Don't cry for Argentina - 01 c

A second group of Argentina 'labrador' stamps, are  those with the honeycomb watermark.

There are two version, each with two sub versions.
The main difference between those stamps, is whether the honeycomb is placed vertically, or horizontally.

vertically placed honeycombs or horizontally placed honeycombs

Type 3 or 5

When we see the honeycomb (or hexagonal) placed vertically, we need to check if it's type 3 or 5.
Type 3 (and later also type 4) are German printings, type 5 (and later also type 6) are Italian printings.

1st bold hexagonals - 2nd fine hexagonals

The difference between type 3 (or 4) and 5 (or 6) lays in the thickness of the hexagonals.
In most cases the German types are easily to recognise, as the watermark is clearly visible.
The hexagonals appear as broad, fat, rounded, where the Italian hexagonals (type 4 and 6) are more refinded, thin, angular.

If the watermark isn't clearly 'narrow and fine' we're dealing with a German printing (type 3 or 4)
If the watermark is more difficult to see without a watermark detector, clearly angular and fine, it's the Italian printing (type 5 or 6)

Type 3 (vertical - broad)

 

Type 5 (vertical - small)

Type 4 or 6

Same remarks as above, but now the hexagonals are placed horizontally.
The Italian printings are more fine as can be seen in the picture.

1st bold hexagonals - 2nd fine hexagonals

Type 4 (horizontal - broad)

Type 6 (horizontal - small)

to be continued ...

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...

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...

Theme : Esperanto 10b - Belgian postcards

In my previous post on the Esperanto postcards, I spoke of a set of 20 different cards.
This is what I presume, as i have card n°20. But after a bit of search, I found that there must be at least 24 cards. Unfortunatly I don't have all the cards in this set.

In the first post, I showed some of the animation around the 7th International congress of Esperanto, that was held in the Belgian city 'Antwerp' (or : Antverpeno, in Esperanto).

Apparently there was a kind of cinderella stamp in use to promote the 7th International Congress.
I don't have that stamp in my collection, but I found it in the internet and I'm sharing it with you.

cinderella to promote the Esperanto congress - not in my posession

Well, back to the postcards...
There are many missing in my collection, but I'm sharing those I have.

Group photo after the Red Cross Performance - Card 4

card 13 - during the congress

View of the Gerneral  Assembly in the big hall of the Royal Zoological Garden in Antwerp

Card 20 - gathering after the convention with the international guests

Anyone who can provide me the other cards in this set, please contact me.

Theme : Esperanto 10a - Belgian postcards

As I'm posting already so many stamps, ... some postcards for a change.
But of course, I will stick to my topic: Esperanto.

The cards I'm posting now are not just cards with 'Esperanto' on it, or a green star (verda stelo) somewhere in the corner. No it's a set of postcards issued for a special occasion.
In 1911 the seventh international Esperanto congress was held in Antwerp (Belgium).

On that occasion, a set of (at least) 20 postcards with Esperanto text were issued.

As the cards I have are without any stamp, it's not clear if they are really from 1911 or reprints of a later date.
The cards show scenes of the events in and around the congress area, where at the time, a lot of events took place in the city of Antwerp.
For example, the international Red Cross was present and showed the people their skills.
It's a bit funny to see them dressed in the old days' costumes, as they don't accelerate the speed of intervention.

I don't have the complete set, and I presume there are 20 different cards, so if anyone can help me finding the missing ones.... please let me know

Card 1 - Nurses of the Red Cross, in uniform

Cards 2 and 3 - role play, red cross in action

Card 16 - after the intervention of the Red Cross

Card 16 detail : "you certainly will get better, friend"

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