AZERBAIDJAN

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

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.

Azerbaidjan Republic (1919-1920)

1919 Inscription 'REPUBLIQUE D'AZERBAIDJAN', various designs

Genuine stamp, image obtained from http://www.rossica.org/Samovar/viewthread.php?tid=395

  10 k green, blue and red (soldier with flag)
  20 k blue, green and red (soldier with flag)
  40 k green and yellow (harvester)
  60 k red and yellow (harvester)
  1 R blue, yellow and green (harvester)
  2 R red and yellow (Baku city walls)
  5 R blue and yellow (Baku city walls)
  10 R green and yellow (Baku city walls)
  25 R blue and red (temple)
  50 R green and red (temple)

Surcharged

(Reduced size)

  25000 on 10 k
  50000 on 20 k
  75000 on 40 k
  100000 on 60 k
  200000 on 1 R
  300000 on 2 R
  500000 on 5 R 
  750000 on 40 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
10 k	*	*
20 k	*	*
40 k	*	*
60 k	*	*
1 R	c	*
2 R	*	*
5 R	*	*	Two types: ornaments at the left pointing up or downwards
10 R	*	*	Two types: ornaments at the left pointing up or downwards
25 R	*	*
50 R	*	*
Surcharged
25000 on 10 k	***	***
50000 on 20 k	***	***
75000 on 40 k	***	***
100000 on 60 k	***	***
200000 on 1 R	***	***
300000 on 2 R	R	R
500000 on 5 R	R	R
750000 on 40 k	RR	RR

The 20 k stamp (man with flag) has been forged according to 'Focus on forgeries': The star in the crescent has almost no points (for a picture of the genuine stamp see picture above). Moreover, the 'A' and 'Z' of 'AZERBAIDJAN' and the 'D' and 'J' don't touch each other in the genuine stamps (they do in the forgeries).

Forgery of the 20 k stamp, image obtained from http://www.rossica.org/Samovar/viewthread.php?tid=395

The 40 k, 60 k and 1 R (harvester) have also been forged. In the genuine stamps (according to 'Focus on forgeries), there is a ray of sunlight just in front of the nose of the farmer (this ray is absent in the forgeries). For a picture of a genuine stamp, see above.

Forgery of the 1 R stamp with no ray in front of the nose of the farmer.

For forgeries of the 2 R, 5 R and 10 R (city) see 'Focus on forgeries'.

Forgery of the 10 R stamp, image obtained from http://www.rossica.org/Samovar/viewthread.php?tid=395

For forgeries of the 25 R and 50 R (temple with flames) see 'Focus on forgeries'. The 25 R forgery has the word 'RBL' larger and the star in the crescent different.

Forgery of the 50 R stamp, image obtained from http://www.rossica.org/Samovar/viewthread.php?tid=395

Literature on forgeries:

Focus on Forgeris by V. Tyler
Post Stamps of Azerbaydjan by E.S. Voykhanski, Svyaz, 1976

Azerbaidjan as a Sowjet republic

1921 Wolga hunger fund, imperforate, two different designs

  500 r blue and grey
  1000 R brown and 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
500 R	*	*
1000 R	*	*

1921 Various designs, imperforate

  1 R green (labour)
  2 R brown (oil well)
  5 R brown
  10 R grey
  25 R orange
  50 R violet
  100 R red
  150 R blue (blacksmith)
  250 R violet and brown
  400 R blue
  500 R black and violet (blacksmith)
  1000 R blue and red
  2000 R black and blue
  3000 R blue and brown
  5000 R black on green

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 R	*	*
2 R	*	*
10 R	*	*
25 R	**	**
50 R	**	**
100 R	**	**
150 R	*	*
250 R	**	**
400 R	*	*
500 R	**	**
1000 R	**	**
2000 R	**	**
3000 R	**	**	I've seen tete-beche stamps of this value
5000 R	***	***

Forgeries were made of all values in 1922 in Vienna (the name of the forger is unknown). In the 1 R forgery, the arabic letter at the top left is different from the genuine stamps. In the 2 R forgery, the most right arabic sign in the upper inscription consists of three parts instead of two. In the 150 R stamp, the two most right arabic signs in the top inscription are also different from the genuine stamps.

Vienna forgery of the 5 R value. The handle of the sickle touches the crescent (it doesn't in the genuine stamp). The upper arabic word in the upper right hand circle touches this circle (it doesn't in the genuine stamp). Finally, the inverted 'R' just above the '5' in the lower left corner is different from a genuine stamp (it resembles more like an 'A' in the forgery).

(I've been told that these stamps are forgeries, I have no further information)

1922 Stamps of 1921 surcharged

  1000 on 2 R brown
  2000 on 10 R grey
  5000 on 2000 R black and blue
  10000 on 1 R green
  15000 on 5 R brown
  15000 on 5000 R black on green
  20000 on 1 R green
  33000 on 250 R violet and brown
  50000 on 3000 R blue and brown
  50000 on 5 R brown
  66000 on 2000 R black and blue
  70000 on 5000 R black on green
  100000 on 2 R brown
  200000 on 10 R grey
  200000 on 25 R brown
  300000 on 3000 R blue and brown
  500000 on 2000 R black and blue
  1500000 on 5000 R black on green

Double surcharged
  15000 on 70000 on 5000 R black on green
  300000 on 50000 on 3000 R blue and brown
  500000 on 66000 on 2000 R black and blue

Triple surcharged
  50000 on 500000 on 66000 on 2000 R black and 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
5000 on 2000 R	***	***
All other values	R to RR	R to RR

Inverted overprints exist.

Dubious items

1918 Non issued stamps, views, bear, persons, bridge (1000 R blue), shepherd (5000 R yellow); inscription 'REPUBLIQUE D'AZERBAIDJAN', perforated or imperforate

It seems that this bogus issue was prepared in Udine (Italy) and that even forgeries exist (possibly made in Belgium). For example in the 'genuine' 500 R stamp, the dot behind 'RUB' does not the frame line to the right of it, in the forgery it does. If anybody has more information, please contact me!

Stamps of Russia, overprinted 'OCCUPATION AZIRBAYEDJAN', I don't know if these stamps were ever actually used.

(Reduced sizes)

The following values exist: 1 k orange (imperforated only), 2 k green (perforated or imperforate), 3 k red (perforated or imperforate), 4 k red (blue overprint), 5 k lilac (blue overprint, perforated or imperforate), 7 k blue (red overprint), 10 k blue (red overprint), 10 k on 7 k blue (red overprint), 15 k lilac and blue, 20 k blue and red, 25 k green and violet, 35 k lilac and green, 50 k lilac and green, 70 k brown and orange. For some reason these stamps have disappeared from the catalogues (are they bogus?). If anybody has any information concerning these stamps, please contact me.

Fiscal stamps, example:

Literature

Forgery & Reprint Guide 11 Azerbaidjan, 'A guide to the identification of forgeries, forged overprints, reprints, forged or doubtful postmarks and other problems' compiled and published by J.Barefoot (investments) Ltd.