Page 1 - Greece - The Landscape Issues

Landscapes Issues
The design and varieties
1927 & 1931-35

The 1927 Landscapes issue, that was placed in circulation on the 1st of April, production of the second set, consisting of seven values of re-issued stamps
was an eagerly awaited happening. This was the first definitive set since the between the years 1931 and 1935. The second issue was produced by three
1911 one. The decision to print and distribute the issue took a long time to printing firms. Aspioti-Elka using plate from Thomas De La Rue this time,
materialize as the call for proposals was published in September of 1923 with Perkins Bacon and Co ltd from Britain and the Polish printing firm P.W.P.W.
the tenders being evaluated the following month. Only two printing houses The order and production rate of the second issue spanned over a five year

showed interest at the time. The first being the G. Aspioti Brothers, a Corfu period. The only stamp being withdrawn from circulation of this issue was the
based printing house and the other the well known British firm Bradbury 25 drachma stamp which like the first issue stamps was withdrawn on the 1st
Wilkinson & Co Ltd, with the latter's offer being the most economical for the of September 1939. In 1934 and 1935 two further stamps were produced one
Greek Government. However mainly due to national rather than economic showing the Athens stadium and the later the Church of Pantanassa of Mystras
criteria the decision was made to opt for the Greek printing firm. both being considered as part of the landscape set. Furthermore a number of

the low values of the set were overprinted and used as taxed stamps for
Aspioti worked with Thomas McDonald Ltd in order to manufacture the
charity purposes.
printing plates necessary for the production of the stamps, another reason
taken into consideration in the allocation of the contract. The issue after The collection aims to present the errors produced during the printing
production was distributed in installments to the Greek public three and a half production and the steps taken to produce the stamps. In fact what caused the
years after the acceptance of the tender. It was initially accepted with great disappointment amongst the philatelists at the time is the area of study of this
enthusiasm by the public and especially the philatelists as they were tired from exhibit. The exhibit is arranged primarily in the chronological order of the

the production of all the previous lithographic issues whose quality was not of issues and in order of the value of the stamps within each issue. The covers
the highest standards due to the repeated use of the printing plates. also show the variety in the postal rates being applicable during the life time of
the issues.
This initial enthusiasm was short lived as it was soon realized that the low
quality of the paper used as well as the numerous perforation errors and the Of particular interest and rarity is the 5 drachma cover with the inverted center
inadequacy of the Greek company to employ the double recess process for and con.sidered t-o be the rarest item in 20th century of Greek philately as the 5
printing for the production of the stamps with the two colour printing lepta stamps being printed on both sides. This is believed to be one of a very
produced a large number of printing errors. This failure to produce well few blocks in existence as it is thought that no more than a single sheet was

centered stamps resulted in the release of a large number of waste in the printed on both sides. The 50 lepta un-issued stamp of which only three exam-
market ples have been recorded and the 1 lepton stamp which was produced but not
circulated is of note worthy significance as well as the numerous accepted and
The 5 and 25 lepta stamps from the 1927 issue were the only two values to be
unaccepted essays throughout the exhibit. Particular emphasis must be noted
withdrawn from circulation on the 1st of September 1939 as the other values
to the various hand painted essays and other items in red border, the majority
were sold out well before this date. This was the main reason for the
of which being unique.

Frame 1 Unaccepted Essays, stamps not issued, issue characteristics & 1927 - 5 lepta

Frame 2 1927 - 10 lepta, 20 lepta, 25 lepta & 40 lepta

Frame 3 1927 - 50 lepta, 80 lepta & 1 drachma

Frame 4 1927 - 2 drachmas, 3 drachmas, 5 drachmas, 10 drachmas, 15 drachmas & 25 drachmas

Frame 5 1931/35 - Photo Essays, all values of the 1931/35 issue, 4 & 8 drachma stamps