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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

COSTA RICA 1883-1920

Return To Catalogue - Costa Rica 1862 issue - Costa Rica miscellaneous

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For the 1862 issue of Costa Rica 1862, click here.

1883 President Fernandez

  1 c green
  2 c red
  5 c lilac
  10 c yellow
  40 c blue

These stamps have perforation 12.

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

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

Fiscal stamps 'TIMBRE PROPORTIONAL' surcharged 'CORREOS'

(Vertical surcharge)

  1 c red
  5 c brown

The 1 c exists with vertical surcharge (instead of horizontal).

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

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

Some fiscal stamps were used as postage stamps without the overprint 'CORREOS': 1 c red and 2 c blue. Value: *.

Fournier forgery of the 10 c value in blue with printed perforation. Image obtained from a 'Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries'. Fournier probably only used this forgery to illustrate his pricelists, and not to deceive collectors.

1887 President Soto, various frames

(Reduced size)

  1 c brown
  2 c blue
  5 c orange
  5 c violet (different design)
  10 c yellow
  10 c brown (different design)
  20 c green
  50 c red
  1 P blue
  2 P lilac
  5 P green
  10 P black

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

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

Fiscal stamps 'TIMBRE PROPORTIONAL' surcharged 'CORREOS' horizontally.

  5 c brown
  10 c blue

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

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

Some typical 'Star' cancels:

Some fiscal stamps were used as postage stamps without the overprint 'CORREOS': 5 c brown and 10 c blue. Value: *.

Postal stationary in a similar design, 5 c blue, reduced size.

Postal stationary exists in a similar, but slightly different design: 5 c blue and 10 c orange.

1892 Arms, various frames

(Reduced size)

  1 c green
  2 c orange
  5 c lilac
  10 c green
  20 c red
  50 c blue
  1 P green on yellow
  2 P brown on grey
  5 P blue on blue
  10 P brown on yellow

A typical 'concentric rings' and 'Davidstar' cancel:

1901 Various designs, inscription '1900'

(Images obtained thanks to Francisco A. Di Napoli)

  1 c green and black (statue of Juan Santamaria)
  2 c red and black (Juan Mora)
  4 c lilac and black (Jose M.Canas)
  5 c blue and black (Puerto Limon)
  6 c olive and black (Julian Volio)
  10 c brown and black (Braulio Carillo)
  20 c red and black (theatre building)
  25 c violet and black (Eusebio Figureoa)
  50 c brown and blue (Jose M.Castro)
  1 Col brown and black (Birris bridge)
  2 Col red and grey (Juan Rafael Mora)
  5 Col brown and black (Jesus Jimenez)
  10 Col green and red (arms)

Surcharged in fancy letters
  'UN CENTIMO' on 20 c red and black

Overprinted '1911'
  1 c green and black (overprint red)

Overprinted 'Habilitado 1911'

  4 c lilac and black

Only the 2 c exists with inverted center (very rare).

1907 Statue (1 c) and famous persons, inscription 'UPU 1907'

(Reduced sizes)

  1 c brown and black
  2 c green and black
  4 c red and blue
  5 c yellow and blue
  10 c blue and black
  20 c green and black
  25 c violet and black
  50 c lilac and blue
  1 Col brown and black
  2 Col red and black

Stamps with horizontal bars are remainders that have been cancelled in this way. In many cases, these remainders are more common than the 'normal' stamps.

Overprinted '1911'

  1 c brown and black
  2 c green and black (overprint large black '** 1911 **')
  2 c green and black (overprint small red '* 1911 *')

Overprinted 'Habilitado 1911'

With remainder cancel: 5 parallel lines

  5 c yellow and blue (overprint blue)
  10 c blue and black

Forged black and red '1911' overprint on 2 c

1910 Statue and famous persons, smaller sized stamps, inscription 'UPU 1909'

(Reduced size)

  1 c brown (soldier)
  2 c green
  4 c red
  5 c orange
  10 c blue
  20 c olive
  25 c violet
  1 C brown

Surcharged
  '+ 5 c' on 5 c orange

Overprinted 'COMPRE UD. CAFE DE COSTA RICA' in a circle
  5 c orange (1923)

A bogus red airmail overprint presumably to be from 1924 on the 1 c value. This bogus issue was prepared in Paris. The overprint also exists inverted.

1911 Various telegraph stamps (14) were overprinted with 'Correos' in 1911

Similar stamp with forged inverted 'Correos' overprint

Misprint' Coereos' instead of 'Correos'

  'Correos Un centimo' (red or black) on 10 c blue; value red overprint:c, black overprint:RR
  'Correos Un centimo' on 25 c violet; value: c
  'Correos Un centimo' (blue) on 50 c red; value: *
  'Correos Un centimo' (red) on 1 C brown; value: *
  'Correos Un centimo' (blue) on 5 C red; value: **
  'Correos Un centimo' (red) on 10 C brown; value: **
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' on 5 c yellow; value: ***
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' (red) on 10 c blue; value: RR
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' on 50 c red; value: *
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' on 1 C brown; value: *
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' on 2 C red; value: *
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' on 5 C green; value: *
  'Correos Dos centimos 2' on 10 C brown; value: *
  'Correos 5 5 centimos'(blue) on 5 c orange; value: c 

Various misprints exist 'Coereos' instead of 'Correos'; inverted overprints and double overprints.

Similar overprint of 1929: 'CORREOS 13 CENTAVOS' on 40 c green, inverted and non-inverted overprint, genuine? A 'CORREOS 5 CENTIMOS' overprint was also applied to a 2 c red telegraph stamp (the '5' exists in five types).

I've also seen a telegraph stamp (50 c blue) with overprint 'IMPORTACION LICORES 10 Cts. 3/4 LITRO'.

1921 Centenary of coffee culture 'CENTENARIO DEL CULTIVO DEL CAFE'

  5 c blue and black (exists in tete-beche).

1921 Bolivar, inscription 'UPU 1921'

  15 c violet

With overprint 'CORREOS 1922'
  15 c violet

1921 Centenary of the independence '1821 1921'

  2 c orange and black
  3 c green and black
  5 c violet
  6 c red and black
  15 c blue and black
  30 c brown and black

1922 Stamps of 1910-21 overprinted 'CAFE DE COSTA RICA'

With inverted overprints

1 c brown (blue overprint), 2 c green (red overprint), 4 c red, 5 c orange, 10 c blue (red or blue overprint), 15 c violet (gold overprint).

The values 1 c, 4 c, 10 c and 15 c exist with inverted overprint (see image above).

1925 Onwards, not implemented.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer