1902-03 Teheran Typeset Issues

The earliest handstamps (Type 1) known genuinely applied on the CHAHIS & KRANS Typeset issues showing clear outline with clear letters. It is consisted of a rosette with eight petals at 12 o'clock showing a small Sun and at 6 o'clock there is Lunar date of "1319" (Gregorian 1901-02). In each petal at the left there are three letters of "P" "O" "S" and at the right side "T", "E", and "S". The height of this handstamp is about 17.5mm and the width of it is about 19.5mm.

A new type of handstamp, called here Type 2 was appeared. Apparently this one was made by repairing the type 1 handstamp. This one is more blurred compared to the early impressions of type 1 and there are two major breaks. One near the tip of 9 o'clock petal and the other one at the base of the 12 o'clock petal. 

Type 2 Image of handstamp taken from a 10 Chahis stamp used on 1 Dec 1902 cover tied by TEHERAN 30/11 postmark. The breaks are indicated by circles.

Type 2 Handstamp applied in blue color on Tomani (Mandat) stamps, identical to the type 2 handstamp applied on Chahis & Krans stamps, showing the same breaks.

Type 2 Forgery showing the same break at the 9 o'clock petal but the date is "812" instead of "1319"

Stamps with "812" date Fake Handstamp

In addition to the type 2 handstamp we come across another handstamp applied on supposedly genuine examples of the Tomani stamps which we may call it Type 3 handstamp.

It must be mentioned here that there are numerous types of fake handstamps exist which are not discussed here and they will be the subject of another article.

Numbers on the back of the Tomani stamps