THE 1c, 5c and 40c stones were all derived from blocks of four of the 20c stone. There are thus only four types of each of these three values, each type having characteristic plate flaws as shown below. If your stamp cannot be assigned a type (and is, of course, a 1c, 5c, or 40c), then it is a forgery.

TYPE A	TYPE B	TYPE C	TYPE D
ONE CENT
Dot over the ‘S’ of “SUEZ”. Low dot before the ‘C’ of “CANAL”. Two dots over second ‘A’ of “CANAL”	Small line after ‘E’ of “DE”. Spike protruding from the ‘L’ of “CANAL”	Spike protruding into ‘D’ of “DE”. Damaged crossbar in first ‘A’ of “CANAL”	High dot before the ‘C’ of “CANAL”. Broadened centre line of ‘E’ in “MARITIME”
FIVE CENT
Two lines, in front of and into the ‘R’ of “MARITIME”. Dot on centre line of ‘E’ of “MARITIME”.	Break in line going up to aft-mast on ship.	Dot on downward line of second ‘A’ and on right-most serif of ‘L’ in “CANAL”. High dot before ‘D’ of “DE”	Diagonal line from right-most serif of ‘N’ of “CANAL”. Dot in horizontal line under ‘P’ OF “POSTES”.
FORTY CENT
Broken crossbar in ‘T’ OF “MARITIME”. Long ‘T’ in “POSTES”.	Dot above ‘E’ of “SUEZ” and between the lines below the ‘E’ of “MARITIME”. Dot between ropes at front of ship.	Thickened ‘D’ in “DE”. Broken ‘T’ in “POSTES”. broken line up to aft-mast on ship.	Thickened vertical in ‘E’ of “SUEZ”.

This stamp that appears to be genuine. The gum is yellow and cracked (trust me!) while the stamp itself passes all the usual tests for genuineness and, furthermore, can be plated as a type ‘C’ (The dot in front of “DE” and the distortions in the second “A” and “L” of “CANAL”).

This stamp also seems to be genuine. There is no gum; otherwise, all tests are passed; the stamp can be plated as a type ‘A’ (the two lines in front of and into the “R” and the dot on the centre line of the “E” of “MARITIME”).

THE FORGERIES

These stamps are amongst the most heavily forged issues in the world. There are, basically, two different classes of forgeries.

The “Reprint Forgeries” are the most dangerous. These were made from the genuine stone of the 40c stamp that had been taken from the Company archives with new values inserted as necessary. If you have a 1c or 5c stamp that shows the plating characteristics of the 40c, then you have one of these (a 20c stamp might just be one that came from a stone used to make the 40c stamps). Fortunately, these forgeries have the wrong sort of gum.

All the others. There are many ‘brands’ of varying quality, and different types of paper and gum could be used for the same ‘brand’ of forgery.

OTHER TESTS FOR GENUINENESS

The Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia of British Empire Stamps (1949 ed.) briefly lists the following criteria for GENUINE stamps:
Area between “DE SUEZ” and “POSTES” has oblique lines crossing the vertical lines.
[This is the first thing to look for!]
Both flags are single-pointed and outlined only.
Funnel often solid but shaded with vertical lines.
No man on deck behind funnel.
One man at the front end.
Clouds only light, can be absent in worn impressions.

Jean Boulard (L’OP 61, Jan.1948, p.254) lists these criteria, also for GENUINE stamps:

The space between the label containing “POSTES” and the lower part of the oval containing “DE SUEZ” is filled with lines of shading. These are both vertical and oblique lines.

The last “S” of “POSTES” is almost invariably somewhat flattened at the left of the bend of the upper loop.

On the ship there is one passenger in the bows, two between the fore and main mast, and one behind the main mast.
Behind the funnel, just to the right of the point where the lines of the rigging join the rail, there is a spot of colour which might represent a passenger.(This might be a contradiction of Robson Lowe #4). At the very stern of the ship, to the left of the rear mast, there are two spots of colour.

The funnel of the ship ia always very darkly shaded, usually solid at the left, whilst the right hand portion is made up of vertical lines of shading only. The only horizontal line appearing on the funnel is a band about half a millimetre from the top. Occasionally the funnel is a solid mass of colour.

The appendage on each side of the upper circles containing the figures of value are well drawn, and generally clear except for a dot or stroke which appears in the ball at the extremity.

Immediately above the floral appendages attached to the lower circles of value are two comma-like ornaments, the right hand one being unshaded and smaller than the one on the left.

CLOUDS: Are usually very lightly shown, but occasionally (on new plates?) quite heavy.

SMOKE: Never touches the left frame line and usually ends about 1.5 mm away, but occasionally approaches to within 0.5 mm.

GUM: Is almost always cracked. Varies in shade. Forged stamps seldom, if ever, have cracked gum; if there is any at all, it is smooth and usually white.

INK: Is always matte; never shiny. Colours can vary considerably.
1c. – Black to a rather pale grey.
5c. – From yellowish-green to a full pale green (almost a light emerald).
20c.- From deep indigo to pale dull blue.
40c.- From carmine to dull vermilion.

SOME FORGERIES

The flowerlike ornaments have 3 petals but these are incorrectly placed.
The comma at the right hand side is missing
There are four passengers ;One in the bow Two between foremast and mainmast, and One just aft of the smokestack.

There is no crosshatching above “postes”.
The appendage to the upper circles are not separated from the circles, but part of them.
The figures of value are too small; in the originals they touch the borders.
The commas above the lower value tablets are joined to the tablets (and are much larger).
The smoke goes all the way to the edge of the oval.

