Algeria- a closer look at the stamp issues

November 10, 2014, 6:58 am

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1936 Scott 89 45c deep ultramarine

"Sidj Bon Medine Cemetery at Tiemcen"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Algeria 1924-1940, 130 regular, 35 semi-postal, 24 postage due, and 2 newspaper stamps with major numbers. Total = 191. Of those, 154 are CV <$1-$1+, or 81%. Clearly, Algeria is quite affordable for the classical collector.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Centimes = 1 Franc

1924 Scott 24 65c rose, blue overprint "Sower"

The initial issue of French Algeria used overprinted stamps of France. The 1924-26 production had 32 stamps, and the overprint is found in red, blue, and black.

1926 Scott 31 3fr violet & blue

"Liberty and Peace"

The CV for the issue is remarkably inexpensive, with only one stamp valued higher than $1+. And the beauty of French stamps is not to be denied. Thus series alone would make me want to collect classical WW!

1926 Scott 34 2c red brown 

"Street in Kasbah, Algiers"

A street scene from Kasbah -  intriguing. Go ahead and click on the image and enlarge :-). The street scene stamp is the first design in the 35 stamp issue of 1926-39.

1926 Scott 65 5fr red & violet

"Marabout of Sidi Yacoub"

The higher denominations share this image, and only here does the CV begin to climb above $1+.

1927 Scott 72 90c on 80c orange red

"La Pecherie Mosque"

Stamps of 1926 Surcharged with New Values"

In 1927, seven stamps from the preceding 1926 issue were surcharged.

La Pecherie Mosque

 Another view of the Mosque.

1936 Scott 94 75c slate blue

"Oued River at Colomb-Bechar"

Between 1936-41, a lovely 31 stamp pictorial issue was released. We will take a look at the eight designs, in no particular order.

The Oued Ksob is a river in (now) western Morocco that empties into the Atlantic ocean. A French Foreign Legion post was once located at Columb-Bechar.

1936 Scott 102 2.25fr yellow green

"Travel across the Sahara"

The Sahara, the hottest desert in the world, can have sand dunes up to 600 feet in height. BTW, this is the most expensive stamp in the set @ $10+.

1936 Scott 101 2fr dark brown

"Arch of Triumph, Lambese"

Except for three stamps, all the stamps in the issue are CV <$1-$1+.

1936 Scott 97 1.25fr light violet

 "Admiralty Building, Algiers"

The heavy scroll work around the frame is characteristic of the issue.

1936 Scott 88 40c brown violet

"Kings' Tombs near Touggourt"

Touggourt is located next to an oasis in the Sahara.

1936 Scott 86 25c rose violet

"El-Kebir Mosque, Algiers"

The great Mosque of Algiers was built in 1097.

1938 Scott 118 65c ultramarine

"Ruins of a Roman Villa"

Philippeville (now Skikda) was founded in 1838 by the French on the ruins of an ancient Phoenician city. For the centenary, a five stamp issue was produced in 1938.

1930 Scott B20 50c + 50c ultramarine

"Ruins at Djemila"

This 1930 semi-postal shows Djemila, a village in mountainous Algeria, where some of the best Berbero-Roman ruins have been preserved.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 12 pages for Algeria, and all the major numbers in Scott have a space.

1925 Scott 21 45c red, blue overprint

"Louis Pasteur"

Out of the Blue

I'm adding more stamp images (and discussion) to the earlier published posts. The French inspired Algerian stamps are worthy indeed.

Note: La Pecherie Mosque pic appears to be in the public domain.
Note: These images are added to the original Algeria post.

Comments?

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Pakistan

November 13, 2014, 1:16 pm

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1947 Scott 14 1r brown & slate 

Stamps of India 1937-43, Overprinted

Quick History
The Dominion of Pakistan came into existence as a sovereign country on August 15, 1947, when it and the Dominion of  India were partitioned from British India. Both Pakistan and India then joined the British Commonwealth.

The borders of Pakistan separated out the Muslim majority in the northwest and east from Hindu India.

The Dominion of Pakistan 1947-1956

West Pakistan & East Pakistan

In the east, the province of Bengal was divided into East Bengal ( "East Pakistan"), and West Bengal, which remained in India.

In the northwest, the western portion of Punjab became part of Pakistan, while the east part remained with India.

The other provinces that joined as a federation within Pakistan included Balochistan, Sindh, and the North-West Frontier Province. The Native (Princely) States (including stamp issuing Bahawalpur) within the Provinces also joined the federation.

The Capital of the Dominion was Karachi. ( The Capital was moved to the planned city of Islamabad in 1960.)

Pakistan

The Dominion and the monarchy was abolished in 1956, with the development of an Islamic Republic. In 1971, after a bloody civil war,  East Pakistan left the Republic to become the country of Bangladesh.

So ends this rather too quick history. ( A deeper historical review by readers is encouraged.)

1947 Scott 4 1a carmine rose

Stamps of India 1937-43, Overprinted

Into the Deep Blue

The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Pakistan 1947-49, 32 major descriptive numbers for the regular and official stamp categories. All of these stamps are "Pakistan" overprinted stamps of 1937-43 India. Of those, 20 ( 62%) are CV <$1-$1+.

Pakistan's own stamp designs, which were issued beginning in 1948, are not part of the Scott Classic catalogue. Therefore, I will  not include them here.

A closer look at the stamps and issues

12 Pies = 1 Anna

16 Annas - 1 Rupee

1947 Scott 6 2a scarlet

Stamps of India 1937-43, Overprinted

Beginning October 1, 1947 (Recall Pakistan came into existence August 15, 1947), 19 stamps of India were overprinted as shown for Pakistan. As Pakistan was a Dominion, the image of George VI was appropriate. The truth is, though, this issue ( and the 1947-49 Official issue) were the last to show a monarch, even though the Dominion lasted until 1956. Queen Elizabeth, as "Queen of Pakistan", never appeared on a Pakistan stamp during this era. The times were a changin'.

1947 Scott 11 8a blue violet

Thirteen stamps in the issue have a CV of <$1-$1+.

1947 Scott 15 2r dark brown & dark violet

The six higher denomination values were in a large stamp bi-color format.

1947 Scott O3 9p green

Official Stamps of India, 1939-43, Overprinted

Between 1947-49, thirteen Official stamps were issued by overprinting India "service" stamps.

1947 Scott O6 2a scarlet

Note the "Local" overprint

What do you make of this large overprint? The 2012 Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps 1840-1970 catalogue states: " Numerous provisional "Pakistan" overprints, both handstamped and machine-printed, in various sizes and colors, on Postage and Official stamps, also exist".

1947 Scott O11 2r dark brown & dark violet

CV for eight stamps in the Official issue range from <$1-$2.

Deep Blue

1947 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for the overprinted "Pakistan" stamps of 1937-43 India, and includes spaces for all the Scott major numbers.

1947 Scott 9 4a chocolate

Big Blue

Big Blue ( Part I 1840-1940) does not include Pakistan, as that country is covered in the Part II (1940-1949+) volume. Therefore, I will not include a checklist here.

I must admit, though, I am strongly tempted to actively collect the world's stamps of 1940-1949, as WW II and the aftermath create a highly interesting stamp era. ( I am already doing this with the 1940-52 George VI British Commonwealth countries.)

1947 Scott O9 8a blue violet

Out of the Blue

These transitional "Pakistan" overprinted stamps of India do little to exhibit the interesting stamps and history of this important country, which was birthed in 1947.

Note: Map images appear to be in the public domain.

Have a comment?

Northern Nigeria

July 28, 2014, 10:31 am

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1906 Scott 19a 1/2p violet & green "Edward VII"

Quick History
The British protectorate of Northern Nigeria was located in western Africa, with Southern Nigeria on the southern border, and surrounded on other sides by French West African lands.

The Capital was Zungeru, and the population was 11,800,000.

The Protectorate of Northern Nigeria was notable for allowing the chiefs and emirs to be the native authorities at the grassroots, while the British provided the veneer over the top.

Northern Nigeria in red

British possessions in pink (1913)

Northern Nigeria was more isolated, less developed, and mostly Muslim. Southern Nigeria had more economic development, with a large Christian missionary influence. So they were larger differences between the protectorates than their similar names and proximity would suggest.

In fact, in modern Nigeria, those differences persist, and continue to cause internal tension within the country.

Northern Nigeria had stamp issues between 1900-1912. In 1914, their stamp production ceased when they were united with Southern Nigeria and Lagos colony to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.

Northern & Southern Nigeria, 1914

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for Northern Nigeria 1900-1912, 51 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 11 or 22% are CV <$1-$1+.

For those with deep pockets, the 1904 Scott 18A 25 Pound green & carmine is CV $ 45,000. ;-)

All of the Northern Nigeria issues are keyplate "Victoria", "Edward VII", and "George V" designs.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
12 Pence = 1 Shilling
20 Shillings = 1 Pound

1906 Scott 20a 1p violet & carmine rose "Edward VII"

There was a 1900 nine stamp keyplate "Victoria" issue, which is rather expensive, save for two CV $3+ stamps. I don't have any at the moment.

In 1902, a nine stamp "Edward VII" keyplate design was issued with wmk 2 "Crown and C A". Six of the stamps are CV <$1-$4+.

Then in 1905, another "Edward VII" set of eight stamps was issued on ordinary paper with wmk 3 "Multiple Crown and C A". As the 1902 and 1905 issues are essentially identical in appearance, a watermarking tray will be needed. 

There was a chalky paper variety of the 1905 issue produced between 1906-07, and given minor numbers by Scott. A 1p violet & carmine rose example is shown above.

1910 Scott 31 2 1/2p ultramarine "Edward VII"

In 1910-11, an 11 stamp set of "Edward VII" was produced, this time in different colors than the preceding issues. CV is <$1-$3 for six stamps.

1912 Scott 41 1p carmine "George V"

The next year (1912), new stamps with the now reigning monarch "George V" were issued.  The thirteen stamp Die I issue has a CV of <$1-$4+ for nine stamps.

Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has three pages for Northern Nigeria, and has spaces for all the major numbers. The 1906-07 "chalky paper" seven stamp minor number variety does not have designated spaces. These could be put into the major number spaces, or a separate quadrilled page could be used. I chose to put my examples in the major spaces with a notation.

1910 Scott 29 1p carmine "Edward VII"

Big Blue

The '69 BB has 1/2 page and 19 spaces devoted to Northern Nigeria. The coverage  is found after North Borneo, and on the same page as North Ingermanland. Total coverage is 37%.

Northern Nigeria in BB

Observations...

* Although Northern Nigeria, as a British colony is not cheap for WW collectors, none of the stamp spaces in BB require an expensive stamp (threshold $10).

* BB , as per usual, gives one space for the wmk 2 1902 and wmk 3 1905 "Edward VII" issue.

Checklist

1900

1,(2),

1902-05*

10 or 19, 11 or 20, 12 or 21, (13 or 22),

1910-11

28,29,31,32,33,(34),

1912

40,41,42,43,44,45,(46),

End

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None

B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

C) * 1902-05- wmk 2 vs wmk 3 choices

1912 Scott 40 1/2p green "George V"

Out of the Blue

The stamps themselves- being the too familiar keyplate design- are perhaps not all that interesting. But the (exotic) location, close reading of history, and a tangible reminder of colonial days, makes, for the WW collector, a worthwhile endeavor indeed.

Note: Maps appears to be in the public domain.

Comment?

Allenstein- a closer look at the stamp issues

November 19, 2014, 8:43 am

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1920 Scott 2 10pf carmine

Stamps of Germany 1906-1920, overprinted

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for Allenstein 1920, 28 overprinted German stamps.  Of those, 23 are CV <$1-$1+, or 82%. Clearly, a representative collection can be gathered without high cost.

Allenstein (In Gray)

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Pfenning = 1 Mark

1920 Scott 8 50pf purple & black/buff

First Overprinting

As Allenstein had both Polish and German inhabitants, a League of Nations plebiscite was to be  held on July 11, 1920 to determine if East Prussia or Poland would retain the territory.

In April, 1920 two types of overprints were applied to German stamps as propaganda/ publicity.

Shown above is the first type of overprint with Plebiscite/ Olsztyn/ Allenstein script. (Olsztyn is the Polish name for the district.)

1920 Scott 11 1.25m green, overprinted

On July 11, 1920, 97% voted for East Prussia. Apparently, some Poles boycotted the election, and other Poles voted for Germany in fear that Poland might fall to Soviet Russia.

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1920 Scott 12 1.50 yellow brown, overprinted

But, the overwhelming 97% vote does seem "odd", considering that in 1910, 52% of the population was German, and 44% of the population was Polish.

920 Scott 19 20pf blue violet

Second Overprinting

The second overprinting is shown here. The stamps were valid until August 30.

1920 Scott 23 75pf green & black, overprinted

All values have a reasonable CV, no doubt because there was interest among collectors at the time for these stamps. But, the 15pf violet brown was issued after the other stamps, and has a higher CV: $5+ & $20 for the two overprinted types.

1920 Scott 28 3m black violet, overprinted

Ultimately, after WW II, the territory was absorbed into Poland.

Deep Blue

1920 Allenstein Scott 1-14 issue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for Allenstein, and has a space for the major numbers. Of interest, Scott lists minor number color variations, and, if one wished to collect Allenstein at that level, additional pages would be needed.

Out of the Blue

A plebiscite and German stamps- what's not to like?  ;-)

Note: This blog post is an update for the original Allenstein post. The material presented here has been incorporated into that post.

Note: Map appears to be in the public domain.

Have a comment?

Palestine

November 22, 2014, 7:25 pm

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1918 Scott 5 2m blue green 

Occupied by "Egyptian Expeditionary Forces" of the British Army

Quick History
Between 1918-20, Palestine ( named after the Palaestina province of the Roman and Byzantine Empire) was occupied by the British Army Egyptian Expeditionary Forces as part of the campaign against the Ottoman Empire, which had sided with Germany during WW I. Stamps were issued February 10, 1918.

Then, following the San Remo conference in April, 1920, Syria and Lebanon came under French Mandate, while Palestine became a British Mandate. This arrangement was approved by the League of Nations in 1922. The British civil Mandate administration continued until 1948.

Palestine, 1922

The Capital was Jerusalem, and the official languages were English, Arabic, and Hebrew. The census of 1922 showed a  population of 757,000 (78% Muslim, 11% Jewish, 10% Christian).

By 1936, the population was 1,300,000 ( Jewish 384,000).

The British Mandate period marked the significant rise of both Jewish and Arab nationalist movements. This culminated  in the Arab Revolt of 1936-39, the Civil War of 1947-48, and the Arab-Israeli War of 1948.

By 1949, Mandated Palestine was no more. Rather, the territory was split into the State of Israel with a Jewish majority, the West Bank (annexed by the Kingdom of Jordan), and the Gaza Strip ( Arab All-Palestine Government), under Egypt military occupation.

(For a more fleshed out history of Jordan and it's stamps, review my Jordan blog post.)

1921 Scott 43 2pi olive green

Stamps of 1918 Overprinted

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Palestine 1918-1945, 93 major descriptive numbers. The 1918 fourteen stamp issue was under British occupation, while the issues after 1920 were under British administration. Of the total, 64 are CV < $1-$1+, or 69%.

In addition, there are 22 minor number stamps with overprint variations.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
10 Milliemes = 1 Piaster
1000 Milliemes = 1 Egyptian Pound
1000 Mils = 1 Palestine Pound (1928)

1918 Scott 13 10pi ultramarine

Issued under British Military Occupation

A rouletted two stamp issue and a perforated eleven stamp issue was produced in 1918 under British Military Occupation, as shown. The stamps were for the territories of Palestine, Transjordan, Lebanon, Syria, and in parts of Cilicia and northeastern Egypt. The stamp has English, Arabic, and Hebrew script.

"EEF" are the initials for "Egyptian Expeditionary Forces".

If you have overprints for these design stamps that are not shown on this blog post, check the Jordan post, as many overprints of these stamps were issued there. 

1920 Scott 19 5m orange

Stamps and Type of 1918 Overprinted in Black or Silver

Arabic Overprint 8mm long

An eleven stamp issue, overprinted in Jerusalem, was produced on September 1, 1920. This was at the beginning of the "British Mandate", although the affirmative vote by the League of Nations did not occur until 1922.

One has to pay careful attention to the overprint, as it has (subtle) changes in subsequent issues.

Here, the Arabic overprint script is 8mm long, and the "Palestine" English script is different than the 1921-22 (London printing) issues.

1920 Scott 15a 1m dark brown

Arabic Overprint 10 mm long

There is also a 1920-21 eight stamp issue where the Arabic overprint is 10 mm long. These are given minor numbers in Scott (although they have their own listing). Other catalogues treat these as major numbers, and you should too, ;-)

Other (minor number) variations have shorter spaces between the English and Hebrew lines. Consult Scott for details - or better, the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps 1840-1970 catalogue, which illustrates all the overprints.

1921 Scott 39 3m light brown

Stamps of 1918 Overprinted

In 1921, an eleven  stamp issue, overprinted in London, was released. Note the different "Palestine" script from the previous Jerusalem overprinted issue. The perforation is 15 X 14, and the watermark is Wmk 33 " Crown & GvR".

1922 Scott 51 4m rose

Similar Overprint on Type of 1921

In 1922, another 15 stamp overprinted issue was produced, mostly (but not always!) in different colors. The 1m - 5pi denominations are Perf 14, while 9pi - 20pi are perf 15 X 14. The watermark is Wmk 4 "Multiple Crown and Script C A".

Left: "Crown and GvR"

Right: "Multiple Crown and Script C A"

If in doubt, check the watermark.

1927 Scott 63 2m Prius Blue "Rachel's Tomb"

Between 1927-1942, a 22 stamp issue was released with scenes/sites from Palestine. The stamps again were in three languages.

Rachel's tomb (reputed) is within a Muslim cemetery, and is located on the edge of Bethlehem in the West Bank. Rachel, wife of Jacob, and mother of Benjamin, is revered, especially in the Jewish tradition.

Rachel's Tomb, Circa 1880

Rachel's tomb has been the site of Muslim/ Jewish cooperation and conflict, depending on the era.

1932 Scott 66 4m violet brown

Mosque of Omar (Dome of the Rock)

The Dome of the Rock is located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was completed in 691. The Foundation Stone, on which it is built, holds great significance for Muslims, Jews, and Christians. It was constructed on the Second Jewish Temple site, which was destroyed by the Roman army in year 70.

Muslims believe this is the site of the Islamic miracle of the Isra and Miraj.

Non-Muslims are generally not allowed inside ( there are exceptions). When I visited Jerusalem in 2008, the outside Dome of the Rock was magnificent indeed.

Foundation Stone in the floor of the Dome of the Rock

Jews believe the Foundation Stone was the location of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, and view it as the epicenter (junction) of Heaven and Earth. ( According to Jewish tradition, the stone is the site where Abraham was preparing to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Muslims believe it was Ishmael that was to be sacrificed.) As Jewish prayer is not allowed on the Temple Mount by Muslim authorities, the closest place to pray while facing the Foundation Stone is near the Western Wall.

The Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock

At the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount is the Western Wall or Wailing Wall.  It is composed of an ancient wall remnant  that surrounded  the old Jewish Temple's courtyard.  It is a continual site for Jewish prayer and pilgrimage. When I was there, it did indeed  feel like a profound place.

1932 Scott 70 7m dark violet

"Citadel at Jerusalem"

This ancient citadel ("Tower of David") is located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. It has origins back to the 2nd century BC. It now houses a Museum of the History of Jerusalem.

1927 Scott 80 100m bright blue

"Tiberias and Sea of Galilee"

Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, appears as magnificent as the stamp image portrays,- on my recollection.

1923 Scott J2 2m green 

Postage Due

The five stamp 1923 postage due issue is rather functional in appearance, as this somewhat overused specimen demonstrates.

1924 Scott J6 1m brown

Postage Due

A new six stamp postage due set was issued only a year later in 1924.

1928 Scott J16 8m red

Postage Due

A change in currency from "Millieme" to "Mil" required a new nine stamp postage due issue between 1928-45.

1948 Scott N7 5m orange

Occupation of Palestine by Jordan

Although not part of the stamp coverage in the Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue, here is an example of the occupation stamps of 1948.

1948-67

Jordanian occupied West Bank

Egyptian occupied Gaza Strip

After 1948 Arab- Israeli War

The West Bank was occupied, then was annexed (1950) by Jordan. But in June,1967, as a result of the Six-Day War, the West Bank and East Jerusalem were captured by Israel. 

The West Bank has not been annexed by Israel, but remains under Israeli military control.

Subsequently, the Arab League, in 1974, and Jordan, in 1988, designated the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the representative of the Palestinian people.

Deep Blue

1922 Issue in Deep Blue

The Deep Blue (Steiner) has six pages for Palestine, and includes a space for the major numbers. In addition, Deep Blue provides 22 spaces for the minor number overprint variants. Nice!

1927 Scott 67 5m brown orange 

"Citadel at Jerusalem"

Big Blue
The "69 Big Blue, on two pages, has 61 spaces for the stamps of Palestine. The pages are located between "Orange River Colony" and "Panama". Coverage is 66%.

Of interest, the 1940s editions only have one page for Palestine and 50 spaces.

The '69 ( and later) editions include all the Palestine postage due issues (20 stamps!), including three postage dues with CV $10-$20.

Checklist

1918-19
4,5,6,7,8,1 or 2 or 9,10,

1920-22*
15 or 37 or 48, 16,49,17 or 39,50,18 or 40,19 or 41,
53,54,55,56,42,57,43 or 58,
22 or 44 or 59, 23 or 45 or 60, 61,(62),

1927-32
63,64,66,67,68,70,
72,73, 74 or 75, 76,77,
78,80,81,82,(83),

Next Page

Postage Due
1923
J1,J2,J3,J4,J5,

1924
J6,J7,J8,J9,J10,J11,

1928-33
J12,J13,J14,J15,J16,
J17,J18,J19,J20,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1923 Scott J1 1m bister brown ($20)
1923 Scott J2 2m green ($10+)
1923 Scott J3 4m red ($10+)
B) (   ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.
C) *1920-22 - The 1920, 1920-21 (minor numbers), 1921, 1922 issues with various types of overprints are eligible.

1928 Scott J17 10m light gray

Postage Due

Out of the Blue
The 1918-45 British Mandate stamps of Palestine, perhaps, do not capture all of the turbulent activities of the times.

But, incredible history (both ancient and modern), if there ever was one. The juxtaposition of Christian, Jew, and Muslim cultures makes this one of the most fascinating places on earth.

Note: Maps, pics appear to be in the public domain.

Comments are appreciated!

Andorra- a closer look at the stamp issues

November 28, 2014, 11:23 am

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1940 Scott 53A 1.50fr crimson 

"Gorge of St. Julia"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for Andorra 1928-1943, 40 major numbers for the Spanish administration, and 109 major numbers for the French administration. Total = 149 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 44 are CV <$1-$1+, or 29%. Andorra is somewhat expensive for the WW classical collector.

Andorra

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Centimos = 1 Peseta
100 Centimes = 1 Franc

Spanish Administration

1928 Scott 3 10c green "King Alfonso XIII"

Stamps of Spain, 1922-26, overprinted in Red or Black

The 12 stamp Spanish administration issue of 1928 is overprinted, as shown above. Scott has a note that the stamps tend to be poorly centered. I suspect that the Spanish postal authorities took their worst stamps, and overprinted them for Andorra. ;-) Six of the stamps have a CV <$1-$3+. Of note, is that Scott also lists a perf 14 minor number issue for 1928  (16 stamps) that is rather expensive.

Spanish Administration

1937 Scott 25 2c red brown "La Vall"

There is a Spanish administration 1929 12 stamp issue that has control numbers on the back and is Perf 14. This issue had five designs, including the one pictured above. There is also a 8 stamp minor issue with control numbers on the back found between the years 1931-38 with Perf 11 1/2. Clearly, one will need to pay attention to perforations here.

Between 1936-43, a 14 stamp issue without control numbers and Perf 11 1/2 X 11 was released. An example is shown above.

French Administration

1931 Scott 2 2c red brown "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"

Stamps and Types of France 1900-29, Overprinted

Meanwhile the French administration had their own stamp issues. The first one was released in 1931, and used 22 overprinted French stamps from 1900-29. Six of them have CV $1+-$5+.

1932 Scott 27 10c dull lilac "Bridge of St. Anthony"

A lovely long (56 stamps!) French administration issue was released between 1932-43, and had five designs.

 Pont de Sant Antoni de la Grella 

The Pont de Sant Antoni de la Grella is a Romanesque bridge south of the village of Anyos, and still exists! My desire to visit Andorra just went up 1000%.   ;-)

1940 Scott 46A 80c blue green 

"Gorge of St. Julia"

The 1932-43 issue is interesting, because some are inexpensive, while others are quite expensive. The 80c blue green pictured above is CV <$1. While another "Gorge of St. Julia" stamp, the 1933 Scott 54 1.75fr violet is @ $100+!

1940 Scott 60A 3fr red brown 

"Chapel of Meritxell'

Our Lady of Meritxell is the patron saint of Andorra. However, the chapel pictured on these stamps burned down in 1972. My!...what a peaceful scene!

Postage Due 1931 Scott J9 1c olive green

On French Stamps of 1927-31

Postage due stamps from France - here 1927-31- were overprinted as shown. The CV for this seven stamp issue ranges up to $200+!

Deep Blue

French Administration 1936-42 "Coat of Arms" Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 13 pages for Andorra, and has a space for all the major Scott numbers. In addition, Deep Blue has spaces for the Spanish administration 1875 "Coat of Arms" issue ( Found in the Edifil Spanish catalogue), and the Spanish administration 1931-34 perf 11 1/2 minor number stamps.

Newspaper stamp 1931 Scott P1 1/2c on 1c gray

Out of the Blue

Andorra is one of those countries where dealers seem to have not much earlier stock- especially Spanish Andorra. If you find a good source- let me know. ;-)

Note: Pic appears to be in the public domain.

Note: This additional material has been added to the original Andorra post.

Comments welcomed!

Panama

December 1, 2014, 2:41 pm

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1903 Scott 69 5c blue

Bar in Similar Color to Stamp

Overprinted in Carmine

Quick History
Panama, located on a narrow strip of land in Central America, was a Department of the Republic of Colombia until 1903, when, with the significant help from the United States, it became independent.

Panama was part of the Spanish Empire (1538-1821)

And part of Colombia since 1819

Panama was a member of Gran Colombia (1819-1831), Republic of New Granada (1831-1858), Granadine Confederation (1858-1863), United States of Colombia (1863-1886), and the Republic of Colombia (1886-1903). 

Why, then, was the United States interested in Panama? 

Geography!!

Vasco Nunez de Balboa first crossed the Isthmus in 1513 from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Gold and Silver from Peru was offloaded from ships, and then hauled overland across the isthmus via the "Camino de Cruces",  then reloaded on ships bound for Spain beginning in 1707. Hard physical work.

Canal Zone

Clearly, a ship canal would work so much better. The French tried and failed. The U.S. then signed an agreement with Colombia (Hay-Herran Treaty) to construct the Panama Canal, but it was rejected by the Colombian congress! Subsequently, the independent Republic of Panama was declared on November 3, 1903, with the significant backing (Warships!) of the United States. Work on the Panama Canal preceded from 1904-1914. (Colombia belatedly recognized the independence of Panama in 1921, after receiving $25 million in compensation, and an apology from the US Congress for having interfered  in the Panama- Colombia conflict.)

The 52 mile ( 83 km) canal, with a land strip 10 miles wide (16 km), was administered and controlled by the U.S. from 1903-1979, and then was returned to Panama.

The Panama Canal Zone issued its own stamps from 1904-1978. See the Canal Zone blog post.

Panama

The Capital is Panama City, and the population was 635,000 in 1940.

The stamps of Panama follow the history as outlined here. Stamps for the Sovereign State of  Panama under Colombian Dominion were issued in 1878. Stamp issues of Colombia for use in the Department of Panama ( the "Map of Panama" stamps) were produced between 1887-1896. Then, beginning with the independent Panama Republic, the overprinted Colombian map stamps were initially used.

For the purposes of this blog, I will be focusing on the interesting earlier 1887-1918 issues.

1903-04 Scott 130 5c blue, Carmine overprint

On Stamp of 1892

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Panama 1878-1940, 383 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 240 or 63% are CV <$1-$1+. Clearly, Panama is an inexpensive country for the WW classical collector who desires a representative selection. The problem, then, is being able to find them.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Centavos = 1 Peso
100 Centesimos = 1 Balboa (1904)

1887 Scott 12 20c black/lilac

"Map of Panama"

The 1887-88 "Map of Panama" issue consists of six stamps, and all are inexpensive.  These are actually issues of Colombia for use in the Department of Panama.

1904 Forgery of 1888 50c brown, Perf 12 3/4

The issue is fraught with reprint-forgeries and forgeries. 

Forgeries appeared in Europe about 1904, and the above example is one. The red arrow points to two upper row horizontal dots (Forgery), while the genuine has a a horizontal dash there. Moreover, this Forgery is Perf 12 3/4, while the genuine is Perf 13 1/4. ( Note: the Scott catalogue has Perf 13 1/2 for all the stamps in the issue, which Tyler (Focus on Forgeries-2000) states is incorrect.)

Another set of forgeries, known as the "Reprint-Forgeries", were prepared by Michelsen and Curtis, and exist in a wide variety of shade colors from the original. These "Reprint-Forgeries" are 13 1/4 X 13 Perf. I do not have examples, but Tyler illustrates the differences in his "Focus on Forgeries" book.

1896 Scott 21 1p lake "Map of Panama"

Between 1892-96, a new map issue design was released on seven stamps. CV is quite inexpensive.

1894 Scott 27 10c on 50c brown, Red surcharge

In 1894, nine surcharged stamps were released, in black or red surcharge colors, and with some on pelure paper. Note this example is a surcharged genuine 1888 50c brown with a horizontal dash- contrast with the 1904 forgery specimen shown earlier.

1903 Scott 53 5c blue, "rose handstamp"

With the November 3, 1903 Declaration of Independence for Panama, overprinted handstamped issues began to appear in the City of Panama November 16, 1903. These can be found either in rose overprint (seven stamps), or blue-black overprint (seven stamps).

Very worn handstamp printings are reprints.

1903 Scott 72 2c rose, Red overprint

In 1903, there was a six stamp overprinted issue with the upper horizontal bar in a similar color to the stamp. The "Panama" overprint was in black, gray-black, or carmine. The overprint reads up on the left, and down on the right of the stamp. An example is shown at the blog post header above the "Quick History" section.

Also in 1903, five stamps were overprinted in red, and an example is shown above. The "Panama" overprint reads up on both the left and the right side of the stamp.

1904-05 Scott 79 10c yellow, Red overprint

Then, between 1904-05, another seven stamp set was overprinted in red, but the right "Panama" overprint now reads down.

There are some additional 38 stamps with various overprints issued in 1904-04. Consult Scott for details.

1905 Scott 179 1c green 

"Declaration of Independence" November 3, 1903

Finally, on February 4, 1905, engraved designs for Panama proper appeared. The two stamp issue shows the map of Panama and the date of independence from Colombia.

1906-07 Scott 189 5c blue & black

"Justo Arosemena"

A  nine stamp engraved bi-colored set was released 1906-07 honoring various patriots. Justo Arosemena Quesada is considered the father of Panamanian nationality.

A similar seven stamp set, but differing in design details, was issued between 1909-16. I show an example heading the "Big Blue" section.

1913 Scott 202 2 1/2c dark green & yellow green

"Balboa sighting Pacific Ocean"

The 400th anniversary of discovering the "South Sea" (Pacific Ocean) by Balboa was celebrated with this stamp release. His dog "Leonocico" is by his side.

His life as an explorer, governor, and conquistador is an interesting read. I had no idea he literally lost his head.

1915-16 Scott 208 2 1/2c scarlet & black

"Ruins of Cathedral of Old Panama"

In 1916-16, an eight stamp bi-color engraved issue was released celebrating the "Panama- Pacific Exposition". Some of the stamp designs show images of the Panama Canal that was completed in 1914. Was this in conjunction with the world's fair held in San Francisco in 1915 to honor of the building of the Panama Canal?

1918 Scott 215 15c bright blue & black

"S.S. Panama in Culebra Cut August 11, 1914"

In 1918, a three stamp issue was released depicting scenes along the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal cost 8.6 billion dollars to build ( in today's money), took 10 years, required 102 large railroad mounted steam shovels, and cost 5,600 lives. 

Deep Blue

1892-96 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 37 pages for Panama, and includes a space for all major Scott number stamps. Nice.

1909 Scott 197 1c dark green & black "Balboa"

Big Blue

The '69 BB edition has seven pages and 152 spaces covering the regular, air post, postage due, special delivery, and postal tax categories. Total coverage is 40%.

There are no stamps that cross the $10 threshold CV in BB. But many inexpensive Panama stamps are not common in general collections, so one may need to need to find them.

Checklist

1887-96
8,9,(10),15,16,17,

1903-04*
(1892-96 issue with various OP)
1c green -(71++)
2c rose- (72++)
5c blue -(69++)
(Blank space)- (73++)

1905
179,180,

1906
181,182,

1906-07
185,186,187,188,
189,(190),

1909-11
195,197,198,199,
200,201,

1915
204,205,206,

1915
208,209,210,211,

Next Page

1921
220,221,222,223,(224),225,

1923
233,

1924
234,235,236,237,238,240,

1926
244,245,246,247,248,249,(250),

1928
256,257,258,

1930
259,

1932
(260),(261),(262),(263),(264),(266),

1933
265,

1937
303,304,305,306,307,308,309,

Next Page

1934
268,269,270,272,273,
271,

1936-37
278,279,280,281,
282,313,314,283,
311,312,315,316,

Next Page

1938
317,318,
319,320,321,

1939
322,323,324,325,
326,327,328,

Next Page

Air Post
1930
C7,C8,C9,C10,C11,

1931
C15,

1934
C17 or C17A,

1936
C22,C23,

1936
C21,C24,

1937
C40,C41,C42,

1938
C43,C44,C45,C46,C47,
C49,C50,C51,

Next Page

Air Post
1939
C54,C55,C56,
C57,C58,C59,C60,

1940
C63,C64,C65,
C66,

Next Page

Postage Due
1915
J2,J1,J3,J4,

1930
J5,J6,J7,J8,

Special Delivery
1929
E3,E4,

Postal Tax
1939
RA1,RA2,RA3,RA4,

1941
RA6,RA7,RA8,RA9,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None
B) (   ) around a number indicates a blank space choice
C) * 1903-04- Lots of choices in the catalogue for the 1892-96 overprinted stamps.

1915-16 Scott 205 1c dark green & black

"Map of Panama Canal"

Out of the Blue

Panama's history (and stamps) was and is governed by its geography.

Sometimes it is good to be an isthmus.

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Comments?

Angola- a closer look at the stamp issues

December 7, 2014, 7:00 am

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1898 Scott 52 100r dark blue/blue 

"King Carlos"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized album has, for Angola 1870-1938, 341 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 189 are CV <$1-$1+, or 55%. Angola appears to be a bit more expensive (especially the earlier stamps) than many Portuguese colonies, but still quite reasonable.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis
100 Centavos = 1 Escudo (1913)
100 Centavos = 1 Angolar (1932)

1893-94 Scott 29 25r green "King Carlos"

The 1870-77 "Portuguese Crown" issue and the 1886 "King Luiz" issue preceded the "King Carlos" issue, pictured above. They are moderately expensive, and I don't have any at the moment, so I will say no more about them here.

The 1893-94 eleven stamp "King Carlos" issue can be found with chalky or enamel paper, and different perforations. Consequently, Scott has many minor numbers for these stamps.

1898 Scott 40 10r yellow green "King Carlos"

The "King Carlos" vignette seen for virtually all of the Portuguese colonies is found here as a 1897-1905 22 stamp set. This postmark has an April 21, 1901 date with an "Angola" cancel.

1902 Scott 83 15r brown

Stamps of 1898, Overprinted

A 1902 four stamp release with the "Provisorio" overprint is illustrated here.

1911 Scott 89 5r orange yellow

Stamps of 1898-1903 Overprinted

With the change in government in Portugal, a 15 stamp set was released in 1911 overprinted.

1912 Scott 105 10r gray green "King Manuel II"

Overprinted in carmine or green

A 10 stamp set with the "Manuel II" visage was also overprinted in 1912. Of interest, this Angola issue is only found overprinted.

1914-26 "Ceres" Issue

Scott 130 5c blue- two colors

A very large 40 stamps "Ceres" was released between 1914-26. If one wishes to parse the issue further, it comes in chalky and ordinary paper, and two perforations. And the 5c "blue" clearly comes in different colors- bright blue, and deep blue. In fact, earlier Scott catalogues gave the "deep blue" color the Scott 129 number. But that number is dropped in the current catalogue- I wonder why?

1914 Scott 161 20r gray violet

Overprinted Type "c"

A 10 stamp issue was released in 1914 with this script overprint-  which is different than the 1911 overprinted issue. Re-check your Angola overprints for different types. ;-)

1919 Scott 219 1/2c on 75r bister brown

In 1919, a group of six stamps were surcharged as shown. CV is $1-$2, so one will find these in collections.

1932 Scott 256 85c rose "Ceres"

Another large 21 stamp issue with a remodeled "Ceres" was produced between 1932-46. For the two Ceres issues (1914-26, 1932-46), 47 stamps are CV <$1-$1+.

1938 Scott 290 10a blue violet

Vasco da Gama Issue

An 18 stamp Vasco da Gama issue for Angola, a common design type used for many Portuguese colonies, was released in 1938.

1938 Scott 293 1.75a deep blue

"Marble Column and Portuguese Arms and Cross"

For the visit of the President of Portugal, a three stamp set was issued in 1938.

Postage Due 1904 Scott J1 5r yellow green

Portuguese colony postage dues are quite generic, as one can tell. The earlier 10 stamp 1904 set is valued in Reis, while the identical (in appearance) 1921 10 stamp set is valued in Centavos.

Deep Blue

1914-26 Ceres Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 21 pages for Angola, and includes a space for all the major Scott numbers. The many minor numbers found in Scott for the earlier issues (1870-94) due to different paper and perforations do not have designated spaces. One will need some quadrilled pages if one wishes to parse these earlier issues.

1938 Scott C2 20c  purple

Common Design type

Out of the Blue

The different overprint scripts for Angola creates a bit more interest for this Portuguese colony.

Note: These additional stamp issue images and discussion have been incorporated into the original Angola blog post.

Update note: The 1914-26 "Ceres" issue presented here is based on the 2011 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue. But the 2014  catalogue revises the listings into 1914 "chalky paper" Perf 15 X 14; 1915-22 "ordinary paper" 15 X 14; 1921-26 "ordinary paper" 12 X 11 1/2; and 1921-25 'glazed paper" 12 X 11 1/2 major number catagories. It also gives a minor number to the 5c pale blue.

Note about the "closer look at the stamp issues" updates: I will resume these updates (probably!) after I finish with the primary task- the remaining ~ 100 country posts to finish the Big Blue checklist.

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Papua

December 10, 2014, 10:16 am

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1910 Scott 42 1p carmine "Lakatoi"

Center in Black, Large "PAPUA"

Quick History
The Territory of Papua was in the southeastern portion of New Guinea island, and existed as a British Protectorate ( "British New Guinea") from 1884 to 1905, and an Australian Protectorate ("Papua") from 1906-1949.

British New Guinea (orange), German New Guinea (red)

While British New Guinea occupied the southeastern portion, the Germans claimed the northeastern portion since 1884 as German New Guinea (Kaiser-Wilhelmsland).

1935 Map of Papua and Territory of New Guinea

With the administrative Australian takeover in 1906, "British New Guinea" was renamed "Papua". Then with the outbreak of WW I, the Australians occupied German New Guinea, and it came under Australian rule as the Territory of New Guinea.

(The western portion of the island of New Guinea was originally part of Dutch New Guinea under the Dutch Indies.  Then, in 1962, it became a  a province (called "Papua") of Indonesia.)

The Capital of Papua was Port Moresby, and the population was 276,000 in 1940.

The country of Papua New Guinea today

After WW II, the Territory of Papua and the Territory of New Guinea were united as the Territory of Papua and New Guinea in 1949.

The combined Territory became the independent nation of Papua New Guinea in 1975.

1931 Scott 88 2p on 1 1/2p yellow brown & gray blue

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Papua 1901-1941, 126 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 21 are CV <$1-$1+, or 17%. If one raises the bar to CV $10, then 87 (69%) are eligible. Clearly, one will need to pay more for a representative collection of Papua.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
12 Pence = ! Shilling
20 Shillings = 1 Pound

1901 Scott 3 2p violet, center in black, "Lakatoi"

British New Guinea

The only stamps inscribed "British New Guinea" were issued in 1901. The eight stamps in the set were bi-colored, engraved, of rather large size, and are really lovely! The CV is a hefty $5+-$40 for six stamps.

Lakatoi

A Lakatoi is a Papuan native dugout double canoe.

With the takeover of the Australians from the British, the 1901 issue was overprinted "Papua" in a large overprint ( 1906- eight stamps) and a small overprint ( 1907- eight stamps). I don't have any examples to show, but the CV is moderately expensive ( $4-$20+ for eight stamps).

1907 Scott 31 4p black brown, center in black

Small "PAPUA", Wmk 13

In 1907-08, a "Papua" inscribed Lakatoi issue of six stamps was issued, using lithography.. The "Papua" script is 1.5 mm tall, and the watermark is "Crown and Double-Lined A".

1909 Scott 39 6p dark green, center in black

Small "PAPUA", Wmk 13 sideways

The 1907-08 set was repeated in 1909-10, (with the addition of a 1/2p yellow green), except the watermark is now sideways.

Upper- Wmk 13- "Crown and Double-Lined A"

Lower- Wmk 13 Sideways

Here is a pic of the watermarks. The upright Wmk 13 is somewhat difficult to see- but there; while the sideways Wmk 13 is obvious. Both orientations are given major numbers in Scott.

1910 Scott 47 1sh orange

Large "PAPUA", Wmk 13

In 1910, a new eight stamp set was issued with the "PAPUA" script 2 mm tall. The watermark is the "Crown and Double-Lined A".

1915 Scott 1p light red, Wmk 74

Then in 1911, a single color issue of eight stamps was produced with typography. An additional 1p light red was issued in 1915, and this example is illustrated above.

The watermark was "Crown and Single-Lined A-Sideways".

Wmk 74- "Crown and Single Lined A Sideways"

Here is an pic of the watermark.

1919 Scott 63 2p red violet & violet brown

Redrawn- Sky and Water much darker

Between 1915-31, a fourteen stamp issue was produced of the Lakatoi design, but was redrawn, with much darker lines for the sky and water. 

1917 Scott 74 1p on 1/2p yellow green

Stamps of 1911 Surcharged

In 1917, six stamps were surcharged "one penny". CV ranges from $1+-$10+.

1932 Scott 95 1p yellow green & black

"Steve, Son of Oala"

A wonderful Papuan themed 16 stamp engraved issue was produced in 1932. We can probably thank the Australians, as the British never were as imaginative with their issues.

1932 Scott 101 6p bister brown "Papuan Motherhood"

This design, art deco in appearance, looks like it should be part of a mural. Absolutely wonderful!

1934 Scott 111 2p red brown 

"Scene on H.M.S. Nelson at Port Moresby"

For the 50th anniversary of the British protectorate, a four stamp set was issued in 1934.

1930 Scott C4 1sh olive green & olive brown

Regular Issues of 1916-23 Overprinted in Red

I am attracted to the airplane overprint air post stamps of the world, and that would make a nice little subtopical collection.

1938 Scott C6 3p ultramarine "Port Moresby"

Although the territory became a protectorate in 1884, it was formally annexed as "British New Guinea" in 1888, and hence a 50th year five stamp air post issue was produced in 1938. CV is $2+-$10+.

Deep Blue

1935 Silver Jubilee Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 12 pages for Papua, and includes spaces for all the major Scott numbers.

1932 Scott 102 9p lilac & black "Shooting Fish"

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on three pages, has 65 spaces for Papua, and includes 14 spaces for air post, and 5 spaces for official stamps. The pages are located between Penrhyn Island/ Prince Edward Island and Paraguay The 40s editions, which have the same coverage, is located between Panama/ Orange River Colony and Paraguay.

Coverage is 52%.

BB manages to only include five stamps @ CV $10+, but a number of other choices bump up close to the $10 mark.

As is typical, different watermark  major number stamps only have one space.

For the "Papua" overprinted 1906 (large OP) and 1907 (small OP) issues- BB is quite unclear.  BB illustrates the large OP (1906), but labels the section "1907" (which has the small OP).  I therefore include both the 1906 and 1907 issue as choices.

For the 1907-10 spaces - Both large and small "Papua" can be put in, based on BB's dates. The 1/2p illustration, though, shows a large Papua, so only Scott 41 can be put there. The 2 1/2p ultramarine color specification eliminates Scott 44. In addition, BB offers both Wmk 13 and Wmk 13-sideways as choices.

Checklist

1901-05
1,2,

1907*
11 or 19, 12 or 20, 13 or 21,

1907-10*
41, 28 or 35 or 42, 29 or 36 or 43, 30 or 37,

1911-12
50, 51, 52 (53),

1917
74,76,

1916-31
60,61,
63,65,66,67,68,

1931-32
89,90,

Next Page

1933 (Actually 1932)
94,95,96,97,98,
99,100,101,102,103,

1934
110,111,112,113,

1935
114,116,117,115,

1937
118,119,120,121,

Next Page

Air Post
1929
C1,

1930
C2,C3,C4,

1938-39
C5,C6,C7,C8,
C9,C10,C11,
C12,C13,C14,

Official Stamps
1931
O1,O2,O3,
O4,(O5),

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1906 Scott 11 1/2p yellow green ($10)
1931 Scott 90 9p on 2sh6p ($10)
1932 Scott 102 9p lilac & black ($10+)
1934 Scott 113 5p violet brown ($10+)
1938 Scott C9 1sh violet ($10+)
B) *1907- BB illustrates the large OP (1906), but labels the section "1907" (which has the small OP). As BB is quite unclear, I include both the 1906 and 1907 issue as choices.
C) *1907-10- Both large and small "Papua" can be put in, based on BB's dates. The 1/2p illustration, though, shows a large Papua, so only Scott 41 can be put there. The 2 1/2p ultramarine color specification eliminates Scott 44. In addition, BB offers both Wmk 13 and Wmk 13-sideways as choices.
D) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1935 Scott 116 3p light blue & black "Papuan Dandy"
Jubilee Issue

Out of the Blue
I have a personal family anecdote that took place in Port Moresby when my oldest daughter was there a few years ago. She is a Foreign Service officer, and, as part of her assignment, she was meeting with local government officials.  That evening, she was on a boat with a sizable group out of Port Moresby, when the engine quit. Fortunately, the sea was quite placid, but then it became dark. Eventually, she spotted a man with a flashlight coming in a small dingy to rescue them. She was quite grateful that  "women and children first" is still operative, as she was among the first to be taken back. ;-)

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Comments appreciated

Paraguay

December 16, 2014, 4:56 pm

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1879 Scott 10 5r orange 

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

Quick History
Landlocked Paraguay is a central South American country where the indigenous Guarani language is still understood or spoken by 95% of the population.

The Capital is Asuncion, and the population was 1,000,000 circa 1940.

Stamps were introduced  in 1870.

But if one wishes to nominate a country that has not received any breaks, it would be Paraguay.

Territory lost (gray area) during the 1864-1870 "Great War"

The little known ( to North Americans) 1864-1870 Paraguayan War against a Triple Alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay lead to 400,000 deaths and complete defeat. 60% of the population of Paraguay died. The Brazilian Army, (as well as the Argentinians), occupied the country for six years after the end of the war in 1870, and carted off the National Archives to Rio de Janeiro. Paraguayans know little of their own early history, because the documents remain unavailable to scholars even today.

Between 1904 and 1954, Paraguay has had 31 presidents, almost all being forcefully removed.

Paraguay obtained some measure of self respect when it defeated Bolivia during the 1932-35 Chaco War. But this war between two of South America's poorest countries was really for naught, as the region was thought rich in oil- and it was not.

 Paraguay

Paraguay is perhaps the most forgotten of the South American countries. And their classical era stamps, in part because of numerous forgeries of early airmail issues, are collected by relatively few. But that presents an opportunity for the WW classical era collector.

Read on...

1892 Scott 43 60 yellow

"Seal of the Treasury"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue, has, for Paraguay 1870-1940, 584 major stamp descriptions. Of those, 533 are CV <$1-$1+, or a remarkable 91%. !!!!!

Clearly, Paraguay is a very inexpensive country for the WW classic era collector. I don't think, though, that the stamps of Paraguay are as easy to find as the CV would suggest.  Yes, they are found, but not abundantly in WW feeder collections. To explain the CV, the demand must be very low, even compared to other South American countries.

As is usual for South American countries, there are too many interesting stamp issues to show for this one blog post. Therefore, I will focus on the earlier issues, and also discuss a few of the air post issues that can be found forged.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
10 Reales = 100 Centavos = 1 Peso

1870 Scott 1 1r rose, Imperf

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

Paraguay issued a three stamp imperforated set on August, 1970 with a lithographed ( in Buenos Aires) design featuring a "Vigilant Lion supporting a Liberty Cap". I do like the motif. Although the 1r rose (illustrated ) has a modest CV of $9 unused, the 2r and 3r have CVs in the $100+-$200+ range.

1881 Scott 13 10c blue green, Design A4a, Perf 11 1/2

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

Reprint

The "Lion with Sceptre" design was repeated for the 1879 (two stamps- never placed in use) and 1879-81 (two stamps) issues. These are on thin paper, and are perf 12 1/2. The 1879 5r orange is shown at the blog post header. Above is an 1879-81 issue, but a reprint with an 11 1/2 perf.

1881 Scott 16 4c brown, Design A7

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

A three stamp issue was released in 1881. These stamps have a remarkable low CV of 70-80 cents for both used/unused 130 years after production.

1884 Scott 22 5c pale blue

"Seal of the Treasury"

A three stamp lithographed A11 design "Seal of the Treasury" set was released in 1884. CV is <$1.

1887 Scott 29 20c pink

"Seal of the Treasury"

Another "Seal of the Treasury" design set - seven stamps in 1887, and four stamps in 1892- was produced. The 1887 set (illustrated above) was lithographed, while the 1892 stamps (An example is shown at the "Into the Deep Blue" header) were typographed.

1893 Scott 37 10c violet blue (punched)

"Candido Bareiro"

An 1893, a 10 stamp issue featured various patriots. Candido Bareiro was President of Paraguay from 1878-1880.

CV for the stamps is <$1.

But this 1893 10c violet blue stamp is commonly found "punched" in collections. And therein lies a tale. No, this is not a telegraph usage, as is often assumed.

The 1840-1940 Classic Scott catalogue states:

"The 10c violet blue was, until 1896, issued  punched with a circular hole in order to prevent it being fraudulently overprinted as 1892 Scott 31" The identical Scott 31 10c violet blue was handstamped in violet "1492/12 De Octubre/1892" and sold only on the day of issue- October 12, 1892. This stamp was handstamped overprinted for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. CV $10/$5.

Look for the punched stamp in your collection. In 1896, the stamp was issued unpunched.

1896 Scott 48 5c on 4c yellow & gray

Telegraph Stamps Surcharged

In 1896, two telegraph stamps were surcharged for use postally. The CV, as most stamps of the era, is <$1.

1900 Scott 51 2c gray "Seal of the Treasury"

1901 Scott 61 2c gray

Small vs Larger Figures

Three issues between 1900-02 can cause confusion (It certainly did for me!) because of the very similar design.

The first and second issue issue (1900- six stamps-engraved; 1901-three stamps-lithographed) have small numerals. 

The third issue (1901-02- eight stamps-lithographed) have larger numerals.

True, some of the stamps have new colors,- and should not cause difficulty-, but other stamps have the same color as illustrated above.

1903 Scott 81 20c carmine

"Sentinel Lion with Right Paw Ready

to Strike for "Peace and Justice""

Two issues with the "Lion ready to strike" design was produced in 1903. The first issue (illustrated) has seven stamps, with a CV of <$1.

1903 Scott 86 5c dark blue

The second 1903 issue also has seven stamps. These Sentinel Lion issues have the script "Paz Y Justica"- Peace and Justice.

1905 Scott 91 1c orange, Dated "1904"

"Sentinel Lion at Rest"

The "1904" (dated) 21 stamp set with the "Lion at Rest" design was actually issued between 1905-1910. All values are CV <$1-$1+, except the 1907 Scott 95 2c olive green @ $60. !!

1936 Scott C42 2p dark brown, Gunboat "Paraguay"

Gunboat Type, Genuine

Built in Italy, but engineered and designed by Paraguayan naval engineer Jose Bozzano, the Gunboats "Humaita" and "Paraguay" were instrumental in controlling the Paraguay River during the Chaco War with Bolivia.

The Air Post 1931-39 eighteen stamp issue featured the Gunboat "Paraguay".

Earlier, I mentioned that the 1930-35 air post issues of Paraguay have been heavily forged: in fact, the forgeries for some issues outnumber the genuine ones. Varro Tyler, in his book "Focus on Forgeries" (2000), has seven pages devoted to the forgeries of the various air post issues.

I show a genuine specimen here, and I will point out two features. (This applies to the entire set C39-C53.)

* The short shading lines located about halfway between the bow of the gunboat and the tail of the far left airplane.

* The tilde over the first "N" of "Canonero".

The Forgeries have neither.

1935 Scott C63 10c ultramarine

"Orange Tree and Yerba Mate"

Genuine

The 1931-36 issue 10 centavo "Orange Tree and Yerba Mate"- found in four colors (C60-C63)- has also been heavily forged. These stamps were lithographed, and even the genuine stamps appear a bit crude. But the forgeries are much cruder. I have a number of examples of the 10c forgery in my collection, more than the genuines.

But above is a genuine example.
* The shading at the base of the orange tree on the left consists of fine lines. (Click on the stamp and enlarge for a better view.)
* The Yerba Mate leaves on the right show fine line detail.
* Perf 12

By the way, the Yerba Mate, first grown by the Guarani, is the source for mate, which mainly has caffeine in it.

"1933 Scott C62 10c yellow brown"

Forgery

Here is an example of the forgery.
* The shading at the base of the tree appears as solid clumps- no individual fine lines.
* The Yerba Mate leaves likewise show no fine line detail.
*  Perf 11 1/2

Check your collection- I can almost almost guarantee that some forgeries will be found.

Deep Blue

Issues of 1908-09 in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 53 pages for 1870-1940 Paraguay, and includes a space for all the major Scott numbers.

1900 Scott 50A 5c on 30c green, gray & black

Telegraph Stamps Surcharged

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on 14 pages, has 357 spaces. Coverage is 61%. Although not bad, the coverage perhaps could have been more generous, considering that 90% of the stamps in the catalogue are CV <$1-$1+.

The air post stamps, however, are generally more expensive. As a result, five air post stamps are found in BB with a CV $10+-$20+. (They are listed in the "comments" section after the checklist.)

Checklist

1879
12,13*,

1881
14,15,16,

1884
20,21,22,

1887
23,24,25,27,28,(29),

1892-96
32,34,35,36,37 or 38, 39,40,

1895-96
46,33,

1896
47,48,

1898-99
49,50,

1900
51,52,53,54,55,56,

Next Page

1901
57,58,59,

1902
61,62,63,64,65,(66),

1902-03
69,70,71,72,73,74,75,

1903
77,78,79,80,81,82,83,

1903
84,85,86,87,89,(90),

1904
112,

1904-06
91,94,97,98,99,100,

Next Page

1906
103,106,

1907
92,101,105,107,

1907
129,130,131,135,136,137,138,

1908
141,142,143,93,96,102,
146,147,148,149,150,154,(151),
158,159,162,163,164,165,
174,175,176,177,178,179,

Next Page

1909
181,182,183,184,
185,186,187,188,189,190,

1910
191,192,195,198,199,200,

1911
201,202,203,204,205,206,207,

1913
209,210,211,212,213,214,(215),(216),

1912
208,

1920-21
241,242,243,244,

Next Page

1922-23
245,246,247,248,

1924-27 (Actually 1920-27)
237,253,254,255,256,

1925
260,

1925
257, 258 or 259,

1927-28
271,273,276,280 or 281,

1927-28
286,287,293,294,290 or 291,297,

1930-31
309,310,
311,

Next Page

1930-32
319,313 or 314 or 315,320,
321,323,322,
325,326,
327,328,
330,331,332,333,334,

Next Page

1933
335,336,337,

1935
275,279,

1937
338,339,340,341,342,343,

1937
344,345,

1938-39
346,347,348,

1939
350,354,349,366,367,
368,369,370,371,372,

Next Page

1939
373,355,356,357,
358,359,360,361,
362,363,364,365,

1940
351,352,353,374,375,
376,377,382,383,384,385,
378,379,380,381,386,

Next Page

Semi-Postal
1930-32
B5,
B1,B2,B3,
B4,

Interior Office Issues*
(L11),(L12),(L13),(L14),(L15),(L16),(L17),
(L18),(L19),(L20),(L21),(L22),

Next Page

Air Post
1929 (actually 1929-31)
C7 or C8, C9 or C10, C11 or C12,
C19,C20,C22,C21, C23 or C24,

1930-37
C36,C37,C38,C31,C54,
C56, C60 or C63,
C64 or C67, C68 or C70, C71,
C39 or C40, C41,C44,
C47,C51,(C40),

Next Page

Air Post
1932
C74,C75,

1933
C57,C61,C65,C72,

1933-35
C79,C80,C81,C58,
C59,C62,C66,C69,C73,
(C88),(C94),(C95*),
C98,C99,C100,

Next Page

Air Post
1939
C110,C111,C112,
C122,
C113,C114,C115,C116,
C124,

1940
C127,C128,C129,C130,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1931 Scott C54 3p on 4p light blue ($10+)
1935-39 Scott C98 17p light brown ($10+)
1935-39 Scott C99 17p carmine ($20+)
1935-39 Scott C100 17p dark blue ($10+)
1939 Scott C122 28p rose & black ($10)
B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.
C) *13- BB printing error in space box. Has "10r blue green", when it should be "10c blue green".
D) * Interior Offices Issues- BB provides 12 blank spaces. Twenty-nine stamps could fit in these spaces-all inexpensive. Eight more are excluded because of the space format.
E) *(C95)- C88-C97 are eligible.

1910 Scott 124 10p deep blue 

"Governmental Palace, Asuncion"

Out of the Blue
The further a classical era country's stamps are "popular", the better I like them- because they are cheap. Why don't you pick up some too? ;-)

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Have a comment?

Penrhyn Island

December 22, 2014, 11:44 am

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1903 Scott 11 6p rose, Blue Surcharge

On Stamps of New Zealand 

Quick History
Penrhyn Island (Tongareva) is the largest atoll, and the most remote of the 15 Cook Islands. It consists of a 77 km or 48 mile (in diameter) coral ring with elevation no more than 5 meters. The coral ring has a center lagoon.

Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The land area only consists of 2.4 acres, and there were 395 inhabitants in 1926. In 2011, there are only 213 inhabitants.

Penrhyn Island

There are two villages- Omoka, and Te Tautua. The island is named after the landing of the  Lady Penrhyn in 1788, which was part of the convict fleet heading for Australia.

The island was a British Protectorate from 1888-1900, then it was annexed by New Zealand. Stamps were produced between  1902-1929. The stamps of the Cook Islands were used in Penrhyn between 1932-1973.

Of interest, the United States claimed sovereignty over Penrhyn between 1856-1980, under the Guano Islands Act. That claim was never recognized by Britain, New Zealand, or the Cook Islands.

Penrhyn Island is a not uncommon stop for yachts crossing between Panama and New Zealand, as the lagoon provides safe harbor. Black Pearl farming occurs on the island. And the locally produced Rito hats, consisting of Coconut fiber, are also popular.

1917 Scott 18 1 1/2p gray black, red overprint

New Zealand  1915-19 stamps, Overprinted

Into the Deep Blue
The Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue, for Penrhyn Island 1902- 1929, has 30 major numbers. Of those, 5 are CV <$1-$1+, or 17%. Raising the bar to $10, yields 22 stamps (73%). Clearly, the stamps of the Penrhyn Islands are a bit expensive. And obviously, considering the small population, genuine used have a higher CV.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
12 Pence = 1 Shilling

1902 Scott 6 1p carmine, Blue Surcharge

On Stamps of New Zealand

Surcharged stamps of New Zealand were issued between 1902-1915. The initial 1902 issue had six stamps, and the surcharges can be found in carmine, vermilion, brown, or blue. The 1p carmine, shown above, has Wmk 61-"N Z and Star Close Together", or Wmk 63- "Double-lined N Z and Star".

(If one wishes to review the watermarks, see the New Zealand post. )

1902 Scott 8 2 1/2p blue, Carmine Surcharge

The 2 1/2p blue "Lake Wakatipu" stamp is found with either a carmine or vermilion colored surcharge.

1903 Scott 10 3p yellow brown, Blue Surcharge

In 1903, three stamps were surcharged, as illustrated by the 3p yellow brown.

1913 Scott 13 1/2p yellow green, carmine Surcharge

Between 1913-15, four New Zealand stamps, showing the Edward (now posthumous)VII visage, were surcharged in carmine, vermilion, and blue.

1920 Scott 17 1/2p yellow green, Red overpint

Between 1917-20, eight 1915-19 George V New Zealand stamps were overprinted in red or dark blue. A dark blue overprint specimen is shown heading the "Big Blue" section.

1920 Scott 25 1/2p emerald & black

"Landing of Captain Cook"

Penrhryn island received their own proper issue with a six stamp production in 1920. The designs, though, are the same as the Cook Islands stamps, save for the "Penrhyn" script and a color change.

Wmk 61- N Z and Star Close Together

Although the 1920 issue is unwatermarked, the 1928-29 two stamp issue (1/2p & 1p)- same in design, but differing in color- shows the Wmk 61.

1920 Scott 30 1sh dull blue & black

"Avarua Harbor"

The scenes and occurrences shown on the stamps are actually of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. But, with a population of only 400 max, Penrhyn Island is lucky to have any stamps at all. ;-)

1927 Scott 31 2 1/2p blue & red brown

"Rarotongan Chief (Te Po)

A nice bi-color engraved 2 1/2p was issued in 1927. The design is found also for Aitutaki and the Cook Islands.

1928-29 Scott 34 1p carmine rose & black

"Avarua Waterfront"

Type of 1920 Issue

In 1928-29, two stamps (the 1/2p and 1p) were issued in slightly different colors, and wmk 61, as mentioned earlier.

Deep Blue

1903 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for Penrhyn Island, and includes all major number Scott spaces.

1928-29 Scott 33 1/2p yellow green & black

Types of 1920 Issue

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on 1/2 page, has 19 spaces. Coverage is 63%. Considering the somewhat expensive CV for the stamps of the Penrhyn Islands, it is not surprising that four stamps are found with CV $10+-$20+.

The coverage is located on the same page as Price Edward Island, and is between Panama and Papua.

Checklist

1902-03
1 or 5, 2 or 6,, 8 or 9, 10, (11),

1914
13 or 14, 15,

1917-20
17,18,19,21,20,

1920
25,26,27,28,29,30,

1927
31,

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1903 Scott 10 3p yellow brown ($10+)
1903 (Scott 11)  6p rose ($10+)
1914 Scott 15 6p carmine rose ($20+)
1920 Scott 30 1sh dull blue & black ($10+)
B) (   ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1918 Scott 23 6p carmine rose, Blue overprint

New Zealand 1915-19 stamps, overprinted

Out of the Blue
I suspect only philatelists, Pacific ocean yacht owners, and assiduous National Geographic readers are aware of Penrhyn Island.  ;-)

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Comment?

Peru

December 28, 2014, 2:40 pm

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1860-61 Scott 9 1d blue "Coat of Arms"

Zigzag Lines in Spandrels

Quick History
Peru, home of the Inca Empire, was conquered and colonized by Pizarro and the Spanish, with the Viceroyalty of Peru established in Lima by 1542. The Viceroyalty, which initially had authority over all of Spanish South America, persisted until 1824.

Although wars with Spain (1810-1824), and  Jose de San Martin's  proclamation for Peru in 1821 gained independence, the country subsequently slid into territorial disputes with it's neighbors through 1884.

1879 Map of Peru, Bolivia and Chile

The War of the Pacific (1879-1883) was devastating for Peru, as they were defeated by the Chileans. (One can argue the Bolivians had even a worse result, as they lost the Litoral Province and their sea access to Chile.)

Lima was occupied (1881), and the nitrate rich territory of Tarapaca was acquired by Chile. It took until 1929 to solve the Arica province (to Chile) and the Tacna province (to Peru) territorial disputes.

You think the old resentments are gone now? I talked to an acquaintance of mine, who is a professor of Latin American History (and who grew up in Peru), and they certainly are not.

 Peru Today

But bad news for a country is sometimes good news for collectors. There are interesting (and inexpensive ) overprinted Chilean occupation stamps, as well the overprinted provisional issues produced in outlying areas; as both Lima and Callao, the source of stamps, were occupied. The fly in the ointment, of course, are the numerous counterfeit overprints.

The Capital is Lima, and the population was 7,200,000 in 1942.

1886 Scott 115 1s brown

"Sun God of the Incas"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Peru 1857-1938, 357 regular, 64 air post, 3 special delivery, 58 postage due, 34 official, 9 parcel post, 29 postal tax, 12 occupation (Chilean), and 113 provisional stamps during the 1879-82 Chilean-Peruvian War. Total = 629.

Of those, 378 are CV <$1-$1+, or 60%. Clearly, Peru, like many Latin American countries, is reasonable in CV price for WW classical era collectors.

Peruvian stamp issues, as is also true of it's South American neighbors, I find quite interesting. But I will limit myself to one blog post for Peru. Therefore, I will concentrate, for discussion purposes, on the earlier 1860-1894 issues.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
8 Reales = 1 Peso (1857)
100 Centimos = 8 Dineros =
4 Pesetas = 1 Peso (1858)
100 Centavos = 1 Sol (1874)

1868 Scott 14 1d green "Coat of Arms"

The famous Pacific Steam Navigation Co. produced stamps of 1857 are expensive ($2000+), with numerous forgeries. If you are interested in them- you are reading the wrong blog- I will say no more about them. ;-)

In 1860, Peru acquired a French made "Lecoq" press that could emboss and create imperforate stamps from horizontal strips. The above image is an example. The postmark is from "Jauja". This lovely little colonial town, at 11,200 feet (3,400 meters), had the first cathedral built in South America, and was the provisional capital in 1534.

1866-67 Scott 18 20c brown "Llamas"

What is the first image that springs to mind about Peru? I think of  Llamas. ;-) An engraved three stamp design with that iconic indigenous domestic camelid was produced in 1866-67.

1871 Scott 19 5c scarlet 

"Locomotive and Arms"

This embossed  1871 imperforate (known as the "Trencito") is considered one of the very first commemorative stamps produced. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of the completion of a railroad line between Lima and Callao, the first railroad  in South America.

1876 Scott 25 10c green "Coat of Arms"

Between 1874-84, a nine stamp engraved issue with two motifs ("Sun God of the Incas" and "Coat of Arms") was produced.

The "Coat of Arms" design ( 2,5,10,20 centavo denominations) is also found as a lithographic forgery, created by the infamous Spiro Brothers of Hamburg.

Varro Tyler (Focus on Forgeries -2000) points out the genuine has a long attached tail on the "Q" in FRANQUERO in the genuine, while the forgery has no attached tail.

Embossed with Grill

The 1874-84 issue was also embossed with a grill, which is quite apparent on the stamp back.

1874 Scott 27 20c brown red

Getting back to the Spiro forgeries, here the 20c brown red has a drawing of a  tree in the top right part of the shield. The top of the tree does not touch the line above it in the genuine (One may need to enlarge the stamp to see this). In the forgery, the top of the tree touches the line above it.

1860 Scott 30 1c green

"Sun God of the Incas"

The 1c green "Sun God of the Incas" stamp, prepared in 1880, was not issued without an overprint. (We will see examples of overprinted specimens soon.) But one does find unused specimens in collections, as shown here, and Scott does give the stamp a catalogue number.

The Inca ruler was considered to be the living representative of Inti, the Sun God.

Of interest, the great golden disk representing Inti captured by by the conquistadors in 1571 and sent to the pope has been unfortunately lost.

1880 Scott 33 2c rose, blue overprint

Stamps of 1874-80 overprinted in Red, Blue, or Black

Between 1880-83, the issues were overprinted with "Plata" ( money or silver), "Union Postal Universal", "Peru", and "Lima". I suspect this served for inventory control purposes during the 1879-83 War of the Pacific.

The 1880 six stamp overprinted issue is illustrated here.

1883 Scott 65 1c orange, black overprint

A 1883 seven stamp issue was handstamped as shown in black or blue.

1883 Scott 86 1c green

Black & Black Overprint

This 1883 six stamp issue had the triangle and the horseshoe overprints.

1883 Scott 96 2c vermilion

Overprinted Horseshoe Alone

Another 1883 six stamp issue only had the horseshoe overprint.

1895 Scott 109 5c claret "Llamas"

Without Overprint or Grill

The 1886-95 twelve stamp issue had the same designs as previous issues, but in different colors, and without the grill or overprint. CV is a very modest <$1-$2+.

1894 Scott 124 50c green

"Pres. Remigio Morales Bermudez"

Stamps of 1874-80 Overprinted in Black

The president of Peru between 1890 - 1894 was Remigo Morales Bermudez. He died on April 1, 1894, but an eight stamp set was produced on October 23, 1894 as homage to him by overprinting his image in black.

Of interest, his grandson, Francisco Morales Bermudez, was president of Peru from 1975-1980.

1894 Scott 125 2c vermilion

Additional Overprint of Horseshoe 

Also in 1894, the overprinted image of the recently deceased president was applied to four stamps with the horseshoe overprint applied.

1882 Scott N23 1s ultramarine, red overprint

Stamps of Peru 1874-80, Overprinted

Issued during Chilean Occupation

Between 1881-82, while Chilean troops occupied Lima and Callao, twelve stamps were overprinted in red, blue, or black. Seven of the stamps only had the Chilean overprint, while five stamps also had a black horseshoe overprint (shown).

The CV is <$1-$1+ for eight stamps. Naturally, there are overprint counterfeits, and since you or I probably do not have the expertise to authenticate, buy cheap. ;-)

If one truly wishes to explore further, joining the Peru Philatelic Study Circle would be a good idea.

1884 Scott 3N13 5c blue

Arequipa  Provisional Issue

On Regular Issue of Peru

During the The War of the Pacific (1879-1883) and aftermath, the usual stamp supply to outlying provinces from Lima was not available. Hence, one can find overprinted provisional issues from what was at hand from 14 towns/provinces during this period.

This is more a specialists playground (There are plenty of overprint counterfeits), but the general classic era WW collector may wish some of these fascinating stamps. 

1885 Scott 3N25 5c blue, black overprint

"Rear Admiral M. L. Grau"

Arequipa Provisional

Miguel Grau Seminario was a Peruvian naval officer, and is considered a hero of the War of the Pacific.

He was also well respected by his Chilean adversaries, and he was known as El Caballero de los Mares ("Gentleman of the Seas").

Deep Blue

1916 Issue, 1909 Stamps Surcharged in Red, Green or Violet

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 57 pages, including a space for all the provisional issues. Nice.

1881 Scott 40 5c ultramarine "Coat of Arms"

Stamps of 1874-80 Overprinted in Red or Blue

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on 12 pages, has 314 spaces for the stamp of Peru. Coverage is 50%.

There is only one stamp space that requires a "Most expensive stamp", and that is because of a blank space choice- 1863 (Scott 13) 1p brown ($37+).

Checklist

1862-72
12,14,(13),

1866
16,17,18,

1874-84
21,22,23 or 24,25 or 26,27

1880
32,35,

1881
38,

1883
80, (81),

1883
65,69,(68),(71),88,89,

1883
95,96,

1884
103,

1889
117,117A,

Next Page

1886
104,106,108,110,112,114,115,

1894
118,119,120,121,123,125,126,

1895-96
105,107,109,111,113,

1895
134,(135),

1896-97
141,143,145,146,148,150.

1896-97
151,152,

1897
154,155,156,

1897
157,

1899-1900
142,144,147,149,

Next Page

1901
161,162,163,

1902
164,

1905
165,

1907
166,167,

1907-08
168,169,170,

1907-08
171,172,173,174,175,

1909
177,178,179,180,181,182,183,
184,185,

1916
196,197,198,199,

1916
201,204,205,206,(207),

1917
208,

Next Page

1917-18
209,210,211,212,213,214,215,216,

1917-18
217,218,219,

1921
222,223,

1921
224,227,228,230,225,226,

1920
220,221,

1923-24
232,233,

1924
234,235,

1924
236,237,238,239,240,

1924-29
242,243,
244,245,246,247,248,249,250,

Next Page

1925
252,245A,

1930
272,273,274,275,

1931
283,284,285,286,
287,288,289,

1931-32
293,292,295,296,297,298,299,

1932
300,301,

1932
302,303,304,

1932-34
305 or 306,307,308,309,

Next Page

1932-34
311,312,313,314,315,316,

1932-35
317,318,319,320,323,

1934-36
321,322,339,340,

1935
324,325,328,
326,327,329,330,334,
332,333,

Next Page

1935
336,335,337,

1936
341,

1936
342,343,344,345,
346,347,348,

1936-37
356,357,

1936-37
358,359,362,360,361,
363,364,365,366,

Next Page

1936-37
368,369,367,370,371,

1938
375,378,380,
376,377,379,
382,381,383,384,
385,386,387,

Next Page

Air Post
1928-34
C4,C2,C5,

1935
C6,C7,C8,C9,

1935-37
C10,C13,C30 or C31,
C16,C18,C20,C23,
C26,C28 or C29,C32 or C33,C34 or C35,

Next Page

1936-37
C25,C27,C17,C19,
C21,C22,C24,C27,
C45,C46,C47,C48,
C49,C52,C53,C54,
C50,C51,C62,C63,

Next Page

Postage Due
1874-79
J1,J2,J3,(J4),

1881-84
5c vermilion: J7 or J12 or J18 or J23
10c orange: J8 ot J13 or J19 or J24
1c bistre: J6 or J11 or J16 or J17 or J22

1896-97
J28,J29,J30,J31,

1902
J37,

1909
J40,J41,J42,J43,

Official Stamps
1889
O2,(O3),

1894
O7,O11,O12,O15,O18,

1896
O23,O24,

1901
O25,

1909
O27,O29,

Next Page

Postal Tax
1925-26
RA1,RA2,RA3,
RA6,

1927-28
RA7,RA8,RA9,RA11,

1928
RA13,

1931
RA17,

1932-34
RA19,RA20,

1933-35
RA21,RA22,RA23,

1937-38
RA26,RA29,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1863 (Scott 13) 1p brown ($37+)
B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1889 Scott 116

Overprinted Horseshoe in Black and 

Triangle in Rose Red

Out of the Blue
Peru is one of those countries where I would love to become more familiar with their issues- ah, the siren clarion of specialization is calling. ;-)

Note: maps appear to be in the public domain.

Comments appreciated!

Status of My Deep Blue & Big Blue Collections

January 3, 2015, 2:48 pm

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1908 Austria Offices in Turkey 1 Piaster
Deep Blue on Blue

Into the Deep Blue
There might be some curiosity among readers about the status of my collections. And so here is the country numbers for both Deep Blue (Steiner), and my virtual Big Blue (which is also housed in the Steiner).

Recall that Deep Blue (Steiner) covers the 1840-1940+ era, with additional coverage of British Commonwealth countries to 1952 (George VI); Big Blue covers 1840-1940.

For each country, the total number of (major number) stamps in the Scott catalogue (Cat. Ct.), the filled spaces in Deep Blue (DB) (Steiner), the total spaces in Big Blue (BB), and the filled spaces in Big Blue are presented.

For general, and specific comments (indicated with an *), see the explanations below the statistical table.

Updated as of January 3, 2015 (This table will be updated from time to time)

Country……………/Cat. Ct./DB/Filled//Spaces/BB/Filled

Grand total…………./83,812/ 39,632// 34,951/ 26,087

United States………/1,500/DB/660//0723*/BB/0551

Total…………………../82,312/38,972//34,228/25,536

Aden-Ethiopia-BB-7295

Falkland Islands-Latvia-BB-6005

Lebanon- Quelimane-BB-6273

Reunion-Zululand-BB-5963

Aden…………………./100/DB/064/////019/BB/017

Afghanistan………../389/DB/051/////036/BB/018

Aguera…………….…/026/DB/011/////007/BB/004

Aitutaki..………...../031/DB/009/////022/BB/009

Alaouites…….……./073/DB/033/////030/BB/025

Albania………….…./403/DB/119/////113/BB/053

Alexandretta……./031/DB/009/////008/BB/008

Algeria……….……./191/DB/138/////115/BB/105

Allenstein….……./028/DB/028/////028/BB/028

Andorra…….……./149/DB/028/////038/BB/018

Angola…..….……./307/DB/120/////113/BB/096

Angra…….….……./035/DB/010/////007/BB/007

(Anjouan)….……./030/DB/004/////007/BB/004

(Annam & Tonkin)/006/DB/003/////000/BB/000

Antigua….….……./106/DB/039/////039/BB/032

Argentina….……./951/DB/582/////226/BB/226

Armenia….…..…./341/DB/063/////027/BB/026

Ascension….……./041/DB/020/////031/BB/011

Australia…………./335/DB/171/////090/BB/079

Austria….….……./917/DB/869/////755/BB/663

Azerbaijan.….…./098/DB/042/////010/BB/010

Azores….….….…./0340/DB/0137/////176/BB/113

(Baden)….………./025/DB/018/////007/BB/004

Bahamas….……./132/DB/057/////052/BB/033

Bahrain….…..…./091/DB/051/////017/BB/013

Barbados………./245/DB/112/////057/BB/055

Barbuda……….../011/DB/002/////005/BB/002

Basutoland……./050/DB/035/////021/BB/019

Batum………..…./065/DB/022/////012/BB/012

Bavaria…………./361/DB/285/////289/BB/263

Bechuanaland./153/DB/051/////036/BB/027

Belgium………../971/DB/762////549/BB/519

Benin……………./049/DB/002/////007/BB/002

(Bergedorf)…../005/DB/005/////003/BB/003

Bermuda..……./147/DB/078/////060/BB/050

Bolivia……….…./361/DB/289/////164/BB/164

Bosnia & Herzegovina/193/DB/171//152/BB/150

Brazil……………./669/DB/467/////274/BB/270

British Central Africa/073/DB/001///007/BB/001

British East Africa/096/DB/005///008/BB/005

British Guiana./276/DB/056/////048/BB/035

British Honduras/155/DB/051////063/BB/043

British Solomon Islands/092/DB/023//034/BB/016

Brunei…………../057/DB/018/////024/BB/012

Bulgaria………../490/DB/376/////315/BB/280

(Bremen)………/015/DB/000/////003/BB/000

(Brunswick).…./025/DB/007/////006/BB/004

Burma……..…./140/DB/104/////026/BB/013

Cameroun……./355/DB/098/////117/BB/076

Canada…….../417/DB/299/////212/BB/210

Canal Zone..…./183/DB/077/////104/BB/054

Cape Juby….…./140/DB/012/////068/BB/010

Cape of Good Hope/068/DB/029///030/BB/023

Cape Verde…../287/DB/091/////121/BB/066

 (Carinthia)*…../-----/DB/-----/////-----/BB/-----

Caroline Islands/023/DB/010/////007/BB/006

Castellorizo.…./085/DB/010/////020/BB/006

Cayman Islands/139/DB/037/////051/BB/025

Central Lithuania/053/DB/052/////043/BB/025

Ceylon……………/310/DB/136/////078/BB/068

Chad………………/085/DB/031/////059/BB/026

Chile………………/366/DB/206/////166/BB/166

China*……….…/909/DB/171/////214/BB/114

(China-Offices Abroad*)/?00/DB/?00//031/BB/000

(Cilicia)……….…/145/DB/030/////0016/BB/014

Cochin China…/005/DB/001/////004/BB/001

Colombia………/450/DB/258/////206/BB/171

(Colombia States)/414/DB/102///203*/BB/086

(Confederate States)/014/DB/001//006/BB/001

Congo, Belgian./266/DB/101/////138/BB/092

Cook Islands…./115/DB/019/////037/BB/008

Corfu………….…/014/DB/000/////006/BB/000

Costa Rica…..…/384/DB/201/////154/BB/153

Crete………….…/144/DB/035/////065/BB/034

Cuba………….…/462/DB/323/////234/BB/224

Cyprus…………/150/DB/069/////065/BB/048

Cyrenaica……/137/DB/017/////093/BB/015

Czechoslovakia*/620/DB/511///336/BB/323

Dahomey……/143/DB/084/////084/BB/075

(Dalmatia).…/014/DB/001/////005/BB/001

Danish West Indies/066/DB/041///037/BB/037

Danzig……..…/431/DB/319/////260/BB/245

Denmark……/399/DB/322/////206/BB/202

Diego Suarez/063/DB/002/////008/BB/002

Dominica……/112/DB/045/////048/BB/035

Dominican Republic/474/DB/225///222/BB/181

Dutch Indies./361/DB/258/////174/BB/161

East Africa & Uganda/071/DB/012///019/BB/012

(Eastern Rumelia)/040/DB/004////007/BB/004

(Eastern Silesia)/061/DB/046/////028/BB/024

Ecuador……/773/DB/384/////279/BB/256

Egypt………./390/DB/291/////198/BB/188

Elobey, Ann. & Cors./060/DB/013///007/BB/004

Epirus……../068/DB/016/////020/BB/014

Eritrea……./313/DB/101/////181/BB/092

Estonia……./197/DB/159/////114/BB/108

Ethiopia.…./323/DB/121/////078/BB/062

Falkland Islands/142/DB/066////037/BB/021

Far Eastern Republic/065/DB/014///008/BB/001

Fernando Po./176/DB/011/////023/BB/008

Fiji.…………../164/DB/051/////058/BB/032

Finland.…../281/DB/210/////160/BB/152

Fiume.……./262/DB/147/////070/BB/064

France*.…./1932/DB/658/////752/BB/520

French Colonies/080/DB/037///020/BB/018

French Congo/052/DB/009////018/BB/008

French Equatorial Africa/167/DB/081///063/BB/050

French Guiana/208/DB/103/////125/BB/083

French Guinea/212/DB/109/////139/BB/102

French India/141/DB/044/////084/BB/042

French Morocco*/300/DB/176///196- Listed in France/BB/140

French Polynesia/154/DB/083////084/BB/079

French Sudan/147/DB/044/////107/BB/044

Funchal.../034/DB/011/////014/BB/009

Gabon.…./183/DB/036/////111/BB/035

Gambia.../146/DB/066/////041/BB/033

Georgia.../036/DB/028/////028/BB/022

German East Africa/100/DB/028///033/BB/022

German New Guinea/023/DB/005///014/BB/004

German SW Africa/034/DB/006/////013/BB/005

Germany: North German Conf./035/DB/019//014/BB/012

Germany*../1101/DB/844/////762/BB/691

Gibraltar../135/DB/045/////040/BB/032

Gilbert & Ellice Is./065/DB/025////028/BB/021

Gold Coast../154/DB/076/////061/BB/054

Grand Comoro/029/DB/013/////017/BB/013

Great Britain/911/DB/374/////276/BB/185

Greece…..../812/DB/383/////281/BB/244

Greenland./020/DB/008/////007/BB/007

Grenada…./189/DB/062/////057/BB/043

(Griqualand West)/102/DB/003//000/BB/000

Guadeloupe/201/DB/093/////124/BB/082

Guam…..../014/DB/001/////005/BB/001

Guatemala/454/DB/293/////291/BB/234

Haiti…….../339/DB/214/////188/BB/180

(Hamburg)./022/DB/005/////007/BB/005

(Hanover)../025/DB/009/////007/BB/007

Hatay…...../050/DB/031/////013/BB/013

Hawaii….../091/DB/043/////033/BB/031

Hejaz (Saudi Arabia)*/453/DB/057//026/BB/015

(Heligoland)/026/DB/007/////007/BB/004

Honduras../579/DB/254/////211/BB/184

Hong Kong./214/DB/121/////075/BB/067

Horta…...../034/DB/012/////007/BB/007

Hungary*../1427/DB/917/////620/BB/534

Iceland….../327/DB/167/////161/BB/119

India*……./2958/DB/837/////244/BB/190

Indo-China/365/DB/223/////198/BB/165

Inhambane/101/DB/015/////037/BB/012

Inini……….../058/DB/019/////048/BB/019

(Ionian Islands)/003/DB/001////001/BB/001

Iraq……….../167/DB/057/////054/BB/034

Ireland…..../133/DB/081/////034/BB/031

Italian Colonies/087/DB/012////054/BB/011

Italian East Africa/054/DB/027///039/BB/025

Italy………../1554/DB/460/////617/BB/380

Ivory Coast/194/DB/057////128/BB/057

Jamaica….../170/DB/144/////078/BB/078

Japan………./388/DB/248/////230/BB/204

Jordan……../271/DB/051/////038/BB/013

Jugoslavia../583/DB/327/////341/BB/245

Karelia……../015/DB/015/////006/BB/006

Kenya Uganda/108/DB/049////050/BB/033

Kiauchau…./042/DB/009/////008/BB/007

Kionga……../004/DB/003/////004/BB/003

Korea…….../055/DB/015/////026/BB/014

Kuwait……../199/DB/009/////024/BB/004

Labuan……./135/DB/064/////059/BB/044

Lagos…….../059/DB/014/////014/BB/010

Latakia……./035/DB/013/////025/BB/012

Latvia…….../400/DB/238/////150/BB/131

Lebanon…./294/DB/070/////083/BB/041

Leeward islands/116/DB/043///044/BB/032

Liberia……../521/DB/445/////144/BB/139

Libya………../266/DB/045/////190/BB/035

Liechtenstein/249/DB/094////127/BB/071

Lithuania…/495/DB/234/////163/BB/113

Lourenco Marques/176/DB/054///046/BB/026

(Lubeck)…./014/DB/006/////005/BB/002

Luxembourg/582/DB/252////268/BB/152

Macao….…/372/DB/078/////148/BB/073

Madagascar/265/DB/108////144/BB/099

Madeira…./068/DB/019/////025/BB/015

Malaya*…/1314/DB/212/////257/BB/117

Maldives Is/030/DB/007/////013/BB/005

Malta……../263/DB/162/////069/BB/064

Manchukuo*/167/DB/100////069/BB/043

Mariana Is/027/DB/007/////013/BB/007

Marienwerder/042/DB/014////012/BB/006

Marshall Is/027/DB/013/////013/BB/011

Martinique./217/DB/115/////098/BB/081

Mauritania./145/DB/080/////081/BB/057

Mauritius…./261/DB/109/////081/BB/063

Mayotte…../031/DB/010/////016/BB/010

(Meckln. Schwerin)/008/DB/001///002/BB/001

(Meckln. Strelitz)/006/DB/002////003/BB/000

Memel……../237/DB/170/////051/BB/043

Mesopotamia/075/DB/014////009/BB/007

Mexico……../1299/DB/603/////369/BB/334

Middle Congo/123/DB/045/////097/BB/039

(Modena)…./019/DB/001/////005/BB/001

Moheli……../021/DB/007/////008/BB/006

Monaco….../272/DB/137/////143/BB/109

Mongolia…./057/DB/011/////021/BB/010

Montenegro/145/DB/110/////115/BB/102

Montserrat./130/DB/033/////043/BB/018

Mozambique/430/DB/196////137/BB/100

Mozambique Co./275/DB/185///122/BB/111

Natal………./132/DB/026/////025/BB/018

Nauru……./038/DB/030/////022/BB/022

Nepal……../043/DB/020/////014/BB/013

Netherlands/506/DB/439/////307/BB/299

Neth. Antilles/187/DB/070////073/BB/044

Nevis……../033/DB/004/////004/BB/002

New Brunswick/011/DB/006////006/BB/006

New Caledonia/266/DB/087////125/BB/060

Newfoundland/285/DB/255/////153/BB/151

New Guinea/140/DB/027/////068/BB/024

New Hebrides/164/DB/056/////047/BB/024

New South Wales/198/DB/038///052/BB/027

New Zealand*/505/DB/203/////147/BB/098

Nicaragua/1715/DB/1048////569/BB/504

Niger……../120/DB/076/////102/BB/076

Niger Coast Prot/064/DB/007////006/BB/002

Nigeria…../075/DB/047/////038/BB/030

Niue…….../103/DB/016/////030/BB/011

North Borneo/409/DB/130////127/BB/087

North Ingermanland/014/DB/011///009/BB/008

North West Pacific Is/149/DB/013///007/BB/005

Northern Nigeria/051/DB/011////019/BB/009

Northern Rhodesia/057/DB/032////033/BB/021

Norway..../290/DB/232/////183/BB/151

Nossi Be…/057/DB/007/////007/BB/003

Nova Scotia/013/DB/005/////005/BB/005

Nyasaland Prot./103/DB/046///036/BB/018

Nyassa……/141/DB/084/////085/BB/068

Obock……./083/DB/010/////012/BB/003

(Oldenburg)/024/DB/004/////003/BB/003

Oltre Giuba/066/DB/020/////035/BB/020

Orange R. Colony/077/DB/025////031/BB/020

Pakistan*…/032/DB/023//////000/BB/000

Palestine.../093/DB/049/////061/BB/038

Panama..../383/DB/159/////152/BB/109

Papua......./126/DB/038/////065/BB/031

Paraguay../584/DB/445/////357/BB/307

(Parma)..../015/DB/002/////002/BB/000

Penrhyn Island/030/DB/013///019/BB/010

Persia......./784/DB/382/////412/BB/301

Peru………./629/DB/328////314/BB/256

Philippine Is/564/DB/344////217/BB/193

Poland....../683/DB/423/////355/BB/296

Ponta Delgada/034/DB/012///016/BB/009

Portugal..../1031/DB/554////465/BB/409

Port. Africa/011/DB/010/////005/BB/005

Port. Congo/137/DB/036/////035/BB/021

Port. Guinea/309/DB/071////146/BB/057

Port. India../501/DB/061/////155/BB/061

Prince Edward Is/016/DB/013///009/BB/009

Prussia*...../026/DB/014/////006/BB/005

Puerto Rico/195/DB/055////121/BB/54

Queensland/164/DB/029////034/BB/021

Quelimane./040/DB/008/////020/BB/008

Reunion..../217/DB/095/////135/BB/080

Rhodesia../143/DB/049/////053/BB/037

Rid de Oro/149/DB/035/////024/BB/013

(Romagna)/009/DB/002/////003/BB/001

Romania.../931/DB/686/////530/BB/461

Roman States/025/DB/017////006/BB/006

Rouad....../016/DB/006/////008/BB/006

Ruanda-Urundi/071/DB/020////031/BB/015

Russia….../1415/DB/748////617/BB/525

Saar…….../237/DB/164/////133/BB/119

St. Christopher/029/DB/007////005/BB/004

St. Helena./143/DB/068/////045/BB/041

St. Kitts-Nevis/111/DB/036////043/BB/025

St. Lucia..../167/DB/058/////056/BB/039

St. Pierre & Miquelon/260/DB/105//162/BB/096

St. Thomas & Prince Is/423/DB/045///140/BB/042

St. Vincent../191/DB/061/////044/BB/031

Ste. Marie de Madag./013/DB/002///006/BB/002

Salvador..../1166/DB/734////582/BB/514

Samoa…..../173/DB/082/////070/BB/060

San Marino/345/DB/109/////146/BB/082

Sarawak…../215/DB/063/////050/BB/027

Sardinia….../017/DB/006/////007/BB/006

(Saseno)…../008/DB/002/////006/BB/002

Saudi Arabia*/----/DB/-----////-----/BB/00*

Saxony…..../020/DB/009/////008/BB/007

Schleswig../042/DB/012/////021/BB/012

(Schleswig-Holstein*)/025/DB/001///000/BB/00

Senegal…../250/DB/112/////165/BB/103

Senegambia & Niger/013/DB/004///008/BB/004

Serbia…..../224/DB/103/////104/BB/084

Seychelles/175/DB/023/////066/BB/021

Shanghai../183/DB/015/////031/BB/016

(Siberia)…../100/DB/007/////006*/BB/000

Sierra Leone/194/DB/045////059/BB/030

Somalia…../355/DB/032/////156/BB/031

Somali Coast/210/DB/130/////130/BB/104

Somaliland Prot./142/DB/016///030/BB/009

South Africa /237/DB/164////084/BB/044

South Australia/243/DB/030////032/BB/015

Southern Nigeria/056/DB/008///014/BB/006

Southern Rhodesia/078/DB/041///051/BB/029

South Russia/055/DB/020////010/BB/009

South West Africa/217/DB/074////103/BB/042

Spain…….../1171/DB/559////567/BB/433

Spanish Guinea/319/DB/056////104/BB/035

Spanish Morocco/251/DB/038////134/BB/035

Spanish Sahara/047/DB/001/////043/BB/001

Straits Settlements /310/DB/121////092/BB/082

Sudan…..../180/DB/066/////061/BB/040

Surinam…./243/DB/063/////155/BB/056

Swaziland./055/DB/030/////024/BB/015

Sweden…../426/DB/344/////211/BB/211

Switzerland/637/DB/395/////321/BB/308

Syria……..../524/DB/199/////141/BB/093

Tahiti……../065/DB/001/////003/BB/001

Tanganyika/044/DB/018/////020/BB/016

Tannu Tuva/141/DB/062/////020/BB/017

Tasmania…/123*/DB/018////027/BB/ 011

Tete……….../040/DB/006/////021/BB/ 006

Thailand (Siam)/286/DB/091////118/BB/ 076

Thrace……../131/DB/025/////022/BB/ 013

Thurn and Taxis/054/DB/029///015/BB/015

Tibet……..../018/DB/008/////010/BB/ 008

Timor…….../296/DB/024/////143/BB/ 024

Tobago….../031/DB/001/////005/BB/ 001

Togo……..../226/DB/072/////109/BB/ 062

Tonga……../109/DB/024/////027/BB/ 012

Transcaucasian F.R./031/DB/007///004/BB/ 001

Transvaal../293/DB/059/////052/BB/ 044

Trinidad…./134/DB/027/////026/BB/ 020

Trinidad & Tobago/108/DB/068///038/BB/ 036

Tripolitania/192/DB/030/////119/BB/ 029

Tunisia……./336/DB/230/////151/BB/ 133

Turkey….../1303/DB/523////394/BB/ 317

Turkey in Asia/108/DB/022////012/BB/ 012

Turks Islands/058/DB/002/////007/BB/ 001

Turks & Caico Is./130/DB/065////051/BB/ 037

(Tuscany)../024/DB/004/////002/BB/ 000

(Two Sicilies)/027/DB/002/////006/BB/ 001

Ubangi….../109/DB/031/////079/BB/ 029

Uganda…../076/DB/000/////010/BB/ 000

Ukrainia…./111/DB/039/////030/BB/ 030

Upper Senegal & Niger/050/DB/007//040/BB/ 007

Upper Silesia/090/DB/047/////036/BB/ 028

Upper Volta/089/DB/024/////075/BB/ 024

Uruguay…../843/DB/369/////298/BB/ 217

Vatican City/109/DB/070/////091/BB/ 065

Venezuela../511/DB/386/////251/BB/ 243

Victoria……./260/DB/065/////060/BB/ 046

Virgin Islands/113/DB/036////046/BB/ 028

Wallis & Futuna Is./119/DB/046///104/BB/ 046

Western Australia/104/DB/022/////027/BB/ 013

Western Ukrainia./119/DB/009/////019/BB/ 009

(White Russia)*/000/DB/010/////010/BB/ 010

Wurttenberg../251/DB/159/////148/BB/105

Yemen…….../040/DB/003/////009/BB/ 002

Zambezia…./105/DB/006/////037/BB/ 005

Zanzibar…../238/DB/062/////066/BB/ 040

Zululand…../024/DB/004/////014/BB/ 004

Comments and Explanations……

Total catalogue  count 

All major number stamps in the Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue are counted, (with some exceptions - see below), and covers World Wide 1840-1940+, and British Commonwealth countries 1840-1952. (“Cat. Ct.”)

(“Cat. Ct.”) will be somewhat less than actual Scott Classic Specialized catalogue major number count. I excluded specific categories (Canada Air Post Semi-Official stamps, French Parcel Post, Australian States Postal-Fiscal, Russia Postal-Fiscal etc) in which I had no interest.

I did not count any of the Great Britain stamps identified with an obliterator (Scott “A” prefix) that can be found for the British colonies prior to that colony’s first stamp issue. Some smaller “entire” countries are missing (British Columbia, New Britain, Oman, Stellaland etc ) that are expensive, or have never been included in the Big Blue album countries.

OTOH, the count is inflated if one is comparing strictly 1840-1940 issues. The British Commonwealth countries are covered to the end of the George VI era (1952), and some country’s definitive issues continue into the 1940s. Basically, if the stamp is in the Scott Classic Specialized catalogue- even if issued after 1940- I included it.

A word about the numbers.. ..I combed through each page of the 2011 Scott Classic Specialized, noting catalogue numbers missing (decreasing the count), and noting suffix major numbers (i.e. “35A”- increasing the count). No minor numbers (whether bolded or not) were counted. Of course, a one time count of a country will have errors around the edges.

I think comparing between catalogues and their “numbers” is useless (except in a most general way)- as there are too many variables between catalogues.

A comment: For the WW classical era collector, one needs to take the total number of stamps “available” very lightly indeed. I include the total number of stamps for a country, so one has a general idea. I do not focus on that number as a “goal”.

Deep Blue (Steiner) spaces filled

I enjoy having a designated space for every Scott major number stamp I have. My collection- some 39,000+ classical era stamps at the time of the blog post (January, 2015)- is housed in 44 binders (1 ½”), and some 6,500 70 lb acid free pages. 

Thank you Bill Steiner!

Steiner usually follows the current Scott catalogue with layout and presentation.  But with certain countries, he might offer spaces, (no doubt influenced by that country’s collectors, and perhaps, a “rival” catalogue), that, in Scott, are minor numbers. If Steiner offers a space, I count it.

Total Big Blue (BB) spaces

First, I need to acknowledge Joe Lill, who independently counted all the spaces in his ‘97 edition BB, and sent the results to me. Although I also count the spaces, he has been more accurate. Thanks Joe!

If you would like an Excel file of Joe’s list, he has graciously placed it here…..

http://www.musicbyjoelill.com/BigBlue.xls

And that brings me to a specific goal- how complete can I get a virtual Big Blue?.... Yes, difficult, and most challenging, but possible.  As many are aware, I have been compiling a “checklist” of stamps that can be put into a BB space. With that, I can compare the checklist to my current collection- which yields a “want list” for the missing stamps that could fill a BB country. The advantage is the stamps tend to be modest in cost, and I will eventually have a “representative” collection for that country.

This is a “virtual” BB, so, besides the stamp spaces found in the ‘69/’97 editions (identical in content- almost), I've added back a number of smaller country stamp spaces – designated with a (     ) around the country- from the earlier 1940s BB editions that was removed by the ’69 editors.

Filled spaces in Big Blue (BB)

If I was putting my stamps directly into BB, a simple glance would let me know my status for a country or page. So keeping track of filled spaces- and a want list- is, admittedly, more difficult with a virtual BB. But the advantages are I can have my cake, and eat it too. ;-) I have a "virtual" Big Blue housed within Steiner pages that includes all the additional stamps not found in BB.

Note: When all the spaces in BB for a country are filled, I note that by underlining the number count.

* Carinthia- 15 Austria stamps- found in the 40s editions under "Carinthia"- were transferred to Austria in the '69 edition.

* China- total count includes the Provinces (Offices abroad) category. Of interest, the "classic" Steiner files do not include the Provinces pages- these need to be taken out of the World Wide Steiner files.

* China-Offices Abroad- the total count is included under China.

* Columbia States-203 spaces in “47BB- includes 38 now de-listed stamps (165 + 38).

* France- 752 + (Morocco- 196- broken out separately)= 948

* Germany- Does not include North German Confederation, or Turn and Taxis

* India- BB has 244 spaces, but also a “Convention State” blank page, where an additional  ~42 Convention States stamps could be put in (mix and match). The page for Convention States was not added to the cited 244 space total.

* Malaya- was listed under Straits Settlements in the 1940s editions.

* Manchukuo- Steiner includes all the 1940s era issues.

* Pakistan- the 1947-49 regular/official “Pakistan” OP on British India (George VI issues) are included in the Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue. There are spaces in Deep Blue (Steiner) for them also. Pakistan, including the 1947-49 OP British India issues, is found in Part II (1840-49+) of the Scott Internationals.

* Prussia- Besides the 6 Prussian spaces, there are 7 spaces for local (Prussia) Official stamps of 1903. These Official stamps are located under the German section.

* Saudi Arabia stamps (Nejd) are listed under Hejaz.

* Schleswig-Holstein- Has never appeared in any BB editions.

* Siberia 6 spaces in 40s BB- actually Czechoslovak legion Post stamps

* United States 723 total in BB rather than 729- the 6 stamps for the Confederate States is listed separately.

* White Russia- no longer in the catalogue,

Comments appreciated!

Philippines

January 9, 2015, 5:19 pm

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1871 Scott 40 10c deep green "Spain"

Quick History
The Philippines are a group of 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, and were initially colonized by the Spanish after their "discovery" by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

As part of the Spanish Empire for 300 years, the inhabitants adopted Roman Catholicism, while Manila, the capital, became part of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Philippines

Stamps were introduced in 1854, and closely follow in design those of Spanish Cuba, except for denomination.

The Spanish-American War of 1898 resulted in Spain ceding the Philippine islands to the United States. The nascent "First Philippine Republic" movement was crushed by the United States, and an Insular Government (territorial government) was instituted in 1901.

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was created in 1935, with full independence achieved in 1946.

Population was 7,600,000 in 1903.

1878 Scott 62 25m black "King Alponso XII"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Philippines 1854-1940, 654 major number descriptions. Of those, 275 are CV <$1-$1+, or 42%. Generally, the Spanish era (1854-1898) is moderately expensive, and quite expensive for the early issues; the U.S era (1899-1935) is moderately expensive to inexpensive; while the Commonwealth era (post 1935) is inexpensive.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
20 Cuartos = 1 Real
100 Centavos de Peso = 1 Peso (1864)
100 Centimos de Escudo = 1 Escudo (1871)
100 Centimos de Peseta = 1 Peseta (1872)
1000 Milesimas de Peso = 100 Centimos or Centavos = 1 Peso (1878)
100 Cents = 1 Dollar (1899)
100 Centavos = 1 Peso (1906)

1863 Scott 14 5c vermilion "Queen Isabella II"

Colon after CORREOS

The early Spanish Dominion stamps had Queen Isabella II as a subject, and resemble the Cuban stamps issued during the same era, except for differences in denomination. Generally the earlier 1854-1862 ( 13 stamps) are moderately expensive to quite expensive, and I have no examples.

But this 1863 specimen can be distinguished from the 1861-62 versions by having a colon, rather than a dot, after "CORREOS".

1864 Scott 22 6 2/8c green "Queen Isabella II"

A four stamp set was issued in 1864 with this design. (Similar stamps are found for Cuba.) CV is $2-$3+.

1874 Scott 48 12c gray lilac "Peace"

A four stamp set was released in 1874 (similar to the Cuban 1871 set) with this design. She must be holding an olive branch, as the design is labeled "Peace" in Scott. Interestingly, the same design for the Cuban stamps is called "Espana" (Spain) in Scott.

1877 Scott 55 10c blue "King Alfonso XII"

Between 1875-77, a seven stamp issue was developed with the "King Alfonso XII" design. His mother, Isabella II, had been forced into exile in 1868 after the "Glorious Revolution". His mother abdicated in his favor, and he returned as king following a coup in 1874. He was only seventeen.

By the way, if you notice stamps of this era punched with a round hole, that was for telegraph use, or for a stamp that was withdrawn from use. I have an example in my collection.

1882 Scott 86 12 4/8c bright rose "King Alfonso XII"

A thirteen stamp issue was produced between 1880-86 of the young king. The 2 4/8c ultramarine stamp comes in original, 1st, and 2nd retouch states. Scott has the details.

1883 Scott 95 8c on 2c carmine

Green Surcharge

Between 1881-88, there were issued some 24 stamps handstamped surcharged in various colors

In addition, 23 Revenue stamps were also handstamped surcharged (not shown).

1886 Scott 136 2 4/8c on 1c bister, Magenta Surcharge

On Telegraph Stamps

Telegraph stamps (five) can also be found surcharged.

1888 Scott 138 1c gray green "King Alfonso XII"

Types of 1880-86 Redrawn

Between 1887-88, a three stamp "redrawn" issue was released. These are actually posthumous, as King Alfonso XII had died of tuberculosis and dysentery in 1885 at the age of 27.

But his second wife was pregnant with a son....

1891 Scott 178 25c dull blue "King Alfonso XIII"

Alfonso XIII was a monarch from birth, and these stamp portraits show him at age four. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, served as regent until his 16th birthday in 1902. During the regent period, Spain lost her larger colonies- Cuba, and the Philippines- because of the Spanish-American War.

The 1890-97 issue consists of 41 stamps. CV ranges from <$1-$2+ for 26 stamps.  The most expensive CV @ $40 is for the 20c salmon.

1894 Scott P7 1/8c orange brown "King Alfonso XIII"

Newspaper Stamp

There were also 16 Newspaper stamps released with the baby Alfonso XIII image from 1890-96.

1907 Scott 185 5c on 5c green, Red Surcharge

In 1897, nine previous issues were handstamped surcharged, as shown. The surcharges can be found in blue, red, black, and violet colors.

1898 Scott 201 5c carmine rose "King Alfonso XIII"

The adolescent Alfonso XIII (twelve years old) visage was issued on 20 stamps in 1898. Similar stamps can be found for the other Spanish colonies. CV is <$1-$1+ for fourteen stamps.

1899 Scott 217 10c brown, type I, "Webster"

Issued under U.S. Administration

Then the Spanish-American War happened, and Spain ceded the Philippines in 1898 to the U.S. for 20 million dollars. Between 1899-1901, a nine stamp issue was released by overprinting U.S. stamps of the era.

1903 Scott 227 2c carmine "Washington"

On 1902-03 U.S. Issues

The overprinting continued until 1906 when Philippine stamps proper were issued for the territory.

The 1903-04 overprinted issue had 15 stamps, and the C.V. reflects U.S. collector interests, with nine stamps @ <$1-$10+.

1899 Scott J3 5c deep claret

Seven U.S. postage due stamps were likewise overprinted between 1899-1901.

Although my focus is WW classical era stamps for this blog, I must admit that my home country produced exquisite stamp designs indeed. ;-)

1898-99 Scott Y2 2c red "Coat of Arms"

Filipino Revolutionary Government

When the U.S. took over in 1898, they had to face the newly created "Filipino Revolutionary Government" created by General Emilio Aguinaldo on June 23, 1899, primarily located on the island of Luzon. The rebellion was quashed, and the General was taken prisoner on March 23, 1901.

Of interest, Aguinaldo was again in the news during the Japanese occupation, as he urged cooperation with them. He was arrested after WW  II, but released under presidential amnesty. He argued he was trying to minimize Filipino deaths.

Five stamps were issued between 1898-99, and the collector may want a souvenir of the uprising. ;-)

Deep Blue

1933-39 Air Post Issues in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 34 pages, and covers all the stamp issues except one. The one exception are the 1898-99 Filipino Revolutionary Government stamps, which are in the classic 1840-1940 Scott catalogue. I added a quadrilled page for those stamps.

1883 Scott 103 1r on 2c carmine, red surcharge

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on seven pages, has 217 spaces. Coverage is 33%.

Observations....
* There are ten stamps with CV $10+: three which are CV $35- $40 (Most Expensive category).

* The 1906-22 spaces are a mess. Often, there are up to five choices, because the Perf variations (Perf 10,11,12) and the watermark variations (Wmk 190,191, unwmked) are telescoped into one space. And there is no room for the 1925-31 Imperf variety.

* The "Commonwealth" overprinted issue is only admitted for the 1936-37 variety, not the 1938-40 variety.

* No Official stamps are included in BB, although 34 stamps are CV <$1-$1+.

Checklist

Issued under Spanish Dominion

1864-74
21,(22),

1875-79
52 or 53,62 or 63,(55),

1880-86
76,77,
78 or 79 or 80, 81,82,85,86,87,88,

1881-88
100 or 101,105 or 106,107,109,111,

1887-89
137, 138a or 138,

1890
144*,149,151,152,160,163,167,

1891
164,173,178,

1892-93
140,145,150,153,
157,161,165,168,169,174,

1894-95
141,146,158,162,170,175,

Next Page

1896
142,147,148,155,156,159,
166,171,176,

1898
192,193,194,195,196,197,198,
199,201,203,204,205,(206),(207),

Issued under American Dominion

1899-1900
213,214,215,216,217 or 217A,218,219,

1901
220,221,222,

1903-04
226,227,228,230,
232,233,235,236,(234),240,

Next Page

1906-22*
2c- 241 or 261 or 276 or 285 or 290
4c- 242 or 262 or 277 or 286 or 291
6c- 243 or 263 or 278 or 287 or 292
8c- 244 or 264 or 279 or 287A or 293
10c- 245 or 265 or 280 or 288 or 294
12c brown lake- 246
12c orange- 255 or 266 or 295
16c violet black- 247
16c olive green- 256 or 267 or 281 or 289 or 298
20c orange brown- 248
20c yellow- 257 or 268 or 282 or 289A or 297
26c violet brown- 249
26c blue green- 258 or 269 or 298
30c olive green- 250
30c ultramarine- 259
30c gray- 283 or 289C
1p (illustrated)- 251
1p pale violet- 260 or 271 or 284 or 289D or 300
2p- 260A or 272 or 301
4p- 253 or 273 or 302

1926
319,320,321,322,

1932
354,355,356,358,
359,360,

Next Page

1934
380,381,382,
383,384,386,387,385,
390,388,389,391,392,

1935-36
397,398,399,
400,401,402,403,404,
408,409,410,

Next Page

1936-37*
411,412,414,415,413,
418,416,417,419,
420,421,(422),
425,426,427,428,429,430,

1939-40
452,453,454,455,456,
457,458,459,460,

Next Page

Special Delivery
1906-19
E2 or E3 or E4 or E5,

Postage Due
1928
J8,J9,J10,J11,J12,J13,J14,

1937
J15,

Newspaper Stamps
1886
P1,

1889
P2,P3,P4,

1890
P5,P9,P13,P17,

1892
P6,P10,P14,

1894
P7,P11,P15,P19,

1896
P8,P12,P16,P20,

Next Page

Air Post
1933
C36,C37,C38,C39,C40,C41,C42,C43,

1933
C46,
C47,C48,C49,
C50,C51,

1935
C52,C53,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1895 Scott 141 1c rose ($10+)
1890 Scott 173 20c salmon ($40)
1894 Scott 175 20c dark violet ($10+)
1895 Scott 195 4m orange brown ($10+)
1899 Scott 219 50c orange ($37+)
1903 Scott 228 3c bright violet ($10+)
1903 Scott 232 8c violet black ($10+)
1903 (Scott 234) 13c purple black ($10+)
1903 Scott 235 15c olive green ($10+)
1903 Scott 236 50c orange ($35)
B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.
C) *144- this is an 1894 2c claret, but there is no 1890 2c issued- so put the Scott 144 here.
D) *1906-22 -I ignored BB's color specifications in some cases, and admitted all: variables include Perf 10,11,12, & Wmk 191,192,unwmked issues.
E) *1936-37- Only the 1936-37 overprints are admitted based on BB's specifications.  The 1938-40 overprints are not admitted.

1901 Scott 222 8c violet brown "Sherman"

Overprint in Black on 1895 U.S. Scott 272

Out of the Blue
Unfortunately, I was not able to review the later Philippines stamp issues, as that would have required several blog posts. But take a look for yourself- what an interesting country!

Note: Map appears to be in the public domain.

Have a comment?

Poland

January 15, 2015, 8:01 am

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1919 Scott 71 1k olive gray & carmine "Polish Eagle"

Quick History
No country has been ripped apart, and put back together as many times as Poland.

The development of the Polish state, and the conversion to Christianity occurred in 966.

The Kingdom of Poland was founded in 1025.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was formed in 1569.

The Commonwealth was partitioned by Prussia, Russia, and Austria-Hungary in 1792-95

Then the Commonwealth was dismembered by Prussia, Russia, and Austria-Hungary between 1792-95, each taking a piece.

Poland, except for a brief Napoleonic renaissance, ceased to exist for 123 years.

Poland 1922-1938

After WW I, Poland was reconstituted as the Second Polish Republic.

Independence was achieved on November 9, 1918.

The stamps reflected this euphoria, with themes such as "Sower and Rainbow of Hope", and "Sun breaking out of Darkness". 

The Capital was Warsaw, and the population was 34,700,000 in 1939.

Germany and the Soviet Union divided and annexed all of Poland 1939-41

But with a secret agreement in hand, Nazi Germany invaded and occupied the western portion of Poland on September 1, 1939, while the Soviet Union occupied the rest.

Poland lost 20% of it's population, with 3 million Jews and 3 million Poles killed or murdered.

Poland 1945

Red- annexed from Germany; Gray-Blue-annexed by Soviet Union

Poland was reconstituted after WW II with the western section (red) added from Germany, but the eastern section (gray-blue) was removed by the Soviet Union.

Poland then fell under the sphere of the Soviet bloc, as the Yalta Conference permitted the formation of a pro-communist Polish government.

Yet the Solidarity party won the elections in 1989, which initiated the democracy movement in eastern Europe.

Incredible history. Let's look at the stamps.

1919 Scott 132 5k slate blue "Polish Cavalryman"

For Southern Poland

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Poland (besides one stamp for 1860) 1915-1941, 683 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 476 are CV <$1-$1+, or 70%- a remarkably high number. Clearly, for the WW classical collector, Poland is a bargain.

Because there will be only one blog post for Poland, I have elected to concentrate on the earlier issues.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Kopecks = 1 Ruble
100 Fenigi = 1 Marka (1918)
100 Halerzy = 1 Korona (1918)
100 Groszy = 1 Zloty (1924)

1918 Scott 13 25f on 10gr rose & buff "Polish Eagle"

Just eight days after Independence, on November 17, 1918, these surcharged Warsaw Local Post stamps were released. There are four stamps in the issue, and CV is <$1-$4+.

"Counterfeits exist"

In fact, other surcharged/overprinted stamps from Lublin (1918 Austrian Military Semi-Postal stamps), and Cracow (1916-18 Austrian stamps) have been "extensively counterfeited". Caveat Emptor.

1918-19 Scott 25 40pf lake & black

On 1916-17 German Occupation Stamp N15

An eleven stamp set was produced on December 5, 1918 (first printing) and January 15,1919 (second printing) by overprinting/ surcharging German occupation stamps. The two printings can be distinguished by the middle two bars being 3 1/2 mm and 4 mm apart respectively.

Although the CV for eight stamps is <$1, "counterfeits exist".

1919 Scott 65 10h lake "Polish Eagle"

On February 25, 1919, an imperforate eleven stamp set featuring the Polish Eagle was lithographed in Cracow.

CV is very inexpensive (<$1), except for the 6h orange (>$20).

Crudely printed forgeries exist, but some of the genuines were also badly printed. But the issue has some vertical and horizontal rows of dots outside the margins, probably serving as a cutting guide for these imperforate stamps. Fortunately, according to Varro Tyler (Focus on Forgeries-2000), the dots are about 0.2 mm in diameter in the genuines, while 0.5 mm in diameter in the forgeries.

1919 Scott 78 10pf on 7 1/2pf, Green Surcharge

On September 15, 1919, two German stamps were surcharged in red or green, and used as a provisional issue for use in Gniezno. "Counterfeit Surcharges Abound". If real, this stamp has a CV way north of $100.

The stamp is signed on the back (in pencil) as authentic by a known expert of these stamps. This is fairly commonly seen for stamps from Europe that have passed through an "expert's hands" in past times. Unfortunately, "expert" marks or signatures are forged too. Therefore, I would need to send this specimen for a certificate these days.

1919 Scott 81 3f bister brown "Polish Eagle"

For Northern Poland

An imperforate and perforate issue ( each given a major number) for Northern Poland and Southern Poland was released January 27, 1919. The Northern Poland issue is characterized by "F" and "M" denominations (Fenigi, Marka). The imperforate issue for Northern Poland (shown here) had 12 stamps.

1919-20 Scott 105 1.50m deep green "Peace"

For Northern Poland

The perforate issue for Northern Poland (example shown here) had 15 stamps.

I believe this is the "peace" stamp, rather than the "agriculture" stamp, as labeled in my Scott catalogue.

1919 Scott 114 24h light blue "Eagle and Fasces"

For Southern Poland

The Southern Poland issue (Denominations-  Halerzy, Korona) was likewise issued imperforate and perforate. The Imperforate issue has 12 stamps.

1919 Scott 131 2.50k dark violet ""Agriculture"

For Southern Poland

The perforate issue for Southern Poland also had 12 stamps.

I think this is the "agriculture" rather than the "peace" design, as Scott has in the catalogue.

1919 Scott 134 15f brown red "Paderewski"

For the First National Assembly of Poland, a seven stamp issue was released between 1919-20.

Ignacy Jan Paderewski was a Polish concert pianist, patriot, and advocate for Polish independence.

I can't help but think how times have changed. Can you imagine a classical music concert pianist having a large voice in the independence movement today, to say nothing about being a sex symbol?

1960 United States "Champions of Liberty" stamp

Paderewski also appeared on a U.S. stamp in 1960 at the height of the cold war.

1919 Scott 147 10m brown red "Polish Cavalryman"

General Issue

Finally, a general issue for all of Poland was released - nine stamps- in 1919.

Torun is a city in northern Poland on the Visula River.

1920 Scott 149 1m red "Polish Eagle"

Type of 1919 Redrawn

A redrawn design from the 1919 issue- six stamps- was released between 1920-22. The "Poczta" script is smaller, while the denomination letters are larger.

1921 Scott 155 15m light brown 

"Sower and Rainbow of Hope"

A three stamp set with the above allegorical design was issued in 1921. This was for the occasion of signing a peace treaty with Russia. Poignant, knowing what would lay ahead in 18 years.

1921 Scott 157 3m blue 

"Sun (Peace) Breaking into Darkness (Despair)

A seven stamp issue was released in 1921 to commemorate the Constitution. A lovely three design allegorical set, reflecting the hopes of the Polish people. It is hard to view this stamp set without thinking of the dark future for millions of Poles and Polish Jews that would occur during WW II.

Deep Blue

1919-20 National Assembly Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 57 pages for Poland, and covers the German occupation through 1941, as does the 1840-1940 Scott classic catalogue.  At least my pages do. It is possible- (I don't remember)- that I may have used some pages from Steiner's "world" pages, rather than just the "classic" page bundle.

1921 Scott 153 3m on 40f bright violet

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on 13 pages, has 355 spaces.  Coverage is 52%.

I should mention that the 1919 Posen issue, (Scott 72-76-five spaces), and are overprinted German stamps, are given spaces in the Germany section of Big Blue, but are found in the Scott catalogue under "Poland".

There are eight stamps on the "Most Expensive" list:
Offices in the Turkish Empire 1919 Scott 2K1....(2K7) - seven stamps, each ( $70) !
1921 Scott B14 20m + 30m gray green ($37+)

There are three additional stamps @ $10+. See the "comments" section after the checklist for details.

Germany bookends Poland in Big Blue, with 1916-17 occupation stamps, and then 1939 occupation stamps. So was the fate of Poland mirrored in these issues.

Checklist

1918
11,12,13,14,
18,19,20,21,24,25,26,
16,23,

1919*
61,62,63,64,65,66,
67,68,69,70,71,
81 or 93*,82 or 94,83 or 95,84 or 97,85 or 99,86 or 100,87 or 102,

Next Page

1919*
88 or 103,89 or 105,90 or 106,91 or 107,92 or 108,
109 or 121,110 or 122,111 or 123,112 or 124,113 or 125,114 or 126,115 or 127,
116 or 128,117 or 129,118 or 130,119 or 131,120 or 132,

1919
134,133,135,137,

1919
138,139,

1920
96,98,101,

1920
142,144,146,147,148,

1920-22
149,150,151,152,152A,152C,

Next Page

1921
153,

1920-22
154,155,155A,
156,157,158,159,160,161,162,

1921-28
163,164,165,166,167,
168,169,169A,169B,

1922-23
176,177,178,179,180,
181,182,183,184,185,
187,188,189,190,

Next Page

1923
192,193,194,195,198,

1923
196,197,199,200,

1924
205,206,

1924
207,208,209,210,211,
215,216,217,218,219,220,
221,222,223,224,225,

1925-26
227,230,231,232,235,237,

Next Page

1927
242,243,245,246,247,248,

1927
249,

1928
253,255,256,257,

1928-29
258,259,260,261,262,

1930
263,264,265,266,

1932
267,

1932
268,271,272,273,274,

1933
275,

Next Page

1933-34
277,282,283,279,

1935
287,288,289,290,291,

1935-36
294,295,296,297,298,
299,300,301,302,303,

1937-38
312,313,317,318,319,
308,309,310,311,

Next Page

1938
320,321,322*,
323,324,325,326,327,
328,329,330,331,

1938
334,

1939
335,336,337,338,

1939
340,

Next Page

Official Stamps
1920
O1,O2,O3,O4,O5,
O6,O7,O8,O9,O10,

1933
O17,O18,

1935
O19,O20,

Offices in the Turkish Empire*
1919
2K1,2K2,2K3,2K4,(2K5),(2K6),(2K7),

Offices in Danzig
1K33,1K34,1K35,1K36,

Next Page

Semi-Postal
1919*
B1 or B6,B2 or B7,B3 or B8,B4 or B9,B5 or B10,

1921
B11,B12,B13,B14,

1924
B15,B16,B17,B18,B19,

1927
B26,B27,

1939
B32,B33,B34,

Next Page

Postage Due
1919-21
J13,J14,J15,J16,J17,J18,J19,
J20,J21,J22,J23,J24,J25,J26 or J31,
J27,J28,J35,J36,(J37),J29 or J32,J30 or J34,

1921-22
J40,J41,J42,J43,J44,J45,J46,J47,

1923
J48,J49,J50,

1923
J51,J52,J53,

1923
J54,J55,J56,J57,J58,J59,

Next Page

(Postage Due)
1923
J60,J61,

1924
J68,J69,J70,J71,

1924
J72,J73,J74,J75,J76,

1930
J83,

1939
J95,J96,J97,J98,J99,J100,J101,

Air Post
1925
C1,C2,C3,C4,
C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,

1933
C10,

1934
C11,C12,

Next Page

Occupation Stamps (German)
1915
N1,N2,N3,N4,N5,

1916-17
N7,N8,N10,N13,N14,N15,N16,
N6,N9,N11,N12,

1939
N17,N18,N19,N20,N21,N21,N22,
N23,N24,N25,N26,N27,N28,N29,

Next Page

Official Stamps
Issued during German occupation
1940
NO1,NO2,NO3,NO4,
NO5,NO6,NO7,NO8,
NO9,NO10,NO11,NO12,

1940
NO16,NO17,NO18,NO19,NO20,
NO21,NO22,NO23,NO24,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
Offices in the Turkish Empire
1919 Scott 2K1....(2K7) - seven stamps, each ( $70) !
1921 Scott B13 ($10+)
1921 Scott B14 20m + 30m gray green ($37+)
1927 Scott B26 ($10)
1927 Scott B27 ($10)
B) *1919- these 1919 choices are Imperf or Perf
C) *332 is put here, not 339, which is re-drawn
D) *1919-Offices Turkish Emp -2K1 etc (7 stamps)- each CV $70!
E) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.
F) *1919 Semi-Postal- Perf or Imperf

1921 Scott 159 6m carmine rose 

"Peace" and Agriculture

Out of the Blue
I am drawn to Polish stamps of this era, as they exist, while the murderous intent of Poland's powerful neighbors was gathering. Brave and hopeful in theme, these stamps are tangible pieces of light amid the coming darkness.

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain, and the U.S. Paderewski stamp image is from Wikipedia.

Have a comment?

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Ponta Delgada

January 21, 2015, 11:03 am

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1892-93 Scott 2 10r reddish violet "King Carlos"

Perf 12 1/2

Quick History
Ponta Delgada  was a Portuguese administrative district of the Azores, and consisted of the islands of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria.

The Azores- Ponta Delgada Administrative District consisted of

Sao Miguel & Santa Maria islands

Ponta Delgada- the village- was the center of the district, and became a municipality in 1546.

The Island of Sao Miguel with the City of Ponta Delgada

Ponta Delgada became an economic center with the export of citrus products to Great Britain.

Population was 52,000 in 1900.

Ponta Delgada had their own Portuguese colony stamps from 1892-1905. Stamps of the Azores were then used from 1905, and then the stamps of Portugal beginning in 1931.

1897 Scott 14 5r orange "King Carlos"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Ponta Delgada 1892-1905, 34 major stamps descriptions. Of those, 24 are CV <$1-$1+, or 71%.

The Scott Classic 1840-1940 also lists 1853-1867 stamps of Portugal used in Ponta Delgada (Barred Numeral "50"). These 25 varieties are all expensive to quite expensive, and since they are really specialist's territory, I will say no more about them.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis

1892-93 Scott 5 25r green "King Carlos"

Perf 11 1/2

The stamps of Ponta Delgada are quite typical for a Portuguese colony, except the administrative district did not issue stamps for very long- only 13 years.

The first issue was released between 1892-93, and had the image of King Carlos as shown here. The Scott catalogue breaks the issue down to 12 major numbers and 16 bolded minor numbers. They differ by perforation, and paper (enamel surfaced, chalky). Most, but not all, of the Perf 12 1/2 stamps are given major numbers. The CV for both the major and minor varieties range from <$1-$5+ for 22 stamps.

1897 Scott 15 10r light green "King Carlos"

A 22 stamp set of the 1897-1905 design "King Carlos" was the second (and last) issue to be released for Ponta Delgada. Three of the values (5r orange, 10r light green, 65r slate blue) can also be found as bolded minor numbers with yellowish paper.

1898 Scott 31 180r slate/pinkish

The issue does have a number of stamps printed on tinted paper. Note the "pinkish" tint to the paper here.

CV for the issue is <$1-$2+ for seventeen stamps.

Deep Blue

1897-1905 Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for the stamps of Ponta Delgada, and all major numbers are given a space.  There are 17 stamps, however, in Scott with bolded minor numbers (Perf variations, chalky or yellow paper varieties) with no designated spaces. One will need to put those on quadrilled pages.

1898 Scott 23 65r slate blue

Note "PontaDel" script on postmark

Big Blue

The '69 Big Blue has Ponta Delgada wildly out of place alphabet wise, as the 1/2 page (shared with the "Roman States" and "Rouad") is between Romania and Ruanda-Urundi. There are 16 spaces- 47% coverage.

Considering that BB is a "representative" album, the coverage is O.K.

There are no stamps with CV of $10+.

Checklist

1892-94

1,2,5,(3),

1897

13,14,15,16,18,19,21,

1898-99

17,20,23,28,29,31,

End

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None

B) (   ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1897 Scott 27 100r dark blue/blue

Out of the Blue

Another small region of the world where I had no idea that stamps, at one time, were printed for use.  ;-)

Note: Maps and Ponta Delgada pic appear to be in the public domain.

Have a comment?

Port of Ponta Delgada- Circa 1900

Portugal

January 27, 2015, 8:07 am

≫ Next: Portuguese Africa

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1884 Scott 51 1000r black "King Luiz"

Quick History
On the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal, for classical era stamp collectors, is best known for the exotic and obscure colonies scattered across the globe. The problem, though, was the slow decline in Portuguese power that lasted from the invasion of Napoleon up to the 20th century. The largest blow was the independence of Brazil in 1822.

Portugal

But Portugal still had their Africa territories, and the borders were established by the 1884 Conference of Berlin during the "Scramble for Africa".

"Pink Map", showing the land claims of Portugal

In 1884, at the Berlin Conference, Portugal laid claim to the entire strip between Mozambique and Angola. But these claims were not recognized by Great Britain.

Africa 1913

Portuguese colonies- Purple: British colonies- Pink

By 1890, the  "British Ultimatum" forced the retreat of the Portuguese military from these lands, again exposing Portuguese weakness.

Government bankruptcy was declared in 1892, and again in 1902.

King Carlos was assassinated in 1908 in Lisbon, and the monarchy (Manuel II) was overthrown in the 1910 revolution, establishing a Republic. Familiar to collectors, the stamps of this era are overprinted "Republica".

The shaky Portuguese First Republic lasted until 1926, when a military coup replaced it with the Ditadura Nacional (National Dictatorship).

A right wing dictatorship under Antonio de Oliveira Salazar was established in 1932, and his "Estado Novo" government was in power until 1974.

Portugal remained neutral in WW II.

The capital is Lisbon, and the population was 7,760,000 in 1941.

1858 Scott 11 25r rose "King Pedro V"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Portugal 1853-1941, 1031 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 479 are CV <$1-$1+, or 46%. The first 96 catalogue numbers (1853-1893) are considerably more expensive. Obviously, Portugal is a European country, and therefore commands more expense for the WW classical collector. And, as one of the imperialistic colonial powers, Portugal has a high profile in the WW classical stamp collecting world.

Some of the highlights for Portuguese collectors include the famous (infamous?) 1912-31 "Ceres" issue (91 stamps), the 1926- 1928 bi-color engraved independence issues, and the interesting unusual category "Franchise" issues ( 106 stamps). Alas, I will say nothing about these, as I have elected to concentrate on the 19th century stamp issues for this blog post.

In general, Portuguese designs are familiar to WW classical collectors, because of their use in the many Portuguese colonies. Some would argue that their stamp issues do not measure up to the designs and production methods of the other colonial powers: - perhaps because Portugal was a poorer country.

Let's take a closer look at the "Mother" country 19th century stamps for ourselves.....

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis
10 Reis = 1 Centimo
100 Centavos = 1 Escudo (1912)

1853 Scott 2 25r blue "Queen Maria II"

Imperforate; Typographed & Embossed

The first stamp issue for Portugal was released in 1853, and shows the monarch Queen Maria II, who had reigned from 1826-28, and then from 1834. The four stamp imperforate issue also had four different frame designs. The stamps were typographed and embossed. ( In fact, all of the earlier issues were typographed and embossed.)

And Queen Maria II also died in 1853 (November 15), giving birth to her eleventh child.

During her reign, Cholera was reduced through public health measures, and she was interested in raising education levels for the country. She is known affectionately as "The Good Mother".

The CV for the issue is quite expensive, save for the 25r blue ($20+).

Now the bad news for collectors.

All the early issues were reprinted several times using various papers.

The 1853 issue was reprinted in 1864,1885, 1905, and 1953!

Most other early issues were reprinted in 1885 and 1905.

For the WW classical collector, it is a mess to figure out, and I refer you to the notes in the Scott catalogue, or consult more specialized catalogues. The good news is, not rarely, reprints are worth more than the original!  ;-)

Note the brown gum stains on the 1853 25r blue illustrated above? That makes it more likely that this is an original.

1856 Scott 10 25r blue, Type II, with Curled Hair

"King Pedro V"

A four stamp issue for the heir of Queen Maria II was produced in 1855. This is known as the "Straight Hair" issue. King Pedro V, the eldest son of Queen Maria II, was 16 years old on his ascension.

Between 1856-58, a three stamp "Curled Hair" issue, using the same general design as the 1855 stamps, was released: - this is shown above. Note the tear in the stamp along the embossed edge? This clearly can be a hazard for embossed specimens. Also, note the quite white paper? ... And the stamp has no gum. This might be an 1885 reprint.

The CV for two original stamps in the issue is $6+-$10+. Of interest, the reprints are valued @ $40.

Alas, King Pedro V , a monarch who sought modernization of the infrastructure and was well liked, died of Typhoid Fever or Cholera in 1861.

1862 Scott 12 & 12a 5r brown "King Luiz"

Type I & Type II

A five stamp issue was released between 1862-64 for the new monarch, King Luiz, the second son of Queen Maria II. He reigned from 1861- 1889. CV ranges from $4+-$90.

The 5r brown has two types. In Type I, 5mm separates the "5" and "Reis", while only 3 mm for Type II.

1866 Scott 22 80r orange "King Luiz"

Imperforate

An eight stamp imperforate set was released 1866-67 with the "King Luiz" visage. CV ranges from $8-$140.

King Luiz was a cultured man (He wrote poetry), but he was not talented in the political sphere. Portugal began lagging behind the other western European nations.

1869 Scott 27 20r bister "King Luiz"

Perforated

A perforated nine stamp set was produced between 1867-70.

1879 Scott 43 50r blue "King Luiz"
Perf 12 1/2; plain paper

A new eighteen stamp set which is moderately different in design from the preceding perforated issue (compare!) was issued 1870-84. Scott's major numbers are Perf 12 1/2, but there are 52 minor numbers found with different perfs and/or paper.

This was the last Portuguese set with typography/embossed characteristics.

1880 Scott 53 25r bluish gray "King Luiz"

A five stamp "King Luiz" set was produced in 1880-81.

The new portrait shows he is rather corpulent.

Although he wasn't much for politics, his real passion was oceanography. One of the first Aquariums opened in Lisbon, under his patronage.

1884 Scott 59 10r green "King Luiz"

Perf 11 1/2

The 1882-87 issue had one numeral design and six more stamps with a new visage of King Luiz. The stamps can be found with three different perforations and plain or enamel surfaced paper.

1882-87 Issue

Various Perforations with minor catalogue numbers

I have a quadrilled page in the Deep Blue (Steiner) album for this issue with the various perforations and plain / enamel paper.

1887 Scott 66 25r lilac rose "King Luiz"

In 1887, three more stamps of King Luiz were issued with different frame designs.

1892 Scott 74 80r yellow green "King Carlos"

Perf 12 1/2

With the death of King Luiz, his son, King Carlos ,assumed the throne in 1889. A twelve stamp set was released for King Carlos in 1892-93. Like the preceding issue, there are many perforation and enamel/ chalky paper variations. A quadrilled page will probably be needed for these.

1892 Scott 79 5r gray black, Overprinted

1892 was not a good year for Portugal. The "Pink Map", with Portugal claiming sovereignty for the lands in Africa between Mozambique and Angola, was no more, and that was not a popular outcome in Portugal. And the government was forced to go into bankruptcy. Perhaps that explains the "Provisorio" overprinted stamps of 1892-93?

At any rate, two stamps with a horizontal black overprint were released in 1892. 

1892 Scott 81 5r gray black, Red Overprint

Five more stamps were overprinted in red between 1892-93.

1893 Scott 89 10r green, Red Overprint

And nine stamps are found with an additional "1893" red overprint released in 1893.

1894 Scott 102 50r blue 

"Prince Henry Directing Fleet Maneuvers"

As the U.S. had a 1893 commemorative Columbian Exposition issue, so Portugal released a thirteen stamp set with three scenes commemorating the 5th centenary of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1894. CV ranges from <$1-$100+.

I note my used copies have an apparent commemorative cancellation also, although Scott says nothing about this.

1896 Scott 131 500r black/blue "King Carlos"

If one collects Portuguese colonies, then this next series should be quite familiar, although the details differ a bit.

Between 1895-1905, a 22 stamp set with this "King Carlos" visage was produced for the mother country. CV ranges from <$1-$20+.

On February 1, 1908, the royal family was in an open carriage in Lisbon when King Carlos was assassinated by two republican activists in the crowd with a rifle. The heir apparent, Luis Filipe, was also killed.

The younger son, 18 year old Prince Manuel, then became Manuel II. However, the October 5, 1910 Republican Revolution dissolved the monarchy, and he spent the rest of his years in exile.

1895 Scott 135 15r chocolate 

"St. Anthony Preaching to Fishes"

For the 7th centenary of the birth of St. Anthony of Padua, a fifteen stamp lithographic issue (except for the 2 1/2r typographic black) with four scenes was issued in 1895. Ten of the stamps are bi-colored. But the lithographic printing is not as striking, in my opinion, as an engraved printing would have been. Six stamps have CV $1-$8+, but the others are CV $20+-$375.

St. Anthony stamps have a eulogy in Latin printed on the back

My high school Latin is a bit rusty, but perhaps a reader has the skills to translate. ;-)

1898 Scott 150 25r yellow green "Muse of History"

Vasco da Gama Issue

Portugal is famous (infamous?) for the "Common Design Types" issues for itself and their colonies. The 1898 "Vasco da Gama" eight stamp issue can be found for Portugal and eight colonies.

Deep Blue

1924 Issue in Deep Blue

400th Anniversary of Birth of Luis de Camoens

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 58 pages for the stamps of Portugal. All categories, including Franchise stamps, are included.

The 1882-87 "King Luiz" and the 1892-93  "King Carlos" issues only have spaces for the major numbers. The many minor number stamps with different perforations and paper (Plain, Enamel Surfaced, Chalky) for these issues have no space. One will need some extra quadrilled pages.

OTOH, the 1912-31 "Ceres" issue with Chalky/ Unsurfaced/ Glazed paper and Perf 15 X 14/ 12 X 11.5 variables are parsed into five categories- each having their own spaces. This offers a level of detail for the collector that is not available from the 2011 Scott catalogue, where everything is lumped together.

The 91 major numbers in the 2011 Scott are given 127 spaces, using the additional variable criteria. Thanks Steiner!

Scott must have recognized the inadequacy of their listings, because mirabile dictu, the "Ceres" issues were significantly revised in my 2014 catalogue with 40 new numbers. They now follow the parsing, with a few exceptions, as laid out in the Steiner.

1862 Scott 14 25r rose "King Luiz"

Big Blue

Big Blue '69, on 15 pages, has 465 spaces. Coverage is 45%.

Observations....
* Twenty-three stamps are over CV $10+, with three reaching the $35 "Most Expensive" grouping with CV $40-$52+. (See the "comments" section for details.)

* Of the 1912-31 "Ceres" issue, 55 are given spaces, while 36 are not. Of those not given spaces, 23 are CV <$1-$1+.

* BB presents the "Ceres" output in parts based on year(s) of issue: the 1912 stamps, the 1917-21 stamps,  the 1924 stamps, and the 1926 stamps. The 1930-31 year "Ceres" issues (12 stamps) are not provided any spaces at all. Although there is nothing wrong with presenting stamps by year of issue, the modern Scott catalogue has reduced the importance of that variable, and orders the entire 1912-31 issue by denomination. If BB is ever edited again, the stamp presentation spaces should be reshuffled to follow the modern Scott catalogue.

* New! The 2014 classic catalogue has revised numbers for the "Ceres" issue, and 40 new varieties are now given spaces based on different perf or paper. The checklist has the "old" numbers based on the 2011 catalogue. But after the checklist, I present a translation from old number (2011) to new number(s) (2014).

* The 1928-29 surcharged issue and the 1929 overprinted "Revalidado" issue, both on Ceres stamps, is not in BB. There are 33 stamps in these issues with CV <$1-$1+. Pity.

Checklist

1853

2,

1855 (straight hair)

6,

1856-57 (curled hair)

10,11,

1862-64

12a or 12, 14,

1866-70*

17 or 25, 20 or 28,

1870-84

34,37,38,39,41,42,

44,45,48,(35),

1880-81

52,53,54 or 55, 56,

1887

64,65 or 66,

1882-84

57,58,59,60,61,

Next Page

1892-93

79,80,81,82,83,86,84,

67,68,69,70,71,72,75,

1894

97,98,99,100,101,

1895-96

110,111,112,113,115,116,118,

121,123,124,129,130,131,

1895

132,133,137,(134),

1898

150,147,148,149,151,

Next Page

1898-99

114,117,120,126,

1905

119,122,

1910

156,157,158,159,160,161,162,

170,171,172,173,174,175,176,

1910

177,178,

1911

185*,186,191,

187,188,

1911

193,194,195,

1912

207,208,209,211,213,217,223,

Next Page

1912

230,232,235,242,245,(254),(264),

1917-21

210,212,214,218,219,220,221,

224,227,231,238,239,240,241,

247,250,256,259,265,268,272,

1922-23

225,233,243,248,251,270,279,

1923

299,300,301,302,303,

304,305,306,307,308,

Next Page

1923
309,310,311,312,313,
314,

1924
215,228,234,244,249,257,

1924
258,261,263,269,273,280,288,289,
315,316,317,
318,319,
320,321,322,323,324,

Next Page

1924
325,326,327,328,329,
330,331,332,333,334,
335,336,337,338,
339,340,341,(342),

1925
346,347,348,349,
350,351,352,354,

Next Page

1925
355,353,356,359,357,
358,361,362,360,
363,364,365,366,367,
369,368,370,371,372,

1926
377,378,379,380,381,

Next Page

1926
382,383,384,385,386,
387,388,389,390,391,392,
398,399,400,402,403,404,405,
406,407,408,409,410,411,412,413,
414,415,416,417,418,419,420,421,

1927
422,423,426,427,424,

Next Page

1927
425,428,430,429,431,
432,434,433,435,436,
437,439,440,443,438,
441,442,444,445,448,449,
46,451,447,452,450,

Next Page

1931-33
497,498,499,500,501,502,503,
505,506,507,508,509,510,511,
512,513,514,515,516,517,518,519,

1931
528,529,530,531,532,533,
534,535,536,537,538,539,

1933
544,
543,545,546,547,548,

Next Page

1933
549,550,551,552,553,554,

1934
556,

1934
558,559,560,

1935-36
561,562,563,
564,565,566,567,568,568A,

1935
570,572,573,571,

1938
575,576,577,578,

1940
579,580,

Next Page

1940
581,582,583,584,585,586,
587,588,589,592,
590,591,593,594,
595,596,597,598,599,
600,601,602,

Next Page

Postal Tax Stamps
1911-12
RA1,RA2,

1915-26
RA3,RA4,RA5,

1928
RA14,

1925
RA7,RA8,RA9,RA10,

1913
RA3*,

1925
RA11,RA12,RA13,

Postage Due
1898
J1,J2,

1904
J7,J8,(J10),

1911-23
J14,J15,J16,(J17),J21,J22,J23,
J24,J25,(J26),(J27),(J30*),(J31),(J32),

Next Page

Postage Due
1932
J45,J46,J47,J48,J49,J50,
J51,J52,J53,

1940
J54,J55,J56,J57,J58,J59,
J60,J61,J62,J63,J64,

Air Post
C1,C2,(C3),(C6),

Parcel Post
1920
Q1,Q2,Q3,Q4,

Next Page

Parcel Post
1936-37
Q23,(Q18),(Q19),(Q20),

Franchise Stamps
1926
1S4,(1S5),

1903-34
3S15,(3S17),(3S18),(3S19),

Postal Tax Due Stamps
1925
RAJ1,RAJ2,RAJ3,RAJ4,

1928
RAJ5,

End

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):

1853 Scott 2 25r blue ($10+)

1855 Scott 6 25r blue ($20+)

1856 Scott 10 25r blue ($10+)

1862 Scott 12 5r brown, Type I ($10+)

1866 Scott 17 5r black ($10)

1871 (Scott 35) 10r yellow ($20+)

1880 Scott 37 10r yellow green ($20+)

1875 Scott 38 15r lilac brown ($20+)

1870 Scott 39 20r bister ($20+)

1870 Scott 42 50r pale green ($40)

1870 Scott 44 80r orange ($30)

1871 Scott 45 100r pale lilac ($20+)

1880 Scott 48 150r yellow ($10+)

1880 Scott 53 25r bluish gray ($20+)

1881 Scott 56 50r blue ($10+)

1892 Scott 83 20r rose ($20+)

1893 Scott 86 15r bister btrown ($10+)
1925 Scott 368 1.50e dark blue/blue ($10+)
1925 Scott 371 2.40e red/orange (($30+)
1925 Scott 372 3e lake/blue ($40)
1931 Scott 537 75c carmine rose ($20+)
1931 Scott 538 1.25e dark blue & pale blue ($20)
1931 Scott 539 4.50e chocolate & light green ($52.50)

B) *12a or 12- image cut is 12a, but major numbers are permitted in a space where minor numbers are specified according to our "rules".

C) *1866-70- perf or imperf allowed

D) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice

E) *185- BB shows a diagonal "Republica", but the OP is horizontal on the stamp.
F) *RA3- is dark green. The brown is a telegraph stamp.
G) *J30- the choices (J30),(J31),(J32), are the 1921-23 gray green issue.

Following is a translation from "old" (2011) number to "new" (2014) number(s) for the "Ceres" issue. The old number is presented first, then after the "=" sign, the new number(s) is/are presented.

1912

207, = 207 or 227 or 255
208, = 208 or 228 or 256
209, = 209 or 229 or 257
211, = 210 or 231
213, = 211 or 233
217, = 212 or 235
223, = 213 or 240A

Next Page

1912

230, = 214 or 243
232, = 215 or 244
235, = 216 or 245 or 275
242, = 217 or 247
245,* = (Substitute old 246 if necessary = 219 )
(254), = 220
(264), = 222
Comment
* 245 is 20c violet brown on green in the 2011 catalogue, as well as BB. But the 2014 catalogue has no such color. Suggest substituting the 20c brown/buff.

1917-21

210, = 230 or 257
212 = 232 or 258
214, = 234 or 259
218, = 236 or 263
219 = 237 or 264
220, = 238
221, = 239 or 265

224, = 240 or 267
227, = 241 or 269
231, = 242 or 271
238, = 276
239, = 277
240, = 224
241, = 278

247, = 281
250, = 284
256, = 287
259, = 290
265, = 295
268, = 296
272, = 298A

1922-23

225, = 268
233, = 273
243, = 279
248, = 282
251, = 285
270, = 298
279, = 298I

1924
215, = 260
228, = 270
234, = 274
244, = 280
249, = 283
257, = 288

1924
258, = 289
261, = 292
263, = 294
269, = 297
273, = 298B
280, = 298J
288, = 298M
289, = 298N

1893 Scott 77 200r dark blue/blue "King Carlos"

Out of the Blue

I don't know how I managed to publish a blog post about Portuguese issues without showing one "Ceres" stamp.

;-)

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

Comments are appreciated!

Portuguese Africa

February 2, 2015, 1:14 pm

≫ Next: Portuguese Congo

≪ Previous: Portugal

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1898 Scott 1 2 1/2r blue green "Fleet Departing"

Vasco da Gama Fourth Centenary

Quick History
Spain and Portugal, after the discovery by Spain of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492, agreed to divide the world outside Europe between themselves by the Treaty of Tordesilhas in 1494.

One part of the world to Portugal, one part to Spain

Treaty of Tordesilhas 1494

Dom Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, was the first European to reach India by sea in 1498.

First voyage (1498) by Vasco da Gama around Africa

Vasco da Gama left Lisbon on July 8, 1497 with a four ship fleet and 170 men. He returned with two ships and 55 men. !!!  (Many died from scurvy.) The main ships were the Sao Gabriel (San Gabriel), the flagship, and commanded by Vasco da Gama; the Sao Rafael (San Rafael), commanded by Paulo da Gama, Vasco's brother; and the Berrio (also known as Sao Miguel (San Miguel).

The ships rounded the Cape of Good Hope, spent March 2-29, 1498 near Mozambique island, and sailed north along the coast to Malindi in East Africa.

So began the Portuguese presence in Africa.

Eventually the Portuguese African colonies included....

Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique)

Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique)- and associated territories

* Inhambane

* Kionga

* Lourenco Marques

* Mozambique

* Mozambique Company

* Nyassa Company

* Quelimane

* Tete

* Zambezia

Portuguese West Africa (Angola)

Portuguese West Africa (Angola)- and associated territories

* Angola

* Portuguese Congo

Guinea (Portuguese Guinea)

* Guinea (Portuguese Guinea)

"Pink Map", showing Portuguese territorial ambitions

Portugal was anxious to acquire the territories between Mozambique and Angola.

The "Pink Map" (Mapa cor-de-rosa) was prepared in 1885 to show Portugal's claim of sovereignty over the territories between Angola and Mozambique.

Mouzinho de Albuquerque makes Gungunhana captive

Chamiti, Gaza, Mozambique December 28, 1895

Portugal tried to assert their authority over the natives in the Mozambique interior (see pic above), as well as the land bridge between Angola and Mozambique.

But Great Britain, a much more powerful competitor, was having none of that.

The 1890 British Ultimatum required a humiliating retreat from the land bridge by the Portuguese military, greatly damaging the prestige of King Carlos, and ultimately encouraging the Republican revolution of 1910.

So what does this quick history lesson have to do with the stamps of "Portuguese Africa"? Only that the stamps of "Portuguese Africa" could be used in any of the Portuguese possessions in Africa. 

"Portuguese Africa", as such, does not exist physically, but was an administrative entity, by presumption, to supply "stamps", as needed, to any African colony. And only the Vasco da Gama 1898 "common" issue, and three 1919 war tax stamps were ever released.

I suspect the stamps were not needed much, and real use of them on correspondence would be a specialist's delight.

1898 Scott 4 25r yellow green "Muse of History"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Portuguese Africa 1898-1919, eleven stamps: the 1898 Vasco da Gama common issue set, and three war tax stamps for 1919. Of those, eight are CV <$1-$1+, while all of them are CV <$7. Value is essentially the same for used/unused, with the higher denominations slightly favoring unused.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis
100 Centavos = 1 Escudo

1898 Scott 2 5r red "Fleet arriving at Calicut"

As mentioned, the 1898 Vasco da Gama issue of eight stamps had a design shared by multiple Portuguese colonies.....namely:
Azores
Macao
Madeira
Portugal
Portuguese Africa
Portuguese Congo
Portuguese India
St. Thomas & Prince Islands
Timor

They are lovely engraved stamps, so it is not much of a chore to show them here.

The scene above shows the armada anchored near Calicut, India. They arrived on May 20, 1498, and remained until August 29, 1498. 

1898 Scott 3 10r red violet "Embarking at Rastello"

The port of Rastello is where many of these voyages began in Portugal. I really couldn't find out more than that with an internet search.

1898 Scott 5 50r dark blue "San Gabriel, da Gama and Camoens"

San Gabriel, the flagship did make it back to Portugal, although the sister ship, San Rafael, was burned and left in East Africa,as it wasn't needed anymore. It is a carrack- a three or four masted sailing ship perfected by the Portuguese for sailing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Would you like to know the daily rations for the crew?
Biscuit 1.5 pounds
Beef 1 pound, or Pork .5 pound
Water 2.5 pints
Wine 1.25 pints
Vinegar .3 gill
Oil .6 gill
Fasting days: rice, fish, or cheese for meat
Fresh fish caught on route
Oranges if available at harbor stops. (Vasco da Gama was aware that citrus fruit was helpful against scurvy. Nevertheless, 116 members of his crew died- most from scurvy. Magellan lost 208 out of 230- mostly from scurvy. Between 1500-1800, it is estimated that scurvy killed two million sailors. !!!!)

1898 Scott 8 150r bister "Vasco da Gama"

CV for the eight stamp set ranges from <$1-$6+.

1919 Scott MR3 5c green, carmine overprint, "Liberty"

War Tax Stamps

In 1919, a three stamp "stamp tax" set was used as war tax stamps, They are overprinted in black, orange, or carmine. Of interest, the 4c green has only been found with a fiscal cancellation. Some believe that this stamp (MR2) should be considered a revenue stamp.

Deep Blue

1898 Vasco da Gama Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for the stamps of Portuguese Africa, and has a space for every stamp.

1898 Scott 6 75r violet brown 

"Archangel Gabriel, the Patron Saint"

Big Blue

Big Blue '69, has one line of one page for Portuguese Africa, and shares the page with Portuguese Congo. The coverage is found between "Puerto Rico" and "Portugal".

Coverage consists of five spaces for the Vasco da Gama issue. 

Total coverage is 45%.

The 40s editions had the same coverage.

Perhaps the three war tax stamps could have been included (<$1-$1).

Checklist

1898

4,1,2,3,5,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None

1898 Scott 7 100r bister brown "Flagship San Gabriel"

Out of the Blue

"Portuguese Africa", an administrative, not a physical entity, nevertheless has served as a launching point  for this blog post to overview the Portuguese colonies in Africa, as well as to feature the lovely 1898 Vasco da Gama set. Not bad. ;-)

Note: maps, Mouzinho de Albuquerque pic, appear to be in the public domain.

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Portuguese Congo

February 8, 2015, 2:37 pm

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1915 Scott 137 50r blue

Provisional Issue of 1902 overprinted

Quick History
The Portuguese Congo (now the Enclave of Cabinda and the northernmost province of Angola) was a strip of  land on the west coast of Africa separated by 40 miles (60 kilometers) from Angola and the Congo River.

Present day Angola and the Cabinda Province ( formerly Portuguese Congo)

Cabinda (the settlement) originally served as a harbor and port for Portuguese slave trade.

Portugal proclaimed sovereignty over the territory in 1885, and it was given the status as a protectorate of the Portuguese crown.

Stamps were first issued in 1894.

1922 Map with Angola, Belgian Congo (Congo Free State), French Congo,

and Enclave of Cabinda (Portuguese Congo)

At one time the Portuguese Congo territory had the Congo River as the boundary with Angola, but the 1885 Conference of Berlin gave the northern bank to the Congo Free State.

Although cut off physically from Angola, administratively, the protectorate was joined to that colony by the 1920s.

Stamp production for Portuguese Congo continued until 1918, when the stamps of Angola were then used.

Although the enclave is still part of Angola today, because of the reality of being physically separated from Angola proper, as well as the distinct history, the Enclave of Cabinda has had a number of recent separatist movements.

1911 Scott 73 500r black & red/blue

Issue of 1898-1903 Overprinted

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Portuguese Congo 1894-1918, 137 major descriptive numbers. Of those, 84 are CV <$1-$1+, or 61%. Raising the bar to CV $3+, yields 33 more stamps for a total of 85%. Clearly, a representative collection should not be too difficult to acquire, cost wise, for the classical era collector. Of interest, unused is a bit more expensive than used for issues, except for the "Ceres" stamps, where used is more expensive.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis
100 Centavos = 1 Escudo (1913)

1898 Scott 16 15r brown "King Carlos"

A 12 stamp "King Carlos" set was issued in 1894, and has the portrait visage of the stamp shown below. CV ranges from <$1-$3+ for eight stamps.

The next 23 stamp issue, shown above, was another "King Carlos" portrait, and released between 1898-1903. CV is <$1-$2+ for 15 stamps.

Note the obvious "CTO" - like cancellation. Considering the obscurity of the protectorate, and, no doubt, the low literate population of inhabitants, a "real" postally used cancellation for this issue would be less common.

Both "King Carlos" stamp sets should be quite familiar in appearance, as they are also found for most other Portuguese colonies.

1902 Scott 44 130r on 100r brown/yellow "King Carlos"

Surcharged in Black, On Issue of 1894

A surcharged 12 stamp issue on the 1894 set was produced in 1902. CV is $2+-$4+ for the group..

1902 Scott 50 25r sea green 

Overprinted in Black

Also,  four stamps of the 1898 issue were overprinted as shown in 1902. Most other colonies have the same overprint issue. The sameness to stamp issues for many Portuguese colonies makes them, perhaps, less exciting to collect for some WW classical era enthusiasts. 

1911 Scott 58 25r on 200r red violet/pinkish

Angola stamps of 1898-1903 overprinted or surcharged

But this issue is unique! In 1911, a six stamp issue (including a 2 1/2r gray with either a thick bar or thin bar) was produced by surcharging and overprinting Angola stamps of 1898-1903. Interesting! CV is <$1-$2.

1911 Scott 62 10r light green

Issue of 1898-1903 overprinted

The "usual" 1911 "Republica" overprinted issue found for Portuguese colonies is also found here on 15 stamps. CV is a very modest <$1-$2+.

1913 Scott 77 1c on 2a red violet

Vasco da Gama Issue Surcharged

On stamps of Macao

The 1913 "common issue" Vasco da Gama set is also found here. The stamps were overprinted and surcharged on the stamps of Macao (8 stamps), Portuguese Africa (8 stamps), and Timor (8 stamps).

1913 Scott 84 1/2c on 5r red

Vasco da Gama Issue surcharged

On stamps of Portuguese Africa

The CV ranges from $1+-$2+ for surcharged Macao, <$1-$1+ for surcharged Portuguese Africa, and $1+-$2+ for surcharged Timor. "Used" stamps have the same valuation as "Unused" stamps in the Scott catalogue. I suspect "real" postally used stamps from these sets are not common, though.

1914 Scott 110 20c yellow green "Ceres"

A 16 stamp set of the "Ceres" motif was released in 1914. By contrast, Angola has 40 "Ceres" stamps in the catalogue.

1914-18 Scott 126 50r on 65r dull blue, Red Local overprint

Issue of 1905 Surcharged

Between 1914-18, ten stamps that had a "local" overprint of "Republica" were issued. One of the overprints was placed on a previously surcharged 1905 issue, and that is shown here.

1915 Scott 135 115r on 2 1/2r brown

Provisional Issues of 1902 Overprinted

The surcharged and "Provisorio" issues of 1902 were also overprinted "Republica" in 1915 on nine stamps, but these overprints are from Lisbon. Shown above is an example on a newspaper stamp, but another example is shown heading the "Out of the Blue" section.

As mentioned, "Portuguese Congo" was subsequently absorbed into Angola, and Angola stamps were then used for the former protectorate.

Deep Blue

1914 Ceres Issue in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 10 pages for Portuguese Congo, and includes spaces for all the major Scott numbers.

1913 Scott 88 7 1/2c on 75r violet Brown

Vasco da Gama Issue surcharged

On stamps of Portuguese Africa

Big Blue

On one page (except for one line for "Portuguese Africa"), Big Blue '69 has 35 spaces for Portuguese Congo. Coverage is 26%. 

The page is located just before the "Portugal" section.

It appears the 40s editions have the same coverage. That page is located after the "Portugal" section.

Observations....

* No "Expensive" (CV $10+) stamps in BB.

*There is no coverage for...

- The 1902 surcharged issue (The CV is $1+-$3+ for 12 stamps)

- The 1913 Vasco da Gama issue (CV <$1-$1+ for 20 stamps)

- The 1914-18 "Local" overprinted issue (CV <$1-$1+ for 7 stamps)

- The 1915 "Provisional issue of 1902 Overprinted" lacks spaces for six stamps with CV <$1.

Checklist

1894

1,2,(5),

1898

13,14,15,18,

1902

49,50,(51),

1903

17,20,22,(23),

1911

60,61,62,63,64,65,66,

1914

99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,

107,108,

1915

136,137,138,

Newspaper Stamp

1894

P1,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold): None

B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

1915 Scott 130 130r on 75r rose

Provisional Issue of 1902 overprinted

Out of the Blue

I suspect I would never have known about the Enclave of Cabinda if they had not issued stamps. And the 1911 surcharged Angolan stamps for the Portuguese Congo are interesting and inexpensive.

As for the rest of the generic Portuguese colony issues for the Portuguese Congo.......Meh!

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

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Allenstein- a closer look at the stamp issues

November 19, 2014, 8:43 am

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1920 Scott 2 10pf carmine

Stamps of Germany 1906-1920, overprinted

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has, for Allenstein 1920, 28 overprinted German stamps.  Of those, 23 are CV <$1-$1+, or 82%. Clearly, a representative collection can be gathered without high cost.

Allenstein (In Gray)

A closer look at the stamps and issues
100 Pfenning = 1 Mark

1920 Scott 8 50pf purple & black/buff

First Overprinting

As Allenstein had both Polish and German inhabitants, a League of Nations plebiscite was to be  held on July 11, 1920 to determine if East Prussia or Poland would retain the territory.

In April, 1920 two types of overprints were applied to German stamps as propaganda/ publicity.

Shown above is the first type of overprint with Plebiscite/ Olsztyn/ Allenstein script. (Olsztyn is the Polish name for the district.)

1920 Scott 11 1.25m green, overprinted

On July 11, 1920, 97% voted for East Prussia. Apparently, some Poles boycotted the election, and other Poles voted for Germany in fear that Poland might fall to Soviet Russia.

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1920 Scott 12 1.50 yellow brown, overprinted

But, the overwhelming 97% vote does seem "odd", considering that in 1910, 52% of the population was German, and 44% of the population was Polish.

920 Scott 19 20pf blue violet

Second Overprinting

The second overprinting is shown here. The stamps were valid until August 30.

1920 Scott 23 75pf green & black, overprinted

All values have a reasonable CV, no doubt because there was interest among collectors at the time for these stamps. But, the 15pf violet brown was issued after the other stamps, and has a higher CV: $5+ & $20 for the two overprinted types.

1920 Scott 28 3m black violet, overprinted

Ultimately, after WW II, the territory was absorbed into Poland.

Deep Blue

1920 Allenstein Scott 1-14 issue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for Allenstein, and has a space for the major numbers. Of interest, Scott lists minor number color variations, and, if one wished to collect Allenstein at that level, additional pages would be needed.

Out of the Blue

A plebiscite and German stamps- what's not to like?  ;-)

Note: This blog post is an update for the original Allenstein post. The material presented here has been incorporated into that post.

Note: Map appears to be in the public domain.

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