ARGENTINA 1892-1920

Return To Catalogue - Argentine 1858-1863 - Argentine 1864-1891 - Argentine miscellaneous - Corrientes - Buenos Aires

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them: evert@klaseboer.com.

For stamps of Argentine issued before 1892 click here.

1892 Ship of Columbus

  2 c blue
  5 c blue

For the specialist: these stamps have watermark 'sun' and perforation 11 1/2.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries:

(Forgeries of these stamps)

I've been told that these forgeries originate from Italy. The forger Fournier offered forgeries of these stamps (the 2 values for 1 swiss franc) in his 1914 Price list of philatelic forgeries. I do not know if the above forgeries are Fournier forgeries. Genuine stamps have a 'sun with rays' watermark, the forgeries have an impressed watermark. There should be a small accent above the 'U' of 'REPUBLICA' and a horizontal crossbar in the 'G' of 'ARGENTINA' (according to 'Focus on forgeries').

On the website http://columbus-on-stamps.8m.com/0242-argentina3.htm some more differences can be found (base on Guzman, Luiz A. "Commemoration of the Fourth Centenary of the Discovery of America in stamps issued by Argentina". Discovery no.30 April 1990):

The genuine stamps have (obtained from the above mentionned website):

1. The A of Republica and the first A of ARGENTINA are joined at the bottom.
2. The right part of the N of ARGENTINA is shorter.
3. The second N and the second A of ARGENTINA are joined at the bottom on the two centavos stamp only.
4. R and E of 12 OCTUBRE 1892 are joined at the bottom.
5. The three horizontal lines at the left of centavos are one at the left but have three points at the right.
6. The upper part of the T of CENTAVOS ends in two triangles.
7. The flag cross has three arms.
8. Topmast is bent to the left.
9. Ship's helm is straight and long.
10. There are seven birds flying between the first and second ships.

The forged stamps have (also obtained from the above mentionned website):

1. The A of Republica and the first A of ARGENTINA are separated at the bottom.
2. The right part of the N of ARGENTINA is normal.
3. The second N and the second A of ARGENTINA are separated at the bottom on the two centavos stamp only.
4. R and E of 12 OCTUBRE 1892 are NOT joined at the bottom.
5. The three horizontal lines at the left of centavos, only the top one has points and lacks the vertical line on the left on the two centavos only.
6. The T of CENTAVOS at top is not complete.
7. The flag's cross has three arms.
8. Topmast at right is wide.
9. Ship's helm is short and narrow at the end.
10. There are six birds flying between the first and second ships, the five centavos has five birds.

1892 Famous persons, inscription 'REPUBLICA ARGENTINA'

Rivadiva

  1/2 c blue
  1 c brown
  2 c green
  3 c orange
  5 c red

I've seen postal stationary in this design as well: 1/2 c blue, 1 c brown, 2 c green and 5 c red.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Belgrano

  10 c red
  12 c blue
  16 c black
  24 c brown
  30 c orange
  50 c green
  80 c violet

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

San Martin

  1 P red
  1 P 20 c black
  2 P green
  5 P blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

For the specialist: these stamps have watermark 'sun'. An erroneous stamp 5 c in the colour green seems to exist (RRR).

I've seen imperforate proofs of many values in different colors. Also perforated proofs with overprint 'MUESTRA'.

Proofs

Postal stationery in the 2 c green design (reduced size)

1899 Woman, representing the republic

  1/2 c brown
  1 c green
  2 c black
  3 c orange (1900)
  4 c yellow (1903)
  5 c red
  6 c black (1900)
  10 c green
  12 c blue
  12 c green (1900)
  15 c grey (1900)
  16 c orange
  20 c red
  24 c violet
  30 c red
  50 c blue

Larger size

  1 P blue and black
  5 P orange and black
  10 P green and black
  20 P red and black

For the specialist: these stamps have watermark 'sun'. The values 1 P to 20 P exists with inverted centers (RRR).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1902 Inauguration of the harbor of Rosario

  5 c blue

For the specialist: this stamp has watermark 'sun'.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1908 Head of San Martin

  1/2 c violet
  1 c brown
  2 c brown
  3 c green
  4 c lilac
  5 c red
  6 c yellow
  10 c green
  12 c orange
  12 c blue 
  15 c green
  20 c blue
  24 c brown
  30 c red
  50 c black

