Misdated postmarks and a Zeppelin
A couple of recent comments on the blog have touched Finnish stamps, so I decided to share some peculiar Finnish items from my collection.
My first item is a 1994 Moomin stamp. The below stamp was issued Jan 27th 1994 (in booklet), but I have a copy canceled in 1993! As the postmark appears to be a steel hand cancel, this is likely caused by absent mindedness of a local postal worker.
1994 Finland. Moomin stamp with misdated postmark.
Next in line I have an item with somewhat similar misdated postmark in 1992 Finnish definitive stamp. This time there are some additional days in month, as the postmark clearly states May 33rd 1993! The cancellation on this stamp is so called machine/automation cancellation, meaning it was used in mailing center… To make this item even more peculiar, in Finland Kuopio is known as the city of the wily. So maybe a local postal worker did this with intend – just to see if anyone notices, LOL.
1992 Finland. Definitive stamp displaying rosebay willowherb. Notice the misdated 33rd May 1993 cancellation.
My final item is an example of how evaluations change during the years…One of the most prestige items in Finnish philately is 1930 Zeppelin stamp, and it’s highly famous “1830″ overprint error (both of which I don’t have, yet). Single used copies of (normal) Zeppelin stamp are somewhat easily available within 50-80€ price range, cut-outs move in range of 80-100€, and complete covers are worth over 100€… Here’s something one of my stamp dealers used as “wrapping material” for my (low value) purchases:
1930 Finland. A part of cover from the Zeppelin's visit to Finland. Junk or not?
Yes, it’s part of a real Zeppelin cover. It has the real “special postmark” that was used to cancel all the covers sent by Zeppelin, and there’s the arrival postmark of Friedrichshafen on back…. Apparently some collector of the past had decided to cut away & soak the stamp… For my dealer this kind of item was apparently junk, but for me it’s a small shining gem. And I got if for free….Like they say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. LOL.
Happy collecting!
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Dear Keijo,
I love the Zeppelin cover! Especially as it was sent to Berlin…
As I am clearly a nostalgic fellow, I again and again realize how beautiful the clear traditional typewriter text appears on older covers! I am really missing it a lot and thinking about reactivating some typewriter…
Usually I am no collector of whole covers, but in cases as this one its obviously much more interesting to look at the cover than at an isolated stamp.
Go on with your excellent blog, I always love it!
Greetings from Berlin (approx. 1 km from the “Finnische Gesandtschaft…)
Christoph
@Christoph… I like it a lot too. Sometimes I just wish it would have the stamp too, LOL.
Last night I was browsing some cut-outs from old stamp magazines, and I noted a short entry about the Zeppelin special postmark. Officially it was to placed on cover next to stamps, but apparently few Zeppelin stamps were (by mistake) canceled with it. I’d definitely drool after something like that
Hello Keijo, I like the partial cover. It is something to treasure.
I really like your blog. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely, from Ron Humphrey in Georgia, USA
Hej, skulle vilja veta vad mitt postkort är värt med Zeppelinfrimärke 10 M samt 1,20 rött lejonfrimärke, och Zeppelin-stämpeln 24.9 1930, kortet sände min far från Helsingfors till Oregon och returnerades till honom. Ja, ankomststämpel även Friedrichshafen 25.9
Vore tacksam för svar.
Same In english, please tell me what the postcard with Finnish Zeppelin stamp can be worth – from 24.9 1930 sent from Helsinki to Oregon, USA
Lili
@Lili… Assuming it’s an average (good) quality copy, then anything from 120-150€ and up should reflect current market prices.
Anything of poor quality will sell substantially less. Anything of better quality will go notably higher.
Additionally there are few (overprint) variations that might skyrocket the value. The easiest one to identify is the famous “1830 overprint error”; there was just one of these per sheet of 100 stamps and they are truly sought after in any condition. There are several other minor flaws (of overprint) that are sought by specialized collectors; these are well illustrated by latest LaPe Special catalogue of Finnish stamps (available in most well equipped public libraries).
Thank You Keijo, very interesting I´ll go to library, have a nice day.