Colombia

1910 Colombian Independence Centenary 2c scarlet

Quick History
Colombia is on the northwest coast of South America. The Capital is Bogota, and the population was 9,500,000 in 1942. The State of Greater Colombia was formed in 1810, gaining independence from Spain along with Venezuela and Ecuador. In 1832, the state split into Venezuela, Ecuador, and the Republic of New Granada. Subsequently, stamps were issued by the Granadine Confederation (1859-60), the United States of New Granada (1861), the United States of Colombia (1862-1886), and then the Republic of Colombia (1886-present). Of philatelic interest, the individual States as sovereign governments under the United States of Colombia, also issued their own stamps. Even after the Republic was formed in 1885, the individual States retained some rights; and stamps were issued by them as late as 1904.

1902 Scott 266 2c black on rose

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue '97, with 7 pages covering regular, air post (Colombia government issues), and postal tax categories, has 206 stamp spaces. The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 400 regular, 37 air post (Colombia government issues), and 13 postal tax major descriptions, for a total of 450 major stamp descriptions. Coverage by Big Blue for these categories is 46%.

With over 200 stamp spaces, one can hardly argue that the coverage is meager. But Big Blue ignores whole categories of stamps that any collector with a passing interest in Colombia should have. The most egregious absence are the Colombian States. I will say very little about it here, as I will have a separate blog about this category.
 But the other large area missing are non government issued, but government endorsed air post stamps produced from 1920-1932 by "SCADTA". This was a group of German and Colombian  businessmen that desired reliable air post service, and managed to obtain the monopoly, both domestically and internationally. This is a very interesting part of air mail philatelic history; yet Big Blue has no stamp spaces for SCADTA issues. The 2011 Scott Classic catalogue devotes over four pages to these issues! I found 36 stamps (<$1-$2+)-listed under "additionals" -that the Big Blue collector could add to their collection.

In addition, there are a LOT of inexpensive early Colombian stamps left out of Big Blue. Some 40 stamps from the 19th century are listed under "additionals".

Finally, Colombia has a lot of "Back of the Book" stamps and categories. Big Blue does carry some Postal Tax issues, but the '69 editors dropped Late Fee,City of Bogata, Registration, Acknowledgement of Receipt,and Special Delivery stamps. Actually, the '69 and '97 Big Blue collector might be grateful that the Special Delivery (E1) stamp was dropped, as the price is well north of $50.  :-)

The other curiosity is that many of the early Colombians through 1904 were issued in multiple perforation formats: imperforated, sewing machine perforation, and regular perforation. In fact Scott often, but not always, recognizes the Imperf variety as the major number; relegating the perforated and/or "sewing machine perf" to a minor number. For these issues, I will call your attention to the minor number varieties with a note indicating their existence and generally higher prices, but will concentrate on the major numbers and their cost.

Additionals... (69 regular, 45 air post, 49 BOB)
1865-68 Imperf
38,42,48,56, ($2+-$10+)

(1869-74) Imperf
59,62,63,66,67,68,69, ($1+-$10+)

1877 Imperf
75,79,95,96,97,($1+-$2+)

1883 Imperf "redrawn"
112,113,114,115, ($1+-$2+)

1883-86
125,126,127,128,($5+)

1886-88 Perf
134,135,136,137, ($1+-$2+)

1892 Perf
158,159,($2+)

1899 Perf
165($1+)

1900 Perf
175,176,177,178,179,180,181,182,183,184,($5+)

1902 Imperf, sewing machine perf
255,256,($2+)

(1904) Types of 1902 Pelure paper Imperf
308(<$1)

1917
346,347,348,(<$1)

1918 surcharged in red
351,352,(<$1)

1920-21
366,367,($2+)

1921 surcharged in red
369,370,(<$1-$2+)

1924 surcharged in red
377($1+)

1926-29
400,401,402,403,404,405,(<$1-$2+)

1932 surcharged
409,410,(<$1)

1935 surcharged
440($1+)

1935-36
441,442,(<$1)

1939
468,470,474,(<$1-$2+)

1940
492($1+)

Air Post
Issued by Sociedad Colombo-Alemania de Transportes Aeros (SCADTA)
Under government contract and sanction from 1920-32, SCADTA issued stamps and had Post Offices for both internal and international mail. The letters had to bear government stamps also.

1921
C25,C26,C27,C28,C29,C30,($1+-$2+)

1923-28
C38,C39,C40,C41,C42,C44,C45,C47($2+), (<$1 eN)

1929
C55,C56,C57,C58,C59,C60,C61,C62,C63($2+),C64($2+),(<$1 eN)

SCADTA-Consular overprints
To encourage foreign mail to Colombia, these stamps could be bought at Colombian consular offices and trade missions. One or two letter overprints were applied indicating the country of origin.

United States (E.U.)
1923 June 4
CLEU50,CLEU51,CLEU52,CLEU54,CLEU55,($2+)

Belgium (B)
1923 Aug 1
CLB2,CLB4,($2+)

Germany, Austria etc (A)
1923 June 4
CLA25,CLA26,CLA27,CLA28,CLA29,($2+)

Colombia Government Issues
1932 overprinted
C84,C85,C86,C87,C88,C89, (<$1-$2+)

1934
C111($2+)

Air Post registration stamps (issued by SCADTA)
1923-32
CF1,CF5,($1+)

Registration stamps
1870-1925
F3,F4,F8,F9,F10,F11,F12,F13,F17,F19,F20,F21,F22,F24,F25,(<$1-$2+)

Acknowledgement of Receipt stamps
1893-1903
H1,H2,H3,H16,H19,($2+)

Late Fee stamps
1886-1914
I1,I2,I3,I4,I6,I7,($2+)

Department stamps
1909
L1,L2,L3,L4,L9,L10,L11,L12,L15,L16,L22,($2+)

Local stamps for the city of Bogota
CX1,CX2,CX3,($1+)

Official stamps
1937
O1,O2,O3,O4,O5,O10,O11,O12,O13,(<$1)

1902 Medellin Issue Scott 257 1c green on straw

Big Blue Checklist
United States of Colombia
1865-68 Imperf
35($5+), 46($5+), 54($1+),55($1+), 57($10+)
Note: Three issues: 1856 Scott 35-42; 1866 Scott 45-52; 1868 Scott 53-57.

1877 Imperf
73($2+) or 93($10+) or 80($60+)
74(<$1) or 94($2+) or 81($60+)
Note: 1877 Scott 73-74 wove paper; 1876-79 Scott 80-81 laid paper; 1881 Scott 93-94 blue wove paper.
Note : included 1876-79 and 1881 issues as choices, as only difference is type of paper.

1881 Imperf
103,104,106,107,108,109,110, ($1+-$2+)
Note: 1883 Scott 112-115 "redrawn" not included as choices. See "additionals"

1883 Perf
116,117,118,119,120,122, ($1+-$2+)
Blank space: suggest 123($1+)

Republic of Colombia
1886-88 Perf
129,133,130,131,141*, (<$1-$1+)
*Note: actually 1899

1890-97 Perf
142,143,144,146,($1+-<$1)
Two blank spaces: suggest 147($2+), 155(<$1)
152(<$1)

1892 Perf
148,149*($40+) or 150, 151,153,154,156, 157, (<$1)
*Note: 149 is 2c red/rose, while 150 is 2c green.

1899 Perf
162,163,(<$1)
Blank space: suggest 164 (<$1)

1901 purple & rose overprint Sewing machine Perf
185,186,187,188, ($1+)

1902 magenta overprint Sewing machine or regular Perf
189,190,191,192,193,($1+-$2+)

1902-04 Barranquilla issues Imperf*
2c green: 194($1+)
2c dark blue*: 195($1+)
10c (Illustrated)* : 197 scarlet($1+) or 201 claret($1+) or 198 orange($10+) or 240 dark blue/lilac($5+) or 241 dark blue/bluish($2+) or 242 dark blue/brown($2+) or 243 dark blue/salmon($70+) or 244 dark blue/greenish blue($10+) or 245 dark blue/deep rose($2+)
10c rose: 199($1+)
10c maroon: 200($1+)
20c (Illustrated): 202 violet($2+) or 203 dull blue($5+) or 204 dull blue/pink($120+) or 205 carmine rose ($10+)
*Note: Imperf is the major number, but the issues also exist as sewing machine perf /perf 12 with minor numbers for generally higher values. See Scott for details.
*Note: 10c (Illustrated): BB's space could be filled by 18 stamp major/minor numbers! (Imperf or sewing machine perf/perf12). Also Scott 240-245 is laid paper.
*Note: "dark blue" specified for 2c; 196 2c rose ($20+) is ruled out for color.

(1902-04) Imperf*
209* or 210, 211* or 213 or 214, 212, 215, ($2+)
1p (Illustrated: 216 yellow brown($1+) or 217 rose($2+) or 218 blue($2+) or 219 violet($20+)
*Note Imperf: Also exists as minor number Perf 12 for higher values.
*Note: 209 is 5c blue, 210 is bister
*Note: 211 is 50c yellow, 213 is scarlet, 214 carmine.

1902-04 Medellin Issue Perf*
257,258,259,260,261,262($2+)(<$1 eN*)
Blank space: suggest 263($2+)
*Note Perf: Also exists as minor number Imperf for higher values.
* eN=except noted

1902 regular issue Imperf*
266,267,268,269,270,271* or 288,272,(<$1-$1+)
*Note Imperf: Also exists as minor number sewing machine perf & as perf 12 for higher values.
*Note 271 50c dark green/rose, 288 blue/rose

Types of 1902 Imperf*
284,285,286,(<$1)
*Note Imperf: Also exists as minor number sewing machine perf & as perf 12 for higher values.

(1904) Types of 1902 Pelure paper Imperf*
303,304*,306,307,(<$1-$1+)
*Note Imperf: Also exists as minor number perf  for higher values.
*Note 304 is 1c "blue green" in Scott, "green" in BB.

1904-08 Perf*
314,315 or 326, 316,317 or 328, 318 or 329, 319,(<$1)
Blank space: suggest 320($2+)
Note: 1904 Scott 314-322 is perf 12 and imprint "Lit. J.L.Arango Medilin.Col"; 1908 Scott 325-330 is not perf 12, height of design is higher,and imprint "Lit. Nacional".
Note: 1908 issue: BB rules out some because of specified color.
*Note Perf: Scott 314-320 exists as Imperf with minor numbers for higher values; while Scott 314-319 also exists "redrawn" as a minor number. See Scott for details.

1910 "Bolivar demanding liberation of  Slaves" Perf
331,332,333,334,(<$1)
Blank space: suggest 335($2+)

1917
339,340,341,342,343,344,345,(<$1)

1918
358(<$1)

1920
359(<$1)

1920-21
360,361,362,363,364,365($1+),(<$1 eN)

1923-24 (type of 1917-21)
371,372,373,374,(<$1)

1924
379,380,(<$1)

1925 surcharged/overprint
382 or 384($5+), 383 or 385, (<$1)
Note: 382-383 Waterlow & sons; 384-385 ABNC, perf 12.
Note: BB's illustration shows Waterlow & Sons, but I include ABNC also.

1926 Litho
395,396,(<$1)

1930
408(<$1)

1932-38
411,412,415,413,414,416,(<$1)

1339
417,418,419,(<$1)

1934
420(<$1)

1935
437,438,(<$1)

1935 (III Olimpiada 1935)
421,423,424,422,(<$1-$1+)
425,426,427,428,($1+-$2+)
429,430,($5+)
RA1*($1+)
*Note RA1: 1935 5c olive black & scarlet "Greatest Mother": Yes, a Postal Tax stamp space among the 1935 regular issues. RA1 also has a more appropriate space in BB's Postal tax section.

1937
443,444,445,447*($20+),446,(<$1-$1+ eN)
*Note 447 1p black "runner": Most expensive stamp of the designated spaces for BB's Colombia.

1937-38
448(<$1),449($2+),461($1+)
450($5+),459,458,457,460,462($1+), (<$1 eN)

1939
467,471,469,472,473,(<$1)

1940
475,476,477,478($1+),480,(<$1 eN)
481($2+),479(<$1),482($5+)

1940
488(<$1)

Air Post stamps
Colombian Government Issues
1932-39
C96,C97,C98* or C99,C100,C101,(<$1)
C102,C103,C104($1+),C105,C106($1+),(<$1 eN)
C107($1+),C108($2+),C109($5+),C110*($20+)
*Note C98 15c blue green & violet black; C99 vermilion & violet black
*Note C110 5p gray black & emerald

1939-40 surcharged
C115,C116,C117,(<$1)
C118,C119,C120,(<$1)

Postal Tax stamps
1937
RA2(<$1)

1935
RA1*($1+)
*Note RA1: also space in 1935 regular stamp section. Required on all mail during Red Cross week in 1935 and 1936.

1940
RA13(<$1)

1939
RA3*,RA4,RA5*,RA6,RA7($1+), (<$1 eN)
*Note RA3 1/4c deep blue; RA3A dark violet brown('45) not eligible by date and color.
*Note RA5 1c violet; RA5A yellow orange('45) not eligible by date and color.

1940
RA8,RA9,RA10,RA11,RA12,(<$1)

1904 Scott 317 5c blue

Kinds of Blue
The '69 and '97 editions are identical in content. The '69 editors appeared to  DROP all coverage of the Colombian States. I have two '69 editions, and neither one has Colombian States.  They did not return in the '97 edition. I will have a separate blog about the Colombian States coverage in the '47 and '41 editions.

The "47 and "41 editions do NOT have five classical era stamps spaces
Missing from the album are 1881 Scott 108($1+), 1883 Scott 122($2+) and one blank space ( suggest 123($1+)), and 1890-97 two blank spaces (suggest 147($2+) and 155(<$1)).

Also missing from the "47 and '41 editions are Air Post C101,C107,C108 ,C109(<$1-$5+).

Interestingly, only in the '47 edition will one find the 1932 Air Post Registration overprinted stamp.CF4 20c carmine ($5+).

The '47 and '41 editions of course do not have the Postal Tax stamp RA1 in two places-an error introduced by the '69 editors. The "47 and '41 DO have RA1 located in the 1935 regular stamp spaces, but do NOT have another space in the Postal Tax section.

Now the '47 and '41 editions DO have 16 spaces for Late Fee, City of Bogata, Registration, Acknowledgement of Receipt, and Special Delivery categories. This stamps were removed by the '69 editors, and not restored in the '97 edition. By the way, the Special Delivery E1 is $50+! Here is the list.

IN '47 edition and '41 editions.
Late fee stamp
1886,
I1($2+)

1892
I2 or I3 ($2+)

1902
I4($1+)

1914
I6($2+)

For City of Bogata
1889-1903
LX1,LX2,($1+)

Registration Stamp
1889-1917
F9* or F10 or F11 or F12, ($1+-$2+)
F19($2+)
F20(<$1)
F24(<$1)
*Note F9,10,11,12: different colors

Acknowledgement of Receipt stamp
1893-1904
H1* or H2($2+)
H3 ($2+)
H16($2+)

1917
H18($5+)
H19($2+)

Special Delivery stamp
1917
E1*($50+ mint)!
*Note E1: Most expensive Colombian stamp in BB for '47 and '41 editions.

The '41 edition is missing some additional Air Post - compared to the '47, '69, and '97 editions: C115, and Two blank spaces for C116 and C117.

Finally, the "41 has seven spaces for a "1940" Air Post issue (Four spaces illustrated: Scott C27-C30, and three blank spaces (could add C31-C33). But the issue didn't come out until 1941, so the spaces were subsequently removed from the '47 and later editions.

SCADTA Air Post 1923-28 30c blue "Plane over Magdalena"
Make room for these fascinating issues!

Big Blue Bottom Line
Big Blue printing error, Classic inexpensive stamps in three perforation varieties, Colombian States, SCATDA, and lots of BOB: Columbia has it all! I've found Colombia with the tremendous variety to be perhaps one of the best "collectable" countries in Big Blue. Go for it!

If you enjoyed this post, or have some information to share, or have some constructive criticism, please share your thoughts and reactions in the "comment" section. Thanks!

Note: You will need to consult a Scott catalogue for specific pricing. I only give a very "ball park" price, and never the actual catalogue value.
<$1= less than a Dollar
$1+= more than a Dollar
$2+= more than two Dollars
$5+= more than five Dollars
$10+= more than ten Dollars
$20+..and so on.