Theme : 1st issues : 08b Colombia (Dept. Bolivar)

Between 1863 and 1904, the 9 states and the 3 territories have issued their own stamps. From 1904 on, all stamps are issued under 'Colombia'.

State of Bolívar - Colombia

For the state Bolívar (North Colombia), Michel mentions 73 issues.
Here the first issue of 1863 is truely a very special issue.

Colombia - state Bolívar 1863

The green version is nr. 1 - nr 2 is a 10 cents red and nr 3 is a 1 peso red.
When we have a closer look underneath the coat of arms, we see 6 stars. This indicates the cheapest (?) version of the stamp. The same stamp with 5 stars only, quadruples the catalogue value!

6 stars under the CoA - Michel 1 I

The stamp of 10 cents, measures 6 x 8 mm only and exist even cut into 2 on letters (used as 5 cents).
This makes this stamp... the smallest stamp in the world (known 2017).

Certificate of authenticity - 1974

With a catalogue value of € 750, this stamp of less then 1 cm² ... is, compared to its size, more valuable than gold.

Theme : 1st issues : 08a Colombia (Dept. Bolivar)

For the next 1 issue, a short overview of the history of Central/South America between 1819 and 1863.
The country, currently known as Colombia, was Spanish posession in 1819.
Simón Bolívar, who had concurred the remaining Spanish rulers, united the republic of Venezuela and the viceroyalty Nueva Granada (part of the kingdom of Peru) with the current Colombia, Ecuador, parts of Panama. Bolívar named it República de Colombia (later named Grand-Colombia to destinguish from the current county Colombia).

Territory of Grand-Colombia (1819)

The union only lasted till 1830, and due to internal disagreements, and Ecuador and Venezuela left the group. What remained, was named New-Granada, consisting in Colombia, Panama, parts of Venezuela, Ecuador, and even Brazil, Peru and Costa Rica.

Flag of New-Granada (1819-1830)

At the end of this era, one, then two more, later 5 more, and finally one last independent state was created
This republic, New Granada, dissolved into the Confederation Granadine, in 1858.
The States were :
Panama (1855), Antioquia and Santander (1856) - Bolívar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Magdalena (1857) and Tolima (1861) - used to be in the Cundinamarca state before.

Situation in 1858

From 1863 on, we speak of the United States of Colombia (including 9 'states' and 3 territories: Caquetá Territory, San Martin Territory and Nevada and Motilones Territory.

At this point of time, the first stamps were being issued in the area....
And that will be for my next entry :-)

Theme : 1st issues : 06 Costa Rica

Costa Rica, a country situated between Nicaragua and Panama in Central America, issued its first stamps from 1862 on.

The first set of stamps consists of 4 (or 5) stamps, and 3 forgeries.

The official stamps, 1/2 (medio) réal is considered according Michel Catalogue to be n° 1, altough they were issued in 1863 and in 1875 -  blue or dark blue.
A 2 réal stamp equaly was issued in 1863, the 4 réal and 1 peso (orange) stamps appeared a year later.
2 and 3 cent and 1 Peso (brown) are fanasy prints.

Michel states that there are two versions of the 1 stamp (aparently both in the 1863 and 1875 printing).
The difference can be found in the background of the image :

Costa Rica 1 - without lines

Costa Rica 1 - with lines

Its clear that one stamp has horizontal lines behind the five stars, the other stamp doesn't have those lines.
It raises the question of there were 2 different plates of the stamp, where on one of the plates the lines were missing, or added afterwards.
However it's more likely that the background lines were supposed to be on all stamps, but worn out plates made later stamps look incomplete.

A nice example I found on another stamp, where have of the image shows a background without lines, the other (darker) half, the lines are clearly visible again.

Costa Rica 1 - with and partly without lines

Another nice thing about this last stamp is, that in on the side, the printing company is mentionned: American Bank(Note Company).

This first set of stamps is very cheap, but good quality of cancellations is not easy to find.
Cancels 'SAN JOSE - COSTA RICA - 10 EN '83 are forgeries.