Newly acquired items worthy of your attention. These may or may not be described with quite as much detail as usual, however, as always, your satisfaction is guaranteed. All are available for approval viewing. Scott numbers have been used unless otherwise mentioned.
1558 S/S "Posten / Bring" Standard officially issued Personalized Souvenir Sheet of two stamps.
VF: Norway has the distinction of creating what I believe to be the first souvenir sheet of "Standard Personalized Stamps" containing more than one stamp design. This was issued in late 2008 and contains two stamps (same frame design) with two different logos for Posten and Bring. The designs mark the division of Norway Post into two parts: Posten - what we think of as the standard "post office" and Bring - a package delivery, freight, and logistics company (similar to UPS in the U.S.). Only 275,000 of this souvenir sheet were printed and distributed free of charge to people in Oslo and other cities around Norway, sometimes in post offices, but also given away to people on the street. Because the souvenir sheet was NOT sold to collectors and distribution was wide, but one to a person, these souvenir sheets are extremely difficult to obtain. The Scott Catalog editors HAVE reserved a catalog number for this souvenir sheet; such a catalog listing will result in large demand that cannot possibly be filled. [233002]
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31.00
39.00
234430
207 [1941 1 øre V-overprinted Posthorn, with watermark]. Used VF 4-block with "OSLO / ST. H." "thimble" 10 November 1941 cancellations. Scarce stamp used (normal singles sell for $9 each). Any use of the thimble cancels is scarce and sought after.
44.00
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234434
208 [1941 2 øre V-overprinted Posthorn, with watermark]. Used VF 4-block with "OSLO / ST. H." "thimble" 10 November 1941 centrally placed cancellation. Scarce stamp used (normal singles sell for $14 each). Any use of the thimble cancels is scarce and sought after.
65.00
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234432
207 [1941 1 øre V-overprinted Posthorn, with watermark]. Used VF 6-block with centrally placed "OSLO / ST. H." "thimble" 10 November 1941 cancellations. Scarce stamp used (normal singles sell for $9 each). Any use of the thimble cancels is scarce and sought after.
64.00
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234361
220 Low "V" Overprint variety [1941 1 øre Posthorn with V overprint, without watermark] NH F-VF example with V just extending slightly below bottom frame line, approximately 4 mm too low. I have had this variety on the watermarked 1 øre, but this is the first I can recall having on the unwatermarked 1 øre.
8 Complete set of all eight types, Used, almost all VF. Very neat and attractive complete set of stamps that are hard to find well centered and with properly identified types. Neatly presented on album page.
145.00
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234363
10 [1863 24 skilling Coat of Arms] Used F-VF on large piece of cover (including part of cover backside) with May 1872 cancellation. Red French "PD" marking and French postmarks on backside indicate that this was sent to France. Though the full cover would be rare an costly, this is priced at only the value of the properly used stamp. Very attractive.
130.00
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234364
(39) Facit/NK #52IIc [1890 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate II, Blue Green, Vertical Watermark] Used F-VF in BLACKISH GREEN shade; the darkest color shade of this stamp that I can recall seeing. Very clear watermark, in fact unusually so; the paper seems different from the other vertical watermarks I have seen. While the vertical watermark is quite a bit scarcer than the normal horizontal watermark, this dark color is extremely scarce.
35.00
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234365
(39) Facit/NK #52IIc [1890 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate II, Blue Green, Vertical Watermark] Used VF+ with neat, light cancel.
16.00
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234366
(39) Facit/NK #52IIb [1890 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate II, Blue Green, Horizontal Watermark] Used Superb. Perfectly centered with neat, small corner cancel. Though a common stamp, such nice examples are very scarce.
8.00
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234367
(39) Facit/NK #52I plate variety [1890 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate I, Gray Green] Used F-VF with obvious plate variety: Upper right corner broken open. Fresh and attractive with light Christiania Bypost (local post) cancellation. Though not a "scarce" stamp, attractive examples are surprisingly hard to find.