This arrangement ran until 1865, when the Posta Europea was taken over by the Egyptian Government, after which the company resumed operation of its own postal system. Carriage of the mail was free for personal and business mail of company employees and other residents of the Canal area. In November 1867, to cover the cost of this service, it was decided to introduce a charge for the carriage of private mail, to take effect from July 1, 1868.

As a result the company headquarters in Paris placed an order for postage stamps in denominations of 1, 5, 20 and 40 centimes with the Paris firm of Chйzaud Ainй et Tavernier. These were printed by lithography, with the printing surface of the 20 centimes stone built up by means of 120 individual lithographic transfers taken from an original single-image stone. The other three printing stones of 120 impressions were made up of 30 transfers taken from an intermediate stone of four images.

The stamps were sent Egypt in June 1868, but did not arrive in Ismailia until early July, perhaps the 8th or 9th, just over a week too late for the introduction of the postage fees. The company had ordered its own datestamps, but these were also late so the stamps were cancelled either by pen or by several types of obliterators held at Port Said by the French Post Office. At Port Said these include the “grand chiffre” lozenge of dots with the number “5129″ and the double-ringed “PORT-SAID” datestamp; at Ismailia by a rectangle of 48 dots in blue; and at Suez by a 25mm circle of large lozenges also in blue.

Members of the public objected, however, to this “extra tax” going to the company, and the Egyptian postal authorities were concerned about the infringement of the state postal monopoly and their own loss of revenue. They quickly tried to close down the service, which resulted in Giacomo Muzzi, the Postmaster General, agreeing to take control on August 16, 1868.

Most of the company’s post office facilities and postal equipment were transferred to the Egyptian Government, which immediately opened Egyptian civil post offices on the sites of the former company offices. As a result the Canal Company stamps were in use for a short period of less than 40 days, making genuinely used examples extremely rare with only a few known covers.

Normally manuscript (pen cancels), but, since these were only local stamps, the covers needed other stamps on them to go any further. These were usually either French or Egyptian and were usually cancelled either with the French numeral type (a vertical diamond of dots with numerals in the centre “5105″ for Suez” or “5129″ for Port Said) or an Egyptian cds as illustrated (Robson Lowe Encyclopedia Vol.2 (1949). Sometimes part of the cancel fell upon the Suez Canal stamp but this was accidental as postal employees would usually take pains to avoid giving any official status to what were really only private company labels.

The stamps are scarce to rare, but forgeries, of which at least 12 complete sets are known, are quite common. Furthermore, genuine stamps with forged or bogus cancellations are known to exist.

The stamps were lithographed in sheets of 12 x 10 by M. Chezaud in Paris. The paper was watermarked once (LA+-F – the + being a rather fancy Maltese cross), but, because the paper sheet was large enough to contain several sheets of stamps, most stamps show no sign of the watermark.

The stamps (which were all imperforate) came in four denominations 1c., 5c., 20c. and 40c. The basic stamp was the 20c. which was printed from a single stone. The other values were made from blocks of four of the this stone.

The stamps have all been plated by their constant plate flaws. There are therefore 120 different types of the 20c. stamp, but only four of each of the other values. The characteristics of each of the 120 types of the 20c. are described in “The Stamps of the Suez Canal” by Jean Boulad (Cairo, 1948).

Read more. Suez Canal Company Forgeries

Cancellations

Figure 30. The NRZU provisional cancel

The NRZU manufactured and distributed rubber handstamp canceling devices to most post offices. These double-ring cancellations are about 35mm in diameter (worn impressions approach 40mm) and were generally struck in black or violet. The text ЗАКАРПАТСЬКА УКРАЇНА / ПОШТА (Transcarpathian Ukraine / Post) wraps around the inside of the circle while the post office name appears in the center (Figure 30).

In addition, locally produced provisional cancels are known from a few offices. The cover in Figure 31 shows a handstamp from Rakoshin used in two different ways: to cancel the franking and to indicate registration. The Hungarian name RÁKOS has been removed from the upper part of the box, and this space is now used to enter the date (15 VI 1945) or the registry number (79). Addressed to Sandorfalva in Hungary, the item appears to be underfranked by 20f. In general, dates on Carpatho-Ukrainian cancellations were usually handwritten (or omitted), but some offices used the date-bridge from another canceling device

Figure 31. Rakoshin provisional cancel.

Censorship

Many Carpatho-Ukraine covers bear a two-line boxed censor mark in violet, black, or lilac with the inscription Закарпатська Україна / пробаченo цензурою (Carpatho Ukraine / Examined by Censor). Figure 32 is an unoverprinted Hungarian postal card, “canceled” with the NRZU censor mark and endorsed by manuscript “Uzhhorod 1945 1/29”. This is the earliest use of the censor mark known to the authors, and the cover can also be considered a forerunner to the NRZU overprinted postal stationery issued in February of 1945 (see Chapter 14).

Figure 32. Censorship mark used as cancellation.

The covers shown in Figures 20 and 31 above also display this marking, while the cover in Figure 14 has the censor mark on the reverse.

Epilog

Carpatho-Ukraine’s brief period of postal autonomy came to an end on 15 November 1945 when the territory was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Zakarpatska Oblast of the Ukrainian S. S. R. Stamps of the Soviet Union were soon placed into use (early December usages are known, see Figure 33). In addition, covers with Carpatho-Ukraine stamps (especially the second and third definitive issues) are known well into January 1946 (Figure 34). Many of the NRZU provisional cancels also continued to be used after the territory was incorporated into the Ukrainian S.S.R.

