RECONSTRUCTION FUND ISSUE

Charity issue for the benefit of a fund for reconstruction of the country at a surcharge equal to face values.

Design by Henn Sarap showing various historical Estonian structures:
15 + 15 The Parliament Building with the Tall Hermann Tower in Tallinn,
20 + 20 The Stone Bridge in Tartu,
30 + 30 The two Narva castles,
50 + 50 The Panorama of Tallinn,
60 + 60 The University of Tartu,
100 + 100 The Hermann Fortress in Narva.

Paper: A thick, white, hard paper was used for the first printing. The second printing was on a greyish white paper, without watermark. Only the 20 + 20 value of the second printing has been seen with a vertical watermark.

Gum: For the first printing a thin, yellowish white, dull or slightly shiny gum was used. The gum for the second printing is thick, brownish and shiny.

Print: Recess by "Ilutrükk" in Tartu. Printing sheet was 600, counter pane 150 stamps. Smaller printing errors - white or colored dots or lines can often be found. The first printing has a lilac-grey protective network, the second a yellowish-brown. The 30 + 30 value of the second printing can also be found with the lilac grey network. The denominations 15 + 15, 20 + 20 and 30 + 30 had two printings, which are not difficult to distinguish from each other by paper, gum and the network. The colors of the second printing are dull and the print is unclear.

 
1st printing (Sept. 22, 1941)
    Printed   Printed
  15 + 15 1.021.755 50 + 50 1.039.680
  20 + 20 1.070.280 60 + 60 1.039.530
  30 + 30 1.046.730 100 + 100 1.045.530
  2nd printing (Nov. 14, 1941)
    Printed Perforated Sent to GPO
  15+15 2.040.600 420.000 75.000
  20+20 2.038.800 474.900  
  30+30 2.080.800 1.821.000 1.575.000

The 20 + 20 value of the second printing did not go on sale at P.O-s. The number of stamps sold over the counter cannot be determined. The following unsold remainders were handed over to the Reichspostministerium in Berlin and sold to the public in Germany.

    Perforated Imperforate Imperforate
and w/o gum
  15 + 15 841.325 672.300 948.300
  20 + 20 904.396 457.500 1.106.400
  30 + 30 1.875.637 259.800  
  50 + 50 820.565    
  60 + 60 758.554    
  100 + 100 841.480    

Number of stamps of 1st Printing sold over the counter:
15 + 15 - 600.430
20 + 20 - 640.784
30 + 30 - 992.093
50 + 50 - 219.115
60 + 60 - 260.976
100 + 100 - 204.050

Important notice:
The imperforate issue of these stamps (indicated with A:1) is not to be mistaken for the imperforate stamps of the 2nd Printing (marked with A:11 and A:12).

The aforementioned German official also ordered a special issue to be printed as miniature sheets with all denominations in the colors of the original issue as well as in black-brown and orange. The printing was done on a chalk-surfaced yellowish-grey paper. The sheets are imperforate and did not have franking value. These are to be regarded as purely a private issue. The various sheets were in a booklet together with a explanatory text in German and Estonian. Only a small number (10?) of the booklets was prepared and distributed to German and Estonian authorities. One was kept in the Postal Museum in Tallinn. At present no full booklets are known to exist. Single sheets have been auctioned occasionally.

Perforation: Line perforation. The 15, 60 and 100 denominations are perforated 11 x 11 1/4, the 20, 30 and 50 with 11 1/4 x 11. All values can be found with a perforation of 11 1/4 x 11 1/4. Other perforations are also known.
The perforating machine at the printers was not especially suitable for stamps. The sizes of the stamps can vary vertically or horizontally. Rough perforation can be found. Vertical or horizontal pairs, imperforate in between, are rare. The same applies to double and diamond perforation.
By order of the previosly mentioned German official an imperforate issue of 15.000 sets of the first printing was prepared. Meanwhile the Estonian GPO had recommenced its activities and forbade the sale of these sets in the Tartu P.O. The whole imperforate issue was finally handed over to the GPO who arranged over the counter sale in all Post Offices of the country. A few hundred sets were distributed through two existing philatelic organizations. The imperforate issue had full franking value and must be considered an official issue.

Proofs are in existence.

Forgeries of the stamps are not known. Recently a private print of one single miniature sheet in orange has been prepared and marketed. The reproduction was done by photographic means.


Proof of inofficial miniature sheet of the Reconstruction Fund Issue

Valid: The issue was valid until April 30, 1942. When the Deutsche Dienstpost Ostland started its activities in the beginning of December 1941, all Estonian stamps were recalled from the P.O.-s.
Mixed frankings with German and/or Ostland stamps can be found.

Reference to various catalogue numbers:

  15 15II 20 20II 30 30II 50 60 100
H/O 4 4I 5 5I 6 6I 7 8 9
Ei 10 10II 11 11II 12 12II 13 14 15
Mi 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 8 9
Zu 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 8 9
SG 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 10 11
YT 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 8 9
Sc NB1 - NB2 - NB3 - NB4 NB5 NB6

 

 

4

15 + 15 kop. Brown (lilac grey) 0.30 1.50  

SI
MU
MI

     25:-
25:-
20:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:1 Imperforate 20:- 35:- 60:-
  Block of four 4x 4x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:3 Perforation 10 3/4 x 11 1/4 +3:- +3:-  
A:4 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 3/4 +3:- +3:-  
A:5 Perforation 10 3/4 x 10 3/4 +3:- +3:-  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:14 Pair, imperf. in between +8:- +8:-  
A:15 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +4:- +4:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:23 Long or short stamp +0.50 +0.50  
A:24 Wide or narrow stamp +0.50 +0.50  
B:1 Dark brown +0.50 +0.50  
E:1 Broken tower. Pos. 33 +2:- +2:-  
E:2 White streak in (N)D +0.50 +0.50  
E:3 Broken (S)T +0.50 +0.50  
E:4 White spot in left corner +0.50 +0.50  
E:5 Partly set-off +2:- +2:-  
G:1 Brown, printed on the back of multicolored Russian advertisement sheets 15:-    
G:2 Brown, w/o network and gum 10:-    
G:3 Brown, thin yellowish paper, w/o network 10:-    
G:4 Brown, net on back only 15:-    
G:5 Ditto, perforated 8:-    
G:6 Brown, network on both sides 13:-    
4I 15 + 15 kop. Dull brown (yellow brown) 0.25 2:-  
SI
MU
MI		     30:-
30:-
25:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:6 Perforation 11 X 11/12 +3:- +3:-  
A:11 Imperforate +1:- +1:-  
A:12 Imperforate pair with gutter +4:- +4:-  
A:27 Strongly misplaced perforation +2:- +2:-  
E:1 Broken tower. Pos. 33 +2:- +2:-  
E:2 Damaged frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:3 Colored stroke in left frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:4 Seam in network +1:- +1:-  

 

 

5

 20 + 20 kop. Pale lilac (lilac grey) 0.30 1.50  

SI
MU
MI

     30:-
35:-
20:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:1 Imperforate 20:- 35:- 60:-
  Block of four 4x 4x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:4 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/2 +3:- +3:-  
A:7 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 3/4 +3:- +3:-  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:16 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:19 Tripple perforation +5:- +5:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +4:- +4:-  
A:21 Double blind perforation +6:- +6:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +3:- +3:-  
B:1 Dark lilac (lilac grey) +0.50 +0.50  
E:1 Damaged frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:2 (T)LA not joined +0.50 +0.50  
E:3 White spot under bridge +0.50 +0.50  
E:4 White dot over S +0.50 +0.50  
E:5 White spot after D +0.50 +0.50  
E:6 White line from bridge to frame +0.75 +0.75  
E:7 Colored spot between ST(l) +0.50 +0.50  
E:8 Colored dot below (E)S +0.50 +0.50  
G:1 Lilac, printed on the back of multicolored Russian advertisement sheets 15:-    
G:2 Lilac, w/o network and gum 10:-    
G:3 Lilac, thin yellowish paper, w/o network 10:-    
G:4 Net on back only 12:-    
G:7 Lilac, w/o, network, with gum 15:-    
G:8 Lilac, w/o network, perforated 12:-    
G:9 Lilac, w/o network, double print 15:-    
G:10 Ditto, strongly shifted 16:-    
5I 20 + 20 kop. Pale reddish lilac (yellow brown) 0.20 -  
SI
MU
MI		      
  Block of four 4x    
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50    
A:11 Imperforate +1:-    
A:12 Imperforate gutter pair +4:-    
A:24 Wide or narrow stamp +0.50    
B:1 Dark reddish lilac +0.50    
C:1 Vertical WM-line +1:-    
E:1 Damaged frame +0.30    
E:2 White spot over (S)T +0.30    
E:3 White line over E(S) +0.30    
E:4 Damaged L +0.30    
E:5 Seam in network +1:-    

