Colombian States - Boyaca & Cundinamarca

Boyaca 1903 Scott 17 10p black/buff

"President Jose Manuel Marroquin"

Into the Deep Blue

Now Departments within the Republic of Colombia, Boyaca and Cundinamarca were originally "States", and issued stamps between 1870-1904 (Cundinamarca) and 1902-1904 (Boyaca).

Colombian States - Boyaca & Cundinamarca

Colombia (Map by Gerben van Gelder )

So far, we have had posts on the Colombian States of Antioquia and Bolivar.

Also, there was an earlier 2011 post about Big Blue's coverage (or lack of) for the Colombian States.

Boyaca - a closer look

100 Centavos = 1 Peso

The State of Boyaca was late to the game: only issuing stamps between 1902-1904.

1903 Scott 4 10c dark gray "Coat of Arms"

Imperforate

The most substantial issue for Boyaca was released in 1903, and consisted of five denominations and five designs for the imperforate version.

1903 Scott 5 20c red brown "Coat of Arms"

As is usual for Colombia and Colombian States stamps of the era, they were produced lithographically.

1903 Scott 6 1p red 

CV for the imperforate five stamp issue is <$1 to $6+.

1903 Scott 10 10c dark gray "Coat of Arms"

Perf 12

The 1903 issue also had a Perf 12 version, given major numbers by Scott

1903 Scott 11 20c red brown "Coat of Arms"

Perf 12

CV for the seven stamp Perf 12 issue ranges from <$1 to $22.

1903 Scott 13 50c dull blue

"Gen. Prospero Pinzon"

Perf 12

An additional design is found with the Perf 12 issue: this one in 50c green (Scott 12) and 50c dull blue (above - Scott 13).

1903 Scott 17 10p black/buff

"President Jose Manuel Marroquin"

Perf 12

A larger format was used for the 10 peso denomination (and 5 peso - not shown).  CV for the 10p black/buff is $2+. The 10 peso stamp can also be found in black/rose (CV $22).

I note for the "Perf 12" stamps, some of the sides almost look like sewing machine perfs.

1904 Scott 18 10c orange

"Statue of Bolivar"

Perf 12

The last issue for Boyaca was in 1904, and consists of this one stamp. CV is <$1.

Cundinamarca - a closer look

100 Centavos = 1 Peso

Cundinamarca issued stamps between 1870 - 1904

I should mention at the outset that Cundinamarca ( and other Colombian States, and naturally Colombia) are infested with fakes/forgeries. It is truly hard for the non specialist to obtain information about them. Nevertheless, I did find an internet discussion link for Cundinamarcan fakes. Thanks Will and The Stamp Forum! Unfortunately, for the specific stamps discussed (1870, 1886) I don't have a copy. It does sound, though, that, for the counterfeit 1870 issue, there are long scratches through the plate in the upper half of the stamp. And, if the stamp copy is not clearly printed, it is probably a forgery.

1882 Scott 7 50c purple "Coat of Arms"

Imperforate

Between 1877-1882, a lithographic four "coat of arms" design, four denomination issue was released.

CV is <$1-$10+.

1884 Scott 11 5c blue "Coat of Arms"

Redrawn

A 5c blue design was issued in 1884. Scott 10 has a period after the A of COLOMBIA. The redrawn stamp (Scott 11) does not have this period. Both types are CV <$1.

1904 Scott 24 2c gray blue

In 1904, a twelve stamp nine design issue for Cundinamarca was released.

1904 Scott 29 20c blue/green

One can tell one is in the philatelic backwoods with this issue. My 2011 Scott has four of the designs still illustrated in black & white. All of the black & white illustration stamps are CV <$1. !! My 2020 Scott finally shows these illustrations in color.

1904 Scott 33 50c red violet

The issue comes in Perf 10 1/2, 12 (major numbers) and imperforate (minor numbers).

1904 Scott 34 1p gray green

CV for the 1904 twelve stamp issue (major numbers) is  <$1-$1+, except for the 40c blue/buff @ $40+. 

