The Bulgarian editions of the 1970s were printed in sufficient quantities. However, it is precisely in this context that rare and spectacular varieties occasionally appear that are not recorded in catalogues and therefore deserve special attention.
The first variety, offered a few weeks ago by the DBA Freiburg, concerns stamp number 2491 from the "30 Years of Border Protection" issue dated May 15, 1976. The stamp normally depicts a border guard with binoculars and a German Shepherd. A pair of vertical, mint-condition stamps has come to light, in which the upper stamp remains completely unperforated, while the upper row of perforations is missing on the lower stamp. This unusual combination indicates a significant disruption in the perforation process. The pair was valued at €150, a reasonable price considering the dog motif.
The variety is less pronounced in a different stamp, MiNr. 2549, commemorating the 33rd Congress of the Bulgarian People's Peasant Union of November 28, 1976. This stamp, issued by Badische Briefmarken GmbH, is a mint, top-margined stamp with a face value of 13 stotinki, in which the entire design is printed on the gum side. The obverse appears white, while the reverse features the complete design with maroon and orange borders and a gray frame with purple lettering. This distinctive variety was offered as a single lot by bid.
A highlight was the variety of stamp MiNr. 2718 commemorating the 70th birthday of Salvador Allende (1908-1973), the former Chilean president, issued on October 11, 1978. In a mint, never hinged corner-margined block of four stamps from the top left, all four stamps were printed on the gum side with his portrait in brown against an orange-red background. Compared to the print run of the regular stamps (150.000), such a single specimen of this variety is likely extremely rare. A corresponding price of €400 was set by the DBA Freiburg (German Philatelic Association).
These examples impressively demonstrate that it can be worthwhile to take a closer look even at seemingly less interesting periods and issues!
Michael Burzan, AIJP
