stamps was moved from Ljubljana to a printing house in Vienna (Wien), resulting in a noticeable difference in quality and appearance.
| Feature | 🇵🇱 Ljubljana Issue (1919) | 🇦🇹 Vienna Issue (1920) |
| Print Quality | Cruder, coarser, often more blurred lines. | Finer, clearer, and sharper printing impression. |
| Paper | Often thicker, grayish, or rougher texture. | Whiter, smoother paper. |
| Gum | Can be patchy or matte. | Generally more even and slightly yellowish. |
| Colors | Shades can be duller. | Shades are often cleaner and brighter. |
In summary, the 1920 Vienna issue is considered the better-printed version of the SHS Newspaper stamp design.
Key Philatelic Varieties
Specialists look for a few important varieties within this specific issue:
- Overprints: The newspaper stamps were later overprinted with the new Dinara currency (paras and dinars) in 1920. Look for stamps with a black overprint of the new value (e.g., 4 p na 2 v).
- Plate Flaws: As they were printed from plates, specific constant plate errors or flaws are often cataloged and highly sought after.
- Cancellation: Stamps used on the original newspaper wrappers or documents are much more valuable than loose stamps.
