Don't cry for Argentina 2a - General José de San Martín

Similar to the 'labrador' issue, the second large series of Argentina is the one depicting General José de San Martín.
They were roughly issued between 1917 and 1927.
Most catalogues only mention the main types, and the Argentina catalogue mentions zillions of subtypes, paper varieties, ...
Therefore I made a determination table to distinguish the most common variations.

The idea is simple, start at the top, if the answer is YES, follow the green line, if the answer is NO, follow the red line, until you reach the according (sub)type. I used the Argentinian numbering, as they mention most types.
The table can be useful for other catalogues too, if you alter the catalogue numbers of course.

Determination table 'José de San Martín

So, let's start at the top:
The stamps to determinate are of course the ones depicting General José de San Martin (in a rectangled frame - not in an oval frame).
First image is an open background, second image is a full colour background.

We follow first the 'green line' and come to the second question... does the stamp mentions '1816-1916' or not?
If 'yes', we arrive at the first type of stamps, if 'no' we continue to the next question.

Left we see '1816-1916' at below the image, right we see 'CENTAVOS' (or PESO).
The 1816-1916 stamps got catalogue numbers 282-290.
For the second type (more common), we go to the next question.
Is the watermark a vertical hexagon (honey comb)?

vertical hexagon

If 'yes' we found the second group (N°s 291-298), if 'not' we contintue again.
Is the watermark a horizontal hexagon?

horizontal hexagon

If yes, there we have the third group (N°s 299-312), if 'not' we keep on searching...

4th question now is, if there is no watermark at all...

no watermark

for 'yes' (there is NO watermark), we end up in group 4a : N°s 314-320 or 4b : N°s 383/84.

If there is a watermark, but not the hexagons we discussed before, the watermark is some kind of 'sun' or it is a text.

First we answer the question, is it a 'sun'?

multiple sun

RA sun

All 'suns' lead to the 'yes' side, all others (texts or partial texts) leads to the 'no' side.
New question : do we see a 'multiple sun', like the 1st picture above (sun with a face)?
If 'yes' we are in the 5th group of stamps N°s 339-345.
If no, check if the sun has RA in stead of a face (see 2nd picture above).
Do we hear a 'yes' , then it is group 6 (N°s 373-378).
If there is no RA but a different type of sun, we have a 'fiscal sun' and group 7 (N°s 350-354)

fiscal sun

If the watermark is no sun at all, but something that looks like text, we have two more possibilities:
If the text looks like SERRA BOND it is type 8 (N°s 326-328), if the text looks like Wheatley Bond, it's the last, 9th group (N°s 329-337)

SERRA BOND watermark

Wheathley Bond watermark

Without any doubt, these watermarks can be difficult to distinguish.
In my next post, I'll explain more about the 'General José de San Martín' with plain background.
Stamps that were not discussed in this article.

to be continued...

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 : Zodiac signs 18

In this post, I show a set of 12 precanceled stamps of France.
Precanceled stamps are mainly definitive stamps with an overprint, issued as 'canceled' before being attached to mail.
They are often offered to companies who need lots of stamps for sending their mailings, and the precanceled stamps are bought in larger quantities by those companies.

Some countries have stamps with city or district names on the overprint (like USA, Belgium, ...)
and were often used on newspaper wrappers (also in Canada, Austria and the UK).

French precanceled stamps (often called : preo's) are overprinted with 'AFFRANCH(issemen)ts POSTES"
The French precanceled stamps are unique, as they were printed in thematic sets, such as beetles, mushrooms, .... and often came in sets of 4 or multiples of 4.
Very convenient if you want to depict 4 seasons, 4 suits of cards, ... or 12 months, 12 zodiac signs,...

For this post of course, I bring the 12 western zodiac signs from the issues 1977-78.

This set was not issued at once, but came in 3 sets of 4.

Gemini - highest value in the set

In the north western corner, we find a symbol for the zodiac sign, the stars on each stamp are put randomly this time.
In the south eastern corner, we find the precancel in black.
These stamps do not exist without the precancel.

Theme : Zodiac signs 17

Hong Kong has a long tradition of zodiac sign stamps.
Most series exists of one specific stamp each year (each series having 12 stamps), but - for commercial reasons - often stamps are also printed in sheetlets.
Hong Kong often issues more then just the single stamp.

In 2012, a set of 12 small stamps were issued, on the western zodiac signs.
Not that common, as mostly Chinese astrology is depicted.
Maybe that is the reason why the set is quite modest.

The design is kept simple and the stamps have no excessive gold or silver overprints, nor is the emission printed on silk.
All stamps have the same value of 1,40 HK$ (16 eurocent or 17 dollarcent).

When we take a closer look at the individual stamp, we see clockwise, from NW corner :
the Chinese name of the sign, the Latin name (here Gemini), the stellar constellation, the year of printing, and finally on the bottom line, Honk Kong, China (in English and Chinese) and the value in Hong Kong Dollars.

This simple set comes in stripes of 6 stamps each.
A nice and inexpensive addition to my collection.

