5 Mk Viking Ship, Upside Down

Inverted center error stamps are of course rarities because that is the major error in the production of the stamps. There are many different forgeries about this inverted center 5 Mk Viking. 

The stamp above is genuine and its trade mark is: FRAME OFF CENTERED. The length of the black frame (outside measure) is 29.50 mm. Source: Pertti Hujala, Finland.

The length of the black frame below is 30.23 mm. That is a forgery, printed on quite white paper and it is "too well centered". There are many other forgeries about this inverted center Viking 5 Mk. The white paper forgeries eventually belong to the early production. If you are not careful, you will be deceived easily with this quality forgery.

Tartu Näitus

The above advertising picture is taken from the idealized painting of Napoleon Crossing the Alps. The original equestrian portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte was painted by the French artist Jacques-Louis David between 1801 and 1805. Wikipedia is saying that the king of Spain paid the first artistic version of this military adventure and got the painting hanging to his castle. Bonaparte and his army crossed the Alps in May 1800.There are alltogether five different versions of the same painting. As we see, the above picture is the copy of the Palace de Versailles where this version is still hanging.

Tartu Näitus (Tartu Exhibition) cancellation 5 IX 39 is gossiping that there was coming an important art exhibition in Tartu at that time. The 2 senti franking of this card goes to the category of inland printed paper. (1.1.1928-29.2.1940, < 50g = 2 senti).

Letters to Foreign Countries

 

General Estonian Postal Rates for Letters to Foreign Countries

Exceptions prevailed: Latvia, Lithuania, (both countries from 1923 to 5.12.1940), Finland (31.12.1928–30.11.1940) and Sweden (1.5.1937–5.12.1940) had a special Postal Agreement with Estonia. Please, look at the examples.

The registration was an essential part of postal services. 

Foreign registration fees between 19.2.1919-5.12.1940:

 

1.1.1919–18.2.1919

     15 g … 0,45 Mk

16-30 g … 0,90 Mk

 ea 15 g   + 0,45 Mk

  19.2.1919-31.12.1919  

     15 g … 0,50 Mk

16-30 g … 1,00 Mk

31-45 g … 1,50 Mk

 ea 15 g   + 0,50 Mk

 

Tässä kirjeessä on 1 Mk. sininen Viikinkilaiva, joka on painettu ns. valkoiselle paperille. Se on varmasti tuota paperi-erää, sillä harmaalle paperille painettu 1 Mk tuli markkinoille vasta 3.3.1920. Heinäkuun 28. on siten melko aikainen leimaus. Postitaksa on oikea: kirjaus 0,50 Mk ja 15 gr. kirje 0,50 Mk eli 1 Mk yhteensä.

Kirjeen takana on 2 Helsingin leimaa, 23. ja 25. VIII. Kyseessä on tietenkin sensuuriin liittyva kaksoisleimaus.

1.1.1920 - 30.6.1920  

     15 g … 1,25 Mk

16-30 g … 2,50 Mk

31-45 g … 3,75 Mk

 ea 15 g   + 1,25 Mk

Vuonna 1920 hinnat Virossa lähtivät villiin inflaatioon. Hintakehityksen suunnasta oltiin varmoja, sillä postitaksat määriteltiin vain ½ vuodeksi, ajalle 1.1.1920–1.6.1920. Tämä kirjattu ulkomaankirje on osoitettu Sveitsin Berniin herra F. Hoffmannille. Tässä kirjeessä kirjaus on maksanut 1,25 Mk ja 15 gr. kirje 1,25 Mk eli yhteensä 2,50 Mk. Tuloleima kirjeen takana on leimattu 23.1.23. Mitähän kautta kirje on kulkenut perille Sveitsiin?

 

1.7.1920 - 9.4.1921  

     15 g … 2,50 Mk

16-30 g … 5,00 Mk

31-45 g … 7,50 Mk

 ea 15 g   + 2,50 Mk

This registered letter is sent 16.7.1920 from Tartu to a little village near Breslau in Germany, via Finland: Registration 2,5 Mk + letter (15 g.) 2,5 Mk = 5 Mk

10.4.1921 - 31.10.1922 
 

     20 g … 10.00 Mk

21-40 g … 15,00 Mk

41-60 g … 20,00 Mk

 ea 20 g    + 5,00 Mk

Freiherrn Albert von Schrenck-(Notzing) (18 May 1862 – 12 February 1929) was a notable physician, psychiatrist and psychic researcher.  Paranormal events, mediumship, hypnotism and telepathy were all dear to him.  He lived and died in Munchen, Germany. This registered letter carries stamps for value of 20 Mk. That is exactly correct because the reg. fee was 10 Mk and letter 20g. also 10 Mk.

