Currency Today : Azerbaijan 3

5 manat note:

Although the second coin is 3 qəpik, the second banknote is 5 manat.

3 qəpik

The design is similar, we see books and a feather on the 3 qəpik coin, and the 5 manat note.

Also here, two versions are in circulation, the old design and the new design.

5 manat - old design

5 manat - new design

In both designs, we see some books. The note therefore is dedicated to the literature of Azerbaijan.
The country has the largest collections of miniature books in the world, and the only museum of miniature books in the world! It is located in the old town of Baku.

largest collection of miniature books in the world

In its collection there are the 3 smallest books in the world, measuring 2 by 2 milimeter each!

Some of the security marks on both notes, are the white gap in the left margin of the old note (see also margin of the 1 manat note). This gap is a bit larger then the lower denomination.
For the new design, where the 1 manat note had one line (/), the 5 manat note has 3 lines (///)

1 manat with one line, 5 manat with 3 lines

to be continued...

 

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 2

The first series of Manat notes in Azerbaijan, were issued between 1919 and 1923.
After the first World War, Azerbaijan had its own banknotes, before they were incorporated in the former Sovjet Union. Already then, the money was 'kopeks and rubles', like in Russia.

After the independence of 1991, a new currency was introduced, the Manat, devided in 100 qəpik.
The word 'qəpik' (kae-pic) is clearly derived from the Russian word 'kopek'.
But also the word manat has surprising roots. The consonants M-N-T/D refer to MoNeT/Da, the Latin word for coin (money).

Where the first Manat-series after the Russian ruble, got the international code AZM (AZerbaijan Manat), the new currency was given the code AYM at first. Since the manat underwent a devaluation (5000 old manat became one new manat), a new code was required. But erroneously this code (AYM) was not correct according the ISO-rules, hence it became AZN in 2006.

Since 2005 the new manat is used, and currently two different designs are in use.
The first design (2005) was replaced by a 'refurbished' design in 2017. Both versions are still legal tender and the old notes are gradualy replaced by the new ones.

1 manat note:

Image below : two versions of the 1 manat note.

1 manat (2005 and 2020)

On the 1 manat note, we find three typical Azerbaijani instruments : tar, kamancha and daf.

Daf-drum and tar (guitar)

kamancha instrument

Azerbaijani players with their instuments

The same instrument on the 'first' banknote, is also depicted on the 'first' coin (1 qəpik).

1 qəpik - instruments

reverse side of 1 manat
old and new design

The new design has a line ( / ) in the left and right margin, in the old design, there is a white gap in the border frame.

1 manat old and new design

to be continued ...

Currency Today : Azerbaijan 1

After the dissolution of the former USSR, various states became independent. One of them was Azerbaijan.

To most people, Azerbaijan was not that known, until Ell and Nikki won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011. The whole festival moved to Baku the next year, and so a lot of people saw images of the most eastern of all europan countries. Nearly 90% of Azerbaijan's economy is based on the export of all kinds of oil products.

Azerbaijan is also known for the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabach, an area with an Armenian majority.
This region has been subject to several wars, where some degree of independency was given and taken from the Armenian people living there. Currently Nagorno-Karabach is recognized as Azerbaijan territory.
Strangely enough, the country exists out of two parts, and the smaller part in the south west, is acualy and enclave of Azerbaijani people in the country of Armenia.

Map of Azerbaijan

Looking at the Azerbaijani flag, we see a star and a crescent.
These symbols can also be found on the flag of Turkey, neighbour of Azerbaijan.
This is no coincidence, as Azerbaijani is also a Turkic language, and also spoken in Türkiye.
Arabic, Latin and Cyrillic writing is used.

Flag of Azerbaijan

There are 6 coins in use, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 qəpik.
On the reverse side, we find the face value, and a map of Azerbaijan.

1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 qəpik

The value '3' is less common to most of us, but was already used in Russia, and in Cuba.

On the obverse side, we find again the face value, but now with different images.

1, 3 and 5 qəpik

10, 20 and 50 qəpik

The music instrument on the 1 qəpik (kae-pik) coin, returns in the 1 Manat note, the books in the 3 qəpik coin, is repeated in the 5 Manat note.
On the 5 qəpik coin we see a building, this image returns on the 10 Manat note.
The crown on the 10 qəpik coin, also is seen on the 20 Manat note, and the stairs on the 20 qəpik coin can be found again on the 50 Manat note.
The 50 kqəpik coin, is the only bimetallic coin. It illustrates the oil industry in the country.

1 and 3 qəpik coins are rarely used, but still part of the set of coins.
There is no date of issue on any of the coins!

to be continued ...

Egypt classic cancels 02 - General cancels T6 - T12

In this second part of eary Egypt cancels, I continue in the year 1877.
Egypt's chief postmaster, and founder of the Egypt postal system, Giacomo Muzzi, resigned in 1876.

He was succeeded by Alfred Caillard - of French origine - in 1877, and under his supervison, Egypt's handstamps changed from Italian to French.

Type VI

Type VI

Type VII

In 1878, a duplex cancel was introduced, similar to cancels used in the British Empire.
These duplex cancels had a regular cancel in French and Arabic, and next to it, a mute cancel with the letter A. This cancel type was only used in Alexandria.

Type VII - duplex cancel Alexandria

Type VIII

In 1880, Caillard was succeeded by Walter Halton Pasha, who introduced next to French, also the English names on the cancels.
This type, has the English or French name on top of the cancel, and the Arabic name at the bottom.
see also Type XII, where the two languages changed place, giving preference to the Arabic name.

Type VIII

Type VIII pair

Type IX

Also in 1880, a hand cancel with bars was introduced.
For this type, there are several subtypes. The inner ring has bars on both sides, both up and down. There are variations with only bars in the top part, or only on the bottom part.

The number of bars vary as well. Going from 3 bars, up to 11.
Furthermore, some bars  are attached to the inner circle, other cancels have bars that are not attached.

Type IX.1

Type IX.6

Because of the similar design with swiss cancels that were in use at the same time, this type is also called the 'Swiss type'.

Type IX 5 bars and 6 bars

Type IX 7 bars and 8 bars

Type X

The 10th type came out in 1882, and is sought because of its limited use (less then 40 known locations), mainly in the north of Egypt, and some of them in Sudan.
Specific for this type of hand cancel, is the star and crescent under the city name.

Type X - star and crescent

The last known use of this cancel type is 1919.

Type XI

Similar to type X, but now with only a star, is this type XI.

This cancel type was in use between 1907 and 1923.

Type XII

The last type, type XII, is similar to type VIII.
Where in type VIII, the French or English name is on top of the cancel, and the Arabic name on the lower part, the Type XII stamps have the Arabic on top, and the 'foreign' language at the bottom of the cancel.

Type XII - Arabic name on top

to be continued...

Egypt classic cancels 01 - General cancels T1 - T5

When it comes to cancels on stamps of Egypt, the work of R. Seymour Blomfield is the basic catalog for all collectors.

For all cancels in the 'classic era', roughly from 1860 - till the first World War, an extended description is given for regular (postal use) cancels and special cancels.
In this first post, I will start with some of the 12 basic types - regular cancels.

Types I to V have one thing in common, they all have the Italian name of Egypt (Egiziane) on the cancel.
Often however, the key text on the upper part of the cancel, is incomplete or missing.

In this case, the name of the month - also in Italian - can help determinate wheter the cancel is one of the first 5 types or not.

gennaio	January	luglio	July
febbraio	February	agosto	August
marzo	March	settembre	September
aprile	April	ottobre	October
maggio	May	novembre	November
giugno	June	dicembre	December

Type I and II

In 1865 Type I was introduced. All cancels have "Poste Vice-Reali Egiziane"

Type I

From 1867, Type II was also used, here we find : "Regi Poste Egiziane" - Regi means 'Royal'

Type II

Type III

With the introduction of the 3rd type, both Type I and II were used no longer.
Type III has the text : "V.R. Poste Egiziane" - V.R. stands for Vice Reali (Vice-Regal)

Type III

Type III cancel on 1 Piastre - 28 Jan 1875

Type IV

In 1873, a 4th cancel type was introduced, along the remaining Type III.
This time, the text is "Poste Khedeuie Egiziane" - Khedivial Post.
This type comes with a single or a double outter ring.

Type IV - single ring

Type V

The last type with Italian writings, is type V.
The main text here is (only) "Poste Egiziane". It was issued in around March 1873, till June 1880 - next to types III and IV.

Type V

Type V on 5 paras - 21 Feb 1877

Important for this type, is that one of the subtypes (Type V.4) has Arabic text in the middle of the cancel.
The date therefore is in Arabic and not in Latin script.
Those cancels were only used in upper Egypt and the Sudan area. All of those cancels have identical sizes (no matter the amount of text that needed to fit in).

to be continued...

Fun : theme related wallpapers 08

It's been a while since I posted some nice wallpapers.
Here is another set stamp related wallpapers.

More will follow in later posts.

French cancels - 01 n Paris numbered stars (étoiles chiffrées)

see also: https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2023/02/french-cancels-01-c-paris-numbered.html

Variations on the star itself:

mute star (no number)

mute star

mute star cropped

cropped mute star

mute start blank center 

blank center

If you like to collect the numbered stars, there are various ways to do so.
You can search for all numbers, regardless on which stamp they occur, or you can look for each stamp (between nr. 1 to 60) to find 40 different cancels each time.
I'm sure, the last option will get you a lifetime achievement award, as you'll be looking for 2400 stamps.

The page I made (see link) has 6 pages:

page 1 is a list of each of the 40 offices
page 2 is an album page that can be used for each of the 40 star cancels
(this page can be copied many times, if you like to collect the cancels on different stamps)
page 3/4/5/6 are pages where you can put all variations of the star cancels.

I also added a mute start cancel, a cropped mute cancel, and an empty center star cancel.

link to the pdf-file

French cancels - 01 m Paris numbered stars (étoiles chiffrées)

Some variations on the étoile 3:

see also https://rainbowstampsandcoins.blogspot.com/2023/02/french-cancels-01-c-paris-numbered.html

For the star nr. 3, there are also few variations.

étoile 3 - normal version

In the first variation, the dot on top of the 3 is missing.

étoile 3 - plein

The second variation is similar to the first one, but the horizontal line in the middle of the 3 is extended and connected with the dot in front of it. As if an extra dot is placed in front of the 3.
This variation is called the 'parasite 3'.

étoile 3 'parasite'

Two more variations on the 3-star exist.
For those 2, an improvised 3 cancel was used. The font is different than the one used before.
The handstamp was however not very strong made, or used the wrong way, as not only this improvised cancel, but also a worn out - version of this cancel can be found.

étoile 3 - improvisé (1st state)

étoile 3 - improvisé (2nd state)

Below, the 'original' étoile 3 cancel.

to be continued...