 

 

6

 30 + 30 kop. Ultramarine (lilac grey) 0.30 1.50  

SI
MU
MI

     20:-
25:-
20:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:1 Imperforate 20:- 35:- 60:-
  Block of four 4x 4x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:8 Perforation 11 1/2 x 11 +3:- +3:-  
A:9 Perforation 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 +3:- +3:-  
A:10 Perforation 11 1/2 x 10 +3:- +3:-  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:14 Pair, imperforate in between +8:- +8:-  
A:15 Horizontally imperforate +6:- +6:-  
A:16 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +4:- +4:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +3:- +3:-  
B:1 Dark ultramarine +0.30 +0.30  
C:1 Thick paper +0.50 +0.50  
E:1 Broken frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:2 White spot between (E(ST +0.50 +0.50  
E:3 AN not joined +0.50 +0.50  
G:1 Ultramarine, printed on the back of multicolored Russian advertisement sheets 15:-    
G:2 Ultramarine, w/o network and gum 10:-    
G:3 Ultramarine, thin yellowish paper, w/o network 10:-    
G:4 Ultramarine, network on back only 15:-    
G:7 Ultramarine, w1o network, with gum 15:-    
G:8 Ultramarine, w/o network, perforated 12:-    
G:9 Ultramarine, w/o network, double print 13:-    
6I 30 + 30 kop. Dull blue (yellow brown) 0.25 2:-  
SI
MU
MI		     25:-
30:-
25:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:11 Imperforate +1:- +1:-  
A:12 Imperforate gutter pair +4:- +4:-  
A:12A Ditto, lilac grey network +5:- +5:-  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:15 Horizontally imperforate +6:- +6:-  
A:16 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +4:- +4:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:24 Wide or narrow stamp +0.50 +0.50  
A:26 Misplaced perforation +2:- +2:-  
B:1 Dark dull blue (yellow brown) +0.25 +0.25  
C:1 Yellowish paper +0.25 +0.25  
E:1 Broken frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:2 Lilac grey network +0.75 +0.75  
E:3 Seam in network +1:- +1:-  
E:4 White spot over LAN. Pos. III 45 +0.50 +0.50  
E:5 White stroke over AN.Pos. I 23 +0.50 +0.50  
E:6 LA joined +0.50 +0.50  
E:7 White stroke below fortress. Pos. III 9. +0.50 +0.50  
E:8 Large colored circle through stamp . Pos. II 95 +1:- +1:-  
E:9 Blue spot between (E)ST +0.50 +0.50  
E:10 ÷ instead of + +1.50 +1.50  
E:11 Partly set-off +2:- +2:-  

 

 

