Personal Delivery Stamps - Society for Czechoslovak Philately

Czechoslovakian Postage Stamps
of the First Republic
Essays from the Monografie
Personal Delivery Stamps
1937
Jan Karásek, Karel Bláha, Jan Frolik, František Žampach
Monografie Československých Známek Díl IV
Pages 453 – 465
Translated for
The Society for Czechoslovak Philately
by
Mark Wilson
KNIHTISK
Winchester Virginia
2006
Translation © 2006 by M. Wilson.
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Cover Illustration: Blocks showing the two perforation and plate arrangements.
ii
Personal Delivery Stamps 1937
As part of the release of the new postal series of January 2, 1937, the postal service
decided to issue two postage stamps for an unusual purpose – the so-called personal delivery
stamps.
It was decided that these stamps, to call attention to themselves, required an unusual
shape. Both stamps – the first was a prepaid personal delivery stamp and the second was a
postage due for the same service – took the shape of a triangle.
In principle, this departure from the traditional square and rectangular stamp to those with
a triangular shape was to focus attention upon the need to observe the novel practice of personally
delivering a message solely to an addressee.
Postal employees were likewise visually aided when delivering correspondence because
these two stamps with reciprocal postal functionality had distinct colors. The triangular modification
to the stamp’s design simply but most conspicuously suggested to postal employees the unusual
conditions of personal delivery: “of placing it solely into the addressee’s own hand.”
In introducing these stamps, the postal administration also implemented its operational
objectives for the improvement of services, specifically in the area of letter mail; here long years of
practical experience had shown that the regulations were inadequate for dealing with mail
addressed for pickup at a post office – using the service still well known today as “general delivery”
– for which a special fixed-fee was accessed and which was paid for with postage-due stamps. It
was also well known that this special post office window accumulated large amounts of general
delivery correspondence that no one had picked up, which at some later time would have to be
disposed of according to postal regulations, (perhaps returned to the sender) and that the typical
reason for its abandonment was the fact that the addressee had no interest in or had forgotten
about the correspondence.
This meant viewing handwritten letter mail that might contain unimportant matters, or be
entirely of a very intimate nature. It is also true that this mail contained business letters, legal or
other important communications that should remain particularly confidential, and often as well family
or other personal correspondence. Personal delivery was meant to remedy these difficulties.
The Stamps’ Origins
The design on the stamp, representing the denomination as a motif with a simple text of
informal composure, was a graphic created by Václav Čuban, an official in the Prague Department
of Posts and Telegraphs.
From preserved documentary material in the archives of the Prague Postal Museum it is
possible to follow the sequence of changes in the treatment of the concept for drawing the stamp.
The work began with a primitive pencil sketch (fig. 528). The next design – roughed out in pencil –
showed the changes in the formulation of the text of this unusual stamp’s initial design. This drawing
was the first version that set the base at 161 mm, the sides as113.5 mm, and the height to 79.5 mm.
Probably, since the challenging thing about the design submitted was that the image area
was too constricted for drawing, when the artist submitted a modified design in this size, he put the
white denomination numerals “50" in the middle of the stamp with the whole interior of the stamp
composed from a subtle negative representation of those digits. He preserved the inscription
ČESKOSLOVENSKO clinging to the base, but within it used an odd version of the letter S three
times.
The decorative rays in the corners of the stamp were also simplified. In a later rendition, the
453
drawing with seventeen rays at the top of the triangular stamp was revised to use nine, and the
thirteen rays at the left and right reduced to seven. The caption DORUČNÍ ZNÁMKA1 was removed.
The upright letters D or V, placed over the spreading rays at the corners of the stamp, created two
variations in the design. To make the photographic negatives, the change of letters in the corners
was done using the well-proven method of pasting the letter D over the letter V (since the personal
delivery issue plates were made first).
Fig. 528. Pencil sketch.
Fig. 529. Pencil sketch.
1
PERSONAL DELIVERY STAMP – tr.
454
Fig. 530. Design in ink wash.
Fig. 531. The definitive design.
Issuing the Stamp
The stamps were issued under regulation No. 14/1937 VMPT No. 12 (published February
24, 1937), and the significant parts of its wording were:
(1) The release of additional stamps valued at 50h to pay for tariffs incurred for direct delivery, the so-called
personal delivery stamps. They are:
In blue, a 50h prepaid personal delivery stamp.
In red, a 50h personal delivery postage due stamp.
(2) Both stamps are identical in shape and measurement, with the sides the same length as the hypotenuse,
455
Fig. 432. Trial revision with the letter D pasted to a bottom corner of the prepayment version of the stamp.
some 35 mm in length. They are frame perforated.
They were printed by photogravure (neotype) on white paper. They are released in sheets of 100
stamps.
(3) The theme of the stamp are large white numerals that indicate the stamp’s denomination, and under them the
same numbers, the so-called shadow numerals, merging with the stamp’s background color.
Under the white numerals, indicating the currency, is a small “h”. In each corner of the pre-paid stamp
is a colored letter V; for the postage due stamps it is a colored D.
This, not only do their colors distinguish between the two types of personal delivery stamps (prepaid and
postage due), but the respective initials marking them (V means prepaid and D postage due).
On the lower edge of the stamps (the triangle’s hypotenuse) is the white caption ČESKOSLOVENSKO.
The design of the stamp was done by Postal Secretary Václav Čuban.
(4) Personal delivery stamps may only be used for their designated postal purpose.
Fig. 535. Stamps from the second release.
456
The descriptions in the Bulletin are brief and to the point, but they still reveal inconsistent
details. It was stated that the stamps were frame perforated, whereas in actuality they were
perforated in a comb configuration.
An overview of the principal information is drawn up in table 135.
The stamps were withdrawn on December 1, 1939.2
Table 135. Major Facts About This Issue
Denomination
Color
Printing Method
Amount (in 1000s)
Release date
Withdrawn
50
blue
3,150
March 1, 1937
December 15, 1939
50
red
Photogravure
(Neotype)
2,720
Printing The Stamps
The stamps were printed from copper plates by the Czech Graphics Union in Prague using
lined photogravure (neotype).
It is known that there were two releases.
The first release may be identified from a set of two triangles, which when they face each
other, they form a rectangular area, and as well by its distinctive perforations. The bases of the two
triangles in such a group are shifted with respect to one another (fig. 536). The comb perforations
do not align at the corners.
The second release forms a square when two stamps are grouped together (2nd release was
in July, 19373 ); the stamps are positioned such that when in a regular square the tips of the triangle
are aligned. The comb perforations follow the edges of the triangle without any misalignment at the
corners (fig. 537).
The Plates and Their Identifying Marks
The printing plates – as far as that goes the printing matrix – were copper; they contained
100 images, and were mounted opposite each other separated by a wide gutter. The individual
stamps were arranged in five horizontal rows consisting of twenty stamps each (– see below for a
graphic representation of both issues of this stamp).
For the first release, the two 100 stamp plates were separated by a 6.2 cm wide gutter and
had in the vertical edges a cross as an alignment device to the left of the 81st and to the right of the
100th stamps. The diagonal space between each stamp ran from the upper left corner to the lower
right corner.
After the bottom 100-stamp plate for the red postage due stamps, 17 mm below the 81st
stamp, was a plate marking device, the numeral ‘1' (some 5 mm in height); the upper plate had no
identification.
The panes of these stamps were left with only moderate selvage, some 10 – 14 mm wide,
so often the plate identifiers cannot be found there. Only isolated instances with wide selvages
preserved the plate mark.
2
The table (and POFIS) agree that December 15, 1939 was the date. Likely this is a typo with the ‘5' omitted – tr.
3
The text incorrectly says first release – tr.
457
Fig. 536. Stamps from the first release (oblong rectangle).
Fig. 537. Stamps from the second release (square).
Much further below the 81st position of the bottom100 stamp plate for the prepaid stamps was
a plate marking device, the numeral ‘2'. The upper plate again had no identifier. Stamps bearing the
plate mark ‘2’ for all practical purposes do not exist, because the extreme edges of the pane were
all cut away.
For the second release. The plates were separated by a 20 cm gutter and the aligning
crosses placed above and below both plates. The diagonal spacing between the individual stamps
ran in the opposite direction as did the diagonal space for the first release – from the upper right
corner to the lower left corner. There were no plate identifiers for the second release.
458
Fig. 533. Layout of plates (first release).
459
Fig. 534. Layout of plates (second release).
460
Color, Paper, and Gum
For neither color are any substantial color variations known. As opposed to the stamps from
the first release, stamps from the second release have no apparent saturation of color tone.
