News About Austria's 1867 Issue
"From Die Briefmarke" 2005, No. 1
Translated by George Brunn
The watermarks of this issue are interesting even if not very fashionable. The question that has so far not been quite unequivocally answered is whether the watermark that was introduced in 1883 occurs on the 10 and 15 kreuzer values of the 1867 issue. The following article by Dipl. -lng. Wilhelm Klagian, Dombim, on the basis of material illustrated here.
Ferchenbauer 2000 confirms the occurrence of the new watermark on the 2, 3 and 5 kreuzer values of the 1867 issue; as to the 10 and 15 kreuzer stamps Ferchenbauer merely considers this a possibility (that is probably the meaning of the - in lieu of a catalog value on page 436).
Initially Edwin Mueller was also skeptical when he wrote in his book (1927) on page 180: It cannot be determined whether all values were printed on paper with the new watermark; we only know with certainty that the 2, 3 and 5 kreuzer were; at least the 25 and 50 kreuzer were probably not printed on the new type of paper.
By 1932, however, Mueller noted in Die Briefmarke, page 258, that the new watermark with the wider letters had been found on 10 and 15 kreuzer stamps from the second half of 1883, but no supporting material was shown at the time.
About 25 years ago the question arose again and it was pointed out that the new watermark had been found on 10 kreuzer stamps of the 1867 issue from the second half of 1883. But an illustration of the watermark published at that time (Die Briefmarke, No.207, 1976, p. 14), on closer inspection turned out to be the old watermark.
Nevertheless, the belief continued that the new broader watermark also occurred on the 10 and l5 kreuzer stamps. The belief was certainly plausible because the number of 10 kreuzer stamps printed is in the same range as the number of 3 kreuzer values: 150 million as against 196 million (see commemorative volume 75 Years Austrian Postage Stamps, p. XXIV). A respectable 35 million 15 kreuzer stamps were printed, according to the same source. Why should not these two denominations also have been printed on the new paper?
Today we have proof in the form of exemplars from July and August 1883. The watermarks were carefully measured on all four of the stamps shown below and can be identified unequivocally not only by the wider letters but also by the altered form of the B, R E, F, M, A and N.
narrower watermark
new wider watermark
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The significant characteristics of the new wider watermark are recognizable on the illustrated exemplars. They confirm the surmise that the 10 and 15 kreuzer values also exist with the new watermark.
Old wmk New wmk Examined stamps Date of use & comparison of
N upside down N reversed measurements and form
Cornen 2.7.1883 Size & distance
of period old 4.3 mm, new 4.5-5mm. Diagonal bar does not continue all the way.
Old wmk New wmk Examined stamps Date of use and comparisons of
N upright measurements and form:
Wien 1.8 (1863)
Diagonal bar not continuous; width of upper left horizontal lines, see arrows.
Old wmk New wmk E upright (or upside down)
- - edelsee 20.8.1883
Part of vertical line missing; thickness of middle bar, see arrows.
Old wmk New wmk N upside down
- Ec ... 20.8.1883
On the old wmk the width of the base is 8, on the new wmk 10mm. Thickness of vertical bar also differs, see arrows.
Another possibility for exhibiting the watermark is to place a copy of it next to the stamp on which it is visible. The greater the area of the stamp covered by the watermark the better. Complete letters, such as the upside down and reversed one on the 10 kreuzer stamp pictured below, are especially effective.
Letter B upside down and reversed on 10 kreuzer 1867
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As to the frequency of appearance we refer to Mueller who states in his book The Postage Stamps of Austria on the page already referred to:
Stamps with the new watermark are considerably rarer because the new watermark was only used on the old issue for a few months.
My estimate of the ratio of the new wider watermark to the old narrower one is 1:100 for the 10 kreuzer value and 1: 500 for the 15 kreuzer.
Below are a few tips for collectors who want to work on the watermarks of the 1867 issue. I suggest taking the following steps to determine whether you are dealing with an old or a new watermark:
Ascertain the year date on the cancel, if possible. It has to be 1883. The period of use is about midyear (April to October).
Look at the wmk in watermark fluid to see whether the vertical bar of the letter (the diagonal bar of the N; exceptions A, I, K, M) continue all the way through. See the illustration of the E, left with the old and right with the new wmk.
The difference between old and
new watermarks on the letter E by
way of illustration. Left old, right
new watermark.
In watermark fluid measure the thickness of the base and the width of the vertical bar. If the former is 10 mm and the latter 6 mm, you are dealing with a new wmk.
When you are exceptionally fortunate and able to measure the width of the letter, your problem is solved. See measurement chart below.
Measurement Chart
Old wmk New wmk
| Height of letters |
|
25 |
25 |
| Height of letters |
B |
15 |
18 |
| |
R |
18 |
22 |
| |
I |
8 |
10 |
| |
E |
15 |
18 |
| |
F |
15 |
18 |
| |
M |
23 |
26 |
| |
A |
19 |
22 |
| |
K |
18 |
22 |
| |
N |
18 |
23.5 |
| Thickness of vertical bar |
|
5 |
6 |
| Thickness of vertical bar |
|
4 |
4.5 |
| Height of letter base |
|
8 |
10 |
| Measurements of connecting me |
|
4x6(7) |
4.5x8 |
| Measurements of period |
|
4x4 |
4.5x4.5 |
| Length of letter line |
|
428 |
478 |
Measurements in millimeters Variations +1-0.5mm (even more in exceptional cases)
To compare the form and measurements of letters, determine the the position of the WM: upright, upside down, upright reversed, upside down reversed. Make a free hand sketch of the four positions.
Compare the form of letters with their illustrations.
Use watermarked stamps of the 1883 issue for purposes of comparison.
When use of the second or fourth tip (continuation of vertical bar, width of letter) gives A clear result no further investigation is necessary.
Dip - lng. Wilhelm Klagian
Marktp/atz 3, 6850 Dornbirn
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This article taken from the Austria Philatelic Society Journal: Vol. 5 Nr. 2 Pg. 15-19.
Note: No part of this article may be be duplicated, copied, or otherwise distributed without permission from the author or the Austria Philatelic Society.
