Poland - Unusual Strike On 25zt

This stamp from 1950 has an unusual strike on it. Not that the word Groszy would be unusual for Poland but it looks more like a rubber stamp that a typical overprint. Does anyone recognize it? Thanks - Jeff

Groszy overprint used on stamps because of the currency revaluation in 1950. The overprint was "optional" and came in many varieties, including counterfeits. Not listed in Scott, but there are a few books that specialize in these surcharges. I don't know enough about them to tell you whether you have a genuine or fake surcharge.

Sure does not have much of a professional look to it.

Jeff, in 1950 Poland revaluated their currency. Each post office was authorized to surcharge their existing stock with "GROSZY". There are hundred of designs of this surcharge and it can be found on most stamps between 1946 and 1950.

They were applied locally upon request. So there are a wide variety of font styles/sizes. Takes an expert to know which ones are real/fake. Assuming the cancel is genuine, your stamp appears to have the cancel on top of the surcharge, which is normally a good sign.

Thanks Russ, khj just love those oddballs.

jhlovell, look in your Scott catalogue under Poland around 1950 and you will find a note titled "Groszy". The note states: "To provide denominations needed as a result of the currency revaluation of Oct. 28, 1950, each post office was authorized to surcharge stamps of the current stock with the word "Groszy".....

Note - when I went to research this 15 minutes ago, nobody had replied yet but when I replied many of you beat me.

Did you just call us oddballs?

I don't know about Russ, but as for me, thanks!

k

I was referring to the stamp, I think?

I have collected Poland for a while,
and never seen these before, thanks for an interesting thread.

No charge for the fun.

Thanks for posting this thread jhlovell. I love these overprints.

Reviving this one. This stamp confuses me.





Scott states that counterfeits exist. Why would someone fake a surcharge on a stamp with no value ? Looking at this website http://www.stampspoland.nl/series/g...szy_all.html how on earth could anyone possibly know what is real and what isn't ?