CRETE (KPHTH) 1900 issue and overprints and surcharges

Return To Catalogue - Crete 1905 onwards - Crete miscellaneous - Austrian post offices in Crete - Russian post offices - 'La Canea' on Italy - Greece

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1900 Various designs

1 l olive "Fiscal stamp" 5 l green "Hera" 10 l red "King George"

  1 l brown (Hermes)
  1 l olive (fiscal stamp, sometimes used for postal purposes)
  5 l green (Hera)
  10 l red (king George)
  20 l red (Hera)
  20 l orange (Hera)
  25 l blue (king George)
  50 l blue (Hermes)
  50 l lilac (Hermes)

These stamps are perforated 14.

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 l brown c c  
1 l olive * * Fiscal stamp
5 l * c  
10 l * c  
20 l red ** *  
20 l orange * *  
25 l ** *  
50 l blue *** ***  
50 l lilac R ***  
Larger sizes

  1 D violet
  2 D brown
  5 D green and black

These stamps are perforated 14.

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 D RR R  
2 D RR RR  
5 D RR RR  
Surcharged

  5 on 20 l orange (1905)

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 on 20 l * *  
Overprinted 'PROSWRINON' (PROVISORY) (in greek text in red or black)

1 D violet 2 D brown

  25 l blue
  50 l lilac
  1 D violet
  2 D brown
  5 D green and black

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
Overprint in black
25 l ** *  
25 l ** * Larger overprint
50 l *** ***  
1 D *** ***  
2 D R R  
5 D RR RR  
Overprint in red
25 l * *  
50 l *** ***  
1 D R ***  
2 D RR RR  
5 D RR RR  
Overprinted 'ELLAS' (small size)

1 l brown 10 l inverted overprint Missing 'E' variety

  1 l brown
  10 l red
  2 D 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
1 l c c  
10 l * * I've seen this stamp with inverted (R)
and missing 'E' overprint (RR)
2 D RR RR  
Overprinted 'ELLAS PROSWRINON'

  1 l olive (on fiscal stamp)
  5 on 20 l orange

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 l ? ?  
5 on 20 l * * 5 on 20 l red also exists: RRR
Overprinted 'ELLAS' (large size)

1 l brown "Large overprint"

  1 l brown (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
1 l c c  
Overprinted 'EPANASTASIS 1922' (= Revolution 1922) and value


Forged overprint on a 1 l stamp

  1 l brown
  10 l on 10 l red
  10 l on 25 l blue
  50 l on 50 l blue
  50 l on 50 l lilac
  50 l on 5 D green and black

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 l RR ?  
10 l on 10 l ** **  
10 l on 25 l ** **  
50 l on 50 l blue ** **  
50 l on 50 l lilac ** **  
50 l on 1 D ** **  
Overprinted 'EPANASTASIS 1922' (Revolution 1922), 'ELLAS' and value

5 l on 1 l brown

  5 l on 1 l 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 l on 1 l c c  

I have seen a postcard with the image of a 10 c stamp (without overprint), the inscription reads 'KPHTH CRETE CARTE POSTALE' (and further greek text).


25 l occupational tax stamp with 'FOROS' overprint


Advertisement sheetlet of Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co with images of the Crete stamps.


"Essay", they appared first in 1902. This is actually a bogus issue made by Alfred Baguet of Paris. It can be found printed in sheets with other bogus stamps of Newfoundland (see there). There also exists a 5 Drachme value with the head of Hermes. These 'essays' were printed in seven different colours.


A forged overprint as found in 'The Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries' (reduced size).

Crete 1905 onwards


Copyright by Evert Klaseboer