Finland: Gallery: Select Stamps - Scott #111-126: 1918 "M-18" Vasa Lions; 1919-1921 "M-17" Saarinen Lions With Surcharges
A selection of especially interesting seldom-offered items in particularly nice quality. All are available for approval viewing. Scott numbers have been used unless otherwise mentioned.
Please also see the other Gallery pages and the Specialized Stamps pages for other high-quality stamps including both Specialized and non-specialized items.
Select Stamps - Scott #111-126: 1918 "M-18" Vasa Lions; 1919-1921 "M-17" Saarinen Lions With Surcharges
118, Facit #83a BROWNISH VIOLET and Black [1918 5 mark Vasa Lion] A very nice example of the First Printing (Brownish Violet instead of Bright Violet of the second printing). Used with XF centering and clear margins all around. Small part of HELSIN(GFORS) cancellation, but cannot verify time period of postmark. An extremely attractive, neatly corner-canceled example. Seldom found so nice.
ACTUAL item.
115.00
232020
118 [1918 5 mark Vasa Lion] Brownish Violet and Gray (First Print, Facit #83a). Used F-VF 4-BLOCK with Superb 25 July 1918 VAASA / WASA postmark. This postmark is from the second usage period (25 June - 7 November 1918) during which the Vasa stamps could only be used on domestic mail (by anybody), but they were not sold across the counter to the public; the post office clerks were to use them up by applying them directly to mail. Single stamp 2008 Facit value (for either printing) is SEK 800 = US$135 (7/08) for normal quality and typical postmark in a more common usage period. Used blocks are very unusual and this is an extremely nice example!
ACTUAL item.
490.00
240901
126a [1921 1-1/5 mk Surcharge on 50p M-17 Saarinen Lion] "THIN 2" variety. Used VF with neat postmark. Nice examples can be hard to find.
ACTUAL item.
12.00
243016
126a [1921 1-1/5 mk Surcharge on 50p M-17 Saarinen Lion] "THIN 2" variety. Used VF. This stamp be very hard to find.
ACTUAL item.