Iran – Qajar Dynasty issues

 Under construction 

Iran's postal service goes all the way back to the 6th Century BC. We will only be concerned here with stamp issues.

The rumors you have heard are true – nearly all issues of this period have been forged. There are also reprints of many issues. These will be described in separate articles after this basic page has been finished.


 * In 1867, neatly printed lion and sun essay designs were produced in various colors by Martin Riester (1865) and Albert Barre (1867). These were rejected by the government.
 * c.1870, Iran's first stamps were issued, lion and sun designs in 4 denominations and colors. This called the Baqeri (Bagheri) issue. There are four types of each which can be used to distinguish genuine from forgery. Several different kinds of paper are known. They were used on mail without cancellation or were sometimes pen cancelled.
 * In 1875-77, the clichés had denominations added under the body of the lion. There are four types again of each value, printed in various combinations. These stamps are normally rouletted vertically though the 1 shahi black also exists imperf. The issue is distnctive for its wide side margins. Reprints exist. Special printings exist also.
 * In 1876, imperfs including new colors and/or values were issued. These were printed in blocks of 4 (instead of strips of 4) so do not have the wide side margins of the previous issue.

 File:Iran black lion.jpg File:Iran darkred lion.jpg|1876 1 kran 

 File:Iran portrait A.jpg|1876 1s Nassereddin File:Iran portrait 2.jpg|1880 5s value File:Iran 2k reprint CTO.jpg|CTO reprint 
 * In 1876, portrait designs of Nassereddin were issued in several different perfs. Various bisects exist.
 * In 1878, due to a shortage, 5s envelope stationery indicia were cut out and used as stamps. The design is slightly larger than that of the stamps and the improvised stamps are on granite paper.
 * In 1878-79, re-engraved lion and sun designs were issued, again imperf. These are still quite worn overall.
 * In 1879-80, Nesser-eddin portraits designs returned, now with borders in a solid color. Several different perfs exist.
 * In 1881, lithographed designs of the sun in a fancy frame were issued with inscription POSTE PERSANE. Ltho stamps have a solid background in the denomination oval.
 * In 1881, the previous design was issued engraved, with a crosshatched background in the denomination oval.
 * In 1882, a full-face Nassereddin portrait issue was released. Only the 5f and 50f stamps have been forged – hooray!
 * c.1885-87, previous issues were surcharged OFICIEL with value in arabic flanked by the equivalent in Persian on either side. These have proven to be a favorite with forgers.
 * c.1885-86, small designs featuring a lion in a 8-point "flower" in a fancy frame were issued, known as the Vienna issue.
 * The 5 chahi was issued lithographed. There are 88 rays in the "flower", but the four major shades (Deep reddish lilac, ultramarine, violet blue and blue) are different from the typographed stamp that is essentially always a (bright) dull blue.
 * Three values of the previous design including a 5 chahi were issued typographed, with 124 rays in the "flower". Full face portrait designs of Nassereddin were also issued. There are numerous perf varieties of the typographed stamps.
 * In 1889, a new series was issued, the low values with Persian script in the center, the values above 7ch with the portrait of Nassereddin. These are typically off-center with some so badly done as to be unrecognizable as stamps.
 * In 1891, a new series was issued, with the lion and sun emblem returning to the low values while the kran values had the portrait of Nassereddin in a slightly larger design.
 * In 1894, a Golden Jubilee issue was released, the four lowest values with the lion and sun, the balance with a portrait of (guess who?) Nassereddin. Reprints are common and exist CTO.
 * In 1896, a 2ch design of a letter with "1312" in Persian was printed but never issued.

(more to follow)

 File:Iran reg label.jpg|unused registration label. 
 * In 1898-1911, the generic registration label was improvised as a 1 shahi stamp during shortages of such low values.

See

 * Iran, a disambiguation page
 * Pahlavi Dynasty issues
 * Back of the book issues

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