
THE
FLOWER DESIGN ISSUE
The first regular issue in 1918-19, in four denominations. A 2 kop.
value was prepared but not issued. The printing of the stamps and
the deliveries from the printer's to the GPO started November 22.
1918. Incorrectly this date has been presented as the date of issue.
The actual over the counter sale commenced on November 24 or 25, 1918.
The earliest known cancellation is from November 24, 1918.
Design
by Rudolf Zero. The pattern of the German fiscal stamps ("Rohstoff-und
Handelsabteilung - Reval - and "Hauptstelle fur Handel u. Gewerbe
- Reval") was used for the design.
Paper: white, smooth paper of fairly good quality
of Finnish origin. Sometimes the paper absorbs the gum and assumes
a yellowish appearance. The thickness varies (0.05-0.07mm), within
the same printing usually rather stable. A WM-Iine is seldom.
Gum:
yellowish, dull, thin and even.
Print: One of the most urgent needs of the new postal
organization was the production of stamps. The GPO contacted the typographic
printers G. Mäns in Tallinn. An original plate was prepared with
typographic material. The illustration No 1 shows the original plate
impression of the 15 kop. value. The printers were not able to fulfil
the GPO's request for an immediate delivery and the GPO decided to
pass the printing order to the lithographic printers G.Bölau
in Nômme.

ill.
No 1
A random number of impressions of the original plate of the 5 and
15 kop. values was transferred to transfer paper and handed over to
G. Bö1au. These impressions were arranged in 2 x 5 vertical groups
(ill. No 2) attached to carton paper and transferred to auxiliary
litho stones. The impressions of the auxiliary stones on the transfer
paper were transferred as a unit to the printing stones.

ill.
No 2
For
preparing the printing stones of the 35 and 70 p. values the same
procedure was used. Two groups of impressions of the auxiliary stone
of the 5 kop. value was used. The values in the four corners of the
stamp were excised and a new value tablet manually inserted in the
middle of the lower ledge. The placing shows small shiffings and gives
the stamps different appearance. (ill. No 6).For each printing of
all values new printing stones were prepared. The only exceptions
being the 2nd and 3rd printings of both 15 kop. and 35 p. values.
The illustrations No 3-5 show the variations in the arrangement of
panes.

ill.
No 3 |
ill.
No 4 |
ill. No 5 |
The
printing ink had to be mixed in small batches during the printing,
causing a wide range of color shades. The ink was very sensitive to
light and also chemically unstable. The colors have often faded during
the years. As the color varieties can easily be produced by exposing
the stamps to light, a systematic presentation of color shades is
omitted. Only a few basically different shades of rare occurance are
presented and priced.
Due to urgency of the printing the print itself sometime can be of
inferior quality. This is specially the case with the 5th printing
of the 15 kop. value. Because of the constant shortage of stamps,
much of the printer's waste was distributed and sold over the counter.

ill.
No 6
Perforation:
imperforate.
A trial perforation (11 1/2 x 11 1/2) of the 15 kop. stamp was ordered
by the GPO and made by the printers Joh. & Alma Paalmann in Tallinn
in the beginning of 1919. For this purpose the sheets of printer's
waste of the 1st and 2nd printings (the turquoise light blue and light
greenish blue shades) were used. The perforation was mostly unclean
and with bad centering and was not considered successful. The outsides
of the marginal rows were not perforated.
The number of stamps offically perforated is unknown. Dr. Schönherr
mentions the figure 6500. Eichenthal approx. 3000 and Weiner "a
few thousands". According to Dr. Schönherr the total perforated
issue was sold to collectors. However, there are indications that
a certain number of these stamps were sold over the counter in Tallinn.
The officially perforated stamps are rare, especially on cover. The
majority of the perforated 15 kop. stamps offered on the market today
is privately perforated. They are mostly of later printings. Expertizing
is mandatory.
Also other perforated denominations of the issue are private. Postmaster
perforations (semi-official roulettes) are known of all values.
Proofs
exist. They are mostly impressions of the master groups (auxiliary
stones) printed on the front or back of cinema tickets. Full sheets
(5 tickets each) are rare. Proofs of the unissued
2 kop. value exist on pink and white paper. The print on white paper
also can be found on the front side. Price: 40 USD. (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.)
Forgeries
are known of all denominations (also in sheets). Read
more about the Flower Design forgeries.
Literature:
Dr. W. Shönherr, "Kohl-Briefmarken-Handbuch". 11. Auflage.
1927/28. Berlin. (In German)
Sigurd Roove, "Aufteilung der Marken der Blumenmusterausgabe
nach den einzelnen Auflagen." Eichenthal Katalog 1961 (in English
and German).
1.
SI |
5
Kop.
LL,
DPC 1918-11 - 24-1918-12-31
LPM 1919-01-01 - 1919-12-31
SI rare
|
 |
 |
 |
|
SI |
|
|
75:- |
|
MU |
|
|
60:- |
|
MI |
|
|
30:- |
E:1 |
Stamp
partly printed |
+25:- |
- |
|
E:2 |
Paper
fold |
+4:- |
4:- |
|
E:3 |
Set-off |
+8:- |
0.50 |
|
E:4 |
Smudgy
print |
+0.50 |
|
|
G:1 |
Rose,
greyish white paper, w/o gum |
+25:- |
|
|
G:2 |
Rose.
lilac rose paper, printed on the back of cinema tickets |
+30:- |
|
|
G:3 |
Black,
greenish blue paper, on the back of cinema tickets |
+30:- |
|
|
First
Printing (Nov. 22-28, 1918)
The print shows strongly through on the back. Letters are broad. Vertical
VM-line can be found. Printed sheet 400 stamps. (ill. No 3)
Issued: 514.000
Carmine
orange, shades from dark to light |
0.60:- |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
C:1 |
Vertical
VM-line |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
E:5 |
Q
instead of (P)O. Pos. A 34 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:6 |
Damaged
upper right 5 Pos. A 47 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:7 |
(E)E
with hook Pos. D 20 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:8 |
Damaged
lower left 5 Pos. D 51 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:9 |
White
streak below lower left K Pos. D 61 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:10 |
White
stroke through upper right K Pos. C 1 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:11 |
Damaged
(E)S. Pos. C 25 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|


Second
Printing (Dec. 11-17, 1918)
Panes arrangement as ill. No 4
Issued: 509.000
Yellow
orange, shades from dark to light |
0.70:- |
0.70 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
E:12 |
White
line through upper left K Pos. A 10 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:13 |
Lower
frame interrupted Pos. B 47 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:14 |
E(E)
crossed by white line Pos. C 25 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:15 |
Dot
between T/. Pos. C44+F4 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:16 |
Lower
left 5 with white line Pos. C 3 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:17 |
White
dash between ST and ST. Pos. D 11 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:18 |
White
dash before E(E). Pos. E 80 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:19 |
Hairlines
through the stamp Pos. E 56 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:20 |
Ditto,
elongated (T)l and (T) Pos. F 74 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|

Third
Printing. (March 5-6, 1919)
In the panes C, E and F the bottom lines of the stamps
in the 5th rows are markedly wavy.
Panes arrangement as ill. No 5
Issued: 304.500
Brownish
vermilion orange, shades from dark to light |
0.70:- |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
E:21 |
White
spots after upper right 5 Pos. A 55 |
+1:- |
+1:- |
|
E:22 |
(OS)T
damaged Pos. A 84 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:23 |
Dot
between E and lower P Pos. B 99 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:24 |
(E)ST
joined by white dot Pos. D 7 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:25 |
Upper
left K with white streak Pos. D 23 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:26 |
Lower
frame interrupted Pos. D 45 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|

Fourth
Printing. (April 2-5, 1919)
Letters are often narrow. In the panes E and F the lowest rows are
wavy.
Panes arranged as ill. No. 5
Issued: 614.500
Violet
rose (so called Flesh color), shades |
0.60:- |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
E:27 |
White
streak through Pos. A 99 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:28 |
White
spot on P. Pos. B 9 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:29 |
(E)S
damaged. Pos C 88 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:30 |
White
streak through lower left 5K Pos. C7 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:31 |
White
arch through two stamps Pos. D 8-9 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:32 |
White
streak through TI. Pos. E 36 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:33 |
O(S)
with outcrop Pos F 4 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:34 |
White
spot Pos. F 20 |
+1:- |
+1:- |
|
E:35 |
Bottom
line mutilated Pos. E 47 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|

2.
SI |
15
Kop.
L 1918-11-30-1918-12-31
LL, DPC, DPM 1919-01-01-1919-12-31
MU scarce |
 |
 |
 |
|
SI |
|
|
40:- |
|
MU |
|
|
50:- |
|
MI |
|
|
20:- |
E:1 |
Paper
fold |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
E:2 |
Set-off |
+2:- |
+2:- |
|
E:3 |
Smudgy
print |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
G:1 |
Black,
cigarette paper, montage of small pieces, different design |
50:- |
|
|
G:2 |
Black,
cigarette paper, final design |
40:- |
|
|
G:3 |
Black,
greenish blue paper, printed on the back of cinema tickets |
30:- |
|
|
G:4 |
Ditto,
print on the front side |
30:- |
|
|
G:5 |
Blue,
lilac rose cinema tickets |
25:- |
|
|
First Printing. (Nov. 30-Dec. 5, 1918)
Vertical VM-line can be found. Printing sheet 4 x 100 stamps.
Pane arrangement unknown.
Issued: 504.000
Light
blue, shades |
1.25:- |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
C:1 |
Vertical
VM-Line |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
E:4 |
White
streak through
Pos. X1 2 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:5 |
Lower left 1 joined to frame Pos. X1 83 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:6 |
White
streak through lower left 5K Pos. C7 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:7 |
Short
dash before Pos. X2 53 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:8 |
White
spot before lower left 1 Pos. X2 97 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:9 |
Damaged
frame above upper left 1 Pos. X3 36 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|

Second
Printing. (Dec. 10-23, 1918)
The print is even, the letters narrow.
Panes arranged as ill. No 3
Issued: 508.500
Light
greenish blue, shades |
0.70 |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
E:10 |
Hairline
running downwards from E(E) Pos. A 4 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:11 |
Hairline
running downwards from upper right 15 Pos. B 20 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:12 |
Hairline
through upper design Pos. D 76 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:13 |
P(O)
with hook Pos. C 91 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:14 |
Damaged
value tablet Pos. C 53 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:15 |
Upper
frame damaged Pos. D 1 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
Third Printing. (March 10-14, 1919)
The printing stone of the second printing was used also for this
printing. The print is porous and uneven. The color seems to lie
thickly. The letters appear to be larger than these of 2nd printing.
The pane arrangements and printing varieties are the same as in
2nd printing.
Issued: 509.000
Grey
greenish blue, shades |
0.70 |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|

Fourth
Printing. (April 10- 17, 1919)
In all panes the bottom lines of the 5th and 10th rows of stamps
are wavy.
Panes arranged as ill. No 5
Issued: 1.025.500
Vivid
greenish blue, shades |
0.60 |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
E:16 |
Value
tablet mutilated Pos. A 50 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:17 |
(E)E
with white spot Pos. A 27 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:18 |
White
spot between (P)OS. Pos. B 41 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:19 |
Large
P Pos. B 91 |
+15:- |
+15:- |
|
E:20 |
White
dash between EE Pos. C 67 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:21 |
White
spot in lower right 5 Pos. D 5 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:22 |
White
spot in front of P, hairline Pos. E 40 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|

Fifth
Printing. (June 21-July 3, 1919)
The print is transparent. Sometimes striking through.
Inking can be defective. Panes arranged as ill. No 5
Issued: 1.052.500
Grey
blue - slate blue, shades |
0.60 |
0.60 |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
|
Horizontal
gutter pair |
20:- |
-- |
|
|
Ditto,
set-off |
25:- |
-- |
|
|
Vertical
gutter pair |
25:- |
-- |
|
|
Ditto,
set-off |
30:- |
-- |
|
|
Centre
star of printed sheet |
60:- |
-- |
|
|
Ditto,
set-off |
70:- |
-- |
|
B:1 |
Slate
blue |
+7.50 |
+7.50 |
|
|
Block
of four |
8x |
8x |
|
E:23 |
E(E)
with outcrop Pos. A 7 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:24 |
White
spot before Pos. B 10 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:25 |
(P)O
shaved off Pos. C 37 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:26 |
White
dash before P Pos. D 10 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:27 |
(E)S
disfigured, vertical hairline Pos. D 20 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:28 |
Damaged
(E)S. Pos. F 26 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|

2A
|
15
Kop. Perforated, turquoise light blue |
50:- |
50:- |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
B:1 |
Greenish
blue (2nd printing) |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
6x |
|
A:1 |
One
side imperforate |
+10:- |
+10:- |
|
A:2 |
Two
sides imperforate |
+15:- |
+15:- |
|
3.
SI |
35
P.
DL
1919-01-18 - 1919-12-31
LL DPC 1920-01-01 - 1920-06-30
|
 |
 |
 |
|
SI |
|
|
30:- |
|
MU |
|
|
50:- |
|
MI |
|
|
20:- |
E:1 |
Printed
on both sides |
+125:- |
|
|
E:2 |
Ditto,
strongly shifted |
+130:- |
|
|
E:3 |
Paper
fold |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
E:4 |
Set-off |
+7:- |
+7:- |
|
E:5 |
Smudgy
print |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
G:1 |
Black,
greenish blue paper printed on the back of cinema tickets |
35:- |
|
|
First
Printing. (Jan. 18-22, 1919)
The print is often porous and seems to be dry. Panes arranged as
ill. No. 5
Issued: 605.000
Grey
brown, shades from dark to light or pale |
1:- |
1:- |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
E:6 |
White
dashes through Pos. A 62 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:7 |
White
dot before E. Pos. B 53 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:8 |
Dash
between TI. Pos. C 70 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:9 |
White
dot in in 5. Pos. D 12 |
+15:- |
+15:- |
|
E:10 |
White
spot after (T)I. Pos. D 28 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:11 |
(O)S
with serif Pos. E 6 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:12 |
(E)E
crossed through Pos. F 28 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|

Second
Printing. (March 18-21, 1919)
The print is even and covers well. The letters are narrow compared
to the two other printings.
The panes are arranged as ill. No 5
Issued: 510.000
Yellowish
grey, brownish, reddish. Shades from dark to light |
1:50 |
1:- |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
B:1 |
Brownish
grey |
+4:- |
+3:- |
|
B:1 |
Grey |
+25:- |
+3:- |
|
B:1 |
Olive
grey |
+15:- |
+3:- |
|
B:1 |
Olive |
+60:- |
+45:- |
|
E:13 |
While
dots after OS)T Pos. B 5 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:14 |
White
spot after (T). Pos. B 51 |
+1:- |
+1:- |
|
E:15 |
Hairline
under EESTI. Pos. B 54 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:16 |
Damaged E(E). Pos. D 9 |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
E:17 |
P with hook Pos. D 46 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
E:18 |
Dash
after (OS)T. Pos. D 74 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:19 |
(O)S
with outcrop Pos. A 88 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:20 |
T(l)
with outcrop Pos. A 97 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:21 |
(3)5
joined to frame Pos. C 62 |
+5:- |
+5:- |
|
E:22 |
Vertical
hairline through the stamp Pos. C 94 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|

Third
Printing. (April 25-May 2, 1919)
The printing stone of the second printing used also for this printing.
Horiz. VM-line can be found.
Pane arrangement and varieties are the same as in the second printing.
Issued: 1.032.000
Vivid
reddish brown. Mostly darker shades |
1:- |
1:- |
|
|
Block
of four |
6x |
8x |
|
C:1 |
Horiz.
WM-line |
+10:- |
+10:- |
|
4.
SI |
70
P.
DL30g
1919-01-23 - 1919-12-31
SI rare |
 |
 |
 |
|
SI |
|
|
75:- |
|
MU |
|
|
-- |
|
MI |
|
|
60:- |
Printed Jan. 23-27, 1919
Hairlines can frequently be found in many positions. Pane arrangement
as ill. No 5.
Issued: 503.000
Olive
green, from dark to light |
1.50:- |
1.50:- |
|
|
Block
of four |
5x |
8x |
|
B:1 |
Green |
+14:- |
+14:- |
|
C:1 |
Horiz.
WM-Line |
+8:- |
+8:- |
|
E:1 |
Paper
fold |
+4:- |
+4:- |
|
E:2 |
Smudgy
print |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:3 |
Broken
bottom line Pos. A 97 |
+6:- |
+6:- |
|
E:4 |
Crossing
hairlines Pos. B 31 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:5 |
Dots
and hairlines Pos. C 81 |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
|
E:6 |
White
dash after (T)I. Pos. D 20 |
+0.75 |
+0.75 |
|
G:1 |
Black.
greenish blue paper, printed on the back of cinema tickets |
35:- |
|
|
General
flaws of auxiliary printing stones.
Besides the varieties mentioned above which are characteristic for
individual panes, there are quite a few recurrent die-flaws which
occur in all printings. They originate from the auxiliary stones.
|
|
 |
 |
|
1. |
Break
left in frame, approx. at the level
of the bottom line of EESTI.
5 Kop., 35 & 70 P. In the first and sixth
rows of all panes, 5 times each. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
 |
2. |
Bulge
in frame above left upper 5. In the
third and eight row, 5 times each. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
3. |
Bulge
in the centre field above ES.
5 Kop., 35 & 70 P., in the fourth and ninth
rows, 5 times each. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
4. |
Dented
top of T(I).
15 Kop., 5 times in every row III and VIII. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
5. |
Distorted
K.
15 Kop. Rows I and VI. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
6. |
Dot
within K.
15 Kop. Rows II and VII. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
7. |
Short
left lower 1(5), as No 3. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
8. |
Comma
in the left upper square.
35 P., 2-3 times in every row III and VIII. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
9. |
Damaged
T(I). Ill E:6 (70 P).
2 to 3 times in every row II and VII. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
10. |
Dot
in the broken right frameline, close above
the bottom line.
70 P., 2 to 3 times in every row IV and IX. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
11. |
Value
tablet shifted to right or left.
35 & 70 P., occurs irregularly within the
group of 2 x 2 x 5 stamps of the
auxiliary stone. |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |
12. |
Upper
right rectangle damaged |
+0.50 |
+0.50 |

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.