PHILATELY: 1992 trident overprints on Ukraine's postage stamps
by Volodymyr Bekhtir
As a result of a significant nine-fold increase in postal rates that took effect in early January 1992, a rather complicated situation developed in postal facilities throughout Ukraine. Postage stamps in denominations of 35 kopiyky (Ukrainian equivalent of Russian "kopek" term) and higher that were needed to facilitate this rate increase were not immediately available.
An earlier rate increase announced by Soviet authorities in April 1991, which was much smaller than the subsequent January 1992 rate increase, resulted in orders for the printing of 1-, 2- and 3-kopek stamps. However, the delivery of these low-value stamps to post offices was significantly delayed; they became virtually useless once the major nine-fold increase took place in January 1992.
The Kyyiv Main Post Office was, therefore, forced to undertake measures that are not very popular in the philatelic community, namely the overprinting of the low-value stamps with a higher denomination (see Figure 1). The overprinting was carried out on the 1-, 3- and 2-kopek values (Scott Russia 5723, 5724; Soviet catalogue 6298).
To conform with the new postal rates, the above listed Soviet stamps were overprinted with the following denominations: 0.35, 0.43, 0.45 and 0.50 kopiyky, 1, 3, 10, 20, 30 and 50 karbovantsi. The 50 karbovantsi value was overprinted on the 1 kopek stamps (Scott Russia 5723), while for the new values, of 0.35, 0.43, 0.45 and 0.50, kopiyky, as well as the 20 karbovantsi value, 2 kopek stamps (Soviet catalogue 6298) were used. The new values of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 30 karbovantsi were printed on 3 kopek stamps (Scott Russia 5724). A portion (about 20 percent) of the 0.50 kopiyky overprints were made erroneously on 1 kopek value (Scott Russia 5723).
Three types of overprints were produced (see Figure 2). Each of the overprints consisted of a trident inside a heraldic shield over a new denomination. Type one overprints show a heraldic-shaped shield outline (11 mm wide) with a trident inside. Overprint type two differs from the first in that the shield is narrower (9 mm) and most of the shield is colored in with only a white trident in the center (the image resembles a "negative" image, i.e. a reversed impression of the type one overprints). Type three overprints resemble those of type two, but the shield is wider (11.5 mm).
Type one trident overprints constitute the bulk of the overprints; these are the 0.35, 0.43, 0.45 and 0.50 kopiyky values. The type two tridents may be found on 1, 3 and 5 karbovantsi denominations. Type three trident images appear on the high-value 10, 20, 30 and 50 karbovantsi denominations.
The sheets from 0.35 kopiyky or 5 karbovantsi have an additional distinct peculiarity. Stamps in position numbers 12, 19, 82 and 89 on the 100-stamp pane (ten by ten) have a different trident overprint image (reverse impression), e.g. sheets of the 0.35 to 0.50 kopiyky value carry 96 stamps in the pane with a type one trident, while stamps in positions 12, 19, 82 and 89 display type two overprints; sheets of the 1, 3 and 5 karbovantsi value carry 96 stamps in the pane with a type two trident, but the remaining four positions have a type one trident. (The 10, 20, 30 and 50 karbovantsi sheets were overprinted with a type three trident in all positions.) Overprint ink colors varied with the different trident overprint values; different shades of these colors are found on most of the values. Shifts and inverts are also sometimes found on these issues.
Every pane of all the values, except for the 0.45 kopiyky, contains a single-line Ukrainian inscription in the upper left margin "èÓÚ¦ ìͦªÌË 1992 p." (Ukraine Post 1992) along with the date of printing (see the table above). For 0.43 kopiyky for example, the inscription reads "èÓÚ¦ ìͦªÌË 1992 p. 30.03. 1992." See Figure 3.
The earliest overprinting was made on the 0.45 kopiyky value using a tow-line inscription. The first line, in smaller letters, reads "23.03.1992 ÓÍÛ ä˪," (March 23, 1992, Kiev) while the second line reads "èÓÚ¦ ìͦªÌË 1992 p" (Ukraine Post 1992), as discussed above (see Figure 4).
It appears that a decision was soon made to eliminate the two-line inscription format in favor of a single line to identify the sheets and the date of printing. Thus, all sheets printed after March 23, 1992, carry a one-line identification.
The Kyyiv Main Post Office received authorization from Ukraine's State Committee for Communications to introduce these stamps on March 25, 1992.
Two different 100 karbovantsi souvenir sheets, one printed in black and the other in blue, were not prepared. Titled "äÎÂÈÌÓË ìͦªÌË" (Emblems of Ukraine), these sheets were not authorized for postal use.
*Although not initially authorized, 5 karbovantsi trident overprint values were prepared and sold in the Kyyiv's Main Post Office for a few hours before being withdrawn. The need for postage stamps was so high, however, that on July 4, 1992, this value was approved for postal use and re-released.
| Value | Ink Used | Total Printed | Date of Issue |
| 0.35 kopiyky | green | 306,900 | March 24, 1992 |
| 0.43 kopiyky | purple/brown | 504,100 | March 30, 1992 |
| 0.45 kopiyky | blue | 545,900 | March 23, 1992 |
| 0.50 kopiyky | dark rose | 543,100 | March 24, 1992 |
(about 120,000 of these were printed in carmine on 1 kopek stamp) | |||
| 1 karbovanets | black | 488,000 | March 30, 1992 |
| 3 karbovantsi | olive brown | 462,000 | March 30, 1992 |
| 5 karbovantsi | carmine | 450,000 | March 30, 1992 |
| 10 karbovantsi | violet | 326,900 | April 4, 1992 |
| 20 karbovantsi | dark rose | 34,800 | April 4, 1992 |
| 30 karbovantsi | carmine | 29,300 | April 4, 1992 |
| 50 karbovantsi | reddish purple | 32,400 | April 4, 1992 |
Volodymyr Bekhtir is the president of the Union of Philatelists in Ukraine.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 31, 1993, No. 5, Vol. LXI
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