PORTO RICO (Puerto Rico), part 1

Portoriko

Return To Catalogue - Puerto Rico, part 2 - Puerto Rico, part 3 - Coamo

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.

Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony. The first stamps of Puerto Rico consist of overprints on stamps of Cuba. These overprints became necessary due to the difference in currency between Cuba and Puerto Rico. The overprints were applied to prevent stamps from Cuba being used in Puerto Rico. The overprints signify the signatures of General Lauriano Sanz (left) and minister of finance Antonio Belmonte (right). Puerto Rico became possession of the United States in 1898. Major cities are San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez.

 

1873 Stamps of Cuba inscription 'Ultramar ano 1873' surcharged with an signature

25 c grey 1 p brown1 P brown

  25 c grey
  50 c brown
  1 P brown

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
25 c R **  
50 c RR ***  
1 P RR R  

I've seen a double overprint on the 25 c value.


25 c with double overprint

At least the forger Fournier is known to have made forged overprints.

 

1874 Stamps of Cuba inscription 'Ultramar 1874' surcharged with an signature

25 c blue

  25 c 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
25 c R **  

 

1875 Stamps of Cuba inscription 'Ultramar 1875' surcharged with an signature

  25 c blue
  50 c green
  1 P brown

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
25 c R **  
50 c R ***  
1 P RR R  


Typical cancel, ellipse with stars.

 

1876 Stamps of Cuba inscription 'Ultramar 1876' surcharged with an signature

25 c grey
Type II overprint

1 P black
Type I overprint

  25 c grey
  50 c blue
  1 P black

The 25 c and 1 P exist with two types of overprint. In type I, the two parts of the overprint are not connected. In type II, there is a connection between the left and the right part of the overprint. The 50 c value was only issued in Type I.

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
25 c ** * Two types of overprint exist
50 c *** ***  
1 P R R Two types of overprint exist

I've seen double and inverted overprints of the 25 c value. I've also seen the 50 c with inverted overprint and the 1 P with double overprint.


25 c stamps with double (left) and inverted (right) overprint

Forged overprints exist, example:


Forged overprints


Page of a Fournier Album with forged stamps, cancels and overprints. At the bottom the forged signatures as used by Fournier.

 

Puerto Rico, part 2

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer