Need Help With 10 Greek Lepton

Hello,

I inherited two albums with old stamps from my grandfather and a few months ago I started to document myself about these stamps. It is very difficult for me to find out their value.

I have added a picture of the front and back of the stamp from Greece. I hope someone can help me identify the value of this stamp.

Thank you in advance!

Direct from Wikiedia....... "The Paris printings (October 1861)[12]
The first type of the Greek stamps with the Hermes effigy, the head profile turned to the right is issued on October 1, according to the Julian calendar, still in usage at that time in Greece, or October 13, 1861, according to the Gregorian calendar adopted by the majority of the European countries in 1582, to the exception of the orthodox ones. Greece finally adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1923.

The first type of the Greek stamp is named "large Hermes head" in order to differentiate it from the following one, issued in 1886, and named "small Hermes head".[13]

The seven values issued in October 1861 have been printed in Paris by the printer Ernest Meyer, on sheets of 150 stamps (10 X 15). These seven values are the 1 lepton, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40 & 80 lepta:

The Paris issues are easily recognisable by the extreme finesse of their printing on satin papers, lightly tinted, of a very good quality.

The shading lines of the cheek and the nape are thin and discontinued. In particular, the wavy lines and the points in the spandrels are clearly visible and printed with an extreme finesse.

Finally, only the 10 lepta carry "control numbers" on its back. These numbers are 8 mm high, when all the following ones, printed in Athens on any value, will be 6.5 mm high.

Quantities printed in Paris in 1861:[14]

Value Color Quantity
1 lepton Brown 300,000
2 lepta Bistre 224,000
5 lepta Green 130,000
10 lepta Orange on blue 100,000
20 lepta Blue 321,000
40 lepta Mauve on blue 130,000
80 lepta Rose-carmine 140,000
Total - 1,345,000 "......

This will give you quantities printed..... and now you know the "10" on back is control number. Scott's Catalog should give you estimated values. If you have no access to a Scott's, look for it on hipstamp and see what other dealers are trying to sell it for.

I did not see the 10 on the hipstamp site....but they look to run $15.00 and up for stamps of other denominations...
Be aware true value of stamps isnt always what people are selling them for online.
I would check with a stamp dealer for a more realistic price.

Yours has a small tear to one side so that would affect the value of the stamp...
Hope this helps

Rick2, why are you talking about Paris prints? Please explain, if you would. This is anything but.

This is from the 1875 cream paper issue. The paper color is obvious and looks to be slightly toned, but that may be just the scan. The very heavy numerals on the back confirm this as the back numerals got progressively worse as time passed.

While a presentable stamp, it appears to have no gum aside from the small tear. Faults affect the value of Hermes Head stamps tremendously, quite typical for classic issues. This is perhaps worth retail US$20 or so.

Well, I was just passing along what I read on Wikipedia about this stamp series....I did not quote the whole article...nor did I look it up in Scott's...my Scotts are in one location, but my computer is in another.

I was trying to give you a starting place for research, but I guess you already have that info.

Just look at this article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herme...2%80%931901)[2]

It should explain what I was trying to tell you.....again I didnt paste the whole article as it pertained to the 1875 issue...I just quoted the first part of the article, you want to look at the later information in the article.

Well, Rick2, from this corner, it is clear you didn't really read the OP. Nor did you read the Wikipedia article in part or in whole, since that doesn't answer the question, either.

So, what you were trying to tell us was that Wikipedia copypasta is the first step to answering all questions?

Hy-brasil - No, thats NOT what I am saying, I thought he was researching something. Yup....I give up. I thought he wanted to research the value of the stamp. So, I was pointing him to a place WITHOUT just giving him an answer from SCOTTS. I read so many posts about you guys saying "Do your own research," etc, etc. He says he didnt know what the value was yet in next post he already knows it was about "$20 or so...", so he clearly was asking a question he knew the answer to.
I dont have any idea if he has a Scott's but he does have a computer to look at for research. Numerous times I get the idea that users here would prefer to have people "do there own research" so I was just trying to point him that direction. Excuse me for not trying to get him to "Look for himself" Next time I will look in Scotts for him and just blast out the value.
I like it when someone tells me where to find things because then I have to expand my library and wait until someone dies so I can afford an antique book........

"Clearly you didnt read the article..." Well as a matter of fact I read enough to know there were two printing locations for the large hermes heads printed as well as several different printings. I was leaving it up to the OP to read the article...! I'm done here.....

Hello,

First of all, I did not mention that I know the real value of this stamp. I wanted to know if it is an authentic stamp and how much this stamp is worth. Secondly, I would like to inform you that I went to a specialist with this stamp, and he told me that it is genuine. Michel catalog price being 900 euros. He told me that its real value is between 200 and 250 euros. Now I ask you, what is the truth and what should I believe?
This man tricked me and gave me wrong information?
Finally, thank you very much for your effort. Wish you all the best.

MK, if the dealer will pay you anything close to that, take the money and run! My opinion, only.

I suppose that there could be some variability around the world for what percentage of catalogue value is right for this stamp, but here in the middle U.S., I'd be surprised if it brought ten percent of catalogue value. If it was on a dealer's table at $50, I would pass on it.

My 2 lepta. Others are certainly entitled to a different opinion.

I am no expert on these stamps but I have been studying them for a while and have a reference collection of 2000 Hermes heads. https://goscf.com/t/81844

What I have learned is that the most reliable identification factor are the control numerals. For the 10L, the ONLY large control number are the 1861 Paris issues. Monkey K1ng stamp in first post is clearly the smaller numeral so it cannot be the 1861 Paris issue.

Large numeral, blue paper (1862 Paris)


Second most reliable identification factor is the paper. For the 10L, the basic paper color is creme except for the issues 1862 thru 1867 which are white or blueish).

Monkey K1ng stamp paper (in first post) does not appear to be white/blue paper at all. So that moves the focus to the creme paper stamps of the 1875/1886 issues.

Since Monkey K1ng posted that his specialist said it had a Michel catalog price of 900 euros, he must feel that it is a 1860s stamp (which it is not). I agree immediately go back to that specialist and see if he will give you anything more than 50 euros (given the condition).
Don

Thank you very much for the information. I want you to understand that I am not an expert, that's why I asked for help from experienced people. Once again I will tell you that I have a stamp collection at my grandfather's and I am trying to find out their value so that I can sell them to those who are passionate about stamps. It is quite difficult for me to find out their value as long as I don't have catalogs and I don't have such a great experience. Finally, how much could I sell this stamp for, given its condition? Thank you very much for your help and effort.

Monkey K1ng, this specialist (collector or dealer?) you talked to appears to be a fake one if quoting you a catalog value of 900 euros and a price (assumed to be retail) of 200-250 euros. Large Hermes Heads can be difficult to identify, but this stamp is immediately obvious as to what it is; it's from the issue on cream paper. Per Don's suggestion, offer the stamp to him or her at 70 euros and see what the reaction is – you don't have to sell, but I'd take that amount for this stamp in heartbeat and in cash only. I've been a dealer at both retail and auction for 40+ years, but that won't have any meaning to you. Particularly when you don't get an answer you don't understand and don't like.

As for the collection, send it intact to a stamp auction house in, say, Germany. Write them first for terms and their charges. It needs to be registered and insured. Since you do not have the knowledge base to sell stamps individually, this would be the best way.