BULGARIA 1896-1915

Return To Catalogue - Bulgaria 1879-1895 - Bulgaria 1916-1919

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

For stamps of Bulgaria from 1879 to 1895 click here.

1896 Arms of Bulgaria

  1 s green
  5 s blue
  15 s violet
  25 s red

These stamps have perforation 13. Two types exist of the 15 s, differing in the value inscription.

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
1 s	c	c
5 s	*	c
15 s	*	*
25 s	**	**

1901 Canon, symbolising the battle against the Turks

  5 s red
  15 s green

These stamps have perforation 13.

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 s	**	**
15 s	**	**

Forgeries are described at http://home.no.net/bhb1/stamps.htm. There is a small extrusion from the white circle at the left upper part which extends below the '8' of '18' in the forgeries (see images below).

Forgery of both values

1901 King Ferdinand

3 L grey and brown

  1 s lilac and black
  2 s green and blue
  3 s orange and black
  5 s green and brown
  10 s red and brown
  15 s red and black
  25 s blue and black
  30 s brown and black
  50 s blue and brown
  1 L red and green
  2 L red and black
  3 L grey and brown

Surcharged

  '5' on 15 s red and black (1909)
  '10' (black or blue) on 15 s red and black (1903)
  '25' (red) on 30 s brown and black

Overprinted '1910' and surcharged (all in blue)

  '1' on 3 s orange and black
  '5' on 15 s red and black

These stamps have perforation 12 1/2.

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
1 s	*	c
2 s	*	c
3 s	*	c
5 s	*	c
10 s	*	c
15 s	**	c
25 s	**	c
30 s	***	*
50 s	***	*
1 L	***	*	Two types, value in upper corners small or large
2 L	***	***
3 L	R	***
Surcharged
5 on 15 s	*	*	Inverted surcharge: RR
10 on 15 c	**	c	Inverted surcharge: RR Blue surcharge: c
25 on 30 c	***	*
Overprinted '1910' and surcharged
1 on 3 s	*	*
5 on 15 s	**	*

I have seen postal stationery in the same design in the values (one colour only): 5 s green and 10 s red.

1902 Battle at Shipka, inscription '1877 - 1902'

(Forgery!)

  5 s red
  10 s green
  15 s blue

The above stamps have perforation 11 1/2.

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 s	*	*
10 s	*	*
15 s	**	**

These stamps have been forged massively (if I'm well informed, even two types of forgeries exist, they are both described at http://home.no.net/bhb1/stamps.htm.). The easiest test to determine if a stamp is a forgery or not, is the hanging down hand of the dead soldier. In the forgeries this hand clearly shows 3 fingers, in the originals the fingers are indistinguishable (from the Forged stamps of all countries by J.Dorn). There are also differences in the word 'SCHIPKA' (in the upper left part of the stamp).

Fournier forged cancel

In the Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries, the above cancel 'COFNR No 4 18 X 902 SOPHIA' can be found. I presume the above shown forgery has this cancel.

1907 20 years reign of Prince Ferdinand

Reduced sizes, on part of envelope

  5 s green
  10 s red
  25 s blue

These stamps have perforation 11 1/2.

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 s	***	**
10 s	***	**
25 s	***	***

1911 Various designs

50 c orange and black 3 L violet and black

  1 s black (ruine)
  2 s red and black (King Ferdinand)
  3 s red and black (town of Tirnowa)
  5 s green and black (King Ferdinand in uniform)
  5 s green and brown (King Ferdinand in uniform, 1915)
  10 s red and black (King Ferdinand)
  10 s red and brown (King Ferdinand, 1915)
  15 s brown (landscape)
  15 s olive (landscape, 1915)
  25 s blue and black (King Ferdinand)
  30 s blue and black (convent of Rilo)
  30 s olive and brown (convent of Rilo, 1915)
  50 s orange and black (King Ferdinand on a horse)
  1 L brown 
  2 L violet and black (convent of Troiza)
  3 L violet and black (Varna)

In 1921, a 50 s orange stamp was issued very similar to the 3 s red and black stamp (only the ornaments in the bottom are different), also a 3 L lilac with identical design to the 1 s stamp. The 50 s was later also issued in the colour 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
1 s	c	c	Two shades of colour were issued greenish black (perforation 12) or bluish black (perforation 11 1/2, 1915)
2 s	c	c	perforation 12
3 s	*	c	perforation 12
5 s green and black	*	c	perforation 12
5 s green and brown			perforation 14
10 s red and black	*	c	perforation 12
10 s red and brown	c	c	perforation 14
15 s brown	**	*	perforation 12
15 s olive	c	c	perforation 11 1/2
25 s	*	c	perforation 12 or perforation 11 1/2 (1915)
30 s blue and black	***	*	perforation 12
30 s olive and brown	*	*	perforation 14
50 s	**	*	perforation 12; With inverted center: RRR
1 L	*	*	perforation 12
2 L	**	*	perforation 12
3 L	***	***	perforation 12

Surcharged

  '10CT.' (red) on 25 s blue and black (1915)
  50 s on 1 L brown (1920)

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
10 CT on 25 s	*	c	perforation 12
50 s on 1 L	*	*

Overprinted '1912-1913' and Bulgarian text (1915)

  1 s black (ruine, overprint red)
  2 s red and black (King Ferdinand, overprint blue)
  3 s red and black (town of Tirnowa)
  5 s green and black (King Ferdinand in uniform, overprint red)
  10 s red and black (King Ferdiand)
  15 s brown (landscape, overprint green)
  25 s blue and black (King Ferdinand, overprint red)

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
Perforation 12
1 s	c	c
2 s	*	*	Overprint in blue: ***
3 s	c	c
5 s	*	*	Missing 'OCB': ***
10 s	*	c
15 s	*	*
25 s	*	*

Overprinted '1916-1917' and Bulgarian text

  1 s black (overprint red)
  5 s green and brown (overprint red)
  10 s red and brown (overprint blue)
  25 s blue and black (overprint blue)

These stamps were issued for the Bulgarian occupation of Rumania.

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
1 s	c	c
5 s	*	*
10 s	c	c
25 s	c	c

These stamps with overprint 'ELLHNIKH DIOIKHSIS' or 'ELLHNIKH DIOIKHSISDEDEGATS' were issued for Cavalle and Dedeagh (Greec occupation). Example:

These stamps with an Arabic overprint were issued for Thrace, example:

1912 25 years reign of Ferdinand

  5 s olive
  10 s red
  25 s blue