Figure 33. Early use of Soviet stamp (9 December 1945)
Figure 34. Late use of Carpatho-Ukraine stamp (24 January 1946)

Conclusion

The preceding paragraphs have attempted to convey a portion of the breadth and scope of collecting Carpatho-Ukraine. Although only the major issues have been described for 1939 and 1945, a large number of collectible varieties exist. Even by today’s standards, this is an incredible number of stamps for such a small entity in such a short period of time. In spite of these numbers, we have virtually ignored several closely related areas such as postal stationery (see chapter 14 for an inventory of Carpatho-Ukrainian stationery items); the 1944 local Czech “liberation” issues of Khust, Berehove, and Mukachiv; and the enigmatic local issue of Teresva. Finally, the fields of cancellations and postal history offer considerable depth and opportunities for new discoveries.

Many collectors choose to assemble the entire philatelic history of Carpatho-Ukraine, from the pre-stamp era through the Soviet period and presumably including today’s independent Ukraine. While there are obvious financial barriers to acquiring many of the scarcer items from the 1945 period, the greatest difficulty is in finding the material at all. If you are a collector who likes a challenge, this could be just what you are looking for.

Bibliography

1. Blaha, Miroslav. “Development of the Postal Service in the Transcarpathian Province of the Soviet Union.” Rossica No. 73 (1967): 37-43.
2. Blaha, Miroslav. Zakarpatsko. Prague: Svaz Českých Filatelistů, 1989. (In Czech)
3. Bodnar, John. “The Second Standard Issue of Carpatho-Ukraine.” The Southern Collector No. 4 (1996): 16-22
4. Bulat, John. “Postage Stamps, Postcards, and Cancellation Stamps of the 1944 Czecho-Slovak Republic.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 40 (1977): 2-5.
5. Bylen, Peter. Carpatho-Ukraine, A Catalog-Checklist. Westchester, IL: Ukrainian Philatelic Resources, 1995.
6. Bylen, Peter. “A Synopticon of Carpatho-Ukraine Postage Stamps.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 73/74 (1995): 227-236.
7. Carrigan, Jay T. Carpatho-Ukraine: The 1945 People’s Council Issues. Fairfax, VA: JayCorp, Inc., 1992.
8. Ceremuga, Krzysztof. “More on the Second Standard Issue of Carpatho-Ukraine.” The Southern Collector No. 6 (1996): 10-13.
9. Ceremuga, Krzysztof. “Third Standard Issue of Carpatho-Ukraine.” The Southern Collector No. 6 (1996): 14.
10. Hugel, Lubomyr. “Stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine of 1945.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 36 (1974): 3-8.
11. Indra, Viktor. “The 1939 Stamp of Carpatho-Ukraine.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 65/66 (1993): 53-58. Adapted from Rossica No. 69 (1965): 10-15.
12. Kuzych, Ingert. “Ukrainian Wooden Churches in Philately.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 55 (1989): 19-23; No. 56 (1989): 20-25. (Contains background information on the 3-koruny stamp and its subject.)
13. Kuzych, Ingert. “Ukrainian Wooden Churches in Philately: An Update.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 65/66 (1993): 41-52. (Further background information on the 3-koruny stamp.)
14. Kuzych, Ingert. “Carpatho-Ukraine’s Private Yasinia Stamp Issues of 1939.” The Southern Collector No. 12 (1998): 2-3.
15. Page, Juan E. “Carpatho Ukraine Postal Markings of the Years 1938-45.” Monograph No. 4. The Czechoslovak Philatelic Society of Great Britain, 1985.
16. Petretsky, Vasyl. “Pochtovye Marki Zakarpatskoi Ukrainy” (The Postage Stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine). Sovetskii Kollektsioner No. 21 (1983): 23-41. (In Russian)
17. Shneidman, J. Lee. “Questions on the Postal History of Karpato-Ukraine.” The American Philatelist (September 1983): 828-830. (Answered by Simady below.)
18. Shulewsky, Michael. Carpatho-Ukraine: Description and Pricelist of the Uzhhorod Provisional Overprints on Hungarian Postage Stamps. Kensington, CT: Tryzub Stamp Co., 1994.
19. Shulewsky, Michael. “Carpatho-Ukraine: The Private Yasiniya (Jasina) Local Issues of 1939.” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 71/72 (1995): 77-79.
20. Simády, Béla. “Answers to ‘Questions on the Postal History of Karpato-Ukraine’.” The American Philatelist (November 1984): 1098-1099,1145. (Answers the questions posed by Shneidman above.)
21. Simády, Béla. “Overprinted Issues of Carpatho-Ukraine.” The American Philatelist (December 1989): 1156-1164.
22. Simády, Béla. Kárpátalja Postatörténete. Budapest: Magyar Bélyeggyüjtók Országos Szövetsége, 1991. (In Hungarian)
23. Táborský, František. Zakarpatská Ukrajina. Brno, 1968. (In Czech)
24. von Steiden, Georg. “Briefmarken der Karpaten-Ukraine mit Zwei Überdrucken” (Postage Stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine With Two Overprints). Visti SUFA, UBSV-Vereinsjournal No. 37 (1998-99): 22-26. (In German and Ukrainian)
25. von Steiden, Georg. Spezialkatalog Karpaten-Ukraine. Munich: Privately issued, 2000. (In German and Ukrainian)

Jay Carrigan and Ingert Kuzych
www.jaypex.com

The National Council Definitive Issues

Like most overprinted issues, the Uzhhorod Provisionals were merely a temporary expedient. This fact was noted by the NRZU and preparations were soon made to produce subsequent issues using local resources.

Beginning in May 1945, three separate definitive series were issued for Carpatho-Ukraine. All stamps were printed by offset lithography at Litografia Lam in Uzhhorod, and are perforated 11½ (imperforates exist of all values). Shade variations (from light to dark) are common, sometimes occurring within the same sheet. Gum was applied by hand and varies in color, quality, and consistency. Traces of gum can sometimes be found on the face of stamps, indicating that the gum was applied after printing. Perforation varieties of many types are known to exist, and are especially abundant on the second definitive issue. Most stamps also have plate numbers and/or inscriptions in the sheet margin, thus increasing the number of collectible varieties.

All three definitive series reflected the communist-oriented nature of the National Council. Each stamp has a hammer and sickle incorporated into its design, and most stamps also display a socialist star.

First Definitive Issue. The first locally produced stamp issue (Figure 19) consisted of three values: 60f (red), 100f (various shades of blue), and 200f (deep blue and red). The stamps were released on 1 May 1945 and covers from the first day of issue have survived (Figure 20).

Figure 19. The First NRZU Definitive Issue.

Figure 20. First day of issue (1 May 1945) local Uzhhorod cover bears perforate and imperforate 60f stamps of the First NRZU Issue. Note boxed censor marking in lower left.

The sheet layout of the 60f and 100f is similar to that employed for Czechoslovak commemorative issues of the 1930s, i.e., sheets of 50 consisting of 7 rows of 8 with tabs in the first and last positions of the bottom three rows. Plate number “1” appears in the lower left tab. On the 100f value only, the printer’s imprint ЛИТО ЛАМ 1945. appears below (or sometimes in) the lower right tab. The 60f value exists in two types, determined by the position of the П in ПОШТА. In Type I the П is directly above the О, while in Type II the П is shifted slightly to the right. The schematic in Figure 22 shows the distribution of Types within the 60f sheet.

Figure 22. Distribution of Types in the 60f sheet.

There were two formats for the 200f. What is believed to have been the first printing was prepared as a sheet of 50 (5 rows of 10). The second printing was a sheet of 60 (5 rows of 11 + 1). A tab with a red star was placed between the 11th and 12th stamps of each row, thus forming a vertical gutter (Figure 23). In the sheets of 50, the lower left stamp has both the plate number 1 in the left margin and the printer’s imprint ЛИТО. ЛАМ 1945. in the bottom margin. The sheets of 55 + 5 also have these markings by the lower left stamp, as well as the plate number 1A in the bottom starred gutter tab, next to the last stamp in the sheet.

Some sources report that the second printing sheet layout contained 55 stamps: 5 rows consisting of 10 stamps, a gutter tab with a red star, and then an 11th stamp. This information is incorrect, probably due to simple miscounting.

Figure 23. Strip from a sheet of 60.

Some sheets of the first edition have a variant printer’s imprint ΛИТО ΛАМ 1945. Note the use of Greek style L’s and the absence of periods, as well as different forms of other letters and numbers, especially the “M” and the “4” (Figure 24).

In addition, there was a trial printing of the 200f stamp in brown only (sheet of 50; 5 rows of 10), with the printer’s imprint in the upper left corner, but with no plate number. The right side of the sheet displays an 11th vertical column of tabs with stars (see Figure 25).

Figure 25. Single-color essay, variety printed on security paper used for school report cards.

An abbreviation of the designer’s name: Т. МОШК. (for T. Moshkovich) appears beneath each stamp of this set.

Second Definitive Issue. The second definitive series was issued in June of 1945 and consists of 6 values: 10f (dull yellow, bright yellow), 20f (grayish blue, bluish gray, gray), 40f (yellow green, dark green), 60f (bright red, brownish red), 100f (blue and brownish red), and 200f (brown and red); see Figure 26. Shades exist of all values. The earliest usage so far known is 11 June 1945. Figure 27 shows a cover mailed on 26 June 1945.

Figure 26. The Second NRZU Definitive Issue.

Figure 27. Manuscript cancellation dated 26.VI.945 on an official mail cover sent from Siltse
to Irshava. Note: franking consists of a single 10f stamp from the Second NRZU Issue.

All values were printed in sheets of 200, consisting of side-by-side panes of 100 (10 by 10) separated by a vertical gutter strip. Marginal markings are different on most values:

10f Plate number 1. next to lower left stamp of left-hand pane
Plate number 1.A. in gutter tab next to lower left stamp of right-hand pane
Printer’s Imprint ЛИТО-ЛАМ 1945. below last two stamps of right-hand pane

20f No marginal markings

40f Plate number 1 next to lower left stamp of left-hand pane
Plate number 1A in gutter tab next to lower left stamp of right-hand pane
Printer’s Imprint ЛИТО-ЛАМ 1945 below last two stamps of right-hand pane

60f Plate number 1 next to lower left stamp of left-hand pane
Plate number 1.A. in gutter tab next to lower left stamp of right-hand pane
No Printer’s Imprint

100f Plate number 1. next to lower left stamp of left-hand pane
Plate number 1.A. in gutter tab next to lower left stamp of right-hand pane
Printer’s Imprint ЛИТО „ЛАМ” 1945. below last two stamps of right-hand pane
Double vertical line in gutter; all marginal markings in blue

200f Same as 100f, but all marginal markings in brown

The variations in marginal markings present a possible printing sequence as follows:
20f, 60f, 40f and 10f, with the 100f and 200f printed last.
The 100f and 200f are also known with reversed colors (errors), i.e. 100f brown with brownish red numerals, and 200f blue with red numerals.

Perforation varieties are especially abundant in the Second Definitive Issue.

Third Definitive Issue. The third definitive series consists of the 10f (yellow) and 20f (shades of gray) values only (Figure 28). The stamps were issued in August of 1945. The designs are the same as the second definitive issue with the addition of tiny numerals ‘19’ and ‘45’ adjacent to the value panel. On the 10f value, portions of these numerals are occasionally obscured by overinking.

Figure 28. The Third NRZU Definitive Issue.

Both values were printed in sheets of 200, consisting of two panes of 100 (10 by 10) separated by a vertical gutter strip. The marginal markings resemble those of the second edition 100f and 200f stamps, but with smaller (italic) type and plate numbers changed to 2 and 2A (no periods). The imprint ЛИТО ЛАМ УЖГОРОД appears under stamps 99 and 100 (lower right) of the right-hand pane on both values. The intended purpose of the vertical lines in the gutter is clarified by the addition of “scissors” icons at the top and bottom.

Figure 29. Undated official cover mailed from Veliky Bereznyi bearing two Third NRZU Issue 20f stamps.

The stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine, Cancellations

The Uzhhorod Provisional Overprints

Considerable discrepancies occur among catalogs as to how many basic Hungarian stamp releases were overprinted by the NZRU. Some compilations list all of the dozens of revenue stamps that were prepared. Others ignore most of these stating that they were essays and therefore never put into postal circulation. No two listings are the same and this has caused a great deal of confusion among philatelists.

Nevertheless, there are basic characteristics of these overprints that everyone does agree upon. The Uzhhorod overprints all consist of three lines of Ukrainian text: “Poshta Zakarpatska Ukraina” (Post of Transcarpathian Ukaine) plus a denomination. (Although not indicated, the value is in Pengő and/or fillér.) Three distinct overprints (A, B, and C – see Figure were employed. Overprinting of Hungarian stamps took place at two different times in two different printeries. That is about all that can be stated with certainty, as the various experts are in disagreement about the specifics.

Figure 8. The three Uzhhorod overprint styles.

First Edition. The overprinting of the First Edition, consisting of overprints A and B, began on 1 February 1945 (10 February according to some accounts) in the state printing shop, Litografia Lam. This was a rather limited edition as stocks for the overprinting were drawn only from post offices in the vicinity of Uzhhorod. Seventeen different Hungarian postage stamps, six postage due stamps, and three revenue stamps were overprinted into First Edition Uzhhorod Provisionals (Figure 9). Additionally, numerous other revenue stamps were prepared but not released.

Figure 9. First Edition stamps.

The First Edition stamps were overprinted in vertical strips of ten. Frequently, smaller units were pasted together to form strips for overprinting. Four major types (I through IV) and several subtypes of the A-overprint are known (Figure 10), primarily due to a shortage of capital letters (increasing the number of collectible varieties to well over 150). The following types and sub-types are recognized by most collectors:

Type I - Normal; initial capital letters without serifs (positions 3, 5 early, 7, and
Type IA - Broken н in Україна (position 5 late)
Type II - З in Закарпатська with serifs (position 2).
Type III - П in Пошта with serifs (positions 4 and 6).
Type IIIA – Missing final а in Закарпатська (position 1).
Type IV - Serifs on both Пошта and Закарпатська (positions 9 and 10)

Figure 10. Types and subtypes of Overprint A. Click to enlarge.

Figure 11. Broken letters

Note: Some authors also list a Type Ia (breaks in П and ш of Пошта), which occurs in both the first edition (position 3) and second edition (see Figure 11). We choose to omit this and other minor varieties from the listings. (For more information on other overprint varieties, see references 21, 22, and 24.)

Various sources have reported the angle of the 2nd and 3rd lines of the A-overprints as follows: 34 to 36 degrees (Blaha, Rauch, and Táborský), 36 degrees (Simády), and 38 degrees (von Steiden). Computer measurements of a representative sample of stamps shows multiple examples of every angle from 34 to 38 degrees, with the majority falling at 36 degrees. The 23- and 27-degree angles mentioned by von Steiden (as being scarce) remain unconfirmed.

Figure 12. Broken т.

Three small-format accounting revenue stamps (plus two unissued large-format accounting revenue stamps) were overprinted in a horizontal format for the First Edition. They display the numeral on the right side, and are designated as Overprint B, Type I. One sub-type, designated Type IA, exists (т broken to resemble a г, reading “Закарпагська”; see figure 12).

These overprinted revenue stamps were issued as ordinary postage stamps, and not as revenue stamps (or as official stamps as claimed in the Michel catalog).

In addition to these issued revenue stamps, several categories of Hungarian revenue stamps received Overprint A. These are considered to be unissued essays by most sources, although a few are known on cover. It seems likely that they were overprinted before the postage stamps, since Type IA (broken н in Україна) has so far not been found on any revenue stamp.

Watermarks

The basic Hungarian stamps used for overprinting exist with either or both of the following watermarks:

Figure 13. Watermarks on Hungarian stamps.

Watermark IX (Scott 210) is a pattern of detached double crosses. It can exist in up to four positions (based on the alignment of the pyramidal cross bases). On single stamps it is often not possible to identify the watermark position.

