somestamps

1 to 24 (Apri to July 2004) / 25 to 48 (August to December 2004) / 49 to 72 (January to April 2005 / 73 to 96 (May to August 2005) / 97 to 126 (August 2005 to December 2005) / 127 to 144 (January to May 2006) / 145 to 180 (May to December 2006) / 181 onwards (2007)

Article 1: The Color Varieties of the 1855 Spanish Antilles 1/2 Real

The two printings of this stamp show a wide range of color varieties. The article includes a page discussing the first issue of the Spanish Antilles, which I refer to as the Cuba First Issue 1855-63.

I am able to plate 168 of the 170 positions. This article also includes images of the Cuba 1864 Issue, a web page dedicated to the path I followed to plate this stamp, the two RL positions, several distinctive positions,and plate positions with reduced periods in the lower

This articles includes links to the main page for the Germany Women and Sites Definitives, the Alte Leipziger correspondence, the detailed discussions of the Hensel 3.00 Marks value on piece, the 4.50 Marks, the 5.00 Marks, and a combined page for the 2.50 Marks, 3.50 Marks, and 4.00 Marks.

The US 1938 Presidential series, commonly known as the prexies, received extensive usage during World War II. Here I show a few blocks of four and six. These show the wide range of postmarks found in type as well as number of cities and towns.

Here are CTO (cancelled-to-order) blocks of six for the three high values of the Egypt 1964 definitives. I include links to the blocks of the 100m, 200m, and 500m. I also include a page with high resolution images of the figures.

This article is divided into three major sections: Covers with the 1855 and 1856 Baeza postmarks, Covers with smaller postmarks of varying design, Covers from the 1860s with the small, and final postmarks. I include one cover used in Puerto Rico, as well as a family letter from 1856 with a poignant and interesting tale.

This high value airmail definitive is somewhat rare. I include a page with postmarked specimens, a page with a perfin specimen, and a page with a minor plate variety.

In yet another installment of the postal history of this issue, I show the basic cancellers, and focus on some covers from the ramirez y oro correspondence, including a postal forgery on cover, bayamo Baeza postmarks, and cauto region modified Baeza postmarks.

Article 43: Argentina 1877-78 Issues

The rouletted Argentina stamps of 1877 and 1878 were in use well into the 1880s. Here are quick links to pages with large images of each of the four values: 8 centavos Rivadavia / 16 centavos Belgrano / 20 centavos Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield / 24 centavos San Martin ; to pages with high quality specimens of each of the four values: 8 centavos Rivadavia / 16 centavos Belgrano / 20 centavos Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield / 24 centavos San Martin ; to pages with some postmarks for three of the values: 8 centavos Rivadavia / 16 centavos Belgrano / 24 centavos San Martin ; and pages for the 24 centavos San Martin showing: plate varieties / banknote selvage / perforation varieties

All of the images shown here are selections from a small correspondence sent to X-Press Marketing in Berlin. An example of one of these covers (Berlin-Pankow, postal code 13187) is shown below. Except for a cover from Oranienburg-165X5, and one postmarked at Briefenzentrum 13, all of the covers shown here are postmarked in the various offices of Berlin. Quick links to these (implicit for all these numbers is that they correspond to Berlin post offices [postal code in bracket as read from cover]): 126 / 4 [10115] / 10 [10585] / 304 [10779] / 62 [10827] / 443 [12051] / 42 [12099] / [12101] / 427 [12105] / 480 [12279] / 47 [12539] / Berlin-Kopenick [12555] / Berlin-Hohenschonhausen-3 [13051] / Berlin-Hohenschonhausen-2 [13055] / Berlin-Pankow [13187] / 510 [13405] / 26 [13437] / 260 [13439] / 27 [13507] / 271 [13507] / 20 [13581] / 201 [13589] / 301 [13589] / 191 [14039] / 332 [14195] / Potsdam 90 [14482]

Here are a few 10c Prexies. The color of this stamps makes it an ideal background color to showcase some of the postmarks used on the Prexies. I dedicate a page to various dumb cancellers. I also show here a selection of city marks: wavy lines cancellers for Indianapolis, Indiana (1) / New York, New York (31) / New York, New York (40) / New York, New York (184) / Toledo, Ohio (32) / Bellmore, New York (1) / Kenilworth, New Jersey (1) / Norwood, Massachusetts (1) / Minneapolis, Minnesota (18) / oval cancellers for: Bridgeport, Conneticut / New Haven, Connecticut / Newton, Connecticut / [Unidentified] P.P. in center, CONN / Boston, Massachusetts / Chicago [with numeral], Illinois / New York, New York, Grand Central Annex / circular date stamp for New York, New York, Grand Central Annex

This commemorative issue is very appealing. It has beautiful depictions of butterflies and fish. Below is a large image of the scarcest value of the series, the 20c Special Delivery. I include here quick links to the series mint, and used-mostly CTO since this issue saw almost no genuine postal use.

The second series of Queen Elizabeth II definitives for Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika (K.U.T.) shows beautiful one color engravings of Kenyan nature themes. QE II's image is in an attractive medallion. Quick links here for the main page, the low values, the high values, and a cover.

This is the highest value of the Cuba First Issue. Both 1855 printings were surcharged for the Havana local mails, as I have previously described in an article. Follow the links and thumbnails for each image below to a page for each printing of this value. This issue was superseded in 1864 by the Cuba Second Issue. Here are quick links to this article: the main page / 1855 First Printing: bluish paper, watermark loops / 1855 First Printing Blocks ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 ) / 1855 First Printing with forged postmark / 1855 Second Printing: white paper, watermark loops / 1855 Second Printing blocks ( 1 / 2 ) / 1855 Second Printing paper and watermark / 1856, watermark crossed lines / 1857 First Printing Orange, clean plate / 1857 Second Printing Rust Red, worn plate / 1857 Third Printing Rust Red, bleached plate / 1857 Third Plinting block of eight

This issue was printed over the course of fifteen years. The specimens shown here are from a sample lot I came across a few months ago. I have a limited knowledge of this issue. A survey of these specimens shows that the first, or Belgian printing, can be clearly distinguished from later printings. The 50 Lepta page has some of these specimens. The later printings, except for the major color changes, are difficult to tell apart by the novice collector. I attempt to label the printing for each specimen shown here. However, I am only making a novice assessment. Quick Links: 1 L / 2 L / 5 L / 10 L / 20 L / 25 L Blue / 25 L Purple / 25 L Blue Purple / 40 L Purple / 40 L Blue / 50 L / 1 Drachma

I show three of the high values from the Brazil 1950s series of definitives. Follow the links and the image thumbnails to selected specimens and blocks. Quick links: main page / 5 Cruzeiros / 10 Cruzeiros / 20 Cruzeiros

These definitives are splendid. Quick links: main page / 1 Dollar Loon / 2 Dollars Polar Bear / 5 Dollars Moose / 8 Dollars Grizzly Bear

I show three types of the very popular Mexico Exporta Definitives. Quick links: main page / Fresas - Strawberries / Mezcilla - Denim / Citricos - Citrics

I show a splendid block of four of the 25 rupees. Here are quick links to several specimens of the 1 Rupee, 2 Rupees, and 5 Rupees values.

I show the major values in mint blocks of four. Missing is the rare 1/2 real on salmon paper, for which I havo only a few used specimens. I include a second block of the 1 real, printed in bright blue. I have previously shown the basic stamps of this issue, and presented a fairly extensive discussion of the plate varieties of the 1 real value. Here I show the major values in blocks of four, the color varieties of the 1/2 real on salmon, 1/2 real on white, 1 real, and 2 reales. The 1/4 real was printed in a small run and seems to have just one color: black. I also show specimens cancelled with the regular canceller and other cancellers. This issue was replaced in 1866 by a similar issue in a different currency.

I have come across a great selection of USA late 1970s and early 1980s kiloware. The clippings are from what may have been mailings of important documents. Most of the rates seem to be in the $1.50 to $2.50 range. I show here a selection of these with the predominant stamp being either the 1c Thomas Jefferson, or the 13c Americana. Quick links here are for the kiloware section, the main page for this group of kiloware, and the pages for these two stamps- 1c Thomas Jefferson, 13c Americana, for which I may add other clippings in the future. Below each image are links to pages with clippings.

I have come across a great selection of USA late 1970s and early 1980s kiloware. The clippings are from what may have been mailings of important documents. Most of the rates seem to be in the $1.50 to $2.50 range. I show here a selection of these with the predominant stamp being either the 20c George Marshall stamp, or the 25c Frederick Douglass stamp. Quick links here are for the kiloware section, the main page for this group of kiloware, and the pages for these two stamps-the 20c George Marshall stamp, or the 25c Frederick Douglass stamp, and the two I have previously shown- 1c Thomas Jefferson, 13c Americana, for which I may add other clippings in the future. Below each image are links to pages with clippings, and additional clippings are linked to from the single stamp pages.

