What's Your Favourite Pre-1900 Stamp Design?

I personally can't pick a single one.
So I thought I'd ask you all for some inspiration.
This is only for the stamp design, try not to make the cost play a role. A story is fine in my opinion,for example the Basel Dove (Bassler Taube), a kinda busy. But the fact it was the first tri-coloured stamp adds to it.
Thanks in advance !



Above a picture of a Basel dove.

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Here's three of my favourites:

I've always had a weakness for the German Reichsadler definitives from 1889 (Michel #47-51).

I really like the nova scotia stamps De La Rue suggested.
I'm going to try to get my hands on them.

The Reichadlers are really nice as well, I do have a couple but they are all cancelled. I will try to obtain a mint one as well.

The $2 mississippi stamp is also very nice. I love the shading on all of the litte boats. But i'm afraid I can't afford that stamp.



I'm still looking for one of these, a 1870 $2 Beer revenue stamp.

i was once a 1840-1940 world collector, and there are so many beautifully engraved stamps out there.

since it was the aesthetic part I was focused on I gave up on that area and ended up selling my collection because was simply impossible the pursue

i now focus completely on collecting aesthetic objects and areas.

and the most beautifully engraved and fascinating classic stamp is the danish bicolored.

apart from the obvious work put into the engraving, this stamp was one of the first stamps in more than one color in the world.

here's a selection of 6 of each value.

Wow shorsh, those look really cool and the light colours really work with that particular stamp. Are the different colour variations different printing sessions or just age ?

Also I get where you are coming from with your world 1840-1940 collection. I collect (nice) engraved stamps aside my normal collections (vatican & NL).

-Jules

Here is my nomination from the Falkland Islands.

Have no ability to scan at this time. But would say the 1877-1880s Crown issues for the Portuguese colonies. Those were forged by Fournier and maybe others, so more fun comes from searching for the forgeries.

I have always had a soft spot for the Chalon heads such as your Van Diemen's Land which explains my avatar. For the rest, thinking of my favourite stamps, most are from the early 20th century,

@ Julius - Thanks.

yes, the variations are different printings, this stamp design was used from 1870 (skilling value) and from 1875 to 1905 (Øre values).

the 4 øre (130 prints) and 8øre(121 prints) are the most common ones, so besides the nice engraving, there's plenty of areas to get going on.

if you included the danish west indies, I believe there are some 550 or so prints to work with in total :)

@sorsh - Sheesh, that's a lot of different prints. Now that I looked at them for a minute, they reminded me of the Norwegian (norge) stamps. Same design ? Or were these just the main stamps for the scandinavian countries ?
They look really nice, hoping that someone at the local stamp club might have one for sale. Would be a nice addition to my engravings book.

@Julius

4 and 8øre are cheap, let me know if you can't find one, i'll mail you some.

Hi,

I like these Bavarian (Kreuzer and Mark/Pfennig) Coat of arms.

Hornet

Here is another favorite.

My favorite "Britania" have quite a few others. But if I have to choose just one