BATUM

Batoum

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
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1919 Trees, imperforated

  5 k green
  10 k blue
  50 k yellow
  1 R brown
  3 R lilac
  5 R brown

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 k	*	*
10 k	*	*
50 k	*	*
1 R	*	*
3 R	**	**
5 R	**	**

Overprinted 'BRITISH OCCUPATION'

In this overprint the top of the 'A' and the 'T' of 'OCCUPATION' are almost touching.

  5 k green
  10 k blue
  25 k yellow
  1 R blue
  1 R brown
  2 R red
  2 R blue
  3 R violet
  3 R red
  5 R brown
  7 R red
  7 R yellow
  10 R green
  15 R violet
  25 R red
  50 R blue

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 k	**	**
10 k	**	**
25 k	**	**
1 R blue	*	**
1 R brown	*	*	1920
2 R red	*	*
2 R blue	*	*	1920
3 R violet	*	*
3 R red	*	*	1920
5 R brown	*	*	1920: dark brown
7 R red	**	**
7 R yellow	*	**
10 R	*	**
15 R	*	**
25 R	**	**
50 R	**	***

Surcharged and overprinted 'BRITISH OCCUPATION'

50 R on 50 k yellow

  25 R (black or blue) on 5 k green
  25 R (black or blue) on 25 k yellow
  50 R (black or blue) on 50 k yellow

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
25 R on 5 k	R	R	Blue overprint: R
25 R on 25 k	R	R	Blue overprint: RR
50 R on 50 k	R	R	Blue overprint: RR

Forgery!
(Forgeries)

Many forged stamps exist. In the book 'The forged stamps of all countries' by J.Dorn it is stated that the kopeck values should have 6 pearls over the square in the bottom right-hand corner. The 1 Rubel should have 8 pearls in the bottom left-hand corner. In the 3 Rubel none of the letters are touching each other. Finally the 5 Rubel has the 'T' and 'Y' connected. See also http://www.firstissues.org/ficc/details/batum_1.shtml. More information can also be found at: http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.sg/2012/11/batum-and-aloe-tree-forgeries.html.

(Genuine 5 kop)

(Forgery of the 1 R value, reduced size)

A forgery of the 10 k with 7 pearls above the lower right value tablet. Also note that the branches of the tree are different and that there is a white ellipse in the central design (some distance above the 'K' of 'KOP' just inside the central circular design). Next to it a 7 R stamp with the same white ellipse. Note that the 'A' and 'T' of 'OCCUPATION' are not very close together.

Zoom-in of the white ellipse (in the middle of the image). In 'Philatelic Forgers, their Lives and Works' by V.A.Tyler, such a forgery is shown and said to have been sold by N.Imperato of Genoa, Italy.

1919 Stamps of Russia, overprinted with 'BATUM' (in russian) and value

  10 R on 1 k yellow (perf or imperf, 2 types of overprint)
  10 R on 3 k red (perf or imperf, 2 types)
  10 R on 5 k lilac (perforated, 2 types)
  10 R on 7 k blue
  10 R on 15 k lilac and blue
  10 R on 10 on 7 k blue

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
All values	R to RR	R to RR	10 R on 3 k is the cheapest: R

And overprint 'BRITISH OCCUPATION' in various colours

50 R on 5 k, only 120 issued! 50 R on 10 k blue, only 150 issued! 50 R on 15 k, certified genuine

  10 R on 3 k (overprint blue)
  15 R on 1 k (overprint in red, violet or black)
  25 R on 5 k
  25 R on 10 on 7 k
  25 R on 20 k on 14 k
  25 R on 25 k
  25 R on 50 k
  50 R on 1 k
  50 R on 2 k (overprint red)
  50 R on 2 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 2 k (50 larger, imperforated)
  50 R on 3 k
  50 R on 3 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 3 k (50 larger and imperforated)
  50 R on 4 k
  50 R on 4 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 4 k (50 larger and other type)
  50 R on 5 k
  50 R on 5 k (50 larger)
  50 R on 5 k (50 larger and imperforated)
  50 R on 10 k (overprint red, only 150 issued!)
  50 R on 15 k

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
All values	R to RRR	R to RRR	10 R on 3 k is cheapest: R All others RR to RRR.

Forged overprints exist, example:

(Forged overprint on a genuine stamp of Russia)

From 1923 on the stamps of the Transcaucasian federation were used.

Postal Card surcharges

Some extremely rare postal card surcharges, stamps originally affixed to postcards and additional surcharge:

35 k on 4 k red (only 76 issued!) and 35 k on 4 k red (on Romanov stamp, only 46 issued!)

The above two postal card surcharges are certified genuine.

Fiscal Stamps

1919 Similar design to postage stamps (tree)

(Reduced size)

I've seen the values 20 k green, 2 R lilac and 3 R red without overprint. I've also seen the values 30 k yellow and 10 R brown with 'BRITISH OCCUPATION' overprint. Other values probably exist.

Another provisional overprint 'BRITISH OCCUPATION 20 PYb.' on 20 k green.