7

 50 + 50 kop. Green (lilac grey) 0.30 2:-  

SI
MU
MI

     --
--
30:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:1 Imperforate 20:- 35:- 60:-
  Block of four 4x 4x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:8 Perforation 11 1/2 x 11 +3:- +3:-  
A:9 Perforation 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 +3:- +3:-  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:15 Horizontally imperforate +6:- +6:-  
A:16 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:17 Ditto with diamond perforation +6:- +6:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +6:- +6:-  
A:24 Wide or narrow stamp +0.50 +0.50  
B:1 Dark green +0.30 +0.30  
E:1 White spot in frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:2 White line in tower +0.50 +0.50  
E:3 Damaged frame +0.60 +0.60  
E:4 Broken T(L) +0.50 +0.50  
E:5 Colored spot ("Aircraft") before value. Pos. 18 +3:- +3:-  
E:6 Colored spot under. (S)T +0.75 +0.75  
G:1 Green. Printed on the back of multicolored Russian advertisement sheet 15:-    
G:2 Green, w/o network and gum 10:-    
G:2A Ditto, horizontal gutter pair 30:-    
G:3 Green, thin yellowish paper, w/o network 10:-    
G:4 Network on back only 15:-    
G:7 Green, w/o network, with gum 15:-    
G:8 Green, w/o network, perforated 12:-    
G:11 Green, white thinner paper, w/o gum, with network 12:-    
G:12 Ditto, horizontal gutter pair 30:-    

 

 

8

 60 + 60 kop. Rose carmin (lilac grey) 0.35 3:-  

SI
MU
MI

     35:-
40:-
30:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:1 Imperforate 20:- 35:- 60:-
  Block of four 4x 4x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:15 Two sides imperforate +6:- +6:-  
A:16 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +4:- +4:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:23 Long or short stamp +0.50 +0.50  
B:1 Carmine +0.50 +0.50  
B:2 Rose +1:- +1:-  
E:1 Double print of network +3:- +3:-  
E:2 Vertically shifted network +3:- +3:-  
E:3 Damaged E and D +0.50 +0.50  
E:4 White spot over N +0.50 +0.50  
E:5 White stroke over E(E) +0.50 +0.50  
E:6 Colored spot in archway +0.75 +0.75  
E:7 Set-off +2:- +2:-  
E:8 Partly set-off +2:- +2:-  
G:1 Rose, printed on the back of multicolored Russian advertisement sheets 15:-    
G:2 Rose, w/o network and gum 10:-    
G:2A Ditto, horizontal or vertical gutter pair 30:-    
G:2B Ditto, centre star 50:-    
G:3 Rose, thin yellowish paper, w/o network 10:-    
G:4 Rose, network on back only 15:-    
G:6 Rose, network on both sides 13:-    
G:7 Rose, w/o network, with gum 15:-    
G:8 Rose, w/o network, perforated 12:-    

 

 

9

 100 + 100 Kop. Grey (lilac grey) 0.50 3.50  

SI
MU
MI

     --
--
35:-
  Block of four 4x 6x  
A:1 Imperforate 20:- 35:- 60:-
  Block of four 4x 4x  
A:2 Perforation 11 1/4 x 11 1/4 +0.50 +0.50  
A:8 Perforation 11 1/2 x 11 +3:- +3:-  
A:13 One side imperforate +5:- +5:-  
A:14 Pair, imperforate in between +8:- +8:-  
A:16 Double perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:20 Blind perforation +4:- +4:-  
A:22 Diamond perforation +3:- +3:-  
A:23 Long or short stamp +0.50 +0.50  
A:24 Wide or narrow stamp +0.50 +0.50  
B:1 Blackish grey +0.50 +0.50  
B:2 Light grey +0.50 +0.50  
E:1 Damaged frame +0.50 +0.50  
E:2 Open frame corner +0.50 +0.50  
E:3 Damaged small (0)0 +0.75 +0.75  
E:4 White spot under castle +0.75 +0.75  
E:5 White streak over Narva +0.50 +0.50  
E:6 Colored spot over N(A) +0.50 +0.50  
E:7 Partly set-off +2:- +2:-  
G:1 Grey, printed on the back of multicolored Russian advertisement sheets 15:-    
G:2 Grey, w/o network and gum 10:-    
G:2A Ditto, horizontal or vertical gutter pair 30:-    
G:3 Grey, thin yellowisch paper w/o network 10:-    
G:4 Grey, network on back only 15:-    
G:7 Grey, w/o network with gum 15:-    

Please note that all prices are estimates in USD, based on the average retail market of 1985, when the original catalogue/handbook was written. The prices are considerably higher today.