This stamp received heavy usage from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. I first show small images with all of the various shades, and then large images of the major shades pointing to pages dedicated to each group. Quick links: main page / purple issues / red purple issue / perfins / postmarks sampler / oval cancellers / black postmarks / reddish purple postmarks.

The Bolivar definitives have been a mainstay of Venezuela postal history since the 1980s. Here I show the range of low values, and the larger format range of high values.

Here is another installment of high values on piece, mostly with the 5c George Washington, the 40c Thomas Paine, and the $1 Eugene O'Neill.

The 1868 10 centimos stamp is a one-year issue stamp. Quick links: images of the center design, details of the top and bottom legends.

Here is a first batch of high value bank covers from 1990 and 1991. Quick links: main page / cover 1 / cover 2 / cover 3 / cover 4 / cover 5 / cover 6 / cover 7 / cover 8 / cover 9 / cover 10 / cover 11 / cover 12

I have previously shown the color varieties of the 1855 half real. I expand here by adding some larger images for the 1855 printings, and many more from the later printings, including many plate varieties. Quick links: main page / 1855 Blue Paper / 1855 White Paper / 1856 / 1857-61 Dirty Plate / Postal Forgeries / Plate Varieties main page : CORRFOS / CORRFOS detailed image / Early line breaks / Late line breaks / Plate Wear / 1862 Cleaned Plate

Here are two specimens of the first stamp, issued in 1840 by England (now U.K.). The penny black, along with the two pence blue stamp, was issued May 8, 1840, although there is an instance of postal use on May 6. The use of stamps became such an important innovation for England that, within 20 years, most countries had adopted the use of stamps (for example: Brazil in 1843, the United States in 1847, France in 1849, Spain in 1850). Quick links: main page / FB specimen / KL specimen / attempt at plating / design highlights

This group of covers bears overprinted inflation stamps. The 10 Bolivares on 0.25 Bolivares, may be rare, if judging by the small number of specimens found in this correspondence. Quick links: main page / cutouts / item 1 / cover 1 / cover 2

I show here several blocks of the 10 centavos. Below are three blocks of four in three shades, followed by highlights for color comparisons. Quick links: main page / several blocks of four / a block of ten / a block of fourteen ( main page / detailed images ) / a few plate varieties

Here is a selection of covers, mostly with commemoratives. I have also included large scans of some of the definitives. Quick links: the covers

I have come across a great selection of USA late 1970s and early 1980s kiloware. The clippings are from what may have been mailings of important documents. Most of the rates seem to be in the $1.50 to $2.50 range. Quick links here are for the kiloware section, the main page for this group of kiloware, and the stamps I have previously shown: the 20c George Marshall stamp, the 25c Frederick Douglass stamp, the 1c Thomas Jefferson stamp, and the 13c Americana stamp, for which I may add other clippings in the future.

The combination of high levels of usage during World War II, and equally high levels of usage during the industrial growth of the United States after the war, make the Presidential series of the most common definitive series of all time. This series, better known as "The Prexies," has an expansive postal history. I barely scratch the surface in this web site. I acquired a small group of blocks (mostly of 4) of these stamps in 2003. I also have a few covers. This issue attracts a great deal of attention, and has been studied beyond what I can possibly do by many. Some of the blocks are shown in article 13, which I have renamed as a listing for these 47 blocks. In addition, I have an article with several used 10c stamps. Quick links: 1/2c Benjamin Franklin / 1c George Washington / 1 1/2c Martha Washington / 2c John Adams / 3c Thomas Jefferson / 4c James Madison / 4 1/2 c The White House / 5c James Monroe / 6c John Quincy Adams / 7c Andrew Jackson / 8c Martin Van Buren / 9c William Henry Harrison / 10c John Tyler / 11c James K. Polk / 12c Zachary Taylor / 13c Millard Fillmore / 14c Franklin Pierce / 15c James Buchanan / 16c Abraham Lincoln / 17c Andrew Johnson / 18c Ulysses S. Grant / 19c Rutherford B. Hayes / 20c James A. Garfield / 21c Chester A. Arthur / 22c Grover Cleveland / 24c Benjamin Harrison / 25c William McKinley / 30c Theodore Roosevelt / 50c William Howard Taft / $1 Woodrow Wilson / $2 Warren G. Harding / $5 Calvin Coolidge

Here is a type showing of this series, including some "rueda de carreta" specimens, two covers, and a piece. There are three papers: watermarked loops, watermarked cross-hatch lines, and unwatermarked. The stamps shown below are unwatermarked (2 cuartos and 1 real), and watermarked loops (4 cuartos and 2 reales). Quick links: types / rueda de carreta (wheel barrel cancelers) / two covers and a piece