Comments on: An overview of Austrian Mercury stamps

By: Keijo

Keijo — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:59:51 +0000

Hi Seth,

Re, Austro-Hungarian empire… Personally I’d keep them separate, as the dual monarchy stamps were used for just over one year in Hungary. But it’s just my opinion.

Re, the figures on My Collection page… I think it is stated somewhere on the pages, but if not here’s a short explanation. The figures are based on Michel catalog. I’ve counted each major number in Michel’s listing; subtypes, varieties etc. are not included in the totals… As these are based on my personal calculations, there is likely some level of errata included.

Re, stamp exchange… I’ll miss it too. Recently I’ve been way too busy with my work (=In January I’ve spent more nights in hotels than in my own home)… Luckily the situation will change in few weeks time

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:23:51 +0000

Hi Keijo,
This is slightly off subject, but I have recently been experimenting with different ways of organising countries in my collection. I continually give thought to this and try to find the most logical solution to countries merging, splitting up again, conquering each other etc. Of course there is no ‘correct’ solution, but I wonder if you think there would be any logic to keeping the Austro-Hungarian Empire together instead of Hungarian issues with Hungary etc?

On a somewhat related point, how do you get your figures (in My Collection) on the total number of stamps issued per country? I find these useful but would like to be able to split them up in other ways (like Austro-Hungarian Empire – Austria etc).

Best wishes and Happy New Year, Seth.

PS. I can’t wait for the stamp exchange to restart!

By: Keijo

Keijo — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 17:42:22 +0000

Hi Joseph,
as stated on the image caption, the basic 1908 blue newspaper stamp is worth a catalog minimum.

By: Joseph Mezzacappa

Joseph Mezzacappa — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:38:26 +0000

I would like to know that value of this austrian mercury newspaper blue stamp 1908 i am willing to part with the one i have

By: Keijo

Keijo — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 09:48:32 +0000

Hi Pablo,

that is one nice looking page full of bizarre stamps…

I remember reading that cobalt color is extraordinery stable, but as I have seen some blue stamps turned to green/greenish shade, I’d say that you have a changeling caused by some chemical (bleach etc).

One way to test possible chemical reaction is UV-light; just place the changeling and normal colored stamp under UV-light. If they show different color/glow, then you have a found the culprit for change. Also paper changed by chemical usually feels different (more fragile) when touching by fingertips.

I wouldn’t either discount the possibility of your changeling being real. Sadly I don’t have Michel Osterreich SpezialKatalog . I know that it would provide a complete listing of know color shades (and changelings).

-keijo-