Larger size

  1 P blue and red

For the specialist: these stamps have watermark 'sun'. Unwatermarked stamps are known coming from the borders of the sheets.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1910 100 years of begin of independence movement, various designs, inscription '1810 1910'

  1/2 cx grey and blue
  1 c green and black
  2 c olive and black
  3 c green
  4 c blue and green
  5 c red
  10 c brown and black
  12 c blue
  20 c brown and black
  24 c brown and black
  30 c lilac and black
  50 c red and black
  1 P bleu and dark blue
  5 P orange and violet
  10 P orange and black
  20 P blue and black

For the specialist: these stamps have watermark 'sun'. Unwatermarked stamps exist (RR). Stamps with inverted center are extremely rare (RRR). The perforation is 11 1/2.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Sperati forgeries and forged cancels of Argentine, blackprints, showing a forgery of the 20 P value.

Sperati made forgeries of the 10 P (I've never seen it) and the 20 P values. The Sperati forgeries are lithographed (genuine stamps are engraved). Sperati used genuine cancels (by bleaching out the design of a genuine stamp and reprinting his forged design on it).

Sperati forgery. There should be a dot in the left top hand side in the genuine stamps, which is missing in these forgeries.

1911 Inscription 'Sarmientios Centenario'

(Sorry, no picture available. If anybody has an image, please contact me!)

  5 c brown and black

For the specialist: this stamp has watermark 'sun' and perforation 13 1/2.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1911 Ploughing man walking towards horizon

  1/2 c violet
  1 c yellow
  2 c brown
  3 c green
  4 c lilac
  5 c orange (red)
  10 c green
  12 c blue
  20 c blue
  24 c brown
  30 c red
  50 c black

Larger size

Larger size, with perfins

  1 P blue and red
  5 P black and green
  10 P lilac and blue
  20 P blue and brown

For the specialist: these stamps have watermark 'sun' or 'beehives' (the values 1 c, 2 c and 5 c also exist without watermark). The 5 c and 12 c exist in slightly larger size.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

I have seen an envelope with a similar image as the above stamps (12 c blue). I have also seen a wrapper 2 c brown with text: 'FAJA POSTAL IMPRESOS' in the above design.

Several overprints exist on these stamps. They consist of two or three letters and were used by several ministries of the Argentine government, examples:

('M.I' and 'M.R.C.' overprint)

The following letters exist: 'M.A.' (ministry of agriculture), 'M.G.' (ministry of war), 'M.H.' (treasury), 'M.I.' (ministry of internal affairs), 'M.J.I.' (ministry of justice), 'M.M.' (navy), 'M.O.P' (ministry of public works) and 'M.R.C.' (ministry of foreign affairs).

1916 100 years of independance, Dr. Laprida, ceremony and San Martin, inscription '1816-1916' below

  1/2 c violet
  1 c yellow
  2 c brown
  3 c green
  4 c lilac
  5 c orange
  10 c green
  12 c blue
  20 c blue
  24 c brown
  30 c red
  50 c black
  1 P blue and red
  5 P black and green
  10 P lilac and blue
  20 P blue and lilac 

These stamps have watermark 'beehives', various perforations exist.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Similar overprints as for the 1911 issue exist, issued for several ministries.

1917 San Martin

(Reduced size, with watermark 'beehives' visible on top)

  1/2 c violet
  1 c yellow
  2 c brown
  3 c green
  4 c lilac
  5 c orange
  10 c green

Larger size
  12 c blue
  20 c blue
  24 c brown
  30 c red
  50 c black
  1 P blue and red
  5 P black and green
  10 P lilac and blue
  20 P blue and lilac 

These stamps were issued with watermark 'beehives' (1917, all values), without any watermark (1918, 1/2 c to 50 c) and with watermark 'multiple suns' (three types, 1920-22: 1/2 c to 50 c).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Similar overprints as for the 1911 issue exist, issued for several ministries.

A postal forgery exists of the 5 c value.

I've been told that this is such a postal forgery, I have no further information.

1917 Dr J. Pujol (first introducer of stamps in Corrientes)

(Sorry, no picture available. If anybody has an image, please contact me!)

  5 c brown and black

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

The next stamps to be issued in Argentina were three stamps in 1920 commemorating General Belgrano.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer