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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

BOLIVAR, Colombia (Province)

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Bolivar issued stamps from 1863 to 1906. From 1863 to 1891 the cancellations consisted almost exclusively of pen cancels.

1863 Very small stamps, imperforate

  10 c green
  10 c red
  1 P red

Two types exist of the 10 c; type I has 6 stars below the arms and type II has only 5 stars. These are the worlds' smallest stamps, measuring only 8.0 x 9.55 mm.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 c green RRR RRR  
10 c red RR RR  
1 P R R  

I've been told that the first "O" of "CORREOS" should be aligned with the first "S" of "ESTADOS" in the genuine stamps. Any stamp with cancel "BOGOTA" is forged (source: http://www.richnoddystamps.co.uk/forgeries-reprints/bolivar-1863-1-peso/).


Probably a forgery 'O' and 'S' not aligned.

Senf made a forgery of the 10 c green stamp. This forgery was distributed with stamp journal the 'Illustrierten Briefmarken Journal', No 19 (1st October 1887) as an 'art supplement' or 'Kunstbeigabe'. The forgery always bears the overprint 'Facsimile'.

Other forgeries:


Forgeries with the central part of the shield blank. The impression is quite blur. The value inscription in the 1 Peso stamps is '1 Pc'.


(Forgery)


Forgeries from a 'Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries' (reduced sizes)


I've been told that these are Fournier forgeries as well.


A block of four stamps with a "BOGOTA" cancel. I've been told that these are Fournier forgeries. The "E" of "ESTADO" has turned into a "I".

Sperati forgeries:


Front and backside of a Sperati forgery of the 10 c value.

A blackprint of a Sperati forgery (taken by the British Philatelic Association from the negatives from wich Sperati made the cliches for his imitations, with 'SPERATI REPRODUCTION' printed on the backside):


(Front and backside)

The forger Oswald Schröder made a forgery of the 1 P value. I don't know the distinguishing characteristics. According to http://www.richnoddystamps.co.uk/forgeries-reprints/bolivar-1863-1-peso/ the shield is different and the letters are thinner.

 

1873 Arms, inscription "ESTADO SOBERANO DE BOLIVAR", imperforate

  5 c blue
  10 c violet
  20 c green
  80 c red

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 c *** ***  
10 c R R  
20 c RR RR  
80 c RR RR  


(Forgeries of the 80 c value, even in wrong color blue)

 

1874 Various types

1878 issue

1878 5 c blue
(1874 issue left 1878 issue right, reduced sizes)

  5 c blue
  5 c blue (1878, other type)
  10 c grey 

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 c RR R  
5 c R R 1878
10 c *** ***  

 

1879 Simon Bolivar

Inscription '1879'

  5 c blue
  10 c grey
  20 c red
  40 c brown

I've seen a 1 P orange stamp with '1879' inscribed on top. This stamp was apparently prepared, but not issued.

Inscription '1880'

  5 c blue
  10 c violet
  20 c red
  40 c brown
  80 c green
  1 P orange

Inscription '1882'

  5 c blue
  10 c violet
  20 c red
  40 c brown
  80 c green
  1 P orange

Inscription '1883'

  5 c blue
  10 c violet
  20 c red
  40 c brown
  80 c green
  1 P orange

Inscription '1884'


(Reduced size)

  5 c blue
  10 c violet
  20 c red
  40 c brown
  80 c green
  1 P orange

Inscription '1885'

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  5 c blue
  10 c violet
  20 c red
  40 c brown
  80 c green
  1 P orange

With no date (issued 1891)

  1 c black
  5 c orange
  10 c red
  20 c blue
  50 c green
  1 P violet

The value 1 c black 1891 stamp seems to have been used provisionally in Carthagena in 1901; it is overprinted with a violet star (value: R). Other sources say 7 parallel violet lines??

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1879
5 c * *  
10 c * *  
20 c ** ** A misprint 20 c green exists: R
40 c ** **  
1880
5 c ** **  
10 c ** *  
20 c ** ** A misprint 20 c green exists: R
40 c ** **  
80 c *** ***  
1 P *** ***  
1882
5 c * *  
10 c * *  
20 c * *  
40 c * *  
80 c *** ***  
1 P *** ***  
1883
5 c * *  
10 c * *  
20 c * *  
40 c ** **  
80 c *** ***  
1 P *** ***  
1884
5 c * *  
10 c * *  
20 c * *  
40 c * *  
80 c ** **  
1 P ** **  
1885
5 c * *  
10 c * *  
20 c * *  
40 c * *  
80 c ** **  
1 P ** **  
No date (issued 1891)
1 c * *  
5 c ** **  
10 c * *  
20 c * *  
50 c ** **  
1 P ** **  

The stamps of these issues (1879 to 1882) with cancel 'CARTAJENA FRANCA' (two types, with or without ornaments at the bottom) in the colours red, violet or black are cancelled to order. These cancels were even applied to bisected stamps, example:

 

1882 Large sized stamps, Simon Bolivar

1882 issue

  5 P blue and red
  10 P red and blue

These stamps are usually perforated.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 P *** *** I've seen imperforate stamps
10 P *** *** I've seen imperforate stamps

Forgeries of these stamps exist, I have seen them with overprint 'FALSCH' (they are most likely Senf forgeries):

The perforation on these forgeries is printed.

 

1903 Simon Bolivar in different frames, imperforate

  50 c blue on red
  50 c blue on blue
  50 c green on yellow
  50 c violet on yellow
  1 P olive on lilac
  1 P orange on lilac
  1 P red on yellow
  1 P green on yellow
  5 P red on lilac
  10 p blue on blue
  10 P violet on green
  10 P violet on yellow

These stamps exist perforated.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
50 c blue on red * *  
50 c blue on blue * *  
50 c green on yellow *** ***  
50 c violet on yellow *** ***  
1 P olive on lilac *** ***  
1 P orange on lilac ** **  
1 P red on yellow R ***  
1 P green on yellow R R  
5 P ** **  
10 P blue on blue ** **  
10 P violet on green *** ***  
10 P violet on yellow R R  

 

1903 Simon Bolivar, various frames, perforated or imperforate

  5 c black
  10 c brown
  20 c red

These stamps exist imperforate or perforated.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 c * *  
10 c * *  
20 c * *  

 

1904 Number


(Reduced sizes)

  1/2 c black
  1 c blue
  2 c violet

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1/2 c * *  
1 c * *  
2 c ** **  

Note that the "N" of "CENTAVO" is written in mirrorimage (deliberately, I suppose?).


Miscellaneous

1903 Stamps for acknowledgment of receipt, with inscription "R" at the left

  20 c red on lilac

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
20 c ** **  

This stamp exists with "R CARTAGENA" overprint issued for Carthagena:


A whole sheet with "R. CARTAGENA" overprints

 

1903 Stamps for acknowledgment of receipt, with inscription "AR" in the center

  20 c orange on yellow
  20 c blue on yellow
  20 c blue on red

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
20 c orange on yellow ** **  
20 c blue on yellow ** **  
20 c blue on red *** ***  

 

1904 Stamps for acknowledgment of receipt, with inscription "AR" in a circle in the center

  2 c red

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
2 c ** **  
2 c *** *** With 'A.R.' in a circle overprint

This stamp exists with overprint "A.R." in a circle (issued 1904):


('A.R.' in a circle on acknowledgment stamp of 1904)

This stamp also exists with an overprint in a large ellipse 'Correos de Bolivar HABILITADO CARTAGENA COL.', this stamp was issued for Carthagena example:

 

1904 Stamp with inscription "R"

  5 c black 

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
5 c *** ***  

 

1903 'Too late' or "RETARDO" stamps

  20 c red on blue
  20 c violet on blue

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
20 c red on blue ** **  
20 c violet on blue ** **  

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer