Definitives From Around The World

Yes, the Siracusana was issued in two main watermark types (winged wheel and stars, plus some modifications) due to the long use of this series. Plus there are differences in perforation, quality of paper (it was used a luminescent paper in some cases) and printing method.
The series, although immensely popular, is very hard to complete at the highest specialization: some stamps value more than 100$!

Another Good Ol'Italy series :D

Italy at work , the second definitive series of Italian Republic. They were issued in a time of desperate need of economic reprise, and every stamp is dedicated to a peculiar activity in -past- Italy: Oranges in Sicily, Wine near Rome, Craftmanship in Tuscany...

Amongst the italian collectors, this is considered the best series issued in Republican Italy

Wow, what a GREAT topic. World Wide MNH definitives are all I collect (aside from other "workhorse" issues such as officials, airs and dues). I originally only collected Commonwealth and spent about 20 years specializing in KGVI definitives from Colonies and Protectorates. I collected every perf variety, every watermark variety, and every shade.

Over time, I reached a point where I only had perhaps 10 or 15 stamps left on my want list. I either couldn't afford them, or I simply could not find them. If was a ton of fun, especially in the 1990's when the stamps could be found abundantly and inexpensively in the US. When I hit the wall and could not advance the collection any further, I auctioned it through Murray Payne in the UK (among the very best dealers in the world). As part of my consignment, I also parted with all my early QE II line-engraved definitives but wish I hadn't. I'll gradually try to build them back up, but in the meantime there are lots of other countries I enjoy just as much.

One of the early posts in this thread was about Denmark, which was the first non-commonwealth country I started to collect! I have a complete basic collection of the wavy line definitives, the caravelles, the three lions, and most of the issues featuring monarchs. From there, I got into the Sweden 3 crowns, which unfortunately is a very limited set by comparison with others, the various Finland coats-of-arms lions (from 1930 on), and all flavors of Norway definitives since about the 1930's.

I was surprised to discover some of the other definitives I liked- Portugal, Spain, Italy, Afars, Somali Coast, Spanish Colonies, Belgium, Netherlands, Indonesia, even places like Angola and Mozambique. I am very excited to read the rest of this long thread to learn more, hear about other's interests, and perhaps make some contributions.

Again, GREAT topic!

I like definitives as well. Completing the various, often lengthy, definitive series of most countries is usually a far bigger challenge than getting all the commemoratives. I just ordered 2 pounds of definitives on paper, so I'll be having a few thousand of them to go through soon. And yes, I'll soak every one of them off, regardless of how much duplication there is.

I'm a used definitive collector too. What's your source for good used lots?

Thanks.

Don

Well, this particular lot is German stamps. Wernerzield on ebay is where I ordered them. Otherwise Swan Philatelics is a good source of general worldwide kiloware. There are also some good sellers advertising in the Linn's classified (accessible without a subscription).

Polish definitives No 1

Between 1795 & 1918 there was no Poland, the old kingdom having been carved up between Prussia, Russia & Austro-Hungary. Each section used the occupying countries stamps in this period except for a time between 1860-65 when the Russians gave the Poles a bit of autonomy & issued a solitary 10 kopeck stamp for use only within Russia & Russian-Poland. There is some slight discussion that this is technically a Russian, not Polish, stamp. I'm not going anywhere near that one.

Russian-Poland 1860 Jan, 1.
First Polish definitive



Plating this stamp is virtually impossible. No complete sheets are known, pairs are rare, there is one unique block of six, a couple of strips of 4 or 5, & that's it. There are some guidelines though, my copy is from the left side of the sheet of 100 as seen by the wear on the left blue frame-lines, very characteristic of later printings

Australia 1914 Engraved 6d Kookaburra

Many thanks!

Don

India 1949 15th Aug. Issues Definitive Series. Second Anniversary of
Independence.



3Pies
Elephant Motif (Ajanta caves)


6 Pies
Powerful Horse, (Sun Temple,Konark)



9 Pies
Trimurti (Ephenta Cave)



1 Ana
Bodhisattva (Die-I) Left arm extended on Left Knee



1 Ana
Bodhisattva Image is reversed (Looks Rt. Arm extended to rt. Knee.)
Issued on 15th July 1950 (Die-II)



2 Ana
Nataraja (Thiruvelangadu)Issued 30tth April 1951


2 1/2 Ana
Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya) Issued 30 April 1951


3 Ana
East Gate of Sanchi Stupa


3 1/2 Ana
Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya)


4 Anas
Lingraj Temple (Bhuvaesvara)


4 Anas
Lingraj Temple (Bhuvaesvara)


6 Anas
Tomb of Mohmed Adil shah
(Gol Gumbaj, bijapur)


8 Anas
Kandarya Mahadev temple (Khajuraho)



12 Anas Golden Temple (Amritsar)



1 Rs.
Victory Tower (Chittorghad)


2 Rs.
Red Fort (Delhi)


5 Rs.
Taj Mahal (Agra)



10 Rs. Purple Brown and Deep blue
Qutub Minar (Delhi)


10 Rs. Purple Brown and blue
Qutub Minar (Delhi)





15 Rs.
Satrunjaya Temple (Palitana, Gujarat)

These are the First Series of Definitives After Independence.
3Pies to 15 Rupees Issues. From My collection

tikithindi

If anyone is selling MNH definitives (not US) please feel free to drop me a line

Definitive sets from India, used 1st series - 9th series to 10 th series (mint).

The definitives I would love to collect are those from Thailand. They are incredibly difficult to find in complete mint sets though and when you do invariably the seller wants full catalog or even higher. Condition is also a problem with Thailand definitives and most before about 1960 have some degree of tropicalization.

The only definitives I know of that are harder to complete are those of Saudi Arabia.

Here are a couple of my recent definitives acquisitions. Of course the Norway set is officials, but I like officials almost as much as definitives.





1943 definitive set complete from Portugal. I also recently added the 1947 set of Caravels from Portugal but need a couple of lower values to replace stamps with creases.





Got this set on ebay recently. Scott lists these 3 Netherlands as a separate set, however I think they are listed as part of the earlier set in European catalogs.





I've coveted this set from Spanish West Africa for some time (as well as the Airmail set), but they were incredibly hard to locate. I plan to replace a few of the more poorly centered values and fortunately have seen quite a few recently on various websites.





From BidStart





Ryukyu, also from BidStart




Got a great deal on this tough definitive from DDR as one value was damaged. I had located a replacement before buying for only a few dollars, so the set ended up I think around 40% of Scott for MNH.

Hope you enjoy! More soon.