Watermark X (Scott 266) is a crowned coat of arms with double cross. It can exist in up to four positions (based on the direction that the cross on the crown leans). On single stamps, only two positions are identifiable.

Second Edition. Most references state that the Second Edition, consisting of overprints A and C, was released on 20 March 1945, but covers with Second Edition franking are known as early as 27 February. The second edition overprints were produced by a private concern, Földesi. However, some authors attribute the first edition to Földesi and the second edition to Lam (Figure 14).

Figure 14. Second Edition stamps.

These stamps were overprinted in vertical strips of five, and sufficient type was available so that the initial capitals were all in sans-serif. [A lone exception exists: The 2.00/80f value of the 1941 Churches set (catalog number 9) has serifs on the ‘З’ of Закарпатська, as in Type II of the first edition.]

As with the First Edition, sources differ about the angle of the 2nd and 3rd lines of the A-overprints: 30 to 36 degrees (Blaha, Rauch, and Táborský), 23 to 27 degrees (Simády), and 30 and 36 degrees (von Steiden). Computer measurements of a large number of stamps show virtually every angle between 24 and 40 degrees (25 and 33 degrees were not found). Clusters occurred at 28 to 30 degrees and at 37-38 degrees. Second edition overprints at 34 to 38 degrees are often difficult to distinguish from their first edition Type I counterparts. A knowledge of plating is required, which is beyond the scope of this article (see references 21, 22, and 24).

Only the three small-format revenue stamps received overprints – with numerals at the left – and they are designated as Overprint C, see Figure 13 above. (The broken “т” variety does not exist in this edition.)

The Second Edition overprinted a far more extensive variety of Hungarian stamps as stocks for the overprinting were drawn from post offices throughout Carpatho-Ukraine. Fifty-eight basic postage stamps (making 72 major catalog numbers as some values were overprinted with a second or even third value), ten postage due stamps, and three revenue stamps were used in creating the Second Edition Uzhhorod Provisionals. The Second Edition overprints were also applied to a dozen previously overprinted local Khust stamps of 1944.

Figure 15. Cover from Kvasy to Uzhhorod carrying a 60f Uzhhorod Provisional Second
Edition stamp . The 23.VII.45 date is pencilled inside the cancellation.

Forgeries

Although forgeries are known of the overprinted issues, none of them are particularly dangerous when comparisons can be made with known genuine material. In some instances the forgers exhibited their ignorance by printing forged Type II, III, or IV overprints on stamps that were not part of the genuine First Edition. Doubtful stamps should always be expertized.

Three different forgeries are known to the authors:

1. The common “Budapest” forgery, characterized by thinner letters, and taller, thinner numerals (Figure 16).
2. A forgery characterized by several deformed letters. Especially notable is the high center bar of the ш in Пошта. The numerals resemble the genuine in shape, but they are about 0.3 mm too tall. In one interesting variation, the forger added “1944” to the left of the numerals. At one time, some collectors thought that these were trial printings. So far, the authors have only seen these overprints in red on the 18f stamp (Figure 17).
3. A poorly executed forgery with many overinked and underinked letters. Known both without numerals and with “00” numerals. Here too, some collectors once thought that these were trial printings (figure 18).

Figure 16. “Budapest” forgery. Figure 17. Forgeries with deformed letters; with and without “1944”. Figure 18. Forgeries without value or with “00” value.

None of the forgeries were printed by typography (letterpress) as in the genuine.

The stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine, The National Council Definitive Issues

The Yasinia Local Trident Overprints

Hearkening back to 1918-19 when trident overprints were the norm on stamps of newly independent Ukraine, some citizens of the town of Yasinia decided to create their own version during the time of Carpatho-Ukraine’s short-lived independence. On 14 March 1939, 43 Czechoslovak stamp issues and two souvenir sheets were overprinted with a rubber handstamp showing a trident (Figure 5; designated Type I, it is rather similar to Odesa VIa or some of the Podillia trident overprints from Ukraine 20 years earlier). Still on that same day or on the following day, 39 Czechoslovak stamp varieties were overprinted with a distinctive Type II metal device that not only displayed a trident, but also the words “СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ!” (Glory to Ukraine!) in a half circle under the trident (Figure 6). Some postal cards were also overprinted with either the Type I or Type II tridents. All of the overprinting was carried out with black ink.

Figure 5. Type I. Figure 6. Type II.

Exactly who produced the Yasinia overprints has not been determined. A likely source is members of the military organization Karpatska Sich, some of whose recruits were stationed in Yasinia at this time. The Yasinia stamps were not officially authorized issues by any means, despite the fact that some of the overprinted stamps are known seemingly used with a Yasinia circular date stamp of 14 March 1939. These “used” stamps were most likely created on a “canceled-to-order” or “handback” basis.

The Yasinia local stamps were not prepared in any great quantities and are fairly difficult to track down. They thus provide quite a challenge for collectors of philatelic ephemera.

A Change in Regimes

Carpatho-Ukraine was occupied by the Red Army in October of 1944. The Czechoslovak government-in-exile exercised civil authority for a brief period, but by early 1945, it had moved on to Košice in Slovakia (which had also been freed from Hungarian rule). This body produced some local issues (40 items) in Khust and authorizing documentation is known. Czechoslovak “Sympathy Issues” were also prepared in Mukachiv (81 items), Berehove (31 items), and Teresva (113 items), but precisely who was responsible for their issuance is unclear (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Local issues of late 1944.

Very few covers demonstrating usage of these local stamps have survived from Khust and Mukachiv. Some from Khust are possibly genuine, but virtually all from Mukachiv were philatelically prepared. The authors are unaware of any covers from Berehove or Teresva. Because of their dubious nature, these local issues are not dealt with in this Handbook.

Meanwhile, a network of local political organizations had evolved to become the “National Council of Carpatho-Ukraine,” known as the NRZU (after the Ukrainian initials for “Narodna Rada Zakarpatskoi Ukrainy”). Eventually, the Soviet military authorities entrusted the civil administration of Carpatho-Ukraine to the NRZU. This autonomy extended to postal matters. Under NRZU auspices, two overprinted issues and three definitive issues were produced and distributed throughout Carpatho-Ukrainian territories.

All Carpatho-Ukraine stamps from this time period lack an indication of the currency. At one time, it was thought that the Soviet, Hungarian, and Czech currencies were allowed to circulate at equal value. Current thinking is that only the Hungarian fillér / pengő currency was in circulation. It is also plausible that the currency designation was omitted since it represented a symbol of the Hungarian occupation. This article will indicate denominations as either “f” (fillér) or “P” (Pengő).

Carpatho-Ukrainian Postal Rates

The Czechoslovak postal rates in force in mid-March of 1939, at the time Carpatho-Ukraine declared its independence, were as follows:

Local letter (to 20g) 60 haléřů

Domestic postal card 50 haléřů
Domestic letter rate (to 20g) 1 koruna
Domestic Registration 2 koruny
Domestic Special delivery 2 koruny

Foreign postal card to neighboring countries 1.20 koruny
Foreign postal card to other countries 1.50 koruny
Foreign letter to neighboring countries (to 20g) 2 koruny
Foreign letter to other countries (to 20g) 2.50 koruny
Foreign registration to neighboring countries 2 koruny
Foreign registration to other countries 2.50 koruny
Foreign special delivery (express) 5 koruny

Unfortunately, the postal rates in Carpatho-Ukraine following liberation from Hungary are far less clear. The Hungarian expert Béla Simády (1984) provided the following list of rates:

Local letter 40 fillér (0.40 pengő)

Domestic postal card 40 fillér (0.40 pengő)
Domestic letter 60 fillér (0.60 pengő)

Foreign postal card 1 pengő
Foreign letter 2 pengő

Registration 1.40 pengő

Although, this information is useful, the franking on a great many covers still goes unexplained. In particular, there are many court letters and official correspondences of the NRZU that are franked with 10 fillér and 20 fillér, which causes one to assume the existence of special rates (printed matter?) for those classes of mail.

Furthermore, five years later, Simády (1989) stated the following in regards the 1945 tariffs: “I have no exact data about the then-valid rates, but the franking of letters shows a very colorful picture.”! Obviously, this subject presents opportunities for additional research.

If one discards the blatantly philatelic covers, the above rates “fit” about 50% of the covers known. The foreign rates seem to be consistently applied, but there are many exceptions to the domestic (including local) rates.

The stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine, The Uzhhorod Provisional Overprints

The National Assembly Issue

Early in 1939, plans were drawn up to hold the First Carpatho-Ukrainian National Assembly (Soim) in Khust. The date of 2 March was agreed upon and a special regional stamp, with appropriate commemorative stationery and cancellations, was designed to mark the occasion (Figure 3). The 3-koruny blue stamp, depicting the wooden church at Yasinia, was delivered to Khust by the beginning of February.

Figure 3. The famous 3-koruny blue, Carpatho-Ukraine’s first stamp, showing the Church of the Ascension (Struk Church) and bell tower in the town of Yasinia.

In actuality, the new stamp was a re-engraving of a 60-haléřů, orange red stamp from the 1928 Tenth Anniversary of Czechoslovak Independence issue. The printing sheet format consisted of two panes of 100 side-by-side. Each pane had 16 horizontal rows, with the first and last rows consisting of only one stamp at the far left along with six blank tabs. The other 14 rows had seven stamps each. The last tab at the bottom right bore the plate number, either “1” or “1A” (Figure 4).

A total of 900,000 stamps were prepared, with 300,000 forwarded to Khust and the remainder kept in Prague.

Because of its high value, the 3-koruny stamp was really only suitable for registered mailings or special delivery letters (see postal rates sidebar).

Figure 4. Printing sheet layout for the 1939 stamp.

Fearing a possible loss of its easternmost province during this charged time, the Czech government repeatedly postponed the convening of the Assembly. Nevertheless, fast moving events during the middle of the month proved to be decisive. On 14 March, Slovakia declared its independence. Geographically now separated from Prague, Carpatho-Ukraine became de facto independent. That same day, the Hungarian army crossed the Carpatho-Ukrainian frontier, seeking to annex the province.

In the early evening of the 14th, Voloshyn announced on the Khust radio that Carpatho-Ukraine had declared its independence. The following morning he handed over a handwritten decree to the Khust post office authorizing the sale of the stored stamps as the new country’s first postal issue. A telegram was sent to Prague around 10:30 am informing postal officials of the stamp release, and the 600,000 stamps at the Philatelic Section in the Czech capital went on sale later that day. Around mid-afternoon of the 15th, the 22 elected deputies met in Khust and unanimously passed a bill officially declaring Carpatho-Ukraine a sovereign republic. Voloshyn was then unanimously elected its first president.

Although the semi-military formation known as the Karpatska Sich (Carpathian Sich) put up a spirited defense to the Hungarian advance, it was inadequately armed and trained. By 4:30 pm on 16 March the Khust post office was taken and by 6 pm the entire town was occupied and the Carpatho-Ukrainian Government had fled. The National Assembly Issue was valid, therefore, for only two days. Over the next several days, the remainder of Carpatho-Ukraine fell to Hungarian forces; it became the Hungarian province of Kárpátalja until late 1944.

The short duration of Carpatho-Ukraine’s existence in 1939 – and its lone stamp release – gave rise to the myth that Carpatho-Ukraine was the one country that could be collected complete simply by obtaining the 3-koruny stamp. Such is far from the case, however, as many more Carpatho-Ukrainian stamp issues were produced after the five and a half years of Hungarian occupation ended in the fall of 1944.

The stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine, The Yasinia Local Trident Overprints

Background

For centuries, the area of southwestern Ukraine known as Transcarpathia, Ruthenia, or Carpathian Ukraine was part of the Habsburg Empire rather than czarist Russia. Thus, prior to 1939, the stamps of Austria, Hungary, and then Czechoslovakia had been used in Transcarpathia. Russian or Ukrainian stamps were never employed.

While this article will focus on the issues from 1939 and 1945, when the area was referred to as Carpatho-Ukraine, a brief outline of the area’s entire postal history is in order. The following is a simplified division into 10 periods:

1. Pre-stamp period (to 1850)
2. Austrian Issues (1850-1871)
3. Hungarian Issues (1871-1918)
4. Czechoslovak Issues (1919-1939)
5. National Assembly (Independence) Issue (15 March 1939)
6. Hungarian Issues (1939-1944)
7. Czechoslovak Local Issues (1944) – Khust, Berehove, Mukachiv
8. NRZU Issues (1945) – Uzhhorod, Berehove*, Mukachiv*
9. Soviet Issues (1945-1991)
10. Ukrainian Issues (1992-present)
* – Postal stationery only.

Figure 1. Carpatho-Ukraine and its neighbors.

From 1919 to 1939, Transcarpathia was the easternmost province of Czechoslovakia (Figure 1). It was also the smallest province (4,886 square miles) and had a population of 725,357 according to the 1930 census, 71 percent of which was Ukrainian. It was during this period that Ukrainian public schools were permitted for the first time. This and other factors contributed to the rise in Ukrainian nationalism, which culminated in the 15 March 1939 declaration of independence.

The convoluted pathway by which this slice of Ukrainian ethnic territory ended up part of Czechoslovakia will not be covered here in detail. Suffice it to say that in late 1918, with the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Transcarpathian Ukrainians did make overtures to unite with the independent Ukrainian state. However, the ongoing fighting and chaotic conditions on much of Ukrainian lands in 1919 made it obvious that such a union could not occur. Not willing to join either Hungary (from whose oppression they had just emerged) or Poland (then fighting the forces of Western Ukraine), the only realistic remaining option was incorporation into the newly formed Czechoslovakia.

After much discussion and bargaining, the local Ukrainian political leaders accepted the Czechoslovak option with the stipulation that Transcarpathia would be allowed the fullest degree of autonomy within the Czechoslovak State. It is with these assurances that the Czechoslovak Republic signed the Treaty of Saint-Germain on 10 September 1919, under which Transcarpathia (now officially called Subcarpathian Ruthenia or just Ruthenia) became the easternmost province of Czechoslovakia.

Unfortunately, for the next 19 years, the Czechoslovak administration failed to implement the provisions of this treaty, seeking instead to inculcate the Czech language into all facets of daily life. While “local language” Ruthenian schools were allowed, a disproportionate number of Czech language schools were opened, causing the Ruthenians to feel threatened by the Czech penetration. Despite the improvements in everyday life that were introduced during this time period, the prolonged delay in promised autonomy and the unresolved language question fostered ever-deepening resentment among the Ruthenians toward their Czech-led government.

In September of 1938, at the Four Powers Conference in Munich, Czechoslovakia was forced to cede its German-populated Sudetenland to Germany. At this point the Czech government finally acquiesced and declared itself willing to meet the demands of both Slovakia and Ruthenia for more autonomy. The following month, Ruthenians were granted their own government under the Rev. Avhustyn Voloshyn. It is at this time also that the name of Carpatho-Ukraine was officially adopted. In November, parts of southern and western Carpatho-Ukraine were transferred to Hungary in the Vienna Award. The capital of Uzhhorod and the towns of Mukachiv (Mukachevo) and Berehove (Berehovo) were lost, forcing the Voloshyn government to transfer the seat of government to Khust.

Figure 2 shows the boundaries of Carpatho-Ukraine during World War II. The southwestern area in white was annexed by Hungary on November 2, 1938 (Zone 1), while the shaded area was annexed on March 16, 1939 (Zone 2). Furthermore, on April 4, 1939, Hungary also annexed a portion of eastern Slovakia (the area in white north of Uzhhorod – Zone 3). During World War II this area was administered as part of Carpatho-Ukraine (Kárpátalja), and only part of it was returned to Czechoslovakia at the end of the war.

Figure 2. Carpathian-area border changes, 1938-1945

The stamps of Carpatho-Ukraine, 1939-1945, The National Assembly Issue

The U.S. numerical post code used to speed and mechanize mail handling and delivery. The letters stand for Zoning Improvement Plan.

U.S. marginal marking block with the selvage bearing the image of the “”Mr. ZIP”" cartoon character and/or an inscription urging the use of ZIP code. This first appeared on U.S. marginal selvage in 1964. Typically a ZIP block is a block of four stamps.