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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

COLOMBIA Miscellanous

Return To Catalogue - Colombia - Colombia postal stationery and insured letter stamps

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

1865 Inscription "SOBRE PORTE"

  25 c black on blue
  50 c black on yellow
  1 P black on red

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

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

There exist rather deceptive forgeries of the 50 c and 1 P values (offered by Fournier). I don't know the distinguishing characteristics. These forgeries can be found in 'The Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries'.

Fournier forgeries; I've also seen them cancelled.

A forgery of the 50 c, but in the design of the 25 c is described in Album Weeds. The next image shows this forgery, together with a similar forgery of the 1 P value and the corresponding forgery of the 25 c (which is in the correct design, but the ornaments in the central top part are different when compared to a genuine stamp).

Forgery of the 25 c and forgeries of the 50 c and 1 P in the wrong design (that of the 25 c).

(Another forgery of the 25 c in the wrong colour: blue instead of black on blue!)

And a 50 c forgery in the color orange.

This could be a forgery of the 25 c as well.

Furthermore Album Weeds mentions 3 more values (25 c, 50 c and 1 P) in completely different designs, these are bogus issues (sorry, no image of the 25 c and 50 c available yet):

Bogus stamp of the 1 P. This stamp was listed in 'The Stamp Collector's Magazine' of April 1, 1868 in exactly the same design, together with another bogus 25 c stamp. These bogus stamps are also listed, in a slightly different design, in 'The Illustrated Catalogue of Postage Stamps' by J.E.Gray (5th edition, 1870) and also in the catalogue of Placido Ramon de Torres "Album Illustrado para Sellos de Correo" of 1879.

In Le Timbre Poste of Moens No 138, page 44 (1874) Moens expresses serious doubts about the authenticity of these stamps. He admits having them listed first on 15 January 1868 (25 c and 50 c of the same set as well). He also has some very critical remarks about the stamp dealer Pierre Mahé, apparently not one of his friends....

A mystery sheetlet with a bogus postage due stamp of Colombia and a non-issued stamp of Spain.

Scans from the John Edward Gray 'The Illustrated Catalogue of Postage Stamps' of 1870 on page 133 and 134.

Scan from the catalogue of Placido Ramon de Torres "Album Illustrado para Sellos de Correo" of 1879, page 203. Note that some of the left stars in the 50 cs value have a white center now.

1865 Triangular stamp

  2 1/2 c black on lilac

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

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

There are at least three different forgeries of this stamp. I've been told that the next stamps are a reprint and two forgeries:

Left reprint, right and middle forgeries

In the forgery at the right hand side the inscription is "2 1/2" instead of "2 i 1/2". There should be a dot behind the "E" and a dash behind the "U" of "EU". In the 'reprint' the "S" of "NACIONALES" does not approach the bottom lines constisting of half circles as much as in the stamp shown above.

Another rather crudely done forgery

Very crude forgery with '21' instead of '2 i'. This is the second forgery of Album Weeds.

In a 'Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries' I have seen a Fournier forgery of this stamp on blue paper:

Fournier forgery

1865 Registration stamp, inscription "A" or "R"

(Genuine stamps)

  5 c black 'A'
  5 c black 'R'

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

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

Forgeries of these stamps are known to have been made by Zechmeyer, Sartori, Spiro and others. More useful information: http://www.copaphil.org/Copacarta%20Vol%201-20/VOLUME%2011/40_VOLUME.pdf

How to detect forgeries of the "A" stamp?

For this and other information on the forgeries and genuine stamps see the website of Bill Claghorn: http://www.geocities.com/claghorn1p/Colombia/ColF2.htm.

The genuine stamps should have the following characteristics:
1) The dot below the "S" in "CENT.S" is nearer to the "T" and not exactly below the "S"
2) There are dots after the "E" and "U" of "E. U. DE COLOMBIA".
3) A leaf touches the "C" or "CORREOS" and almost touches the first "R" of this same word.
4) There are eight clearly distinct berries on the left branch.
5) The "5" of "5 CENT" doesn't touch the branches.
6) The white lines around the "A" are thin

First forgery of Album Weeds:

(Dot exactly under "S" after "CENT").

The above forgery was also offered by Fournier in his 1914 pricelist (they exist with "FAUX" overprint from a Fournier Album). It was actually made by the forger Spiro though. The second stamp has a typical Spiro cancel, they also exist cancelled with dots. There are no dots behind "E" or "U".

Image taken from a Fournier Album.

Second forgery of Album Weeds:

(Forgery obtained thanks to Bill Claghorn's site)

This forgery is printed more black and blotchy than the genuine stamps. It is said to have been made by the stamp forger Zechmeyer around 1866. In my view, it always has a dot on top of the "T" of "CENT". See: http://www.copaphil.org/Copacarta%20Vol%201-20/VOLUME%2011/40_VOLUME.pdf

Third forgery:

Dot exactly under "S" after "CENT". This is likely the Sartori forgery. The dot after "U" is missing.

How to detect forgeries of the "R" stamp?

The genuine stamps should have:
1) A very short dash (almost a dot) after the "E" of "E.U."
2) The "R" doesn't fit inside the circle and the circle is made bigger at the lower right hans side. The tail of the "R" is just outside the circle.
3) The line inside the "R" is squared off in the upper left corner.
4) The "5" in the lower right hand side is touching the bricks of the center.

Album Weeds mentions 5 forgeries of the "R" stamp. A forgery with "NATIONALES" (with "T" instead of "C" exists).

First forgery:

Spiro forgery; also sold by Fournier. This forgery also exists with a cancel consisting of a pattern of dots. The "-" behind the "E" of "E-U." is too long and the "S" of "NACIONALES" is placed too far away from the star.

Image taken from a Fournier Album.

Second forgery:

Another forgery with the lettering too 'fat' and the first "N" of "NACIONALES" touching the central star. I've also seen it with a typical 'Spiro' cancel (as on the other forgery shown above). Note that the "V" of "CENTAVOS" resembles an inverted "A".

Third forgery:

(Other forgery)

I have my doubts about the next stamp, forgery?:

1869 Triangular stamp

  2 1/2 c black on lilac

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

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

Reprints possibly exist, but I don't know the distinguishing characteristics.

1869 Registration stamp, inscription "ANOTACION" , "R", or "REJISTRO", "A"

  5 c black ("A")
  5 c black ("R")

Different types with different background patterns seem to exist (lines or dotted), but are probably due to the wear of the printing plate.

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

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

There are at least two forgeries of the "A" stamp and four of the "R" stamp.

(Michelsen reprints?)

I've heard of so-called Michelsen reprints. They have a plain background behind the number instead of a lined background (both the "A" and "R" stamp). I think the above stamp is such a Michelsen reprint.

Another 'A' forgery; there is a large dot just outside the design to the top-left of the "C" of "CORREOS". The "C" of "ANOTACION" looks like a "G". This forgery is the first one described in Album Weeds.

A forgery of the "R" stamp.

1881 Registration stamp, inscription "RECOMENDADA", large stamp

  10 c violet

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

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

In 'The Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries' a Fournier forgery of this stamp can be found. It is rather deceptive. I don't know the distinguishing characteristics.

Fournier forgery. Fournier also made cancelled forgeries of the above stamp.

Forgery with the eagle facing in the other direction! It was apparently based on an illustration from a Schaubek Album (or the other way around?).

1883 Registration stamp, inscription "U.P.U.", "EE UU. DE COLOMBIA" and large "R" in an ellipse in the center

  10 c red on yellow

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

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

1887 Inscription "RETARDO"

  2 1/2 c black on grey
  2 1/2 c blue on red (1892, different design)
  5 c violet (1902, different design)

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

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

1889 Registration stamp, inscription "R no."

(Reduced size, picture obtained from http://berg.heim.at/kaprun/430320/01-Lehr/01/06/s_2.htm)

  10 c red
  10 c brown on brown (1892)

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

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

1894 Registration stamp, inscription "A R"

  5 c red

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

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

1902-04 Several postage stamps received an overprint "AR" in a circle in violet or red during this period

Examples:

1902 "AR" in circle, "CORREOS" on top

  5 c blue (1904)
  10 c blue

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

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

1902 Registration label, "R" at left hand side

  10 c violet (different design)
  10 c violet (1904)
  20 c red on blue
  20 c blue on blue

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

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

1904 Registration label, "R" in center

  10 c lilac

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

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

1905 "AR" in fancy letters

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  5 c blue

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

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

1910 "A.R." in upper left and right corners, head of Acevedo Gomez

  5 c orange and green

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

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

1910 Large stamp "R" at left hand side

  10 c red and black

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

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

1914 Arms, inscription "RETARDO"

  2 c brown
  5 c green

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

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

1917 Large stamps "R" at left and right top

(Sorry, no picture available)

  4 c green and blue
  10 c blue

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

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

1919 Postage stamps overprinted "RETARDO" or "Retardo"

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  2 c red 'RETARDO'
  2 c red 'RETARDO' (different stamp)
  2 c red 'Retardo'

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

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

In 1921 some more stamps were overprinted with "Retardo 1921" (5 values); these overprints are R to RR (forged overprints exist!).

