Beginning of end or...?

Montenegro Philately:

Beginning of End or…?

So, what reason for this "terrible" name of article?

Reason is very good, as one, at first glance, simple advertisement for "Special Offer" come across my desk.

At simple reading, it is one good offer, but if we go little bit to analyze this offer, we will see slightly another picture.

Let's start from beginning:

I read this "Special Offer" in one Journal from leader company in Philately (based in Europe), where offered are (as written in Journal): "…first 4 sets, the first 8 sheets with tab, the first 4 souvenir sheets, inclusive the special imperforated first booklet pane…" (no offered cover for this booklet).

Nice advertisement, with small resolution picture of material. Till now, nothing unusual, as we know many-and-many of this kind offerings in our hobby. Then I read next sentence: "…limited edition of 5 000 copies…"!

Huh, let's analyze it:

First 4 set are:

1) "Flag and Coat of Arm" 2005 year, set of 4 value, Michel #100-103,

Scott #123-126, MR # 177-180, print run 500 000 copies.

2) "EUROPA – Gastronomy" 2005 year, Michel # 104-105, Scott # 127-128, MR # 181-182, print run: 2 different sheets of 8 stamp+gutter on middle, 5 000 sheets (40 000 sets):

3) "50 year of EUROPA issues", 2006 year, Michel #108-111, Scott # 129a-d, MR # 187-190, a print run 2 000 numbered sheets of 16 stamps + 4 gutters on middle (total 8 000 sets):

4) "Winter Olympic Turin", 2006 year, Michel # 112-113, Scott # 131-132, MR # 196-197, print run of two different sheets of * stamp + gutter on middle 4 000 sheets (total 32 000 sets):

So, all is fine with offer, except that "…5 000 copies limited edition…" which sound very attractive, but don't stand in fact, as it is NOT CLEARLY explained if it is talking about stock available in seller hand, or as print run in Montenegro Post! For ordinary collectors, who don't goes and search for printing quantity information for each issue wanted to obtain, this is not so important, because he/she want to buy something as offered "limited edition"!

As I'm one of people who like to research, I see that it is not so "limited edition", because original print run from 500 00/40 000/8 000/32 000 quantity sets printed, it is correct when talking about booklet pane and sheets of 8+1 gutter (5 000 quantity print), wherein offer are not stated, that all (usually) booklet panes have cover included, and in this case, there is no cover included!

Then, we come across one information, connected to "50 year of EUROPA issues", which are initially printed in 505 000 souvenir sheets (Michel # Bl. 3, Scott # 130, MR # 3) – this issue are printed in huge quantity (505 000), from this 500 000 are sold to dealer in Spain, later revoked (problematic financial transaction as reason), revoked material was removed or destroyed, rest of 5 000 quantity was sold inside country to the post offices and standing order collectors.

Question is, how to offer for sale, "…limited edition…", as we see that it is not so limited, and there where it is indeed limited to 5 000 copies, most are out of hand for dealers! Probability that exist much more quantity in dealers hands than officially claimed?

Analyzing catalog prices, I see that it is very correctly stated in offer, as 451.00 Euros total catalog value, which seller have in first offering price of 135.00 Euro (30% Michel catalog value), and now in this "Special Offer" for 81.00 Euro asking price (18% Michel catalog value).

What face value say? So, not so big profit, as face value for all material offered are 88.00 Euro, selling in first offering for 135.00 Euro (65% up of face value), and in second offering of 81.00 Euro (7.00 Euro less than total face value), which is still with profit, as we know, that Post of Montenegro give great discount on higher quantity ordered/purchased (range from 5% to 30% discount on total balance sheet, depending on quantity purchased).

So, to summarize, that value of Montenegro stamps are going slowly down, as time go on! If it is just result of dealers dumping stock after 10 years of keeping it in stock, or as inactivity on market, as collectors are not willing to obtain material from this small country by so high asking prices?

My personal opinion is, that Post of Montenegro made one great mistake, as Croatia made, and go with Spain dealer to some problematic adventure, which resulted in mistrust and in high market prices for new issues offered in first ten year.

Now when we take in account, that service to standing order holder from Montenegro Post are very-very slow, with administrative barriers (selling postage stamp in Montenegro to the foreign address, are treated as export, which mean, proper paper work must include every shipment, with custom declaration involved, no matter of quantity ordered) which slow delivery time and involve additional dues as shipping cost which are very high.

All this "problems" made collectors to abandon interest for Montenegro postage stamp, so also dealers, who keep some bigger quantity in stock, after this 10 years keeping material in store, now go, and sell it out.

If it will have effect on market, just time will say, as now, I don't see any price drop on any internet sale, and my personal stock are very low, as I don't keep quantity in stock, but this "special offer" made one really good opportunity to buy low and avoid high catalog value. We will see reaction from Michel catalog 2015 edition, which comes out in next few months.

2014 - Starting with:

1-2014 "Art through centuries":

How it someone can call "Art" I don't know, but as is, Post of Montenegro decide to show us 2 value in set, that show us medieval tombstones and laces. Probably it is "Art" in some way, but postage stamp production and design are also art, and on this two stamps, I don't have feeling of any kind of ART! It is still one color full of paper, with some image that is hardly recognizable as "laces", and "tombstones" can be understand from picture, as just one brink near the road (in focus), how to made so low quality work, and be tolerated by managers I really don't know.

Issue come out at Jan. 31, 2014, set of 2 value, total 1.25 euro, but, if You will try to buy it on eBay or other web shop, prepare some 3 or 4 time of face value in cash.

2-2014 "Winter Olympics":

Here we come from extreme to extreme. Second issue in this year, and almost no color on stamps, except salvage on printing sheet that have this "dark blue" color. Stamp alone are 75% blank, and that what is left need to show us ski sport, logo of Sochi Winter Game, and it is all what we can see. Issue come to market on Feb. 17, 2014. One stamp of 0.95 euro face value, as I see - prepare around 3 to 4 time more money when You will purchase it on-line. 

3-2014 "Diocese of Bar City":

In principle, not bad design if You think by "other" way, because at first glance, on stamp You will see number 925, You will probably mix it with face value that is nowhere to see. But if You will see more carefully, You will find it (face value) also on the corner. Than there is one "half" seal (what author wish to sat with half seal I really don't know), and next come to Your eye some kind of ornament on the stamp. As I say, not bad, if You don't examine it from more close range.

Come to the market on Feb. 27, 2014, single stamp of 0.30 euro face value.

4-2014 "Flora":

What to say about? Nothing! I saw many-many better design of this one, where You actually hide image of stamp from people! Throw color on piece of paper and call it postage stamp. Why to made so ugly stamp, I really don't understand. It is like "sniper focus on target" feeling. So, here we have one stamp with mushroom, and second with flower. Both of are very eye catching in nature, but on this stamp it is not so!

Two stamp in set, with face value of all together 1.25 euro. No, You will not find it by face value.

Come to the public on March, 14, 2014.

5-2014 "EUROPA":

Finally one nice design come out from this country! And it is just if You look at stamp alone, because if You focus on gutter inside sheet of 8 stamp, You will find there one gutter showing us what? Really, what is is on the middle of sheet? I will think about "Zombie", "Dead Body", or "Aliens" - but not one proud Montenegrin that hold music instrument in hands!

Because this drawing of gutter, I will prefer just m/s that is really worth to obtain and keep in collection.

Issued on April 18, 2014 as single stamp of 0.95 euro face value.

6-2014 "Grahovac Church":

I will call it as church on the middle of night, just to explain how it is designed!

No too much to say! 150 years of battle with Turks on the place that is called Grahovac, and talking about church that was build on the place where army commander Hussein Pasha have own tent! It is really important place, not on the battlefield to erect church, but on the place where one Turk have a tent! 

Issued on May 9, 2014, face value of  0.30 euro, but this time, it is made also in sheet of 20, plus FDC and CM.

7-2014 "Tourism":

Tell me alone how to recognize on this stamp that it is "Tourism" places? Here we have two stamp, where I can see just one "peak" or "stone" and one "bay" with some yachts inside in distance that hardly I can recognize it!

Full with nice blue color! Nice to have in collection? No! But, all depend of Philatelist taste!

Two stamp in set, low face value of 0.70 euro per set.

Come to the public on May 14, 2014.

8-2014 "Tree":

It is under name of "Nature Protection", where Montenegro can be protected in all around, because nature in this country are intact (mostly), and this tree (Pines) are some kind of symbol  of all people of Montenegro. design catch really nice moment, showing us places where this tree are, highly up on mountain! Nice design, but not best! Face value little bit high of 0.95 euro, for single stamp. Come to the market on May 23, 2014.