Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
There were four sheets of 100 of this overprint on the 8th Printing, which is perforated 14 x 13.5.
The common overprint was on the 9th Printing, which was perforated 12.75 x 12.75.
There were eight positions per sheet featuring the "straight foot," for a total of 32 examples that can exist.
There is one "Normal Frame" per sheet, Position 91, for a total of four, which I am still looking to acquire.
Effective January 1, 1902 there was a rate reduction lowering the domestic letter rate and the rate for foreign postcards from 3 cents to 2 cents. There weren't, however, any 2 cents stamps available in DWI, so the now-obsolete 3 cent stamps were overprinted. These were later replaced by the 2 Cent "Coat of Arms" issue of 1903.
It is believed that the 4 sheets that were overprinted on the 8th Printing were simply part of the stock on hand when the overprints were being produced.
The very first example I discovered many years ago was a nice NH copy searching a dealer's box of 102 cards at a show, and I picked it up for $8. Having acquired three more copies, I sold it to raise cash to purchase other items. For sentimental reasons, I wish I still had it, but the gentleman who purchased it was quite happy with the deal, so it's all good!
This is truly one of those stamps lurking in old collections and misidentified in dealer's stock, though none of these three were!
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01:26:30pm
I decided to add DWI to my collection since I collect all other former US protectorates. I know this is a bit of a sacrilege, but I decided to keep it simple for a while and stay away from varieties, at least until I have all, or most, of the regular stamps. Maybe later I will get into all the rest of the "fun staff"!
I also added the Ryukyu Islands, but only the first part up to 1955 where I cut off most of my collections.
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As a newer student of the stamps of DWI, I really appreciate this post!
A question - what is your preferred reference for DWI? I currently use Michel and Facit (and Colnect) but I’m guessing you favor a specialized AFA catalog? If yes, having the two catalogs that I do have, would it be worthwhile to invest in another catalog?
Thank you!
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Hi, @Philatelia!
Personally, I tend to use Facit more often than AFA (that sound you heard was a bunch of Danes gasping and spilling their akvavit and muttering things that won't be repeated in this forum!). AFA is really great if you have the Specialized edition, which comes out every so many years. I think my volume is from the 90's, and there haven't been too many changes to the listings since then. I probably should get a more recent copy, though. My AFA is a hardcover edition (I think all of the "specialized editions are/were), and it is a bit of a pain to use as it won't stay "flat" when opened, which kind of annoys me where the Facit volume will.
For collecting the basic printings and varieties, Facit does a pretty good job. I don't use Michel for DWI, so really can't comment on how useful it is, but I don't see items listed with Michel #s too often, either. I don't use Scott as a reference as it misses far too many printings and major varieties but I love to sift through material listed according to Scott!
For the purpose of attending shows, I carefully removed the DWI pages from an older Facit volume and simply carry them with me in a file should I need to reference them. The remainder of the volume was given to a friend who was getting into the older Swedish issues.
I do have a concordance for Scott, AFA, and Facit, which I believe is out of print, but don't find myself using it too much.
Arnold Sorensen published a great book a few years back which can be purchased on DVD for about $20. He's in the US if you'd like his contact info. There are other great reference works, such as Lasse Nielsen's 6 volume work on the bi-colors (Danish and English). The three volume DWI mails set is also great (and in English). The website tofarvet.dk is also a treasure trove of info for those who desire to do a deep-dive into the bi-colors and continues the work of Lasse Nielsen (mostly in Danish with some English). Admittedly, I'm not really into plating, so I don't frequent it, but do admire the work everyone has put into it.
Please feel free to get in touch if I can be of any help to you! Happy Holidays!
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Thank you for the detailed response!
I suppose I’ll use Facit then - my version is in English which is VERY helpful.
I’ve been taking the proceeds from my collection sales to upgrade the collections I plan to keep. My DWI has so many holes that I think my next step will be to purchase the best collection I can afford from one of the Nordic auction houses. I’ll let you know what I find. I collect both mint and used - one of each preferably, so I often end up buying two collections.
One question - the bisects.(I’m partial to bisects and buy them now and then) The few I have look too “perfect” - are these often philatelic confections? Only one of mine seems like an actually used cover. Thanks for your thoughts.
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The bisects were indeed largely philatelic, but there are legitimate covers out there. Most of the philatelic covers I see are to a gentleman with the name of Woods. Your first cover looks like one of the better ones, and appears to be addressed to a young man or child with the usage of "master" before his name. Even if this is philatelic, it is better than most and I'd suggest hanging on to it. I don't recall seeing one with this name, and this cover was sent a couple of months after the bisects began being used. The smaller cover is nice, too!!
Things I look for in the bisects are the perfs and frames, and then the printing as there is some value there. I'm getting ready to head out of the office, but will update this later tonight!