This may be a result of having been exposed to light, Benzedrine, or the effect of washing
them.
Both releases used white paper, and their smooth gum ranges from colorless to yellowish.
Stamp Differences
There were two types of perforations used on these stamps and it is possible to identify either
release (first or second) using its perforation type. Comb perforations in the gauge 13 3/4 x 13 ½ x
13 ½ were used for the first release and moved from below toward the top of the 100 stamp sheet
from each plate, the attached central gutter was not printed for twenty positions.
A perforated pair of the stamps with a rectangular shape from the first release have along
each axis a row of perforations measuring 31 x 36 mm. Consequently, a pair of stamps facing each
other along the diagonal had a separate perforation running the height of the stamp. This solution
to the problem meant that in each pane of 100 stamps the left corners were offset for half of the
stamps while the remaining half were actually frame perforated. For the printer, perforating triangular
stamps was a completely novel experience as they had never worked with this type of perforation.
It was necessary that these perforations had to be done separately. The result was a combination
of frame and comb perforations. The base of the stamps thus have respectively 30 or 29 perforation
holes.
This type of perforation bears the designation A.
As for dealing with the other type, in that release the perforation mechanism was set to a
standard 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 comb perforation.
A perforated pair of stamps with a square shape from the second release have along each
axis a row of perforations measuring 34 x 34 mm.
The base of the stamps thus have 33 perforation holes, thus perforation between the two
facing stamps forms a regular square. For this reason, the corners of the stamp are aligned. This
type of perforation bears the designation B.
Fig. 538. Longer and shorter perforation lines (First release).
461
Production Flaws
One aspect of the photogravure printing used for this issue is that few production flaws occur.
One may find an open tip on the triangle (both lines coming up from the hypotenuse are
incomplete) in the first vertical row on the right of the blue stamps from the first release. This flaw
occurs in the first, fourth, and fifth rows.
This variation is located within the peculiar perforations distinctive to the first release (type
A) and is found where the long and short perforation come together (fig. 539).
Fig. 539. Plate flaw –
an open tip at the top of the triangle.
Postal Use
The 50h blue stamp functioned as the prepaid version for invoking the personal registered
service, sometimes called personal delivery, a service that stipulated that the item be delivered into
the hands of the addressee. Delivery was not permitted to any other person. Prepayment was
identified by the letter V in each of its corners. The cancellation on these stamps was exactly the
same as the postmark used on the regular stamps franking the envelope, thus the information in
their date bridges was also identical.
The 50h red stamp functioned exclusively as a postage due stamp; and was used to pay the
tariff for postage due where the addressee paid the defrayed cost of personal delivery at the general
delivery window and served as evidence of payment and delivery. The letter D in each of the three
corners of the stamp indicated this use of the stamp. Differing from the marking on the blue stamp
– the regular issue’s cancellation was in red – the delivery office’s postmark was used, and that
changed it the to the day’s cancellation in use at the general delivery window. In addition to the extra
tariff to be collected when delivered personally into the hands of the addressee, they were also used
at the general delivery window in the post office in place of an addressee’s deposit for registered
postage due. Since these stamps were attached at the general delivery window, they consequently
could have the same cancellation that was applied to get them to the general delivery window.
462
These stamps had to be used with regular stamps – the blue attached typically in the vicinity
of the regular stamps, for instance, the usual postage for 20 g, 1 Kč, plus the 50h personal delivery
stamp. If the sender requested that an ordinary letter be sent to the local general delivery window
for pickup but requested personal hand delivery, then he could not attach a blue personal delivery
stamp, but was restricted to attaching only the normal postage of 60h; the local general delivery
official could however decide to affix additional postage in the form of the 50h red personal delivery
stamp thus billing for the cost for personal delivery service as postage due when the mail was picked
up.
Beyond posting letters, the next most common use of personal delivery stamps was for
forwarding, usually postal money orders, business papers, and news.
One must note that while these stamps had only a domestic use and function, that is, they
could be used in the normal or air mail domestic postal services. Of interest is the fact that one finds
very few of these stamps actually used properly on letters and envelopes.
One may also find personal delivery stamps used in The Protectorate.
Fig. 541. Postal waybill with
prepaid personal delivery stamp.
463
Fig. 540. Special Delivery letters with prepaid personal delivery stamps.
464
Fig. 542. Personal delivery stamp used to forward a newspaper.
465