14.00
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234368
(39) Facit/NK #52I [1890 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate I, Gray Green] Used F-VF with complete dated 1887 cancellation. Though not a "scarce" stamp, attractive examples are surprisingly hard to find.
9.00
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234369
(39) Facit/NK #52IVa [1892 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate IV, Yellow "Grass" Green] Used VF horizontal PAIR with 30 October 1893 railway cancels. Used multiples of the 20 mm stamps range from unusual to rare; used 4-blocks of this stamp are $500+!
14.00
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234370
(39) Facit/NK #52IVb [1892 5 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate IV, Yellowish Olive Green] Used VF+ with full 13 January 1893 cancellation.
7.00
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234371
(40) Facit/NK #53I variety [1886 10 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate I (Brownish Red, drawn-out corners)] Used Fine with neat 17 September 1887 cancellation. Large plate variety: White area below small "10" filled in. I have not previously seen this variety. Small defect on lower left corner perf, but not relevant in light of the variety.
(40) Facit/NK #53I variety [1886 10 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate I (Brownish Red, drawn-out corners)] Used VF with light cancel.
13.00
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234373
(40) Facit/NK #53VIII [1893 10 øre 20 mm Posthorn: Plate VIII (Re-engraved crown; large pearls)] Used VF with March 1894 cancellation. Scarce stamp.
24.00
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234374
(47a) Facit/NK #59 [1895 1 øre Central Printing, Perforation 13.5 x 12.5] Used VF with 13 February 1897 cancellation that confirms the Central Print and with Perforation Error #1 (4th horizontal perf tooth missing).
36.00
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234375
57a [1894 50 øre Central Printing, Perforation 13.5 x 12.5] Used VF with wonderful TRIANGULAR 19 May 1896 parcel post cancellation that confirms the Central Print. While the cancel is not unusual, such nice struck examples are seldom seen.
45.00
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234376
57a [1894 50 øre Central Printing, Perforation 13.5 x 12.5] Used with perfect, Superb centering and VF AALESUND 22 November 1897 cancellation that confirms the Central Print. Light crease, but very pretty.
4 Light Blue [1856 4 sk Oscar] Used Superb with perfect centering and perforations, and full 12 April 1862 BERGEN cancellation.
28.00
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234412
3 [1857 3 sk Oscar] Used VF+ with neat postmark. An unusually fresh and clean example with the correct lilac-gray color.
110.00
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234413
6 [1863 2 sk Coat of Arms] Used VF horizontal PAIR with neat HAMAR postmarks. Wonderfully rich color and freshness. This issue is scarce in multiples; none of the catalogs value pairs and pairs are not "rare", but to give some perspective, only 7 used 3-strips and only 2 used blocks have been recorded. This stamp is quite difficult to find, even as singles, with such nice color, centering, and freshness. If divided, these stamps would quickly sell for a total of at least $500, but as a pair it is much, much scarcer.
600.00
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234414
(24) Facit/NK #24Ia [1877 5 øre Shaded Posthorn, Vertical Watermark, Ultramarine] Used VF fresh and bright example with wonderful, but inverted, "CHRA BYP." Christiania Bypost (local post) 30 October 1878 cancellation. ID confirmed by Enger.
(24) Facit/NK #24IIa [1877 5 øre Shaded Posthorn, Horizontal Watermark, Ultramarine] Used VF very attractive with "CHRA BYP." Christiania Bypost (local post) 20 November 1882 cancellation. ID confirmed by Enger.
20.00
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234416
(24) Facit/NK #24IIa LIGHT ULTRAMARINE [1877 5 øre Shaded Posthorn, Horizontal Watermark, Ultramarine] Used F-VF with neat cancellation. This is fairly unusual color shade in my experience. ID confirmed by Enger.
28.00
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234417
(24) Facit/NK #24IIbv WITHOUT PERIOD (Type 9) [1877 5 øre Shaded Posthorn, Horizontal Watermark, BLACKISH BLUE] Used Average with pen-cross cancellation. This color is very scarce, undervalued in all the catalogs. Furthermore, though the catalogs give a 1.5 to 2 times multiple for the Type 9 (without period after FRIM) stamps, they are in much, much greater demand than that multiple suggests. Lower right corner perf rounded, but easily compensated for by an obvious plate variety "lower right frame line corner open". Very scarce stamp in several respects.
125.00
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234418
(25b) Facit #26III, NK 25III Plate Variety [1878 10 øre Shaded Posthorn, Re-engraved] Used Fine with one short perf and KONGSBERG cancellation. Very obvious plate variety not listed in the catalogs: Large additional white dot between FRIM and 10. This variety is so large and obvious I am surprised that it has not been listed.
14.00
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234419
28 [1877 25 øre Shaded Posthorn] Used -VF with faint, pressed-out crease (extremely hard to see). Usual pale lilac color that is normal for this stamp. Superb, perfectly centered BERGEN 16 December 1881 cancellation and small part of another strike. Beautiful, but inexpensive example of this scarce stamp.
45.00
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234420
(38a 21 mm Frame) Facit #37, NK 41v3 Plate Variety [1883 3 øre 21 mm Posthorn] Used F-VF with well centered 2-ring CHRISTIANIA 2 July 1886 cancellation. Large, clear NK-listed plate variety: White spot before P and PO connected. Scarce variety.
50.00
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234421
(40) Facit #53IIb, NK 53IIbY [1886 10 øre 20 mm Posthorn, Plate II, Wine Red, Watermark 3] Used VF+ with neat 11 August 1886 cancellation. Not a "scarce" stamp, but it is quite hard to find an attractive example.
12.00
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234422
35, Facit #48, NK 49 Plate Variety [1891 1 øre 20 mm Posthorn, Dark Olive Brown] Used Superb with light cancellation and major, but unlisted plate variety: Upper and lower right frame corners are open. (NK lists a similar variety for the upper left corner at 3 times the price of the normal stamp).
65.00
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234424
62a, Facit 85a Dark Color [1908 15 øre surcharge on 4 skilling Posthorn] NH VF example in color about as dark as is found on this stamp. PLATE VARIETY: Large colored line in right half of top margin and on top frame line, probably caused by a spacer rising up from the plate. A very unusual type of variety rarely seen in Norwegian stamps. Regardless of the variety, this dark color is extremely difficult to find NH, nicely centered.
180 [1938 5 kr King Haakon] Used VF with fully dated 6 December 1938 ...LDEN cancellation, used in the proper time period. This stamp is very scarce with proper cancellation.
70.00
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234426
184 Thin Paper [1939 15 øre Reindeer, Without Watermark, Thin White Paper] Used VF centrally canceled 4-block.
4.00
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234427
186 Thick Paper [1939 30 øre Fjord, Without Watermark, Thick Yellowish Paper] NH VF upper right corner margin 4-block.
10.00
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234428
186 Thick Paper [1939 30 øre Fjord, Without Watermark, Thick Yellowish Paper] NH VF lower left corner margin 4-block with counting number.
12.00
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234429
192 Gutter Pair [1940 10 øre Lion, without watermark]. From special sheet printed to make booklet panes. Though the gutter pairs have a low catalog value, they are seldom offered and are hard to obtain. Mint VF.
10.00
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233182
1 Light Blue on Crisp Thin Paper. Four huge to enormous margins. Very clear 11-bar cancel. Previous owner noted as position D44. Extremely nice example.
225.00
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233184
1 Medium Blue on Crisp Thin Paper. Three enormous margins and on small margin. Unusually nice, light cancel nicely shows the design.
2 Strong Orange-Yellow color. Used VF with full FLEKKEFJORD 11 October 1866 cancellation. Very pretty.
200.00
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231894
Partial BLUE "...UND" town cancellation and very faint black postmark on Scott #5 with Superb centering. Colored cancellations are scarce on the Oscar stamps other than the 4 skilling. Even ignoring the cancellation, this is a very pretty stamp.
68.00
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231895
Grid cancellation, showing 9 of the bars but not complete, on Scott #5 F-VF+. Nice face-free strike on attractive stamp. Facit 2008 value from SEK 1000 = $170 (6/08). Quite scarce and very attractive!
135.00
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231886
9 Used F-VF+ centered with VF+ centered THRONDHEIM 1864 cancellation, but small thin spot. A very pretty stamp that would otherwise be $90 with such a nice postmark!
9 horizontal pair with Average centering but quite remarkable Brownish Orange color and neat HOLMESTRAND cancellation. One stamp thinned, but the color is extremely scarce and any pairs or this issue are unusual.
29.00
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233213
11 Used F-VF+, but small thin spot, with nice "X" pen manuscript cancellation. Very neat and attractive.
19.00
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231888
12 Used VF+ with neat, clearly-dated 24 January 1868 cancellation (in the proper time period) and brilliant color. An exceptional example of a stamp that is usually poorly centered, has washed-out color, and is used later. Outstanding! 2008 Facit value for "top quality" is SEK 1200 = $205 (6/08).
95.00
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231889
12 Used VF+ with neat, clearly-dated 3 November 1869 cancellation (in the proper time period) and remarkably deep, strong color. One short perf, as is typical of this stamp. An exceptional example of a stamp that is usually poorly centered, has washed-out color, and is used later. Outstanding! 2008 Facit value for "top quality" is SEK 1200 = $205 (6/08).
65.00
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233189
12 Used with Superb centering and with proper 23 November 1871 CHRISTIANIA cancellation. One shortish perf, but quite scarce so well centered and with nice cancellation.
60.00
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233215
12 4-Block. Mint Fine. Two stamps NH, but with overall darkened paper due to aging (otherwise would be $150+ [9/09]). Attractive and with very low price.
14 Thick Paper, horizontal pair with F-VF centering but one rounded corner perf. Neat TVEDESTRAND 1869 cancellation.
24.00
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233217
15 Used Fine, but extremely tiny thin spot, with unusual cross-hatched pen manuscript cancellation. Very neat and attractive. I cannot recall previously in 36 years having a Norwegian cancel that looked quite like this.
55.00
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231893
15a (Facit #15b: Rose, Clear Print) Used Average centered example with unusually light cancel. A pretty example of a very scarce stamp, at a terrific price! Facit 2008 value is SEK 3500 = $595 (6/08). (See article on web site for more information.)
135.00
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234169
17 (1872 2 skilling Posthorn, Ultramarine) Mint Average/Fine horizontal 5-strip, 2 stamps NH and 3 LH. Four of the stamps have differently shaped color spots to the left of the large 2. All five stamps appear to have different engraving types of the "TO SKILLING". Very fresh and attractive with bright color.
SOLD
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234170
19 (1872 4 skilling Posthorn, Lilac) Mint Fine horizontal 5-strip, 1 stamp NH and 4 LH, one stamp with tiny tone spot (not the NH stamp). All five stamps appear to have different engraving types of the "FIRE SKILLING". Interesting range of shades from dark to light in the same strip due to varying ink coverage. Very fresh and attractive.
SOLD
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233192
19 (Facit #19b, NK #19Id; per Enger) Used VF with very nice, delicate color and neat, clear, proper-period 1874 cancellation.
19 (Facit #19b, NK #19Id; per Enger) Used VF+ with very strong color and neat, clear, proper-period 1875 cancellation.
90.00
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233218
19, Facit 19ab [4 Skilling Posthorn, Dull Violet on Grayish Paper] Used VF+ with May 1873 cancellation. Used in proper time period. Very nice example of the scarcest of the 4 Skilling colors.
195.00
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233194
21 Dark Brown, White Paper. Used VF+ with neat, proper-period cancellation.
90.00
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233195
22 Used VF+ with fully dated 1882 BERGEN cancellation. Very pretty.
17.00
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233219
23 [1877 3 øre Shaded Posthorn] Used VF with very clear plate variety "diagonal white plate scratch through frame at wing 7 and down through the frame line below M of FRIM." Some blunted perfs, but very unusual.
