Why should kinder-gardeners have all the fun with "show & tell"?
I was putting some of the Ethiopia collection into the album today, and noted that the handstamped overprints come in three major varieties (according to Scott) for the 1929 Air Post issue. I have examples of the three overprint types, so thought I would share.
This issue is interesting, as it commemorates the arrival at Addis Ababa of the 1st plane of the Ethiopian government. The regular issue of 1928 was handstamped in violet, red, black or green. The overprinted Anharic script translates as "17 August 1929-Air Plane of the Ethiopian government".
Handstamped on the 1928 issue 1/8m orange & light blue "Prince Tafari". Tafari Makonnen took the name "Haile Selassie I" when he was pronounced Emperor in 1930.
This overprint is 19.5 mm tall, the top row of Anharic script is all in a line, the bottom row of Anharic script ends with a ":" (colon).
4m yellow & olive "Empress Zauditu"
The overprint is 20mm tall, the top row of Anharic script is not in a line- the last letter bumps up, and the bottom row ends with a ":" (colon).
Why did Ethiopia need a King if there already was an Empress? Good question. She ruled from 1917 until she died in 1930, and did have the "last word". But her Regent and Ras Tafari carried out the daily administration, and was
de facto, the ruler. She had to acknowledge reality, and made him King in 1928. After she died, he became "King of Kings", Emperor Haile Selassie I.
1929 Scott C10 37 chocolate & green "Empress Zauditu"
The last of the major types according to Scott shows an overprint 19.5 mm tall, top row in a line, but the bottom row ends with an absent ":" (colon). (If one can end with something absent
)
Then, to add spice to the issue, Scott states that many errors exist.
Posted 10/18/2011 7:54 pm
