wheat

CAROL "EAR OF WHEAT"/ "SPIC DE GRAU"

Every collector has a favourite - and for me Romanias Carol stamps between 1893 - 1908 are the alltime favourites - loads of watermarks, perforations, cancellations, printing errors, essays, pairs imperf in the middle, perfins and so on and on and on.....It�s hard to browse through a minor collection of these without finding something special.

There is a lot of possible varieties here - my basic advice is to concentrate on the watermarks and later look at papers. Start with the four UPU colour changes - (5B, 10B, 15B & 25B).
Pre-UPU (5b blue, 10B green, 15B red and 25B lilac) can be found with three basic watermarks: a/small Wm 2 , b/ big Wm 4 and c/ thin Wm3 on thick paper
Post-UPU (5B green, 10B red, 15B black & 25B blue) can be found with two basic watermarks (Stema Mare + Wm5) and without watermark (+wm Iohanot et cie)
(it is mentioned and also listed here Post-UPU with wm 4. As far as I understand that is an extremely rare freak accident. Don´t expect to find it.)
Having done that, the other values ought to be easily sorted. Then you can try to sort by paper
Images of watermarks
All numbers here are CMR74. *=mint o=used. As for values - my sources are 29 years old.... I put an x = given a price in CMR
A -,- indicates that CMR gives no value, but that it exists = scarce.
Red -,- or number indicates stamp that is not listed in CMR74, but that collectors claims to have found it. Not proved.
Perf: A = 13 1/2 B = 11 1/2 C = 11 1/2 : 13 1/2 = 13 1/2 : 11 1/2.
If there is anything here you find to be wrong, inform me! This is a collectors help, not the bible!

ABOUT TYPES	SPECIALS
Essays	Mr Yasuki Ota´s collection
Display of 5 bani blue wmk II & III	Double perforation in the middle of pairs
Spic de Grau - flaws & varieties	5B green, pair with white label inbetween courtesy Razvan Pala
	15B violet, pair with white label inbetween

1893
Not circulated. Essay. 3b yellow, 10b brown, 15b red, 25b green. Only mint.

IA.1893/94 Wmk II Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 1
Small PR 11,5 mm high, 15,5 mm wide, distance between P and R 4,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 6mm high, halfcircle of R 4,5mm high
Paper thin (0,075 - 0,08 mm) soft, porous, white.
1 + 2L issued November 1893. Earliest known cancellation December 1893.
Lower values issued jan - feb 1894. earliest known cancellation March 1894.

		A*	Ao	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
100a	1 1/2B black	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
101a	3 B brown	x	x					1,2
101ab	3 B chocolate	x	x					1,2
102a	5B blue type I+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3
102ab	5 B light blue tI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3
103a	10 B green tI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
103ab	10 B dark green I+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
104a	15 B red t I	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
104ab	15 B carmine t I	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105a	25 B light violet	x	x			-,-	x	1,2,3
107a	50 B orange	x	x					1, 3, 4
108a	1 L brown/rose	x	x	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1,
109a	2 L orange/brown	x	x	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1,2
109ab	2 L reddish orange/brown	x	x	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1,2

Horizontal pairs, imperf in the middle : 1 1/2, 3, 5, 15, 50 2L 2L (10b x+y)
Vertical pairs, imperf in the middle : 1 1/2, 3, 5, 15 15again! and again, 25, 2L
One collector lists 3 and 5 bani with perforation B, another has found 40 bani green perf A pos 2

IB.1894 Wmk II Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 1
Small PR 11,5 mm high, 15,5 mm wide, distance between P and R 4,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 6mm high, halfcircle of R 4,5mm high
Paper thin (0,075 - 0,08 mm) thin, soft, light yellowish paper
Issue not listed in CMR - further information:
Hans Georg (Der gegenw�rtige stand der Spic de Griu-forschung...) and Const. Marius Jianu (Filatelia 7/1978)

	A*	Ao	C*	Co	D*	Do	Position
1 1/2 B black	-,-	-,-					1
3 B brown	-,-	-,-					1
10 B green	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1
15 B red	-,-	-,-					1
25 B violet	-,-	-,-					1
50B orange	-,-	-,-					1

IC.1895 january Wmk IV Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 1
Big PR 14 mm high, 14 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 6,5mm high
Paper thin (0,075 - 0,08 mm) , shiny, yellow.

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99b	1 BANI	x	x					x	x	1, 2, 4
100b	1 1/2 B	x	x			x	x			1,2,3,4
101b	3B chocolate brown	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3
101b	3 B brown red	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3
102b	5B blue TI+II	x	x					-,-	-,-	1,2,4
	5B darkblue I+II	x	x					-,-	-,-	1,2,4
103b	10B green TI+II	x	x							1,2,3,4
103b	10B emerald green TI+II	x	x							1,2,3,4
104b	15B red	x	x	x	-,-					1,2,3,4
105b	25B violet	x	x							1,2,3,4
107b	50B orange	x	x							1,2,3
108b	1L brown/red	x	x							1

Possible without wmk: 1 BANI

ID.1895 september Wmk IV Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 1
Big PR 14 mm high, 14 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 6,5mm high. 5B exists PR with additional horizontal line.
Paper of differing thickness (0,085 - 0,105 mm) white, coarse
Earliest cancellation september 1895.

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99c	1 B brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5,6
100c	1 1/2B black	x	x						-,-	1,2,3,4
101c	3B brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5
102c	5B blue TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5
102cb	5B dark blue TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5
103c	10B green	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5,7,8
103cb	10B emerald green	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5,7,8
104c	15B red TI, II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5,6
104cb	15B dark red TI, II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4,5,6
105c	25B violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105cb	25B light violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105cc	25B brown violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105cd	25B fire violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105cE	25B blue (nov 97)	x	x					x	-,-	1,2,3,4
105cE	in pair w 102c	x	x					x	-,-	1,2,3,4
106c	40B green-blue	x	x			x	x			1,2,3,4
106cb	40B dark green	x	x			x	x			1,2,3,4
107c	50B orange	x	x	x	5	x	x			1,2,3,4
107cb	50B lemon yellow	x	x	x	5	x	x			1,2,3,4
108c	1L brown/red	x	x		-,-					1,2,3,4,6

Possible without wmk: 1B (perf A), 3B (all perf), 5B (perf A,B,D), 10B (A,B,C), 15B (all), 25B (all), 40B (all, B+D rare), 50B (perf B), 1L
Pairs imperf in the middle, horizontal: 1B, 3B
Pairs imperf in the middle, vertical:

IE.1897 january Wmk III Most usual perforation= A + B Most usual position = 1
PR 12,5 mm high, 14 mm wide, distance between P and R 4 mm,
halfcircle of P 7mm high, halfcircle of R 6,5mm high. 5B exists PR with additional horizontal line.
Thick paper (0,100 - 0,105 mm) smooth, stiff, light yellow paper
Earliest cancellation january 1897.

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99d	1 B brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
101d	3 B chocolate brown	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3,4
102d	5 B blue TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3,4
102db	5 B dark blue TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3,4
103d	10B green TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2
103db	10B dark green TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2
104d	15B red TI, II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
104db	15B dull red	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105d	25B light violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
105db	25B dull violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
107d	50B orange	x	x	x	x					1,2,3,4
108d	1L brown/red	x	x	x	x					1,2,3

Possible without wmk: 50B
Pairs imperf in the middle horizontal: 1B, 25B
Pairs imperf in the middle vertical: 3B, 10B, 15B
One collector list 2L with wmk III

IF.1898 september Wmk IV Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 1
Big PR 14 mm high, 14 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 6,5mm high. 5B exists PR with additional horizontal line.
White paper, horizontally striped (25 stripes on 2 cm). Rare - most known stamps cancelled 1898.

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99e	1B brown	x	x							1
101e	3 B chocolate	x	x	x	x	x	x			1,2,3
102e	5B blue TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3
102eb	5B dark blue TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3
103e	10B green TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1
103eb	10B dark green TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1
104e	15B red T II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3
104eb	15B dull red T II	x	x	x	x			x	x	1,2,3
105e	25B light violet	x	x					x	x	1,2,3,4
105eb	25B dull violet	x	x					x	x	1,2,3,4

IG.1898 Wmk V UPU Coulours Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 2
PR 14,5 mm high, 13,5 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 7mm high. .
White paper, horizontally striped (25 stripes on 2 cm).

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99f	1B light brown	x	x	x	x	x	x			1,2,3,4
101f	3B brown red	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
110f	5B green	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
111f	10B red tI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2,3,4
112f	15B black tII	x	x	x	x	x	x	-,-	-,-	1,2,3,4
113f	25B blue	x	x	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1,2,3,4
107f	50B orange	x	x							1,2,3,4
108f	1L brown/red	x	x							1,2,4
109f	2L orange/brown	x	x	-,-	-,-					1,2,4

One copy is known of 10b red with wmk IV

IH.1898 Wmk V UPU Coulours Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 2
PR 14,5 mm high, 13,5 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 7mm high. .
White paper, nonstriped , raw to touch. Rare.

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99g	1B brown	x	x	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1,2
101g	3B brown	x	x							2
110g	5B green	-,-	x							2
111g	10B red	-,-	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	1,2
112g	15B black	-,-	x			x	x	x	x	1,2,3
113g	25B blue	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	2,3

All values known without wmk

Ii.1898 Wmk IV Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 1
Big PR 14 mm high, 14 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 6,5mm high. 5B exists PR with additional horizontal line.
White paper, raw to touch. Rare! Mentioned only by Hans Georg.

	A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
5B green	-,-	-,-			-,-	-,-			1,2
10B red	-,-	-,-							2
15B black	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	-,-	1,2

IJ.1898 Wmk V UPU Coulours Most usual perforation= A Most usual position = 2
PR 14,5 mm high, 13,5 mm wide, distance between P and R 3,5 mm,
halfcircle of P 7,5mm high, halfcircle of R 7mm high. .
Horizontally ripped (vargata) paper

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
99h	1B brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
101h	3B brown	x	x	x	x	x	x
110h	5B green	x	x			x	x
111h	10B red	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
112h	15B black	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
113h	25B blue	x	x	x	x			x	x
107h	50B orange	x	x
108h	1L brown/red	x	x

II.1900 Wmk Stema Mare Perforation=B (Positions 1 = head up, 2 = upside down)

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do	Positions
114	1 B brown			x	x					1-2, 3-4
115	3 B brown			x	x			x	x	1-2,3-4
116	5B green	x	-,-	x	x	-,-	x	-,-	x	1-2
117	10B red			x	x	-,-	x	-,-	x	1-2
118	15B black			x	x	-,--	x	-,-	x	1-2
119	25B blue			x	x					1-2,3-4
120	40B darkgreen	-,-	x	x	x	-,-	x	-,-	x	1-2,3-4
121	50B orange	-,-	x	x	x	-,-	x	-,-	x	1-2,3-4
122	1L brown/red	-,-	x	x	x					1-2
123	2L orange/brown			x	x					1-2

Possible in combination with wmk Johannot et cie Anonnay (extremely rare)

IIIa.1900 august. No wmk, thin white paper, backside light red
Exists with wmk Johannot et cie Anonnay

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do
124a	1B light brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
124b	1B light brownred	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
124c	1B dark brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
125a	3B brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
125b	3B brown red	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
125c	3B rose			-,-	-,-
126a	5B greenblue TII	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
126b	5B emerald green TII	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
127a	10B dull red TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
127b	10B light red TI+II	x	x			x	x	x	x
127E	10B orange TI+II					x	-,-
128a	15B black TII	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
128b	15B dark black TII	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
128c	15B dark grey TII	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
129a	25B blue	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
129b	25B dark blue	x	x
129c	25B pale blue	x	x	x	x
130a	40B green blue	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
130b	40B dark green blue	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
131a	50B orange	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
131b	50B redish orange	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

IIIb 1901. No wmk, thin white paper, backside light red
Exists with wmk Johannot et cie Anonnay

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do
132a	1 BAN light brown TI+II	x	x	x	x			x	x
132b	1 BAN light brownred	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
132c	1 BAN dark brown	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
133a	15B grey TI	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
133b	15B dark grey TII	x	x	x	x
133c	15B grey violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
133d	15B dull grey violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
133e	15B dark grey violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
134a	1L brown/red	x	x	x	x
134b	1L light brown/red			x	x
135a	2L orange/brown	x	-,-	x	x
135b	2L dark orange/brown			x	x

IIIc No wmk, thin white paper, backside light red
Exists with wmk Johannot et cie Anonnay

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do
136a	1 BAN black TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
136b	1 BAN ash grey	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
136c	1 BAN light grey	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
137a	5 B emerald green TII	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
137b	5 B grey olive	x	x	x	x
138a	10B red rose TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
138b	10B fire rose TI+II	x	x	x	x	x	x
138c	10B aniline-rose T1+II+III			x	x	x	x	x	x
138d	10B carmine TI+II+II			x	x	x	x
139a	15B violet TI	x	x	x	x	x	x
139b	15B dark violet	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
139c	15B light violet	-,-	-,-	x	x	x	x	x	x
140a	1L green blue/black	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
140b	1L light green/light black	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
141a	2L brown red/black			x	x
141b	2L light brownred/grey			x	x

IIId.1908 No wmk, White paper, thicker

		A*	Ao	B*	Bo	C*	Co	D*	Do
136Da	1B grey T1+II			x	x	x	x	x	x
136Db	1B smoke black	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x
125Da	3B brown red			x	x	x	x
125Db	3B brown-orange			x	x	x	x
137Da	5B green yellow TII			x	x	x	x	x	x
137Db	5B grass green TII			x	x	x	x	x	x
138D	10B carmine TI+II+III			x	x	x	x
139Da	15B dull violet TI			x	x	x	x
139Db	15B fire violet TI			x	x	x	x	x	x
129D	25B dark blue			x	x	x	x
130D	40B dark green			x	x	x	x

Further material: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13

illustration courtesy of CMR74