24, Facit #24IIIb with period. Horizontal Watermark, Thick Paper, Dull/Dark Ultramarine. Used VF with neat corner cancel. Very pretty.
48.00
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233201
24 Major Variety, Facit #25 (small 5 in oval band) with period. Used F-VF+ centering and neat, proper 15 July 1879 "CHRA. BYP." local post cancellation. Wonderful Bright Ultramarine color shade. Seldom seen so attractive.
110.00
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233220
27 [1877 20 øre Shaded Posthorn] Used Fine with nearly perfect FLORØ 12 May 1880 all-serif cancellation.
36 [1893 1 øre Light Brownish Gray 20 mm Posthorn] Used Superb with neat 1894 cancellation.
20.00
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233223
37, Facit #50a, NUT BROWN [1891 2 øre 20 mm Posthorn] Used VF 5-strip with "KONGSVINGER POSTEXP. B" railway cancellations. Facit 2009 lists 4-blocks at SEK 5000 = $700 [9/09]; larger units are even scarcer, but strips are probably more often seen than blocks. This is a very scarce stamp even as singles and has a break-up value of about $375 [9/09].
475.00
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233208
37, Facit #50a NUT BROWN, Vertical Watermark [1891 2 øre 20 mm Posthorn] Used Superb, light cancellation. Wonderful example of this rare color.
90.00
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233210
37, Facit #50a NUT BROWN, Vertical Watermark [1891 2 øre 20 mm Posthorn] Used VF+ with strong color. Very nice.
79.00
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233224
46 [1888 2 on 12 øre Surcharge, Orange Brown, Posthorn] Used F-VF 3-strip with light cancellations.
12.00
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233225
(46a), Facit #47b Dark Brown [1888 2 on 12 øre Surcharge, Posthorn] Used F-VF with neat cancellation. Scarce color.
47a Central Print, Facit/NK #59 [1895 1 øre Posthorn, Perf 13.5 x 12.5, Central Printing] Used VF/F-VF centered 4-block with Superb KISTRAND 2-ring 1903 town cancellation. One stamp with crease and small tear, but not noticeable from front. Very pretty and very scarce block.
95.00
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233230
51, Facit #77 Type II [1899 10 øre Posthorn] Used F-VF 4-block with neat rectangular parcel cancels. Used blocks are scarce.
149 [1929 14 øre on 2 skilling Surcharge] NH Average (as usual) lower left corner margin 5-strip showing the wavy-line watermark at the bottom and the lion in the lower left corner.
24.00
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233243
307 pair, 360 Used VF on 1959 piece. Both are BOOKLET STAMPS; the pair is cut left and right, the single is corner-cut left and bottom. Booklet stamps from this era are rarely offered (and most were probably discarded with the incorrect assumption that they are damaged).
8.00
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233244
B3 [1930 30 øre Nordkapp semi-postal] Used Superb. Perfectly centered, fresh stamp with VF "RJUKANBANERNE *" 1934 railway cancellation. The cancel is scarce as the railway line was only 16 kilometers (10 miles) long and ran from the Norsk Hydro HEAVY WATER (needed for nuclear weapons) plant at Vermok, through Rjukan, to Mael. (This plant is famous for its WWII role, Allied bombing and commando raids, sabotage, and the sinking of the ferry carrying heavy water from Mael.) This cancel on this stamp is RARE -- In 1934, this stamp was only being sold at Nordkapp, Oslo main post office, Bergen, Trondheim, Hammerfest, and on board the Hurtigruten Bergen - Kirkenes ships. Usages at other locations are seldom seen as the stamp would have to be brought in by the sender. An outstanding example, interesting in several ways.
225.00
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233245
J2 Central Printing, Facit #L3C [1893 4 øre Bluish Violet Postage Due, Central Printing] Mint VF/F-VF 4-block with very nice centering for this issue. Bright colors, very fresh. The singles would fetch $60-75 each [9/09]. Blocks of the Central Printing stamps are scarce.