Greek Stamps
Definitives of 1911-1917
All of the definitive Greek stamps of this period featured the likenesses of Hermes, the Ancient Greek messenger of the gods, or Iris, the Ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow.
The major-type definitive Greek stamps shown above were issued between 1911 and 1923.
The designs, from Ancient Greek mythology, in the order that they appear in the set, are as follows:
- Hermes.
- Iris Holding a Caduceus.
- Hermes Donning Sandals.
- Hermes Carrying the Infant Arcas.
The catalog attributes, for stamps that are engraved and serrate rouletted 13 1/2, are as follows:
- 01 L. (1911 - Sc. #198) - Green.
- 02 L. (1911 - Sc. #199) - Carmine Rose.
- 03 L. (1911 - Sc. #200) - Vermilion.
- 05 L. (1911 - Sc. #201) - Green.
- 10 L. (1911 - Sc. #202) - Carmine Rose.
- 20 L. (1911 - Sc. #203) - Gray Lilac.
- 25 L. (1911 - Sc. #204) - Ultramarine.
- 30 L. (1911 - Sc. #205) - Carmine Rose.
- 40 L. (1911 - Sc. #206) - Deep Blue.
- 50 L. (1911 - Sc. #207) - Dull Violet.
- 01 D. (1911 - Sc. #208) - Ultramarine.
- 02 D. (1911 - Sc. #209) - Vermilion.
- 03 D. (1911 - Size 20 x 26 1/2 mm - Sc. #210) - Carmine Rose.
- 03 D. (1921 - Size 20 1/4 x 25 1/2 mm - Sc. #210a) - Carmine Rose.
- 05 D. (1911 - Size 20 x 26 1/2 mm - Sc. #211) - Ultramarine.
- 05 D. (1921 - Size 20 1/4 x 25 1/2 mm - Sc. #211a) - Ultramarine.
- 10 D. (1911 - Size 20 x 26 1/2 mm - Sc. #212a) - Deep Blue.
- 10 D. (1921 - Size 20 1/4 x 25 1/2 mm - Sc. #212) - Deep Blue.
- 25 D. (1911 - Sc. #213) - Deep Blue.
The catalog attributes, for stamps that are lithographed (shown in the image above) and serrate rouletted 10 1/2 x 13 1/2 or 13 1/2, are as follows:
- 01 L. (1913 - Sc. #214) - Green.
- 02 L. (1913 - Sc. #215) - Rose.
- 03 L. (1913 - Sc. #216) - Vermilion.
- 05 L. (1913 - Sc. #217) - Green.
- 10 L. (1913 - Sc. #218) - Carmine.
- 15 L. (1918 - Sc. #219) - Deep Blue.
- 20 L. (1913 - Sc. #220) - Slate.
- 25 L. (1913 - Sc. #221) - Ultramarine, Blue.
- 30 L. (1914 - Sc. #222) - Rose.
- 40 L. (1914 - Sc. #223) - Indigo.
- 50 L. (1914 - Sc. #224) - Violet Brown.
- 80 L. (1923 - Sc. #225) - Violet Brown.
- 01 D. (1919 - Sc. #226) - Ultramarine.
- 02 D. (1919 - Sc. #227) - Vermilion.
- 03 D. (1920 - Sc. #228) - Carmine Rose.
- 05 D. (1922 - Sc. #229) - Ultramarine.
- 10 D. (1922 - Sc. #230) - Deep Blue.
- 25 D. (1922 - Sc. #231) - Indigo.
During World War I, the pro-neutrality government in Athens ordered that all the current postage stamps be overprinted to prevent their use by the pro-Entente provisional government of Eleftherios Venizelos.
These overprinted Greek stamps were officially issued on November 1, 1916. The overprint, in red or black, consists of the Greek crown over the letters "ET". An example of the overprint is shown above.
The catalog attributes, for stamps that are lithographed and serrate rouletted 13 1/2, are as follows.
- 01 L. (1916 - Sc. #233) - Green.
- 02 L. (1916 - Sc. #234) - Rose.
- 03 L. (1916 - Sc. #235) - Vermilion.
- 05 L. (1916 - Sc. #236) - Green.
- 10 L. (1916 - Sc. #237) - Carmine.
- 20 L. (1916 - Sc. #238) - Slate.
- 25 L. (1916 - Sc. #239) - Blue, Ultramarine.
- 30 L. (1916 - Sc. #240) - Rose.
- 40 L. (1916 - Sc. #241) - Indigo.
- 50 L. (1916 - Sc. #242) - Violet Brown.
The catalog attributes, for stamps that are engraved and serrate rouletted 13 1/2, are as follows.
- 03 L. (1916 - Sc. #243) - Vermilion.
- 30 L. (1916 - Sc. #244) - Carmine Rose.
- 01 D. (1916 - Sc. #245) - Ultramarine.
- 02 D. (1916 - Sc. #246) - Vermilion.
- 03 D. (1916 - Sc. #247) - Carmine Rose.
- 05 D. (1916 - Sc. #248) - Ultramarine.
- 10 D. (1922 - Sc. #248B) - Deep Blue.
During World War I, the pro-Entente provisional government of Eleftherios Venizelos in Thessaloniki created a new series of definitive Greek stamps. Their design was based on the Iris-type definitive stamps of 1911, with the additional inscription ΠΡΟΣΩΡΙΝΗ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΙΣ (Provisional
Government).
The twelve provisional government Greek stamps shown above were issued on February 5, 1917. The new stamps are lithographed and perforated 14.
The catalog attributes are as follows.
- 01 L. (1917 - Sc. #249) - Deep Green.
- 05 L. (1917 - Sc. #250) - Yellow Green.
- 10 L. (1917 - Sc. #251) - Rose.
- 25 L. (1917 - Sc. #252) - Light Blue.
- 50 L. (1917 - Sc. #253) - Gray Violet.
- 01 D. (1917 - Sc. #254) - Ultramarine.
- 02 D. (1917 - Sc. #255) - Light Red.
- 03 D. (1917 - Sc. #256) - Claret.
- 04 D. ** USED ONLY AS A REVENUE STAMP **
- 05 D. (1917 - Sc. #257) - Gray Blue.
- 10 D. (1917 - Sc. #258) - Dark Blue.
- 25 D. (1917 - Sc. #259) - Slate.
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Return to Greek Stamps
from Definitives of 1911-1917
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