1904 Scott F2 10c bister

Registration Stamp

In 1904, besides the twelve stamp regular issue, a registration stamp was produced. CV is $1+.

The year 1904 proved to be the last of the issues for the Colombian States/Departments.

Out of the Blue

I find it quite curious that these fairly obscure States issues tend to have a very modest CV. Yet, these stamps are not all that common in WW collections. Supply/Demand curve?

Note: I'm going to now do  updates on other "C" and possibly "D"  countries, and leave Colombian States: Santander & Tolima for a later time.

Comments appreciated!

February 12, 2021 - 10th Year Anniversary of BigBlue1840-1940!

Big Blue 1840-1940

Scott International Album: Part I

Well, something needs to be said after successfully publishing the Big Blue blog for ten years!

It began on February 12th, 2011, the first blog entry... Overview.......

After 30 years of being away, I have delightfully resumed my 1840-1940 worldwide collection. After some deliberation, I settled on Scott International Volume 1 (Scott calls it Part 1) to house the accumulation. But what is this? No information on what is in this album? Rumor has it that Scott does not even have the information.

Perhaps I can help. 

So I propose with this blog, using Scott catalogues, to systematically comb through all the stamp illustrations/descriptions for a country and make a "checklist". And to put the results here.

The Big Blue checklist took six years - 2017-  to complete.

/2017/04/the-big-blue-checklist-is-completed.html

In the meantime, my colleague Bud began commenting and showing his completed Big Blue, commencing on September 10, 2016.

Bud's Big Blue - An Introduction and Index

That work is on-going, and Aden through Mozambique is now posted.

Deep Blue (Steiner) Pages housed in Vario F and Vario G Binders

Shown here is part of the Collection

For myself, I decided relatively early on that I would rather house my WW 1840-1940 (1840-1952 British Commonwealth) collection in Steiner pages ("Deep Blue"), which had a space for every Scott major number for the era. Of course, that expanded the housing needed to some 6,500 pages...and the footprint!  I initially used heavy duty Avery Binders, but then switched to the more attractive Vario F and G Binders.

Am I happy with that choice after ten years experience with Deep Blue? Absolutely! At the present, I have some 51,000 spaces filled out of a 83,000 space capacity. 

Still, Bud's approach of using supplementary pages for those stamps without a space in Big Blue is also a viable choice.

Big Blue's "Mascot" stamp: Austria Offices in Turkey

1908 1 Piaster Deep Blue on Blue

On reflection, I'm also pleased with my early decision to feature 1200dpi scan images of individual stamps, little pieces of visual art, in all their glory. 

Out of the Blue

If the reader would scroll along the left column, there is much information and stamp images that have been published - in fact, ten years worth!

Enjoy all the thoughts and comments on classical era WW collecting that is here!

Jim Jackson

Colombian States - Bolivar

Colombian States - Bolivar 1879 Scott 11 5c blue "Bolivar"

Dated "1879"; White Wove Paper; Perf 12 1/2

 Into the Deep Blue

Until the revolution of 1885, the States (including Bolivar) making up the United States of Colombia were sovereign states. After 1886, they then became Departments with governors appointed, but retained some of their rights, including issuing stamps up to 1904. 

Colombian States - Bolivar

Colombia (Map by Gerben van Gelder )

For Bolivar, stamps were issued between 1863-1904.

This is, of course, a bit in the philatelic backwaters of WW collecting, but Bolivar stamps are often quite CV inexpensive, and offer interesting identification challenges (Design, Paper).

Bolivar - a closer look

100 Centavos = 1 Peso

1979 Scott 12 10c violet "Bolivar"

White Wove paper, Perf 12 1/2

Dated "1879"

In 1879, the lithographed above design was issued in three stamp denominations, dated "1879". Of interest, the paper is either white wove or bluish laid: each a major number and an inexpensive CV.

This was the first perforated issue. The preceding ten stamps (major numbers) for 1863-1878 were imperforate (I don't have any).

1880 Scott 23 80c green "Bolivar"

White Wove paper

The 1880 issue of five stamps on white wove paper was identical in design to the 1879 issue, save for the "1880" date. CV for the issue is a very modest <$1-$5+.

