COLOMBIA (Provinces)

Return To Catalogue - Colombia overview

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.

Colombia consisted of: Antioquia, Bolivar, Boyaca, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Santander, Tolima. Every province, except Cauca and Magdalena issued its own stamps. The city of Bogota issued stamps as well.

Bogus issue for Magdalena.

ANTIOQUIA

Go to Antioquia

BARBACOAS

1902 Inscription 'No hay estampillas Pago$ El Admor. E.O. Ortiz.', a local stamp for Barbacoas

I've been told that these four stamps are genuine

  0.01 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  0.02 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  0.05 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  0.10 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  0.20 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  0.40 black on blue
  0.50 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  0.60 black on red
  1.00 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  1.10 black on red
  1.20 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange
  5.00 black on yellow, lilac, blue, red or orange

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
All values	RR	RR

These stamps are very rare, beware of forgeries! The next stamps are probably forgeries:

This stamp with inscription 'Gobierno Provisional, CORREOS E.U. de Colombia, Ejercito Restaurador. Barbacoas' is probably bogus. It only appeared on the market in 1907. The values 1 c black on blue, 2 c black on yellow, 5 c black on red, 10 c black on green and 20 c black on brown exist.

BOGOTA

1889 Arms of Bogota, eagle,inscription 'CORREO URBANO DE BOGOTA'

  1/2 c black (2 types)
  10 c black on pink (1910)

The 1/2 c is perforated 12. The 10 c is usually imperforate (also exist perforated: RR).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 c	c	*	Both types
10 c	***	***

BOYACA

1899 Mendoza Perez

  5 c green

This stamp has perforation 13 1/2.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	***	**

1903 Various designs

20 c brown and 5 P black on red
(Reduced sizes)

  10 c grey
  10 c blue
  10 c orange (1904)
  20 c brown (eagle)
  50 c green
  50 c grey
  1 P red
  1 P brown
  5 P black on red (Bolivar statue)
  10 P black on brown (president Roquin)

Most of these stamps exist perforated 12 or imperforate (except the 10 c blue, which is imperforate).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c grey	*	*
10 c blue	R	R
10 c orange	**	**
20 c	*	*
50 c blue	***	***	Imperforate: RR
50 c green	**	**	Imperforate: R
1 P red	**	**	Imperforate: ***
1 P brown	***	***
5 P	***	**
10 P	***	***	Exists tete-beche: RR

Some errors seem to exist (printed on the wrong background colour) and a 5 P with the '5' omitted.

Fiscal stamps

Examples:

Reduced sizes

In this design I have seen the values: 5 c black, 10 c brown, 50 c blue, 1 P green, 5 P orange and 20 P brown.

CALI

1879 Provisional issue for Cali, inscription 'No hay estampillas' or 'No hai estampillas'

  5 c black
  10 c black
  20 c black
  50 c black
  1 P black
  'UN PESO' black

These stamps were printed in sheets of five (as shown above). There were four different printings (with wrong spelling 'hai' or correct spelling 'hay').

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
All values	RR	RR

CARTHAGENA

CAUCA

1878 Inscription 'POPAYAN. FRANCA 10 CENTAVOS. No hai estampillas. El Admor.'

  10 c black

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c	RRR	RRR

This stamp has a different text 'CTVS.' instead of 'CENTAVOS'.

1879 Embossed arms with black frame, printed by hand

  5 c black

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	RRR	RRR

Two letters with this Cauca stamp (both ex-Ferrary).

1882 'SP' (=Salmon Posso) in fancy letters in center

  5 c violet (with numbers in corners)
  5 c violet (without numbers)

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	RRR	RRR	With numbers
5 c	RR	RR	Without numbers

What is this? 5 c black on violet. Offered on a Behr auction in 2008.

1890 Inscription 'CAUCA vale 5 ctvs provisional P. de A.'

5 c red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	RR	RR

1902 Inscription 'CORREOS DE LA Republica de Colombia', perforated or imperforate

  10 c black on red
  20 c black on orange

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c	***	***	Two types, second type: R
20 c	***	***

Bogus issue for Cauca:

Eagle, the inscription reads 'REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA CORREOS PROVINCIA DE CAUCA'. It seems to have been issued in 1892. I have seen: 5 c red and 10 c green. Pictures can also be found in 'The Fournier album of Philatelic Forgeries' by Ragatz, though in Fourniers1914 pricelist, Fournier does not mention these stamps.

CUNDINAMARCA

Click here for stamps of Cundinamarca.

GARZON

1894 Inscription 'R. de C. Garzon 1894 No Hay Estampilas PAGO'; meaning 'no stamps available'

UN PESO black
(Reduced size)

  $0,01 black
  $0,01 black (with extra inscription 'Junio de 1894'
  UN PESO black

These stamps are printed on paper taken from school books.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c black	RR	RR
1 c black (Junio de 1894)	RR	R
1 P	RR	R

What are these? Similar labels, but with different inscription.

HONDA

1896 Stamp of Colombia of 1890, overprinted 'Habilitada Vale $0,01 Honda'

  0,01 on 2 c green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
0,01 on 2 c	RR	RR

Forged overprints exist (and seem not to be very rare).

MANIZALES (Antioquia)

1909 Inscription 'CORREOS URBANOS MANIZALES'

Two different types of these stamps

  1/2 c red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/2 c	*	*

These stamps were printed in sheets of 32 stamps. There are three types. Type 1 appears sixteen times in a sheet, Type 2 twelve times and Type 3 four times. Furthermore some stamps have inscription 'Urbanos' instead of 'URBANOS'.

MEDELLIN

1889 Inscription 'PROVISIONAL MEDELLIN'

2 1/2 c black on yellow 5 c red on yellow
(Reduced sizes)

There are several types of these stamps.

  2 1/2 c black on yellow
  2 1/2 c red
  5 c black on yellow
  5 c red on yellow

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
2 1/2 c black on yellow	RR	RR	2 types
2 1/2 c red	R	R	10 types
5 c black on yellow	***	***	6 types
5 c red on yellow	***	***	10 types

2 1/2 c; may be a reprint.

1903 Inscription 'CORREOS URBANOS DE MEDELLIN'

  20 c red
  20 c green (1909)
  40 c violet

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
20 c red	*	*
20 c green	*	*
40 c	*	*

1904 Inscription 'CORREOS URBANOS DE MEDELLIN', view of the city(?)

  20 c red (two types)
  20 c orange (two types)
  50 c lilac (two types)
  1 P green

In Type I, the numbers are almost touching the word 'centavos'. In Type II, the numbers are quite far away from the word 'centavos'.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
20 c	***	***	Two types, also exists in orange
50 c	***	***	Two types
1 P	R	R

1909 Postman

  1/4 c blue
  1/2 c green
  1 c lilac
  1 c brown
  2 c red
  50 c orange
  50 c green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1/4 c	c	*
1/2 c	*	*
1 c lilac	*	*
1 c brown	***	***
2 c	*	*
50 c orange	*	*
50 c green	*	*

1910 Flag and inscription '1810 1910'

  50 c brown, red, violet and yellow
  1 $ green, red, violet and yellow

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
50 c	*	*
1 $	*	*

A 10 c stamp of Colombia was overprinted 'Habilitado Medellin AR' in 1903, see under Antioquia for more details:

RIO HACHA

1902 Inscription 'No hay estampillas Vale El Agente Postal' with signature 'J.R. Pichon' or 'Julio R. Pichon'

10 c black on grey

  5 c black on white or black on yellow
  10 c black on white, grey or green

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	RRR	RR
10 c	RRR	RR

Reprints exist made in 1902 (*), if I'm well informed the sizes of these reprints are larger.

TOLIMA

For stamps of Tolima click here.

TUMACO

1901 Inscription 'Pago El Agente Postal Manuel E Jimenez', perforated or imperforated

  $ 0.01 black
  $ 0.02 black
  $ 0.02 1/2 black
  $ 0.05 black
  $ 0.10 black
  $ 0.20 black
  $ 0.50 black
  $ 1.00 black
  $ 5.00 black

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	R	R
2 c	R	R
2 1/2 c	RR	RR
5 c	R	R
10 c	R	R
20 c	RR	RR
50 c	RR	RR
1 P	RRR	RRR
5 P	RRR	RRR

$ 0.05 and $ 0.10
(0.05 c and 0.10 c printed together, reduced size)

1903 Inscription 'GOBIERNO PROVISIONAL'

Reduced size

  5 c violet
  10 c red

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
5 c	RRR	RRR
10 c	RRR	RRR

1912 Inscription 'NO HAY ESTAMPILLAS, PAGO (value) Tumaco de 1912'

This cancel with the concentric circles seems to be typical of Tumaco

  1 c black
  2 c black on blue

Also exists with larger 'H' in 'HAY'.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	R	R
2 c	R	R

1913 Larger size, arms and inscription 'No hay estampillas Pago (value) TUMACO ENERO DE 1913 EL AGENTE POSTAL' and signature 'Duque Jimenez'

  $ 0.01 black
  $ 0.02 black on lilac
  $ 0.05 black on blue

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
1 c	R	R
2 c	R	R
5 c	RR	RR

1900 Returned letter label, inscription 'Republica de Colombia Tumaco No' with large 'R' at the left

  10 c black

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c	RR	RR

Bogus Locals for ALMAGUER

1890 These stamps are bogus local stamps, eagle in an oval, they have the inscription 'REPUBLICA DE COLOMBIA ALMAGUER EL ADMOR'; 1 c black on blue, 5 c black on yellow. There also seems to exist a 2 c black on red value. Note that the two stamps have an elliptic cancel and on top of this a 'COLOMBIA' cancel in fancy letters forming almost a circle.

In the Philatelic Record of 1890 (page 173) one can read:
Almaguer is not, as we imagined, the name of a State, but that of a Postmaster, and a Philatelic Postmaster too. The stamps bearing his name are declared to be frauds, and the only consolation that we have is the news that their concocter is in prison. We trust that this, at least, is true!

BARRANQUILLA

(Letter from Barrnaquilla, 'NO HAY ESTAMPILLAS PAGO 5 CENTAVOS' cancel)