The Postage Due Stamps of Bosnia-Herzegovina During its occupation and annexation by the Austro-Hungarian Empire: 1904-1918 A Digital Philatelic Study

The Postage Due The Postage Due StampsStamps

of Bosnia-Herzegovinaof Bosnia-HerzegovinaDuring its occupation and annexation During its occupation and annexation

by theby the

Austro-Hungarian Empire: 1904-1918Austro-Hungarian Empire: 1904-1918

A Digital Philatelic StudyPrepared for the Postage Stamp Mega Event

New York, NY5-8 October 2006

David L. HerendeenCopyright © 2006, All rights

reserved.

Goal of StudyGoal of Study

The goal of this Digital Philatelic Study is to present a comprehensive overview of the postage due stamps issued in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the time when the territory was controlled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These three stamp issues are complex and rich in research opportunities, and usages are widely varied. Shown herein are examples of the postage due stamps, details of their production (including archival materials), errors, varieties and usages.

Controlling the StudyControlling the Study

Ò Indicates that there is an enhanced illustration,generally a blow-up, of the item.

Indicates that there is additional descriptiveinformation about the item.

Is a link returning you to the last slide viewedbefore using a special link symbol.

Indicates that there is an illustration of theback of the cover, parcel card, or other item.

WARNING: If you use one of the link symbols to navigate,You must use the symbol to return to the correct slide.

You may use any of the normal PowerPoint controls to navigate throughthis study. However, there are four other link symbols that may be

used to get additional, expanded information about some items. These are:

Digital ConsiderationsDigital Considerations

All of the images in this exhibit were scanned from items in the exhibitor’s collection. Stamps were scanned at 600dpi, and covers/usages at 300dpi. No digital enhancements have been made with the exception of scaling and cropping. All scaling has been made to be aesthetically pleasing. Percentage enlargement or reduction is not important and has not been stated. All covers/usages have been cropped to be rectangular, i.e. there are no rough edges. A number of larger items, such as proofs, have also been cropped for better viewing. Such images are noted by a dashed red border:

Geopolitical HistoryGeopolitical History

► Prior to 1878, Bosnia-Herzegovina (B-H) were part Prior to 1878, Bosnia-Herzegovina (B-H) were part of the Ottoman Empire, which had claimed the of the Ottoman Empire, which had claimed the territories in the 15territories in the 15thth century. century.

► Late 1878, Austro-Hungary occupied the territoriesLate 1878, Austro-Hungary occupied the territories

► On 6 October 1906, Austro-Hungary annexed the On 6 October 1906, Austro-Hungary annexed the territories.territories.

► On 29 October 1918, B-H joined the State of Serbs, On 29 October 1918, B-H joined the State of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Drzava S.H.S.) and later Croats and Slovenes (Drzava S.H.S.) and later became part of the new Yugoslaviabecame part of the new Yugoslavia

Stamp HistoryStamp History

► Prior to 1878, Bosnia-Herzegovina used Prior to 1878, Bosnia-Herzegovina used Turkish stamps and postage duesTurkish stamps and postage dues

► On 1 July 1879, B-H issued their first stamps.On 1 July 1879, B-H issued their first stamps.

► On 1 December 1904, B-H issued their first On 1 December 1904, B-H issued their first postage due stamps.postage due stamps.

► On 30 October 1916, B-H issued their second On 30 October 1916, B-H issued their second postage due stamps.postage due stamps.

►First Issue 1904First Issue 1904 Printing TechniquePrinting Technique Working Working

Essays/ProofsEssays/Proofs Final ProofsFinal Proofs The StampsThe Stamps

►Perforation VarietiesPerforation Varieties►Alignment ProblemsAlignment Problems

Postal HistoryPostal History

►Second Issue Second Issue 19161916 EssaysEssays Final ProofsFinal Proofs The StampsThe Stamps

►Perforation Perforation VarietiesVarieties

Postal HistoryPostal History

OrganizationOrganization

Unusual Printing MethodUnusual Printing Method

A Black Frame was then printed

A Yellow Meshwork was printed(Green for the 200H Value)

Finally, the duty platewas printed in red

SimulationSimulation

Phase 1 – Background PlatePhase 1 – Background Plate


Phase 2 – Frame PlatePhase 2 – Frame Plate

+


Phase 3 – Duty PlatePhase 3 – Duty Plate

++


Initial ArtworkInitial Artwork

Ò

Test proof of black frame on green underlay


Ò

Test proof of green frame on green underlay with red duty


Ò

Test proof of orange frame on yellow underlay with red duty


Ò

Test proof of red duty on yellow underlay; no frame

Test proof of color scheme. First 1H red duty and tablet printed,with partial yellow underlay. Followed by 3H black duty and tablet.


Ò


Test proof of 50H with red duty and value guidelines

Ò


Ò

Test proof of black frame on partial yellow underlay with doubled red duty

The Composite SheetsThe Composite Sheets

Ten of the thirteen values(2H and 6H, 4H and 7H, 10H and 5H, 15H and 20H, and 50H and 8H)

Were printed in composite sheets on very yellow paper.

Ò Ò

Ò Ò

Ò

Final Issued ValuesFinal Issued Values

UPU SpecimensUPU Specimens

Ò

Printing Alignment ProblemsPrinting Alignment Problems

Red Shift:Red Shift: 3.30 mm E3.30 mm E2.54 mm N2.54 mm N

Yellow Shift: NegligibleYellow Shift: NegligibleNegligibleNegligible


Yellow Shift: 0.62 mm EYellow Shift: 0.62 mm ENegligibleNegligible

Red Shift:Red Shift: NegligibleNegligible1.97 mm S1.97 mm S

Yellow Shift: 0.62 mm EYellow Shift: 0.62 mm ENegligibleNegligible

Red Shift:Red Shift: 2.18 mm W2.18 mm W0.19 mm N0.19 mm N

Yellow Shift:Yellow Shift: 1.42 mm W1.42 mm W1.05 mm S1.05 mm S


Yellow Shift: 0.43 mm WYellow Shift: 0.43 mm W0.25 mm N0.25 mm N


Yellow Shift: NegligibleYellow Shift: NegligibleNegligibleNegligible

Printing Alignment ProblemsPrinting Alignment Problems

Red Shift:Red Shift: NegligibleNegligibleNegligibleNegligible

Yellow Shift:Yellow Shift: 2.72 mm E2.72 mm E3.40 mm N3.40 mm N

N-S ShiftN-S Shift

Baseline for duty plateBaseline for duty plate

Centerline for duty plateCenterline for duty plate

E-W ShiftE-W Shift

Actual duty centerlineActual duty centerline

Actual duty baselineActual duty baseline

Precise Measurements of AlignmentPrecise Measurements of Alignment

Precise measurements are made by comparing the spatial relationship of the actual duty plate to the frame and ideal duty plate alignment as shown.

Perforation VarietiesPerforation Varieties

VerticalVertical

Ho

rizon

talH

orizo

ntal

66½½ 99¼¼ 1010½½ 1212½½ 1313¼¼

1313¼¼

1212½½

1010½½

99¼¼

66½½ ?? ??

Imperforate VarietiesImperforate Varieties

Both horizontal and vertical pairs are known.

Domestic Postal Rates Domestic Postal Rates during the Usage Periodduring the Usage Period

Mail TypeMail Type 1 Jan 19001 Jan 1900 1 Oct 1 Oct 19161916

1 Sep 1 Sep 19181918

Letter < 20gLetter < 20g 10H10H 15H15H 20H20H

Letter < 250gLetter < 250g 20H20H

Letter per additional 20gLetter per additional 20g 5H5H

Post CardsPost Cards 5H5H 10H10H

Post Cards with preprinted Post Cards with preprinted indiciaindicia 8H8H

Printed Matter < 50gPrinted Matter < 50g 3H3H 5H5H

Throughout the period, 1H was equivalent to 1 French CentimeThroughout the period, 1H was equivalent to 1 French Centime

VALUEVALUE TYPICAL USE REQUIREMENTTYPICAL USE REQUIREMENT1H1H Make-up rates**Make-up rates**

2H2H Poste restante feePoste restante fee

3H3H Make-up ratesMake-up rates



6H6H Unpaid printed matterUnpaid printed matter



10H10H Unpaid domestic post card, shortpaid foreign post Unpaid domestic post card, shortpaid foreign post cardcard


20H20H Unpaid domestic letter, unpaid foreign post cardUnpaid domestic letter, unpaid foreign post card

50H50H Unpaid foreign letterUnpaid foreign letter


Typical Postal* Use oTypical Postal* Use of the 13 valuesf the 13 values

* Postage dues also used for other purposes: money orders, parcels, etc.** Used to make-up odd rates primarily for shortpaid foreign mail and other purposes.

Usages IllustratedUsages Illustrated

2H2H Solo useSolo use

3H3H Used with 7H to make-up 10H rateUsed with 7H to make-up 10H rate



7H7H Used with 10H for complex foreign shortpaid coverUsed with 10H for complex foreign shortpaid cover

8H8H Combination on parcel cardCombination on parcel card

10H10H Solo use: foreign shortpaid postal cardSolo use: foreign shortpaid postal card

10H10H Solo use: reclassified military postal cardSolo use: reclassified military postal card

10H10H Solo use (x2): forwarded postal cardSolo use (x2): forwarded postal card


50H50H Combination on parcel cardCombination on parcel card


Usages – Solo 2HUsages – Solo 2H

Postal card from Prague, Austria to Tuzla12 October 1906

2H Poste Restante Fee

Usages – 3HUsages – 3H

Internal postal card from Kreka to Jaice (Jajce)3 November 1906

Short-lived rate period which included surchargeCorrect rate = 10H; Paid 5H; Postage due is 5H + 5H penalty = 10H


Postal card from Jajce to Sarajevo2 March 1909

Mailed at the 3H Printed Matter RateCorrect rate = 5H; Paid 3H; Postage due is 2 x 2H = 4H


Postal card from Tuzla to Sarajevo12 October 1916

Mailed after domestic card rate was increased to 8H on 1 Oct 1916Correct rate = 8H; Paid 5H; Postage due is 2 x 3H = 6H


Letter card from Santago, Chile to to Sarajevo20 December 1913

Domestic postal stationery of 2c up-rated to 13cCorrect rate = 20c; Paid 13c; Postage due is 2 x 7c = 14c 17H

Usages 8HUsages 8H

Portion of parcel card from Mahr. Rothwassek to Trebinje8 Nov 1912

19H(?) parcel fee; part of scarce “B.-H. Uber Seepost” etiquette.


External postal card from Montenegro to Bilek (Herzegovina)6 October 1913

Domestic card rate (5 para) paidCorrect rate = 10p; Paid 5p; Postage due is 2 x 5p = 14p = 10H


Internal postal card from ? to Grmec (near Ostrelj)19 January 1915

“Feldpost” endorsement disallowed; no unit marking or sender’s addressCorrect rate = 5H; Paid None; Postage due is 2 x 5H = 10H


Internal postal card from Panjavor to Sarajevo20 December 1913

Attempt to send at free military rateCorrect rate = 5H; Paid None; Postage due is 2 x 5H = 10H

Usages – 15H SoloUsages – 15H Solo

Parcel card from Budapest, Hungary to Foca

29 October 190915H Fee


Portion of parcel card from Neu Sandec (Nowy Sagz) to Bos. Gradiska28 August 1913

95H parcel fee; part of scarce “B.-H. Uber Seepost” etiquette.


Postal Form used in Banjaluca8 June 1916

200H Fee for Post Office box renewal

1916-1918 Issue - Composite Proofs1916-1918 Issue - Composite Proofs

Composite die proofs on glossy card, probably created using a photographic

process.Only the eleven values issued in

1916 are included. Presumably these three strips were

cut apart, perhaps for better display.

