Argentina

1878 Scott 35 16c green rouletted "Belgrano"

Quick History
In 1853, the Constitution of Argentina was established. The Capital, Buenos Aires, briefly seceded from the Confederation, but returned in 1862. Bartolome Mitre was elected the first president. Confederation stamps were first issued in 1858, and then  the first Argentine Republic stamps were issued in 1862. Population of Argentina was about 12 million in 1940. Today, Argentina is one of the G-20 major economies.

Trivia: Argentina is the largest Spanish speaking country that uses the pronoun vos instead of tu (you).

1890 Scott 83 & 84 1/2c on 12c blue "Juan Bautista Alberdi"

Lithographed surcharge in black & red

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue (1969) ,on 8 pages, has 223 stamp spaces, and 3 blank spaces for a total of 226 spaces.
2011 Scott Specialized Catalogue, beginning in 1858, has 571 major stamp descriptions ( 476 regular post, 42 air post, 53 official).
Big Blue coverage is 39%.

Would you believe, for the first 27 stamp spaces in Big Blue's Argentina from 1858 to 1898, the most expensive stamp is $2.25? And almost all 20th century stamps are less than  $1 to $3? There are some exceptions: a 1932 (C37) Graf Zeppelin catalogs for $20+. Then there is the 1939 Scott 470-72 set for $10+$30+. Apparently, stamps issued for the recording and mailing of phonograph records was not a big seller.

The largest surprise is the huge cache of cheap stamps available that is not in Big Blue. The Official Department Stamps (OD1-OD357) were overprinted with initials for various departments (such as M.G. for Ministry of War) from 1911 to 1937 on 1911-37 regular issues. I counted 299 of them for the minimum catalog value of 20 cents.

What other additional stamps could the Big Blue collector find interesting and affordable?

Well, Argentina has some nice classic issues. Caveat emptor: lots of reprints and counterfeits.

1858 Argentine Confederation
Scott 2 10c green ($5+)
Scott 3 15c blue ($10+)

1859
(Buenos Aires issues are when they succeeded from the Confederation) Buenos Aires
 Scott 10 1p blue ($20+)

1860
Scott 4 5c red ($5+)
Scott 4A 10c green ($5+)

Argentine Republic

1862
(Scott 5a) 5c rose lilac ($30+)

1863
Scott 7C 5c rose ($20+)

1864-72
11,11B,12 ($10+-$30+)

1867-68
20,18A,21 ($1+-$10+)

1873
26,25 ($2+-$5+)

1876-78
36,37 ($2+)

1877-80
40 ($5+)

1882
41,42 ($2+-$5+)

1884
47,49 ($2-$4+)

1888-90
59,61,63,64,64A,64B,65,66 ($1+-$2+)

I count 20 stamps prior to 1890 for less than $10 catalogue value.

What about issues from 1890 to 1940? Here are 87 more stamps, all ranging from less than a dollar to $4+.
(Scott 70,71,72,73.80,81,82,85,89,90,91,101,102,103,104,105,114,115,116,117,118,119,126,131,138,153,156,157,158,159,169,170,171,172,180,184,222,223,224,225,226,288,289,370,354,384,385,386,393,394,395,396,397,398,399,400,401,402,C14,C30,C42,O4,O5,O6,O9,O10,O15,O17,O18,O19,O37,O38,O39,O40,O41,O42,O43,O44,O45,O46,O47,O48,O49,O49B,O51,O52,O53,) (<$1-$2+)

Remember, the above list  is in addition to the choice matrix in Big Blue, where  a stamp is picked to go into the space from several choices. One can ( and should in some cases) also collect the alternatives.

Now let's take a look closer at some of Argentine's issues that are represented in Big Blue.

1892-98 issue
As is often the case, Big Blue provides only one space , even though there are two issues with different watermarks. The series are 1892-95 Scott 92-100 wmk 85 Small Sun, and 1896-97 Scott 106-113 wmk 86 Large Sun. So, one can just fill the eight stamp spaces without regard to the watermarks (Lumper approach), or one can fill one of the series in Big Blue, and use a supplemental page for the other series (Splitter approach). Price is not a consideration, as all stamps are less than a dollar.

1911-15 Agriculture
For these attractive stamps, there are 14 spaces represented in Big Blue. Eight of the spaces can be filled from either of two series; 1911 Scott 179-188 wmk 86 Large Sun, or 1912-14 Scott 189-200 wmk 87 Honeycomb. So the Lumper or Splitter approach?

1917-1920 San Martin
These 13 stamp spaces in Big Blue can REALLY be split,or REALLY be lumped. Your choice. For these 13 spaces actually represent 5 series, depending on watermark! All 5 series of issues are quite inexpensive, so no problem there.

1917: Scott 231-243 (<$1-$1+) wmk vertical & horizontal Honeycomb

1918-19: Scott 248-259 (<$1) unwatermarked

1920: Scott 264-275 (<$1-$1+) wmk 88 Multiple Suns

1920: Scott 292-298,300 (<$!-$1+), & Scott 299 12c blue perf 13 1/2 ($200)! wmk 89 Large sun

1922-23 Scott 304-307A, 310-314 (<$1-$6) wmk 90 RA in Sun Note: Since Big Blue is looking for 1917-20, doesn't technically qualify for a space.

This is one time where I am quite grateful that Big Blue is a Lumper. But if I have the energy and time, it would be fun to split this series.

1923-25 San Martin (Illustrated below)

These 14 stamp spaces in Big Blue consist of two separate issues; or three if one wants to consider the 1927issue. But the 1927 issue ( wmk 205) is in fact  ruled out of bounds for Big Blue by the year constraints. 

Of the two issues that fit the year boundaries, one (1923 Scott 323-334 wmk 90 RA in Sun) has a quite obvious "period" or "dot" after the  value.  The other, 1923-24 Scott 340-353 wmk 90 RA has no period after the value. The "period" is so obvious, that my spouse, who is not a stamp collector, could distinguish quite nicely between the two series. Perhaps they "lumped" them, because Big Blue was originally intended for "Junior" collectors? But I remember as a ten year old knowing the difference between these two series. :-)  

1923-25 San Martin: See the big fat dot behind the numeral on the upper stamps, while not there on the lower stamps? Yet Big Blue lumps these issues together.

Big Blue Checklist

1858 Confederation Imperf
1 ($1+)

1873
22,23 (<$1-$2+)

1877-78
34,35 (<$1-$1+)

1877-80
38,39 (<$1)

1884-87
52,53,54a or 54 (<$1-$1+)

1888-90
57,60 (<$1)

1888-90
75,68,69,76,77,78,83,84 (<$1)

1892-98
92 or 106, 93 or 107, 94 or 108, 95 or 109, 96 or 110, 98 or 111, 99 or 112, 100 or 113 (<$1)
Note: Scott 92-100 wmk 85 Small Sun, Scott 106-113 wmk 86 Large Sun

1899 Allegory, Liberty seated
122,123,124,127,129,130,134,135,139 (<$1-$1)
140,141,142 ($5+-$30+)

1901-03 Allegory, Liberty seated
125,128,132 or 132D, 137 (<$1)

1908-10 San Martin
144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152, 154A*,155 (<$1)
*Note: The 2014 catalogue parses the issue into separate perfs,
each with a major number. Scott 154A is perf 13 1/2, and Scott 154
is no longer in the catalogue.

1910 "Bicolored"
160,161,162,163,164,165,166,167 (<$1)
Blank space: suggest 168 (<$1)

1915 Agriculture
176,177,178,179or189, (<$1-$1+)
190,181or191,
182or192,183or193, (<$1-$1+)
194,195,196,185 or197, (<$1-$1+)
198 or186($2+), 187 or199($5+), 188 or200, (<$1-$1+, except those noted)
Note: Scott 179-188 wmk 86 Large Sun, Scott 189-200 wmk 87 Honeycomb

1916
Jose de San Martin, Declaration of Independence
220,215,216,217,218,219, 221 <$1)

1917-20 Jose de San Martin (Total:13 stamps)
1/2 c violet Scott 231 or 248 or 264 or 292 or 304* (<$1)
1c buff Scott 232 or 249 or 265 or 293 or 305* (<$1-$1+)
2c brown Scott 233 or 250 or 266 or 294 or 306* (<$1)
3c light green Scott 234 or 251 or 267 or 307* (<$1-$1)
4c red violet Scott 235 or 252 or 268 or 307A* (<$1-$1+)
5c red Scott 236 or 253 or 269 or 297 (<$1)
10c gray green Scott 237 or 254 or 270 or 298 or 310* (<$1)
12c blue Scott 238 or 255 or 271 or 299 or 311* (<$1-$1+)
20c ultramarine Scott 239 or 256 or 272 or 300 or 312* (<$1-$1)
24c red brown Scott 240 or 257 or 313* (<$1-$5+)
30c claret Scott 241 or 258 or 274 or 314* (<$1-$1+)
50c gray black Scott 242 or 259 or 275 (<$1-$2+)
1p slate blue & red Scott 243 (<$1)
* The 1922-23 issue technically doesn't qualify for a space, as issued after 1920.

Note :Actually consists of 5 series, depending on watermark!
1917: Scott 231-243 (<$1-$1+) wmk vertical & horizontal Honeycomb
1918-19: Scott 248-259 (<$1) unwatermarked
1920: Scott 264-275 (<$1-$1+) wmk 88 Multiple Suns
1920: Scott 292-298,300 (<$!-$1+), & Scott 299 12c blue perf 13 1/2 ($200)! wmk 89 Large sun
1922-23 Scott 304-307A, 310-314 (<$1-$5+) wmk 90 RA in Sun Note: Since Big Blue is looking for 1917-20, doesn't technically qualify for a space.

1918-20
247,280,281,282,283 (<$1-$1+)

1921
284,285,290,291,286,287 (<$1)

1926
357,358,359,360 (<$1)

1928
361,369 (<$1)

1923-25 San Martin
323 or (340 or 362?), (<$1-$2+)
324 or (341 or 363?),(<$1-$2+)
325 or (342 or 364?),(<$1-$2+)
326 or 343, 327 or 344,(<$1-$2+)
328 or (345 or 365?),(<$1-$2+)
329 or (346 or 366?),(<$1-$2+)
330 or 347,(<$1-$2+)
331 or(348 or 367?),(<$1-$2+)
332 or 349, 335 or 353,(<$1-$2+)
350,333 or 351,(<$1-$2+)
334 or 352 (<$1-2+)
Note: price for series stamps ranges from <$1-$2+; I didn't break down the price of the individual stamps.

Note: 1923 Scott 323-334 wmk 90 RA in Sun WITH period after value; 1923-24 Scott 340-353 wmk 90 RA in Sun WITHOUT period after value;
Note: 1927 Scott 362-267 wmk 205 AP in Oval WITHOUT period after value- this series not technically eligible for inclusion as Big Blue specifies 1923-25.

1929
372,371,373 (<$1-$1+)

1930 Spirit of Victory attending
374,375,377,378,379,380,376,381,382,383 (<$1-$2+)

1932
406,407, 408

1933
409,411,410,412,(<$1-$1+)
413($6)

1934
414,415 (<$1)

1935
416,417 (<$1)

1935-37
418,419,420,422,425,427,428,430,432,434 or 435,437, ((<$1)
442,441,443,444,447 (<$1)
445,446,448,449,450 (<$1-$1)

1938
453,454,455, 456,457,458 (<$1-$2+)

1939
421,423,426,429,431*,433,438,439 (<$1)
* Note: Scott 431 is 10c brown ('42) in 2011 Scott Specialized. But Big Blue and 1947 Scott Standard catalogue describes as ( old Scott number 429) 10c red brown('39). Still, Scott 231 is the only "brown" 10c stamp in the series, so must be it. :-)  Addendum April12, 2011: There is definitely a red-brown colored 10c, because I have it. But it might be Scott 490 '49 wmk 288. There is also a 10c brown-I have it too. But it could be Scott 529 '46 unwmk. The "real" 10c "brown" is wmk 90. Time to get out the watermark tray...

1939
459,460,462,463,461 (<$1)

1939-40
473,469 (<$1)

Scott 470 1.18 Indigo; Bird carrying record ($10+)
Scott 471 1.32 bright blue; Head of Liberty and Arms of Argentina ($10+)
Scott 472 1.50p dark brown; Record and winged letter. ($35) !

Air Post

1928
C1,C2,C3,C4,C5 (<$1-$2+)
C6,C10,C12 ($1+-$2+)
Blank space: suggest C13 ($2+)

C7,C8,C9 ($1+)
Blank space: suggest C11 or  C15 (<$1)

1932 Graf Zeppelin
C35 ($2)
C36 ($5+)
C37 ($20+)

1940
C39,C38,C40,C41 (<$1)

Official stamps
1901
O31,O32,O33,O34,O35,O36 (<$1-$1)

1923-37 Official Department Stamps OD85 & OD92 Overprinted

Ministry of War (M.G.): Not in Big Blue

Kinds of Blue
The 1997 edition and the 1969 edition are identical.
Compared to 1969 Big Blue, both the 1947 and 1941 editions have these differences.

Added
Extra blank space for "1867-73" issues. Suggest Scott 26 or 25 ($2+-$5+)

Added
1916
222,223 (<$1)

Deleted
1899
140,141,142 ($5+-$30+)

Deleted
1921
290(<$1)

Deleted
(1936 issues)
447,445,448,449,450 (<$1)

Deleted
Air Post
1928
C7,C10,C12 ($1+-$2+)

Deleted C9 Illustration.
But blank space there: suggest C9

1910 Scott 161 1c blue green & black

"Nicolas Rodriguez Pena and HipolitoVieytes"

Big Blue Bottom Line
Argentina's stamps have a lot to offer the Big Blue collector. Very attractive and inexpensive stamps! And lots of additional stamps to collect if you are so inclined.
Watermarking will help parse several series. But, you will be most satisfied with Big Blue's presentation of Argentina if you are a "Lumper". Otherwise, pull out the supplementary sheets.  IMHO, Big Blue should have provided space for the with period/without period types on the 1923-25 San Martin issue.

Links
Argentina - Bud's Big Blue

Comments appreciated!