Greek stamps of the Large Hermes Head type continued to be produced through 1882. During this time period, there were many different printings, with new denominations, changes in color, changes in paper type, and changes in production methodology.
Images of all these varieties will not be shown on this page, however they will all be described in the catalog detail tables below.
The seven Large Hermes Head type Greek stamps shown above were issued between 1862 and 1867. They are typographed on unwatermarked papers of various tints, and they are all imperforate.
The stamps printed during this period are referred to by specialists as the Consecutive Printings. They represent a series of printings for each denomination, up until the time the plates were extensively cleaned in 1868. Impressions range from very fine and clear to coarse and blotchy.
Scott catalog detail for stamps without denomination numerals printed on the back side:
Scott catalog detail for stamps with denomination numerals printed on the back side:
The seven Large Hermes Head type Greek stamps shown above were issued between 1868 and 1870. They are typographed on unwatermarked papers of various tints, and they are all imperforate.
The stamps printed during this period are referred to by specialists as the Cleaned Plate Printings.
Scott catalog detail for stamps without denomination numerals printed on the back side:
Scott catalog detail for stamps with denomination numerals printed on the back side:
Scott catalog detail for stamps without mesh, printed on medium to thin paper, and with denomination numerals (except 1 L. and 2 L. denominations) printed on the back side:
Scott catalog detail for stamps showing mesh, printed on thin transparent paper, and with denomination numerals (except 1 L. denomination) printed on the back side:
Scott catalog detail for stamps printed on cream or yellowish paper, with denomination numerals (except 1 L. and 2 L. denominations) printed on the back side:
Paris Printing - Clear Impressions - Without denomination numerals printed on the back side.
Athens Printing - Coarse Impressions - Yellowish Paper.
Scott catalog detail for stamps printed on cream paper, without denomination numerals printed on the back side:
There are additional varieties of many of the Greek stamps reviewed on this webpage. Consult the various Worldwide catalogs or the Vlastos specialized Greece catalog for further details.
The early Large Hermes Head Greek stamps can be very complex and difficult to identify. When one buys any of these stamps, they should buy them from a dealer that has experience in cataloging and selling early Greek stamps.
As with any collectibles of substantial value ..... forgeries of early Greek stamps do exist. If one is buying any expensive stamp of this era, one should make sure the items they are buying are guaranteed and / or certified.
The following links feature category-focused affiliated seller listings on various eBay sites worldwide. They may enable visitors to shop
for and to buy specific items for the
particular collecting subject they've just read about.
The
affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay,
Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this
website. On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated.
Remember
that some of the lots may be priced in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. Shipping
charges for foreign sellers may be more, and the lots may take longer to arrive. Also, make
sure the foreign seller ships to your country, before bidding on or
buying his lot.
Return to Greek Stamps
from Definitives of 1862-1882
The Large Hermes Head classical stamps of Greece could be a magnificent philatelic specialty. They were issued over a period of more than 20 years, and they offer a wide selection of printing, shade, and paper varieties. There are also many production errors, generally with the misplacement of the printed denomination numerals on the back of the stamps.
These classical Greek stamps are actually pretty scarce, especially nice appearing examples, yet they are very reasonably priced. Most of them are in the double to triple digit pricing range, with very few of them being more expensive than that. That is pretty unusual for the 19th Century stamps of any major country.
The Scott catalog listings for these stamps can be very confusing, and to the novice visitor, the listings could seem very intimidating. Some of the major varieties look very similar to each other, and proper classification could mean the difference between a stamp that is worth a couple dollars and one that is very expensive!
For anyone considering a specialty in this series, I would strongly suggest getting a copy of the Vlastos Greece Specialized catalog (shown above). The catalog is bilingual, in Greek and in English. I have provided a couple links below.
Vlastos Greece Catalog at
vlastos.com
Vlastos Greece Catalog at
eBay.com