These stamps
are listed in the
http://www.scc-online.org/brofos_catalog.html -
Brofos Catalog of Railway, Steamship and Carrier Stamps of Norway
which is available online at the Scandinavian Collectors' Club site.
The Dragon Motif StampsIn
1897, a new issue of parcel stamps appeared having an elaborate design
with a viking-type border of entwined dragon tails and two stylized
dragons with jaws interlocked at the base. Denominations are shown
inside an oval in the center, above which is a crown and winged wheel.
This design is printed in black over an underprint of twisting bands
inscribed "NORGES STATSBANER" around "NS" monograms. The stamp of this
type were printed in sheets of 100 stamps (10 x 10) from at least 1907
on. The earlier issues were probably also printed the same way, but this
has not been confirmed. Complete sheets are rare, as most stations made
"stamp books" with each page a half sheet of stamps.
These
stamps were made by lithography. A master die was used to make a
larger die that was then "transferred" across the lithographic stone.
In
the case of these stamps, the initial transfer was made in a group of 10
stamps and this block was repeated throughout the plate to make a sheet
of 100.
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This
is a neat item. Early this morning I thought that it contained all
ten types of transfer varieties, but now I see it is most unusual
"hybrid" that occurs only in the second setting of the 1 øre plate. In
the position of the sheet that this block is from, there are
arrangements from the first setting and also from the second setting.
The inclusion of the first setting only occurs once in the sheet.
This block is from the right part of the sheet, rows 6 and 7. The top
row is from the second setting and the bottom is from the first. The
positions are discussed in chapter V of the catalog and are referenced
to the first
setting which had dies #1-10. This block contains die positions:
#12 #6 #7 #8 #9
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5
There are many variations in the design of these stamps that one might
never notice
unless one looks closely - and more importantly, has something to look
at! Its quite surprising really. Who would have thought that there
were so many substantial differences. Look for instance at the frame
around the "1" Do you see how it is much narrower in row #1 column
#4. Do you see how the "1" tilts to the left in row #2, column 4-5.
Notice how it is straight, or tilts to the right in other positions.
The upper part of the loop at the bottom of the frame is broken in row
#1 column #1 but complete in row #2 column #2. There is a "dent" at the
top of the loop in row #2 column 5. Do you see how there are
different numbers of "dots" missing in the upper right quadrant of the
frame. Note as well the cracked "1" in row #2 column #2.
In the background of lines, there are constant flaws as well; also in
the mauve underprint. For instance in row #2 column #3, there is a
large missing piece in the underprint right above the rightmost ØR.
There are also variations in the "dragon's wings and legs" below the
rightmost "RE". What a lot of retouching must have been done!
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