Postüberwachungsstelle = Post monitoring point

1.11.1922 - 31.12.1923  

    20 g … 15.00 Mk

21-40 g … 22,50 Mk

41-60 g … 30,00 Mk

 ea 20 g      +7,50 Mk

Registration 15 Mk + letter 20 g. 15 Mk = 30 Mk. The back side of the letter below

1.1.1924 - 31.1.1925  

     20 g … 15.00 Mk

21-40 g … 23,00 Mk

41-60 g … 31,00 Mk

 ea 20 g     + 8,00 Mk

27.5.1924 registered letter from Hagudi, Estonia, to Miesbach, Germany. The registration fee was 15 Mk and the foreign letter  (20 gr). 15 Mk. 30 Mk is correct.

 1.2.1925 - 31.12.1927  

     20 g … 20.00 Mk

21-40 g … 32,00 Mk

41-60 g … 44,00 Mk

 ea 15 g   + 12,00 Mk

The above letter has been sent from Tallinn 26 IV 1927 to Helsinki, in Finland. The fee of 20 marka is correct.

  1.1.1928-31.12.1934  

     20 g … 0,20 Kr

21-40 g … 0,32 Kr

41-60 g … 0,44 Kr

 ea 20 g   + 0,12 Kr

 Registration 20 s + letter < 20 g. also 20 s = 40 s

  1.1.1935 - 31.3.1939  

     20 g … 0,25 Kr

21-40 g … 0,40 Kr

41-60 g … 0,55 Kr

 ea 20 g   + 0,15 Kr

Registration 25 senti and foreign letter (21 - 40 g.) 40 senti = 65 senti.

The above letter has been sent from Tallinn 1 II 1937 to Washington, DC. The size of the envelope is 24 cm x 11 cm. There is the text behind the envelope:”From the Franklin D. Roosevelt collection authenticated by H.R. Harmer INC, N.Y. From Internet we can find out: “In 1946, H.R. Harmer Inc.of New York was selected to sell the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s stamp collection”.

1.4.1939-5.12.1940

     20 g … 0,30 Kr

21-40 g … 0,48 Kr

41-60 g … 0,66 Kr

 ea 20 g   + 0,18 Kr

Charlottenlund is a town in Denmark about 20 km to Copenhagen. Charlottenlund derives its name from Princess Charlotte Amalie, the daughter of King Frederick IV of Denmark. This of course took place long, long time ago. January 10, 1940, Herrn direktor Peter Peltzer has received a registered letter from Narva, Estonia. The letter has departed Narva January 5, 1940. Is the franking correct? Yes, it is because the registration was 0, 20 Kr and the foreign letter (< 20g.) was 0, 30 Kr = 0, 50 Kr. = 50 s.

The special Postal Agreement between Estonia and Finland was 

valid 31.12.1928 – 30.11.1940.

The Postal Agreement between Estonia and Finland: “the Decree included letters up to 500 grams, postcards, the minimum rate for commercial papers, registration, insurance for letters, express fee for letter-post articles, advice of delivery, withdrawal of mail and alteration of address, plus the authority for payment”. 

31.12.1928 – 31.12.1934 letter (<40 g.) to Finland was 15 senti.

This letter from Juuru, 9 VIII 1930 and arrival in Wasa (Vaasa) 12.VIII.30

1.1.1935 – 30.4.1937 letter (<40 g) to Finland was 15 senti.

This letter from Tallinn, July 18, 1936 and arrival in Helsinki 20.VII.36

1.5.1937 – 31.3.1939. letter (< 20 g) to Finland was 15 senti.

This letter from Tallinn, 8 II 1939 and arrival in Nykarleby II.II.39

1.4.1939 – 29.2.1940. letter (< 20 g) to Finland was 15 senti.

This letter from Tallinn, 28 VI 1939 and arrival in Kauniainen 29.VI.39

1.3.1940 – 5.12.1940  letter (< 20 g.) to Finland was 15 senti.

This letter from Tartu, 2 XI 1940 and arrival in Seinäjoki 12.VI.40