UNITED STATES, 1893 Columbus issue

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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.

1893 Discovery of America by Columbus in 1492

Columbus in sight of land

2 c, Landing of Columbus - 3 c, Flag Ship of Columbus

4 c, Fleet of Columbus and 5 c, Columbus soliciting aid of Isabella

6 c, Columbus welcomed at Barcelona - 8 c, Columbus restored to favor

(10 c Columbus presenting natives - 15 c, Columbus announcing his discovery)

15 c, Columbus at La Rabida

50 c, Recall of Columbus

(1 $ Isabella pledging her jewels ; 2 $ Columbus in chains)

($3 Columbus describing third voyage)

4 $ Isabella and Columbus and 5 $ Columbus,

  1 c blue
  2 c lilac
  3 c green
  4 c blue
  5 c brown
  6 c violet
  8 c lilac
  10 c brown
  15 c green
  30 c brown
  50 c black
  1 $ red
  2 $ brown
  3 $ green
  4 $ red
  5 $ black

These stamps are perforated 12.

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

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

In 1992 these stamps were re-issued, but now with inscription '1992' instead of '1892'. Spain Italy and Portugal also issued similar stamps (inscription 'ESPANA', 'ITALIA' or 'PORTUGAL'). All four countries also issued mini-sheets with several stamps and images of Columbus.

Forgeries:

The next forgery has a large red 'IMITATION' overprint:

I have seen forgeries of the values 2 c, 3 c, 4 c, 6 c, 8 c, 10 c, 15 c, 30 c, 50 c, 1 $, 2 $, 3 $, 4 $ and 5 $ with this 'IMITATION' overprint (in either red or black colour). According to 'Focus on Forgeries' by V.E.Tyler, these imitations were made by Adolf Krueger of Hanover (Germany). I've seen the whole set pasted on a sheet with inscription at the back:
'Columbus - Jubilaums - Briefmarken der Verein. Staaten von Nord-Amerika 1492-1892. Facsimile's zum Einkleben in der Briefmarken-Albums an Stelle der ca. 200 mal so theueren echten Serie. Preis 50 Pfennige.' Furthermore a description of each individual stamp. The price was also indicated on the front side of the sheet: ('50 pf=65 Cts. 30 Kreuzer, 6 Pence, 12 Cents amer. 50 Oere, 30 Cent. holl. 3 Piaster turk, 1 1/2 Reales, 65 Bani ruman, 65 Lepta.').

The forger Peter Winter made some forgeries of these stamps in the 1980's. They are printed on modern paper.

(5$ Winter forgery)

Peter Winter also offers 'proofs' in blocks of four of the 5 $ 1893 value. They are printed in orange or brown.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer