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Saar Basin (Saargebiet) Definitives Selection (Scott #68-98 series)

A group of nine used 1920s Saar Basin postage stamps mounted on a paper card titled '10 SAARGEBIED 75 Ct.' showing various landscapes.

Estimated value

$10 - $35

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Category

Stamps

Brand

League of Nations Administration

Era

1921-1932

Origin

🇩🇪 Germany

Authenticity

Very High(85%)
55

SAAR BASIN (SAARGEBIET) DEFINITIVES SELECTION (SCOTT #68-98 SERIES): IDENTIFICATION

A philatelic souvenir card or window mount containing nine used postage stamps from the Saar Basin territory. The assembly features pictoral definitives from the early 1920s League of Nations administration period. Visible values include the 40pf grey-black, 50pf red-brown, 60pf orange-red, and various high values in Centimes/Francs overprints. The stamps are canceled-to-order (CTO) or postally used, featuring various town cancels including a legible 'BUTTERSDORF' circular date stamp from 1931 and another date stamp from 1923.

Compare with other stamps in the archive: 10-Cent Pan-American Union Air Mail Stamp (Scott #C25), Belgian Congo, Queen Elisabeth Mask Issue (1928-1930) - 6 Francs, Belgium 1912 definitive series postage stamp, 10-centime carmine on blue frame, cancelled 'MONS S-GENERAL'.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Interwar Europe1919-1939

The use of 'Plebiscite' and 'Mandate' stamps was a common political tool used by the League of Nations to establish administrative legitimacy in disputed border regions like Upper Silesia and Danzig.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Souvenir mounting: The practice of creating small 'pocket' selections for tourists or beginning collectors was a staple of European philatelic shops in the 1950s-70s.

Meaning Through Time

1920s

Evidence of local autonomy and League of Nations administrative oversight.

Modern

Historical artifacts representing the complex geopolitical restructuring of Europe after World War I.

POSTAL HERITAGE

Created following the Treaty of Versailles, the Saar Basin (Saargebiet) was administered by the League of Nations from 1920 to 1935. During this transitional period, the territory produced its own postal emissions, initially overprinting German and French stamps before issuing these distinct ...
Created following the Treaty of Versailles, the Saar Basin (Saargebiet) was administered by the League of Nations from 1920 to 1935. During this transitional period, the territory produced its own postal emissions, initially overprinting German and French stamps before issuing these distinct landscape and industrial designs in 1921. This specific set represents the demographic and industrial heritage of the border region before its reintegration into Germany following the 1935 plebiscite as noted in Michel and Scott catalogs.

PHILATELIC NOTES

1

The 1921 Saar landscape series was the first definitive set issued specifically for the territory rather than using overprinted German stocks.

2

The currency changed mid-issue from Marks to Francs in 1921, leading to the surcharge overprints visible on several stamps in this group.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 13 stamps items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • Commonly available philatelic material with consistent 1920s printing characteristics
  • Cancellation dates (1923, 1931) align perfectly with the postal history of the Saar Basin territory
  • Paper toning and mount style are consistent with mid-20th century collector sets
How does authenticity detection work?

PHILATELIST'S VERDICT

Philatelist

Stamp Specialist

High confidence in identification of the issues and era due to clear inscriptions and readable cancel dates, though secondary evaluation is needed for individual stamp faults behind the plastic film.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Identification of 'SAARGEBIED' (Saar Territory) inscriptions on all specimens.
  • 2Presence of surcharged overprints in Centimes/Francs which occurred after the 1921 currency reform.
  • 3Readable town cancels from Buttersdorf and 1923/1931 date stamps.
  • 4Industrial and landscape motifs (collieries, bridges) characteristic of the 1921-1927 Saar definitives.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Toning/staining on the mount indicates poor storage conditions which may have caused migration of acids to the stamp paper (foxing).

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Remove from the non-archival mount to inspect for hinges or thins on the reverse.
  • →Verify the 75 centime surcharges against Scott #85-91 for specific plate varieties.
  • →Check for watermarks (typically a mesh pattern) to confirm issue dates.

CONDITION & GRADE

Good-Fine

Grading breakdown

The stamps themselves show typical commercial centering for the period. Toning is visible on the paper mount which likely affects the reverse gum condition of any 'unused' appearing specimens. Most cancels are standard town strikes.

Condition

Stamps appear used with circular date stamps. Centering varies from fine to very fine. The mounting card shows significant edge wear, toning, and foxing consistent with long-term storage in a non-archival environment.

PHILATELIC VALUATION

$10 - $35

Updated: May 11, 2026

Who buys this

Specialist collectors of German Area philately and League of Nations postal history.

What increases value

  • •Clarity of the Buttersdorf cancel
  • •High-value surcharge varieties within the landscape series
  • •Presence of the Franc-denominated airmail or express stamps if identified upon removal

What lowers value

  • •Staining or toning on the stamp paper significantly reduces value
  • •Hidden thins or creases caused by the mounting process

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Full original gum (MNH) for unused copies
  • •Rare town cancellations for used copies
  • •Perfect centering (Superb 95+)

Grade & condition

Centering, freshness of color, integrity of perforations, and clarity of the cancel strike.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandModerate liquidity
Browse similar stamps objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

HE

helen
Wonderseeker•5 items

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