THE CONTROLS OF THE 20 LEPTA AND THEIR BEARING IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF GREEK STAMPS OF THE FIRST TYPE

by Theodore Groom, M. A., D. Sc., F. R. P. S.

(Originally published in Philotelia, No. 3-4, March, 1924 et seq.
Transcribed by Louis Basel, 2005)

Transcriber’s Preface

Theodore Groom was one of the early pioneers in the scientific study of the Large Hermes Heads stamps of Greece. Starting in the early 1900’s, he published, mostly in the Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, many articles on the classification, plating, control numbers, flaws, ink spots and many other aspects of these issues. In 1924 through 1927, he published in Philotelia, the journal of the Hellenic Philatelic Society (Athens), a series of articles on the control numbers and their bearing on the classification of the first Greek stamps. This important work contained much valuable information based on his extensive collection and those of his philatelist friends and on his many years of research into the Greek stamps of the first type. However, there were many typographical errors in the publication which required a few pages of errata to list the necessary corrections. This, in addition to the yellowing of the pages of these early issues of Philotelia and the fact that some of these issues are available only in photocopy, makes its reading very difficult. Also, many philatelists, especially in countries other than Greece, do not have access to these early Philotelia issues.

It is for this reason that the author undertook to transcribe this valuable work of Groom in a format that is easy to read with all of the corrections made and, in some cases, with larger illustrations of the figures. By posting Groom's article on this website, it is being made available to a wider group of philatelists who have access to the internet.

It should be understood that although Groom has contributed much valuable insight into the printing methods used and to the classification of these first Greek stamps, much has been learned during the intervening 80 years since his publication and, in a few cases, corrections have been made to some of his conclusions. Philatelists should study this important work to get a better understanding of the methodologies and reasoning used to develop the conclusions reached regarding the classification of the large heads, but they should also rely on more modern studies which might in a few instances differ from Groom’s conclusions.

              Louis Basel
                    Stamford, Connecticut
                 November, 2005

In an earlier communication¹ it was shown that the blue stamps of 1876-78 which preceded the ultramarine stamps of 1878, printing Zb of Mr. P. L. Pemberton, fell into two main groups characterized by two different settings of the controls or figures at the back of the stamps: an earlier, 1876; and a later, 1877. The plating of the 20 Lepta has since been completed, and further evidence in the same direction has been obtained. Reference to this will be made later.

At the same time investigations have shown that the controls are of equal value in the classification of a large number of earlier stamps. It is now proposed to deal chiefly with those of the printings dating from 1867- 72, with some reference to earlier and later stamps.

Classification

The Athens prints have been variously classified, but the most complete treatment is that of Mr. P. L. Pemberton² supplemented later in his catalogue³. In the earlier publication the 20 Lepta of 1867-1872 are grouped as follows: H, 1867, deep bright blue; I, 1867, very pale blue; J, 1868 (bright blue); K, 1870, blue to pale blue; L, 1872, grayish blue; and M, 1872, bright cobalt blue.

A careful study of the 20 lepta has shown that the succession of printings and frequently of individual copies of a printing may often be determined by means of a certain set of flaws very abundant on these stamps. Of these some account will be given at a later date. The succession thus established, while confirming previous classifications in many respects, demands certain modifications. For the present it will suffice to deal with I, J and L of the classification given above.

It is found that I and J together represent not less than three printings, which may be provisionally designated Ja, Jb and Jc, while L consists in reality of not less than two printings, which may be termed La and Lb. The classification adopted thus becomes: H, 1867; Ja, 1867; Jb, 1868; Jc, 1869; K (with decoupage), 1870; La, 1871; Lb and M (1872).

¹ Theodore Groom, Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, 1917, p. 131 et seq.
² Ibid., 1911, p. 6 et seq.
³P. L. Pemberton, Catalogue of the Stamps of Greece, Sefi Pemberton and Co. 1923.

The Settings of the Controls

Some idea of the total number of settings in a series of stamps may be gained by noting the number of different units (plate numbers) on which the same numeral, recognized by some peculiarity, appeared. This method however, is only of limited application owing, partly to the deterioration of the type, which sometimes makes it difficult to recognize the same piece in two or more settings, partly to the frequent use of the same piece of type in two or more successive settings, as will be shown later, partly to heavy printing of the controls, which tends to conceal the smaller flaws in them, and partly to the disuse of damaged type.

A more satisfactory method is to group together all those copies of a given unit which show similar pairs of controls. This method largely discounts the deterioration of type with time, and permits the use of flaws that are slight or short-lived or that deceptively resemble others.

But the most effective method is by means of the flaws on the stamps to arrange the copies belonging to a given unit as nearly as possible in the order of printing. It will then be found that with little or no re-adjustment the grouping given by the second method is automatically attained, with the advantage that the groups give the settings in the order of their appearance.

The results thus obtained from one unit are then checked by treating other units in the same way.

By the use of this third method the conclusion has been reached, and established by a great body of evidence, that in the period of 1867-72 there were altogether five settings of the 20 lepta. The first three of these characterize Ja, Jb and J respectively. That of Ja is shared by H and the setting may be termed HJ.

Jb shows a single setting. Jc shares with K a setting which may be termed JK. The fourth setting, La, is shown by the earlier copies of L., and the fifth. Lb, by the later copies. These two settings are used to define printings of L. The fifth is common to Lb and M. and is here termed LM.

It must not be supposed from what has been said that every unit of the sheet affords clear evidence of the existence of five settings. In the case of a few units both controls are normal in two or more settings, or differ only slightly, and thus fail to prove or disprove re-setting. Instances of such are units 19, 28, 42 and 128. In many cases the same piece or pieces of type remained unchanged during a re-setting. For this reason some difficulty was at first experienced in determining the ranges of the third and fourth settings. In many units the controls of K (1870) agreed with those of Jc (1869), while in others they resembled those of La (1871). It was accordingly supposed that the re-setting took place during the printing of K, which should therefore show two settings. But when sufficient copies of K had been acquired it became evident that, except in one case, the units of K showed one kind of control pair only, and that this agreed with that of Jc whenever the latter could be certainly identified. The controls of La in many units showed a different setting, but in many others they resembled those of K, and at the same time those of Jc. These facts are explicable only on the assumption that there was a single setting for Jc and K, and a different one for La, but that in many units the pieces of type employed for the latter were those of Jc and K. The re-setting was in effect partial. The only unit known to the writer which possesses more than one kind of control pair in K is no. 21. This shows the error 02 with the 0 inverted (Fig. 87), not catalogued by Gibbons, but mentioned by Mr. Pemberton. Most of the copies of K in this unit show the numerals in their proper positions; the 0, which is the same as in the error, being correctly orientated (Fig. 86 ). This form occurs also in copies of the same unit referred partly to Jc and partly to La. I have dated copies of both varieties of K, the error being later. The explanation appears to be that the controls, properly placed in Jc and at first also in K, became dislodged during the printing of the latter, and were replaced erroneously. Judging from the rarity of the error, as remarked by Mr. Pemberton, it was soon corrected, perhaps during the re-setting for La.<.p>

A similar error, mentioned by both Mr. Beckton and Mr. P. L. Pemberton occurs in printing M on unit 89. That printing shows in addition. to copies with correctly placed controls, others with the error 02 (Fig.. 94). This error is rare and was probably soon corrected.

Lastly the error seen in K might be supposed to constitute a third exception. It occurs on various units In the few examples that I have examined the numerals differ from those proper to the units. As Mr. Pemberton states, the error must be due to the inversion of the whole sheet, for in the copies mentioned the controls agree with those of units the positions of which are the ones demanded by this hypothesis.

Apart from the two errors it may I think, be safely concluded that the different settings of the controls in the period under consideration were five in number.

A few apparent exceptions are readily attributable to damage to the type during a printing. Instances are the damaged 0 of Ja in unit 18, two stages of which are shown in Fig.. 13 and 13a, and the 2 of Jb in no. 13, the first condition of which is normal, while the second resembles that of Fig. 7 except for the claw at the front end of the base and the two dots.

A glance at the table of 150 units will show the partial nature of the re-settings.

Most of the units in this show at least one recurrence of a particular numeral in two settings, while in many units such a numeral recurs in three successive settings (see Figs. 14, 15, 16, 22, 23 and 28 or sometimes even in four (Figs. 25 and 26). In some units both numerals remained unchanged during a re-setting. Thus Jb and Jc show the same controls in units 32, 39, 56, 67, 88, 93, 101, 122 and 123, though the ciphers may be inverted in Jb. Similar agreements are seen between Jc or K and La in nos. 4,16, 26, 33, 43, 46, 54, 69, 83, 97, 98, 106, 124, 126, and 132.

It will be seen, then, that a particular unit may not give clear indications of more than two or three settings.

Figs. 1-32 show thirty selected pieces of type which can be recognized in different settings. Their positions on the sheet are indicated in the key on the opposite page.

      

The remaining figures, including 33-94, illustrate the character of the five settings of 1867-72 in fifteen selected units. With regard to these it may be said that though some of the peculiarities in the figures may seem slight and possibly attributable to defective printing, such as is frequent in these Greek stamps, yet conviction of the reality of a corresponding defect on the metal type is reached when copy after copy of the particular unit shows it. In none of the instances given has reliance been placed on single copies. Duplication has been regarded as essential.
The letter n indicates a normal control which when inverted is printed u.

Units
1.     The 0 inverted in Jb.
4.     The 0 inverted in Jb. Note the interchanged thicknesses of the outer limbs. The controls of Jc, K and La all alike.
5.     The controls of Jc, K and La all similar.
6.     The 0 inverted in Jb. Note the thinning of its true right outer limb (left in the figure). The 0 of La and LM identical. For the 2 of LM see Fig. 8.
10.     The 0 inverted and modified in Jb. The 2 of La agrees with that of LM.
13.     The 0 of Jb inverted and modified. For the 2 of Jc and K see Fig. 7.
23.     The controls of Jc, K and La all alike; the 0 of JK is identical with that of Jb.
33.     The 0 of Jb inverted. The controls of Jc, K and La, indistinguishable. For the 2 of LM see Figs. 7 and 56.
70.     The 0 of Jc and K identical with that of Jb, in which however it is inverted. The 0 of La and LM alike. For the 2 of La see Fig. 9.
79.     J and Jc with same 0.
92.     The 2 of Jb resembles that of Jc in No. 6 (Fig.45).
99.     The 0 of Jc agrees with that of Jb.
126.    The controls of Jc, K and La alike, and the 0 identical with that of Jb also. For the 2 of Jc and K see also Figs. 6 and 48.

K here shows two different settings, one being the error 02 with an inverted 0 which agrees with that of Jc and La. For the 2 of La see Fig. 6.

LM shows two settings, one, the error 02 with the 0 not inverted. The 2 of Jb resembles that of Ja. The ciphers in Jb, Jc, K and La are all alike. The broken 2 of La has not been recognized in any earlier setting of the 20 I,epta.

The table of settings reproduced in the following pages is an attempt to show as far as is possible at the moment the number of changes in the controls of the 150 units of the sheet and to indicate at a glance the number of settings during the period 1867-72.

The horizontal columns indicate the printings; the vertical, the units. Each vertical column is double, the left half indicating changes in the 2; the right half, changes in the 0. Normal numerals, i.e. those in which no constant peculiarities have been detected, are marked n. Recognizable controls are indicated by numbers each of which marks a numeral believed to be different from the rest in a given unit. When a cipher is inverted the numeral, or the letter n, as the case may be, is placed upside-down, but the inverted 1 is represented by a V. The horizontal lines mark the re-settings indicated. The two errors 02 are disregarded. Blank spaces indicate that the characters of the settings concerned are at present very uncertain or unknown. Identifications which are probable but not yet certain are marked with a query.

The table must, then, be regarded as provisional, but confidence is felt that the general picture given and the lessons to be learnt from it are correct. In particular, attention is drawn to the prevalence over the whole plate of the five settings.

A comparison of the effects of the different re-settings shows that they varied not inconsiderably in extent. The last re-setting. which marked the termination of the series of stamps considered above, and heralded the introduction of the “Thin or grained paper” series appears to have been very complete; for so far no unit has been seen in which a numeral can be proved to be common to the setting LM and to any printing of this series.

The first re-setting (1868) was evidently also extensive, as indicated in the table. In nearly all cases in which a numeral can be recognized both in Ja and Jb it is found on a different unit Further, in all of the numerous units in which the 0 of Jb is inverted re-setting is clear, for no single case of an inverted zero 0 occurs among the 150 units of Ja.

In Jb (1868) as may be seen from the table, nearly a third of the total number of units show an inverted 0, all, with the exception of nos. 90 and 111, confined to the upper part of the sheet, including the middle horizontal row (71-80). It would appear as though the compositor suddenly became aware that the ciphers were being inserted incorrectly.

The percentage of conspicuously damaged type is much greater in Jb than in Ja. In the following setting JK (1869) the type was only partially re-set, one or both members of a pair of controls agreeing in many units with those of Jb. Thus, in more than twenty cases the 0, inverted in Jb, occupied the same unit as in Jc and K; but in these cases, and in all others in which the 0 was inverted in Jb, it was placed correctly in Jc. No inverted 0 has been detected in Jc, nor, apart from the error 02, in K.

The succeeding re-setting for La (1871) was likewise partial. No instances of the inverted 0 have been detected.

The re-setting which introduced Lb and M (1872) though partial, was more complete than that preceding it, for in most cases the controls occupied new positions. In nos. 31 and 79 (Fig. 72) the 0 is inverted.

In most of the printings preceding H, recognizable controls are rare, but certain characteristic numerals can be detected in different positions on the sheet. Two of these are shown in Figs.1 and 14.

With the aid of such, and of minor varieties seen in the different units, the conclusion has been reached that during the period 1864-67 probably not less than four settings of the controls occurred, the re-settings between which. like those of the succeeding issues, were generally partial, the same piece of type occurring in successive settings. In the later printings, the condition of the controls approaches that of H and Ja. In the setting immediately preceding HJ the controls of at least twenty-seven units differ from those of H, though in some cases one of the pair is identical in the two settings. On the other hand in not less than thirty-eight units the controls of the two settings are indistinguishable. The re-setting was therefore partial. In the case of some units the range of particular pieces of type was considerable, and extended from the printing on green paper (F of Mr. Beckton, G of Mr. P. L. Pemberton) through an intervening printing to H, or even from the Cobalt-blue (E of Mr. Pemberton) to H.

Judging from the analogy of the errors 02, that of 80, found on no. 63 in an early printing of the 20 I,epta, does not necessarily indicate a new setting.

A study of the settings on the thin or grained paper series of 1872-75 does not fall within the scope of the present paper; but during the plating of the stamps much information was gained, some of which it appears desirable to record.

As already remarked the inauguration of the series was marked by a setting of the controls thoroughly different from that of LM. Many units show one or more subsequent re-settings, but the total number of settings distinguishable in any one unit is rarely more than three, though sometimes as much as four or five. A similar result is given by noting the number of different units on which characteristic numerals occur. These numerals are identical with certain ones seen in earlier or later issues, or in both.

Ten of them have been found on three different units, four on four units, and four on five distinct units (See Figs. 1-32). The conclusion is that there were altogether not less than five settings in the series. But judging from the analogy of the preceding printings, and from what has been said earlier, this number must be regarded as a minimum, especially as the material examined should have been much more abundant than it was, had there to be a fair chance that all the settings should be represented. The last setting was evidently that seen on S of Mr. P. L. Pemberton, no. 73 of Gibbons (1922 - 23), the printing on blue paper. So far. indications of only one setting has been seen in this. It presents resemblances to that on T, the first printing on cream paper, as pointed out some years ago by the writer⁴.

Some of the recognizable controls of the series of 1872 - 75 are shown in Figs. 1-32.

Proofs of the existence of two settings on the stamps of this period have already been given⁵. Since then much additional evidence has been obtained. all of which thoroughly confirms the existence of these. Figs. 1, 7, 8, 12, 20, and 31 afford further proof of their distinctness. The plating of the sheet, accomplished soon after the publication of these results, gives the true plate numbers of those units designated at the time by provisional numbers⁶.

⁴ Philatelic Journal of Great Britain, 1918, p. 53.
⁵ Theodore Groom, The 20 Lepta of the Greek Issue of 1876-79, Phil. Journal of Great Britain, 1917, p. 131 et seq.
⁶P. L. Provisional numbers (left) and true plate numbers (right) of the 20 lepta.

Errata et Addenda P. J. G. B. 1918
Page 39, Fig. 1, for 15 read 118
Page 39, Fig. 3, for 116 read 346
Page 39, Fig. 4, for an unidentified stamp read no. 75
Page 39, Fig. 5, for First read. Second, and delete the second sentence
Page 39, Fig. 6, for an unidentified stamp read no. 97
Page 40, Fig. 11, for 150 read 70
Page 40, Fig. 13, for an unidentified non-marginal stamp, read no. 74

At that time the existence of partial re-settings was not realized, but in the light of their prevalence in the earlier issues a revision of two of the conclusions is imperative. These are, firstly, that T, the first printing of the cream paper series, probably inherited its controls from S, the printing on blue paper, and secondly, that the last printing on cream paper provided with controls (1877) and the first printing of the ultramarine stamps of 1878, Zb, of Mr. P. L. -Pemberton, similarly shared a setting.

With regard to the first question I may say that the material to hand is still far from complete, and that, mainly owing to the relative rarity of suitable copies of S, it is only in less than one third of the 150 units that the settings of S and T are both. represented. In six of these the controls are normal in both printings. In seven, namely nos. 8, 14, 20, 30, 31 (Fig. 31), 41 and 127 they agree, and probably the same may be said of nos. 47 (Fig. 17), 81 and 132. In three units, nos. 5, 18 and 79, one numeral agrees in the two printings, the other not. In twenty-four units the controls differ. It is clear, therefore, that the settings of S and T were not the same, and that the intervening re-setting was partial.

Further evidence of this will be given later.

As to the second question, it may be recalled that in many instances the presumed first setting of Zb was found to show the same controls as the second setting of the immediately preceding printings, and it was therefore inferred that no fresh setting initiated Zb. Now, if this conclusion were true every unit should furnish examples showing the setting of 1877. In my collection the controls are satisfactorily printed in seventy-six units in which both this setting and one or more of those of Zb are represented. In fourteen of these some of the copies of Zb agree in their controls with those of the setting of 1877, and the same may` probably be said of seven others. In these fourteen the proportion of copies of Zb that agree to those that differ is nearly two to one, and if sheets of Zb had been printed with the setting of 1877 there would seem to be no reason why the remaining units should not likewise show a preponderance of controls of the same setting This, however, is far from being the case for in the remaining fifty-five units, and probably also in three others, the controls of Zb differ from those of the setting of 1877. In two of these there is agreement in the case of one of the pair of figures, and in a strip of four Zb, two of which are included in the seventy-six units mentioned, one unit shows agreement with the setting of 1877, the others not.

The conclusion is, then, almost unavoidable that Zb was inaugurated by a new setting of the controls, in which, however, some of the numerals retained their former positions. The re-setting was in fact partial.

I would now offer a new piece of evidence as to the order of appearance of the two settings on cream paper. The evidence for this has hitherto, rested on dated copies, and on the resemblance of the presumed first setting (T) to that of S, and of the second (X) to one of those of Zb.

The later printings of unit 30 are characterized by a conspicuous break on the fifth cheek line (counted from below).. This is seen in all the red stamps and in the ultramarine stamps (Zc and Zb). In the issue of 1876-1877, the material to hand includes four varieties (T, V, Y. Z) showing the first setting and two (U, Va) showing the second. The flaw is absent in all the former, as well as in all earlier stamps, and in some copies of Va, but occurs in others of the same variety. This confirms the order of the settings established on other evidence, and definitely proves the recurrence of shades in the stamps of the two settings, and puts out of court the theory of stored paper which might be invoked to explain such recurrences.

With the two rectifications given above, the classification of the 20 Lepta of 1876-7 would stand as follows:

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