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Greek Stamps

Definitives of 1886-1895


Brand new definitive Greek stamps were introduced, beginning in 1886.  These new definitive stamp designs are referred to by specialists as the Small Hermes Heads.

The Small Hermes Head stamps feature a new frame with large denomination numerals in the lower corners.  The country name and denomination name are completely spelled out in the upper and lower tablets.  The central vignette contains the right-facing profile of Hermes, as did the previous issues.

There were two major printings of the Small Hermes Head stamps.

  • 1886-1888 : Belgian Printing - Clear Impressions
  • 1889-1895 : Athens Printing - Poor Impressions

The imperforate block of 1 Drachma stamps shown above is from the Belgian Printing.

Perforated stamps exist for both printings.  These were not officially issued, but were requested by philatelists at the main post office in Athens.  They were freely used for postage.


The nine Belgian Printing Small Hermes Head type Greek stamps shown above were issued between 1886 and 1888.  They are typographed on unwatermarked paper, and they are all imperforate.

The Scott catalog detail for imperforate stamps is as follows:

  • 01 L.  (1888 - Sc. #64) - Brown.
  • 02 L.  (1888 - Sc. #65) - Bister.
  • 05 L.  (1888 - Sc. #66) - Yellow Green.
  • 10 L.  (1888 - Sc. #67) - Yellow.
  • 20 L.  (1888 - Sc. #68) - Carmine Rose.
  • 25 L.  (1886 - Sc. #69) - Blue.
  • 40 L.  (1888 - Sc. #70) - Violet.
  • 50 L.  (1886 - Sc. #71) - Gray Green.
  • 01 D.  (1886 - Sc. #72) - Gray.


The Scott catalog detail for privately perforated 11 1/2 stamps (two examples shown above) is as follows:

  • 01 L.  (1888 - Sc. #81) - Brown.
  • 02 L.  (1888 - Sc. #82) - Bister.
  • 05 L.  (1888 - Sc. #83) - Yellow Green.
  • 10 L.  (1888 - Sc. #84) - Yellow.
  • 20 L.  (1888 - Sc. #85) - Carmine Rose.
  • 25 L.  (1886 - Sc. #86) - Blue.
  • 40 L.  (1888 - Sc. #87) - Violet.
  • 50 L.  (1886 - Sc. #88) - Gray Green.
  • 01 D.  (1886 - Sc. #89) - Gray.


The ten Athens Printing Small Hermes Head type Greek stamps shown above were issued between 1889 and 1895.  They are typographed on paper containing a horizontal sheet-watermark, and they are all imperforate.

The Scott catalog detail for imperforate stamps is as follows:

  • 01 L.  (1889 - Sc. #90) - Black Brown, Brown.
  • 02 L.  (1889 - Sc. #91) - Pale Bister, Buff.
  • 05 L.  (1889 - Sc. #92) - Green, Deep Green.
  • 10 L.  (1889 - Sc. #93) - Yellow, Orange, Dull Yellow.
  • 20 L.  (1889 - Sc. #94) - Carmine, Rose.
  • 25 L.  (1889 - Sc. #95) - Dull Blue, Indigo, Ultramarine, Bright Blue.
  • 25 L.  (1893 - Sc. #96) - Lilac, Red Violet.
  • 40 L.  (1891 - Sc. #97) - Red Violet.
  • 40 L.  (1893 - Sc. #98) - Blue.
  • 01 D.  (1895 - Sc. #99) - Gray.

The Scott catalog detail for privately perforated 13 1/2 stamps is as follows:

  • 01 L.  (1889 - Sc. #100) - Brown.
  • 02 L.  (1889 - Sc. #101) - Buff.
  • 20 L.  (1889 - Sc. #104) - Carmine, Rose.
  • 40 L.  (1891 - Sc. #105) - Red Violet.

The Scott catalog detail for privately perforated 11 1/2 stamps is as follows:

  • 01 L.  (1889 - Sc. #107) - Black Brown, Brown.
  • 02 L.  (1889 - Sc. #108) - Pale Bister, Buff.
  • 05 L.  (1889 - Sc. #109) - Pale Green, Deep Green.
  • 10 L.  (1889 - Sc. #110) - Yellow, Orange, Dull Yellow.
  • 20 L.  (1889 - Sc. #111) - Carmine, Rose.
  • 25 L.  (1889 - Sc. #112) - Dull Blue, Indigo, Ultramarine, Bright Blue.
  • 25 L.  (1893 - Sc. #113) - Lilac, Red Violet.
  • 40 L.  (1891 - Sc. #114) - Red Violet.
  • 40 L.  (1893 - Sc. #115) - Blue.
  • 01 D.  (1895 - Sc. #116) - Gray.


As with any collectibles of substantial value ..... forgeries of early Greek stamps do exist.  If one is buying any expensive stamps of this era, one should make sure the items they are buying are guaranteed and / or certified.




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The Scott catalog listings for the Hermes Head stamps can be confusing and incomplete.  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 classical Greek stamps, 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