Lot 330A Germany - French Occupation of Baden SC#5N31(31YI) 6pf Brown 1948-1949 Third Pictorial Issue, A Very Fine Used Single, 2022 Scott Classic Cat. $13.5 USD

A very fine used example of the 6pf brown from the 1948-1949 Third Pictorial Issue. 2017 Scott cat. $13.5.

This issue, although simple in Scott is actually quite complicated, with two different paper types and up to six different types of each design. The paper types are: (1) a soft, white paper, and (2) a thin greyish paper.

With respect to types, they are mostly the same price and Michel and differ by design as follows. On the Hebel stamp there is a triangle of colour to the right of the face. On type 1 there is a small projection from the middle of this triangle that touches the face. On type 2, this projection falls just short of the face. Type 3 is the same as type 2, except that the the shading at the right corner of the mouth is broken. On the Girl of Constance design there is a distant sailboat off to the upper right. On type 1 the left edge of the sail is smooth or has just a slight bump in the middle and does not cross the rope lines of the closer sailboat in the background. Type 2 is similar, except that there is a clear projection from the edge of the sail in the middle. Type 3 has a larger projection on the sail and the bottom left corner of the sail crosses the rope lines of the closer sailboat. On the Black forest scene, look at the shading of the tree between the D and E of Baden. On type 1 it is rounded and on type 2, there is a clear line projecting to the right, between the letters. The other designs show different variations with Rastatt Castle (the 16pf and 24pf) being the most complicated, with 6 types that are difficult to distinguish, but can be with patience. I won't detail them all here, but would be happy to let successful bidders know what the other differences are, should they wish to know.

With respect to catalogue values in Michel, these stamps are priced generally at a minimum of 1 Euro each for mint and 2.20 Euro each for used, regardless of how common they are, IF they are identified. Michel also gives a "cheapest value" for unsorted, unidentified stamps. So, they give recognition to the fact that there is time, labour and skill involved to properly classify and identify the different printings. We have summed up the values and estimated the lots as if Euros equal dollars, though we recognize that the actual value will be less than this, but should be much higher than Scott, which is for unidentified stamps. Michel does note that the prices are for BPP certified examples, though for the most part, these are quite easy to identify and are not of sufficient value that we feel it necessary to submit them for certification. So, you should bear this in mind when bidding.