Issues with Three Wavy Lines

All of the following stamps have the design that is called the "Three Wavy Lines" design. The Wavy Lines are symbolic of the three bodies of water that separate the principal Danish islands. There are two distinct design types that are listed by Scott. Both designs have the denomination in a circle, with the Danish Crown on top, a pair of lions on either side of the Crown, and the Wavy Lines on either side of the denomination in the third (vertical) quarter of the design. Design A10 also has four heart-shaped spots on either side beneath the lions, five more heart-shaped spots on either side beneath the country name, and one line forming the circle around the denomination. It is the earlier of the two designs, first used in 1905, until 1926. Design A32 looks similar to the earlier design, but it does not have the heart-shaped spots above or below the country name, and there are two lines forming the denomination circle, the outer thicker than the inner. At first glance, they can be mistaken for each other, but once you learn to look for the heart-shaped spots, or the double circle, respectively, it is very easy to tell the two designs apart.

Design A10, with Heart-Shaped Spots and One Circle

Denomination Color Perforation Watermark Date Scott Number
1ø orange 13 113 1906 57
1ø deep orange 14 x 14.5 114 1914 85
1ø o/p "PORTO" deep orange 14 x 14.5 114 1921 J1
2ø 1 carmine 13 113 1905 58
2ø carmine 14 x 14.5 113 1917 58a
2ø carmine 14 x 14.5 114 1913 86
3ø gray 13 113 1905 59
3ø gray 14 x 14.5 114 1913 87
3ø surcharged "8" gray 14 x 14.5 114 1921 163
4ø dull blue 13 113 1905 60
4ø dull blue 14 x 14.5 113 1917 60a
4ø blue 14 x 14.5 114 1913 88
5ø deep green 13 113 1912 61
5ø dark brown 14 x 14.5 114 1921 89
5ø light green 14 x 14.5 114 1921 90
7ø apple green 14 x 14.5 114 1926 91
7ø dark violet 14 x 14.5 114 1930 92
8ø gray 14 x 14.5 114 1921 93
8ø surcharged "7" gray 14 x 14.5 114 1926 181
10ø deep rose 13 113 1912 62
10ø green 14 x 14.5 114 1921 94
10ø bister brown 14 x 14.5 114 1921 95
10ø o/p "POSTFAERGE" green 14 x 14.5 114 1922 Q1
10ø o/p "POSTFAERGE" bister brown 14 x 14.5 114 1930 Q2
12ø violet 14 x 14.5 114 1926 96
12ø o/p "PORTO 15" violet 14 x 14.5 114 1934 J38
15ø lilac 13 113 1905 63
20ø dark blue 13 113 1912 64

Denomination	Color	Perforation	Watermark	Date	Scott Number
1ø	orange	13	113	1906	57
1ø	deep orange	14 x 14.5	114	1914	85
1ø o/p "PORTO"	deep orange	14 x 14.5	114	1921	J1
2ø 1	carmine	13	113	1905	58
2ø	carmine	14 x 14.5	113	1917	58a
2ø	carmine	14 x 14.5	114	1913	86
3ø	gray	13	113	1905	59
3ø	gray	14 x 14.5	114	1913	87
3ø surcharged "8"	gray	14 x 14.5	114	1921	163
4ø	dull blue	13	113	1905	60
4ø	dull blue	14 x 14.5	113	1917	60a
4ø	blue	14 x 14.5	114	1913	88
5ø	deep green	13	113	1912	61
5ø	dark brown	14 x 14.5	114	1921	89
5ø	light green	14 x 14.5	114	1921	90
7ø	apple green	14 x 14.5	114	1926	91
7ø	dark violet	14 x 14.5	114	1930	92
8ø	gray	14 x 14.5	114	1921	93
8ø surcharged "7"	gray	14 x 14.5	114	1926	181
10ø	deep rose	13	113	1912	62
10ø	green	14 x 14.5	114	1921	94
10ø	bister brown	14 x 14.5	114	1921	95
10ø o/p "POSTFAERGE"	green	14 x 14.5	114	1922	Q1
10ø o/p "POSTFAERGE"	bister brown	14 x 14.5	114	1930	Q2
12ø	violet	14 x 14.5	114	1926	96
12ø o/p "PORTO 15"	violet	14 x 14.5	114	1934	J38
15ø	lilac	13	113	1905	63
20ø	dark blue	13	113	1912	64

Design A32, with No Spots and Two Circles

Denomination Color Perforation Watermark Date Scott Number
1ø gray black 13 none 1933 220
2ø scarlet 13 none 1933 221
4ø blue 13 none 1933 222
5ø yellow green 13 none 1933 223
5ø gray green 13 none 1933 223a
5ø rose lake 13 none 1938 224
5ø brown orange 13 none 1989 793
6ø orange 13 none 1940 224C
7ø violet 13 none 1933 225
7ø yellow green 13 none 1938 226
7ø light brown 13 none 1940 226A
8ø gray 13 none 1933 227
10ø yellow orange 13 none 1933 228
10ø light brown 13 none 1937 229
10ø violet 13 none 1938 230
10ø green 13 none 1950 318
12ø light yellow green 13 none 1952 333
15ø green 13 none 1963 382
20ø slate blue 13 none 1974 493
25ø apple green 13 none 1965 416
25oø bluish black 12.5 none 1990 883
30ø dark green 13 none 1967 437
30ø orange 13 none 1981 688
40ø orange 13 none 1971 437A
40ø purple 13 none 1981 689
50ø sepia 13 none 1974 494
60ø apple green 13 none 1976 495
60ø gray 13 none 1978 496
70ø red 13 none 1972 497
70ø apple green 13 none 1977 498
80ø green 13 none 1979 629
80ø olive bistre 13 none 1985 690
100ø deep green 13 none 1981 631
100ø blue 13 none 1983 691
125ø carmine lake 12.5 none 1990 886
150ø dark green 13 none 1982 692
200ø green 13 none 1983 693
230ø bright yellow green 13 none 1984 694
250ø bright yellow green 13 none 1985 695
270ø bright yellow green 13 none 1988 794
300ø bright yellow green 13 none 1989 795
325ø light yellow green 12.5 none 1990 890
350ø yellow green 12.5 none 1992 890A

Denomination	Color	Perforation	Watermark	Date	Scott Number
1ø	gray black	13	none	1933	220
2ø	scarlet	13	none	1933	221
4ø	blue	13	none	1933	222
5ø	yellow green	13	none	1933	223
5ø	gray green	13	none	1933	223a
5ø	rose lake	13	none	1938	224
5ø	brown orange	13	none	1989	793
6ø	orange	13	none	1940	224C
7ø	violet	13	none	1933	225
7ø	yellow green	13	none	1938	226
7ø	light brown	13	none	1940	226A
8ø	gray	13	none	1933	227
10ø	yellow orange	13	none	1933	228
10ø	light brown	13	none	1937	229
10ø	violet	13	none	1938	230
10ø	green	13	none	1950	318
12ø	light yellow green	13	none	1952	333
15ø	green	13	none	1963	382
20ø	slate blue	13	none	1974	493
25ø	apple green	13	none	1965	416
25oø	bluish black	12.5	none	1990	883
30ø	dark green	13	none	1967	437
30ø	orange	13	none	1981	688
40ø	orange	13	none	1971	437A
40ø	purple	13	none	1981	689
50ø	sepia	13	none	1974	494
60ø	apple green	13	none	1976	495
60ø	gray	13	none	1978	496
70ø	red	13	none	1972	497
70ø	apple green	13	none	1977	498
80ø	green	13	none	1979	629
80ø	olive bistre	13	none	1985	690
100ø	deep green	13	none	1981	631
100ø	blue	13	none	1983	691
125ø	carmine lake	12.5	none	1990	886
150ø	dark green	13	none	1982	692
200ø	green	13	none	1983	693
230ø	bright yellow green	13	none	1984	694
250ø	bright yellow green	13	none	1985	695
270ø	bright yellow green	13	none	1988	794
300ø	bright yellow green	13	none	1989	795
325ø	light yellow green	12.5	none	1990	890
350ø	yellow green	12.5	none	1992	890A

Author: Rob Jenson
Last Revised: $Revision: 1.8 $ $Date: 1998/05/22 13:50:47 $
This document is © copyright 1998 Robert B. Jenson. Free Non-commercial use of this document is granted to all philatelists. All commercial rights reserved.