Don't cry for Argentina - 01 b

In my previous post, I have started to explain the main types of the Argentina 'labrador' (plower).
There is a large version (5c and 12c) - as a separate type (Type 0),  and a smaller version (in all denominations) known as Type 1 to 7.

Type 7 is unwatermarked (but hard to distinguish from the accidentaly unwatermarked versions of the Type 1 - 6 stamps.

Types 1 and 2 are the ones with a 'sun' or 'sunbeams' as watermark.

type 1 and 2 'sun watermark'

The French catalogue 'Yvert et Tellier 'only mentions 'sun watermark'.
Luckily most other catalogues are a bit more accurate.

Using dry-cleaning naphta, the watermark reveils easily.
In the picture we see a sun with straight beams and one with undulated beams.

Type 1 : straight beams

Even with only a partly visible watermark, it is not too hard to see whether the beams are straight or undulated.
When the watermark is nicely placed as in the picture above, we can proceed our hunt.

The watermark can be found standing or inverted, in relation to the front image of the stamp.
(this also goes for the Type 2 : undulated sun)
In the image above, both stamps show a standing watermark - to be recognised by the 'nose' of the sun which appears as a -u- in the upright position and as an -ñ- in the inverted position.

Subtypes of the Type 1

sun with straight beams (16)

With a fully visible watermark, it becomes easier to see the face of the sun (here upright) and 16 straight beams. This is the regular version of the stamp.
Also with a partly visible watermark half or even a quarter, you can figure out if the vertical line (beam 1 to 9) is identical to this stamp.
With a quarter visible, you can check the quadrant from beam 1 to 5.

In the event of less beams, you have found  a variation.
Possible are : 14 or 15 beams (Variation1) or 12 or 13 beams (Variation 2) - these are more rare.
A sun with less beams than the normal 16, will show a more ovally shaped face, and not a round one, like in the example above.
The less beams, the more beans, as they are more valuable then the regular ones.

All types (1, 1 v1 and 1 v2) can be found with inverted watermark too - same value.

There are 9 stamps from Type 1 (5c red and 12c blue - were here issued as type 0 (larger version)).
The Argentina catalogue, has way more stamps (i.e. subtypes) than any other catalogue, therefore, the numbering (picture above) is way beyond the common numbering in other catalogues.

Type 2 : undulated beams

From this type, regular and inverted watermarks can be found.

sun with undulated beams (partially covered)

The Argentina catalogue puts the type 2 'labrador' before the type 1, and therefore, the catalogue numbers are before the previous ones.

All stamps are perforated 13 1/4 * 12 1/2 - watch out for the 209 B, perforated 13 1/4

Type 1 and type 2 are German printings.
From type 2, unwatermarked stamps exist too, but here a specialists eye is needed.
Stamps of other issues, on the border of a sheet, can be unwatermarked too.

in my next post, i'll deal with the honey comb watermarks...