Page 80 - Gustaf Douglas: Classic Sweden

The 20:TRETIO Error

FRAME 26 SWEDEN 1872-1891 THE CIRCLE TYPE

The 20:TRETIO Error Fakes of 20:TRETIO Error
In the beginning of 1880 it was noticed through a The well‐known error 20:TRETIO became collector
control at the Swedish Post Inventory department items at a very early stage and is (after the 3 Skilling
that 5,813 panes of 20 Öre had been printed with one Banco Yellow) the second most important printing
cliché having 20 Öre on “TRETIO”. error of Swedish philately, subject to forgery by
One cliché on the 20 Öre plate had been damaged various forgers, some sold through Fournier.
and replaced. A cliché from a scrapped 30 Öre plate According to the General Post Office archives it is
was used. The value‐figure “20” was carved out but without doubt that the error didn’t happen before the
not the denomination value autumn of 1879, conse‐
with letter TRETIO (below quently the stamp can only
the number figure). exist in perforation 13.
Of 5,813 panes, 1,583 (with A dangerous technique
100 stamps) were delivered has been used in that a
to local post offices before genuine stamp has been
the mistake was detected. treated so it became a
613 stamps with the error forgery. This was done by
“20:30” were reclaimed but using a common 20 Öre
970 stamps remained sold stamp, removing the
to the public. The majority inscription “TJUGO”, and
of the usages are post‐ replacing it with “TRETIO”.
marked in 1880, only three As “TJUGO” consists of
recorded are from 1879. only five letters, the stars in
A common usage of the 20 the white circle are located
Öre Circle Type denominat‐ lower, as with “FRIMÄRKE”.
ion was as combined fran‐ The 30 Öre consists,
king with 5 Öre denominat‐ however, of six letters and
ion supplying for the consequently the stars and
domestic Money Order fee “FRIMÄRKE” are located
(25 Öre in force from 1.1.1877 until 31.7.1892). higher. There exist both unused and used forgeries.

“Cut‐out” from Domestic Money Order 31.12.1879 Imperforate forgery

1879 usages of the 20:TRETIO Error are very rare Source: Tomas Bjäringer RDP HFRPSL