Theme : Volkswagen Beetle - 22

Cars are a commonly collected topic in theme collections.
Searching for specific cars, reduces the stack of stamps worldwide issued a lot.
As for my thematic collection, I limit myself to my love for Volkswagen Beetles.

In this article, I show you a sheet of Finland, with 10 stamps, all depicting historic police cars.
The sheetlet has 10 different 1st class stamp. Each depicting a historic police car.
Each stamp bears the number "1" - the basic rate of a simple 1st class stamp
(at the day of issue : € 1,65 each).

car types on the reverse side

10 personalised stamps with police cars

The reverse side of the sheetlet, shows the names of the type of the cars

1 Volvo PV 444.	2 Renault Goelette.
3 Moskvitsh Elite.	4 Peugeot 403.
5 Volvo Amazon Sport.	6 Porsche 356B.
7 Plymouth Valiant.	8 Plymouth Fury.
9 Volkswagen Kupla.	10 Saab 99 GL.

Porsche 365B

Volkswagen Beetle

The stamps were issued in 2008 and are personalised stamps.
Personalised stamps are printed on behalf of a private company, institution, organisation, and for Finland, (but also for the Netherlands, Belgium, ....) have a similar lay out.
This to make it easy recognisable as a 'personalised' stamp.
Since they are printed by the officially recognised postal services, the stamps can be used for regular use.

lay out of a Finnish personalised stamp

The sheet of 10 stamps are quite simple in design, but the sober design give the stamps a certain style.

More to follow...

Theme : Zodiac signs 16

This post can be considered as controversial, as I am presenting today a set of 'stamps' from Ajman.
Ajman is the smallest of the 7 states within the United Arab Emirates.

map of the United Arab Emirates - source Wikipedia

Ajman issued - officially recognised - stamps in 1964 an 1965. All later issues are to be considered as private issues, or at least not recognised issues.
On top of that, most of Ajmani stamps are CTO, there are numerous variations with unperforated versions, colour (mis-)prints, gold foil prints and so on....

Even after the unification with the other sultanats, Ajman (and the other Emirates) kept on issuing those colourful pagefillers. A fun thing for youngsters to collect, but a no-go for real collectors.
On official exhibitions, you even loose points if Ajman items appear in any official collection.

Yet I'm offering you a set today with 12 st... err.. items on my Zodiac topic collection.

12 Ajman issues on Zodiac signs

For those who like this, or those who cannot throw anything away like me :-)

more, and better to follow....

Odd stamps : 02e Silver / golden stamps

Estonia is one of the three Baltic states, and is therefore often named together with Latvia and Lithuania. It is the most northern Baltic Republic.
The language of Estonia however is more related to Finnish, than to the other two countries.

The country has a long history, and they declared their independency already in 1918, by the end of the first world war. Its true independency was rather short, as it came under Russian influence.
In their attempt to fight for an own republic, they fought with Germany against Russia.
This resulted in being put under Russian influence after the war.
In 1990, the Sovet Union dissolved and many states regained their independency again.
So happened in 1991 with Estionia.

The silver € 10 stamp, commemorates the (1st) independency of 1918.

€ 10 silver stamp Estonia 2018

Silver is vulnerable to oxygen, and therefore, the stamp is issued in a plastic box.

At the back of the stamp, a sticker is placed to make the stamp adhesive.
Opening the box, in order to use the stamp, would result in discolouration, and lost of the image at the front of the stamp.
The image is rather simple, we see the coat of arms of Estonia, and 100 written as 18.

This special stamp has a limited edition of only 40,000 copies.
They were printed at the Dutch printing office of Joh. Enschedé.
For the design of the stamp, all credits go to Indrek Ilves.

Indrek Ilves, showing an enlarged stamp

Estonia celebrates its independency day on Febrary 24.

Theme : Stamps on Stamps (postal services related stamps) - 04

Letter boxes on stamps, they are double as interesting as they show stamp history on stamps.
Greek postal services issued a set of 4  (8) stamps on this topic, to commemorate 190 years of the founding of the Hellenic Post, by the first Governor of Greece, Ioannis Kapodistrias.
Underneath the letter boxes, we see, in greek capital letters : "190 χρόνια ελληνικά ταχυδρομεία";
which means as much as 190 years of Greek (Hellenic) post.

4 stamps printed in sheets of 5 x 5 stamps, perforation is 13,75 x 13,75
€ 0,10 - 500,000
€ 0.50 - 1,000,000
€ 0.72 - 500,000
€ 2.62 - 1,000,000

the 'regurar' stamps come in full colour:

A week later, the same stamps were issued in a sheetlet of 8 (2 of each), with another perforation 13,25 x 13,25. This sheetlet was printed by Cartor Security Printing
They come in a sheet of 4 - so each stamp twice.

sheet of 2 x 4 greec letter boxes

The letter boxes are printed in gold/bronze emobssed printing, and only 10,000 sheetlets were made.

detail of 4 Greek letter boxes