Big Blue 1840-1940: Ecuador

Ecuador "Ferris wheel "

Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations

I reread the earlier comments that introduce completed BB country pages to see if an over-all theme is emerging. I think there is. In a word, it’s “Fun.” Where is fun to be found after the avarice-driven delights of collecting BB’s stamps is over? Put the albums on a shelf and collect something else -- matchbook covers, say, or fishing lures or beaded purses? Not likely.

Ecuador’s pages provide an excellent backdrop for the question. Here are eight possibilities:

· Finding stamps BB left out. Ecuador has many and they’re mostly inexpensive.

· Arranging such extras ridiculously. See Ferris wheel above. Wallpaper the mother-in-law room.

· Identifying forgeries. Ecuador participated in Seebeck’s Hamilton Banknote scandal. I suspect some of the stamps on pages 1 and 2 are Seebeck’s deceptions. Other forgeries are said to be common.

· Tracing local, private, and provincial issues. Ecuador has many.

· Specializing in small sub-sections. The 1935 Galapagos series showing the archipelago’s fauna and Darwin is one possibility.

· Collecting date and place visible cancels, one of my favorite fun things to do. I try to find out what happened in the town on the date. Ecuador hasn’t yet provided many for my album, but hope abounds.

· Translating the text on stamps. Ecuador provides a good Spanish refresher course.

· Discovering stamps’ collateral history. Ecuador’s history is replete with raging conflicts.

Have fun!

Census: 279 in BB spaces, 12 tip-ins, 156 on supplement pages. Twenty-two have been added to the supplement pages since the scans were made.

Jim's Observations
1) Ecuador's stamps are generally inexpensive, although Ecuador does contribute to the "Most expensive" list with the 1865 Coat of Arms Scott 5 1r green ($50+).

2) BB at times is up to its old tricks with stopping an issue too early.
(1907 Presidents (2), 1909 National Exposition (3), 1912(2), 1920 Cent. of Independence of Guayaquil (10!))

3) Huge number of affordable regular issue surcharged/overprinted left out of Big Blue.
1896-1897 surcharged/overprinted: 39 stamps!
1925-29 surcharged/overprinted: 23 stamps!
1933-37 surcharged/overprinted: 21 stamps!

4) As mentioned, a huge cache of affordable Official (120!) and Postal tax (25) stamps could be added by the BB collector.

5) Contrary to some other countries, there are not that many Ecuadorian stamps fighting for the same space in Big Blue. That's good. But for many stamps, Big Blue simply leaves them out altogether. :-)

6) The 1894-95 Rocafuerte issues were reprinted with thick paper. Beware: they are only worth minimum catalogue value.

Ecuador Blog Post and Checklist

Page 1 (click and enlarge for examination)