A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzabar


A is for Aden and Z is for Zanzibar... Now what is between? For the world wide classical era philatelist and stamp collector, a country specific philatelic survey is offered by the blog author, Jim Jackson, with two albums: Big Blue, aka Scott International Part 1 (checklists available), and Deep Blue, aka William Steiner's Stamp Album Web PDF pages. In addition, "Bud" offers commentary and a look at his completely filled Big Blue. Interested? So into the Blues...

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Angra

1896-99 Scott 15 5r orange "King Carlos"
Quick History
Angra, a district of Portugal, consisted of the islands of Terceira, Sao Jorge, and Graciosa in the Azores. The Capital was Angua do Heroismo on the Island of Terceira. Population was reported to be about 70,000 in the 1930s. Angra is still part of the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores. Stamps of Portugal used in Angra can be found beginning in 1853 lasting through the 1866-67 issue. The first issue for Angra was printed in 1892.

Triva:  Gilroy, California, home of the Garlic Festival, is a sister city of Angua do Heroismo

1897 Scott 33 200r red violet/pinkish
"King Carlos"
Into the Deep Blue
The 2017 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for Angra 1892-1905, 35 major number descriptions. In addition, there are a number of minor numbers listed based on perforation or paper.

Of those, 22 are CV <$1-$4, or 62%. Clearly, the WW collector should be able to accumulate a representative collection for minimal funds.

Scott also lists 25 "A" prefix catalogue numbers for stamps of Portugal used in Angra between 1853-1867 with the barred numeral "48". These are CV expensive, and are specialist territory.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
1000 Reis = 1 Milreis
1892 Scott 8 75r carmine "King Carlos"
Perf 12 1/2 on Enamel Surfaced Paper
The first issue proper for Angra was the 1892-93 "King Carlos" production, consisting of thirteen major numbers. All of the major numbers in Scott are listed as Perf 12 1/2, except for the 100r brown/yellow @ Perf 13 1/2.

CV is <$1-$4+ for six stamps.

1892 Scott 1b 5r yellow - Perf 13 1/2
One will need to check perfs for this issue, as eight minor numbers are listed for the Perf 13 1/2 variation. 

1892 Scott 5b 25r green - Perf 11 1/2
In addition, several stamps can be found with Perf 11 1/2, as well as chalky surfaced paper.

Be aware that reprints were made of this issue in 1900, and 1905. The Perf is 11 1/2. See Scott for details.

1897 Scott 35 500r black & red/blue "King Carlos"
The second (and last) issue for Angra was released between 1897-1905, and had 22 stamps. 

CV is <$1-$3+ for 16 stamps.

A few of the stamps can be found on yellowish paper, although I don't have any.

From 1906-1931, Azores stamps were used in Angra. After 1931, stamps of Portugal were used.

Deep Blue
1892-93 Issue in Deep Blue
Deep Blue (Steiner) has two pages for the stamps of 1892-1905 Angra, and includes a space for all the major Scott numbers. If one has some minor number variations (perfs), one may need to add a quadrilled page.

Angra do Heroismo is on Terceira Island in the Azores
Big Blue Picture
On one line of one page, Big Blue (1969), beginning- and ending- with the King Carlos "1896-99" issue, has 6 stamp spaces and one blank space for 7 total stamp spaces.

The 2011 Scott Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has 35 major variety stamp descriptions beginning with the 1892-93 issue, and ending with the 1897-1905 issue.
Big Blue has 20% coverage.

A bit more detail...

The 1897-1905 King Carlos issue actually continues for another 14 stamps. Of those, nine of them ( Scott (21 or 24 blank space "not chosen" choice, 22,25,27 or 27a,28, 29 or 29a, 30,31 32) range from $1+-$2+.

The 1892-93 earlier issue of King Carlos, which is not covered in Big Blue,  has 5 major varieties ( Scott 1 or 1a,1b,1c,1d; 2 or 2a, 3 or 3a,4 or 4a, 5 or 5b) for about $1+ to $2+. They could clearly be added.

Note: the minor numbered issues -example: 1a or 5b etc, consist of different perforations or paper

The 1947 Scott Standard catalogue has the same numbering system minus the minor varieties

1896-99 Scott 20 25r sea green & Scott 21 25r carmine rose "King Carlos"
Big Blue Checklist (1969 Big Blue edition)
1896-99 King Carlos
14,15 or 15b,16,18,19,20
One space: suggest 21 or 21b, 24 or 24b

Kinds of Blue
The 1997 edition and the 1969 edition are identical.
Compared to the 1969 edition...

Addition (1947 and 1941 editions)
1899
Scott 21 25R carmine rose

View of 19th century Angra do Heroismo
Big Blue Bottom Line
Inexpensive, and more could be added.

Note: Map, Image appear to be in the public domain.

Update Note (November, 2016): I added the "Into the Deep Blue" section.

Links
Angra - Bud's Big Blue

Have a comment?

2 comments:

  1. Jim, interesting to see how the editors must have pared down Angra (and surely several other countries) over time, most likely waging a losing battle to keep the album to a single tome. Bob at Filling Spaces notes that the 1914 version of BB had 14 spaces for Angra, while the '43 version has 7, presumably the same as these later editions. A shame, too, because as you point out, there are still some affordable options that were likely tossed here.

    I'm taking on a project to see if I can 'rebuild' the 'most comprehensive' BB: looking at the versions throughout time to see which edition of BB had the most spaces for each country. Your website (and Bob's) are a big help!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have fun with that Tom! The 1943 & 1947 editions are a good place to start, as the 1969 (and later) editions generally cut back (but not always!).

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