Jay Smith & Associates: Denmark: Specialized Stamps: Cold War Emergency Stamp

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Denmark: Specialized Stamps: Cold War Emergency Stamp

Scott numbers have been used unless otherwise indicated. All items are available for viewing on approval.

In 1963, at the height of the Cold War, the Danish Post Office, working with civil defense authorities, created a secret "Emergency Stamp" (Nødfrimærke) that was for use in the event of a major crisis, such as a nuclear war. Approximately 200,000,000 of the stamps were crudely printed in secret and placed in sealed packages at 8 post offices (and perhaps also in secret civil defense caches) around the country where their nature and purpose remained a secret, even from the postmasters. With the stamps, printing plates were stored so that more stamps could eventually be locally printed.

In 1991 it was decided that these stamps were no longer needed. The stamps were made available to Danmarks Filatelist Forbund (DFF), the Danish Philatelic Federation, for sale to support DFF work and the Danish Postal Museum. The stamps were only sold between 14 March and 31 December 1991. Only 150,000 of the stamps were sold; all remaining supplies were destroyed. The stamps were supplied to the DFF only in blocks of 10 (2 rows of 5 stamps) -- this is the largest size unit that can theoretically exist in private hands. [But it seems that even these blocks have since mostly been broken down into smaller blocks and singles.] When sold, the stamps were accompanied by a small folder illustrating a 4-block on the cover and providing background information. Folders versions exist with (at least) text in Danish, German, and English. [The folders are now scarce.]

Because the stamps were printed secretly and thus it was not possible to use all the usual printing facilities and equipment, the stamps were crudely printed by letterpress (typography). The paper has invisible gum (to reduce the possibility of sticking while in storage under poor conditions). They usually have rough perforations (this is not a defect). The centering is highly variable; Fine or F-VF is normal, whereas VF or better is quite scarce! Within a 10-block the centering will vary; I cannot recall ever having a 10-block in which all 10 stamps were VF.

Cold War Emergency Stamp

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Item #	Quality & Description	US$
230722	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Superb single.	22.00 WANTED Need in quantity. Please make offer.
230723	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH VF single.	16.00 WANTED Need in quantity. Please make offer.
230724	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH F-VF single.	13.00
232224	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Fine single.	10.00
230725	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Superb 4-block.	WANTED Need in quantity. Please make offer.
230726	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH VF 4-block.	64.00 WANTED Need in quantity. Please make offer.
230727	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH F-VF 4-block.	52.00
232225	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Fine 4-block.	39.00
230728	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH VF/F-VF 10-block. The largest size block in private hands.	160.00 WANTED Need in quantity. Please make offer.
232134	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH F-VF/Fine 10-block. The largest size block in private hands.	120.00

Cold War Emergency Stamp continued ...

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Item #	Quality & Description	US$
232849	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Superb 10-block with PLATE VARIETY "large cut in bottom" in second stamp on top row. The largest size block in private hands. To my knowledge, this is the first (6/2009) report of this newly discovered plate variety. I have recorded two identical examples which seem to be obvious major plate damage. The 10 NH Superb stamps sell at $22 each without considering the variety! Furthermore, this is the best-centered 10-block I have ever had. An exceptional item of the highest rarity and quality that I have had of this stamp.	250.00
232850	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH F-VF 3-strip with PLATE VARIETY "large cut in bottom" on middle stamp. To my knowledge, this is the first (6/2009) report of this newly discovered plate variety. I have recorded two identical examples which seem to be obvious major plate damage.	55.00
230729	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Folder (no stamps) with Danish text. Scarce!	25.00 WANTED Need one or several. Please make offer.
230730	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Folder (no stamps) with German text. Very scarce!	35.00 WANTED Need one or several. Please make offer.
232135	Cold War Emergency Stamp NH Folder (no stamps) with English text. Very scarce!	35.00

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