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My mint DWI starter collection arrived today. Fortunately, no stuck down stamps!
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Hi, @philatelia! That's a great looking starter set for DWI! The 1873 4 Cents is a really, really nice looking copy -- the perfs and centering are far better than what is ordinarily seen. The 3 Cent stamp sitting next to looks like #2, and am not 100% sure what the stamps is above those two, could be a #1 or a #2 (the gum color and burelage will determine what the 3 Cent stamps are). Both sets of the Postage Dues are also legitimate (fakes are common in the first set). Well done!
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Thank you! I’m delighted with the quality, price and condition. What caught my eye was the bright fresh color and good centering. Most of the hinges easily peeled off and nothing was stuck down. I Collect both mint and used for most of my collections, but primarily I prefer used. My DWI used is very, very thin so I have quite a long wishlist. But the chase is a great part of the fun!
I wasn’t aware of the prevalence of forgeries for the first postage dues set. I’ll have to hunt down identifying info to add to my DWI binder. It seems so nerdy, but I love learning those esoteric philatelic tidbits.
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@philatelia the freshness of the colors is indeed terrific. That 4 Cent (1973), as mentioned earlier, is very impressive! Love it! The 2 & 8 Cent vapen/arms issues also have better centering than what is typically encountered, particularly the 8 Cent, and both have nice, white paper, which isn't always the case. If you haven't done so already, check for inverted watermarks! I occasionally find them in the 1 Cent vapen/arms and the "ships" issues.
Regarding the "fakes/forgeries/etc" of the postage dues, I'll post some when we get back from holiday. Once you see the difference, you'll have no trouble spotting them.
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Added a few covers to my nascent DWI bisect collection. Some women buy shoes, I buy classic covers. At least my covers won't be out of style and dumped in the back of the closet in 6 months! Am I right?
The Scotch Whisky cover has some major drawbacks, but, hey come on, the price was right and whisky? How fun is that? LoL! Besides I now have a commercial cover. The second gives me a diplomatic/government usage and the addressee to the Austrian Counsel ties in with my Austrian collection. That calligraphy / penmanship is just so elegant and beautiful. Sigh. Beats the heck out of my chicken scratches!
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Below are three examples of one of the "keys" to the Danish West Indies. In Scott, it is #23 for the first two, and #23a for the third, which has the "2 in the date with straight tail." In Facit, they are listed as #24a for the first two, and 24av1 for the "straight tail" copy.
There were four sheets of 100 of this overprint on the 8th Printing, which is perforated 14 x 13.5.
The common overprint was on the 9th Printing, which was perforated 12.75 x 12.75.
There were eight positions per sheet featuring the "straight foot," for a total of 32 examples that can exist.
There is one "Normal Frame" per sheet, Position 91, for a total of four, which I am still looking to acquire.
Effective January 1, 1902 there was a rate reduction lowering the domestic letter rate and the rate for foreign postcards from 3 cents to 2 cents. There weren't, however, any 2 cents stamps available in DWI, so the now-obsolete 3 cent stamps were overprinted. These were later replaced by the 2 Cent "Coat of Arms" issue of 1903.
It is believed that the 4 sheets that were overprinted on the 8th Printing were simply part of the stock on hand when the overprints were being produced.
The very first example I discovered many years ago was a nice NH copy searching a dealer's box of 102 cards at a show, and I picked it up for $8. Having acquired three more copies, I sold it to raise cash to purchase other items. For sentimental reasons, I wish I still had it, but the gentleman who purchased it was quite happy with the deal, so it's all good!
This is truly one of those stamps lurking in old collections and misidentified in dealer's stock, though none of these three were!
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
03 Apr 2021
01:26:30pm
re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
I decided to add DWI to my collection since I collect all other former US protectorates. I know this is a bit of a sacrilege, but I decided to keep it simple for a while and stay away from varieties, at least until I have all, or most, of the regular stamps. Maybe later I will get into all the rest of the "fun staff"!
I also added the Ryukyu Islands, but only the first part up to 1955 where I cut off most of my collections.
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
As a newer student of the stamps of DWI, I really appreciate this post!
A question - what is your preferred reference for DWI? I currently use Michel and Facit (and Colnect) but I’m guessing you favor a specialized AFA catalog? If yes, having the two catalogs that I do have, would it be worthwhile to invest in another catalog?
Thank you!
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
Hi, @Philatelia!
Personally, I tend to use Facit more often than AFA (that sound you heard was a bunch of Danes gasping and spilling their akvavit and muttering things that won't be repeated in this forum!). AFA is really great if you have the Specialized edition, which comes out every so many years. I think my volume is from the 90's, and there haven't been too many changes to the listings since then. I probably should get a more recent copy, though. My AFA is a hardcover edition (I think all of the "specialized editions are/were), and it is a bit of a pain to use as it won't stay "flat" when opened, which kind of annoys me where the Facit volume will.
For collecting the basic printings and varieties, Facit does a pretty good job. I don't use Michel for DWI, so really can't comment on how useful it is, but I don't see items listed with Michel #s too often, either. I don't use Scott as a reference as it misses far too many printings and major varieties but I love to sift through material listed according to Scott!
For the purpose of attending shows, I carefully removed the DWI pages from an older Facit volume and simply carry them with me in a file should I need to reference them. The remainder of the volume was given to a friend who was getting into the older Swedish issues.
I do have a concordance for Scott, AFA, and Facit, which I believe is out of print, but don't find myself using it too much.
Arnold Sorensen published a great book a few years back which can be purchased on DVD for about $20. He's in the US if you'd like his contact info. There are other great reference works, such as Lasse Nielsen's 6 volume work on the bi-colors (Danish and English). The three volume DWI mails set is also great (and in English). The website tofarvet.dk is also a treasure trove of info for those who desire to do a deep-dive into the bi-colors and continues the work of Lasse Nielsen (mostly in Danish with some English). Admittedly, I'm not really into plating, so I don't frequent it, but do admire the work everyone has put into it.
Please feel free to get in touch if I can be of any help to you! Happy Holidays!
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
Thank you for the detailed response!
I suppose I’ll use Facit then - my version is in English which is VERY helpful.
I’ve been taking the proceeds from my collection sales to upgrade the collections I plan to keep. My DWI has so many holes that I think my next step will be to purchase the best collection I can afford from one of the Nordic auction houses. I’ll let you know what I find. I collect both mint and used - one of each preferably, so I often end up buying two collections.
One question - the bisects.(I’m partial to bisects and buy them now and then) The few I have look too “perfect” - are these often philatelic confections? Only one of mine seems like an actually used cover. Thanks for your thoughts.
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
The bisects were indeed largely philatelic, but there are legitimate covers out there. Most of the philatelic covers I see are to a gentleman with the name of Woods. Your first cover looks like one of the better ones, and appears to be addressed to a young man or child with the usage of "master" before his name. Even if this is philatelic, it is better than most and I'd suggest hanging on to it. I don't recall seeing one with this name, and this cover was sent a couple of months after the bisects began being used. The smaller cover is nice, too!!
Things I look for in the bisects are the perfs and frames, and then the printing as there is some value there. I'm getting ready to head out of the office, but will update this later tonight!
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
My mint DWI starter collection arrived today. Fortunately, no stuck down stamps!
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
Hi, @philatelia! That's a great looking starter set for DWI! The 1873 4 Cents is a really, really nice looking copy -- the perfs and centering are far better than what is ordinarily seen. The 3 Cent stamp sitting next to looks like #2, and am not 100% sure what the stamps is above those two, could be a #1 or a #2 (the gum color and burelage will determine what the 3 Cent stamps are). Both sets of the Postage Dues are also legitimate (fakes are common in the first set). Well done!
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
Thank you! I’m delighted with the quality, price and condition. What caught my eye was the bright fresh color and good centering. Most of the hinges easily peeled off and nothing was stuck down. I Collect both mint and used for most of my collections, but primarily I prefer used. My DWI used is very, very thin so I have quite a long wishlist. But the chase is a great part of the fun!
I wasn’t aware of the prevalence of forgeries for the first postage dues set. I’ll have to hunt down identifying info to add to my DWI binder. It seems so nerdy, but I love learning those esoteric philatelic tidbits.
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re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
@philatelia the freshness of the colors is indeed terrific. That 4 Cent (1973), as mentioned earlier, is very impressive! Love it! The 2 & 8 Cent vapen/arms issues also have better centering than what is typically encountered, particularly the 8 Cent, and both have nice, white paper, which isn't always the case. If you haven't done so already, check for inverted watermarks! I occasionally find them in the 1 Cent vapen/arms and the "ships" issues.
Regarding the "fakes/forgeries/etc" of the postage dues, I'll post some when we get back from holiday. Once you see the difference, you'll have no trouble spotting them.
Login to Like
this post
re: Danish West Indies: A Key to the Series
Added a few covers to my nascent DWI bisect collection. Some women buy shoes, I buy classic covers. At least my covers won't be out of style and dumped in the back of the closet in 6 months! Am I right?
The Scotch Whisky cover has some major drawbacks, but, hey come on, the price was right and whisky? How fun is that? LoL! Besides I now have a commercial cover. The second gives me a diplomatic/government usage and the addressee to the Austrian Counsel ties in with my Austrian collection. That calligraphy / penmanship is just so elegant and beautiful. Sigh. Beats the heck out of my chicken scratches!
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