Second Definitives - Pictorials

1964, 10 May

Printer: Helio Electronic Press
Designer: Paul Koroleff
Sheet Size: 3 x 10
Perf: 12

At times one finds this issue referred to as a definitive set and at others, a pictorial issue. While it does not have as many values as the first definitive set, it does contain the first 5R value since then, and like the first definitives, is the only other set to date, to portray Sheikh Rashid on all values. In his "List of Dubai Emissions..." (See appendix A), Mr. Stephan referred to it as 2nd Definitives - 8 values. On a price list from 1970, Mr. Mosden refers to them as "New Ordinary Pictorals" and "New Airmail Pictorals". When the final definitive set was released in two parts in 1970 and 1971, that set was referred to as the fifth definitive set, which makes this the second.

The set consists of four regular postage stamps and four airmail stamps, each portraying the ruler in front of the Dubai flag and a scene of Dubai from the air.

Mr. Stephan stated originally that the printer had kept several sheets of the stamps with the original gutters between the denominations and that they were very scarce. He stated there were less than thirty pairs in existance. In a later letter when describing the miniature sheets that are illustrated under the sets for Freedom for Hunger, Malaria and the Boy Scouts, he stated he was contacted by a neighbor in Beirut who had been a shareholder in the Helio Electronic Press. The man had a quantity of items, including many of the second definitives he wanted to sell to Mr. Stephan. In the lot, there were some sheets with the original gutter between the denominations. Mr. Stephan claimed that that was his source of the ones in his possession.

The configuration of the original sheets were as follows, before they were cut into the individual denominations:

The set was not issued imperforate, but most of the stamps can be found imperforate as a sheet or two of most, if not all values were not perforated and sold through the Dubai Philatelic Agency. "Errors" were created and sold by Mr. Stephan and Mr. Mosden. No genuine errors exist for this issue.

Set of 8

SS: None
CTO: None
Plate Numbers: None
FDC: Two covers exist with the postage values on one and the airmails on the other. The cancellation is a non-commemorative cancellation, as is usual for definitive issues. The cachet, which is the most attractive of all the Dubai cachets, was prepared by the Baroody Stamp Company.
Cost:

 

• It is unlikely that a gutter pair exists for the remaining 20np - 2R values. These allegedly came from remainders of the second definitive set sold to Mr. Stephan by a shareholder in the Helio Electronic Press, years after Dubai stopped issuing stamps under is own name.

 

• The top cover with the four regular stamps and the bottom with the four airmail stamps of the second definitive set.

• An airmail cover sent from Deira to Kuwait on 4 June 1964. Although it is not a registered envelope, it was backstamped in Kuwait on 7 June.

 

• Another airmail cover bearing stamps of the Second Definitive set. The cover was mailed from Deira, Dubai to Kuwait on 6 July 1964 and arrived in Kuwait on 7 July.

ITEMS CREATED UNDER THE BAROODY CONTRACT

• This cover was created by Mr. Stephan to sell through the Dubai Philatelic Agency. Note the top stamp on the left has the flag over the Sheikh's face. The original price of this cover was $75. Evidently collectors at the time were willing to pay high prices for the "errors" of this new stamp issueing country. They certainly could not have known these items were created solely for the philatelic market and never reached the Dubai Post Office.

Created Errors

• TOP ROW: A 10np value with a slight shift in the frame. A 20np green view and frame printed over a full 3R blue stamp.
  MIDDLE ROW: An imperf 10np sttamp missing the portrait of the Sheikh and the flag. A 5R value with the pink color shifted to the left.
  BOTTOM: An imperf. 10np value with the Sheikh and frame in pink.
  

• The frame consists of two colors. This is the portrait and the gray color of the frame.

• The 30np and 1R values in blocks of four with only the frames printed.

• A 20np imperforate. missing the image of the Ruler and a pair of the same stamps missing the Ruler, with a shift in the flag.

• LEFT: A perf. block of four of the 10np vlaue with the flag shifted so it covers the Sheikh's face. This block, while in Mr. Mosden's possession, got wet and he soaked the gum off of it to save it. There may be others without the gum as well. RIGHT: An imperf. block of four of the 30np value with the Sheikh and frame in pink.

• An imperf. block of the 40np with a shift of the Sheikh and the frame to the left. The dollar sign and amount seem appropriate in view of the practice of creating errors and selling them as genuine. Actually, the rubber stamped dollar sign and numbers are most likely the figure owed for a large order of the stamps that was being sorted.

 

• Most, if not all, of the second definitives can be found imperf. A few sheets were left that way and sold.

29 May - Kennedy May 29 Overprint and Unissued Overprints

30 April - Human Rights

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