UsagesUsages

Parcel from Nova Gradiska, Croatia to Tuzla24 March 19195H Delivery Fee

UsagesUsages

Parcel from Radom, Poland to Konsk (Kanskie) Poland16 July 1918 (arrived), 29 July 1918 (delivered)

55H Storage Fee: 13 Days at 5H per day



The EndThe End

The 2H and 6H TThe 2H and 6H Têête-Bte-Bêêche Pairche Pair





Black Frame over Green MeshworkBlack Frame over Green Meshwork

Note that the underlay mesh is much larger than

the frame.The frame size is

21.8mm x 18.9mmwhile the underlay is25.9mm x 23.0mm

Green Frame over Light Green Green Frame over Light Green MeshworkMeshwork

with Red Duty Platewith Red Duty Plate

Again the underlay mesh is much larger than the

frame,but this time it is printed in light green. The frame was then added in dark

green.Finally, the 200H duty

was added in red.

Note that the proof has been annulled using blue

crayon.

The large underlay mesh is printed in yellow and

the 200H duty was added in red. No frame was

printed.


crayon.

Test Proof of Yellow Meshwork Test Proof of Yellow Meshwork with Red Duty Platewith Red Duty Plate


Large underlay mesh printed in yellow. The

frame was then added in orange.

Finally, the 200H duty was added in red.


crayon.

Test Proof of Orange Frame overTest Proof of Orange Frame overYellow Meshwork with Red Duty Yellow Meshwork with Red Duty

PlatePlate

Large underlay mesh partially printed in

yellow. The frame was then added in black.

Finally, the 1H duty and tablet were added in red, and then the 3H duty and

tablet were added in black.

Note that this proof has also been annulled using

blue crayon.

Test Proof of Black Frame overTest Proof of Black Frame overwith Red and Black Duty Values and with Red and Black Duty Values and

TabletsTablets



The Austro-Hungarian Empire, including its possessions, sent normal unused stamps to UPU headquarters in Bern to be used as specimens. The sets of B-H postage dues shown were first overprinted ULTRAMAR in Portugal before the stamps were distributed to the Portuguese colonies. The second issue, from the later time period, is overprinted COLONIAS. The sets shown herein, believed to be from the Goa archives, have been carefully mounted on journal pages after receipt. Such items are sometimes called “receiving authority specimens” to indicate that they were modified by the receiving post office.* Only 10 sets so treated. * Bendon, J., “UPU Specimen Stamps,” James Bendon, Cyprus, 1988.

Usages – 15H Solo - BackUsages – 15H Solo - Back

Form used for internal post office accounting.8 June 1916

Indicates 2K (=200H) fee for post office box renewal.

Usages – 200H - BackUsages – 200H - Back

Received from ___ the amount affixed on the back in postage due stamps of value ___ from the owner as the special fee for the time period ___ to ___.

Translation

Usages – 7H – International RatesUsages – 7H – International Rates

This cover shows the difficulties in computing the postage due on international covers originating from countries whose currency was not aligned with the French centime (the standard currency used for all UPU mail). The marking: was, by UPU regulations, applied by the originating country. From 1912 until 1926, the conversion rate between Chilean pesos and French Francs (according to US references) was:

1 peso = 100 centavos = 125 centimes = 1.25 francs (or, 1 centavo = 1.25 centimes) This letter card required 25 centimes = 20 centavos. The amount paid was 13 centavos, which is 7 centavos short. Thus:

7 centavos x 2 = 14 centavos 17.5 centimes Since postage due is never rounded down, the actual conversion rate was not 1 centavos = 1.25 centimes, but slightly less, say 1.2 centimes. This would result in postage due of 16.8 centimes. This is rounded up to 17 centimes. In B-H the blue manuscript “17” was added to show that 17 centimes was equivalent to 17 heller, the postage due charged.

VerticalVertical

Ho

rizon

talH

orizo

ntal

66½½ 99¼¼ 1010½½ 1212½½ 1313¼¼

1313¼¼

1212½½

1010½½

99¼¼

66½½

Parcel card for 17 Kg of dry meat sent from

Nova Gradiska, Croatia to Tuzla.

Mailed on 20 March 1919, the total fee was 4K 50F for insurance

and COD charges. Postage included a mixture of available Hungarian stamps:

46F of postage dues and 4F of newspaper

stamps.

Hungarian postage dues used in Croatia

Documents

The Postage Due Stamps of Bosnia-Herzegovina During its occupation and annexation by the Austro-Hungarian Empire: 1904-1918 A Digital Philatelic Study