Of interest, the 20c denomination is "red". But there is a 20c "green" ("error") color stamp listed in the catalogue (Scott 21a) for a very low CV $28!

I must comment though that, although the CVs are low, that doesn't mean the stamps are all that common in collections. 

1880 Scott 27 20c red "Bolivar"

Bluish Laid Paper

For the 1880 issue, four stamps can also be found on bluish laid paper (major numbers).

My scan washed out the bluish tint, but direct inspection reveals that this example is definitely laid bluish.

1882 Scott 29 5c blue "Bolivar"

White Wove paper; P 16 X 12

A somewhat older "Bolivar" and a different design, and dated "1882" issue on five stamps was released in 1882. CV is <$1-$1+.

The issue can be found with Perf 12 and Perf 16 X 12.  As far as I can recall, this may be the first 16 perf I've come across in my collection. 

1883 Scott 42 1p orange "Bolivar"

Dated "1883"; Perf 12 & 16 X 12

Next comes three lithographic "Bolivar" issues distinguished mainly by the inscribed date. 

The 1883 issue has five stamps, with CV <$1-$3+.

1884 Scott 45 20c red "Bolivar"

Dated "1884"

The "1884" issue of five stamps (CV <$1)...

The "Perf 12" of the 20c red is CV $16. The copy above (Perf 16 X 12) is CV nominal.

1885 Scott 53 80c green "Bolivar"

Dated "1885"

The 1885 issue of five stamps (CV <$1)...

1891 Scott 60 1p purple "Bolivar"

For 1891, a new design "Bolivar" issue of six stamps was released.

Of interest, the stamp appears "black" with the scan, but eye inspection reveals "purple".

1891 Issue Scott 55-60 "Bolivar"

Here is the complete 1891 issue in Deep Blue (Steiner pages).

1903 Scott 64 50c purple/pink "Bolivar"

Imperforate; Laid Paper

In 1903, a more interesting set was issued with four designs. The "Laid paper" version issue consists of  four denominations and eight major numbers in Scott.

The 50c denomination above comes in three major number (Scott 62-64) colors (dark blue, slate green, purple).

And then the paper color tints for the Scott 64 above comes in pink (major number CV $4), and minor numbers white, brown, greenish blue, lilac, rose, yellow, & salmon (CV $9-13).

1903 Scott 68g 10p dark blue/white 

"Jose Maria Garcia de Toledo"

Imperforate;  Laid Paper

The 10p dark blue I have is on white paper (Minor number 68g CV $20). The major number paper color tint is bluish (CV $2+), and there are six additional minor number color tints (CV $16-$24). Lots of possibilities!

1903 Scott 73 1p orange/salmon 

Jose Fernandez Madrid"

Laid paper; Sewing Machine Perf

The 1903 laid paper issue was also released in Sewing Machine Perforation (four denominations, eight major numbers, eleven minor paper color tint numbers). CV variations range from $2+ to $28.

There are also two minor number examples of white wove paper, and one example of minor number bluish wove paper. !!!

1904 Scott 90a 10c brown "Manuel Anguiano"

This 1904 lithographic issue for Bolivar consists of three designs and four denominations. CV is <$1-$16.

The major numbers have sewing machine perforations, and Scott lists imperforate pairs as minor numbers. My example looks like an imperforate, although obviously not a pair.

1904 Scott 92 20c red brown

"Pantaleon Ribon"

"Sewing Machine Perf"

Clearly the perforating machine and the stamps did not always line up well. ;-)

1904 Scott 95 2c purple 

Imperforate

The very last regular issue for Bolivar was an imperforate three denomination, three design issue.

CV is $1+-$2+. 

1903 Scott 67  5p carmine rose/lilac

"Jose Rodriquez Torices"

Imperforate;  Laid Paper

Out of the Blue

I know we are a bit in the weeds with the Colombian States issues, but I find them fascinating. And they generally have a low CV.  I didn't say they  are easily obtained, however. 

Comments appreciated!