The Erivan Pictorials In Unissued Colors
Those stamps were never used postally. Forgeries of the stamps are described by Zakiyan and covers with complete set and fake cancel are known. The stamps are quite rare.
The Erivan Pictorials In Issued Colors
The stamps were never used without surcharge. Different forgeries are known. The stamps are quite common. Strong background shifts are found often.
50 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper.
300 Rubles
This values was printed on thin translucent and on thick brownish paper.
400 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper. Here are three typical color variations.
500 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper.
1000 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper. Here are two typical color variations.
2000 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper. Here are two slightly different color variations.
3000 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper.
4000 Rubles
This values was printed only on thick brownish paper. I have found a paper variation with white backside and RJC (Dr. Ray Ceresa) signature on the backside in my collection.
5000 Rubles
This values was printed only on thick brownish paper. This stamp can be found in two major color variations: a kind of deep red and rose.
10000 Rubles
This values was printed only on thin translucent paper. Here are two color variations. The worn or weak look of the second stamp shown here is kind of typical for this value.
Examples of unusual variants
These errors or specialities a rare within the genuine stamps, but rather plentiful when dealing with the forgeries.
The Erivan Pictorials Surcharged With Rubber Handstamps
The surcharges come in three colors. Sometimes the colors are not pure. Apparently the clerk who did the overprinting did not always clean the stamping device when switching colors. Especially mixed black and red ink surcharges can be found. There are also at least two different types of the red ink.
Here an example of all three colors. In this case the lilac color is the “normal” one and can be found on all stamp bases. The red one is much rarer and the black one the rarest. The first or the first two digit(s) beeing larger then the rest is typical for the rubber overprint.
50 Rubles Surcharged with 10.000
In case of the lilac and the red color the ink penetrates the paper – with the exception when the thick brownish paper was used. The black ink does not penetrate the paper as much and can barely be spotted from the backside.
300 Rubles Surcharged with 15.000
I do not own a stamp with a black overprint. If you own such a stamp (if it exists), please send a scan!
400 Rubles Surcharged with 25.000
I am missing a genuine example of an red overprint. If you own such a stamp (if it exists), please send a scan!
Here is lilac and lilac-black.
A rare black surcharge on a stamp ex Faberge.
500 Rubles Surcharged with 30.000
I do not own a stamp with a black overprint. If you own such a stamp (if it exists), please send a scan! Here is red and lilac.
1000 Rubles Surcharged with 50.000
Nice examples of lilac, red and black.
2000 Rubles Surcharged with 100.000
I do not own a stamp with a black overprint. If you own such a stamp (if it exists), please send a scan! A second and third scan of the red surcharges is added to show different mixed color variations. Sometimes the main color is more clear when looking on the back side. The examples of the backsides here show that the surcharges are red mixed with black rather then lilac .
3000 Rubles Surcharged with ?
It seems this particular stamp was not surcharged with a rubber handstamp. I wonder why.
4000 Rubles Surcharged with 200.000
Surcharges in black, lilac and lilac-black. I could not find a surcharge in red ink.
5000 Rubles Surcharged with 300.000
Surcharges in black, lilac and lilac-black. I could not find a surcharge in red ink.
10000 Rubles Surcharged with 500.000
Surcharges in black, lilac and lilac-black. I could not find a surcharge in red ink.
The Erivan Pictorials Surcharged With Metal Handstamps
The surcharges come in several colors. Black surcharges are plenty, sometimes you can find lilac or lilac-black ones. I could not find a stamp with a genuine red surcharge. If you own one, please send a scan.
Here an example of the colors you can find typically.
black
lilac-black
lilac
50 Rubles Surcharged with 10.000
A nice example of the black surcharge.
300 Rubles Surcharged with 15.000
Again only in black. This particular surcharge can often be found applied upside down.
400 Rubles Surcharged with 25.000
Also only in black. The extra ink spot above the last “0” is typical.
500 Rubles Surcharged with 30.000
Two examples of a lilac-black surcharge and two examples of a black surcharge. The surcharge is sometimes applied horizontally and sometimes vertically (the black ones).
1000 Rubles Surcharged with 50.000
The surcharge in black, lilac and black-lilac. It seems it was applied more or less horizintally all the time.
2000 Rubles Surcharged with 100.000
The surcharge in lilac (two times), lilac-black and black.
3000 Rubles Surcharged with 75.000
The surcharge in black. This stamp is kind of unusual. It appearantly is the only stamp never overprinted with a rubber handstamp and the surcharge is “a step back” beeing lower then that of the 2000 Rubles stamp.
4000 Rubles Surcharged with 200.000
Surcharged in black and lilac.
5000 Rubles Surcharged with 300.000
Surcharged in black and lilac-black (two examples). The last stamp is surcharged two times; in black and in lilac-black.
10000 Rubles Surcharged with 500.000
Surcharged in black and lilac-black (two examples).
