Dominican Republic

1914 Scott 1867-189 "Juan Pablo Duarte"

Quick History

Note: Update Blog Post: 1902 "Center Inverted" Issue

The Dominican republic shares the island La Hispaniola with Haiti, and is located in the Caribbean Sea. The Capital is Santo Domingo, and the population was 1,800,000 in 1942. Christopher Columbus reached the island in 1492, and Santo Domingo became the first European settlement in the Americas. The Dominican Republic has seen three centuries of Spanish rule, brief French rule, brief Haitian rule, "Independence" in 1821, another "Dominican War of Independence" in 1844, brief Spanish rule, U.S. occupation 1916-1924, the dictatorship of Trujillo Molina until 1961, a 1965 civil war, and finally a move toward a representative democracy. Stamps were first issued in 1865.

1900 1/4c dark blue "Map of Hispaniola"

Map stamp land grab: compare with borders today

Big Blue Picture
Big Blue '97, on 12 spread out pages, has 182 regular, 20 air post, 1 special delivery, 4 postage due, 1 insured letter, 10 official, and 4 postal tax stamps, for a total of  222 stamp spaces.
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 474 major stamp descriptions. Coverage is 47%.

Big Blue's coverage is fairly good, but I did find 95 affordable (<$1-$2+) stamps that could be added by the BB collector. Since BB '97 spreads the BOB issues out to six pages, adding more Air Post (14 stamps), Postage Due ( 5 stamps), Insured Letter (7 stamps), and Official (14 stamps) issues might be a good use of space.

Comments...
A) Dominican Republic stamps in BB are quite inexpensive; the most I can recall for a required stamp was $7+.

B) The various "Coat of Arms" issues (1859-1927), comprising 59 stamps in BB, at times differ only slightly in design between issues. So pay attention. ;-)

C) The overprinted by year "Coat of Arms" issues (1915,1916,1917,1919,1920,1921) are an interesting lot. (Parenthetically, this was also the time (1916-1924) that the U.S. was occupying the Country.) Unfortunately, BB only gives possible room to the 1915,1920, and 1921 overprinted year issues. So one will need to set up a separate space for the others.

D) Surcharged issues are given short shrift for space. The 1883 and 1904-06  surcharged issues can provide 20 additional stamps for the BB collector.

E) Would you like an inverted stamp in your collection, but the 24c Jenny is a bit much? How about the 1902  Scott 144a-146a, 148a-150a "400th anniversary of Santo Domingo" stamp issue? The 1c,2c,.5c,12c,20c, & 50c all exist inverted at a cost of $2+! ;-)

F) Pay attention to history. Note the 1900 Map of Hispaniola, and the rather generous borders on the  Dominican Republic stamp?  The reality is the borders were ill defined until 1935.

More importantly, note the cult for the President and Dictator Rafael Trujillo.  The 1930s issues are replete  with self aggrandizement. The stamps are large and gaudy. He renamed the oldest city in the Americas, Santo Domingo, for himself : Ciudad Trujillo.

Additionals..... (<$1-$2+)
1880-81 "Coat of Arms"
41,42,43,44,50,51,52,

1883 surcharged (series not in BB)
54,57,58,59,60,71,74,75,76,

1899-1900 "Columbus mausoleum" fund raising issue
109

1900 Map of Hispaniola
116,117,118,119,

1904-06 surcharged and/or overprinted issues
153,154,157,158,161,163,165,167,169,170,171,

1914 "Juan Pablo Duarte"
191,192,193,

1915 (Types of 1911-13 redrawn; overprinted "1915" in red)
207


1920-27* (Type of 1915 overprinted various dates)
*Note: BB's date requirements leave out the 1916,1917, and 1919 overprinted stamps!

OUT
209("1916") 1/2c violet & black
213("1917") 1/2c red lilac & black
210("1916") 1c green & black
215("1917") 2c olive green & black
219("1919") 2c olive green & black
216("1917") 5c magenta & black

1928
245,246,

1931
264,265,

1932 red cross ( not in BB)
265B,265C,265D,

1933
273,274,

1935-36
317


Air post stamps
1928-34
(Map of Hispaniola)
C3,C4,C5,C7,C8,C9,
(1928-34)
C15,C16,C17,

1935-37
C28,C29,C31,

1938-40
C38,C39,

Special Delivery
1920
E1

Postage due
1913-22
J9,J10,J11,J12,J13,

Insured Letter
1935-40
G1,G2,G3,G4,G5,G6,G7,
Also G9,G10,G11,G12 issued 1941-45, but in the Scott Classic catalogue.


Official stamps
1902
O4

1909-12 (not in BB)
O5,O6,O7,O8,O9,

1928
O13,O14,

1937-40
O19,O20,O21,

1937-40
O19,O20,O21,
(O21A-O25 are '41 issues)

Postal Tax Air Post stamps
RAC5,RAC8,

Overprinted 1915-21 "Coat of Arms" issues

Big Blue has room for the '15,'20, & '21 year stamps

Big Blue Checklist
1879 "Coat of Arms"
32 or 33, 34 or 35, ($1+)

1880-81 "Coat of Arms"
36 or 45, 37 or 46, 38 or 47, 39 or 48, 40 or 49, (<$1)
Note: 1880 Scott 36-40 rouletted; 1881 Scott 45-49 network covering stamp

1880-91 "Coat of Arms" (Actually 1885-91)
88,89,90,91,92,(<$1)
Note: This series and the next are quite similar in appearance.

1885 "Coat of Arms" (Actually 1895-97)
96 or a, 97 or a, 98 or a, 99 or a($1+), (<$1 eN)
Note: 1895 Scott 96-99 horizontal perf 12 1/2; 1897 Scott 96a-99a horizontal perf 14.
eN=except noted

1899-1900 "Columbus mausoleum" fund raising issue
103,100($2+),102,"blank space", 104($1+),(<$1 eN)
Note: For the one horizontal Blank space above,  suggest 110 or 110A

1900 Map of Hispaniola
111,112,113,114,115,(<$1)

1901 "Coat of Arms"
120,123,126,129,132,(<$1)
Blank space: suggest 135

1902 400th anniv. of Santo Domingo
144,145,146,147,148,(<$1)

1902(continued)
149,150,(<$1)
Note: Scott 144a-150a ($2+) are minor number varieties with center inverted . I would like some. ;-)

1905  "Coat of Arms" (Type of 1901)
121,124,127,130($1+),(<$1 eN)
Blank space: suggest 133($1+)

1906-10  "Coat of Arms" (Type of 1901)
122 or 172, 125 or 173, 128 or 174, 131 or 175, 134 or 176, (<$1)
Blank space: suggest 137($2+)
Note: Scott 172-176 wmk 116 crosses and circles

1911-13 "Coat of Arms" new design
178,179,180,181,182,183($5+),(<$1 eN)
Blank space: suggest 184 or 185 ($2+)

1914 "Juan Pablo Duarte"
186,187,188,189,190,(<$1)

1927
238

1915 (Types of 1911-13 redrawn; overprinted "1915" in red)
200,201,202 or 203, 204,205,206,(<$1)

1920-27* (Type of 1915 overprinted various dates)
*Note: BB's date requirements leave out the 1916,1917, and 1919 overprinted stamps!
IN
220("1920") 1/2 c lilac rose & black (<$1)
221("1920")  or 227("1921") 1c yellow green & black (<$1)
222("1920") or 228("1921") 2c olive green & black  (<$1)
223("1920") 5c deep rose & black (<$1)
224("1920") 10c blue & black (<$1)

OUT
209("1916") 1/2c violet & black (<$1)
213("1917") 1/2c red lilac & black (<$1)
210("1916") 1c green & black (<$1)
215("1917") 2c olive green & black (<$1)
219("1919") 2c olive green & black (<$1)
216("1917") 5c magenta & black (<$1)

1920-27 (actually 1922) (1915 type first redrawing without date overprint)
230,231,232,(<$1)
Note: These stamps, on the same line as the overprinted date "1920"-"1921" stamp spaces above, belong here. Do not put the overprinted stamps in these spaces.