Express Delivery Stamp

1917 Inscription "URGENTE", postman

(Sorry, no picture available yet)

  5 c green

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

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

Telegraph stapms

From 1881 to 1906 telegraph stamps (about 50 different stamps) were issued in Colombia.

1881 Inscription "TELEGRAFOS COLOMBIANOS"

Arms (different types)
  5 c violet 
  5 c blue (1882, 2 types '5's different)
  10 c green
  10 c red (1882, 2 types, '10's different)
  20 c red
  20 c blue (1882)
  20 c brown (1886)
  50 c blue on blue
  50 c violet (1882, 2 types)
  1 P black on yellow (imperforate 1901 or perforated 1905)

Portrait of person
  1 P brown on yellow
  1 P black on yellow
  1 P black on green (1882)

1888-1905 Later issues, inscription "TELEGRAFOS NACIONALES" with arms (different designs), imperforate unless otherwise stated

  5 c red (1891)
  10 c brown on yellow ('CENTAVOS' written obliquely)
  10 c brown (arms in circle, 1891)
  10 c brown ('TELEGRAFOS NACIONALES' straight at the bottom, 1896)
  10 c brown on yellow ('TELEGRAFOS' curved at the bottom, 
    imperforate 1901 or perforated 1902)
  10 c brown on lilac (design as 10 c brown on yellow, 
    imperforate 1904 or perforated 1905)
  20 c blue ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' wavy at the bottom)
  20 c blue on blue ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' in ellipse at bottom, 1891)
  20 c blue on green ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' in ellipse at bottom, 1891)
  20 c blue on blue ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' in half circle at bottom, 
    imperforate 1901 or perforated 1905)
  20 c blue on green ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' in half circle at bottom, 
    imperforate 1901 or perforated 1905)
  20 c red on yellow ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' in half circle at bottom, 
    imperforate 1902 or perforated 1904)
  20 c brown on yellow ('VEINTE CENTAVOS' in half circle at bottom, 1902)
  20 c red on lilac ('TELEGRAFOS NACIONALES' horizontal in center, 1904)
  40 c blue on lilac (1904)
  50 c black on brown 
  50 c violet (perforated, 1902)
  60 c brown on red (1904)
  80 c red on blue (1904)
  1 P green on green ('PESO' at the right in green, 1896)
  1 P green on green ('PESO' at the right in white, 1896)
  1 P red on red ('PESO' at the right in white, 
     imperforate or perforated, 1902)
  1 P green on green ('PESO' in white at bottom center, 1904)
  1 P blue on red ('PESO' in white at bottom center, 1906)
  2 P violet on lilac (1904)
  2 P red on green (1906, design as 1904 2 P stamp)
  5 P brown on lilac (imperforate 1904 or perforated 1905)
  5 P red on lilac (1906, design as 5 P 1904 stamp)
  10 P blue on blue (imperforate 1904 or perforated 1905)
  10 P red on blue (1906, design as 10 P 1904 stamp)

Typical pen cancels, this appears to be the most common cancel.

BARRANQUILLA, Local stamps

1882 Inscription "FRANQUEO PARTICULAR BARRANQUILLA"

I've seen the values 5 c green and 5 c brown.

More information concerning these stamps can be found at: http://fuchs-online.com/colombia/express/express23.htm.

Fiscal Stamps

Examples, inscription "TIMBRE NACIONAL":

Airmail Stamps

Some airmail stamps were issued in 1920, sometimes referred to as 'Cartoon issue', examples:

(Probably genuine airmail stamps)

Many of these airmail stamps are known to have been forged. These stamps are rare to extremely rare.

1920 Inscription "SOCIEDAD COLOMBO ALEMANA DE TRANSPORTES AEREOS" (Scadta), picture of a plane in the center

  10 c yellow
  15 c blue
  30 c black on red
  30 c red
  50 c green

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

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

Several surcharges exists (also forged!). This company issued more stamps in 1921 and later.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer