Paraguay

1879 Scott 10 5r orange 

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

Quick History
Landlocked Paraguay is a central South American country where the indigenous Guarani language is still understood or spoken by 95% of the population.

The Capital is Asuncion, and the population was 1,000,000 circa 1940.

Stamps were introduced  in 1870.

But if one wishes to nominate a country that has not received any breaks, it would be Paraguay.

Territory lost (gray area) during the 1864-1870 "Great War"

The little known ( to North Americans) 1864-1870 Paraguayan War against a Triple Alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay lead to 400,000 deaths and complete defeat. 60% of the population of Paraguay died. The Brazilian Army, (as well as the Argentinians), occupied the country for six years after the end of the war in 1870, and carted off the National Archives to Rio de Janeiro. Paraguayans know little of their own early history, because the documents remain unavailable to scholars even today.

Between 1904 and 1954, Paraguay has had 31 presidents, almost all being forcefully removed.

Paraguay obtained some measure of self respect when it defeated Bolivia during the 1932-35 Chaco War. But this war between two of South America's poorest countries was really for naught, as the region was thought rich in oil- and it was not.

 Paraguay

Paraguay is perhaps the most forgotten of the South American countries. And their classical era stamps, in part because of numerous forgeries of early airmail issues, are collected by relatively few. But that presents an opportunity for the WW classical era collector.

Read on...

1892 Scott 43 60 yellow

"Seal of the Treasury"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2011 Scott Classic 1840-1940 catalogue, has, for Paraguay 1870-1940, 584 major stamp descriptions. Of those, 533 are CV <$1-$1+, or a remarkable 91%. !!!!!

Clearly, Paraguay is a very inexpensive country for the WW classic era collector. I don't think, though, that the stamps of Paraguay are as easy to find as the CV would suggest.  Yes, they are found, but not abundantly in WW feeder collections. To explain the CV, the demand must be very low, even compared to other South American countries.

As is usual for South American countries, there are too many interesting stamp issues to show for this one blog post. Therefore, I will focus on the earlier issues, and also discuss a few of the air post issues that can be found forged.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
10 Reales = 100 Centavos = 1 Peso

1870 Scott 1 1r rose, Imperf

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

Paraguay issued a three stamp imperforated set on August, 1870 with a lithographed ( in Buenos Aires) design featuring a "Vigilant Lion supporting a Liberty Cap". I do like the motif. Although the 1r rose (illustrated ) has a modest CV of $9 unused, the 2r and 3r have CVs in the $100+-$200+ range.

1881 Scott 13 10c blue green, Design A4a, Perf 11 1/2

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

Reprint

The "Lion with Sceptre" design was repeated for the 1879 (two stamps- never placed in use) and 1879-81 (two stamps) issues. These are on thin paper, and are perf 12 1/2. The 1879 5r orange is shown at the blog post header. Above is an 1879-81 issue, but a reprint with an 11 1/2 perf.

1881 Scott 16 4c brown, Design A7

"Vigilant Lion Supporting Liberty Cap"

A three stamp issue was released in 1881. These stamps have a remarkable low CV of 70-80 cents for both used/unused 130 years after production.

1884 Scott 22 5c pale blue

"Seal of the Treasury"

A three stamp lithographed A11 design "Seal of the Treasury" set was released in 1884. CV is <$1.

1887 Scott 29 20c pink

"Seal of the Treasury"

Another "Seal of the Treasury" design set - seven stamps in 1887, and four stamps in 1892- was produced. The 1887 set (illustrated above) was lithographed, while the 1892 stamps (An example is shown at the "Into the Deep Blue" header) were typographed.

1893 Scott 37 10c violet blue (punched)

"Candido Bareiro"

An 1893, a 10 stamp issue featured various patriots. Candido Bareiro was President of Paraguay from 1878-1880.

CV for the stamps is <$1.

But this 1893 10c violet blue stamp is commonly found "punched" in collections. And therein lies a tale. No, this is not a telegraph usage, as is often assumed.

The 1840-1940 Classic Scott catalogue states:

"The 10c violet blue was, until 1896, issued  punched with a circular hole in order to prevent it being fraudulently overprinted as 1892 Scott 31" The identical Scott 31 10c violet blue was handstamped in violet "1492/12 De Octubre/1892" and sold only on the day of issue- October 12, 1892. This stamp was handstamped overprinted for the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. CV $10/$5.

Look for the punched stamp in your collection. In 1896, the stamp was issued unpunched.

1896 Scott 48 5c on 4c yellow & gray

Telegraph Stamps Surcharged

In 1896, two telegraph stamps were surcharged for use postally. The CV, as most stamps of the era, is <$1.

1900 Scott 51 2c gray "Seal of the Treasury"

1901 Scott 61 2c gray

Small vs Larger Figures

Three issues between 1900-02 can cause confusion (It certainly did for me!) because of the very similar design.

The first and second issue issue (1900- six stamps-engraved; 1901-three stamps-lithographed) have small numerals. 

The third issue (1901-02- eight stamps-lithographed) have larger numerals.

True, some of the stamps have new colors,- and should not cause difficulty-, but other stamps have the same color as illustrated above.

1903 Scott 81 20c carmine

"Sentinel Lion with Right Paw Ready

to Strike for "Peace and Justice""

Two issues with the "Lion ready to strike" design was produced in 1903. The first issue (illustrated) has seven stamps, with a CV of <$1.

1903 Scott 86 5c dark blue

The second 1903 issue also has seven stamps. These Sentinel Lion issues have the script "Paz Y Justica"- Peace and Justice.

1905 Scott 91 1c orange, Dated "1904"

"Sentinel Lion at Rest"

The "1904" (dated) 21 stamp set with the "Lion at Rest" design was actually issued between 1905-1910. All values are CV <$1-$1+, except the 1907 Scott 95 2c olive green @ $60. !!

1936 Scott C42 2p dark brown, Gunboat "Paraguay"

Gunboat Type, Genuine

Built in Italy, but engineered and designed by Paraguayan naval engineer Jose Bozzano, the Gunboats "Humaita" and "Paraguay" were instrumental in controlling the Paraguay River during the Chaco War with Bolivia.

The Air Post 1931-39 eighteen stamp issue featured the Gunboat "Paraguay".

Earlier, I mentioned that the 1930-35 air post issues of Paraguay have been heavily forged: in fact, the forgeries for some issues outnumber the genuine ones. Varro Tyler, in his book "Focus on Forgeries" (2000), has seven pages devoted to the forgeries of the various air post issues.

I show a genuine specimen here, and I will point out two features. (This applies to the entire set C39-C53.)

* The short shading lines located about halfway between the bow of the gunboat and the tail of the far left airplane.

* The tilde over the first "N" of "Canonero".

The Forgeries have neither.

1935 Scott C63 10c ultramarine

"Orange Tree and Yerba Mate"

Genuine

The 1931-36 issue 10 centavo "Orange Tree and Yerba Mate"- found in four colors (C60-C63)- has also been heavily forged. These stamps were lithographed, and even the genuine stamps appear a bit crude. But the forgeries are much cruder. I have a number of examples of the 10c forgery in my collection, more than the genuines.

But above is a genuine example.
* The shading at the base of the orange tree on the left consists of fine lines. (Click on the stamp and enlarge for a better view.)
* The Yerba Mate leaves on the right show fine line detail.
* Perf 12

By the way, the Yerba Mate, first grown by the Guarani, is the source for mate, which mainly has caffeine in it.

"1933 Scott C62 10c yellow brown"

Forgery

Here is an example of the forgery.
* The shading at the base of the tree appears as solid clumps- no individual fine lines.
* The Yerba Mate leaves likewise show no fine line detail.
*  Perf 11 1/2

Check your collection- I can almost almost guarantee that some forgeries will be found.

Deep Blue

Issues of 1908-09 in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has 53 pages for 1870-1940 Paraguay, and includes a space for all the major Scott numbers.

1900 Scott 50A 5c on 30c green, gray & black

Telegraph Stamps Surcharged

Big Blue
Big Blue '69, on 14 pages, has 357 spaces. Coverage is 61%. Although not bad, the coverage perhaps could have been more generous, considering that 90% of the stamps in the catalogue are CV <$1-$1+.

The air post stamps, however, are generally more expensive. As a result, five air post stamps are found in BB with a CV $10+-$20+. (They are listed in the "comments" section after the checklist.)

Checklist

1879
12,13*,

1881
14,15,16,

1884
20,21,22,

1887
23,24,25,27,28,(29),

1892-96
32,34,35,36,37 or 38, 39,40,

1895-96
46,33,

1896
47,48,

1898-99
49,50,

1900
51,52,53,54,55,56,

Next Page

1901
57,58,59,

1902
60,61,62,63,64,65,(66),

1902-03
69,70,71,72,73,74,76,

1903
77,78,79,80,81,82,83,

1903
84,85,86,87,89,(90),

1904
112,

1904-06
91,94,97,98,99,100,

Next Page

1906
103,106,

1907
92,101,105,107,

1907
129,130,131,135,136,137,138,

1908
141,142,143,93,96,102,
146,147,148,149,150,154,(151),
158,159,162,163,164,165,
174,175,176,177,178,179,

Next Page

1909
181,182,183,184,
185,186,187,188,189,190,

1910
191,192,195,198,199,200,

1911
201,202,203,204,205,206,207,

1913
209,210,211,212,213,214,(215),(216),

1912
208,

1920-21
241,242,243,244,

Next Page

1922-23
245,246,247,248,

1924-27 (Actually 1920-27)
237,253,254,255,256,

1925
260,

1925
257, 258 or 259,

1927-28
271,273,276,280 or 281,

1927-28
286,287,293,294,290 or 291,297,

1930-31
309,310,
311,

Next Page

1930-32
319,313 or 314 or 315,320,
321,323,322,
325,326,
327,328,
330,331,332,333,334,

Next Page

1933
335,336,337,

1935
275,279,

1937
338,339,340,341,342,343,

1937
344,345,

1938-39
346,347,348,

1939
350,354,349,366,367,
368,369,370,371,372,

Next Page

1939
373,355,356,357,
358,359,360,361,
362,363,364,365,

1940
351,352,353,374,375,
376,377,382,383,384,385,
378,379,380,381,386,

Next Page

Semi-Postal
1930-32
B5,
B1,B2,B3,
B4,

Interior Office Issues*
(L11),(L12),(L13),(L14),(L15),(L16),(L17),
(L18),(L19),(L20),(L21),(L22),

Next Page

Air Post
1929 (actually 1929-31)
C7 or C8, C9 or C10, C11 or C12,
C19,C20,C22,C21, C23 or C24,

1930-37
C36,C37,C38,C31,C54,
C56 or C57 or C58 or C59,
C60  or C61 or C62 or C63,
C64  or C65 or C66 or C67,
C68 or C69 or C70,
C71 or C72 or C73,
C39 or C40, C41,C44,
C47,C51,(C40),

Next Page

Air Post
1932
C74,C75,

1933
C57,C61,C65,C72,

1933-35
C79,C80,C81,C58,
C59,C62,C66,C69,C73,
(C88),(C94),(C95*),
C98,C99,C100,

Next Page

Air Post
1939
C110,C111,C112,
C122,
C113,C114,C115,C116,
C124,

1940
C127,C128,C129,C130,

Next Page

Official Stamps
1892
O33,O34,O35,

1901
O42,O43,O44,O45,

1903
O50,O51,O52,O53,O54,O55,

1904
O61,

1905
O58,O62,

1906
O59,O63,O65,

1908
O60,O64,

1914
O85,O86,O87,O88,O89,O90,

Postage Due Stamps
1904
J1,J2,J3,J4,

1914
J5,J6,J7,J8,J9,J10,J11,

Next Page
Official Stamps
1940
O99,O100,O101,O102,
O103,O104,

End

Comments
A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):
1931 Scott C54 3p on 4p light blue ($10+)
1935-39 Scott C98 17p light brown ($10+)
1935-39 Scott C99 17p carmine ($20+)
1935-39 Scott C100 17p dark blue ($10+)
1939 Scott C122 28p rose & black ($10)
B) (    ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.
C) *13- BB printing error in space box. Has "10r blue green", when it should be "10c blue green".
D) * Interior Offices Issues- BB provides 12 blank spaces. Twenty-nine stamps could fit in these spaces-all inexpensive. Eight more are excluded because of the space format.
E) *(C95)- C88-C97 are eligible.

1910 Scott 124 10p deep blue 

"Governmental Palace, Asuncion"

Out of the Blue
The further a classical era country's stamps are "popular", the better I like them- because they are cheap. Why don't you pick up some too? ;-)

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

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