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CHILE Miscellaneous

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Postage due stamps

1894 Inscription "VALPARAISO MULTADA" in an ellipse, 10 c in a circle

  2 c black
  4 c black
  6 c black
  8 c black
  10 c black (circle)
  16 c black
  20 c black
  30 c black
  40 c black

These stamps were printed on yellowish paper, they have perforation 13.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries of these stamps were made by Fournier:

Fournier forgeries? According to the Serrane guide Fournier foreries have perforation 11 1/2 instead of 13 1/4.

Fournier forgeries, taken from a 'Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries'

Fournier cancels, reduced sizes; The cancels "SANTIAGO 31 1 95 CHILE" and "MULTADA" in a box are know to have been used on these forgeries by Fournier.

1895 Head of Columbus, inscription "MULTADA"

  1 c red on yellow
  2 c red on yellow
  4 c red on yellow
  8 c red on yellow
  10 c red on yellow
  20 c red on yellow
  40 c red on yellow
  50 c red on yellow
  60 c red on yellow
  80 c red on yellow
  1 P red on yellow
  100 c red on yellow

Several values were printed on one sheet side by side. For the specialist: these stamps have been issued with perforation 11 1/2 in 1895 (1 c to 1 P) and re-issued with perforation 13 1/2 in 1896 (1 c to 100 c), thus the 1 P only exists with perforation 11 1/2 and the 100 c only with perforation 13 1/2. The colours of the 1896 issue are slightly different (the colour of the paper as well).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

The next 1 c stamp, I've been told, is a Le Blanc overprint; it has a '10 c' in a circle surcharge. I have no further information:

Le Blanc overprint?

I've been told that the following stamps are Fournier forgeries, they have the "O" of "VALPARAISO" more squarish than in the genuine stamps:

(Fournier forgeries, reduced sizes)

I have seen them with the following cancels only: "MULTADA" in a rectangular box, and the following circular postmarks: "SANTIAGO CHILE 31 1 95", "SANTIAGO CHILE 31 I 95", "LINARES CHILE 30 NOV 95", "VALDIVIA 1 FEB 97 CHILE", "PISABUA 1 DIC 97 CHILE" and "TALCA CHILE 5 ABR 95". Other Fournier cancels exist (see pictures below), however, I do not know if they were used on the above forgeries.

(Fournier cancels, reduced sizes)

Fournier offers two series of these stamps, as second choice forgeries in his 1914 pricelist. The first serie is the values 20 c to 1 P with perforation 11 1/2 (6 values); he offers them for 1 Swiss Franc in his pricelist. The second serie (also second choice forgeries), the values 20 c to 100 c (6 values) with perforation 13 1/2.

I copied the following text about these Fournier / Mercier / Oneglia(?) forgeries from Chile Filatelico Ano XX, No 76, Santiago June 1947, page 60-63 (original text in Spanish in red and Google translated in black color, there are also some black and white images of sheets of these forgeries, in my view these are the same as the ones shown in the Fournier Album):

LA FALSIFICACION DE LOS SELLOS DE MULTAS DE CHILE DE LOS AÑOS 1895 Y 1897

Por L. A. Holley.

Nuestro amigo y colaborador, el Dr. Juan Salinas de Lozada, ha tenido la gentileza de obsequiarnos con dos fotografías de las planchas de los sellos falsos de multas de Chile, que nos anima a decir algo sobre el particular para la nueva generación, aún cuando en los Anales de la S. F. de Ch., trató el tema el incansable investigador M. de Lara (Ramón Laval), por allá en el año 1899 y del cual muy poco más tenemos que agregar.
En aquel tiempo solo se conocían como falsos los valores 80 y 100 centavos y el de 1 peso y, aquí, en estas fotografías, vienen los de 20, 40, 50, 80 y 100 centavos y 1 peso, impresos por el mismo falsificador; cosa que nos revela la importancia del tema.
La historia de estas falsedades es muy sencilla. Un buen día del año1899, la Dirección General de Correos recibió una carta del señor Hugo Krotzsch de Alemania, en que denunciaba la falsificación de estos valores y acompañaba varios ejemplares. La noticia pasó a la S. F. de Ch., donde se pudo constatar el hecho y tomar razón del falsificador, que no era otro sino el conocido embaucador de Ginebra, Louihenri Mercier, que las repartía por todo el mundo a precios bajísimos y como simples imitaciones, como decía.
Pero las tales imitaciones eran peligrosísimas, yu que estaban hechas en un papel casi idéntico al de las legítimas y con tintes muy parecidos; lo que dió motivo a estudios muy serios sobre el particular para prevenir a loscoleccionistas de tamaño engaño.
Es del conocimiento de todos, que de estas estampillas hubo dos emisiones: la del año 1895, de color rojo sobre papel amarillo subido y perforadas 11 1/4, y la de 1897, de color carmín sobre papel amárillo claro, paja, y perforada 13 1/4. Para que pueda apreciarse el valor que han adquirido estas estampillas por su escasés, es interesante dar a conocer las cantidades emitidas de cada emisión

