Finland: Bargains: Scott #4-13: 1860-1875 "Serpentines"
These bargain-priced stamps are attractive, but many have described hidden flaws. You can save a tremendous amount of money when you add such stamps to your collection. Each stamp is one of a kind, so please let me know if I may substitute a different example (that looks as good or better, for the same cost) if the stamp you order has sold. If you have any doubts, all are available for approval viewing. If you are seeking stamps of this quality and price level from any of the Scandinavian countries, just send along your want list -- I will be happy to send bargains on approval. Scott numbers have been used unless otherwise stated.
Scott #5, K Spacing, Lilac-Rose (Facit #4C1Kc) [1860 10 kopek Serpentine, Roulette I] Used VF appearance and FULL TEETH but with aged-toned paper. This example has Facit "K" spacing (1.6 mm horizontally and 1.6 mm vertically) between the stamps and the delicate Lilac Rose color. Adjacent-stamp frame lines are visible on the right and bottom, both with 1.6 mm spacing. With a neat, partial low-box style "TAM..." (can only be TAMMERFORS) cancellation. A very reasonable example at a very low price.
ACTUAL item.
SOLD
400744
Scott #5, K or LK Spacing, Carmine-Rose (Facit #4C1Lb/LKb) [1860 10 kopek Serpentine, Roulette I] Used with F-VF appearance and only one tooth missing, but with creases (most only visible on the reverse). This example has either Facit "LK" spacing (1.6 mm horizontally and 2.3 mm vertically) or Facit "L" spacing (1.6 mm horizontally and 1.6 mm vertically) and a delicate Carmine Rose color. The top measurement is 2.7 mm with no adjacent stamp frameline located above, thus this has to be a top margin example. The bottom measurement is less than 1.6 mm, thus it cannot be known if it is 1.6 or 2.7 mm spacing at bottom. However, the right-side measurement is 1.6 mm (the frame of the adjacent stamp is just barely visible on two tooth tips). Thus this can be either K or LK spacing. With a bold "x" manuscript cancel as often seen on this issue. A very reasonable example at a very low price.
ACTUAL item.
10.00
400138
Scott #4a [1860 5 kopek Serpentine, Roulette II] Used with F-VF appearance, but with a thin. There is only one missing tooth (maybe two if an irregular corner is counted), but also the typical couple creased tooth tips. Looks nice with a very light cancellation, bright color, and a very sharp printing impression. Very low priced. (Scott 2025 value $190.)
ACTUAL item.
39.00
400746
Scott #6b Lilac Brown, Facit #5v3C3 [1866 5 penni Roulette III (1871-1873), ORDINARY (wove) PAPER] Used with Fine centering but overall wonderful appearance. Three teeth partially missing or blunted; couple other teeth with base-tears in them that can only be seen under 10x magnification. Almost complete BRAHESTAD arc-style 10 October 1873 cancellation. This stamp (Scott #6, 6a, 6b) was printed on ordinary paper; in collections often the more common #12 on laid paper is found in its place. Double check which you have in this spot in your album. Remarkably nice looking example of a scarce stamp!
ACTUAL item.
69.00
400747
Scott #7 Green Paper, Facit #6v1C3 [1866 8 penni, Roulette III, Ordinary Green Paper (this paper -- not yellow green -- and roulette III produced 1867-1869) ] Used with Fine centering but much better overall appearance. Two shorter teeth, but also clipped teeth tips on right side. Extremely light cancellation. A very reasonable example at a very reasonable price.
ACTUAL item.
59.00
400298
Scott #7b, Facit #6v1C2 [1866 8 penni Ordinary Green Paper, Roulette II] Used with typical Fine centering, with teeth that look complete but are not. Very light, neat cancellation. One short tooth tip, but also several repaired teeth. Looks great, but is priced very low. (Scott 2026 value $240 for full teeth.)
ACTUAL item.
27.00
400299
Scott #8, Facit #7v4C3 [1872-1874 10p Ordinary Chamois (light beige) Paper, Roulette III] Used with nice F-VF centering and only one visibly shorter tooth. Very light, neat cancellation. At least one, perhaps two (?) repaired tooth (as is typical). A very attractive example at a very reasonable price. (Scott 2026 value $300 for full teeth.)
ACTUAL item.
54.00
400300
Scott #9, Facit #8v1C3x [1867 20 penni, Lilac-Blue THIN Paper, Roulette III] Used with almost perfect (XF or better) centering and teeth almost fully clear of frameline all the way around. One partially short tooth, but otherwise "perfect" teeth and NO defects or repairs. Light, but well-perfectly centered partial TAMMERFORS arc-style cancellation. A very attractive example! (Scott 2026 value is $50 for full teeth, but that is too low for true full teeth.)
ACTUAL item.
27.00
400748
Scott #9 Light Blue, Facit #8v2C3 [1866 20 penni, Roulette III, Grayish-Blue Wove Paper (1867-1874)] Used with F-VF centering and overall VF appearance. Only one tooth missing. No faults. Delicate lighter blue color and a complete BORGA 2 January 1872 arc-style cancellation. A very pretty example at a very reasonable price.
ACTUAL item.
SOLD
249682
Scott #10 [1866 40 penni, Roulette III, Stamp Type I (normal), Normal Paper] Used, with VF+ centering and VF overall appearance. This example has only one missing tooth, but has the usual creased teeth and a small pinhole (only visible from the reverse). Extremely light cancellations -- both black and blue. A nice looking example at a very low price. (Scott 2025 value $60.)
ACTUAL item.
9.00
Scott #4-13: 1860-1875 "Serpentines" continued ...
Scott #12 Lilac Brown on Thin Pale Lilac LAID Paper, Facit #5v1C3c [1866 5 penni Laid Paper, Roulette III (this paper, color, and roulette 1870-1871)] Used with VF centering and only two shorter teeth (plus a couple tiny tooth tears that require 10x magnification to see). Remarkably light cancellation. The teeth measure about 1.9 mm and thus are borderline between Roulette II (Facit 1.6 to 1.9) and Roulette III. Because it is so close I have chosen to describe this as the lower-cost Roulette III -- but you might decide that it is a Roulette II (produced in 1866). An attractive stamp in much better-than-usual quality. A nice example at a very attractive price.
ACTUAL item.
SOLD
400302
Scott #12a, Facit #5v1C2 [1866 5 penni DARK VIOLET BROWN, Thick Laid Paper, Roulette II] Used with typical Fine centering and very light cancellation. Some missing teeth as usual, plus a couple not fully punched out. No other defects. Remarkably strong color and very clear impression. Priced very low. (Scott 2026 value $275 for full teeth.)
ACTUAL item.
49.00
248702
13 [10p Laid Paper, Roulette III] Used with F-VF centering and unusual "squiggle" pen cancellation. A few short teeth at top -- typical for the Serpentine stamp issues -- but no other defects. The pen cancellation may be distinctive enough that it might be possible to determine where it was canceled; some of these pen cancellations can be traced to a specific postal clerk or postmaster. An attractive example; if it had 100% full teeth it would be around $300 but such examples are "rare".
ACTUAL item.
75.00
248700
13a [10p Laid Paper, Roulette II] Used with Fine centering and extremely light cancellation, but one pulled tooth on right side. Has the usual tooth problems, but on the right side, the teeth were not fully cut and thus the cuttings are removed (resulting in the pulled tooth as shown in the website image). The "pizza cutter" type of cutting wheel that was used was completely manually operated and required a lot of pressure -- when not enough pressure was applied, this incomplete cutting was the result. Overall a nice looking stamp, especially with such a light cancellation. If not for the one pulled tooth, this would be $70; if it had 100% full teeth it would be around $300 but such examples are "rare".
ACTUAL item.