Don't cry for Argentina - 01 a

I recently got focussed on my Argentina collection of stamps.
There is a lot of good and illustrated information online on classic Argentinian stamps.

In my first set of posts about Argentina, I will try to help you through a very common stamp, known as 'el labrador' 'the plower' - not the dog.
The stamp is similar to the french 'la semeuse', 'the sower'

La semeuse - France 1903

The plower is part of a rather limited number of stamps, issued in a limited time frame.

Unlike the French 'semeuse' which was repeated over and over again.

el Labrador - the plower - Argentina 1911-1912

Yet there are many interesting variations to be discovered in this inexpensive set.

So grab that box of Argenina items, and hunt for the 'labrador' stamps.
To make it easy, check the front side of the stamp.

It is always easier to compare multiple stamsp, then to examinate one single item.

The first selection can be made on the size of the stamp.
Is it a large stamp or a smaller one? 

If you only have one item, check if there is a signature at the bottom of the stamp or not. If so, you have the first issue (Type 0) - which only came as a 5c (red) and a 12c (blue).

Easy peasy so far.

All other values (but also the 5c red and the 12c blue) come in the smaller stamp.

For further investigation, we'll have to see for the watermark on the stamps.

Although most stamps have a clearly visible watermark, I use dry-cleaning naphta to help me out.

dry-cleaning naphta

If you are not familiar with the product (harmless for stamps - even mint stamps - but to be used with caution, in a ventilated area, as it evaporates at room temperature - and don't use open fire or smoke nearby the product !)

Use the product in a dark dish or lid - not too wide, as the larger the surface is, the faster it will evaporate.

Instantly the watermark will reveil and few seconds later the stamp will be dry again, without any damage to stamp or gum.

Now there are 3 possible watermarks to be discovered :

• a sun / sunbeams 
• honeycomb stucture
• noting at all

The watermarked stamps are easy to disover, the ones without watermark are the tricky ones, as theoretically they can be a type on their own, or be a subtype of the watermarked versions.

sun watermark or honeycomb structure

stamp without watermark

The first two types (sun and honeycomb) will be discussed in my next post.
The 'unwatermarked' stamp is subject to specialist.

Ther is a number of stamps that were issued withouth watermark (called Type 7).
But all watermarked stamp sheets, have also unwatermarked stamps. Those stamps occur on the border of each sheet, and miss the watermark 'by accident'.

In the event you find a pair of stamps from a watermarked type, there is a small chance you have pair, with one with watermark,  and one without watermark.

Pairs or multiples without watermark have a bigger chance to be of the 'Type 7'- group.

Types 1 - 6 will be explained in my next post...