Translation: Our friend and collaborator, Dr. Juan Salinas de Lozada, has been kind enough to present us with two photographs of the plates of the forged Chilean postage due stamps, which encourages us to say something about the matter for the new generation, even when In the Anales de la SF de Ch., the tireless researcher M. de Lara (Ramón Laval) dealt with the subject, back in 1899 and to which we have very little to add.
At that time, only the values 80 and 100 centavos and 1 peso were known as forgery and, here, in these photographs, are those of 20, 40, 50, 80 and 100 centavos and 1 peso, printed by the same forger ; which reveals the importance of the subject.
The history of these forgeries is very simple. One fine day in 1899, the General Post Office received a letter from Mr. Hugo Krotzsch of Germany, in which he denounced the forgeries of these values accompanied by several copies. The news went to the S. F. de Ch., Where the fact could be verified and the forger was revealed, who was none other than the well-known Geneva trickster Louihenri Mercier, who distributed them all over the world at rock-bottom prices and as mere knockoffs, as he put it.
But such imitations were extremely dangerous, and they were made on a paper almost identical to that of the legitimate ones and with very similar dyes; which gave reason to very serious studies on the subject to prevent collectors from being deceaved.
It is known to all that there were two issues of these stamps: the one from 1895, red on yellow paper and perforated 11 1/4, and the one from 1897, carmine color on light yellow paper, straw, and perforated 13 1/4. In order that the value that these stamps have acquired due to their scarcity can be appreciated, it is interesting to disclose the amounts issued for each issue.

Estas estampillas se imprimieron en varias tiradas, cuyos pliegos contenían, los primeros, todos los valores de la seríe, y los últimos, aquellos de mayor demanda. Naturalmente, el falsificador eligió para su trabajo aquellos valores de más alto precio, por su reducida cantidad; pero, como todos los que se dedican a estas malas artes caen en el garlito por alguna falla que, irremediablemente, les ocurre al paso, vamos, pues, a desmenuzar su obra y sacar a luz los defectos de aquella brillante impresión.
Desde Iuego, y esta es de lo más importante, si medimos las perforaciones, encontramos.que las falsas marcan 11 1/2 para ambas emisiones; muy distante, como se vé, de las verdaderas que hemos apuntado: de 11 ¼ y 13 1/4, respectivamente. Aquí debemos dejar constancia que los catálog os universales no se han ajustado a la verdadera medida al mencionarlas, p ues
Yvert les dá 11 ½ a la primera y 13 1/2 a la segunda; Scott 11 y 13 1/2, respectivamente, y Gibbons, esta misma medida; cosa que no es exacta, sobre todo cuando existen falsificaciones y que distrae en conjeturas al coleccionista.
Mercier hizo sus impresiones Iitográ ficamente, como las au téiticas, pero para ello tuvo que hacer un traspaso fotográfico a la piedra , de lo que le resultaron un tanto borronientas y deslucidas. En el diseño las diferencias no so grandes, resaltando la "C" de Chile, de mayor tamaño, y la punta del bigote de Colón demasiado marcada. El color del diseño no es vivo, como en los originales, sino un tanto apagado, y e l papel tira a color am a l'illo de azufre, subido, presentando un t inte verdoso al lado de los originales de la primera emisión. En cambio, las falsas de la segunda emisión , se han impreso sobre papel a marillo claro, pero un poco menos vivo que el auténtico.
Para darles un carácter de mayor autenticidad, Mercier falsificó a suvez los timbres de multas con que inutilizarlas y darlas al mercado con certificado de mayor legitimidad. Es el conocido matasellos apaisado, de esquinas redondeadas, con la inscripción MULTADA, que os tentan estas estampillas. Las letras del original son de 5 1/4 mm. de alto y los falsos tienen la misma medida, pero la palabra mide 31 1/2 mm. en los verdaderos y en los falsos solo alcanza a 24 mm.; por consiguiente existe una diferencia de 7 1/2 mm. en el largo de las falsas, porque las letras son en estos más angostas.
Ahora, el rectángulo que encierra la palabra MULTADA, mide en el original 10 mm. de alto por 38 mm. de largo, en cambio el falso solo alcanza a 8 1/2 mm. de alto por 29 mm. de largo, resultañdo mucho más pequeño el matasellos falso que el legítimo.

Translation: These stamps were printed in several runs, the sheets of which contained, at first, all the values of the series, and later, those of greatest demand. Naturally, the forger chose for his work those values of the highest price, because of their small quantity; But, as all those who dedicate themselves to these bad arts fall for some fault that inevitably happens to them along the way, we are going, then, to shred his work and bring to light the defects of that brilliant impression.
Since then, and this is the most important, if we measure the perforations, we find that the false ones are 11 1/2 for both emissions; very distant, as you can see, from the true ones that we have pointed out: 11 ¼ and 13 1/4, respectively. Here we must state that the universal catalogs have not been adjusted to the true measure when mentioning them, because Yvert gives 11 ½ for the first and 13 1/2 for the second; Scott 11 and 13 1/2, respectively, and Gibbons, this same measure; something that is not exact, especially when there are forgeries and that distracts the collector in conjecture.
Mercier made his prints lithographically, like the authentic ones, but for this he had to make a photographic transfer to stone, which he found a bit blurry and lackluster. In the design, the differences were not great, highlighting the larger "C" for Chile and the tip of Colón's mustache that was too marked. The color of the design is not vivid, as in the originals, but rather muted, and the paper is a sulfur yellow color, raised, presenting a greenish tint next to the originals from the first issue. On the other hand, the forgeries of the second issue have been printed on light yellow paper, but a little less lively than the authentic one.
To give them a more authentic character, Mercier in turn forged the cancels with which to obliterate them and give them to the market with a certificate of greater legitimacy. It is the well-known landscape postmark, with rounded corners, with the inscription MULTADA, which these stamps bear. The letters of the original are 5 1/4 mm. high and the false ones have the same measurement, but the word measures 31 1/2 mm. in the true ones and in the false ones it only reaches 24 mm; therefore there is a difference of 7 1/2 mm. in the length of the false ones, because the letters are narrower in these.
Now, the rectangle that encloses the word MULTADA, measures in the original 10 mm. high by 38 mm. long, while the false only reaches 8 1/2 mm. high by 29 mm. long, the false postmark is much smaller than the legitimate one.

Observemos luego el dibujo de estas estampillas, que aquel comerciante falsificó y que llamaba facsímiles. Estudiando todas las piezas, encontramos fallas comunes a la generalidad de los valores, desde el 20 centavos al peso y 100 centavos. Primero: el círculo que encierra el busto, de Colón se esfuma casi completamente hacia el ángulo superior izquierdo en las legítimas, en las falsas este círculo es completamente perceptible en toda su amplitud y bien marcado. El bonete de Colón topa este círculo en las falsas, mientras que en las legítimas queda distanciado de él. Las cifras en la bandeleta central, especialmente los ceros, tocan o casi tocan el margen superior de esta, en cambio en las legítimas se encuentran bien en claro y centradas en dicha bandeleta. La sombra debajo de la bandeleta es bastante pronunciada en las falsas, en las legítimas tenue y menos ancha. En la palabra
CORREOS las letras son un tanto más gruesas en las legítimas, en las falsas aparecen más delgadas especialmente la "S". Las palabras VALPARAISO y PORTE son con letras netas en blanco, en las falsas aparecen con pelos de tinta, más perceptibies en unas letras que en otras, como en las áes y en la "0" de Porte, también la "0" de Valparaíso semeja ser .más cuadrada.

Translation: Let us then observe the drawing of these stamps, which that merchant forged and called facsimiles. Studying all the pieces, we find common failures to the generality of the values, from 20 cents to the peso and 100 cents. First: the circle that encloses the bust, of Columbus, disappears almost completely towards the upper left corner in the legitimate ones, in the false ones this circle is completely perceptible in all its width and well marked. Columbus's bonnet meets this circle in the false ones, while in the legitimate ones it is distanced from it. The figures in the central flag, especially the zeros, touch or almost touch the upper margin of this, while in the legitimate ones they are well clear and centered on said flag. The shadow under the bandeleta is quite pronounced in the false ones, in the legitimate ones dim and less wide. In the word
CORREOS the letters are somewhat thicker in the legitimate ones, in the false ones they appear thinner, especially the "S". The words VALPARAISO and PORTE are with net letters in white, in the false they appear with hairs of ink, more perceptible in some letters than in others, as in the áes and in the "0" of Porte, also the "0" of Valparaíso seems to be more square.

Separadamente, cada valor falso tiene su distinción absoluta. La cifra grande deI "2" del 20 centavos, tiene un ornamento en su base izquierda que forma un círculo neto en blanco, dentro del cual se enrrolla la sombra de la base del número; en los falsos no existe este círculo y simplemente penetra en esa parte del sello un tizne de la sombra en forma de coma.
En el 40 centavos, el palo trasversal de la cifra "4", grande, es parejo en grosor en la falsa, mientras que en la legítima es mucho más fuerte que el diaginal, que lo forma. Esta cifra no toca la sombra debajo de la bandeleta, se encuentra muy dista nte de ella, en las falsas llega hasta ahí mismo.
El 50 centavos tiene unida la coleta superior con el cuerpo infe rior de la cifra "5" por medio de una raya oblicua, a más el número termina en un grueso círculo en blanco cortado por la sombra, que lo deja en punta aguda. En el falso la raya es vertical y la terminación de la cifra es en un circulito insignificante comparado con el anterior, que no dá lugar a esa punta aguda.
El 60 centavos es el más parecido, sin embargo, ia vuelta superior de la cifra "6", grande, difiere de la legítima, en que es menos grueso el crespo superior.
El 80 centavos tiene las cifras grandes del fondo un tanto más separadas y sus contornos no son de tanto cuerpo corno en las legítimas; la cifra "0" es de ojo más dilatado.
En la de 1 Peso, las letras de esta palabra son más grandes y más gruesas en el falso que en los origina les y la gran cifra "1" bajo la bandeleta, tiene la cabeza casi terminada en punta en el falso, mientras que en el legítirno tiene un chaflán en el extremo superior derecho, que forma un ángulo obtuso.
En el 100 centavos, se notan también diferencias esenciales en las cifras grandes del fondo. Son de mucho menos grueso que las legítimas; la cabeza del número "1" no termina en punta achaflanada aguda sino en un simple p equeño saliente y las cifras mismas se encuentran más separadas en las falsa. Es de advertir, que Mercier imprimió este sello en los colores de ambas emisiones, rojo y carmón; cuando el original solo fué hecho en carmín.
Aquí termina la historia de estas falsificaciones, que felizmente se ven poco en el comercio de hoy día. Reproducimos las planchas fotográficas que nos ha donado el Dr. Salinas de Lozada, como una primicia para Chile; pues nunca antes se publicaron en la prensa filatélica de la nación.

Genuine 20 c stamp left, forgery right with "VALDIVIA 1 FEB 97 CHILE" forged cancel

Genuine 40 c left, forged 40 c right with forged "MULTADA" cancel.

Genuine 50 c on the left, forged 50 c on the right with forged "CONCEPCION 20 DIC 97 CHILE" cancel

Translation:
Separately, each forged value has its absolute distinction. The large figure of the "2" of the 20 cents has an ornament at its left base that forms a net white circle, within which the shadow of the base of the number is rolled; in the false ones, this circle does not exist and a smudge from the shadow in the shape of a comma simply penetrates that part of the stamp.
In the 40 centavos, the transverse bar of the large figure "4" is even in thickness in the forgery, while in the legitimate one it is much stronger than the diaginal one, which forms it. This figure does not touch the shadow under the flag, it is very far from it, in the forgery it reaches right there.
The 50 cents has the upper ponytail attached to the lower body of the figure "5" by means of an oblique stripe, furthermore the number ends in a thick white circle cut by the shadow, which leaves it in a sharp point. In the forged one, the line is vertical and the termination of the figure is in an insignificant circle compared to the previous one, which does not give rise to that sharp point.
The 60 cents is the closest, however, the upper round of the large figure "6" differs from the legitimate one, in that the upper curl is less thick.

