Low and complementary denominations only
After April 1948 there were no single use for a 5 öre stamp, at least not for the most common postal rates. The last 5 öre stamp with the king’s portrait was the 5 öre orange Gustaf V, right profile, type II issued as a complimentary denomination. However old king Gustaf V died in 1950 and that series became suddenly obsolete. When the definitive series of the new king Gustaf VI Adolf was planned in late 1950 it was decided that the new 5 öre would be the start of a definitive series of its own, it was named New Numeral Type since the motif was just a simple numeral. Well that made sense but it became a little awkward when two types of the series showed up - New Numeral Type, type I or type II. Type and type . . . The policy was changed in the way that the definitive series with the king’s portrait would start with the denomination of the lowest postal rate (printed matter) and the New Numeral Type series would be based on the lowest complementary denominations.It was the artist Karl-Erik Forsberg that made the interesting design using the letter g in “Sverige” as a distinct graphical element. Unfortunately the stamp was not well received. The public thought is was dull looking. I do not agree, this stamp is a actually a good design for a lower denomination definitive stamp. Less-is-more and it has a distinguished denomination figure. A wonderful piece of definitive stamps. It was engraved by Sven Ewert.
First Issue 29 November 1951
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| 1951, 29 November. 5 öre red-violet New Numeral Type type I. Qty: 140,000,000 |
This stamp lived along side with the Gustaf VI Adolf type I series and its background colouring scheme with a linear background was in harmony with the that series. A typical example of that is this post. The problem was that the background became to light for both series and in 1957 the background was changed for the Gustaf VI Adolf series - it became type II and the background had to be changed for the New Numeral Type as well, the new Numeral Type type II.
Second Issue 1 June 1957
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| 1957, 1 June. 5 öre carmine-red New Numeral Type, type II. Qty: 112,000,000 |
When the postal rates were raised in July 1957 the lowest postal rate became 15 öre for printed matter and then the 10 öre green Gustav VI Adolf type I and the 10 öre brown (the re-engraved version) were discontinued. Instead the new 10 öre blue New Numeral Type was introduced as well as the new version of the 5 öre New Numeral Type, now named type II.
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| 1957, 1 June. 10 öre blue New Numeral Type, type II. Qty: 239,000,000 |
The two type II stamps above were issued as ordinary coil stamps, but they were also issued in slot machine booklets. In a se-tenant set up which was a novelty. The slot machines were configured for 1 kr except for a limited number of machines that for some time were configured for 2 kr. The first slot machine booklet cost 2 kr and consisted of eight 25 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type I, that was an exception, because two other booklets that were released at teh same time contained ten 10 öre brown Gustaf VI Adolf type I or four 25 öre Gustaf VI Adolf stamps. (There was also actually a commemorative booklet as well, celebrating the centennial of Swedish stamps in 1955.) When the rate for domestic letter - 20 g was raised to 30 öre a problem aroused since 30 öre could not sum up to an even 1 kr. Now two different denominations were needed. The first booklet contained pairs with the all new 15 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf type II and the 5 öre Numeral Type type II put together. A se-tenant pair! Five of those pairs made 1 kr. That is the story behind how the first se-tenant pairs showed up in Sweden.
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| 1957, 1 June was the release date of the fifth slot machine booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 1,340,000 booklets 15 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf, 3-sided perforation. 5 öre carmine-red New Numeral Type type II, 3-sided perforation. The pairs came in two varieties: Left (top) or Right (bottom).* Single use of pair was domestic postcard. |
The fifth slot machine booklet held the denominations 5 and 15 öre. Each 5 and 15 öre formed a pair (3-sided perforation) and the booklet contained 10 stamps each or 5 se-tenant pairs. The way that they were printed and cut caused two pair varieties, one called Left with the 15 öre Gustaf VI Adolf to the left and the 5 öre New Numeral to the right and the Right variety which was the opposite. It does not end there, the booklets came in four varieties depending on how the mounting margin was glued on to the cover. Top which is when the margin is at the top of the stamps or Bottom when the margin is at the bottom of the stamps. Which gave the following combination Top Right, Bottom Right, Top Left and Bottom Left, pew . . . Since this article is about stamps not booklets we will leave the booklet combinations for now. But there is still yet more to come.
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| 1957, 1 June was also the release date of the sixth slot machine booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 7,100,000 booklets. 30 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type II, 3-sided perforation. 10 öre blue New Numeral Type type II, 3-sided perforation. Two varities: Left (top) or Right (bottom). Single use of pair was international letter - 20 g. |
Some of the new postal rates effective 1 June 1957:
| Postcard | - 20 g | - 125 g | - 500 g | - 1000 g | Printed matter |
Registred fee |
Express fee |
| 20 öre | 30 öre | 50 öre | 75 öre | 1.20 kr | 10 öre | +50 öre | +60 öre |
Third issue 8 May 1961
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| 1961, 8 May was the release date of the seventh slot machine booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 2,103,650 booklets. 5 öre red New Numeral Type, type II. 3-sided perforation 15 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf, type III. 3-sided perforation. Two varities: Right (top) and Left (bottom). Single use of pairs was domestic postcard. |
New slot machine booklets were released in May 1961 with the all new Gustaf VI Adolf type III since the older fifth and sixth slot machine booklets had to be replaced. The colours of the 5 öre and 10 öre was then changed slightly in order to better match the colours of the new Gustaf VI Adolf type III stamps that started to be issued in March the same year. Because of these changes the colours of the New Numeral Type became lighter. Red-carmine was changed to a lighter red and blue to lighter ultramarine-blue nuance.
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| 1961, 8 May was the release date of the eight slot machine booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 2,376,550 booklets. 30 öre blue Gustav VI Adolf, type III. 3-sided perforation. 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type, type II. 3-sided perforation. Two varieties: Left(top) and Right (bottom). Single use of pairs was international letter - 20 g. |
Fourth issue 7 June 1961
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| 1961, 7 June. 5 öre red New Numeral Type, type II. Qty: 205,000,000 |
Almost a month later it was time to issue the coil versions of 5 öre and 10 öre. Sometimes it might be a little tricky to distinguish between the 1957 and the 1961 varieties of the 5 öre and 10 öre. Remember that the stamps issued from 1961 and onward are lighter.
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| 1961, 7 June. 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type, type II. Qty: unknown |
Fifth issue 3 September 1962
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| 1962, 3 September was the release date of the tenth slot machine booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 1,250,000 booklets. 10 öre ultramarine-blue new Numeral Type, type II. 3-sided perforation. Empty slot. 3-sided perforation. Two varieties: Right (top) and Left (bottom). |
Now what is this, a blank stamp? It is an empty spot for sure, but why is it there? The postal rate for domestic letter - 20 g, the most common postal rate, was raised to 35 öre in June 1963 and there had to be a new slot machine booklet with stamps of that denomination. The machines were configured for 1 kr which meant that two 35 öre stamps could fit and the resting 30 öre had to be filled in with New Numeral Types, 5 öre and/or 10 öre. 2 x 35 öre + 2 x 10 öre + 2 x 5 öre would give an even number of stamps, but instead the Swedish Post choose 2 x 35 öre + 2 x 10 öre + 10 öre, five stamps. The reason is that by that time the Swedish Post could only print stamps in a single colour at the time and if 5 öre New Numeral Type was going to be used it had to change colour to the same colour as the 30 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type III. There could not be a blue 5 öre New Numeral Type. Instead there was an empty spot.
In order to understand all the possible varities of the New Numeral Type of this booklet we have to look at all the combinations of the booklet itself:
| Top Left | Bottom Left | Top Right | Bottom Right | |||||||
| <margin> | <margin> | 35 öre | 10 öre | <margin> | <margin> | 10 öre | [blank] | |||
| [blank] | 10 öre | 35 öre | 10 öre | 10 öre | [blank] | 10 öre | 35 öre | |||
| 35 öre | 10 öre | [blank] | 10 öre | 10 öre | 35 öre | 10 öre | 35 öre | |||
| 35 öre | 10 öre | <margin> | <margin> | 10 öre | 35 öre | <margin> | <margin> | |||
Top = margin glued at the top of the booklet cover; Right = highest denomination to the right. Bottom and Left are the opposite.
The booklet is cut at the bottom (opposite side of the margin) not only on the sides which means that the two stamps at the bottom are vertically 2-sided perforated, the corners are cut.
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| The tenth slot machine booklet continued: (the ending combinations)* 35 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type III. Vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). 10 öre New Numeral type II. Vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). Two varieties at the top: Bottom Right and Bottom Left. Two varieties at the bottom: Top Right and Top Left. No single use of pairs. |
And finally the se-tenant pair combination that could be found in the middle of the booklet.
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| The tenth slot machine booklet continued:* 35 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type III. 3-sided perforation. 10 öre New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation. Two varieties: Right (top) and Left (bottom). No single use of pairs. |
The practical use of this booklet was the following: the two 35 öre stamp could each be used for domestic letter - 20 g and the remaining three 10 öre New Numeral Type could be gathered on an international postcard.
Some of the new domestic postal rates effective 1 June 1962:
| Postcard | - 20 g | - 125 g | - 500 g | - 1000 g | Printed- matter |
Registred fee |
Express fee |
| 25 öre | 35 öre | 70 öre | 1.05 kr | 1.50 kr | 20 öre | +70 öre | +70 öre |
*) these combinations were the same for the next slot machine booklet, the 11th issued in December 1962. (see below)
Sixth issue 15 October 1962
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| 1962, 15 October. 15 öre green New Numeral Type, type II. Qty: 22,300,000 |
Whenever the postal rates were changed the original policy from the fifties was to gradually add lower complimentary denomination to the New Numeral Type series . That happened in July 1962 when the lowest postal rate became 20 öre for printed matter and the 15 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf, type III was discontinued. To replace the stamp of the king the 15 öre green New Numeral Type green was introduced.
Seventh issue 8 December 1962
That blank spot in the tenth slot machine booklet was probably annoying to the Swedish Post. But what could they do? 35 öre is 35 öre and mathematically only two 35 öre would fit within the 1 kr range. At the time they could only print in a single colour as well. Since the 35 öre Gustaf VI Adolf type III was blue only the 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type was available as a companion to the 35 öre stamp. The only thing to do to fill in the empty space was to print an add. A small add. It was of course nothing less than the classic slogan of the Swedish Post "a letter means so much".
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| 1962, 8 December was the release date of the 11th slot machine booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 3,830,000 booklets. 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation. Advertisement for Swedish Post. 3-sided perforation. Two varieties: Right (top) and Left (bottom). |
The 11th booklet had the same setup as the tenth booklet which means that there were the same combinations of Top Right, Top Left, Bottom Right and Bottom left cut stamps and pairs. (see above.)
Eight issue 25 June 1964
New postal rates - meant new slot machine booklets and the new booklet needed some complimentary denomination in the form of New Numeral Type stamps. The new rate for domestic letter - 20 g raised as usual with 5 öre from 35 öre to 40 öre. That made things a little bit easier. Two 40 öre stamps could be fit in and add two 10 öre. The 40 öre and 10 öre formed a pair, and the booklet hold two such se-tenant pairs. The new booklets had also the same combinations and varieties as the other ones. |
| 1964, 25 June was the release date of the 12th slot machine booklet of Swedish Post. Qty: 7,830,000 booklets. 40 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type III. 3-sided perforation. 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type. 3-sided perforations. Two varieties: Right (top) and Left (bottom). No use of single use of pairs. (from 1 July 1964) |
Some of the new domestic postal rates effective 1 July 1964:
| Postcard | - 20 g | - 125 g | - 500 g | - 1000 g | Printed matter |
Registred fee |
Express fee |
| 30 öre | 40 öre | 80 öre | 1.20 kr | 2 kr | 25 öre | 1 kr | 1 kr |
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| The 12th slot machine booklet continued: (the ending combinations) 40 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type III. Vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type type II. Vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). Two varieties at the top: Bottom Right and Bottom Left. Two varieties at the bottom: Top Right and Top Left. No single use of pairs. |
In July 1964 the lowest postal rate was also raised, it was raised to 25 öre – but there were no new 20 öre denomination issued of the New Numeral Type series replacing the 20 öre grey Gustaf VI Adolf type III from 1961. The king's stamp should have been replaced according to the policy established in the beginning of the fifties when the first stamp of the series was issued. That happen in 1962, but not now. Instead a completely new 20 öre stamp was on its way. The 20 öre green-blue/orange Posthorn, actually the first two-coloured steel engraving recess stamp of Sweden, but it was issued later on, in May 1965.
At the same date as the 12th booklet was released another slot machine booklet showed up. A really odd one, the all brown 13th slot machine booklet. The 12th booklet with 2 x 40 öre and 2 x 10 öre could be used for two domestic letters - 20 g, or use the whole booklet, 2 x 40 öre + 2 x 10 öre, for one international letter - 20 g. There were no combinations for postcards. The Swedish Post believed that there should be slot machine booklets for post cards as well. The problem was that it was still only possible to print single colours stamps for the time being, it was soon going to be changed, but in the summer of 1964 it was urgent to release booklets for postcards. The awkward solution was to give up the colouring of the New Numeral Type stamps and print the new booklet in brown, the same colour used for the 25 öre Gustaf VI Adolf.
Before we look at the stamps involved it is a good idea to understand the combinations and varieties of the 13th booklet, the setup is this:
| Top Left | Bottom Left | Top Right | Bottom Right | |||||||
| <margin> | <margin> | 25 öre | 15 öre | <margin> | <margin> | 15 öre | 25 öre | |||
| 10 öre | 10 öre | 25 öre | 15 öre | 10 öre | 10 öre | 15 öre | 25 öre | |||
| 25 öre | 15 öre | 10 öre | 10 öre | 15 öre | 25 öre | 10 öre | 10 öre | |||
| 25 öre | 15 öre | <margin> | <margin> | 15 öre | 25 öre | <margin> | <margin> | |||
Top = margin glued at the top of the booklet cover; Right = highest denomination to the right. Bottom and Left are the opposite.
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| 1964, 25 June was also the release date of the 13th slot machine booklet. Qty: 2,260,000. 10 öre brown New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation. No single use of pairs. |
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| The 13th slot machine booklet continued: 25 öre brown Gustaf VI Adolf type III. 3-sided perforation. 15 öre brown New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation. Two varieties: Left (top) and Right (bottom). Single use of pairs domestic letter - 20 g. |
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| The 12th slot machine booklet continued: (the ending combinations) 25 öre brown Gustaf VI Adolf type III. Vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). 15 öre brown New Numeral Type type II. Vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). Two varieties at the top: Bottom Right and Bottom Left. Two varieties at the bottom: Top Right and Top Left. Single use of pairs domestic letter - 20 g. |
The 25 öre + 15 öre se-tenant pair covered for a domestic letter - 20 g. One domestic postcard was possible by using 2 x 15 öre and in addition two international postcards, 25 öre + 10 öre for each card. That might have worked for the summer of 1964.
That was not the end of releases that day, 25 June 1964, an ordinary booklet was also issued, the 161st booklet by the Swedish Post. Each booklet contained twenty 5 öre red New Numeral type type II. The quantity was only a mere 1,100,000 booklets.
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| 1964, 25 June was also the release date of the 161st booklet by Swedish Post. Qty: 11,000,000. 5 öre red New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation.* 20 stamps per booklet. |
* also used for slot machine booklets 15 and 16.
Ninth issue 26 May 1965
In spring 1965 the Swedish post finally got the capability to print multi-coloured stamp booklets. The first two coloured stamp was the aforementioned 20 öre Posthorn released 17 May 1965 and the first booklet with differently coloured stamps was the 14th slot machine booklet was issued a few days later, on the 26 May 1965.
Stamps of the same colour had to be pairs due to technical reasons so no more exciting varieties of se-tenant stamps. The stamps involved were the brown 25 öre Gustaf VI Adolf type III, the 15 öre green New Numeral Type type II and the 10 öre ultramarine-blue new Numeral Type type II. Each denomination formed a pair. The 25 öre Gustav VI Adolf got a vertically 2-sided perforation (corner cut). On might say that the 14th booklet was the full-colour version of the all brown 13th slot machine booklet.
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| 1965, 26 May was the release date of the 14th slot machine booklet. Qty: 3,100,000 booklets. 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation* |
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| Also released in the 14th slot machine booklet. 15 öre green New Numeral Type type II. 3-sided perforation.* Single use of pairs domestic postcard. |
* also used for slot machine booklets 15 and 16.
The three sided 10 öre and the 15 öre New Numeral Type were the last varieties to be issued. They were reused in two slot machine booklets later on.
10th issue 18 April 1966
The 15th slot machine booklet was released in April 1966 and the quantity was 5,510,000 booklets. it consisted of the new 30 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf type III, the 15 öre green New Numeral Type type II and the 5 öre red New Numeral Type type II. The 30 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf replaced the 30 öre violet Gustaf VI Adolf type III from 1962. The new 30 öre red stamp was only issued in booklets. The value was 1 kr. This booklet was a typical postcard booklet.
At the same date another slot machine booklet was released, the 16th, but the value was 2 kr. Finally Swedish Post upgraded their slot machines. The use of the stamps of the 1 kr booklets started to be quite limited due to the steadily increasing postal rates so it was definitely time for a change. Quantity: 1,270,000 a pretty low figure considering that it was for sale for at least over a year.
This was also the final appearance of the New Numeral Type stamps. The 16th slot machine booklet contained pairs of: the 40 öre blue Gustaf VI Adolf type III, 30 öre red Gustaf VI Adolf type III, the 15 öre green New Numeral Type type II, the 10 öre ultramarine-blue New Numeral Type type II and the 5 öre red New Numeral type type II. The whole New Numeral Type series in the same booklet and with the right colours. That was a great ending of the New Numeral Type!
The New Numeral Type series was then discontinued. The reason was that the issuing policy of Swedish Post changed in the mid-sixties. In order to modernize the Swedish stamps the concept of long definitive series spanning over decades was gradually abandoned, instead from here on the definitive stamps came in smaller series, often just a single stamp and in more various and contemporary designs and with more attractive motifs. It was easy to discontinue this series. The design had never been popular and it was more and more criticized as boring and non-contemporary. It was missed by no one. The stamp collectors wanted more exciting motifs. Not just numerals, the king or Swedish symbols.
They soon got what they wanted, here is a post comparing the 16th slot machine booklet with the all new 17th booklet. Quite a difference in design and issuing policy.
The 17th slot machine booklet Iron Age replaced the New Numeral Type series. In addition the 5 öre and 10 öre of the New Numeral Type was replaced by the Definitive Stamps series of 1967 as well.
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