1922-27 (second redrawing without date overprint)
233,234,235,236($2+) or 236A($1+),(<$1 eN)
Note: pay attention to differences in first and second redrawing

1927
239,240,(<$1)

1928
241,242,243,244,(<$1)

1929
249,250,251,252,253,(<$1)

1930
254,255,256,257,258($1+),(<$1 eN)

1931
260,261,262,263,(<$1)

1933
266,267,268,269,270,(<$1)
271,272,286,287,288,<$1)

1933 (actually 1932)
278,279,(<$1)

1934
289,290,291,(<$1)

1934-35
292,293,294,(<$1)
295,296,297($1+),298($1+),(<$1 eN)

1936
304,305,(<$1)

1937
329(<$1)

1935-36
299,300,301,302,(<$1)
306,307,308,(<$1)
309($1+),310,311,312,(<$1 eN)
313,314,315,316,(<$1)
Blank space: suggest 318 or 320 ($5+)

1937
323,324,325($1+)(<$1 eN)

1940
365(<$1)

1937
326,327,328($2+),(<$1 eN)

1938 (actually 1937)
330,331,(<$1)

1938
332,333,334,335,(<$1)
336,337,338,339,(<$1)

1938(continued)
340,341,(<$1)

1939
346,347,348,(<$1)

1939 (continued)
349,350,(<$1)

1940
356,357,(<$1)

1939
342,343,344,(<$1)

1939 (continued)
345(<$1)

1940
362,363,(<$1)

1940
351,352,353,354,(<$1)

(1940)
358,359,360,361,(<$1)

Air post stamps
1928-34
C18(<$1)
C1 or C2 or C6 ($1+-<$1) Map of Hispaniola
C19(<$1)
C10 or C11 or C12 (<$1-$2+)
C13(<$1)
C14(<$2+)

1935-37
C20,C21,C22,C23,(<$1)
C24($1+),C25,C26,C27($1+),(<$1 eN)

1938-40
C32,C34,C33,(<$1)
C35,C36,C37,(<$1)

Special Delivery
1937
E2($2+) or E3($1+)
Note: BB '97 provides this one stamp space its own page. ;-)

Postage Due
1901-13
J1 or J5,J2 or J6,J3,J4 or J8($2+), (<$1 eN)
Note: all "olive gray", 1901 Scott J1-J4; 1909 Scott J5-J8 wmk 116 crosses and circles.
Note: 1913 & 1922 Scott J9-J13 "ineligible", as "olive green" color.

Insured Letter
1940
G8(<$1)
Note: lonely, all by itself on BB's '97 page, even though  Scott has seven others quite inexpensive. ;-)

Official stamps
1902 (unwmk)
O1,O2,O3, (<$1)
Note: not in BB, and only differs subtly in design, is 1909-12 Scott O5-O9 wmk 116

1928
O10,O11,O12,(<$1)

1937-40
O15,O16.(<$1)
Two blank spaces: suggest O17 & O18*(<$1)
*Note: O18 is '39 issue, and slightly different design.

Postal Tax stamp
1930
RA1 or RA5,RA2 or RA6,(<$1)
RA3 or RA7,RA4 or RA8,(<$1)
Note RA1-RA4 perf 12: RA5-RA8 Imperf

1880 Scott 36 1c green rouletted

Kinds of Blue
The '97 and '69 are identical in content except the '97 spreads out to 5 pages for BOB what the '69 has on one page.

The '47 and '41 are identical in content.

The '69 and '97 have these stamp spaces available, which are not found in the '47 and '41 editions.
1880-91 "Coat of Arms" (Actually 1885-91)
92(<$1) 20c dark brown

1899-1900 "Columbus mausoleum" fund raising issue
Blank space(horizontal): suggest 110 or 110A(<$1)

The'47 and '41 have these stamp spaces available, which are not found in the '69 and '97 editions.
1900 Map of Hispanola
116(<$1) 10c orange

Air Post
1935-37
C29 ($1+) 50c dark brown

1940
C38(<$1) 25c bright red lilac & red violet

1937 3c violet "President Trujillo and Obelisk"

One year anniversary for "Ciudad Trujillo" (Santo Domingo)

Big Blue Bottom Line
Inexpensive, interesting and frightening (Trujillo).

Note: Map appears to be in the public domain.

Note: Prices are roughly binned; check the Scott catalogue for actual prices.

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