Brazil : 02a Early issues - transition to the republic

Emperor Don Pedro II ruled over Brasil until 1889, when the army took over power.
In the last years of his reign, a set of stamps were issued without the image of the emperor.

There are several designs in this set.
The first design is quite simple, a number in a circle.
But there's more to discover than you would expect.

20 Reis

The 20 reis stamp came in two versions.
The first issued stamp (1884) is in dark green, also called 'russian green'.
Although it's not an expensive stamp, I only have a damaged copy.

Scott BR 0087

A similar stamp was emitted in 1887 in olive to yellowish-olive. This stamp is a bit cheaper, but there's something about the stamp that makes it a valuable variation.

Under the 20, the "R"  of reis is shown.
In the 1887 version, there is a "dot" in the "R". Although also an 'undotted' version exists.
The catalogues warn us, as only genuine stamps with a certificate (and without a dot of course) are to be trusted.

I discovered a both a dotted as an undotted R in my collection, but since there's no according certificate, I can't tell for sure if it's a variation or a forged reprint. Above that, the cancel on the stamp makes it less easy to get a closer look on the stamp.
Luckily, a scanner and a computer made it easier for me...

Scott BR 0087a var?

Scott BR 0087a with a dot

Right is the 'normal' one, with the dot.
Let's have a closer look :

without dot?

with dot

comparing positions

The 1884 (bluish green) has no dot. With chemicals it is possible to turn it into an undotted olive green version. The 'undotted' 1887 version has a value up to 8 times the value of a stamp with dot.
The stamp I have might be a fake one, but therefore I need to let it examined by an expert.

50 Reis

Similar to the 20 reis stamp,  a 50 reis stamp was emitted in 1887.
This stamp is ultramarin blue. The number 50 and the "R", are coloured on a white field.

Scott BR 0093

700 Reis

For the 700 reis the circle around the number is more like a flower.
Together with the 1000 reis, this is a key value for the whole set.  (for the mint stamps, the 1000 reis and the 'dotted' 20 reis are the key values).

Unfortunatly, my copy of the 700 reis is damaged as well. Nevertheless I'm posting it, so you can all have a look at this nice violet stamp that was emitted in October 1888.

Scott BR 0097 - damaged

Brazil : 01d Early issues - Dom Pedro II

In 1878, a two coloured stamp was issued.
Again a younger version of the emperor, since the beard appear more colourful then the previous emission.

There was only one stamp of this type in circulation, but the catalogue mentions 2 version, one on normal paper and one on very thin paper.
This last one was found much later, when the stamp was already redrawn from postal use.
Therefore, the 'thin' stamps are only found mint (some even without gum).

300 reis (scott 0078)

I'm skipping some stamps now, but I'll come back on them on my next posting.
First I'm showing the 1883 and 1884 issue, which was the last set of stamps depicting the emperor.

In 1883 two very similar stamps of 100 reis were printed (one in March, one in April).
Scott even mention 3 types of the stamp.
The difference is in the background behind the head of emperor Dom Pedro II.

scott 0090, type I and type II

Type I shows a background of horizontal lines

detail scott 0090 T I

Type II shows a background of diagonal crossed lines

detail scott 0090 T II

Type III shows a plain filled background (no pic)

The local brazilian catalogue doesn't mention this third variation, but in later reprints, in black, a third version indeed is mentionned. Maybe the plate that was used, wasn't very clean at the time of printing, so that the colour filled more or less the full background.
In the black reprint, this 'dirty'plate will be more responsible for the 'filled' background of this third stamp.

Finally, in 1884,  the last stamp depicting the emperor was emitted.
Again it's a 100 reis stamp, in the same, dull pink colour.
Now the emperor is shown a bit older again.

scott 0091

Next time, the stamps of 1881-88.