Short & Fat Or Tall & Thin: 1908 Austria Franz Josef Stamps

1908-16 "Jubilee" Franz Josef issue...

Fat/short: Scott 123 72h dark brown "Franz Josef" : 21.9 mm X 30.0 mm
Thin/Tall:Scott 123a - grayish paper (1916): 21.2mm X 30.9 mm
Fat/short: Scott 124 1k purple "F.J.in Royal Robes": 22.0mm X 30.2 mm
Thin/Tall: Scott 124 1k purple: 21.0 mm X 31.0 mm

SCB on his stamp blog reported that his 1908 Franz Josef issue stamps for the higher denominations (60 Heller particularly) were found both fat and wide, and tall and thin.....

http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/...p-series.php

He asked for other examples, and here is mine.

Clearly the 72h and 1k also are found in different sizes.

The perforations were:
1st Scott 123: 12 1/2 X 12 1/2
2nd Scott 123: 13 X 12 1/4
1st Scott 124: 12 X 12 1/2
2nd Scott 124: 12 1/2 X 12 1/4

Apparently the wet printing can lead to different sizes.

Scott makes no mention of different size stamps for this series, and apparently neither does the regular Michel catalogue. (The 1916-18 "Coat of Arms" issue is reported by Scott to be in two sizes.)

Apparently more specialized Austrian literature does make mention of the different sizes, but I wonder how many collectors know how common this size differential is for this issue?

Most hardcore collectors only specialize in small areas or one particular thing, and that alone can require 1-10 specialist catalogs. Scott's specialty is US and for further detailed info their Specialized catalog is required. I collect world wide and use Scott's as it has the basic info I need, but then again I might be sitting on some rare Iranian plate flaw worth Millions...

Thanks for lift up Jim

It's interesting to see how much these can vary; for example I've got a 1Kr stamp that is roughly the same size as your last item - but with perf 12.5:13.25. It's amazing how much wet print can affect on various measures.

BTW... The Austrian handbook states that extremely short/fat/tall/thin copies of these stamps are valued 70-90$.

Jim - Keijo - anyone?
It seems I am always late to the party Still wanted to bump this thread, as I am working on Austria for the time being.
Have anyone found some more spesific listing of these short/fat - thin/long printings?


Does Ferchenbauer state what it takes to be regarded as 'extrem' ?
My copies are probably within normal range anyway, but it would always be nice to get the knowledge.
Here goes my copies:





Any info appreciated
Jon

War time printing on different paper ?

Floortrader, thanks for chiming in.
I have my wartime on a separate page, and they are more 'clearly grey' than those displayed on the page below. But I find it a bit difficult to say for sure without clear postmark dates - as the paper seems to come in a range of white/grey shades. (anyone agrees?)
Maybe you are asking about the paper of the bottom 2 Kronen in particular? Well, it might be wartime - postmark does not help. However I have another specimen considerably more 'pure grey' - and I think the long-thin 2 kronen on my display has simply 'yellowished/darkened' by poor storing etc.

Wartime or not, the page displayed is focusing on ratio differences. Maybe next will be to try to do the same with only wartime printings....
Jon

@Blaamand....



In short "no absolute measures are given" (see comment #5 on http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/...series.php).

-k-

Thanks for clarification Keijo!
My understanding then is that these printing differences are basically poorly/not listed in any catalog - and a defined catalog reference for scarcity seems non-existent. Guess this area of collecting will remain kind of an off-track diversity, a study only for those with a particular interest - and largely ignored by mainstream.
Seems quite inconsistent to me then that similar size-differences are listed for coat of arms kronen values 1916-17. Personally I think it's more interesting how Franz Josef appears fat on some stamps and thin on others!

Sadly editorial inconsistencies are a major ingredient of every long standing catalog (but that should not prevent us of dreaming of better catalogs).

-k-