Genuine 60 c on the left, forged 60 c on the right with forged "VALDIVIA 1 FEB 97 CHILE" cancel

Genuine 80 c on the left, forged 80 c on the right with forged "MULTADA" cancel

Genuine 1 Pon the left, forged 1 P on the right with forged "SANTIAGO CHILE 31 1 95" cancel

Genuine 100 c on the left, forged 100 c on the right with forged "CONCEPCION 20 DIC 97 CHILE" cancel

Translation: The 80 cents has the large figures in the back a little further apart and its outlines are not as large as in the legitimate ones; the number "0" is for the most dilated eye.
In the 1 Peso, the letters of this word are bigger and thicker in the forgery than in the originals and the large figure "1" under the flag, has the head almost ending in a point in the forgery, while in the legitimate one it has a chamfer in the upper right corner, which forms an obtuse angle.
In the 100 cents, there are also essential differences in the large numbers of the background. They are much less thick than the legitimate ones; the head of the number "1" does not end in a sharp chamfered point but in a simple small protrusion and the figures themselves are further apart in the forged ones. It should be noted that Mercier printed this stamp in the colors of both issues, red and carmine; when the original was only done in carmine.
Here ends the story of these counterfeits, which are fortunately little seen in today's commerce. We reproduce the photographic plates donated by Dr. Salinas de Lozada, as a first for Chile; for they have never before been published in the nation's philatelic press.

1898 Postage Due Stamps, inscription "MULTA"

  1 c red
  2 c red
  4 c red
  10 c red
  20 c red

I've been told that the values 6 c and 8 c exist, but were not issued (c).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

From 1899 to 1924 postage due stamps were no longer issued. In 1924 they were re-introduced. A new serie was issued (illegally?) in 1924 with inscription "CORREOS CHILE MULTA" with a number in the center (8 values).

Official stamps

In 1907 official stamps for the navy-ministry were issued. They bear the inscription "CORRESPONDENCIA OFICIAL CHILE MINISTERIO DE MARINA". Several overprints also exist.

(I've been told that this is a forgery of such a stamp)

In 1908 several postage stamps were overprinted with an anchor and inscription "OFICIAL". These overprints are merely security overprints of the army-ministry.

(1 P with red "OFICIAL" and anchor overprint, could be a forgery)

Acknowledgment of receipt

1892 Inscription "AR", Columbus

  5 c brown

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

This stamp exists imperforate. I've also seen partly perforated stamps.

Forgeries also exist, example:

Rather badly printed forgeries

1897 Inscription "AVIS DE PAIEMENT", Columbus

  5 c black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries exist, example:

(Forgery!)

Returned letter stamps

From 1886 onwards returned letter stamps were issued, they have the inscription "CIERRO OFICIAL".

1886 Arms with star in center

  red (orange)

Three slightly different types exist, differing in the ornament just above the star. This type was re-issued in 1924 in the colours red, orange and blue.

1893 New type

  black

1894 (1895?) Head of Columbus

  brown

Three types exist, differing in the shape of the head of Columbus.

1894(?) Head of man in circle

  green on green
  blue on green
  brown 
  black on orange

1895 Large sized stamp with statue

  orange

1897 Wheel with wings, inscription "OFICINA DE CORREOS DE VALPARAISO"

  black on brown

1900 Large sized stamp with empty white circular space in the center

  red
  blue

1906 Circular stamp, with image of a woman

  red
  blue

1917 Head of Columbus, new design

 blue

1944(?) Ship entering harbour

Telegraph stamps

1884 Inscription "TELEGRAFOS DEL ESTADO" and arms

  2 c brown
  10 c olive
  20 c blue
  1 P brown
  5 P red
  10 p green

The values 2 c, 10 c, 20 c and 1 P seem to have been used postally in 1891.

1894 As before, but smaller size

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  2 c brown
  5 c red
  10 c green
  20 c blue
  1 P brown

There are two types of the 2 c, 5 c and 10 c; the horse has a tail in the first type and in the second type it doesn't.

1901 Man, inscription "TELEGRAFOS del ESTADO"

  5 c red
  10 c green
  20 c blue (2 types)

Other telegraph stamps were issued in 1927 and onwards.

Postal Stationery

(Reduced size)

What are these? "CORREOS DE CHILE"

The inscription of the above labels(?) reads:
'Esta pieza ne debe ser entregada al destinatario, si no lleva adheridas e inutilizdas con la palabra "multada" estampillas por valor de'

Fiscal stamps

1880 Arms of Chile, inscription "IMPUESTO"

(Reduced size)

  1 c red
  2 c brown
  5 c blue
  10 c green
  20 c orange
  1 P orange

It seems that in 1880-81, 1891 and 1913 these fiscal stamps were used for postal purposes.

Consular stamps, I've also seen the values 5 c red, 2 P brown and black, 5 P blue and black, 5 P green and black, 10 P orange and black.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer