SAMOS (SAMOU)

Return To Catalogue - Greece overview

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.

1900 Stamps were prepared in about 1900, but never put into use, examples:

The values 5 pa black on grey, 10 pa black on green, 20 pa black and 1 Gr exist.

A similar unissued stamp of 1 Pi blue exists and was issued in 1878 (arms only, no inscription).

1909 Envelopes with elliptic arms

Reduced sizes

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Cuts from these postal stationaries seem to have been used as postage stamps.

Stamps, prepared in Paris, but never issued; inscription "PRINCIPAUTE DE SAMOS", man and woman, design similar to stamps of France

I have seen the values 10 pa brown, 20 pa red and 1 Pi blue. The value 5 pa green should also exist. They all have zig-zag perforation.

Somekind of label, inscription 'PRINCIPAUTE DE SAMOS', greek text and arabic text

Greec occupation of Samos:

1912 Map of the island Samos, imperforate

(genuine?)

  5 l green
  10 l red
  25 l blue

An erroneous 25 l in the colour green instead of blue seems to exist (I have never seen it). These were actually proofs that accidentally were sold (2 sheets with each 18 stamps of these erroneous colour stamps were sold).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

According to 'The Forged Stamps of All Countries' by J.Dorn the 'E' of 'EION' should have its center stroke too low and the 'O' in 'SAMOY' should be squarish in the genuine stamps.

The next two stamps are forgeries, they are both cancelled with 'BAQY 21 NOEM 1912 VATHY', I have also seen the 5 l green with the same cancel (this cancel is also shown in Billig's forgery book):

Forgery with round 'O' in 'SAMOY'

(reduced size)

1912 Head of Hermes, inscription 'PROSWPINON TACUDROMEION SAMOU'

  1 l grey
  5 l green
  10 l red
  25 l blue
  50 l brown

These stamps have perforation 11 1/2. Bisected 10 l stamps exist (used as 5 l stamps).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted 'ELLAS' (1913)

(Fat overprint at the left hand side and thin overprint at the right hand side)

  1 l grey
  5 l green
  10 l red
  25 l blue
  50 l brown
  1 D orange

The overprint exists in two types, type 1: fat and type 2: thin.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Further overprinted with circular text (with fat 'ELLAS' overprint)

  1 l grey (red or black overprint)
  5 l green 
  10 l red (black or red overprint)
  25 l blue (black or red overprint)
  50 l brown (black or red overprint)
  1 D orange (red overprint)
  'LEPTON' (= 1 l) on 1 D orange (red overprint)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries, example:

The genuine stamps should have 6 shade lines before the eye. Futhermore, according to the Serrane guide, forgeries measure 21 mm in width, while genuine stamps are 21 1/2 mm. If my information is correct, a certain F.Germack from Paris sold these forgeries.

1913 Temple

  1 D brown
  2 D blue
  5 D green
  10 D green
  25 D red

These stamps have perforation 12 and have a signature (in red for 1 D to 10 D).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted with greek text

(reduced size)

  1 D brown
  2 D blue
  5 D green
  10 D green
  25 D red

These stamps exist with or without the signature of the previous issue.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries exist of these stamps, made by the printer of the genuine stamps (on thinner paper). Genuine stamps have a dot in the white line above and the white line below the '2' of '1912'.

Forged stamps with forged overprints.

For stamps of France with overprint 'Vathy' and value, see Cd 1.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer